Need Tips for Magic Finding using Mephisto

[MaStAViC]

Hi, Everyone,
I have been playing this game on and off since the very first day it was released, but until recently, magic finding has never been a priority. However, now that I am trying to obtain items for both me and my girlfriend, it looks like a few tips would be very helpful.

My level 88 (pure) Frozen Orb Sorceress has approximately 275 magic find - not very high, I know - as well as 105% fast cast, which allows her to teleport very quickly. However, it still takes me a while to find level 3 of the Durance of Hate when I start at the level 2 waypoint. Is there some type of technique when looking for level 3? It seems as if I find level 1 at least three quarters of the time before I find level 3. I once heard that level 3 is usually in the direction that level 1 faces, but this doesn't seem to be true.

Also, I have an act2 mercenary, whom I wish could tank for me as I throw Frozen Orbs at Hell Mephisto, but he dies too easily. What type of mid-level (I'm not very rich at the moment) gear can I equip him with to make sure that he can be an efficient tank? Also, which mercenary makes the best tank?

Thank you,
Victor Ly

[Aldeth the Foppish Idiot]

The stairs down to Durance 3 90% of the time are in a clockwise direction from the waypoint, following the out wall of the place where you start.

For your merc - if you're going for pure survivability, you may be best off going with a defiance merc. He will kill slowly, but he'll get hit a whole lot less. For equipment, the best thing you can do to improve his survivability would be to equip him with the Doom runeword. This would also give him holy freeze in addition to defiance, meaning he can really last long in combat.

[MaStAViC]

The stairs down to Durance 3 90% of the time are in a clockwise direction from the waypoint, following the out wall of the place where you start.

For your merc - if you're going for pure survivability, you may be best off going with a defiance merc. He will kill slowly, but he'll get hit a whole lot less. For equipment, the best thing you can do to improve his survivability would be to equip him with the Doom runeword. This would also give him holy freeze in addition to defiance, meaning he can really last long in combat.
Thank you very much for the reply. What other gear can I equip a Defiance mercenary with other than Doom-runeword weapon, as I cannot even afford a quarter of that much?

Thank you,
Victor Ly

[Aldeth the Foppish Idiot]

Well, since you're going for survivability here, I'd recommend the highest defense armor he can wear. A rare with % enhanced defense and some resistances would probably be your best choice. Same for the helm slot. The weapon doesn't matter much, as the damage he will be dealing will likely be small compared to the damage you are doing. I get the impression the only thing you're using him for is to stand there and take hits for you.

[MaStAViC]

Well, since you're going for survivability here, I'd recommend the highest defense armor he can wear. A rare with % enhanced defense and some resistances would probably be your best choice. Same for the helm slot. The weapon doesn't matter much, as the damage he will be dealing will likely be small compared to the damage you are doing. I get the impression the only thing you're using him for is to stand there and take hits for you.
Thank you very much for the additional comments. And you're right that I just need the mercenary to stand there and take hits for me.

Thank you!
Victor Ly

[PhatTrumpet]

This might help:

http://forums.diabloii.net/showthread.php?t=557123

[MaStAViC]

This might help:

http://forums.diabloii.net/showthread.php?t=557123
Thank you very much. That's actually the guide that I was loosely following.

[Darkflight]

Just a quick note, the best way to make your mercenary survive when he is tanking Mephisto is a wand with Life Tap charges and a good damage weapon. Life Tap wands can be bought from vendors IIRC, and a good damage weapon can be a rare or some of the relatively cheap unqiues.