Zealer Trouble

[shaftstop]

Having alittle trouble still comming to a solid conclusion on what my zealot needs I've posted once before about him but never really got the info I needed. Well anyway a couple questions.
starting with is 160 base str to much? I dont nor can I afford botd/engima well not without basically spending most of my time on ladder cubing for the right runes.
What kind of end game gear should I be looking, I've been sorta playing with the idea of either getting COA or Gaze but Im not sure which would be considered better other then DR on Gaze, however the +skills are nice, I guess with a couple Ber runes the DR can be upped signifcantly? Just the affordability of runes heh.
Razors Edge and Death Cleaver or Heaven's Light be possible options good pvp weapons?
I do have 20dex Raven 250Atk Raven and Angelic Amulet/Ring For my AR, and 15dr string+shaft dracul's but i still seem to have trouble fighting smiters
and WW barbs (mostly because ones I've fought where 2handed Botd cb's)
Is my DR lacking? I seem to have trouble getting good strong hits through the WW's mostly because I find myself chasing them uintentionally and with 2handed weapons its pretty much when they hit its all or nothing.

My last question is, I picked up a eth Dimensional Blade and a Eth War Pike are either worth holding on too? They dont have any sockets in them but if I use my socket quests I would be able to get my max of 6 sockets?

[mooseontheloose]

Well I don't play ladder so I won't give advice incase I'm wrong. I will comment that 160 Base Strength looks like way too much to me.

[Antiochous_3]

I cannot answer most of your questions as I do not pvp very much. As far as the warspike and Dim blade go, I would keep both. A 6 soc eth war spike can go for quite a bit when you find someone that wants a nice cross between the speed of a botd phase blade and the dmg of the botd Zerker. The Dim blade is the only eth 1H sword that can have botd so that too can be useful to the right person, although that person will be much harder to find. Good Luck!

Anti

[shaftstop]

I cannot answer most of your questions as I do not pvp very much. As far as the warspike and Dim blade go, I would keep both. A 6 soc eth war spike can go for quite a bit when you find someone that wants a nice cross between the speed of a botd phase blade and the dmg of the botd Zerker. The Dim blade is the only eth 1H sword that can have botd so that too can be useful to the right person, although that person will be much harder to find. Good Luck!

Anti


Thanks for the tip, I figured the eth dim blade might be useful for a fellow zealot since most I dont "think" are concerned about range and the damage on most dim blades are still pretty incrediable so I can only imagine what the speed and damage might be like in the right hands, I may even hold on to it for myself :) in the off chance i get runes lol.

[gvandale]

my .02 is that str is way too high.

end game gear that can work great:

STONE armor
HOZ
coa (2x um)
gore riders / war travs
1x raven
1x angelic ring / amulet
dracul's grasp
verdungo's belt (vit / dr)

weapons' vary on your finance's

i love stormlash. i smoked a wind druid last night.

:)

[shaftstop]

my .02 is that str is way too high.

end game gear that can work great:

STONE armor
HOZ
coa (2x um)
gore riders / war travs
1x raven
1x angelic ring / amulet
dracul's grasp
verdungo's belt (vit / dr)

weapons' vary on your finance's

i love stormlash. i smoked a wind druid last night.

:)

Some good points :)
I figured my Str might be abit to high but i wasn't sure, what kind of gear was in my future (it was my first toon on ladder)
before I was able to start wannabe Mfing heh Im level 86 atm with 1280life (charms and gear included but alot less +life charms atm)

My only weapon choices right now is Bstar, Razors Edge, Death Cleaver.
I wonder if maybe I'd need to consider rebuilding.

[Ulric]

I personally don't think Zealots do well in PVP, even with high end weapons. But if you really want to play PVP, you need to get 50% DR. In PVP leech is almost useless, so if you get a VampGaze, get one with high DR instead of leech. Also get items with Magic Damage. Magic Damage cannot be resisted. Light Sabre is nice because it is also VERY fast and has very nice Magic Damage. Open wound, critical hits add up, so try to get those things too. One nice glove is a crafted blood glove, with IAS, CrushingBlow, and more. I don't think there is one perfect setup, you always have to choose between offense and defense. try out few things and see what you like and what you don't. As for socketting, forget the Dimensional Blade, its not worth socketing. As for the Warpike, you can use a cube recipe to socket it.

[Antiochous_3]

I personally don't think Zealots do well in PVP, even with high end weapons. But if you really want to play PVP, you need to get 50% DR. In PVP leech is almost useless, so if you get a VampGaze, get one with high DR instead of leech. Also get items with Magic Damage. Magic Damage cannot be resisted. Light Sabre is nice because it is also VERY fast and has very nice Magic Damage. Open wound, critical hits add up, so try to get those things too. One nice glove is a crafted blood glove, with IAS, CrushingBlow, and more. I don't think there is one perfect setup, you always have to choose between offense and defense. try out few things and see what you like and what you don't. As for socketting, forget the Dimensional Blade, its not worth socketing. As for the Warpike, you can use a cube recipe to socket it.

