A few questions for a starting sorc

[burnTblunteD]

Just wanted to get some opinions from you guys on what is the best MERC to use for a BLIZZ/BALL sorc. Currently i have maxed blizz/Gs and am working on maxing FB/Meteor...

I was reading a seperate thread:

Quote:
Originally Posted by knuckle_sammich
For those of you that can afford it, a cold aura or defense aura merc from act 2 equipped with doom runeword would help bring down enemy defenses to cold.

Doom
Hel + Ohm + Um + Lo + Cham
Axes, Hammers & Polearms only

5% Chance To Cast Level 18 Volcano On Striking
Level 12 Holy Freeze Aura When Equipped
+2 To All Skills
+45% Increased Attack Speed
+330-370% Enhanced Damage (varies)
-(40-60)% To Enemy Cold Resistance (varies) <--- oh yeah!!
20% Deadly Strike
25% Chance of Open Wounds
Prevent Monster Heal
Freezes Target +3
Requirements -20%


Does this mean that, with that MERC and his cold aura, my cold attacks will do more damage? Also, what is the best act to level up a merc? They always seem to die in later acts, NM, and hell so they never level up or I end up killing the enemy.

I recently reinstalled D2 after retiring many years ago, and just really sad that I forget all this information that i used to know. However I read up on the synergies which were added and i Loveeee them!

Currently I have a lvl 73 sorc.
My ammy is a +mana, + life, I have magefists, and a regular socketed 150 defense ghost armour with a topaz (rofl). I have a ugly helm that I picked up, only 1 ring (nagel ring w/ 22MF), and i think I have mesh boots? Basically i have +0 to all skills :( but i'm still trying to work with what I got.

I also wanted to ask you guys what I should pump my points into. I still have approx 95 stat points. I have 45 stre (enough to wear magefists) base dex, and i pumped maybe 100 points into vit. I notice that since I don't have many + skills, that I always run out of mana (normally after a few spells). Should I pump more points into energy? Or try finding some +skills items?

I'm usually on d2 US-EAST 7:30pm and on. message me if ya want! /f add burntblunted

Thanks! and sorry for the long post!

[mEmO]

The -cold resistance mod only works for the character wielding the weapon. I suppose the mercs cold aura would do more damage, but your cold attacks would be unaffected. The big killer for sorcs is the Infinity runeword (although expensive), as it has a slvl 12 conviction aura, which reduces enemy resistances.

For now, you should get insight for your merc. It really helps until you have the items to give you that big juicy mana pool. As for leveling the merc, you should go back to an area where the merc would get XP at his level, and kill monsters there. Eventually, you could hire a new one, you should be able to get it within 2-3 levels of your own.

I would not recommend putting points into energy, as they serve you better elsewhere. You probably want ~70 strength end-game. The rest would go into vita (probably smart as you already started down that road) or dex for max block with the shield of your desire.

[burnTblunteD]

The -cold resistance mod only works for the character wielding the weapon. I suppose the mercs cold aura would do more damage, but your cold attacks would be unaffected. The big killer for sorcs is the Infinity runeword (although expensive), as it has a slvl 12 conviction aura, which reduces enemy resistances.

For now, you should get insight for your merc. It really helps until you have the items to give you that big juicy mana pool. As for leveling the merc, you should go back to an area where the merc would get XP at his level, and kill monsters there. Eventually, you could hire a new one, you should be able to get it within 2-3 levels of your own.

I would not recommend putting points into energy, as they serve you better elsewhere. You probably want ~70 strength end-game. The rest would go into vita (probably smart as you already started down that road) or dex for max block with the shield of your desire.


Hey can you go more indepth with insight? What exactly is that?

[mEmO]

Slvl 12-17 Meditation Aura when Equipped
+35% Faster Cast Rate
+200-260% Enhanced Damage
+9 to Minimum Damage
180-250% Bonus to Attack Rating
Adds 5-30 Fire Damage
+75 Poison Damage Over 5 Seconds
+1-6 to Critical Strike
+5 to All Attributes
+2 to Mana After Each Kill
23% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items

The meditation aura really helps you out in the start. I can't run out of mana on my 65 meteorb.

