Uber Killing : A Few (Unique) Questions

[Blind568]

I'm thinking about trying to tackle the ubers soon, but I've got a few concerns. This is my current character setup:

81 Paladin
Max Zeal/Fanat/Holy Shield/Sacrifice... 1 into Smite... starting to add to defiance now (5)

For equipment, this is what I have, so far...

Grief Phaseblade
Upped Umed HoZ
Duress (15% CB)
Umed Guillames Face (35% CB)
Gore Riders (15% CB)
15% Verdungos
Draculs Grasp

I still need to figure out what jewelry to wear. My resists aren't that great, so I think maybe I need some more from my jewelry.

It seems to me that most people have trouble on Mephisto. It seems his conviction aura combined with his elemental attacks take people out a lot. Most people recommend high resists for this, but I was wondering why people don't try to use absorb instead. 2 Wisp projectors and a TGods belt seem like they would make you almost invincible to lightning (40% absorb + 20). An Amulet of the Rising Sun (> 50 absorb) will make you immune to fire. Two ravens will make you almost immune to cold (40% absorb). Why don't more people use absorb versus the bosses? Is there something I am missing?


Also, how can I improve my crushing blow? It seems like I don't really have any more slots where I could add a different item with CB, and 65% doesn't feel like enough. Any suggestions?

Thanks.

[ucandoit]

that is plenty CB.. i was killing ubers with a heavens light and gores only.. you should be fine.. its not hard to kill them aslong as you cast lifetap

[koeraokse]

wheres the unique part?

:cheesy:
*priit2

[Blind568]

wheres the unique part?

:cheesy:
*priit2

Absorb... I've never heard people asking about using absorb for killing the ubers... and so far nobody has responded to that...

[kingdryland]

There are threads in this forum about how useful or not is t-gods against mephi. I use it and find it very handy. As for your setup it looks like mine ,minus the hoz (i use sanctuary sacred rondache) and duress (i use fortitude). I get the necessary resists by stacking small charms in my inventory (lightning,cold,fire-cold is more important than fire,mephi casts a horrible blizzard). Get those and you'll be soloing the ubers in 1-2 minutes without even near dying.

[Xiamet]

I'm in the 'stack your resists' camp as far as resists vs absorb.

Resisting 75% of lightning damage in the first place just seems to be the better option than absorbing 20% of it, IMHO. With absorb, you're trying to heal back a (smallish) percentage of whatever damage you take, but with lifetap refilling your life bulb with 1 or two Smites, this seems almost unneccesary to me. But, there are others who have success with the absorb route, so try both, and see what suits you best. Your mileage may vary.

I went with a modified version of Poguee's build (Drac's and Heaven's Light) and so far have found the Ubers to be surprisingly easy. Meph is the only one that I'm careful around, and I deal with him by drawing him out, casting lifetap on him and Smiting him with a Salvation Aura on. He goes down fast enough and his minions are dealt with after.

You're lucky in that you have a Grief runeword, but in the end, CB is all that matters. Get 50% or more, with lifetap and you'll be fine.

Some Uber running tips:

When you first enter, head for the top of tristam, then hug the far wall and follow it all the way down to the bottom. Slowly walk up into the town, and try to draw out whoever's closest (usually Meph) and get that Lifetap cast right away. Smite, rinse and repeat for each Uber.

Take each Uber on seperately if possible, and I reccomend taking meph out first if you can. Meph is the only one that I use the Salvation Aura with.

Don't waste too much time with minions...the sooner you kill their boss, the less minions there'll be to deal with. That being said, take out each Uber's minions before moving on to the next Uber, unless that next Uber's already on your a$$.

Just in case, stock up on the rejuvs...ya just never know.

Ironically, an Uber runner is the one build that will benefit the least from carrying a torch...so make sure you transfer/sell/trade whatever torches you get before you take on another Uber.

hope this helps,

-X