I wouldn't use the cube recipies to soc the war spike if i wee you. The soc recipies add a random number of soc to the item and it would be a shame to get 1,2,3,or 4 soc onsuch a nice eth war spike. The only useful ind 5 soc runeword is Eternity, and I think that particular rw is used much better in a 5 soc eth scourge. That leaves only botd for the war spike which means only 6 soc will do.

Anti

[Antiochous_3]

I personally don't think Zealots do well in PVP, even with high end weapons. But if you really want to play PVP, you need to get 50% DR. In PVP leech is almost useless, so if you get a VampGaze, get one with high DR instead of leech. Also get items with Magic Damage. Magic Damage cannot be resisted. Light Sabre is nice because it is also VERY fast and has very nice Magic Damage. Open wound, critical hits add up, so try to get those things too. One nice glove is a crafted blood glove, with IAS, CrushingBlow, and more. I don't think there is one perfect setup, you always have to choose between offense and defense. try out few things and see what you like and what you don't. As for socketting, forget the Dimensional Blade, its not worth socketing. As for the Warpike, you can use a cube recipe to socket it.

I wouldn't use the cube recipies to soc the war spike if i were you. The soc recipies add a random number of soc to the item and it would be a shame to get 1,2,3,or 4 soc on such a nice eth war spike. The only useful ind 5 soc runeword is Eternity, and I think that particular rw is used much better in a 5 soc eth scourge. That leaves only botd for the war spike which means only 6 soc will do.

Anti

Anti

[Antiochous_3]

Sorry, double post. Computers Here at school are being very strange....

[shaftstop]

The Eth War Pike, I canmake 6 socket for Botd. The Eth Dimensional Blade, I can probably throw 6 sockets there too, I was thinking along the lines of maybe Silence though if I got the correct sockets.
I would think though Dimensional Blade (eth) with BoTD would be a pretty decient weapon though despite it only be a exceptional weapon.

right now like I said before I have DC, Razors Edge and a Bstar and Nord's Ten. Death Cleaver has lowest min damage but best max. Rest of the weapons seem to tighten the gap between min/max.
I do pretty well in most fights I find it annoying i need to swap from ele to dr gear all the timecus no one seems to understand what a "melee duel" is and you join only see 7 necros hostling you. 6 of the 7 are petmancers w/ Engimas which is really fustrating because Zeal is useless lol.

[majorB]

I would go with the Death Cleaver out of all the weps you listed, its a sweet little axe.

On the subject of losing certian duels, smiters(ones who use smite mainly and arent punk zealots using smite to be an ***) and ww barbs will almost always beat a zealot, its unfortunate for you, but thats the way things are.

Your eth stuff, keep the war pike clean/unsocketed to trade, or use the socket quest to get 6 if you want to botd it. And for the dimensional, I personally wouldnt use it for botd, the damage would be too low to justify the runes, but its your call.

[shaftstop]

Ok thanks everyone for all the help, Im gunna probably just leave eth dim alone then try and find a better Death Cleaver if Ican if not I'll try my luck at getting a ED jewel of some kind. Is a 661def Shaft worth upgrading I know runes are rather expensive I wonder if upping armor/shield and such is better off left to near or perfect grade item?
Im wearing at the moment a Blackthorns mask, Im gunna try and find a gaze, since I melee more then anything reaching 50% DR is probably most important thing, then maybe socketing some IAS into that shaft I just mentioned? I'd like to get a COA but i think that might be alittle to pricey for me atm. But maybe i'll get a good deal for the Eth War Pike.

[Stoutwood]

The Eth War Pike, I canmake 6 socket for Botd. The Eth Dimensional Blade, I can probably throw 6 sockets there too, I was thinking along the lines of maybe Silence though if I got the correct sockets.
I would think though Dimensional Blade (eth) with BoTD would be a pretty decient weapon though despite it only be a exceptional weapon.

right now like I said before I have DC, Razors Edge and a Bstar and Nord's Ten. Death Cleaver has lowest min damage but best max. Rest of the weapons seem to tighten the gap between min/max.
I do pretty well in most fights I find it annoying i need to swap from ele to dr gear all the timecus no one seems to understand what a "melee duel" is and you join only see 7 necros hostling you. 6 of the 7 are petmancers w/ Engimas which is really fustrating because Zeal is useless lol.

I think anyone who uses a BotD dimensional blade deserves many style points. EBotD Berserker Axes are common to the point of lameness, and one almost never sees dim blades. Nonetheless, I have used them and they aren't bad at all. Of the two, I would still (and do) use an eBotD War Spike. But I must say that dim blades are about 20 times cooler.

[Antiochous_3]

I disagree. Many people have made botd in a phase blade, and it is a very nice wep. The only disadvantage to making botd in a Dim blade is the fact that a dim blade has a base speed of 0 and the phase blade has a base speed of -30.

