Max Block With Spirit

[xZerasx]

So I messed up my sorceress yesterday...
I was following the Hardcore Orb/TK Blind-Teleporting Budget Mf Sorceress (http://forums.diabloii.net/showthread.php?t=557123) guide in making a softcore sorceress. A bit unnecessary, but I wanted to try how well it would work in Hell without having to restart if I die on my first test run on HC.

Problem is, I started pumping dexterity, but at the same time planning to use a Spirit Monarch at the same time. So I'm already at 130 Strength...

My question is how bad would a sorceress built like this run at level 80? I'd have no points in vitality, which means a base of 179 life (40 start + 79 Level + 60 Golden Bird). I'd be running with +22 Vitality from spirit (so another 44 life) and possibly something from other random items. I'd be stuck with putting all my points into Str and Dex, and would even have to make up an extra 12 points of Str from items (need 156 STR and 301 DEX at level 80. From starting stats, this means spending 422 points. I can get 410 from levels and Lam Esem's Tome).

So in total:
~250 life
~500 mana
75% Block
Maxed Resists
~65% ES

So. Will this sorc actually be able to run anything? Or will she spend most of her time face down in the mud?

[Noite Escura]

Bad. Your biggest problem is that Spirit is not a blocking shield. First, it takes an horrible amount of dexterity to hit a dcent block rate. Second it has no Faster Block Rate, which means you'll get stuck a lot in place in long block animation any time you blcok an attack.

[xZerasx]

Hmm... I handn't thought about the block rate.
If it's bad, I guess I'll just remake it. I am still a bit sad that there is no way to do spirit with any sort of good block rate. And I've just gotten to like blocking :tongue: .

It seems like there are no good block shields that will give resistances and faster cast. The only really good block shield I can think of is the upp'ed Viscretaunt, and that loses out on +1 Skills, 35% FCR, and 35% Resists. Well only 13% Resists if I can find an Um, but It still seems like a lot to make up. Is there any way at all to cut the difference down, or are we stuck with this choice forever?

[stephan]

There are no good blocking shields with FCR and the only way to make something out of those would be using a Guardian Angel, which you really don't want as sorc. So you either go max vita with spirit, or you go without spirit.

[xZerasx]

Damn.

Oh well. Guess we cant have the best of both worlds.

I think I'm going to stick Sanctuary on a Pavise 60% Block rate, +20 Dex, some FHR and FBR, and a massive 70% Possible Resist All. Also frees up over 100 points to push into Vitality instead. That would give me a more respectable Life total, and free up some slots from resists. FCR is still the missing link, but between Hoto and Vipermagi Ill get past the 63% break, and Magefist with Arach (if I can get it) can push me to 105%.

Totals now would come to ~500 life, ~500 mana, 75% Block, Maxed Resists, and ~50% ES. Better now?

[deslok]

Take a look at Gerke's Sanctuary (74% CTB, 20-30 res) and Whitstan's Guard (87% CTB, 40 FBR) as well. Both could be socketed with Um, Shael, or Eld.

[fahartle]

Ouch - I made that same mistake last ladder ^_^. I've got base dex on my current sorc and a spirit. Just not fooling with it. But you can get max dex on a Whitstan's with very little investment. The problem with the build as you have it is that your mana pool is so much lower than it should be. You can easily hit 1500 mana with a build that focuses on Energy Shield as your damage absorber...

[WNxZerker]

I'm in the process of making the same build, my sorc uses a grimshield Ryhme, and only needs 200ish dex to hit max block at 85, she has low HP, but does well.
get yourself a gereks sanctuary, or a upgraded visc.
a Wizspike and vipermagi will give you enough FCR to tele safely.
I tele to meph fine then switch out magi for skulders.
this build dosent need lots of +skills and FCR items. just the breakpoints that are listed there in the guide.
FHR, FBR, FCR at those low BP's are easy to come buy with starter gear.
eventually I will switch out viper permenatly with 2x +10FCR +mf Rings :P

if you must get 105% FCR try magefists, vipermagi, FCR rings, FCR belt, and a +2sorcs skills FCR circlet, and FCR ammy, hopefully all with +HP and +mana. note that the rings, belt circlet, and ammy are also good sources of +resists and +hp +mana too.

for survivability, my sorc has 45xHP and base mana, and maxed res, and she survives quite a few shots from the gloams when going to baal, shes not up to tele'ing into the center of them yet :P that would need more ES, +Mana, and +hp.
oh yeah, and make sure you get the kelpie snare on your merc, it sounds like an odd weapon, but wait till you see meph hit with it, all that melee damage that wipes out you merc, will become laughable as you see meph start to move like great great great great granpappy meph on a zimmer frame

Zerker

[AnimeCraze]

Ouch. Did you already put in the dex? If so, I would suggest a remake. If not, don't go there. Spirit is a vita shield, used by classes/builds that spams things like fireball, lightning, tornado, hammers (but they have their shiny pally spirit). Don't block with spirit unless you are a paladin.

