View Full Version : Outfitting a Rouge Merc
cracked sash
02-06-2004, 23:58
I am currently playing a Frost Zealot Pally (PVM). I have decided on an ACT1 fire-arrow merc to assist my massive cold damage aura/zeal. I figure the ZON forum is the place to ask these questions about outfitting my rouge merc, so here goes...
I need an optimum set-up for NM and Hell. I figure NM ill' use my Kuko, and late hell maybe a WF if I can trade for 1. BOTD bows are a waste of a Zod, since bows can't be etherial right?
Maybe my 3x15max dmg helm in NM, and delirium in hell? Duriels Shell in NM, CoH in Hell? I am sure I am missing some really good outfitting/tweaking ideas... Like CB set-ups, better LL setups.
Would a 2x fire facet'd Tals armor and helm and an Up'd Kuko be a good idea for those hell cold immunes? Would I then Fire Facet the kuko or shael it?
Remember my max Holy Freeze aura is really going to slow things down for her arrows (over 50%). And I am Maxing Zeal with a Doom Berzerker Ax (good physical damage) and a perf Nightwings sock'd with a 5/5 cold facet, so I will be dishing out the cold damage. HoZ UM'd shield and GA armor (have not decided if I am going with a cold facet or UM in the Guardian Angel Armor)
Anyway, any ideas out there?
-Sash
HoJ bow - obviously
Ias helm + armor for rapid fire.
lextalionis
03-06-2004, 01:49
HoJ bow - obviously
Ias helm + armor for rapid fire.
I'm not sure if you are going to like the damage. :(
cracked sash
03-06-2004, 01:55
I'm not sure if you are going to like the damage. :(
Whats the damage on a up'd kuko? (not to mention the str, dex, and lvl requirements?
lextalionis
03-06-2004, 02:30
Whats the damage on a up'd kuko? (not to mention the str, dex, and lvl requirements?
Average Base damage on Cedar bow is 19.5, on a Shadow Bow 36. That's not insignificant. But the Dex Requirement skyrockets from 49 to 188, so I'm not sure at what level if there is even a level your merc can use it. Strength won't be a problem. CLVL is 53 ish, I"m not sure with the Kuko mods if it will go hirer. But I wasn't refering to that as much as the damage overall from your merc will be pretty pitiful. It won't be able to kill things on its own. But still BoL.
Kuko Shakaku
Cedar Bow *
(27-30) - (75-84) Damage
53 Str Required
49 Dex Required
Item Level: 41
Clvl Req: 33 +150-180% Enhanced Damage
Adds 40-180 fire damage
Fires Explosive Arrows or Bolts
+50% Chance of Hit Piercing Target
+3 to Immolation Arrow (Amazon Only)
+3 to Bow & Crossbow Skills (Amazon Only) Dmg Bonus: 100 Dex
Weapon Speed: 0
Firing Rate:
Fast: Am/As/B/D/P/S
Normal: N
upgrades to: SHADOW BOW
Shadow Bow
15-59 Dmg
Str Req: 52
Dex Req: 188
Item Level: 61
Clvl Req: 53 Sockets: 1-5
Dmg Bonus: 100 Dex
Inv Size: 2x4 Weapon Speed: 0
Firing Rate:
Fast: Am/As/B/D/P/S
Normal: N
FROM: CEDAR BOW
Cedar Bow
10-29 Damage
Str Req: 53
Dex Req: 49
Item Level: 35
Clvl Req: 23* Sockets: 1-5
Dmg Bonus: 100 Dex
Inv Size: 2x4 Weapon Speed: 0
Firing Rate:
Fast: Am/As/B/D/P/S
Normal: N
cracked sash
03-06-2004, 02:50
o- then ill' not do that, the Kuko's out 4 hell.
you think wearing talz armor and helm- on a fire arrow merc (in order to leverage her elimental damage) may work? How about the added benifit of each, socketed' with two 5/5 fire facets? She iz gonna help me take care of the cold/physical immunes in hell...
-Sash
lextalionis
03-06-2004, 03:20
o- then ill' not do that, the Kuko's out 4 hell.
you think wearing talz armor and helm- on a fire arrow merc (in order to leverage her elimental damage) may work? How about the added benifit of each, socketed' with two 5/5 fire facets? She iz gonna help me take care of the cold/physical immunes in hell...
-Sash
I think you need to check withsomeone about rogue bow IAS breakpoints on different bows. I don't know what they are, but I think the most important thing to do for your merc would be to get it firing as quickly as possible. I also think you'd have a lot of options out there.
HoJ bow - obviously
Ias helm + armor for rapid fire.
At first I wondered why in the world you would so strongly require a HoJ to this person....then I looked up the stats!
100% Chance To Cast Level 36 Blaze When You Level-Up
100% Chance To Cast Level 48 Meteor When You Die
Level 16 Holy Fire Aura When Equipped
+33% Increased Attack Speed
+280-330% Enhanced Damage
Ignore Target's Defense
7% Life Stolen Per Hit
-20% To Enemy Fire Resistance
20% Deadly Strike
Hit Blinds Target
Freezes Target
I tend to agree... :uhhuh:
GB
Here is the page http://diabloii.net/townsfolk/mercias/rias.shtml#bow-10 that shows the rogue IAS break points.
If fire damage is your goal, then the Kuko is still a good choice. It still has more fire damage than a 6 socket bow filled with Rals or Prubies. Put an IAS jewel in Kuko, use Spirit Forge armor with 2 IAS jewels and a Pcrown (IAS'd) on her. This will give her 10frame attack, very decent fire damage, great life and +1 skills. the +1 skills is rather important, but I'll let you figure out why.;)
Personally, I think this makes her too much of a one trick pony, but that might be just a matter of taste.
