Do people really think this?

[lordofericstan]

I realize its impossible to make a new build that competes with existing godly ones.

Does everyone on here think this? I hope not... I certainly dont think so. I am in fact in the finishing stages of my new wolf, Zeus_Lykaios who is a unique build.

[Kirah]

Please post details on your new, cool build! We are always on the lookout for new and innovative builds that are fun!

Good luck and Good hunting!
Kirah

[lordofericstan]

Please post details on your new, cool build! We are always on the lookout for new and innovative builds that are fun!

Good luck and Good hunting!
Kirah

I will once i lvl him up lol, skill wise he is rabies/fury.

[ToThePoint]

all are variations on old builds basically - couple of bits and bobs changed doesn't make it really a new build.

[Voice]

Does everyone on here think this? I hope not... I certainly dont think so. I am in fact in the finishing stages of my new wolf, Zeus_Lykaios who is a unique build.

Not me ... that is why I am not "godly" ... b/c i havent made a c/c build ... in lord knows how long ... i have been talking about making a "c/c" fury wolf ... aka vit build ... but ... every time i try i go off on some random build. soo .. no.

[Clay bizzle]

I am actually contemplating a very peculiar PvP druid build. I garuntee few, if any, have tried it too. It probably won't happen right away though. I'm not gonna spoil it yet either by sharing it.

[WrathTalon]

Does everyone on here think this? I hope not... I certainly dont think so. I am in fact in the finishing stages of my new wolf, Zeus_Lykaios who is a unique build.

Zeus_Lykaios, eh? Hmm... Does your new build involve sacrificing new-born children? :wink3:

[Dako]

You want original?

My friend and I had an idea for a crazy build. A barbarian with maxed Increased Stamina, Increased Speed, and Frenzy. He would wear loads of items the give to faster run/walk and have an inventory full of small charms of inertia! He would be called: iR-fast. We pictured him just being a blur on the screen as he duels.

That's original!

[Rabbitz]

Been done :(

[Valvolux]

Faster run/walk Frenzy barbs are so 1.09...as TTP said taking an existing build and changing one skill doesn't really constitute a 'new' build. This game is over 6 years old, there is only so many combinations of skills that actually work.

Least used char builds IMO;

Shockbear
Geddonbear
(any) Martial arts sin
Spearzons
Poison dagger necro
Mindslayer sin
Then all the sacrifice pally, bash barb type ones etc...

[Jary]

I'm trying out this Static Hunger build right now for my hunger bear--lvl 71 so far. There's always new stuff to try, just it has to be proven, so I'll just have to see how it goes and hit u guys back, I hope it works desc:wink3:

Honestly, I don't think that a lot of theses old "godly" guides, before Rabies/Fury, were that amazing... if anything they're pretty flawed and outdated from a few I read. The fireclaw, for example, could use a lil' updating

The thing that pisses me off though about some of these newer so called guides people start, is its like... they all have to do with throwing random crap together with no apparent correlation at all-- no thinking half the stuff through like...hmmmmm, "that would swing at 15 frames, but OH WELL I'll just use it anyways because it'd look cool"...lol, I mean is it that hard to take 2 min to check up on a few things. I'm not claiming to be perfect either 'cause I've made some boo boos here and there...but, If its gonna' be labeled a guide then it doesn't have to be "Godly" but it should have some sorta mechanism that your shooting for and 2ndly...work, and if it doesn't then it's just not worth posting it as a guide... post it under "noob fun"
Sry, just annoyed by all this mindless runecombo name-dropping. "Lets throw a dragon with an infinity and bramble and swing fireclaw with an infinity polearm" LOL thoughts? flames?

[Eilo Rytyj]

I was thinking about a pvp/pvm Martyr, using a synergised Sacrifice with Fanaticism as main aura and synergy. It's a nice chunky 1-hit attack that's not charge or smite. You could even go around and use Redemption (maxed as a synergy) to heal. I'd say it wouldn't be as good as a Zealot due to the attack speed being 8 frames max, but it would be interesting. Essentially the same gear as a Zealot, with Grief to take advantage of the huge +dmg% from Sacrifice. You'd need max DR% all the time to soften the damage returned to you.

