Need advice on MFing

[MasterBeef]

Hi. I started playing D2 again after having not played it since just after 1.10 was released. I've been having a go at ladder for the first time, and I'm struggling to MF effectively with my current Sorc builds and gear.

First I made a Fireball/Meteor sorc with the following build/gear:

Level 75
9 Firebolt
20 Fireball
20 Meteor
20 Fire Mastery
1 Warmth
1 Static
1 Telekenisis
1 Teleport

Occulus
Skin of the Vipermagi
Tal Rasha's Helm
Magefist Gloves
1x Naegel Ring and 1x +90 mana ring
Goldwrap belt
24% mf boots
10% mf amulet
'Rhyme' Grim Ward Shield

I also had an Act 2 NM defensive merc (holy freeze) with an Insight Partizan, a paladin armour (can't remember name, Guardian somthing) with about 700 def and an increase to max resistance, and an Undead Crown.

With this gear I found it nigh on impossible to kill Hell Andy, let alone effectively MF run her (due to all the FI's), and the only way I could kill meph was by using the moat glitch + meteor (this was slow, and my merc died on every run.)

So, I decided I'd try a Light sorc.

Level 76
20 Charged Bolt
20 Lightning
20 Chain Lightning
20 Light Mastery
1 Static
1 Warmth
1 Telekenisis
1 Teleport
1 ES

Same gear and merc.

I found that I couldn't kill Andy (partly due to LI's), and I could barely put a dent in Meph before dying.


After seeing a friend of mine down Andy with apparent ease, I switched to his build, the old Frozen Orb sorc.

Level 70
20 Orb
20 Ice Bolt
20 Mastery
1 Warmth
1 Telekenisis
1 Teleport
1 Static

I find myself most comfortable with this build out of the 3, yet I still failed to down Andy (got close to use Static, got hit twice, died.)

Generally I'd like some advice on what I can do to get better at MFing. I don't know if it's me being terrible, or my gear, or my level, or my build but I don't remember MFing being this hard on my old 1.10 NL Fireball sorc.

As far as stats go, I'll usually pump strength to about 60 for an MF sorc, and stick the rest into Vitality. But I've heard that 1 point in ES, 20 points in Telekensis and a 1:1 ratio for Vitality:Energy is a great 'build', and I'm tempted to try this with my Orb sorc (after all, I'll be able to get TK to about 10 at least with my skill quests).

So, my questions are:

1. Is my gear adequate for MFing?
2. Is my level adequate for MFing?
3. Can anyone give me advice on techniques for taking down a boss?
4. Should I try TK/ES with my Orb Sorc?
5. What does TK actually do to ES?

PS: Thank you in advance to any replies I may receive, and please bear in mind that I've only been back at D2 for about 2 weeks, and I don't have access to amazing gear.

[BanginCarAudio]

Sorry I didn't read your thread entirely, I stopped when you said you had trouble MFing hell andy w/ your fire sorc. Maybe I know a secret but I waste her in about 5 fireballs and never get touched.

When you enter catacomb 4, tele once straight to the wall south east of her then one more time just past the wall and blast fireballs straight at her, all enemies die once she dies.

If she has monsters blocking your balls just run until she is free....its really really easy with a firesorc and this method. I actually weapon switch to an mf only weap/shield and waste her.

[MasterBeef]

Thanks, I'll try this method out. I used to be able to down her in about 6 fireballs on my old 1.10 sorc, but I just can't seem to manage it anymore. TY for the input and quick response.

[MasterBeef]

Bump :)

I'd still like to see answers for my questions :P

[sirpoopsalot]

So, my questions are:

1. Is my gear adequate for MFing?
2. Is my level adequate for MFing?
3. Can anyone give me advice on techniques for taking down a boss?
4. Should I try TK/ES with my Orb Sorc?
5. What does TK actually do to ES?


1. yeah, although I'd say your emphasis is a little skewed too much towards MF (if bosses are killing you in ~2 hits). Try dropping a little MF to boost your resists, life, and +skills some and see if that helps - you already have plenty of MF, and it's useless to you if you don't survive long enough to kill anything. Another thing you could probably use more of is Faster Cast Rate - 50 is a little low (63 is a 'minimum' for many people, although I personally aim for 105).


