What am I doing wrong?

[Muzzy Roberto]

Okay, I'm a Level 77 Strafe/LF Amazon, and I just got into hell, and I'm having a hard time killing ANYTHING. My AR sucks, and my defence is laughable.

Stats and equipment. (becuase I KNOW you'll ask.)
Head: Tal's mask
Armor: CorpseMourn
Bow: Shael/Shael WWS
Jav: balrog's Arch
Sheild: Spirit
Boots: +MF Rare boots
Rings: +Res, Life Steal and AR rares
Ammy: +Res rare
Gloves: Chance Guards (But have LoH on a mule. Didn't know they were 'good')

As for skills, Strafe, LF and Penetrate are maxxed. A few points into CS, and I plan on working on Valkryrie next. My resistances are decent.

Anyway, if a monster is lightning immue, I have a real hard time killing it, due to my poor, poor AR and laughable defense. (And LAG. Can't forget that goddamned lag.)

I'm thinking of cashing in my might merc for a blessed aim or a defiance merc, but being as how my merc is dead more than he is alive, I can't see that helping my situation any.

Any pointers?

[Evrae Altana]

Get a Ravenfrost as soon as possible. Ditch the Corpsemourn. It's much to heavy and doesn't offer much for a bowazon. Replace with Treachery for IAS and resists.
Gloves: Chance Guards (But have LoH on a mule. Didn't know they were 'good')LoH > Chanceguards

[KadoorieNuts]

I had the same problem and I switched to develop other characters until I found her a titan and a reaper's toll for her merc (ACT 2 Might). From that point on life becomes easy... and she is now @ her lvl89. By the way max ur CS...I did it too late. The skill is bosses killer in Hell. Happy gaming. (No other godly gears needed!! I am a poor guy myself.)

[AnimeCraze]

One thing I am wondering. Is the WWS upped? If not, do it. As said, get LoH, Treachery, and Ravenfrost. Another thing is, if you don't have a fair amount of dex, you are in trouble.

[Muzzy Roberto]

Get a Ravenfrost as soon as possible. Ditch the Corpsemourn. It's much to heavy and doesn't offer much for a bowazon. Replace with Treachery for IAS and resists.


Yes... Well, as soon as I find the magic wishing fairy that grants me any item I want, I'll be sure to remember that.
Honestly, if I HAD a Ravenfrost, don't you think I would be wearing it?

Treachery? The 'Assassin' runeword? (+2 to Assassin skills) My IAS is fine. As are my resists. my resists are NOT what's hindering my progress, it's the lack of AR and defense. And I don't see how giving up my 1199 Corpsemourn for a chance to cast Fade when struck does me any good when I die in about 3-4 hits IN ACT 1. (although the idea is not without merit. 45 IAS is quite a bit)

the WWS is NOT upped. I do not have the runes reuqired to do so. If I did, I would have already. I have my old Lycanders in my stash. Should I switch the WWS out for that? Or go back to my Buriza?

My dex is in the ~175-180 area, depending on which weapon I'm using.

[drakken]

u have valk? valk should be ur tank... also perhaps some lava gouts, enchant gives massive attack rating

a more drastic move is bounce ur 2x shaels, and get two eths in it in combo with the treachery to offset the reduced ias.

[Evrae Altana]

First off, tune down the attitude. It's not helping anyone, especially you. :rolleyes:
Yes... Well, as soon as I find the magic wishing fairy that grants me any item I want, I'll be sure to remember that.
Honestly, if I HAD a Ravenfrost, don't you think I would be wearing it? Which is why I said "as soon as possible". Save up a few PGems and go buy yourself a low end Ravenfrost.
Treachery? The 'Assassin' runeword? (+2 to Assassin skills) My IAS is fine. As are my resists. my resists are NOT what's hindering my progress, it's the lack of AR and defense. And I don't see how giving up my 1199 Corpsemourn for a chance to cast Fade when struck does me any good when I die in about 3-4 hits IN ACT 1. (although the idea is not without merit. 45 IAS is quite a bit)If you think the 1199 defense from Corpsemourn is making a major difference in whether you live or die, then you're seriously malinformed. Defense means absolutely squat for amazons.

