HELP: SS Druid Vs. Smiter

[edgie]

So i have been a massive lurker in these forums for quite some time but rarely post. I had to make a post today because i need some advice from experienced fury/rabies druids on how to deal with GOOD smiters.

My Setup:

200ed Shael'ed Jalal
Sup 'Fort' Wymhide (30 res/1.375 life)
15/35 dungos
Trangs Gloves (or bloodfists? if i run bloodfists with jalal and dungos i hit 88 BP)
Gores
399 'Grief' PB
SS (still undecided on which jewel i plan to use)
2x Angelic Rings (sometimes sub in a raven frost)
Angelic ammy

Switch: -52/2 DWeb and 20/20 monarch

9x 31-37 lifers
20/18 dtorch
20/13 anni
3x 3frw/11 fire res SCs
2x 3frw/11 cold res SCs
(still looking for light res)
2x 5fhr/3max/15 ar SC (occasionally need for BPs)
1x 5 ares SC
(still have 2 open slots i believe)


With this setup i have:

5.4k life with sage but no BO
23k AR
50% dr
Max Block
VERY respectable dmg and a very powerful rabies attack.

MY QUESTION IS:

How do i stand a fighting chance in beating decent smiters? I'm looking for any/all advice.

Much thanks,

*edgeedge

[Verashiden]

From what I've seen, most Fury/Rabies sub Bramble for Fort. Then they bite once on the Smiter. If miss, run just out of Smite Range and walk, ready to bite again when he charges. If it does hit then Rabies Switch and begin walking around, shift Furying when he charges you.

Not sure how you'll handle Tele Smite though : /

[Kiba]

Most of time when i fight smiters i try too stack my rabies damage as high as i can get it while still retaining decent dr%

usaully around 50k rabies and then use the dweb switch trick.

If they stack there posion res really high your only other option would be too use a 2 hand weapon like ebotd great poleaxe and find a way too balance you dr%

usaully coa+enigma or Shaft stop work good with 2 hand weapon too still retain damage reduction..

[edgie]

From what I've seen, most Fury/Rabies sub Bramble for Fort. Then they bite once on the Smiter. If miss, run just out of Smite Range and walk, ready to bite again when he charges. If it does hit then Rabies Switch and begin walking around, shift Furying when he charges you.

Not sure how you'll handle Tele Smite though : /

Kk thanks for the bramble tip. Honestly, i prefer tele smiters. Normally i can get at least a block out of them as soon as they tele. At best i land my rabies. I find that the tele gives me the best chance to beat them. That could also be because i haven't met too many very good tele smiters.

Most of time when i fight smiters i try too stack my rabies damage as high as i can get it while still retaining decent dr%

usaully around 50k rabies and then use the dweb switch trick.

If they stack there posion res really high your only other option would be too use a 2 hand weapon like ebotd great poleaxe and find a way too balance you dr%

usaully coa+enigma or Shaft stop work good with 2 hand weapon too still retain damage reduction..

Thanks for the tips kiba. By any chance would you let me in on how much AR you run against smiters? Is 23k enough to land rabies often enough against most smiters to do decently well?

[Kiba]

too be honest i hit most smiters more then i should for some reason im onlt runnin about 13k ar.

I just run up too a smiter too bite , if i miss i run back and let the stun were off and then run back too try another bite.

Most of time i can land at least 1 rabie hit before im lower then 1000hp

[Jary]

From experience... I'ama have to say... swotch your weapon to a rangge 1 knife, then feral rage hjim to death sry I'm drunk, lolly. UMD Bulldogs beyoches! for real

[edgie]

too be honest i hit most smiters more then i should for some reason im onlt runnin about 13k ar.

I just run up too a smiter too bite , if i miss i run back and let the stun were off and then run back too try another bite.

Most of time i can land at least 1 rabie hit before im lower then 1000hp


Hmm...am i just unlucky :(

I just bought a 21aura/50 psn dmg dusk shroud though so im gonna see if that makes a difference. Thanks again for the tips and..


KEEP THEM COMING :)

[Kiba]

When i fought this smiter think i was only runnin 15k ar and he has on exile and such so i imagine his def was more then 20k.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXKDnWv3ipw

If they super stack pd resistance it kinda puts us rabie /fury wolves in a rut and forces us too use 2 handers and rely on fury more.

[Verashiden]

Kiba, were you using Angelic combo during that or were you using a 3 ss ammy and bks?

[dodobird]

Smiters are lame!!!!