2. 70 is a little low. I'd go back to NM Baal for at least 3-4 levels (probably 6-7 would be better). 70 is still tolerable, and workable, but your merc is going to get spanked in Hell at level 70 - even if he has nice gear. Sorcs are fragile, so having a good merc to help out can really make a big difference.


3. as I said previously - you currently (probably) have too much emphasis on MF. Boost your damage, casting speed, and defensive capabilities (resistances are big in Hell), it will help. Also, even if it takes a little longer, try to play a little more defensively until you get a little more comfortable.


4. At this point, you have pretty much 4 viable options. I'll explain them, but IMO only the first 2 are really useful.

a) 20 points TK, with 1 point ES. a very reasonable investment, but if you've put 0 points into Energy it can mean that every time a monster hits you it drains 50+% of your mana pool, which becomes annoying quickly. Still, it's a decent idea.
b) 20 points Firewall, 1+ FireMastery. If you want a backup-damage skill to deal with immunities, Firewall and Frozen Orb are really the only two that are viable with ~20 points invested. If you're playing solo, this is the approach I'd choose.
c) Points into Warmth. Increasing your mana regeneration. Really this isn't a great idea, as there are many better ways to get mana (noteably an Insight polearm on an Act2 mercenary).
d) Points into Teleport. Pretty much the same as Warmth (with the same advice about the merc). However, it is nice if you're running out of mana every run just during the time you spend teleporting to the area/boss that you're running.


5. Telekinesis lowers the damage-to-mana ratio (sound like gobbledy-gook?). To explain, with only one point in TK, for every 1 point of damage you would normally receive (without ES), it means that your mana pool will be reduced by 2 points (with ES). However once you get up to 20 points in TK, then for every point of damage you would normally receive (without ES), you only loose 0.75 points of mana (with ES).

Also, in case you didn't know, equipment that adds +skills to TK does not affect this ratio. The only way to improve the ratio is to spend actual skillpoints into TK, which is why many/most people will spend 20 skillpoints into TK before ES (because +skills work just fine on ES, so it's easier to boost).

[KremBanan]

Instead of going pure fire, pure cold or pure lightning. I would suggest the standard Fireball/Frozen Orb build. Dualelemental sorcs would be in your case a better build. Buildguide are in the stickies, it goes something like this:
20 Frozen Orb
20 Fireball
20 Meteor
20 Fire Mastery
1 teleport/warmth/Cold Mastery

Gives 2 types of damage, 3 including mercs physical damage.

[MasterBeef]

Thank you all for the responses. I had another go at an Andy run on my orb sorc and took her down without too much trouble (maybe when I tried last night I was just too tired :P). Unfortunately, my merc is pretty fragile in Hell at the moment (and I practically depend on him for mana, Insight rocks :P) so I'm going to level up a bit (to about 80) and find him some better armour.

I've also decided to try out the TK/ES route and dump a decent number of points into energy. Hopefully this will make me less dependent on my merc, and I'll still have mana even after he kicks the bucket.

I'm not fussed about CI's because all I'll be doing is running Andy/Meph on this sorc, but thanks to everyone who provided info on duel-element builds. I'll certainly try a couple out and see how they feel :)

PS: I'm thinking about a 1:1 ratio for Vitality:Energy now that I'm using TK/ES. Is this about right or should I have more Vitality?

EDIT: @sirpoopsalot,

my cast rate is 90 dude :P not 50

[BanginCarAudio]

Personally I don't use ES at all. I went all vit, no dex, no energy and very little str. It would have been no str but I didn't have my torch and anni when I built her.

I have 1400 Life, 350 MF, 105+ FCR, and 11k fireball damage.

Also, lvling to 90 is encouraged..it doesn't take long to get there.

[Socialism]

Hi, read the "homepage" link in my profile to answer some of your teleport / ES / frozen orb / MF / general questions. Good luck!