New to Zons

[Buu]

So, i've been thinking about making a Bowazon(since my friend is a javazon) that can switch between Multishot and strafe(i'm thinking multi for crowd and strafe for bosses/single monsters). What i'm a little unsure of is where to place my skills. This will be my second character(other is a Fo/Cl sorc). Any help is welcome. This will be PvM

Thanks.

[KremBanan]

Amazon Buils Guides and Other useful Information: http://forums.diabloii.net/showthread.php?t=325914


Read some here and check out if something catches your interest. You will find different skillsetups etc. If you have any questions, we will be glad to answer.

[Buu]

hmm.... So, here is what i imagined the skill set up to be. (about to level 85)


Bow skills

Magic Arrow- 1
Multiple Shot~10-14
Cold Arrow-1
Ice Arrow-10
Guided Arrow-1
Freezing arrow-20
Strafe~20


Critical Strike-1
Penetrate-1
Pierce~10
Dodge-1
Avoid~3(worth it?)

total- 83

Idea, opinions?

[Detlef]

1. I think 5 in Pierce is enough, rest comes with the +skill-items.
2. Also, I'd put these spared points in Critical Strike.
3. You and your friend are both snipers, which means, you will need a tank. So one of you should invest some points (~10) in a Valkyrie. There's a thread somewhere in the Amazon-Forum, which explains what boni a Valk gains, at which skill-level.

[maiku]

hmm.... So, here is what i imagined the skill set up to be. (about to level 85)


Bow skills

Magic Arrow- 1
Multiple Shot~10-14
Cold Arrow-1
Ice Arrow-10
Guided Arrow-1
Freezing arrow-20
Strafe~20


Critical Strike-1
Penetrate-1
Pierce~10
Dodge-1
Avoid~3(worth it?)

total- 83

Idea, opinions?

Ice Arrow = useless. Do not spend points there beyond the pre-requisite 1 point. If you want more freeze time, add a few small charms w/ cold damage on them. This is more economical than adding to Ice Arrow to increase your Frozen Arrow's freeze time.

Do you intend to have a fully synergized and powerful Frozen Arrow capable of dealing out 1,500-2,000 cold damage when maxed? If so, then you should add 20 points to Cold Arrow. This makes Frozen Arrow very powerful through the synergy. And also if you want to use Frozen Arrow, I'd recommend stocking up as many +skills as possible, because its damage only gets more powerful with a lot of +skills. If you only intend for Frozen Arrow to help with crowd control, only add 1 point to it and a few cold charms and don't bother maxing it.

If you have many +skills, put just a few points in Pierce until you hit 9 or more with +skills, then let Razortail (33% more piercing) take you over 100%. (If you choose to go with Frozen Arrow, I'd recommend highly that you get 100% Pierce, because Frozen Arrow gets huge damage when it pierces packs, causing cold explosions.) I'd recommend 5-10 points in Critical Strike, at least until you reach 50%+ for double damage against enemies. But if you plan on using Deadly Strike to substitute for Critical Strike, you can go with just 1 point in Critical Strike.

Where are your points in Valkyrie? A level 17 Valk or maxed one is very helpful to a Bowazon, whether you play a Strafer, Multizon, or Frostmaiden. I would recommend sparing points here if you can.

Are you going to use a bow with ITD or major AR boosters? If not, you may need to also think about having some points into Penetrate to maintain a reasonable AR toward end game.

D/A/E: I usually just add 1 point in them and allow +skills to take them up to a decent level. Some people like to invest 3-5 points in them. I like to take those points and dump them into Valk and Penetrate if need be.

[Buu]

So, after reading the comments here, and a guide on gamefaqs, here's the new plan.

Magic Arrow- 1
Multiple Shot- 13
Cold Arrow- 1
Guided Arrow- 20
Strafe- 15


Critical Strike- 3
Penetrate- 4
Pierce- 4
Dodge- 1
Avoid- 1
Evade- 2
Inner sight- 1
Decoy- 1
Valk- 12


Total 79

will i be okay vs physical immunes? Or should i invest some in freezing arrow.

[KOMARAC]

when pvm, put ONE point in guided it's enough. it's not pvp. (unless you really like this skill) max strafe and take multi to lvl 15 with + skills. you really don't need more than 16 arrows per shot man. there's no area in game that requires more than 15-16 arrows per multishot!

freezing arrow ... it should be either ONE or 20 points.

max valk you'll like it :)

15 points in penetrate...

5 in crit...

[Buu]

Updated skill tree(hard skills only)
Magic Arrow- 1
Multiple Shot- 10
Cold Arrow- 1
Guided Arrow- 2
Strafe- 20


Critical Strike- 5
Penetrate- 5
Pierce- 5
Dodge- 1
Avoid- 1
Evade- 2
Inner sight- 1
Decoy- 1
Valk- 15 (each cast gets pretty expensive fast)

the main concern is dealing with physical immunes. Should i invest in freezing arrow, or should i find weapons that add to elemental damage?

