Amazon purely for Cows

[Andymc]

Ok, I've had a look through the guides (there's 3 or 4 LF amazons up I think), but they all start talking about using GA and a bow on switch etc etc. If I wanted an amazon *purely* for cows, where would my skill-points go? (Ie how many points go into LF synergies?) I probably wouldn't want a Valk (might kill King/from what I've heard about LF Amas, I wouldn't need one anyway!), and I'd be quite happy to forget the bow tree altogether. As well as skills, what about stats? Enough Str/Dex for items, base Energy, rest Vit? Or would I want to put a bit more in dex to increase physical damage and hence life leech?

[The Cow King]

Max lightning skills, one point pierce + 1 evade

Decide if you want max block or not. It would save you some life or get a nice +2 skills from spirit, but I would go max block definitely.

Stats are the same for every d2 characters excluding glass cannon bowas etc... special builds.

STR - enough for gear
DEX - enough for gear or max block
VIT - rest
NRG - nothing

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The thing is, any LF zon will be able to kill almost just as efficiently but with greater versatility

[Andymc]

Not sure if max block is really necessary. Not like I'll be 'accidentally' teleporting into a pack of cows!

Is 1 point in pierce really enough? The usual thing is to aim for 15-20 or so, after +skills? Without going over the top, assume +1 Shako, +1 Body (eg Viper), +2 Titans, +2 Spirit, +3 Torch. Probably 5/6 or so in pierce then?

[struikje]

shako is +2 ^^

[Kijya]

Not sure if max block is really necessary. Not like I'll be 'accidentally' teleporting into a pack of cows!

Is 1 point in pierce really enough? The usual thing is to aim for 15-20 or so, after +skills? Without going over the top, assume +1 Shako, +1 Body (eg Viper), +2 Titans, +2 Spirit, +3 Torch. Probably 5/6 or so in pierce then?
Use razortail, gives 33 % pierce extra, then just a lvl 9 pierce after +skills will give you 100%.
You might want to skip using a torch if you're going to cow with others in the same game, it's fine solo but with more people you might drop the game.

[NASE]

Not sure if max block is really necessary. Not like I'll be 'accidentally' teleporting into a pack of cows!

Isn't the portal sometimes full of cows from the start. Thus making block nice if you happen to be swarned. Count in that only spirit is good for the + skill, or pheonix if you really need that redemption. The other choise would be a blockshield, meaning more dex, more damage, more leech and better versus LI should you find a lightning immune boss somewhere in the cow level.

for energie you have 3 options. Regeneration, +mana after kill and leech. Regeneration is only good for the very poor, used to be popular though now nearly no-one goes this way. +mana after kills is good. some tir runes, those boots that offer +5 and on rings you can find +1. Even those cheap +skill, fcr shield offer this. Leech is easy to find, valk gaze or tals mask, and as lf is autohit, you leech every lf you throw. this might be the best option if you have some wealth, and if you can get some decent damage on those titans.

[tdlofcc]

Torch has nothing to do with it ... I made this Lightning Ama purely for Cows.
And I have no torch and play solo ... I get kicked after almost every game.

For Cows ... I'm now making a full +skills Blizz Sorc :P

Which is a dang shame, because I was beginning to like massive lightning bolts flying around the screen ;)

[Andymc]

Uh, how do you end up getting kicked after using a torch? :-\

Talking about a torch, I remeber the firestorm can kill fallen and stuff in Act 1 Hell, but it's no danger to the king, I hope?

[NASE]

lf and firestorm are both bad skill when it comes to lag. If you count in the huge number of cows and the fact that you will hit up to 5 cows every thrown, you end up asking to much from the server who drops you. Connection interupted or something the like is the result. If you experience to much problems, you can always go with lightning strike and change you razortails to thundergods. You can get good results with lightning strike, though lightning fury still is better.

[edit]
no danger for cow king.

[WrongdayJ]

For Cows, there's still nothing better than the good ol' LF Zon.

Max Lightning Fury and at least two of it's synergies and chuck away and enjoy the light show. Put a point or two into your D/E/A skills and a good amount into Pierce (unless you are using Razortail-which I recommend highly- then you only need 6-7 points in pierce).

I wouldn't dismiss the Bow tree for a cow runner, though. A well synergized Frostmaiden can WAIL on cows just as hard as the LF Javers can. And (like the LF Zons) there really isn't any special equipment needed (other than the Razortail Belt). SSoG makes a good point about loading a 4-6 socketed bow with P'Sapphires- you get plenty of cold/freeze damage (even in Hell).

