question about infinity?

[mackaveli]

hi there,

im new to d2, about 2 weeks into it and i plan on getting an infinity for my merc.

what merc can use infinity? act 2? if so what should i get defensive or offensive?

also does it matter what polearm i use to get infinity?

can i use a colossus volunge* for it? and my merc can use it?

also the -45-55 lightning resistance works if the merc uses it?

should i care about the damage it does?

i plan on using the merc just for that and doont care if he kills anything as long as he can survive.

thanks

[jimmah]

hi there,

im new to d2, about 2 weeks into it and i plan on getting an infinity for my merc.

what merc can use infinity? act 2? if so what should i get defensive or offensive?

also does it matter what polearm i use to get infinity?

can i use a colossus volunge* for it? and my merc can use it?

also the -45-55 lightning resistance works if the merc uses it?

should i care about the damage it does?

i plan on using the merc just for that and doont care if he kills anything as long as he can survive.

thanks

Infinity after 2 weeks eh?

Act2 mercs can use it.

Make it in a etheral elite polearm. That way he survies better and it gets a better resale value.

A colossous voulge works, but your merc needs +strenght from other equipment to be able to wear it (Like andariel's visage, helm).

The -45-55 resist ONLY works for your merc, it won't help you AT ALL. The only way to make use of it, is to wear the Infinity yourself (some ppl make a infinity in a normal schyte and wear it themselves).

[pedu]

Infinity after 2 weeks eh?

One of the plus sides in (probably) playing on a realm where mal=hr. If it even is a plus side.

[WrathTalon]

hi there,
im new to d2, about 2 weeks into it and i plan on getting an infinity for my merc.
what merc can use infinity? act 2? if so what should i get defensive or offensive?
also does it matter what polearm i use to get infinity?
can i use a colossus volunge* for it? and my merc can use it?
also the -45-55 lightning resistance works if the merc uses it?
should i care about the damage it does?
i plan on using the merc just for that and doont care if he kills anything as long as he can survive.
thanks

Welcome to D2, Mackaveli. Looks like you've been making serious progress.

Only A2 mercs can use polearms. Most sorcs get the Defensive ones from Nightmare level, who have Holy Freeze aura. Some like getting Offensive NM ones instead, for the Might aura; but since you say you don't care whether he kills anything, I'd go with the Defensive/HF guy. He's the most party-friendly too.

As Jimmah said, most elite ethereal polearm will do fine, though Colossus Voulge will have str. requirements too high for him. By far the most commonly-used polearm for merc weapons is the ethereal Cryptic Axe. But personally, I always favor an ethereal Thresher for my mercs' runewords. Threshers do a little less damage, but they swing much faster; hence they inflict just as much base physical damage over time, but because they're hitting at a faster rate, the various mods on the weapon (in this case, 40% Crushing Blow) get activated more often.

Should you care about the damage your merc does with Infinity? Absolutely. Because while Infinity will break almost every normal lightning immunity, some uniques will still be immune, even after the Conviction hits them. In these cases, your merc will have to do the killing himself.

[mackaveli]

hey, i'm just wondering how come you guys are saying etheral is the way to go?

but wouldnt it be rendered useless after its durability hits zero?

thanks

[emar]

hey, i'm just wondering how come you guys are saying etheral is the way to go?

but wouldnt it be rendered useless after its durability hits zero?

thanks

When a merc yields a weapon or wears an armor - he doesn't use any durability. Your ethereal weapon is safe from breakage with him.

[gorash]

hey, i'm just wondering how come you guys are saying etheral is the way to go?

but wouldnt it be rendered useless after its durability hits zero?

thanks

eth armors / weapons are good because of a few reasons

1) eth armors cubed can reach very high defences (eth armors get 50% def bonus over non eth same type armors)

2) eth weapons do more dmg as well as lower requirements over non eth type of same weapons.

3) when a merc wears eth armors / weapons, they wont lose durability.