Also,


I have a 3 os mage plate(256 def). It seems too low for enigma, so i was thinking of using it for "Peace".

*stats for reference*

4% Chance To Cast Level 5 Slow Missiles When Struck
2% Chance To Cast level 15 Valkyrie On Striking
+2 To Amazon Skill Levels
+20% Faster Hit Recovery
+2 To Critical Strike
Cold Resist +30%
Attacker Takes Damage of 14

Is this a good idea till i get better armor for her, or is there a better runeword for this armor/zon?

[NASE]

can you give me one reason why a 2 point guided arrow would be better then a one 1, though not that much better that you would want to put 20 points in guided. This is just an extra skill, one point in all you need unless you really plan on running bosses often, you don't want to use strafe and for a strange reason you think an bowazon is good for bossruns.
Same goes for evade, you don't need it a good played amazon, and if you think you need, then why would two points make a difference?

why lvl 15 valk, makes no sence. If you use peace, one point is enough, you will get ctc valk. If you plan on not using peace, you want atleast lvl 17 with +skills, or you will max it or you will just put one point. There is close to no reason why a lvl 15 would the way to go - unless you are in trouble with skillpoints, mostly bowazons aren't. And the manacost is no argument aswell, you don't have to recast valks that often, only when they die - and a higher valk doesn't die that often. If you want a placeble tank, use decoy.

PI: 1. use a source of amp or decrypt: atma's scarab, wws, reapers toll...
2. go hyrbide, check you the guides for more information.
3. one point magic arrow, good if you play with a party, or when there is just one of them. If you have to kill a group with a one point magic arrow and a bad bow, it will take a lot of time.

Peace isn't really a that good armour. It doesn't offer much you could want. It is used on low characters, often non amazons for the great oskill critical. An amazon on a budget in needed for +skill and a good valk may use it, though even then, other option certainly are as vaible. On a bowazon, don't use it. Try getting some more funds and make treachery.

And you want a one point freezing arrow and more points in critical if yoiu ask me.

[Buu]

Magic Arrow- 1
Multiple Shot- 10
Cold Arrow- 1
Guided Arrow- 1
Ice Arrow- 1
Freezing Arrow- 1
Strafe- 20


Critical Strike- 7
Penetrate- 5
Pierce- 5
Dodge- 1
Avoid- 1
Evade- 1
Inner sight- 1
Decoy- 1
Valk- 17

So, that?

[ScozZers]

What bow are you planning on using?
Also, you want a good cheap 3 sox runeword - go Lionheart man: 15 dex, 25 str, 20%ed..life/vita/res...it's lovely. In a mage, you can wear it at 41 and keep it on..well...for good really.
Back up skill re Phys immunes - lightning bolt is nice and only needs 1 point really, since you'll have lotsa phys dmg anyway and LB just converts all that to light dmg - or a friend has suggested a harmony bow on switch: relatively inexpensive. Magic arrow, even with one point and plus skills will take down any light/phys immunes and it's a pre-req. Whatever, I'd stay away from FA. It's good for freezing stuff but really there are better back up routes for phys damage bowa.
Guided arrow - max it for bosses - Baal'll still give you trouble so get some crushing blow but every other boss will fall. Valk only needs to be 17 with +skills. Strafe - never found the need for more than one point. What ever the level it still does the same damage, just attacks more enemies is all...and triggers torchfire a whole lot more than multi, which can be a pain. Multi rocks for PvM but 5 or 6 with + skills is enough. Critical strike - max it man - where else those points gonna go - it frees up amu options and 70% chance of double damage is groovy. D/A/E - well 12 each with + skills gives enough chance to avoid most attacks but more is nice if you can spare points. Pierce - I only ever put 1 in pierce with + skills stuff - the rate you fire, it's gonna trigger. Penetrate, hmmm, well you're spoilt for points so a few here may help but PvM and the dex you're gonna have...well, it's not necessary to put more than 1 in it with some + skills - you'll have plenty ar. Decoy - PvM with merc/valk - You'll never use it - 1 point for the pre-req for your few points in valk. If you can't get a torch/anni then just adjust all this to compensate for that 4 extra points. Get some speedy boots and a whack of dual leech and you're off. Bow wise - eaglehorn or witchwild string would be what I'd recommend on a budget.

I guess I'm saying ~
1 magic arrow
5 or 6 multi
max guided
1 strafe
20 critical
1 pene
1 pierce
1 inner sight
1 slow
1 decoy
5 + valk
4 or 5 + d/a/e
1 in lightning bolt or maybe go up to lightning fury

If your friends a java tho, then javs might not be necessary in which case hmmm 1 in freezing arrow plus some cold charms or a sapphired bow on switch to freeze stuff for him.