[Kiba]

Kiba, were you using Angelic combo during that or were you using a 3 ss ammy and bks?

+3shape ,93life ammy, bk , raven was only runnin around 15k ar.

[Verashiden]

Ahh, I see. Thanks :)

[Karp]

2x shael zod eth tomb reaver - get your initial attack to the same speed as smite.

ber shaft.

86 fhr

ravens

spirit wolves to distract them in your shift furies

get to the bottom left side of them and let them knock you back diagonally.

[Clay bizzle]

Use 1 point Ravens and Spirit Wolves for distractions/shields. Watch Kiba's video too as he keeps the wolves in front of him. The reason a super high AR isn't needed is because you should really try to catch the smiter while he's running or charging. That equals 1/3 blocking and defense, so there goes his Exile/holy shield. After I infect them I often just walk away. Walking will pretty much render his Charge almost useless, as most will do if you're retreating.

[Kiba]

clay what you been up too! =)

hope your doin good havnt seen you in a while.

[xpumafangx]

Ya the bramble, dweb, 20/20 monarch trick seams to be the best trick I have used vers smiters yet. If your fighting tele smiters, you might want alot more hp then what you got going so far.

[Black_Dog]

I miss the old days when smiters couldn't tele... made things much easier. Just shift fury til dead, laugh, rinse and repeat... Nowadays it's all about summons, rabies, running and shift furying in the middle of a bunch of chaotic action and death metal... looks fun as hell though :)

[hunterkillerdawg]

hum when i duel smiters i always use a ss w/ ebodz and then walk up to them hoping to hit them w/ raby then do the trick and walk away hoping they die before me =D

[Zabo]

Oh please Ian, it was always about crazy summons to piss people off. haha

[Black_Dog]

Yeah... I guess the raven induced block-lock was kinda funny:shhh:

[edgie]

Ya the bramble, dweb, 20/20 monarch trick seams to be the best trick I have used vers smiters yet. If your fighting tele smiters, you might want alot more hp then what you got going so far.

Thanks for the advice. My problem is i run fort over nigma and have have max block as well as no BO. In that case i think 5.4 is pretty decent (not godly, but decent)I think i should really consider getting a 6bo CTA for smiters.

hum when i duel smiters i always use a ss w/ ebodz and then walk up to them hoping to hit them w/ raby then do the trick and walk away hoping they die before me =D

Hehe but I just HATE eBoTDZ in general. Couldn't tell you why, i just despise them.

2x shael zod eth tomb reaver - get your initial attack to the same speed as smite.

ber shaft.

86 fhr

ravens

spirit wolves to distract them in your shift furies

get to the bottom left side of them and let them knock you back diagonally.

I have tried something somewhat similar. I find though at that point, with no shield, they just continuously charge at me charge away and charge again and at that point im pretty well finished.

[Karp]

Thanks for the advice. My problem is i run fort over nigma and have have max block as well as no BO. In that case i think 5.4 is pretty decent (not godly, but decent)I think i should really consider getting a 6bo CTA for smiters.



Hehe but I just HATE eBoTDZ in general. Couldn't tell you why, i just despise them.



I have tried something somewhat similar. I find though at that point, with no shield, they just continuously charge at me charge away and charge again and at that point im pretty well finished.

hence the need for a long two handed weapon and a ber shaft.

also, 6 bo cta adds about 200 life over a 1 bo cta. consider that.

[xpumafangx]

p rubyed shaft is alot better then bered shaft. If your into having alot of hitpoints, and dont mind having 45 dr instead of 53 dr. You can even go over the 50% maxed bp with a treachery prebuff. verd, shaft, and prebuff.

[Clay bizzle]

clay what you been up too! =)

hope your doin good havnt seen you in a while.


School finals! Just two more though and I'll put some more time in D2. I've only been on a few days these past few weeks. I'm down to grind my druid to the 90's so hit me up if you know any Trist games. I've been puttin' time into some other games though too. Call me a traitor, but I gotta put my new sexy computer to some use! :grin:

[Karp]

with treachery, pruby shaft > ber shaft but without treachery, ber shaft > pruby shaft. Pruby is 38 life, which multiplied by all of the %life bonuses you are getting adds a couple or few hundred life. 5% damage reduced, on almost ANY melee attack in the game, is going to reduce AT LEAST 2-300 life PER HIT, which means thousands of life over a duel just from 5% damage reduced. Even 1% damage reduced loss can cause you to take hundreds more damage than any amount of life you can possibly get otherwise is worth.

[xpumafangx]

Yup knew you where a smart one.