[xZerasx]

Yeah, I'm going to be remaking. Got up to 81 and decided to hit Mephisto a few times - died each time to exactly what Noite Escura said. I got to him on the last one, but without good gear, my mana and life are pitiful so I cannot tank. And moating him with frozen orb just takes too damn long. Oh well. At least on my way up I managed to snag a Vipermagi from NM Baal. So not a total loss :tongue: .

[Noite Escura]

Don't block with spirit unless you are a paladin.
Or an hybrid zon.

[fahartle]

Props to that tk telporting guide, though. I built a similar version for running baal games and she's just about unkillable, even at level 75.

[WNxZerker]

yup once you get that gear on your merc, and high slvl teleport, shes pretty hard to kill.
at 78, I'm killing meph 100%, the dolls even the extra fast fanat aura ones have trouble catching me, and when they do hit I tele straight out.
merc still dies a little on meph, I find you have to chill him with an orb before he comes down the stairs, try to get him stuck on one side of the stairs, tele onto him, hit with another orb, till merc lands a hit, then step back, static, step back to sweet spot orb him while feeding merc reds.
a lifetap wand on switch would make it a cakewalk, but if he gets off a lightning bolt, or one of his orbs of death on your merc, before you go in, you have to heal him to full, as his poison and hits will be too much to heal him through without rejuves.

Zerker

[Socialism]

So in total:
~250 life
~500 mana
75% Block
Maxed Resists
~65% ES

So. Will this sorc actually be able to run anything? Or will she spend most of her time face down in the mud?

Upgraded Visceratuant is my favourite sorceress blocking shield, hands down.

The reason the Orb/TK/teleporter is so ridiculously tough to kill while teleporting
is that she's fully equipped with the resources necessary to escape from any
situation when she gets hit.

That's "when" she gets hit, not "if."

At 250 life, you've basically scraped your character's survivability down to
"2-hit-kill" status (assuming manaburn packs). Even with all those great tools at
your disposal: energy shield, low mana cost teleport, big fhr/fcr/blocking, and
some moot defense - you've no buffer life to escape with.

Spirit is the game's ***prettiest*** "piece of crap" blocking shield - it's there to
tempt you with its "I don't have FBR, but I make up for it with excellent hygiene"
allure. Don't be fooled!

High chance to block + fast blocking speed = excellent
High chance to block + slow blocking speed = deathwish

Edit: Zow, looks like I got post-pk'd by Noite Escura's first response. ><

[AnimeCraze]

Spirit is the game's ***prettiest*** "piece of crap" blocking shield - it's there to
tempt you with its "I don't have FBR, but I make up for it with excellent hygiene"
allure. Don't be fooled!

High chance to block + fast blocking speed = excellent
High chance to block + slow blocking speed = deathwishNot if you are a paladin. :laugh: Who needs FBR when you are already blocking at 2 frames?

Honestly, I am starting to hate the 20% chance to block on my vita meteorb sorc when fighting things like blow dart flayer. Not that it kills me or anything, but it is just annoying. It would be so much better if it is 0%, so at least I can take advantage of the FHR all the time, if I even get put in to hit recovery to start with.

[beltt]

Isnt Mosers as good as Visceratuant when it comes to blocking??

Regards Beltt

[brokensvt]

An upgraded Viscer edges out Mosers in blocking, and offers one Sorc skill. Mosers' 25 resist all is handy, as are the 2os. My next Sorc gets to choose between an upped Viscer and an upped Moser's. OH, the decisions...

[Brave_turtle]

High chance to block + fast blocking speed = excellent
High chance to block + slow blocking speed = deathwish



I really like this^^

Just gotta hate when getting block lock in middle of a pack of monsters. They combo you ti'll you are fried.