It's an idea at least.

[ToThePoint]

been done also

[Rabbitz]

Poison dagger necro

Since they introduced Treachery.. there leet now :)

[SSoG]

all are variations on old builds basically - couple of bits and bobs changed doesn't make it really a new build.
Well Mr. Smarty McSmartypants, what would you call a Taunt Barb? You know, a Barb based entirely around the skill Taunt (which provides massive damage reduction) and PDR (which works with Taunt much like it works with ES and can outright eliminate most damage)? Ever heard of one of those before?:tongue:

There are also things like a Mercomancer who builds bonewalls and pokes through the bars with a long spear, or a Frost Nova Sorceress, or a Furywolf who doesn't deal physical damage, he pumps Molten Boulder and Fissure and wields dual-phoenixes for the ctc Firestorm, or a Hydrastrafer (Dragon + Strafe). Every one of those builds has two things in common- first, it's completely Hell-viable, and second, I've never heard anyone ever mention a word about any of them.

New builds still exist. They're just harder to find these days.:smiley:

Poison dagger necro

Since they introduced Treachery.. there leet now :)
Not that "leet". A slvl 50 PD with the Venom from Treachery deals 2631.4 damage per second. The problem is, a slvl 38 Poison Explosion does more than that, all by itself, and a slvl 50 Poison Explosion, Poison Nova, or Plague Javelin all deal more than 4000 damage per second.

Even if you add Trang's and Bramble to double-synergize the Venom, Poison Dagger will still always be the slowest killer even just on the left side of the Poison and Bone tab.

Just because a bug/feature/exploit exists doesn't mean it always makes a skill powerful.:azn:

[levitikus]

Are there any guides for these interesting builds at all? Cuz i am now interested.. Thanks for reinvigorating my interest in the game with mentioning these builds. The fury fire wolf, the frost nova sorc and the plague javazon.. sound like fun and very legit survivors.

[lordofericstan]

Zeus_Lykaios, eh? Hmm... Does your new build involve sacrificing new-born children? :wink3:

lol, i didnt think anyone would understand the name.

[ilovesoda]

Are there any guides for these interesting builds at all? Cuz i am now interested.. Thanks for reinvigorating my interest in the game with mentioning these builds. The fury fire wolf, the frost nova sorc and the plague javazon.. sound like fun and very legit survivors.There is 1 or 2 poison javazon guides in the ama forum, might wanna go check em :>

[WrathTalon]

Well Mr. Smarty McSmartypants, what would you call a Taunt Barb? You know, a Barb based entirely around the skill Taunt (which provides massive damage reduction) and PDR (which works with Taunt much like it works with ES and can outright eliminate most damage)? Ever heard of one of those before?:tongue:

There are also things like a Mercomancer who builds bonewalls and pokes through the bars with a long spear, or a Frost Nova Sorceress, or a Furywolf who doesn't deal physical damage, he pumps Molten Boulder and Fissure and wields dual-phoenixes for the ctc Firestorm, or a Hydrastrafer (Dragon + Strafe). Every one of those builds has two things in common- first, it's completely Hell-viable, and second, I've never heard anyone ever mention a word about any of them.

New builds still exist. They're just harder to find these days.:smiley:


Heh heh. SSoG, you have one heck of a fertile imagination. Where do you come up with these things? I got a hearty laugh out of imagining a necro skewering monsters through a bonewall with a long stick, or the HydraStrafer. Smart, creative, fun-sounding.

Hm, I've given up softcore recently, and now am playing only Hard Core, untwinked. Which puts limits on how many of these I can try out (since most runewords are now an utter impossibility for me). But the spear-toting poking-through-bonewall necro sounds like a lot of fun, and maybe he wouldn't be too runeword-dependent, eh? Hm.... You thinking this guys would use a Blessed Aim merc to keep his chance-to-hit up? Any minions at all? Though I guess these questions are better suited for the Necro forum...

If you have any other suggestions for fun novel builds suitable for Hard Core, untwinked, please let me/us know!