[mackaveli]

is a giant thresher good for infinity too?

i have a normal giant thresher, i dont know if i should use the cube recipe to see if i can get 4 sockets on it?

thanks

[WrathTalon]

is a giant thresher good for infinity too?

i have a normal giant thresher, i dont know if i should use the cube recipe to see if i can get 4 sockets on it?

thanks

I'm afraid you'd get 6 sockets on it, Mackaveli. On white or grey (ethereal) items, Larzuk always puts in the maximum number of sockets which the item can carry. Giant threshers have a maximum of 6, so that's what you'd get...

The ONLY elite polearm which has a maximum of 4 sockets is the Colossus Voulge. So you could have Larzuk socket that, if you find one. But problem is that CV has an insanely high strength requirement: 210. And I think that exceeds the limits of what your A2 merc can ever develop... (Though am not sure here--someone confirm?) Perhaps if you gave him gear with plus-strength he might be able to reach 210, but am not sure.

[TheBhoy]

My act2 merc has infinity in an eCV with andy's face at lvl 85. even then, he only just makes the 210 but what a killing machine

[mackaveli]

I'm afraid you'd get 6 sockets on it, Mackaveli. On white or grey (ethereal) items, Larzuk always puts in the maximum number of sockets which the item can carry. Giant threshers have a maximum of 6, so that's what you'd get...

The ONLY elite polearm which has a maximum of 4 sockets is the Colossus Voulge. So you could have Larzuk socket that, if you find one. But problem is that CV has an insanely high strength requirement: 210. And I think that exceeds the limits of what your A2 merc can ever develop... (Though am not sure here--someone confirm?) Perhaps if you gave him gear with plus-strength he might be able to reach 210, but am not sure.

hi there, yah i read the giant thresher has a max of 6 sockets but isnt there a cube recipe that you can use to socket an item that would be random so i would have a 1/6 chance of getting 4 sockets? if i were to get 4 sockets would it be worth it to put in an infinity?

[lagalot]

is a giant thresher good for infinity too?

i have a normal giant thresher, i dont know if i should use the cube recipe to see if i can get 4 sockets on it?

thanks

Giant thresher is good for infinity ..fastest speed and best range but lowest damage..lower str req than cv also.

Yes you would need the cube recipe and some luck to get 4 sockets.

If by normal you mean non etheral dont make it in that weapon.The damage will be far lower than etheral and the resale value very low.

[mackaveli]

Giant thresher is good for infinity ..fastest speed and best range but lowest damage..lower str req than cv also.

Yes you would need the cube recipe and some luck to get 4 sockets.

If by normal you mean non etheral dont make it in that weapon.The damage will be far lower than etheral and the resale value very low.

oh okay, i don't plan on reselling it in the near future. I just hope my HR's that i get by trading don't go poof because it has already happened to me twice. is there a way to prevent this from happening or just pray it doesn't?

Also, if i wanted to get an etheral thresher or giant thresher, how many Hr's am i looking at paying to receive one?

Thanks.

[lagalot]

I find it best to get the base item for a runeword then trade for the high runes.As far as stopping them disappearing you can try perming ...it works as well as praying to the Diablo2 gods...or crossing your fingers .

Eth cv is the least expensive of the elite polearms the others are generally twice as much.Check in your realm trade room as realm values vary.

[xNamastex]

Welcome Mackaveli!!

Merc strength - my Act 2 HF merc at lvl 92 has 197 - He has been gaining 1 str per level so at lvl 95 I suppose he'd hit the 200 str threshold. Requirements are reduced by 10 for eth items (ie eth CV req. is 200 vs 210 :)). I currently use a 32% ED + 5 STR jewel in my eth vamp gaze to hit the requirement. I'll stick a Ber in it when I get to lvl 95...NOT LIKELY.

I find that an eth Fortitude is a nice complement for merc's Infinity eth CV - gives me the resists I need to max out, wonderful def boosts and 300% damage bonus makes the merc a real force (until he gets IM'd or walks into the pit viper clouds).

I have seen 4os eth CV go for 1 to 3 hrs on East ladder. 4os eth CA, threshers, GPAs or GThreshers usually go for more - sometimes crazy amounts.

Another way to stop HR poofing is to get the 4os eth elite polearm first and then trade (or find) for the hrs in the order they go into to make Infinity (Ber Mal Ber Ist). Once you socket the HR it won't poof under "normal circumstances".

Good luck