Edit: yeah, HOJ looks great, if you can afford it.
cracked sash
03-06-2004, 18:18
the +1 skills is rather important, but I'll let you figure out why.;)
I have not had a rouge since .09 Back then plus skills changed her magic attack into chain lightning and such. I hear they "fixed" that. My guess as to why plus 1 is good, it up's the fire arrow damage?
When my rouge hits lvl 73, I want to go with a WF. It has a base speed of 10. I need 120 ias to reach the 10 FPS breakpoint. I'll Shael the WF for 20 ias. How do I get the other 100 IAS? Jewels in the helm and armor?
-Sash
Rogues don't use the IAS tables that amazons use. The WF with 40 more IAS will get the rogue to a 10 fps speed.
cracked sash
03-06-2004, 21:51
Rogues don't use the IAS tables that amazons use. The WF with 40 more IAS will get the rogue to a 10 fps speed.
Thats good. what a relief. So what is the BEST way to get that extra 40 IAS?
-Sash
Shael the bow for 20, then if you're wealthy, i'd say use Andariel's Visage for the helm. That will give you the 40 total. Otherwise you could get some easy armor like Griswold's or Spirit Forge and use IAS jewels.
sash: My bad, I was reading the -10 bow speed. WF being a 10 WOULD require 120 IAS to get to 10 fps, which is only possible using IAS jewels in both the helm and armor along with shaeling the bow (20 on bow, 20 for shael, then 80 total between armor and helm, or 60 IAS armor + andy's visage or MAv's diadem)
I have not had a rouge since .09 Back then plus skills changed her magic attack into chain lightning and such. I hear they "fixed" that. My guess as to why plus 1 is good, it up's the fire arrow damage?
When my rouge hits lvl 73, I want to go with a WF. It has a base speed of 10. I need 120 ias to reach the 10 FPS breakpoint. I'll Shael the WF for 20 ias. How do I get the other 100 IAS? Jewels in the helm and armor?
-SashYep, +1 still gives you fire arrow, the rogue will shoot FA 2/3s of the time. +2 will give her equal amounts of cold,fire and reg attack. and +3 gives her cold, fire and blanks(!) now that the hose is gone.
cracked sash
04-06-2004, 17:57
I have an Andy's Visage, but getting the 60IAS armor on ladder is going to be a challenge. Since my char is a frost zealot and I am trying to max my merc's fire elimental attack, I should go with +1 all skillz, but andy's visage is plus 2! :grrr:
3 socket helm and 4 soc armor (7 x 15 ias jewels = 115 ias). This set up would have no + 1 skillz or life leech. I better start looking for IAS jewels.
Mav's set- Diadem (30 ias, soc +15 = 45 ias, so would still need +35 ias) With Mav's armor thats + 1 all skillz too! I could socket the armor for an additional IAS, but I am still not sure I would hit the optimum breakpoint with a shael'd WF. I think it would be 20 ias shy.
-Sash
If you go the all IAS jewels route, then you obviously don't have to shael the bow. You could leave it clean for re-sell purposes.
cracked sash
04-06-2004, 18:30
If you go the all IAS jewels route, then you obviously don't have to shael the bow. You could leave it clean for re-sell purposes.
I don't care too much about that, besides, who would not put a shael in it anyway? It iz a perf 8% mana leech WF, but its already soc'd and shael'd now. Currently lvling my act1 norm fire arrow merc, she is lvl 63.
Does anyone know if she will be able to use the WF at its clvl requirement or will she need added str and dex?
-Sash
Rogues get 1 STR and 2 DEX per level, I don't have a table, so you could check out what she has now, and add 10 STR and 20 DEX for when she can use the bow at level 73. I suppose you could blow a shael and 3 hel runes to Hel the bow until she can use it.
Sokar Rostau
04-06-2004, 19:38
Yep, +1 still gives you fire arrow, the rogue will shoot FA 2/3s of the time. +2 will give her equal amounts of cold,fire and reg attack. and +3 gives her cold, fire and blanks(!) now that the hose is gone.
My Druid's Rogue uses Kuko and those 'blanks' explode on impact :).
My Druid's Rogue uses Kuko and those 'blanks' explode on impact :).
That is her normal attack. Rogues cannot use Amazon or bow skills, only all skills items work on them.
Sash, I think she will have to be lvl83 or so to be strong enough to use a WF. You may want to help her out a bit if you want her to use it at lvl73.
cracked sash
04-06-2004, 23:15
That is her normal attack. Rogues cannot use Amazon or bow skills, only all skills items work on them.
Sash, I think she will have to be lvl83 or so to be strong enough to use a WF. You may want to help her out a bit if you want her to use it at lvl73.
i c
so whats the best bow 2 use somewhere between my kuko and WF? I have a widowmaker?
-Sash
The Widowmaker might be a good choice. Things like ITD, magic arrows sound good to me. An up'd Riphook, Witchwild or a reg Goldstrike would be a good bow choice also. Still, the best bow for a rogue might be one of those crazy rares. Give her a near 400ED rare Ward and she might do better damage with it than a WF. My Java's rogue uses a 298ED, 14max, 20IAS, one other mod, rare spider bow and that is only an 'average' rare bow these days.
Sokar Rostau
05-06-2004, 06:22
That is her normal attack. Rogues cannot use Amazon or bow skills, only all skills items work on them.
That is what I meant to say as Kuko fires explosive arrows, but I can see how it may have been misinterpreted.
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