[SSoG]

Are there any guides for these interesting builds at all? Cuz i am now interested.. Thanks for reinvigorating my interest in the game with mentioning these builds. The fury fire wolf, the frost nova sorc and the plague javazon.. sound like fun and very legit survivors.
Most of the guides are pretty simple and straightforward. The Fury Fire Wolf = dual-phoenix, paired with 20 in Fissure and Molten Boulder (or you could use a Phoenix Shield and a superfast weapon with 20 in Fireclaws). Frost Nova Sorc just maxes FN and all of its synergies- well synergized, a Frost Nova actually deals more damage than a standard Nova. For a secondary skill, either get Firewall (20 in Firewall, 1 in Fire Mastery) or maybe Energy Shield if you don't care about having a way to kill immunes. Remember to put more points into Telekinesis than Energy Shield or your mana orb will get positively hammered.

Heh heh. SSoG, you have one heck of a fertile imagination. Where do you come up with these things? I got a hearty laugh out of imagining a necro skewering monsters through a bonewall with a long stick, or the HydraStrafer. Smart, creative, fun-sounding.

Hm, I've given up softcore recently, and now am playing only Hard Core, untwinked. Which puts limits on how many of these I can try out (since most runewords are now an utter impossibility for me). But the spear-toting poking-through-bonewall necro sounds like a lot of fun, and maybe he wouldn't be too runeword-dependent, eh? Hm.... You thinking this guys would use a Blessed Aim merc to keep his chance-to-hit up? Any minions at all? Though I guess these questions are better suited for the Necro forum...

If you have any other suggestions for fun novel builds suitable for Hard Core, untwinked, please let me/us know!
The cheapest and easiest hardcore deviant build would be a Hunger-based werebear. Get Hunger and a 4-frame weapon (you can make one by double-shaeling a magical Champion Axe of Quickness, for instance), then load up on elemental damage and crushing blow. Fast attack + CB + Elemental will kill enemies in a hurry, while the leech from Hunger gives you a very high degree of safety.

The Mercomancer is also very cheap to build, but very very hard to play. I'd recommend taking one through Hell in softcore, first, because until you get VERY good at bonewalling and boneprisoning, you're going to get hammered a lot. Once you get the hang of it, you can equip any fat 2-handed weapon with range 3 or better and just smack stuff through the bars. Very gear and skill independent, very tough to play.

[Valvolux]

The Fury Fire Wolf = dual-phoenix, paired with 20 in Fissure and Molten Boulder (or you could use a Phoenix Shield and a superfast weapon with 20 in Fireclaws).

Pretty sure Firestorm will interrupt your Fury...

And call me sceptical but I fail to see how a lvl 15 hydra doing 93-113 damage makes it hell viable.

Cute ideas tho.

[SSoG]

Pretty sure Firestorm will interrupt your Fury...

And call me sceptical but I fail to see how a lvl 15 hydra doing 93-113 damage makes it hell viable.

Cute ideas tho.
I'm suspect that Firestorm will interrupt your Fury, too, but that's not important. The whole point of Furying is to try to get Firestorm to trigger, so if you stop Furying once it triggers, it's no big deal. Mission's already accomplished, so to speak.

As for the slvl 15 Hydra... well, if you're triggering them at a rate of one per second (which, with pierce, you will be), and the Hydras fire at a rate of 3 bolts per second (which, if I recall correctly, they will be), and they last 10 seconds (which, if I recall correctly, they do), then you're looking at 3090 Fire Damage per Hydra, or 309 Fire Damage per Second per Hydra (and it's relatively easy to stack 3 Hydras out at any given time for almost 1,000 Fire Damage per second). It's not insane, but if you pair it up with effects like Knockback and Slows Target, it really shines as one of the best defensive Bowazon builds out there. You have solid physical damage (just like any Bowazon), solid Cold Damage (Freezing Arrow), solid Fire Damage (Hydra), and two fantastic scouts (Hydras and Decoys). In addition, the slow and knockback tend to make it easier for Hydras to hit monsters (because typically you, the monster, and the hydra will all exist within a straight line of each other, so knocking an enemy back doesn't change the angle that the Hydra has to shoot to hit it).