Good budget bowa - for me:
Boots: Low ed gores or Aldurs boots - low mf war travs are probably best tho
Gloves: Laying of Hands/magnus skin. A combination which i like at lower levels is the gloves and belt from arctic set - gives ias and mf - bloodfists are an option - be aware of your ias tho (plenty of guides here) - or craft some knock back gloves with ias (sapph/ort/chain gloves (or higher versions) and jewel).
Bow: Eagle or WWS
Armour: Lionheart or Treachery - maybe Peace or even Stealth
Helm - loadsa options - Tal's is nice for leech/mana/res (not pretty mind) - Stealskull is good - 15 ias jewels are cheap so you can always socket for ias.
Belt - well, crafted blood belts are cool (pruby/tal/jewel + mesh belt/mithril coil) - you could go with wilhelms belt which has dual leech - nosferatus is gr8 obviously...ummm...mavinas belt I think has frw and res
Rings - 2 ravens if you have dual leech elswhere or a raven and a useful rare.
Amu - Cat's eye ftw - highlords is good - a rare zon amu or something I like is a +3 passives amu (you will notice the difference) - atmas scarab is very cheap and useful if you don't go with witchwild as bow.
Of course, if you're loaded then Faith rocks - windforce is kewl - fortitude armour owns - you know the drill.

Good guide here: It's pvp, but I found it invaluable. My first PvM bowa was based on it and, with a few adjustments for phys immunes, really played nicely. - http://strategy.diabloii.net/news.php?id=585

I'll prolly look at this tomo and think ...Ugh...
Hope it helps some - zons are fun fun fun...with a capital fun :)

[Mythatic]

If you want to kill physical immune, might as well make a freeze cold arrow zon with runeword Ice.

Your friend = Javazon = lighting
Yourself = Freeze zon = Cold
Your merc and your friend's merc = Physical

Immunes solved, no monster can have more than 2 immunities.

[KremBanan]

You can also go FA/CA with Psn/Plague Javelin. Focus on +skills and you have high Cold, Poison and Light damage + your mercs Physical damage.

[Buu]

Magic Arrow- 1
Multiple Shot- 10
Cold Arrow- 1
Guided Arrow- 11
Strafe- 15


Critical Strike- 8 50 % seems good for me, not including +skills
Penetrate- 4
Pierce- 5
Dodge- 1
Avoid- 1
Evade- 1
Inner sight- 1
Decoy- 1
Valk- 10

Total 70- i'll add the others where i feel i', missing them once i get to a high enough level.


Okay, time for equipment

So, first off, i will be on a budget. this is my second character ever, so i'm poor. So, budget items are a priority, but list the more expensive stuff anyway, incase i stumble upon them.


Now, items i know i have that may be of use.

String of Ears
a +2 bow skills bow, with other mods(i think 10 ias but i could be wrong)
Blood Raven's Charge
Tal Mask
Vamp gaze

as for the 3 os mage plate, i was thinking either lionheart (as suggested above), or duress

[tedglines]

I will guess that every player who runs a bowazon will have their own pet way of setting the skill levels. Me, I max Magic Arrow to get the +damage, put some points into Strafe and Multiple Shot, and put nothing into the rest of the bow & crossbow skills because I do not ever use any of them. All of my other skill points go into passive and magic skills with emphasis on Critical Strike, Penetrate, and Valkyrie (now at 21 and rising). You will find that your most powerful weapon will be Valkyrie if you will invest the points. I guess you can tell that I am a Valkyrie-fan!

[Norrit]

Hi everyone

i'm kinda new to amazons too, and I have some questions:

1) Which is better? I use faith and merc is act2 might with pride runeword, or I use windforce and act1 merc uses faith?

2) How should I distribute stats? str for items, nothing in energy, that's fine. but how about dex/vit? should I just have enough dex for items and max vit? or should I just put some points in vit (if any at all) and everything else in dex?

2) Is a "Melody" runeword done on a gmb with +3skills good enough for anything in hell? or should I get Faith/Wf/whatever as soon as possible?

[HellPlayer]

Hi everyone

i'm kinda new to amazons too, and I have some questions:

1) Which is better? I use faith and merc is act2 might with pride runeword, or I use windforce and act1 merc uses faith?

2) How should I distribute stats? str for items, nothing in energy, that's fine. but how about dex/vit? should I just have enough dex for items and max vit? or should I just put some points in vit (if any at all) and everything else in dex?

2) Is a "Melody" runeword done on a gmb with +3skills good enough for anything in hell? or should I get Faith/Wf/whatever as soon as possible?

1) is personal preference but i like the wf/act 1 merc route;
2)str=enough for items, energy=0, vitality= if you are new to bowies you can put some points here but never pass the 100 points total(included points from equipment), dex=all you got left.
3)Melody is a temp and should be replaced fast as possible in hell(and gmb is slow, so a bad choice for this), you will be better with a harmony, can go to 3k+ dmg in lcs screen and is cheap, also dont forgive the wws option(nice guide in stickies)

For the original thread autor, a way to kill PI is use of a atmas amulet, amp will break imunitie, also a reapers tool in merc can do the job too.
HellPlayer