What's so good about WWS?

[vvanks]

I just got a upped WWS, and I do 398 dmg. Even with deadly strike, that's around 800- and with amp dmg, that's 1600 (amp dmg rarely triggers, if not at all). So realistically, I'm looking at 800 or so dmg.

I know it gives resists, etc. Is there something I'm missing here? What's so good about witchy?

I'm currently at 115% IAS, and she kills pretty fast, but I'm worried about hell. (It takes about 3 strafes to kill an medium monster in act 5 baal)

[Lunatic]

The fact that you need less IAS then lets say wf is a gogo for me already. Then there's the fact that your minimum dmg is actually quite high aswell. Ofcourse the deadly strike is really really nice. And 40% resist really makes up for alot. And about the amp , 1 point in freeze arrow goes a long way with amp triggering.

My mf strafer did around 800-1400 displayed dmg. Combine this with around 85% DS and around 40% CS (1 point in CS) , and sometimes the amp , and I killed quite nice. With WF I did like 250-2200 dmg or so. Which is almost the same average dmg , but I had to put more points in CS to get some chance to do double dmg.

In the end I really prefer WWS over WF.

[Omikron8]

Considering that a 9/2 strafe will take at most (10 arrows) 29 frames = ~ 1.2 seconds i would consider 3 strafes to kill a hell act5 monster reasonable

as for WWS itself the advantages are numerous

low strength req --> lower base strength allowed which leads to more dex/vitality

2 sockets --> customize a balance of speed and mods for your equipment setup

deadly strike --> NO need for highlords/goreriders, this advantage is amazing especially for magic find bowazons

amp damage --> remove physical immunity if monster's physical res is less than 120% before amp activates

resists --> if you want to try hell worldstone and you don't have insane equipment like chains of honor + anni + res charms then this is THE bow to use as the 40 all res can easily get you in the positive resistances in hell when combined with anya quests

as mentioned the damage range of WWS is very tight which is even better for the naturally fast speed of WWS strafing

one last thing, it is VERY important to pump dexterity as high as possible with base stats/items as any little extra damage will rapidly be multiplied through the speed + deadly/critical strike + amp damage.

around 700 or 800 strafe damage (level 20) BEFORE critical/deadly strike/monster resistances is quite reasonable for a high level WWS strafer

get yourself a might merc for the extra punch and safety (give him a reaper's toll for decrepify or delirium helm for curses)

- the bottom line is that strafers are NOT the killing machines that hammerdins are, but they can easily hold their own with some smarts + decent equipment + valk + merc

[vvanks]

The fact that you need less IAS then lets say wf is a gogo for me already. Then there's the fact that your minimum dmg is actually quite high aswell. Ofcourse the deadly strike is really really nice. And 40% resist really makes up for alot. And about the amp , 1 point in freeze arrow goes a long way with amp triggering.

My mf strafer did around 800-1400 displayed dmg. Combine this with around 85% DS and around 40% CS (1 point in CS) , and sometimes the amp , and I killed quite nice. With WF I did like 250-2200 dmg or so. Which is almost the same average dmg , but I had to put more points in CS to get some chance to do double dmg.

In the end I really prefer WWS over WF.

Ah, that's what I want to konw, how did you get 800-1400 displayed dmg? I have 128-390 displayed dmg, and mine is upgraded too.

[Omikron8]

Ah, that's what I want to konw, how did you get 800-1400 displayed dmg? I have 128-390 displayed dmg, and mine is upgraded too.

400+ dexterity along with a might merc and some sharp grand charms/fine small charms + elemental small charms should let you hit such a number

[Lunatic]

I didn't have any dmg charms. I did put only a minimal points in str , and every other spare point in dex. And ofcourse the rest of my equipment was nice aswell. And that dmg was with a might merc. Without I had less ofcourse. :D

[CoRRuPt-OnE]

if you can post your equip/stats that can really help us see what you did wrong.

I myself have a 800-1200 atk with might and with 100% double dmg that's 1.6 - 2.4 which i dont think is too bad ^.^

When amp kicks in i have myself some really good dmg. Dont worry about hell this build (with the right gear) should be able to solo hell easily

[Liessa Wyrmbane]

My witchyzon had 12XX - 1850 Strafe damage. She had over 535 dexterity though.

[Pure-Amber]

hi,
I have a level 82 upped wws zon. She has 50 base vitality and around 450 dex. She wears a cats eye, some rare +2bow 20ias gloves, nos belt, gores and a couple of rare rings and a nice +2 circlet. I have a few gcs and some small dmg scs, not quite godly gear but then again... who is really THAT much better on ladder? When i switched to gores I noticed a drastic difference in killing speed. So i thought why not put some more crushing on her.... duress made it even more crazy. I was thinking if i can maintain my 115ias by making a nice 60ias armor id love to unsocket my witch and add 2 crushing blow rune... then again, thats 2 ber so... we shall see how mfing goes =( maybe a lo + ber 20 % cruching and deadly...