[mEmO]

Would help if I posted the actual runeword, eh? Here it is:

Polearms, Staves
(4 sockets)
Ral, Tir, Tal, Sol

[burnTblunteD]

Would help if I posted the actual runeword, eh? Here it is:

Polearms, Staves
(4 sockets)
Ral, Tir, Tal, Sol

Ha ha, that was what i was lookin for. Thanks!

[burnTblunteD]

MeMo, whats your bnet acct if you don't mind?

[mEmO]

I'm mEmOIth on europe, playing SCL

[burnTblunteD]

OOoh. europe.. nice

[zallus]

you never talked about a shield. a spirit runeword would help you out greatly. They are cheap to make based on runes and give some very nice stats. The shield used is monarchs.
You should def think about making 2, 1 in a shield, 1 in a weapon.
Thats +4 all skills, fcr, resists, mana. all great things

Spirit
4 Socket Swords/Shields

Tal + Thul + Ort + Amn

Weapons
+2 To All Skills
+25-35% Faster Cast Rate (varies)
+55% Faster Hit Recovery
Adds 1-50 Lightning Damage
Adds 3-14 Cold Damage 3 Second Duration (Normal)
+75 Poison Damage Over 5 Seconds
7% Life Stolen Per Hit
+250 Defense Vs. Missile
+22 To Vitality
+89-112 To Mana (varies)
+3-8 Magic Absorb (varies)

Shields

+2 To All Skills
+25-35% Faster Cast Rate (varies)
+55% Faster Hit Recovery
+250 Defense Vs. Missile
+22 To Vitality
+89-112 To Mana (varies)
Cold Resist +35%
Lightning Resist +35%
Poison Resist +35%
+3-8 Magic Absorb (varies)
Attacker Takes Damage of 14

[burnTblunteD]

hey so i was going a couple baal runs last night. I happened to acquire a gheeds grand charm with 30% mf.. do you know how much that is worth?
in terms of occy, shako, soj etc.
thanks!

[burnTblunteD]

Hey zallu,

In reference to your shield above, #1 its kinda leet! #2 Should I just grab any 4 socket shield i find on the ground? Whats a good base defense sheild average I should be looking for before I socket it

[zallus]

ill give u a monarch you just have to socket it urself. If you run the pits enough in hell you are bound to start finding them. but yeah i can give u a monarch. but it is a great runeword for being so cheap to build the only problem is getting a good roll. cause fcr goes from 25-35.

but besides the point i can do a frendly gesture and give u a monarch so you can get urself going.


O and another question what is the goldfind on the gheeds? becasue if the goldfind is very high or perfect it could get you a occy for sure.

[Turmoil]

Could you use a 5 socket weapon to make the spirit runeword, and then fill the extra socket with another gem or rune without changing the runeword into something else?

[Brave_turtle]

Could you use a 5 socket weapon to make the spirit runeword, and then fill the extra socket with another gem or rune without changing the runeword into something else?

No, if runeword is 4 runes then you cannot create it with more than the required runes.

Spirit weapon/Spirit sheild are very good.

[burnTblunteD]

ill give u a monarch you just have to socket it urself. If you run the pits enough in hell you are bound to start finding them. but yeah i can give u a monarch. but it is a great runeword for being so cheap to build the only problem is getting a good roll. cause fcr goes from 25-35.

but besides the point i can do a frendly gesture and give u a monarch so you can get urself going.


O and another question what is the goldfind on the gheeds? becasue if the goldfind is very high or perfect it could get you a occy for sure.


Hey awesome, thanks!!! Sorry to get back so late but I was gone all weekend on vacation. Left friday and got home late last night. Do you play on USEast?
I normally play around 8pm EST until around 10 everyday or so. /f add burntblunted.
whats your user name?

[burnTblunteD]

oh btw the MF on the gheeds is 30%

[Turmoil]

Are there particular areas that tend to drop 4 socket weap/sheild more often? Should I be doing lots of pit runs?

[Brave_turtle]

Pit is ok, try cow its pretty good

[Turmoil]

hell or NM cows? Can clear NM cows a lot faster...;)

[Brave_turtle]

Any cow is good, Depending if u want normal, exceptional or elite 4os's.