It becomes even more not-bad when you realize that all it takes is a single gear-slot to get those handy, handy Hydras, it becomes even more impressive. Now, would a Hydrastrafer ever become a Cookie Cutter? Of course not, she's obviously strictly Deviant material. However, is she Hell Viable? She was when I solo'd Hell with her in 1.10.

[Valvolux]

It's not really a new build tho is it? I mean if I grab a 'Dream' helm and add it to my Strafer doesn't really blow ppl away with originality. I'm not arguing that it doesn't work, just that it isn't a 'new' build.

[ToThePoint]

Well Mr. Smarty McSmartypants, what would you call a Taunt Barb? You know, a Barb based entirely around the skill Taunt (which provides massive damage reduction) and PDR (which works with Taunt much like it works with ES and can outright eliminate most damage)? Ever heard of one of those before?:tongue:

There are also things like a Mercomancer who builds bonewalls and pokes through the bars with a long spear, or a Frost Nova Sorceress, or a Furywolf who doesn't deal physical damage, he pumps Molten Boulder and Fissure and wields dual-phoenixes for the ctc Firestorm, or a Hydrastrafer (Dragon + Strafe). Every one of those builds has two things in common- first, it's completely Hell-viable, and second, I've never heard anyone ever mention a word about any of them.

New builds still exist. They're just harder to find these days.:smiley:


Not that "leet". A slvl 50 PD with the Venom from Treachery deals 2631.4 damage per second. The problem is, a slvl 38 Poison Explosion does more than that, all by itself, and a slvl 50 Poison Explosion, Poison Nova, or Plague Javelin all deal more than 4000 damage per second.

Even if you add Trang's and Bramble to double-synergize the Venom, Poison Dagger will still always be the slowest killer even just on the left side of the Poison and Bone tab.

Just because a bug/feature/exploit exists doesn't mean it always makes a skill powerful.:azn:
well mr knickers in a twist mctwisty pants id call the barb build useless as it appears to have no attacking skill.
otherwise frenzy barbs commonly use taunt and many es sorcs use direct dr combined with es etc meaning its just a lesser variation on existing builds.
the rest of them you call viable but so is [insert char here] using a bow, using an axe, using [insert random item] it just depends on your patience.

the topic is about ones able to compete with existing builds - lets see a new build which can as those sure cant even if they are different.

[SSoG]

It's not really a new build tho is it? I mean if I grab a 'Dream' helm and add it to my Strafer doesn't really blow ppl away with originality. I'm not arguing that it doesn't work, just that it isn't a 'new' build.
I think there's a difference between "Dream" and a ctc Hydra build. First off, there's the fact that "Dream" is one of the most overused and overabused runewords out there. Second off, there's a difference between just adding fire damage and adding a ctc Hydra.

I think most people would agree. If you walked into a game and told them that you had an Amazon wearing a dream hat, they'd say "Oh", but if you walked into a game with an Amazon who "cast" Hydras, they'd say "whaaaaa?!"

If a Brandstrafer was considered a different build (and it most certainly was), then a Hydrastrafer has to be, as well.

well mr knickers in a twist mctwisty pants id call the barb build useless as it appears to have no attacking skill.
otherwise frenzy barbs commonly use taunt and many es sorcs use direct dr combined with es etc meaning its just a lesser variation on existing builds.
the rest of them you call viable but so is [insert char here] using a bow, using an axe, using [insert random item] it just depends on your patience.

the topic is about ones able to compete with existing builds - lets see a new build which can as those sure cant even if they are different.
The Barb isn't useless at all. He can finish off enemies however he chooses, although the traditional methods will usually include Frenzy, War Cry, Leap Attack, Whirlwind, or whatever. But they don't have to- he could always eschew a main attacking skill and use Standard Attack, or Open Wounds, or Double Swing + Crushing Blow, or whatever. Builds aren't defined by their primary attack, they're defined by their primary characteristic (otherwise, Tesladins, Physical Zealots, and Conviction Zealots would all be the exact same build, despite wildly disparate skill and gear plans).