[Liessa Wyrmbane]

hi,
I have a level 82 upped wws zon. She has 50 base vitality and around 450 dex. She wears a cats eye, some rare +2bow 20ias gloves, nos belt, gores and a couple of rare rings and a nice +2 circlet. I have a few gcs and some small dmg scs, not quite godly gear but then again... who is really THAT much better on ladder? When i switched to gores I noticed a drastic difference in killing speed. So i thought why not put some more crushing on her.... duress made it even more crazy. I was thinking if i can maintain my 115ias by making a nice 60ias armor id love to unsocket my witch and add 2 crushing blow rune... then again, thats 2 ber so... we shall see how mfing goes =( maybe a lo + ber 20 % cruching and deadly...
Pure-Amber,

Thank you for your information regarding the effectiveness of Crushing Blow with Strafe. I've been thinking of starting a CB Strafer for some time now. Some people have said that CB's effectiveness is too low to be worth it, but your comments have made me to reconsider.

[sasja]

maybe a lo + ber 20 % cruching and deadly...
I don't know how much you plan to level her, but at high levels the Lo would seem a waste since WWS already has +1% chance of deadly strike per clevel - so past level 80, the Lo would slowly lose its effectiveness.

[Xiamet]

I've always found a little CB to be very effective for my zons, and each one is equipped with a GoreRider's for that very reason. To be honest, I'm not the biggest fan of WWS as a main bow...it's got alot of awesome mods, and it definitely can be an end game bow with the right setup/stat/skills etc...and for those who can't readily get ahold of a WF, it's a definite keeper.

But give me my choice, and I'd take WF and even Buriza over WWS any day...crunch all the numbers you want with the DS and % Chance to cast Amp, but the bottom line is how well it works in game...and given my experiences with WWS and it's performances in game, I'd have to relegate it to an awesome backup bow. And I've tried it with a pure dexazon and full out ias armor. It just doesn't do the damage some of the other bows do...even after figuring speed, mods etc.

I'm a true believer in speed kills, but damage is king...and I base this on actual gameplay experience. Of course, as always...this is simply my humble opinion. Your mileage may vary...

-X

[Omikron8]

I believe the damage dealt with crushing blow chance on ranged weapons is 1/8 and this is before any monster physical resistances which can significantly decrease it. I would strongly recommend war travs instead for the +15-25 damage as that bonus is treated as damage added to the BASE damage of your weapon, therefore multiplied by dexterity, skills, might merc aura, etc.

[vvanks]

if you can post your equip/stats that can really help us see what you did wrong.

I myself have a 800-1200 atk with might and with 100% double dmg that's 1.6 - 2.4 which i dont think is too bad ^.^

When amp kicks in i have myself some really good dmg. Dont worry about hell this build (with the right gear) should be able to solo hell easily

I don't think I did anything wrong. My equipment:

15Iased Vampire Gaze
Lionheart
2Shaelled Upped WWS
Sigons Gloves + boots (looking to change these in the near future)
Nos Coil
Raven
Carrion Wind
Cats eye

Stats:
92 Str (put around 70 STR)
320 Dex (around 280 before boost)
92 Health (70 before boost)
20 Energy base

I do 670 dmg with a might hireling at the moment.

I have 2 sharp grand charms, giving me 17+ max dmg. I'm looking to transfer all my poison small charms from my pally over, that probably gives me +700 Poison dmg.

[chrom76]

WWS is cool to lvl 60
At lvl 60 I had maxed CS, used Lycander's and Atma’s ammy.
Atma’s triggers 2.5 X more than WWS,

0ws (WWS)
0 % 13 1.9
9 % 12 2
20 % 11 2.2
37 % 10 2.5
63 % 9 2.7
105 % 8 3.1
200 % 7 3.5

10ws (Lycander)
0 % 15 1.6
5 % 14 1.7
11 % 13 1.9
22 % 12 2
35 % 11 2.2
56 % 10 2.5
89 % 9 2.7
147 % 8 3.1
292 % 7 3.5

Even at 9 frames the Lycander’s is plenty fast!
(you can even use a shealed Goldstrike and get to 8)
Without DS or CS It does the same dmg as WWS with DS.
Maxed CS w/ a few + skills should be over 70%; plenty!!
believe it or not 50% is plenty.
IMO WWS is a very good bow until lvl 60.

[Lunatic]

WWS is a good bow all the way. Not only to level 60. :D

[CoRRuPt-OnE]

i agree, it is a great endgame bow as well.

Vvanks get a LoH and low mf war travs as soon as possible,that will increase your killing speed. If you prefer gores go right ahead but i felt there was alot more progress with the travs. The mf and the extra mods are great. Experiment with each one and see which one you feel is better. Also i think you can do better than a carrion wind there. your m/l leech is all set with gaze so i would suggest maybe another raven to get even more cold damage and a nice dex boost.

Also, it will be hard and long but try to do as many nm and hell cows as possible to get max/min/and life charms