Why does my hammeradin suck?

[TheMightyGoat]

I built my second hammeradin not long ago - the only one I've made before that being in patch 1.05. He's level 80 now, and he sucks. He can put out a lot of damage and has no problem killing the monsters, but he's very fragile and he can't take many hits before dying. It's hard to do a hell Baal run with him.

Equipment:
PTopaz'd Rockstopper
Saracen's Charge
Heart of the Oak
Archon Plate Enigma
Exile
Trang's gloves
War Travellers
FCR rings with mods
Verdungo's
Annihilus

Stats (after equipment):
Strength: 184
Dexterity: 101
Vitality: 391
Energy: 39
Remaining: 30

Skills:
Vigor: 20
Redemption:1
B. Aim: 20
Concentration: 20
B. Hammer: 20
Holy shield: 1
However many prerequisites with all skills quests completed.
Remaining: 2

Resists (hell):
80
80
71
46

Like I said, the biggest problem is that he can't take many hits. Additionally, he runs out of mana very quickly, and has to switch to Redemption after killing anything to have any hope of continuing the fight without chugging mana potions.

Should I have put more points in energy? Even if I had, he still wouldn't take hits well. What's he missing?

[soul killer]

Well hes fragile because hes got Mid Gear.
Exile on an Hdin?? Are you serious??
Give him Waterwalks, Magefists, FCR Ammy with resists, Set Mithril Coil (really good belt), 35FCR Spirit with good resists, Shako.

You didnt make him very well either, best setup is base str, dex and pump all pts into vita.

My Hdin has 520 vita and 2k base life.

The one major thing hes missing is a Meditation Merc, you absolutly have to have a med merc to mf effectivly with an hdin.

[RequiemDeath]

Ditch the Exile, and go for a HoZ or a high block/high resist Spirit... 35% FCR isn't nessessary, but no less than 31%... Sorry soul killer... I really don't think that a perfect anything is an absolute must...

Beyond that, also look into an Arachnid Sash for a belt... It has a +1 to all skills, and a 20% FCR as well... However, the set belt that soul killer mentioned has some resists IIRC... Verdungo's is best for a melee build, just like Exile... Rockstopper is okay, but you'd be better off with the likes of a Pesent Crown, or a Shako... Shako's are used the most... But, also be looking for good rare circlets with +1's or +2's to paladin skills, FCR, and some other goodies for mods...

I'd say that the Trang gloves are okay... Magefist is about the same really... You only want those 2 options for the 20% FCR...

War travs are good for MF... But Water Walks will help you stay alive longer in grim situations... An SoJ would help a bit with you mana issues, but not much... The med merc will solve this issue all together... And as for your ammy, shoot for a nice rare with paladin skills and FCR, or just a good ole Mara's...

For the record, I don't really like Hammerdins, but I've seen more than enough of them to kinda know what the gear should be... If I'm wrong on any of this, then please accept a humble "my bad..." lol

*Requiem_Death

[soul killer]

35FCR Spirit is needed for 125FCR.
This hlp alot when getting away from Mobs.

[AnimeCraze]

I agree, 35 FCR spirit > lower FCR spirit, simply because the breakpoints are 75 and 125. and all other FCR gears are generally in a multiple of 10. I generally do not recommend people for getting perfect gear, but this is 1 of the exceptions since it can free a gear slot. Why no lower than 31 FCR is a mystery to me, when 25 FCR spirit and 34 FCR spirit practially always gives you the same BP (unless you get some crafter caster ammy, I think).

Block or no block can be debated, but I think you should get block on any paladin that uses a 1 hand weapon, simply because of holy shield.

[RequiemDeath]

Ahhh! I see... I always use a sorc for casting... Pally's are melee to me... lol Anyhoo, yeah... I can see why a perfect Spirit would be needed in this case... Just have a good supply of Amn runes! ^_^

*Requiem_Death

[brokensvt]

At the cost of Tal + Thul + Ort + Amn, most can afford to reroll a good base. At any rate, consider Wizardspike as well rather than Hoto. You really won't miss the additional 3 skills if you can nab a SoJ or 2. The additional FCR and resists really open up your other gear spots for "purposeful" gears.

Greg

[Filo01]

what I've found with all my hammers is that you need max block & remember to turn off run.(while fighting)

[kingdryland]

You don't have max block, you seem to have gone with base dex. 101 dex after equipement with 1pt holy shield when using an exile results in low chance to block. Exile on a pvm hammerdin is well, definately not necessary. A nice spirit sacred targe or rondache will do the trick. In any case ,reach 75% chance to block.

The trang gloves are ok really, if you want mana regen get 1pt in meditation or a merc with insight. The amulet kinda sucks btw,a crafted caster or safety amulet can be the best choice, rares with +skills and a mara are good choices as well.

[CaptnSparrow]

Best Hdin set:


Shako (Ber)
Enigma
Spirit (35, make in Sacred Targe or Rondache)
Rare Fcr amulet (10+)
Trang-Oul Glove
Waterwalk Boot
x2 Fcr Ring
Verdungos (15 DR)
Heart of the Oak


10 + 10 + 10 + 20 + 40 + 35 = 125 FCR

Stats:

Str: Base
Dex: Max Block
Vit: All rest
Ene: Base



For pvm only, switching out to the breakpoint before 125 is no biggie. Switching out Spirit for Herald of Zakarum is fine, or rings for Dwarf/Wisp if you're Chaosing/Baaling and are worried about Venom Lords/Burning Souls, respectively.




Mass life, block, cast rate, and huge damage are the reasons people make hammerdins, and you look like you're missing all of those.

[AnimeCraze]

Ahhh! I see... I always use a sorc for casting... Sorcs also uses perfect spirits, depending on which breakpoint you are trying to reach. You don't need it for 63, but for 105, it might also free a gear slot (it definitely does for full Tal's sorc).

[BattleQueen]

There's no need to rebuild your Hdin.

You shd consider getting some Magic Dmg Reduction like a Dwarfstar. It helps against ranged elemental attacks. Insight-equipped merc isn't necessary but if running out of mana is a big problem, get one. I usually switch to 1pt Redemption to recover some life/mana. Oh yeah, try holding 'Shift' key while spamming hammers or you'd be running around getting hit & missing completely with your attacks.

125FCR is a huge jump from 75 & not entirely necessary. It does limit your choice of gear. Imho HoZ is a God-sent for Paladins.

75= 40 (Hoto) + 20 (gloves) + 10 (ring1) + 5-10 (amulet/ring2) + *fave Shield*

To get 125FCR, use
Arachnids/rare 20FCR circlet (20) + 25-30FCR Spirit shield.

Try getting as many vita scs you can get & a CTA on switch.

[AnimeCraze]

Arachnids/rare 20FCR circlet (20) + 25-34FCR Spirit shield.Fixed that for you. You can ditch the FCR ring if you got 35.