Also, calling a Taunt Barb a variation on an ES Sork is just disengenous. Sure, they both make use of a similar mechanic, but they're completely different character types. Would you say that a Lightning Spearazon is just a variation on a Lightning Sorceress? Of course not- they use completely different skills and gear and even methods of delivery, even if the end result bears some superficial similarities. I mean, bats and birds can both fly, so would you call a bat a variation of bird?

Also, I take exception to your claim that those builds "can't compete". A Frost Nova Sorceress is every bit as powerful as a Nova Sorceress (actually, a synergized Frost Nova deals MORE damage than a synergized Nova), which is a widely accepted build. The Fissures that the furywolf shoots off deal 1300 damage each, and are MORE THAN capable of killing in Hell (especially when you consider that the wolf is basically just a Fire Elementalist with a lot more health, and that his gear provides -58% fire resistances). I have taken both of those builds through Hell in Hardcore, so don't tell me they "can't compete". Just because they aren't Hammerdins doesn't mean they're worthless- I would argue that both builds are just as good as a dozen other "accepted" builds, such as Frenzy Barbs or Summoner Druids.

[IMCanadian]

http://forums.diabloii.net/showthread.php?t=480035&highlight=superdave

Hell Viable.

IMC :grin:

[Valvolux]

I understand your zon 'cast' hydras, but its still a Strafer. To me adding another source of damage (i.e. adding 1k poison, fire from hydras etc) doesn't change the basic build.

Some whirlwind barbs use Fortitude others use Enigma, but they're still both whirlwind barbs. Your zon looks, acts and plays IMO like all the other strafers, changing one item or several doesn't constitute a 'new' build in my view.

[ToThePoint]

so the 'taunt barb' is a barb using an attack (eg conc barb using taunt, ww barb using taunt etc) like all other barbs which can use taunt and very commonly like a frenzy barb - nothing new there. The fact you can use OW etc to finsih is nothing new either.

i was drawing parallel to the fact that builds to minimised damage taken are already out there and es sorc was only an example the -pdr is used on all classes especially vs eg claw vipers etc
a build is a combination of principles and ideas, just because they come from different places doesn't mean you cant compare the ideas behind them.

comparing frost nova to nova isn't much proof either seeing as nova is pretty weak now and cant compete with other light/sorc builds.

by compete i dont just to exist i mean to be as powerful. those builds are not therefore they dont compete.
an old guy in a zimmer frame can 'compete' in the 100 metres vs a sub 10second runner but i dont think 100 seconds is a sign of true competition.

can i also ask how much life/mana that hunger bear leeches?

[SSoG]

I understand your zon 'cast' hydras, but its still a Strafer. To me adding another source of damage (i.e. adding 1k poison, fire from hydras etc) doesn't change the basic build.

Some whirlwind barbs use Fortitude others use Enigma, but they're still both whirlwind barbs. Your zon looks, acts and plays IMO like all the other strafers, changing one item or several doesn't constitute a 'new' build in my view.
With the Hydrastrafer, it's just a difference of PoV. You say that a Hydrastrafer is just a garden-variety strafer with an extra damage source. I say that the Hydrastrafer is every bit as specialized and different as the Brandstrafer, so if the Brandstrafer is considered its own build, the hydrastrafer has to be, too. And if you didn't consider the Brandstrafer its own build, then I'd have no problem with you calling the Hydrastrafer just a sub-build, too. After all, it was just one example rather than the entire crux of my arguement here.

so the 'taunt barb' is a barb using an attack (eg conc barb using taunt, ww barb using taunt etc) like all other barbs which can use taunt and very commonly like a frenzy barb - nothing new there. The fact you can use OW etc to finsih is nothing new either.
Again, that's like saying that a Conviction Zealot, Tesladin, and Fanatazealot are all the same build, since they all use Zeal. Or that a Tankazon, a Meleemancer, and a Bowbarian are all the same build because they all use standard attack to kill things. That's just bull. Builds are not defined solely by what killing skills they use, they're defined by their primary skills, their gear choices, and their playstyle... and I promise you, guarantee you, that a Taunt Barb with Frenzy as a killing skill will play DRASTICALLY different than a Frenzybarb.

