Light Sorc - Which Merc?

[AnEvilPeanut]

Ok so I finally got ahold of an infinity so I'm going to make a light sorc. Mainly stripped from my old cold/fire sorc so I have all of the items and spent last night aquiring the last ones I needed. This is basically the breakdown that I'm using
Shako - P Topaz'd
COH Dusk Shroud
Occulus
Spirit Monarch
Goldwrap/Arachnids (Thundergod's until I can use Torch to get str requirements for Spirit)
Lite Ammy w/ FCR
Magefist
War Trav's (Still Need)
FCR Rings/Nagelrings
I also have an anni and a torch and 6 Lite Skill GC's

I think I'm pretty good on gear because with a few misc charms I will hit the 120FCR and the 60FHR Breakpoints.
Please let me know if you have other thoughts on my gear choice.

Anyways, the real reason for my post is that I've never really taken advantage of mercs before. They always died too fast because I never put anything good on them. Well This is what I was thinking
Infinity Eth CA (Duh)
Leviathan
Vamp Gaze (Still Need)

I'm less sure about the gear for the merc than anything else. Also, which Act 2 merc is the best to hire? I don't think I will need Might because I should do enough dmg that I won't need him to kill a lot. I was thinking Holy Freeze. Any suggestions?

[loserbunghole]

Well the only two you should even look at is one with Holy Freeze or Defiance aura.

Either will work. I believe most people prefer the holy freeze though.

[Leohappy]

i usually take act 2 hf merc with infinity eth thresher, eth upgraded shaft "um" and andariels visage "ral"

some people prefer to use armors like duriel's shell (cannot be frozen) or ethereal fortitude (more dmg), but i think the 30% dr from shaft is really incredibly useful in places like pit where archers do insane amounts of physcial dmg

[Mikk0]

hf for the fact that you'll be killing faster than, umm, lighning....... extra def for you or merc vs slow effect of hf is just useless

[AnEvilPeanut]

Yeah the DR is why I was going to use Leviathan. Plus I have a practically perfect one sitting on a mule (1697 Defense, 25% DR, and 49 to Str.)

I will be going with the Holy Freeze Merc.

I'm not sold on what helm to use though. Maybe Tals (10% LL). I just don't have a Vamp Gaze at the moment, obviously the increased DR would be great.

[Mikk0]

ebug coh + any nice helm is also worth shot..

i was impressed with the fact how my merc turned useful with coh and dream helm.. confuse rocks the ranged attackers :prop:

[Leohappy]

I'm not sold on what helm to use though. Maybe Tals (10% LL). I just don't have a Vamp Gaze at the moment, obviously the increased DR would be great.

my personal favorite is andariels with ral rune:

+2 skill (increases merc aura by 2)
+8-10% life leech
+25-30 str
+20% increased speed
+70% psn and +10% to max psn resistance

gazes 6-8% ll and 15-20% dr can go hide somewhere when you compare with these stats, particularly since the merc doesn't always die to phsical attacks anyway (mostly in the pit)

[AnEvilPeanut]

I actually considered that since i also have a few andy's... but doesn't the negative fire resist pose some problems since you can't really make that up with a merc?

[Leohappy]

I actually considered that since i also have a few andy's... but doesn't the negative fire resist pose some problems since you can't really make that up with a merc?

socket ral rune into it and the fire penalty goes away

[AnEvilPeanut]

ahhh very nice. Any ideas on what I should stick into Leviathan (if anything)
Or if there is a much better idea for armor

[Leohappy]

ahhh very nice. Any ideas on what I should stick into Leviathan (if anything)
Or if there is a much better idea for armor

you need at least 15 all res somewhere otherwise the merc will not have enough res... so you want to put um rune or 15@ jewel into it

[AnEvilPeanut]

I can do that. Thanks for the help.