Help I can't hit anything in Hell

[Kumakichi]

I've done some reading and tried some suggestions but in the end my Barb just can't hit anything in Hell. Here's my stats...

Lvl 74
20 Sword Mastery
20 BO
20 Whirlwind
17 Shout
Normal pre-req's

Str 170
Dex 140
Vit 170
Energy 10

I'm a poor barb by comparison to most posters on this forum but here is my gear.

6% Arreats
49/22 Leviathon/Steel Carapace
Soul Drainers
Eth Storm Treks
String/Verdungo's/Wilhelms
Highlords
238 Ravenfrost
200 Ravenfrost
Bul-Kathos Swords
2x Flamebellows
Tiamats

I know its a real hodgepodge of gear but like I mentioned I'm poor by comparison but I have non-stop problems in Hell.

I read some posts saying to put on a Highlords and 2 Ravenfrosts and it would boost my AR way up and solve my problems. Well it boosted it but not enough. Its at about 4500k. I always run out of Mana due to not hitting anything when I WW thru a pack. I did a little test and I can WW just fine in NM Baal running. I am sort of ok in Hell Act 1 but I do eventually run out of mana and have to drink a pot. Last nite I was doing Acts 4 and 5 in Hell and I could barely hit a thing. It made WW'ing impossible.

My friends say its because my Strength gets disproportionally high due to my gear. I think it gets up to around 280 and my dex is around 190 with gear. I did a little check in Act 4 and I had about a 72% chance to hit monsters. I took all my gear off and it dropped to around 50% chance to hit.

So I have 2 questions. Is my character just too low in level to do Hell? Or is my gear truly that bad that I just can't do Hell? Any advice would be appreciated. Btw.. I know my weaps are terrible but oh well.

[Halciet]

You're gear is not bad at all, the only real problems being that you need much better weapons and the shield should be replaced with Stormshield. Otherwise, it's a pretty nice spread.

As for your hit %, that's made up of a combination of factors. First off is your level; chance to hit inceases as you gain levels, and 74 is generally around the time I am entering hell to begin with. Secondly is ar, and 4500 is definately low. You can remedy that for the time being by equipping something along the lines of angelic amulet/rings (which can give up to 1188 base each, meaning you'll be scraping around 15-20k or so on average), use enchant charges from demon limb, and/or get some ar charms. As you gain levels and find better stuff, you can swap some of this out for nicer things.

-Hal

[rikstaker]

the problem is, none of ur weapons are hitting the last ww breakpoints u need to hit -35,it is the difference between rocking & sucking in hell.

pop a shael in the col blade or make a cresent moon legend sword-the cheapest ww wep & you will start killing again but u need more damage in later acts or u will hit a brick wall.

[Loca`ne]

4.5k is a bit low, I'm lvl 57 now and have just under 5k (no cries) right now slaying NM monsters like they are butter. With cries I go over 6k not sure of the exact #'s, can double check later. The Angelic idea is perfect for you though, that should take care of your problem. As far as the other eq Hal suggested I wouldn't know, still not that knowledgeable on items as he is.

[Taz]

BK`s swords are not that bad, expecially if u throw a shael in the big one and a 15IAS/..anything.. in the small one; coupled with laying of hands gloves works very well for hell pit runs (good mf and exp).
U may need more ML and a act2 hell offernsive merc may help.
4500 AR is not bad and getting a few lvl ups will do better than pumping AR.
And my oppinion, for a pvm baba loose the shield for dual wilding and also loose dracul`s for some blood gloves and stormtrecks for goblin toe or goreriders.

[Kumakichi]

Hey thanks for all the great advice. I do happen to have Angelic ammy and a couple rings. And I have a stormshield. So I"lll give that a go.

I know my weapons are pretty bad. I have a grandfather but its slow as well. I've been hoping on turning up a rare but no such luck so far. I'll look at the Cresent Moon.... maybe I'll be able to make that.

I did try a blessed aim merc and it got me up to 10k AR with present equipment. But I was thinking I'd struggle later in hell and I'd prefer to have a might merc to boost my damage. Does that make any sense?

[Taz]

Hey thanks for all the great advice. I do happen to have Angelic ammy and a couple rings. And I have a stormshield. So I"lll give that a go.

I know my weapons are pretty bad. I have a grandfather but its slow as well. I've been hoping on turning up a rare but no such luck so far. I'll look at the Cresent Moon.... maybe I'll be able to make that.

I did try a blessed aim merc and it got me up to 10k AR with present equipment. But I was thinking I'd struggle later in hell and I'd prefer to have a might merc to boost my damage. Does that make any sense?
Bk`s big sword with shael > crescent moon legend sword and if u have/get the runes making duress(best pvm barb armor imo) would do a lot better.