Phase Blade
31 to 35 dmg (33 Avg)
Range 2
Base Speed -30

Eth Dim Blade
19 to 52 dmg (36 Avg)
Range 1
Base Speed 0

So, Since a zealot is the only char that i can think of that would use a botd phase blade and all you need to hit 4 fps when useing a classic zealot and a base 0 wep is an extra 5 ias (60 ias on botd), I would say a eth 6 soc dim blade is a better choice than a Phase Blade.

Anti

[Stoutwood]

I disagree. Many people have made botd in a phase blade, and it is a very nice wep. The only disadvantage to making botd in a Dim blade is the fact that a dim blade has a base speed of 0 and the phase blade has a base speed of -30.

Phase Blade
31 to 35 dmg (33 Avg)
Range 2
Base Speed -30

Eth Dim Blade
19 to 52 dmg (36 Avg)
Range 1
Base Speed 0

So, Since a zealot is the only char that i can think of that would use a botd phase blade and all you need to hit 4 fps when useing a classic zealot and a base 0 wep is an extra 5 ias (60 ias on botd), I would say a eth 6 soc dim blade is a better choice than a Phase Blade.

Anti

How are you disagreeing with me? I was defending the Dim blade. :scratch:

[Antiochous_3]

How are you disagreeing with me? I was defending the Dim blade. :scratch:

Lol, sorry. I wasn't disagreeing with you. I think you posted in between the time when I started to post and when I finished. Thus it looks as if i was disagreeing with you, but was actually disagreeing with a post above yours.

Thats what I get for note quoting in my post. I am glad that you are one of the few that sees the style in useing a eth dim blade.

Anti

[shaftstop]

all interesting points thanks lol
I've always tried to be the unique snowflake! But I wouldn't mind trying a Eth Dim BoTD, its hardly a waste of runes with so many floating around I mean, with the ammount of BoTDs, Doom, Exile and so forth out there...
Its only time thats really wasted heh.
I think if one is lucky with a decient ed like any botd, it can have alot of potiental for a high damage zealer toy and have a cool factor.

[Antiochous_3]

all interesting points thanks lol
I've always tried to be the unique snowflake! But I wouldn't mind trying a Eth Dim BoTD, its hardly a waste of runes with so many floating around I mean, with the ammount of BoTDs, Doom, Exile and so forth out there...
Its only time thats really wasted heh.
I think if one is lucky with a decient ed like any botd, it can have alot of potiental for a high damage zealer toy and have a cool factor.

Glad we could all help. Good Luck and Have fun!

Anti

[xpumafangx]

Hey anti, I just wanted to let you know that the cubing resipe is for max or 1 less socts. The odds are well in your favor to get the maxed as well. I know because of 2 things.

1. Read up on what blizzard says about it.

2. When I was trying to get my santuary sheild. I went thro like 10 elite pally sheild all of them got 4 socts. I was lucky enuff to find one wile mfing with 3 socts and had resist all but not by the amount that I wanted. I wanted one with at least 35 the one I found had 15. Still got 95% resist all on it tho.

[Antiochous_3]

Hey anti, I just wanted to let you know that the cubing resipe is for max or 1 less socts. The odds are well in your favor to get the maxed as well. I know because of 2 things.

1. Read up on what blizzard says about it.

2. When I was trying to get my santuary sheild. I went thro like 10 elite pally sheild all of them got 4 socts. I was lucky enuff to find one wile mfing with 3 socts and had resist all but not by the amount that I wanted. I wanted one with at least 35 the one I found had 15. Still got 95% resist all on it tho.

Sorry but I know you are a little confused. Its understandable because of the dumb way the blizz words it. This it what its says:

1 Ral Rune + 1 Amn Rune + 1 Perfect Amethyst + Normal Weapon = Socketed
Weapon of same type

The number of sockets created will vary. The item must be normal and unsocketed. Low-quality items and superior items do not work. The item gets 1-6 sockets, randomly. However, the number of sockets is then restricted by the maximum number of sockets that base item with that ilvl can have. For example, if you have an item that can only have 2 sockets, there's a 5/6 chance of getting 2 sockets and a 1/6 chance of getting 1 socket.

So as you can see it can get any number of soc as long as the max number is not restricted by the item type. Since both the Dim Blade and the Eth war Spike can get 6 soc then nothing restrics the number of soc it can get.

However, I to have had the same experience as you when soc items. As the recipie states, there is a much greater chance of getting the max soc then getting less than max soc. It took me over 9 norm Zerkers to finally get a 3 soc one. If I remeber correctly, I ended up with 5 zerkers-6 soc, 2 zerkers-5 soc, 1 zerker-4soc, and the final 1 got 3 soc thankfully.

Hope this clears things up.

Anti

[Stoutwood]

Just use Larzuk. He always gives max sockets.