i was drawing parallel to the fact that builds to minimised damage taken are already out there and es sorc was only an example the -pdr is used on all classes especially vs eg claw vipers etc
That's dumb, too. Saying that any build that minimizes damage using PDR is the same would be like saying that any build that maximizes damage using Enhanced Damage is the same, or that any build that cranks up its defense is the same. It's just not true. Besides, I'm not talking about "minimizing" damage here, I'm talking about absolutely eliminating it. A good Taunt Barb can get 100% damage reduction. So can an ES Sork, but a Taunt Barb wouldn't be immune to elemental attacks, and he wouldn't lose his mana orb when hit, and he wouldn't fear mana burners, so if you say that a Taunt Barb is really just the same thing as an ES sork I'm going to have to disagree.

comparing frost nova to nova isn't much proof either seeing as nova is pretty weak now and cant compete with other light/sorc builds.
Sure it can. Have you ever made a Nova sorc before? Just because you don't see a million of them in pubbies doesn't mean they're no good.

by compete i dont just to exist i mean to be as powerful. those builds are not therefore they dont compete.
an old guy in a zimmer frame can 'compete' in the 100 metres vs a sub 10second runner but i dont think 100 seconds is a sign of true competition.

can i also ask how much life/mana that hunger bear leeches?
I have made deviant builds that are every bit as powerful as the cookie cutters. For instance, I made a Paladin build that's the best tank in the game, bar none. I mean you can quite literally park it in a pack of dozens of gloams and Ice Boars and Horror Mages in A5 Hell WSK and then get up and get a sandwich, and when you get back he'll still be standing. I know this for a fact, because I've done it. The question now becomes, what cookie cutter builds can compete with THAT? Can a Concentration Barb tank that well? Can an Energy Shield Sorceress tank that well? How about a Tankazon?

Re the Hunger Bear- 72% dual leech at slvl 1, 176% dual leech at slvl 20. That number's actually quartered, since damage is reduced to 25%, but it's the equivalent of 18% dual-leech at slvl 1, and 44% dual-leech at slvl 20.

[ToThePoint]

really this is pointless until you learn to read, i never say anything is the same.
there is no point comparing things that are the same because what will you find? that they are the same.
zealots are all variations on the zealot theme
your barb is a random variation of a standard barb which also uses taunt

you state yourself a build is not just the skill they use so the use of es CAN be compared with the barb in your eyes and i just used it as an example of a build which minimises damage but as i stated ALL chars have ability to use -pdr it even if not to that extent.
I wouldn't say using %ed builds are all the same but i would say that all max str chars for damage are basic variations on the titan theme.

actually i do have a nova sorc but no its not as powerful as cookie cutter light builds so even though its viable it still cant compete.

Anyway yes i can read the skills listing but the bear leeches equivalent to 44% of what exactly? of nothing

[killswitchengage]

i havent played this game for months, but eh...
last i played i didnt have nothin unique cept a fireclaw bear. i was thinkin of a cool bear but i never finished it. it would be a pally that use holy shock, turned into a bear and used a 6shaeled phase. he could have some aura grant items on too if ya like. but it was about 12k lit dmg at i think 3frame normal attack. never seen one before, made it with a editor for single and it was pretty fun. dunno if its been done but it was unique for me.

[ilovesoda]

i havent played this game for months, but eh...
last i played i didnt have nothin unique cept a fireclaw bear. i was thinkin of a cool bear but i never finished it. it would be a pally that use holy shock, turned into a bear and used a 6shaeled phase. he could have some aura grant items on too if ya like. but it was about 12k lit dmg at i think 3frame normal attack. never seen one before, made it with a editor for single and it was pretty fun. dunno if its been done but it was unique for me.Since you already have fana(although low) from beast wouldn't it be better to max conviction and resist lightning and wear dual dream instead of holy shock?

[killswitchengage]

i dont know, never made the build. just thought it would be cool having another kind of wear bear. i guess conviction/ dual dream/ 6shael phaseblade would be cool.