[Kumakichi]

Btw.... how do you use the demon's limb. Do your cries then put on the demon's limb and enchant. I see its lvl 23 enchant? Does that last for awhile? I'm guessing this adds some decent fire damage to my attack?

[rikstaker]

Bk`s big sword with shael > crescent moon legend sword and if u have/get the runes making duress(best pvm barb armor imo) would do a lot better.
I'd say cresent moon,the guy has got ar problems,so itd will help a lot,and doing so he will free up the ring and ammy slots used by angelics for some nice leech rings(his other problem) U need to do a balancing act when u are short of equipment,damage isn't everything.

[Shanksie1337]

Enchant from demon limb lasts about 11 minutes. So u can stash it once u have cast it.

[Halciet]

Btw.... how do you use the demon's limb. Do your cries then put on the demon's limb and enchant. I see its lvl 23 enchant? Does that last for awhile? I'm guessing this adds some decent fire damage to my attack?

It won't really add much damage, but it does add 217% ar that lasts for around 10 minutes or so. I generally just leave it in my stash and before I go out in the field throw it on and cast, then put it back. AR mods all stack at the same time, so it doesn't matter if you do it before or after warcries.

-Hal

edit: shark posted while I was typing, sorry to reiterate that point.

[squigipapa]

AR mods all stack at the same time, so it doesn't matter if you do it before or after warcries.

-Hal

edit: shark posted while I was typing, sorry to reiterate that point.

Ya, and if you happen to hit a combat shrine .. check out your AR then, I hit over 100k and some here have hit tripple that .. :) .. it's just wierd to see. 117856 AR.. :)

[Taz]

I'd say cresent moon,the guy has got ar problems,so itd will help a lot,and doing so he will free up the ring and ammy slots used by angelics for some nice leech rings(his other problem) U need to do a balancing act when u are short of equipment,damage isn't everything.
I really think that ITD mod is close to useless since it doesn`t affect any bosses and in hell there are a lot of em and AR comes into play so if u have arround 85% chance to hit doesn`t make the difference.
His main problem is the "low" lvl and slow weapons.

[rikstaker]

I really think that ITD mod is close to useless since it doesn`t affect any bosses and in hell there are a lot of em and AR comes into play so if u have arround 85% chance to hit doesn`t make the difference.
His main problem is the "low" lvl and slow weapons.

there are many,but they cant be more numerous than normal monsters,the equation is like 1:15-20.He can switch to zerk(if higher ar) when he comes across uniques.ITD is nowhere near useless.My barb used cresecent moon with the similar setup until act 5,when I had my botd.

[Taz]

there are many,but they cant be more numerous than normal monsters,the equation is like 1:15-20.He can switch to zerk(if higher ar) when he comes across uniques.ITD is nowhere near useless.My barb used cresecent moon with the similar setup until act 5,when I had my botd.
I used a CM legend sword quite a lot as it was the weapon i`ve break through in hell with early ladder (i payed "Dark Adherent" - set dusk shroud for the um rune :idea: ) and i clearly remember that i was in a sameish situation beying lvl 73 or so with 3-4000 AR. Itd certainly helped but there was a clear difference from normal monsters to any boss in my hitrate...it was a pain killing any boss as i lost more time killing the boss than the pack arround him.
However getting lvl 85 or so with the same AR made a real difference for bosses while there were no noticeable difference in hitting normal monsters.
Zerk/Conc may do as the kinky thing about CM is the %chance for static.

[acceleration turkey]

your problem in hell is likely going to be your low life. 170 vitality is less than half what you want. but your AR is bad also.

if you want more hits per WW pass, put a shael in the bul kathos swords. with a shael both swords will hit -35.

if you want more hits in general, cast battle cry on monsters. spend just one point, and let plus skills do the work. even at level 1 it cuts target defense by 50%, which at your Clvl and AR would be roughly the same as adding 1500 or 2000 AR. battle cry keeps you safe also by cutting enemy damage.

also, theres nothing wrong with drinking pots. put a point in find potion and you will be drinking full rejuvs as much as you want. just run around after you kill a group of monsters and fill your belt back up.

steel charms are a great way to increase AR...you can get over 100 AR on a grand charm, which translates into several hundred once the % bonus from your arreats and skills kicks in.

yet another way to mix in more AR would be to substitute IK boots/belt/gloves. there is a partial set bonus for AR, AR on the boots, and the gloves add dex. either way ditch the sandstorms for fighting boots of some kind.

as has been said, angelics amulet and 1 or 2 rings is the best and least invasive way to add AR.