Rebuilding my Hammerdin

[JKC]

The main purpose of this thread is to get advice on which amulet I should use with the new build, but you can also offer any other advice if you wish. I'm rebuilding since, when I made him, I didn't have an anni/torch and with them I now have more str/dex than needed.

Mara's is the obvious favorite, however I have found an interesting rare that may prove more useful:

+1 Pally Skills
+20 str
+19 dex
+19 ares

I lose a skill, but the added str allows me to wear DS Enigma without touching the stat at all and the dex helps a lot too. The resistances are close enough to a bad Mara's, which is what I'd be looking at buying anyway. It adds nothing to the BO lvl from CtA whereas Mara's does, but I think with the points I save in str and dex the rare still comes out on top with regards to life totals, does it not?

Here are my current setups, for the sake of completeness. It started out as a very budget-minded character (2xspirit, vipermagi/skullder's), but over time I managed to aquire a few HR's and was lucky enough the get some really nice rolls on the runewords.

clvl 91, typical Hammerdin skill placement

Rushing/Questing

Helm: Shako [Um] (I don't need the resists now, but I did at the time)
Gloves: Trang's (going to try Magefist once I find a pair)
Boots: Waterwalk (65 life)
Belt: Arachnid Mesh
Armor: Enigma DS
Shield: Spirit Protector Shield (45ares base, 35%fcr) (will remake in one with better block)
Amulet: The above rare
Ring1: Raven Frost (18dex, will get 20)
Ring2: Rare 10%fcr, +5dex, 17%LR
Weapon: Hoto (39ares)
Switch: CtA (5/5/4) + Spirit shield
Charms: Pally Torch (18/20), Anni (18/15/9), life

So 125%fcr, 10k Hammers (11k w/BC), and well over 3k life
(Note: I didn't do any calculations for the damage, this is just from looking at my character screen.)


MF/Keys

Helm: Shako [Um]
Gloves: Chance Guards (40%)
Boots: War Travs (48%)
Belt: Tal's (14%)
Armor: Enigma DS
Shield: Spirit Protector Shield (45ares base, 35%fcr)
Amulet: The above rare
Ring1: Raven Frost (18dex)
Ring2: Nagelring (30%)/Nature's Peace
Weapon: Hoto Flail (39ares)
Switch: CtA (5/5/4) + Spirit shield
Charms: Pally Torch (18/20), Anni (18/15/9), Gheeds (39%), a bunch of 7%mfsc's, life

So 75%fcr, 9.6k Hammers (10k w/BC), 3k life, and a little over 350% mf


Other than the things I've noted, the Um'd shako and possibly the amulet, the new builds equipment will likely not change. The dex works out so that I maintain 75% block in both setups without having to add charms when switching between the two. With the MF setup I lose 5 + 15 (ring,waterwalk) but gain it back with Tal's.

The damage is low compared to what I've seen on most Hammerdins, but I think it's fine for me since I don't do public chaos/baal runs (computer can't handle it, lol). Still, I may get some Combat charms at some point. People call me a newb for using Spirit over HoZ, however I really like this shield and HoZ would have to impress me a hell of a lot to make the cut.

Thanks.

[dkay]

i use spirit sacred targe so dont worry about being called newb heh. i get it all the time.
the ammy is decent but if you dont need the strength then id definetely stick with maras for the stacked resist and extra damage boost. from what i see you dont have any items that require too much strength so the only benefit from that ammy is the dex. so its a trade off of more block over more damage/life/resist. your choice.

[jake007]

Spirit Sacred Targe user here, with a nice '+15 resist' wizardspike in stash :)

And mara, unless you have a decent FCR amulet.

[JKC]

Thanks for the comments.

I just like the idea of leaving strength at base, which this ammy would allow me to do. With Mara's I still wouldn't need much of it though, so I guess you're right about the dex part, however I don't think I'd have more life with it as whatever points I'm saving with the rare would be sent to vit. Since points spent in vit receive the bonus from BO and items granting +vit do not, I would assume the rare would add more life. You follow?

I have always been a bare minimum str/dex, pump vit type of guy, thus this ammy appeals to me. This probably comes from my love for Barbs and my history in Hardcore.

I'm currently trying to track down a nice Sacred Targe to put Spirit in and I think I will also get a Mara's while I'm at it to see if the damage is really noticeable.

[shinoniken]

I personally don't need the mara's, i have max resists without, instead i use a rare with 2 pally skills and +life and mana. FCR would be alright, but havent found one yet.