Help!!

[ShadowofAthena]

first off what is the best char for getting through hell?cuz right now i have a lvl 83 mete/orb sorc and im having real trouble. I know most ppl say just use use your merc but he dies just as easily as I do. and I cant give him good gear cuz well I dont have any. So I was thinking of making a char that could get through hell and get some good gear that I could in turn give to the chars I really want to play.Any help in this matter would be greatly appreciated.

[gorash]

skellymancers dont need great gear to get through hell.
meterobs also shouldn't have too much problems when using cheap gear.

[Fro Do]

Say "hi" to Fishymancer (http://forums.diabloii.net/showthread.php?t=349093) who can complete hell wearing next to nothing - which makes him perfect mf-er.

edit -> gorash was faster

[AnimeCraze]

Few questions:
a) Are you actually trying to use meteor on common mobs? If yes, use fireball instead.
b) Does your merc have anything at all? If no, try getting an exceptional runeword weapon (probably insight since it is so cheap and good). Get any form of life leech.
c) Are you teleing your merc out of harm's way if necessary? If no, try doing that.

If all else fails, get a skelemancer.

[SirDooFuss]

This is one of the basic problems with people new to the game that get rushed to a high level. Starting over with a skellymancer is a great idea. Try playing through the game as much as possible. When you rush, you're cheating yourself out of a huge portion of the game.

Just my humble opinion,

Good luck!

[BlahBlahAsia]

I dislike necro's because they are very affective against little monsters but lack real killing power against bosses. I love my barbs cause they smash! A concentrate barb has so many synergies, they are very strong, huge Defence and can have lots of life. As a bonus they have Find item, flipping corpses for items is great for MF. My lv 89 barb could be hardcore. (but i'm too scared to try that.)

[AnimeCraze]

Obedience polearm, problem against bosses solved.

[Evrae Altana]

I dislike necro's because they are very affective against little monsters but lack real killing power against bosses.Give your merc some gear with crushing blow. Cast Decrepify and have your Clay Golem hit the boss. Bosses now bow down to you.

[ShadowofAthena]

one of my biggest problems I think is that I run out of mana to fast and I can get gear for my merc just not any good gear.

[SirDooFuss]

one of my biggest problems I think is that I run out of mana to fast and I can get gear for my merc just not any good gear.

Insight is an excellent solution to both problems assuming you're on ladder. Cheap runes and lots of mana regen.

My summonancers have no problem with bosses. The minions surround the buggar and slowly pulverize them. They don't kill as quickly as most classes, but I guess I'm just a patient guy. :scratch:

[AnimeCraze]

This goes on merc:
Insight 4 Socket Polearms/Staves
Ral + Tir + Tal + Sol

Level 12-17 Meditation Aura When Equipped (varies)
+35% Faster Cast Rate
+200-260% Enhanced Damage (varies)
+9 To Minimum Damage
180-250% Bonus to Attack Rating (varies)
Adds 5-30 Fire Damage
+75 Poison Damage Over 5 Seconds
+1-6 To Critical Strike (varies)
+5 To All Attributes
+2 To Mana After Each Kill
23% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
(Ladder Only)

This goes on you if you don't have a better weapon (and shield, if you wish):
Spirit 4 Socket Swords/Shields
Tal + Thul + Ort + Amn

Weapons
+2 To All Skills
+25-35% Faster Cast Rate (varies)
+55% Faster Hit Recovery
Adds 1-50 Lightning Damage
Adds 3-14 Cold Damage 3 Second Duration (Normal)
+75 Poison Damage Over 5 Seconds
7% Life Stolen Per Hit
+250 Defense Vs. Missile
+22 To Vitality
+89-112 To Mana (varies)
+3-8 Magic Absorb (varies)

Shields
+2 To All Skills
+25-35% Faster Cast Rate (varies)
+55% Faster Hit Recovery
+250 Defense Vs. Missile
+22 To Vitality
+89-112 To Mana (varies)
Cold Resist +35%
Lightning Resist +35%
Poison Resist +35%
+3-8 Magic Absorb (varies)
Attacker Takes Damage of 14
(Ladder Only)

[ShadowofAthena]

thanks all for your input its appreciated.

[Fro Do]

There's one more thing - don't expect hell to be a walk in the park for any char (even the cookie cutters have their own problematic areas). Hell is hard as... hell - that's how it was meant. Don't enter hell if you're not ready (like if you have no idea how to treat monsters who're immune to your main attack(s)). Pay close attention to your and your merc's resistances, curses (amp curse -> dead merc), auras some bosses have, monsters' immunities etc. Life leech is a must for your merc if you expect him to stay alive in hell. There's nothing wrong in retreating and regrouping.

[handofnaz]

I dislike necro's because they are very affective against little monsters but lack real killing power against bosses.

Ah. Then you haven't discovered the power of Revive. While it may be a bit tedious to revive a bunch of Urdars (who have crushing blow) every time you kill a boss, it makes the process almost as fast as other characters. As Evrae suggested, CB on a merc is a quick, cheap solution. Throwing in an Iron Golem made out of something with CB might be overkill, but it does help things along, unless you prefer Clay Golems for boss fights.

[Uncle_Mike]

For a fishymancer it is also an option to wear a 6 socket crystal sword socketed with 4 eth runes and 2 shaels (IIRC) wearing some cb gear yourself to speed things up when facing a boss.

Mike