Best Polearm Runeword

[cyrxi]

I am looking for the absolute best weapon for an act 2 merc. I'm assuming it's going to be a runeword socketed in an ethereal polearm. Any opinions as to what would be the best (ie. give him the most killing power). Is there a reason (besides cost) that I don't see many people use BoTD for merc weapons?

I'm probably going to give him Fortitude in ethereal armor for his body armor unless someone has a better opinion on that as well. I've actually considered doing fortitude in both armor and weapon (double 300% ed!) for now, but I figured I might as well hold out for the best.

[Gnetic]

I'd say Pride for the conc aura. Most useful for barbs.

[cyrxi]

It's for my bowazon's might merc. Would you still say pride?

[helvete]

Doom gives him Holy Freeze, could be a possibility.

[cyrxi]

Thank you both for the input. I'll have to consider aura's, though I was looking more for sheer damage potential.

[plasmo]

As far as pure damage for a bowazon, I believe Faith on an act 1 rogue + WF on yourself is the best way to go, according to the Amazon forum. You give up the aura from the act 2 merc, but they seem to think it's worth it. I'd check out those threads a little, too.

For polearms, Pride has level 16 concentration, Insight has meditation (if for some reason you need mana), and Infinity has conviction (which wouldn't help a bowazon, but is amazing on my LF zon).

[cyrxi]

I'll have to do some serious calculating, but I'd definitely think faith on myself and an act 2 merc (with his might aura and possibly another from a runeworded polearm) would beat damage from faith on an act 1 merc. I'd give up 2 possible damage increasing auras by going with an act 1 merc. Plus, with faith on myself I'd have the "ignore target defense" and some other helpful mods that I wouldn't get if it was sitting on my merc.