As far your AR problem, try to find yourself some AR charms. Every little bit helps. Also keep in mind that your level also plays a role in determining how much you hit. Try to gain a few levels first before continuing on.

[Muzzy Roberto]

Sorry, but it seems that every time I ask for 'advice' I get a magical catalouge of items I SHOULD have that are (usually) WAAAAAY beyond my price range.

Now, do I want the ravenfrost for the loverly CBF mod? Or are there other mods to it that are benefical to an Amazon?

And I'm still not seeing how treachery> Corpsemourn, aside from the IAS, that is.

[YogiRat]

You have way to many points into strength and not enough into dex. As Evrae said, ditch the CorpseMourn. If I were you, I'd remake her.

[Muzzy Roberto]

I thought 170 seemed like too much into str...

[Evrae Altana]

Sorry, but it seems that every time I ask for 'advice' I get a magical catalouge of items I SHOULD have that are (usually) WAAAAAY beyond my price range. How is Ravenfrost out of anyone's price range? Just buy a crappy low end one. That's 5 PGems tops. Are you telling me you can't afford 5 PGems? It's not like I'm suggesting items that are worth several dozen high runes now am I?
Now, do I want the ravenfrost for the loverly CBF mod? Or are there other mods to it that are benefical to an Amazon?The CBF is the most important mod there. The massive dexterity and AR bonus should help your damage and chance to hit. The cold absorb and a little bit of mana is also nice.
And I'm still not seeing how treachery> Corpsemourn, aside from the IAS, that is.Aside from the IAS, Treachery also gives Fade, which gives a lot resists and damage reduction. Also, Treachery doesn't require 170 points into strength. Remember, defense means nothing to a bowazon. Do not rely on defense rating to save your bowazon. Valk and merc is your bowazon's main line of defense, not heavy armors.

[Muzzy Roberto]

Treachery's 5% CTC Fade isn't going to be much help when I'm dying in a matter of thwacks in Act 1, usually arrows (And arrows don't travel alone, and the all like to find their mark...) or I die thanks to... LAG! The great equalizer!

the 25% CTC venom seems nice, though.

Also: Are magicaly attacks (From tainted or bone mages) consider 'strikes'? Would they activate fade?

[KremBanan]

For most bowamazons the keywords is: Speed, Dex and Damage.
And as Evrea Altana pointed out, Valk and merc is your defense. I will add that it is your life also. If you get hit alot, you need to adjust your playstyle abit to be a little more defensive. Throw out decoy if you are not sure if there are monsters around the corner.
Try tradeforums for a torch also, a low ama-torch you can get for 15-20pgs nowadays. It will help your passives alot, especially your valk and d/e/a.

[AnimeCraze]

2 frame strafe is pretty much a requirement. It reduces strafe lock since you are firing so much faster, it also up your damage output by ~30% over same period of time (again from the speed). You need something like 86 IAS for the WWS if I recall. Treachery is the best way to get it (unless you are rich). I personally would not rely on the fade from it, but the venom means an extra 300 damage per arrow.

[KremBanan]

86%IAS is the staref breakpont yes. Here is some cheap items for reaching it:
-Highlords Amulet, 20%IAS and very nice deadly strike(with WWS it will trigger 100%)
-LoH, these gloves are the best IMo for PvM Bowama
Now you have 80% with 2xshaels in the WWS. The last 6 you can get by either socket your helm with a jewel or you could just use Twitchthroe Armor(its way better than Corpsemoron for a ama) and if you socket the Twitch with a IAS jewel you will also reach the 105% bp for normal attack(guided, magic arrow, multishot)

[AnimeCraze]

Or just use treachery + LoH + WWS