strafe or multi?

[chosen_one]

I am starting a bowazon and for this zon I am wondering what skills to put in to her. I fugered out most of the build but I cannot decide wether to use multi or strafe. I see more people with multi but it looks like strafe is more efective because u shoot more than one spot. And correct me if I am wrong but I am pritty sure multi does 3/4 weapon damage and strafe does full damage (but like I said I am not positive). If any one could help me please give your thinking on this subjet.

[Chronus24]

Both strafe and multi use only 3/4ths of your weapons damage. However, strafe does increase the % of dagmage done per arrow at 5% per lvl, starting at 20%. Strafe auto-aims for you and hits up to ten targets. One draw back is that until the ten or so shot have been fired, you are frozen in one spot...this can get dicey as 20 NM cows are bearing down on you as you strafe into thier hides 8-O
Multi has an increase mana cost per lvl whereas strafe is locked at 11 mana. Also, when you multi, not matter how many arrows from one volley look like thier hitting a target, only the damage for ONE arrow is recieved. Personally, I like strafe since the draw backs for multi are too numerous for me.

[bard]

Both.

Use Strafe as your main attack and max it. Only out 5-10 into Multi for those occassions when enemies are swarming in one direction, this is when Multi outshines Strafe. Under normal use and against single targets then Strafe is far superior.

[det]

This discussion is probably as old as Diablo...and the last time it was exhausively discusses was in the MS>all other bow skills thread...which might still be on the front page.

I always was a MS guy, might try maxing Strafe on my latest build though and keep MS at 5-10.

[Backdoor Bandit]

Both.

Use Strafe as your main attack and max it. Only out 5-10 into Multi for those occassions when enemies are swarming in one direction, this is when Multi outshines Strafe. Under normal use and against single targets then Strafe is far superior.

This is probably the best option. Think realistically. When you have say 10-12 arrows coming from multi and you are doing baal runs or are in any place that is somewhat narrow, many of your arrows will simply hit the wall and go to waste. This is something that will not happen with strafe. However, when you feel like it and are in a wide open area (i.e. diablo runs) you can always use multi, just don't waste points in it. 6-10 arrows is really plenty.

-Backdoor Bandit

[Salo]

This is probably the best option. Think realistically. When you have say 10-12 arrows coming from multi and you are doing baal runs or are in any place that is somewhat narrow, many of your arrows will simply hit the wall and go to waste. This is something that will not happen with strafe. However, when you feel like it and are in a wide open area (i.e. diablo runs) you can always use multi, just don't waste points in it. 6-10 arrows is really plenty.

-Backdoor Bandit

eh tried having just 6, wasnt that great. 10 is the number you need to really ensure a 100% or near 100% strike on a group of monsters. 12+ is great. 25th level is not a waste. more arrows you have, more you can bundle them tighter and this means you will hit most of the screen with only 1 pt in penetrate. if you have a lot of fire.light.poison damage in your charms and gear, big spamming multi works wonders (also a very high crit srike shines here)