Started a New Zon, advice wanted

[fredsta54]

Ok so ive decided on my new build, mainly to climb the zon ladder and get on its front page

Its gonna be a 2 fpa strafe/Freezing Arrow Hybrid

Ive already decided on my gear:

Twitch
Full itharas
20 ias nice dmg Double bow
2X Ar/fr lr leach rings
30 r/w fr lr boots

For stats... Im not sure, nuff str for gear, lots to dex, some vita.

Now as for skills, i need some help

20 Freezing arrow
20 Cold arrow (synergy)
20 strafe?
1 valk n preqs
Rest to Pierce/Penetrate/crit strike?


so many points to distibute *_*






Fred

[Dacar92]

Zons always have extra points. When building a FA/Strafezon, I put only 10-15 in cold arrow and more in valk. I like the extra meat shield a valk gives, and they do so much FA damage anyways. Keep D/A/E at 5 or so each, since you won't get hit much. Use Slow Missles, too (1 pt may be enough). It is a handy skill for Dark Archers and the like.

Remember that FA is a mana intensive skill (especially early on when you don't have much mana), so get some mana leech and strafe your bulb full again.

[fredsta54]

Zons always have extra points. When building a FA/Strafezon, I put only 10-15 in cold arrow and more in valk. I like the extra meat shield a valk gives, and they do so much FA damage anyways. Keep D/A/E at 5 or so each, since you won't get hit much. Use Slow Missles, too (1 pt may be enough). It is a handy skill for Dark Archers and the like.

Remember that FA is a mana intensive skill (especially early on when you don't have much mana), so get some mana leech and strafe your bulb full again.

Well ill be hell cs running, no need to pump valk or dodges, the hammerdins/pop barbs will be doing the tanking, valk is just another meat shield, ill be standing back freezing them and strafeing like crazy :D

In this regard (ESPECIALLY since zons are underpowered) I think i will need to max cold arrow, then figure out how to get the most out of strafe/pene/pierce/crit strike.

ML + strafe + bo, i dont think mana would be a problem


Dacar, is 2 fpa strafe fun? :S


Fred

[Dacar92]

(ESPECIALLY since zons are underpowered)


Dacar, is 2 fpa strafe fun? :S

Fred

I don't think they are underpowered, but I have never played a zon on Classic. A zon with WWS or Faith or wearing Mav's set or Razortail is a decently fast killer. I imagine they are less powerful with a lack of decent uniques and runewords.

A strafezon is a fun challenge. The key word is challenge. They can be fun if played right. Don't get hit. Foresee strafelock. Make sure you know where you are compared to the critters. They can be a pain until about lvl 30 or 35, when you start to strafe at at a decent clip and stop running out of mana all the time.

Act 3 jungle areas are some of my favorite areas in the game with a strafer. There are so many critters all over the place. Strafe can take them down but they are fast. Strafelock can be a killer in hell.

[Dinnin Darkblade]

Hey Fred, I am reminded of a similar thread I posted a while back. In it you suggested only enough strafe to get the max number of arrows per shot. After all the DMG boost is negligable. So keep that in mind.

Atleast I THINK it was you that suggested that LOL

Edit, yea it was.... http://forums.diabloii.net/showthread.php?t=438997

There is the skill set up you suggested for me :-)

[Zodijackyl]

Get at least 7 each to the dodges. You won't need massive killing speed, since I'm sure you'll be CSing with me, and our runs are fast enough so a bowazon won't have a chance to kill much. Less dex would also be good, especially if you're going with low dodges. Aim for at least 1000 life base, and you'll still be able to get around 200+ dex. Trying to climb the zon ladder will be tough if you die in CS because you can't tank anything. 85FR will be a bonus, but it'll still be like a level 50 sorceress with no shield.

[phool]

I agree that strafe should be kept at around lvl 9, because you won't be using it for solitary targets except CIs, which the barbs, palas etc should be doing for you. It's purely for ml - FA kills act bosses quicker in my experience of FA/strafe.
20 FA
20 cold arrow
6 strafe after +skills
12 penetrate
4 critical
~11 pierce (seeing as your bow has no pierce. Which might boost killing speed a fair bit faster than an extra fpa)
1 valk
5 avoid
5 evade
(completes lvl 80. Rest in penetrate)

Oh, with no +cold damage gear that freeze length is going to be terrible in hell. IMO could be worth tossing the irathra in favour of an etlich. Maybe death hands and gloves with that. An FA zon shouldn't really be getting hit anyway. I haven't made one in classic, but that's my experience.

[Noite Escura]

I'm far from the best best Zon player, but isn't low level Multi better than low level Strafe? Specially if you're going to CS a lot?

[Akukami]

Go with Steve's idea, though I doubt you'll do much of the killing. :grin:

- Akukami

[fredsta54]

Guys, ive made zons in the past, dont act like ima n00b :D

Well, ive pretty much decided on my setup, i pretty much have all the gear now and my zon is steadily lvling

dual leach 1xx ar 4 max 2x fr ring
1xx ar 2x fr lr min ring
Full ithara
Twitch
20 ias nice dmg double bow (trading for atm)
30 r/w fr lr boots

Nuff str for gear, ~150-200 vita, rest to dex

Skills:
1 valk and preqs, D/E/A = not needed more than 1 pnt IMO, skill pnts are tight and i dont want to cs just to look pretty, i want to be able to hurt in hell on my own

20 FA
20 cold arrow
Not sure about strafe, i cant remember what lvl i want it to be but the dmg boost is neglible at a certain point (at least on a hybrid)
Pierce, penetrate, and CS will take up the rest of my skill pnts

@Dacar: ive actually made an xpac pit strafer with a wf, but that was a 3 fpa strafe. I was simply asking if the 2 fpa animation looked cool ~_~

As for tanking, ill be running like the wind with 85 fr/lr and staying out of the fray. If i can surive on an all dex no resists or r/w pure strafezon i can survive on this gal!

@Phool: I dont really care about the cold length, i FA,strafe, rinse and repeat

@Steve: I wont cs with you if the runs are so fast that i sit back and do nothing, if i wanted to do that i wouldve made a boring bo slave. Zon ladder is ez enough to climb





Fred

[bluebomber]

You got to love Fred's humility.

[fredsta54]

You got to love Fred's humility.

and you are...?






Fred

[Akukami]

and you are...?

Fred

Another one of those hot-shot newcomers. :rolleyes: No offense, Blue.

Fred, can you show me what that bow looks like when you're on some time?

- Akukami