What to socket in Merc's Eth Shaft?

[bubux]

I'm a meteorb sorc. I use my nm act2 holy freeze merc to tank monsters.

I need to know, what should I socket the merc's shaftstop with? Probaly an Um for +15 asll resistances? Or a 15% Ias Jewel?

Current merc gear:
- helm: rockstopper
- armor: ethereal upped shaftstop
- weap: the reaper's toll weapon

Desired merc gear:
- helm: ethereal upped vampire gaze + um rune on socket
- armor: current (eth upped shaftstop) + what rune/gem/jewel?
- weap: ethereal reaper's toll + what rune/gem/jewel?


This is a "not very expensive" merc gear, yet very efficient at tanking monsters for sorcs. Reaper's Toll decrepify + Holy Freeze aura = 80% slow on monsters.

Thanks for reading.

[bubux]

Comeon ppl. The shaft is there waiting for guidance.

[HeroXVII]

Ber for the DR...

[WNxZerker]

throw an amn rune in the reapers toll as you have 0% life leach on your current gear. and you will see your merc survive alot better.
I dont see the little extra PDR from ber giving you that much more effectiveness on your merc but if you want it get it (if he can hit max res).

if your merc cant hit max res in hell with the rockstopper, then hes going to have even more trouble when you switch it out for the vampgaze.
I'd be inclined to do one of the following.

Um in gaze and SS(if you need that much resists, and have the UM's to spare)

+15 res jewel, with another mod, in both gaze and SS (again if you have them, and dont want to waste, ums, or don't have ums. and if you need that much res to hit max, remember his res goes up as he lvls)

ort in one, ral in the other, untill you get the ums or all res jewels.

else forgo the gaze, and get a tals mask for +15 res all, and 10% ll (remember that life leach is less effective in hell, so its not a bad idea to have a little more)

could also fire the HF merc, seeing as hes casting decripify to slow mobs anyway, and hire a normal defiance merc and give him the same gear.
normal A2 mercs have higher stats, can be hired about 1-3 lvls below your lvl, and also have higher natural resists, so take less gear to hit max in hell.

just a few options for you to think about


Zerker

[HellPlayer]

throw an amn rune in the reapers toll as you have 0% life leach on your current gear. and you will see your merc survive alot better.
I dont see the little extra PDR from ber giving you that much more effectiveness on your merc but if you want it get it (if he can hit max res).

if your merc cant hit max res in hell with the rockstopper, then hes going to have even more trouble when you switch it out for the vampgaze.
I'd be inclined to do one of the following.

Um in gaze and SS(if you need that much resists, and have the UM's to spare)

+15 res jewel, with another mod, in both gaze and SS (again if you have them, and dont want to waste, ums, or don't have ums. and if you need that much res to hit max, remember his res goes up as he lvls)

ort in one, ral in the other, untill you get the ums or all res jewels.

else forgo the gaze, and get a tals mask for +15 res all, and 10% ll (remember that life leach is less effective in hell, so its not a bad idea to have a little more)

could also fire the HF merc, seeing as hes casting decripify to slow mobs anyway, and hire a normal defiance merc and give him the same gear.
normal A2 mercs have higher stats, can be hired about 1-3 lvls below your lvl, and also have higher natural resists, so take less gear to hit max in hell.

just a few options for you to think about


Zerker

Just to point the merc have life leech, is a mod on reapers tool
HellPlayer

[mr_sQuinty]

Ber for the DR...

if you are rich enough to use a ber in a shaft , give your merc a fortitude instead

[Brave_turtle]

if you are rich enough to use a ber in a shaft , give your merc a fortitude instead

Not really...

ETH shaft + Ber is survabilty oritented while Fortitude is Offensive oriented. 2 different beast.

I would personally prefer ETH shaft + Ber.

[mr_sQuinty]

Not really...

ETH shaft + Ber is survabilty oritented while Fortitude is Offensive oriented. 2 different beast.

I would personally prefer ETH shaft + Ber.

hmm , higher defence/resist/life/chilling armor i wouldnt call that offensive oriented
sure i got some ed , but ed + ll ==> lives longer
i have tried both , and imo so is a nice forti better than any shaft

[Brave_turtle]

hmm , higher defence/resist/life/chilling armor i wouldnt call that offensive oriented
sure i got some ed , but ed + ll ==> lives longer
i have tried both , and imo so is a nice forti better than any shaft

DR on shaft alone beats Fortitude in some cases. It really depends on what purpose you are using it for.

Not saying you are completely wrong. I'm sayign you are partially right on saying if you are rich enough you should use fortitude.

Both have their advantages. For example, I like to run CS with scythe infinity + Eth up'ed Ber'd shaft.