Merc Question

[ThuGzAnGeLs]

Alright I'm thinking of making a Light solo baal runner sorc. Although, I'm still wondering if my Merc will be able to survive with all the minions if they are immune to lightning. He will be using:

Eth Insight CV
1600 Def FORT
Andys

Also, my lvl 14 bo might help him. Thanks.

[Superhal]

it's pretty much kill or be killed regarding the merc. the only way to keep him alive is to keep him out of melee range. even if you watch his life bar, there's a delay so often by the time it hits red or even yellow it's too late.

there are two big dangers:
1. bartuc
2. lister

for bartuc, there's certain rolls that are extremely dangerous that will kill the merc in 1-2 hits. lister will always kill the merc in 1-2 hits.

what i found is that vs bartuc, teleport backwards (out of range) or sideways (behind a pillar) as soon as the initial cluster of hydras come out. the merc will attract a few at a time and you can kill them easily. however, bartuc himself is still a challenge for the merc, so you'll have to keep an eye on him.

vs lister, i discovered a trick: stay on the right side of the throne. keep tp'ing into the corner so that the merc stays near you. once all the minions are on that side of the throne, tp to the corner on the left side. all the minions will get stuck ether below the throne or on the throne for easy killing. however, they can still attack the merc if he approaches the throne, so keep tp'ing into the corner to keep the merc near you. it's good if he's decrep'd so he doesn't kill himself immediately.

also, if you use lightning and chain lightning, lightning is by far faster for groups 3, 4 and 5, but cl is better for 1 and 2.

of course, all of this is moot by the time you get to baal. he can also kill the merc in 2 hits, and the merc will hardly get any leech off him. i used marrowwalks and lifetap, but the merc hardly hits baal either way, either to leech or use lifetap.

it is helpful though to use a merc to kill baal, but "helpful" does not mean your merc will destroy him. it might just shave a few seconds off the run time, or it might extend the run time by a lot because you have to feed him pots or res him.

[edit]

eq setups i tested with a merc:
reaper's toll + guillame's face + 1500 prudence armor: leech and itd don't help at all vs baal.

insight cv+ crown of thieves/andy's + prudence: also no leech.

eth obedience thresher + 15 ias andy's + duress armor: this was the best setup, by far. you can actually see him doing some damage.

insight cv + duress + andy's: not enough CB to make a difference.

insight vs anything else: if you get hit by the mana leech thing, i guess it helps. but you get hit by it so often, it doesn't really matter. i usually just use mana pots, it takes around 4-6 to kill him. i'd rather have the merc do some damage.

[ThuGzAnGeLs]

Thanks for the info.

I think my merc will make enough dmg because Fortitude give 300% Enhaced Dmg.. (Only ladder). I'll try this tonight, and with ur tricks, he should survive. Thanks again.

[Dennis_KoreanGuy]

I'm NL so no Insight for me but just get a Delirium on your Merc. I've never tried this with Baal minions but more than half the time, all the non champion monsters are either Stunned or Running or Attacking the crap out of each other... more than 75% of the time.

He's using EBotD Ghost Spear + Delirium + Cham'ed Shaftstop and he's owning all Hell... also he's my Light Sorc's so whenever there's a Light Immune he takes care of em...

I know that Baal's Decrep in Hell will be horrible for your Merc...

I don't think CL will be better at all against Hell Baal Minions... CL takes up way too much mana compared to damage Lightning offers. Lightning will take care of it much faster, whether there are 100 monsters or 2. (CL does fraction of Lightning's dam)

I assume you're an MF'er? If you're not and you have like Griffs with >40K Lightning, lose your CtA and get a lvl 2 Lower Resist charged Bone Knife, curse, and own all... but then again you can just get Infinity on Merc... lucky Ladder bastards... -.-

There's nothing I can offer you about your Merc gear setup since I know crap about Ladder items, but I do know Guillaum's Face or anyother Open Wound gear helps greatly against Act Bosses + tough guys that take forever to kill.

[ThuGzAnGeLs]

Thanks for the info. And yes ladder has better items but monster in Ladder are also harder.