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Ax2Grind
15-07-2006, 17:06
I have a Sorceress running CLvl18 on Battle.net ready for Duriel and an Amazon just shy of CLvl30 at about the same spot (she'll hit 30 before the chamber) in single-player and I want to throw the points for the latter into the following:

Jab - 1
Powered Strike - 5
Poison Javelin - 10-20
Lightning Bolt - 5
Charged Strike - 10
Plague Javelin - 10-20
Lightning Strike - 20
Lightning Fury - 20

If some remember, I made a pure lightning build for LS2. She was great for cows, but suffered in most other places. Given the versatility of the tree and the desire to combine the four pure builds, I decided to alter Nidlav's build according to necessity (if you frequent other sub-forums you'll know I like combining designs for the most effectiveness and efficiency).

Nidlav admitted to being advised not to use forty points in the poison skills, as thirty total was sufficient for the attacks to be lethal, and remembering the 'half synergized' technique I figured 20/10 was optimal. Likewise with lightning, though people say Fury doesn't really need synergies. While this is true, the other skills do and I feel this system works:

For maxed skills (20) pump their synergies 50%;
For half-maxed skills (~10) spend those other ten points into the synergies;
For usable, but not pre-requisite, skills (~5) spend 15 more points into its synergies.

Looking at LF and LS, there are 40 of 80 synergies each, benefitting LS far more than LF. For CS, 50 and both PS/LB have 55 synergy points. LF, Plague Javelin and LS are the main skills. LS is for multiple targets regardless of size, while CS is high enough for single large enemies (act uniques, uber uniques, etc.) and PS for that one pesky poison-resistant monster too big for LB. Otherwise, LB should be able to take stragglers by itself.

With each skill having a specific advantage and purpose the point placement looks nice, but leaves a total of 19 for the Passive and Magic page. SLvl10 Valkyrie and one point into all other skills doesn't look very helpful, but with +skill items (granted, harder to get in SP) they should work well. Is it, though, well enough?

With LS and LF maxed, the obvious choices are Thundergod's Vigor and Thunderstroke, especially since willowisps are especially resistant to lightning and poison (Black Souls are immune to both) and their lightning attacks are harsh. This build, however, has two attacks which have impact effects, and it seems Razortail is the only non-bow/crossbow with piercing. Of course, I'll go with whichever I find first, but as this would be my only throwing Amazon in SP, would I be better off using Razortail over Vigor? Are there any other suggestions?

thulsa
15-07-2006, 18:38
In my honest and un-technical advice, both are exceptional belts for a LF/LS zon, thus personal choice would be the deciding factor.

Thundergod's Vigor will enhance aspects of your lightning damage and Razortail will enhance the pierce effect of LF. In other words, do you want more damage or 100% pierce and the effects pierce gives when it pierces that beef to lightning explode again? Through personal experience, I have found both to be quite useful on a LF/LS zon.

PhatTrumpet
15-07-2006, 19:31
The other fact to keep in mind is that with TGod's on you can tank Gloams pretty much all day whereas without TGod's their damage can be pretty scary.

I personally don't think Lightning Strike is useful enough to justify stealing 10 points from Charged Strike, but you seem to have more experience with it that I.

Ax2Grind
15-07-2006, 19:52
Well, if we're looking at seven to nine +skills then Pierce will probably hold up and Thundergod's Vigor would be ideal.

Also, with that amount of +skills, fifty synergy points and possibly -ELR, ten points into Charged Strike should be enough for boss killing (the only time I'll probably be using it) whereas I'll be using Lightning Strike exclusively for a melee skill against hordes. The chain doesn't need to be directed and helps a lot against shamans, while bolts need longer to reach him, the attack needs to be directed toward him and then flip a coin in hoping it hits him. After all that it's only one, albeit powerful, bolt, while the chain can roll back to hit him again.

Of course, against densely-packed minions I'll be in a Fury.