Act2 merc Quiestion(s)

[helvete]

Hi, I'm totally new at posting, but I've been reading these forums for some time now. I've played 1.10 single player, using ATMA since the patch came, and deleted all my 1.09 characters and items, since I wanted a fresh start.

Now, I've just rediscovered the necromancer (coolest character in the game, but he was sort of underpowered in 1.09).

To the point:
I wonder what the *best* weapon for a act2 merc would be? (besides breath)

Currently, my defiance merc (we are both only level 50, but going FAST) is using a "Crescent Moon" ethereal colossus voulge (to get that much str. he wears griswold armor (3 p. amethysts) and a "Face of Horror" mask (+70 to strenght isnt bad, eh?)

However, it'll take ages for him to be able to wear any other armor pieces...

This is where I would like help (not that he dies or anything in act1 NM where we are now).

1: Are there any other weapons he could use (at lvl 50-60 or so)?
2: If I decide to go with the pure damage of the Colossus Voulge (74-731), chanse to cast static, reduce lightning resist and so on, what are my options on armor?
3: Besides BotD, what would be the ultimate weapon for him? Was thinking eth Arioc's (+4 to his defiance would make my meatshields and skellies that much longer lasting later on) or even eth war pike silence (2+ to aura, no worries with damage, awsome resists, even a little MF).

I can come up with just about anything with my other chars (90 novasorc with full tals, 87 boner with all synergies, 88 werewolf with sick upped and socketed ribcracker) and this time I'm going to create a real showoff char to impress my friends!

Phew... first post = long post, but I wanted to include all that so you know where I stand.

[Slipin]

The Cresent moon is a fine weapon, for armor you should get max PDR for your merc, so Shaft + Vamp gaze (Eth if you can), to give good def and 50 PDR. BotD isn't really the best weapon, the damage is good, but it lacks what a merc really needs. If your going to use a might merc, the best weapon would be a Doom GP (eth if its a merc only weapon) to give might and HF. If you going for a HF or other merc, Eth Tomb reaver is awesome for the good damage (840+), res, mf, and even some meat shields.

[Monarch]

err...why use defiance? u should use a might merc also welcome to the necro fourm grab a cold one and feel free to raise some corpses.

-WalrusPK :grrr:

[Slipin]

If your rich, defiance merc with a doom is the best option for a boner.

[helvete]

If your rich, defiance merc with a doom is the best option for a boner.

Ah, I'm sorry. Forgot to say that my main killskill will be poison nova, I've got so much +skills gear that it should be very efficient

Going

20 raise skeleton
20 mastery
01 revive (already get 12 revives from +skills)
01 fire golem (he too is pretty strong)
20 poison nova
1 in most curses

and then synergies to nova as far as possible. Might even skip some points in mastery just to max synergies, using arm of king leoric, 2+ from marrowwalks, 2+ from Arkaines Valor (socketed with rare -15% req jewel) 2+ ammy and 2+ from shako it should be cake anyway.. Even have a couple charms, though I'd rather use poison/bone charms.

The point of all this is mostly to keep the guy safe for 2 full seconds while the nova makes short work of anything not poison immune. That's why defiance is still my preferred aura. If I ever get my hands on the runes, I'll make an ethereal bramble for the merc, so enemies who do hit anything will bleed...

BTW should I use trang oul head (with poisonfacet it will have -29% enemy poison resist) or should I just use a rare with good stats/skills/resists?
Right now I'm using sigon's (nice block for a +1 shield) with a diamond in it.

A Doom requires a cham rune (wich I am nowhere close to cube atm) and would shatter valuable corpses, so if I manage to make one, I'll let my paladins might merc have it.

A eth toomb reaver would probably be the best, that, eth guardian angel and eth vampire gaze would make him very close to perfect... although shako, arkaines and eth ariocs would give him eight more levels of defiance, a stunning 80% extra defense for everything... and I'm already wearing arkaines and I'm going for max block one way or another..

Heh, soooo hard to choose :hanky:

[Mad Mantis]

Might even skip some points in mastery just to max synergies.

That would be best considering that you say you have a lot of +skills. Mastery and RS can be upped with those +skills. The poison synergies can't.




BTW should I use trang oul head (with poisonfacet it will have -29% enemy poison resist) or should I just use a rare with good stats/skills/resists?

Go for three parts Trang. It will dramatically raise your kill speed in Hell.




A eth toomb reaver would probably be the best

Or eth Bonehew. If you Shael Amn the Bonehew than they both have the same speed, but Bonehew will have slightly more damage.

[helvete]

Thanks, manthis!

I used ist runes in all 3 sockets on the only eth toomb reaver I ever found, and my superhigh mf barb's merc is using it atm... so eth bonehew is probably best damagewise.

Still, +4 ariocs would boost the aura (might if I decide to get more physical damage from skeletons) pretty much, right? I'll just have to see, it will be easy to notice the difference, I think.

Heheee.... this guy just might be the one I'll play to find the highest runes! He's going to turn out pretty good! :thumbsup:

[Mad Mantis]

Still, +4 ariocs would boost the aura (might if I decide to get more physical damage from skeletons) pretty much, right?

That is correct. If you are dependant on the aura and not the killing power of your Merc, then Arioc's is a good choice.