[IMCanadian]

It's impossible to make a completely new build. You gave frost nova sorc as an example? Uhh the very first time I dled character editor, I tested frost nova, and tested it again. It's not godly, therefore I scraped. I made a magic arrow zon, which could be argued as a new build, since it was my main attack, but It again wasnt godly. Arguing that frost zealots, fana zealots and conviction zealots are all different builds is a futile arguement. Zealot is the build and fana, conv, frost are the variants. The same as foh/aura, charge/aura, smite/aura are all different variants, but the same build, an auradin.

Now on the other hand, a poison nova necro and a bone necro are two different builds. A hybrid of those would be a variant. As a fber and a orber are different.

IMC :grin:

[Arbedark]

Hydra Strafer's Been done.

Frost Nova Sorc has been done.

Using Taunt as a Main skill has been done.

The number of people combined with the age of the game just highlights the fact that every build has been tried and tested.

[lendial]

perhaps if 1.12 ever comes(which seems unlikley), more builds will arise due to...sadly due to more ovepowered runewords.

Though for a new class to be created that is as "godly" as the current top classes bvc/wind/boner/hammer is very unlikely.

[naturebunns]

there's nothing new in this game


face it

[SSoG]

Anyway yes i can read the skills listing but the bear leeches equivalent to 44% of what exactly? of nothing
No, not of nothing. A Hunger Bear with slvl 20 Hunger leeches the equivalent of a character using any skill other than Multi, Strafe, or Hunger would leech while using standard attack. Hardly "nothing".

Hydra Strafer's Been done.

Frost Nova Sorc has been done.

Using Taunt as a Main skill has been done.

The number of people combined with the age of the game just highlights the fact that every build has been tried and tested.
I'm afraid you're going to have to link me to anything suggesting using Taunt as a main skill. The only thing I've ever seen on the subject was a brief discussion of the merits of Taunt back in the 1.10 Beta days before the nerfed its aiming mechanism.

Besides, even if you shoot that one down, I'm just coming back with a Weaken-spamming Necro.:tongue:

[ToThePoint]

on the bear you state its using a custom phase, and uses cb and ele damage.
pb 33 average,
200str or so = 100average physical
-75% = 25average
176% leech = 44 per hit

from the info you provide and if i am calculating correctly, thats under 50life/mana per hit which is hardly amazing survivability.
is this combined with maul or +max charms or ..?

[The top ramen]

My unique character is my Cleric!!! hes so fun. the point of this build is to join dueling games and start healing the first person u see melee duelin someone else. assuming they dont get 1 hitted a lot.:thumbsup:

[SSoG]

on the bear you state its using a custom phase, and uses cb and ele damage.
pb 33 average,
200str or so = 100average physical
-75% = 25average
176% leech = 44 per hit

from the info you provide and if i am calculating correctly, thats under 50life/mana per hit which is hardly amazing survivability.
is this combined with maul or +max charms or ..?
Actually, I rarely use Phase Blades with my Hunger bears, with the exception of Azurewrath.

Azurewrath = 115 average physical
Might Merc, Slvl 25 Werebear, Slvl 25 Maul, 130 Str = 1079 average physical (about 200 less if you don't fully charge the Maul).
-75% = 270 average
176% leech = 475 average leech.

You also ignore the speed calculations. If you're attacking at 5 frames per second (which, with Hunger + Azurewrath, you are), then you're effectively leeching twice as often as someone attacking at 10 frames per. Assuming every attack hits, that's 2376 HP leeched per second, minus a bit once you start factoring in things like physical resistance, leech resistance, and your chance to miss.

However, just because I said that Azurewrath is the BEST weapon choice doesn't mean it's the ONLY weapon choice. I'm also partial to the IK Maul, for instance (with a comparable setup and 225 strength, it leeches over 5,000 HP per second), or even to a double-shaeled Cruel Giant Thresher of quickness, which hits a ridiculous 4 fpa and assuming 188 strength could easily leech 8,000+ HP per second. That's pretty much your entire red orb, meaning if something can't take you down in a second, then it's probably not going to take you down.

You can even remove Maul from the equation if you don't like charging up and still post some pretty ridiculous leech values.