Now that I think about it. . .a well synergized Poizon (Javazon using the poison skills) can also JAM on cows. With damages in the 20k+ range over 16 seconds AND the ability to pierce with plague Javelins. . .they can flat murder the tight groups of cows. . .properly hearded or not.
(I've done it. . .and it rocks and no special equipment necessary).

[ShazamLies]

LF javas purely for cows don't really need max block. With good enough gear they will fall fast enough anyways, I would definitely go for Phoenix as the ED helps with leech, but the real saver is the redemption aura. Makes mana a non-issue. Just put 1 pt d/a/e, 1 pierce, and rest into LF synergies. Enigma, titans, razortail are good equipment choices for cow runners because fr/w makes it easier for you to clear and as previously said, razortail can net you 100% pierce with +skills.

Or go with a Freezing Arrow Zon, more fun IMO, less lag intensive, and just as fast. However you will have to steer clear of the Cow King pack, you won't kill it on accident but it might be annoying having to run from it all the time especially if it spawned with Extra Fast.

Put Ice in a mat bow, use razortail + nightwings. Get enough IAS to hit a good bp, ias jewels, 20ias gloves, highlords, or 60 ias armors are good for this. Pack on some bow skillers and you're good to go, this option is actually cheaper at high end gear because the only thing really expensive will be a good nwings and ice...

[NASE]

and what is expensive for a good lf-cowrunner? Titans? spirit? amy or circlet? The only expensive thing are the skillers and you can do without and still be good enough.

I you really want to be a cow-god, lf still is better if you ask me. The cow level is nearly designed for it.

[maiku]

I haven't seen anything fry cows as fast as Lightning Fury. I ran a lot of cow games with my last Lightning javazon. Total carnage even with modest equipment. Just imagine if your mercenary was toting an Infinity polearm and you stepped through the portal...

[ShazamLies]

A gg lf zon is expensive.. Griffons + Skillers + 20ias +2 jav gloves...

A gg ice zon only expensive items are Ice + Nwings. Both of which are way cheaper than a lf zon also because bow skillers are almost free.

A gg ice zon can keep up with a lf zon in kill speed, but be 10x more unique and cheaper. Not to mention you could also make an ice/lf zon hybrid as it only takes two skills to max out freezing arrow. Plus its possible for Extra Fast/Extra Strong/Aura Enchanted mobs to d/a/e block lock a lf zon. Freezing arrow provides more safety as the only creature hitting you should be the main "boss."

One downside to ice zons is they kill single monsters slower as they don't have the option of CS. But again, you could always hybrid.

[Darkflight]

A Lightning Fury Amazon can rip through the Cow Level with nothing but 20 skill points in Lightning Fury and a cracked javelin.

It isn't original, but it sure is effective. :grin:

[syndrohm]

A gg lf zon is expensive.. Griffons + Skillers + 20ias +2 jav gloves...

A gg ice zon only expensive items are Ice + Nwings. Both of which are way cheaper than a lf zon also because bow skillers are almost free.

A gg ice zon can keep up with a lf zon in kill speed, but be 10x more unique and cheaper. Not to mention you could also make an ice/lf zon hybrid as it only takes two skills to max out freezing arrow. Plus its possible for Extra Fast/Extra Strong/Aura Enchanted mobs to d/a/e block lock a lf zon. Freezing arrow provides more safety as the only creature hitting you should be the main "boss."

One downside to ice zons is they kill single monsters slower as they don't have the option of CS. But again, you could always hybrid.

I currently have a Frosty/strafe hybrid with ice matri bow and nightwings and it is amazing. The plus to cold dmg and - to enemy cold resistance plus 100% pierce = death to packs really quick. Not to mention i have a lvl 18 hf aura which allows me to use a might merc for more phys dmg. On top of that there is a 25% ctc frost nova on striking with the ice bow and my fa freezes monsters for 5+ seconds in hell. But he is right, it can be tougher to kill single bosses but they wont be hitting you either.

[maiku]

I want to take this back. Running a Frostmaiden with an Elemental Conviction Zealot = deadest cows I've ever seen. Lots of ice cubes everywhere. One shot kills on *huge* packs of cows. I was running my new Zealot on nm cows, and my friend tested his Frostmaiden out. (We both have Frostmaidens, and I wasn't using mine, since I didn't want to overlap with his girl.) Amazing. We cleared the entire map extremely quick, and I think faster than we did with our old LF zons. Lightning Fury zons and Frostmaidens should encourage friends to make Avengers or Conviction Zealots and everyone reaps the benefits. Forget Infinity. Go with level 25 Conviction. :thumbsup: