Frost Zealot: speed vs damage?

[JITBxvx]

I have a level 61 frost zealot, and I need a new weapon...currently using hexfire after someone suggested getting ITD on a weapon for my AR issues.

Can't really afford some of the truly insane runewords like BOTD or Doom, but I can beg, borrow, or trade for some others and I'd like advice between two that I feel I can make for my frosty.

I have everything but a 'fal' rune for a famine with ITD and ~200ish rainbow damage, but the only thing I can make it in is a -10 speed weapon at best, war spike.

I can probably get or find a phase blade for crescent moon, and with it's -30 speed and 20% IAS, it would make a fast weapon, but most of the mods other than ITD are pointless for me as the -lit res on it won't do much unless chain lightning triggers.

What do you think would be better, a famine war spike with the much greater physical damage +rainbow elements, or would I be better off with a crescent moon phase blade for the CTC static field and chain lightning with the greater overall speed?

Thanks for any opinions you might have...any other unique weapons or suggestions for similarly priced runewords would be appreciated.

-In game at *JITBxvx on USEast

[flamingchen]

Speed+crushing blow is good for frost zealot. I uses "black" in knout for mine, along with guillames face, so 75% crushing blow, along with 30 ias from sigons gloves+boots. Kinda noobish stuff, but it works, as it is getting me thru hell adequetely.

[zarirazz]

i second the speedier option as well..
faster speed means faster application of the cold damage, ie probably more dmg over time.
faster speed also means faster application of crushing blow, speeds up kills =)

[JITBxvx]

So it's really the faster application that counts with the ITD I'm looking for, not necessarily the amount of damage the weapon itself does?

So I'm hearing the general opinion is to go with the crescent moon for the speed and not worry so much about the overall damage. Thanks for your help, though any additional thoughts on weapon choices would be appreciated.

-JITBxvx on USEAST

[illestkhmai]

IMO, CM is great, ITD, speed AND CtC Static Field makes it very win.

[maiku]

I have a level 61 frost zealot, and I need a new weapon...currently using hexfire after someone suggested getting ITD on a weapon for my AR issues.

Can't really afford some of the truly insane runewords like BOTD or Doom, but I can beg, borrow, or trade for some others and I'd like advice between two that I feel I can make for my frosty.

I have everything but a 'fal' rune for a famine with ITD and ~200ish rainbow damage, but the only thing I can make it in is a -10 speed weapon at best, war spike.

I can probably get or find a phase blade for crescent moon, and with it's -30 speed and 20% IAS, it would make a fast weapon, but most of the mods other than ITD are pointless for me as the -lit res on it won't do much unless chain lightning triggers.

What do you think would be better, a famine war spike with the much greater physical damage +rainbow elements, or would I be better off with a crescent moon phase blade for the CTC static field and chain lightning with the greater overall speed?

Thanks for any opinions you might have...any other unique weapons or suggestions for similarly priced runewords would be appreciated.

-In game at *JITBxvx on USEast

Hmm, I'd never use Hexfire on a Frost Zealot, although it is a decent weapon for a melee Enchantress.

You're a bit off about a "Crescent Moon"'s -35% enemy lightning resist. By lowering enemy LR, it helps to make Static consistently more effective. If enemies have higher LR, Static becomes less effective and you won't be shaving off big chunks of their health. A possible 25% each cast IIRC. However, lowering enemy LR beyond 0% will not increase this. Its ITD will help you land your hits against most of the normal monsters you encounter, which means that your cold damage will connect more and you will proc Static often and as others have mentioned, help land more Crushing Blows. It should be noted that Static and CB can trigger simultaneously on hits, and when it does, that's sweetness divine. I made and used a "Crescent Moon" PB on my Frenzy Barb a while ago. It's a very solid weapon. Its physical damage is a little low, but the Static, ITD, etc. help out in so many other ways. Static is great for whittling down crowds and weakening them.

Other weapons you can try on your guy might be...

"Rift" Scepter (more cold damage and it has other elemental damage to dispose of immunes, cheap to make--requires a Gul for highest rune)

Azurewrath (more cold damage and has magic damage, to cut through immunes, +1 skills, really fast)

"Voice of Reason" (more cold attacks, like a baby "Rift" as SSoG once put it, and it has a big -24% to enemy cold resist, which helps your cold attacks do more damage - requires Lem and Ko as highest runes, make it in a 4-socket PB for best effect and speed)

[Ed from Russia]

Not mentioned yet - Heaven's Light (unique elite scepter).

They're pretty cheap (about a Pul for one with +3 to skills). Your cold dmg goes up and it has (I think) 33% CB. Lots of other useful mods as well.

[JITBxvx]

Thanks for all the info in the posts I've received so far. If possible, I was wondering what would truly be the best out of the weapons with 'Ignore Target's Defense' as my AR is only about 1700 with dual ravens...at level 61.

I have about 138 dex with items, and dual ravens, but I don't hit very often because of my abysmal AR.

So it was recommended that I get 'ITD' and when I used 'hexfire' with it's ITD I hit much more often...so I'm hooked on ITD...and now I need to know the best of the 'ITD' weapons for a level 61 frost zealot that I enjoy playing.

If anyone has anymore info on 'ITD' weapons, I'd love to know more about them...if it helps, I am on NL and have jah, ohm, mal, ko, shael on my character to purchase or create items...anything I can afford with those would be great.

Thank in Advance,
-JITBxvx on NL USEast

[illestkhmai]

Thanks for all the info in the posts I've received so far. If possible, I was wondering what would truly be the best out of the weapons with 'Ignore Target's Defense' as my AR is only about 1700 with dual ravens...at level 61.

I have about 138 dex with items, and dual ravens, but I don't hit very often because of my abysmal AR.

So it was recommended that I get 'ITD' and when I used 'hexfire' with it's ITD I hit much more often...so I'm hooked on ITD...and now I need to know the best of the 'ITD' weapons for a level 61 frost zealot that I enjoy playing.

If anyone has anymore info on 'ITD' weapons, I'd love to know more about them...if it helps, I am on NL and have jah, ohm, mal, ko, shael on my character to purchase or create items...anything I can afford with those would be great.

Thank in Advance,
-JITBxvx on NL USEast


Go for Crescent Moon(CM)

10% Chance To Cast Level 17 Chain Lightning On Striking
7% Chance To Cast Level 13 Static Field On Striking
+20% Increased Attack Speed
+180-220% Enhanced Damage (varies)
Ignore Target's Defense
-35% To Enemy Lightning Resistance
25% Chance of Open Wounds
+9-11 Magic Absorb (varies)
+2 To Mana After Each Kill
Level 18 Summon Spirit Wolf (30 Charges)

for shael+um+tir, very nice, IMO for the reasons I stated earlier. You obviously have more than enough wealth for it, so I'd go with this.

[flamingchen]

You could get a blessed aim merc.

[illestkhmai]

You could get a blessed aim merc.

Yeah but that only does so much when his AR is that low.

[JITBxvx]

I tried a blessed aim merc, but he got destroyed by stuff I could tank pretty easily...I fed him more potions than I found, and until I got 'ITD' from hexfire I still felt like I wasn't hitting often enough for as much as I was swinging. I thought an act 1 merc would be good, but don't really have the stuff for a speedy act 1 merc.

Currently using an act 3 lit merc with skullder's ire and a unique fcr circlet I found just for the different elemental attack that stays out of the way for the most part. Still gets owned if surrounded by nightmare cows, but what merc doesn't?

Would the -35% lit resist from crescent moon help merc do damage, or does that mod only effect the person with the weapon?

-JITBxvx on USEast NL

[illestkhmai]

I tried a blessed aim merc, but he got destroyed by stuff I could tank pretty easily...I fed him more potions than I found, and until I got 'ITD' from hexfire I still felt like I wasn't hitting often enough for as much as I was swinging. I thought an act 1 merc would be good, but don't really have the stuff for a speedy act 1 merc.

Currently using an act 3 lit merc with skullder's ire and a unique fcr circlet I found just for the different elemental attack that stays out of the way for the most part. Still gets owned if surrounded by nightmare cows, but what merc doesn't?

Would the -35% lit resist from crescent moon help merc do damage, or does that mod only effect the person with the weapon?

-JITBxvx on USEast NL

Effects the attacker only, but it'd still go far with helping you lower monster's HP with the CtC Static Field.

[JITBxvx]

Thanks for all the replies so far, and sorry to hijack my own thread, but would the slow from the clay golem 'stone' armor makes stack with holy freeze and slows target gear?

-JITBxvx on USEast NL

[maiku]

Thanks for all the replies so far, and sorry to hijack my own thread, but would the slow from the clay golem 'stone' armor makes stack with holy freeze and slows target gear?

-JITBxvx on USEast NL

I believe Holy Freeze's slowing effect will stack with the Clay Golem's Slow, but Gumby's Slow is counted the same as Slow granted by items. Therefore, if a creature is hit by Gumby's Slow but then hit by you while you're wearing items w/ Slow, the Slow % of the last attacker will take precedence. This can be a nuisance if you both have different amounts of Slow. Decide whether you're going to be the king of Slow or if you'll leave that kind of Slow up to Gumby. Same goes for Merc if you equip him with something like Kelpie Snare (which grants 75% Slow).

BTW, a good discussion of different types of slow and slowing effects is discussed in a guide for a Slowazon by Rogue Mage on AB. I won't link to the guide but I hope they won't mind if I quote a part of it which may illustrate the different types and effects of slow:

So How Slow Can You Go?

There are several distinct effects that will slow monster movement and attack speed:

Slows Target XX% - (10 -75%) available on certain Set and Unique items
Clay Golem - when struck, slows attacker by 11 ~ 65%, depending on skill level
Holy Freeze - slows monster speed by 30 ~ 55%, depending on skill level
Cold Damage - slows monster speed by 0 - 50%, depending on Chill Effectiveness
Decrepify - slows monster speed by 50% - affects all monster types

Each monster is affected by the most recent hit of each type of slowing effect. Slows Target XX% and Clay Golem produce the same type of slowing effect, and each will override the other. Holy Freeze, Cold damage, and Decrepify produce separate slowing effects which will stack together with Slows Target. (Thanks to Bubonus for pointing this out.)

Slowing effects of different types add together linearly to produce a single "SloMo" factor, and the total percentage is subtracted from each monster's current movement speed. The result is capped to no lower than 25% of the monster's base walking speed. Thus, a total of 75% SloMo will reduce a monster's walking speed to its minimum. However, more SloMo would be required to reduce a monster's running speed to the same pace as its minimum walking speed. (Thanks to brianc84 for the info.)

SloMo also affects a monster's attack rate. The SloMo factor is subtracted from attack speed and the result is capped to no lower than 15% of the monster's base attack rate. Thus a total of 85% SloMo will reduce a normal monster's attack rate to its minimum. However, Fanatic and Extra Fast monsters have doubled attack rates, and additional SloMo will be effective against them.

The duration of each type of slowing effect varies independently, allowing one effect to wear off while others remain active. Slows Target XX% and Clay Golem's slowing effect last about 30 seconds. Holy Freeze pulses about once per second, and persists as long as a monster is in range. Decrepify's duration varies by skill level, and is the same in Normal, NM, and Hell. Cold damage chill duration is cut in half in NM, and quartered in Hell.

Hope this helps.

[flamingchen]

I'm kind of deciding whether I want to keep my black scourge or use CM for my frostadin.
Currently, I use a black scourge+guillames face for 75 crushing blow, which works very well in nightmare but seems to be only mediocre in hell. Also the knockback is very annoying.

Crescent moon looks really nice, with its 20% chance of static field and speed (though black is really fast too), no knockback, and especially the ITD. I only have about 3k AR, around 6-7k AR when my blessed aim merc is actually alive.

So what do you guys think is better?

[illestkhmai]

I'm kind of deciding whether I want to keep my black scourge or use CM for my frostadin.
Currently, I use a black scourge+guillames face for 75 crushing blow, which works very well in nightmare but seems to be only mediocre in hell. Also the knockback is very annoying.

Crescent moon looks really nice, with its 20% chance of static field and speed (though black is really fast too), no knockback, and especially the ITD. I only have about 3k AR, around 6-7k AR when my blessed aim merc is actually alive.

So what do you guys think is better?

Yes, knockback can get tedious after awhile. Your AR also isn't very great, and it would be hard in hell, go with CM.

[flamingchen]

ITD doesn't work on bosses right?

[ambid]

Yeah you got it right.

ITD does not apply to uniques, super uniques, other players or their hirelings, and act bosses.

[flamingchen]

How bout -X% to target defense? Hitting act bosses is really annoying for me since my blessed aim merc dies pretty fast.

[DH Amazon]

How bout -X% to target defense? Hitting act bosses is really annoying for me since my blessed aim merc dies pretty fast.

Use that 1-point smith against bosses. At least to trigger crushing blow couple of times. Its too good (hope that they patch and cap that at 50% like static).
not to use.

I use that CM too and I use smith against bosses or I run conviction (got lvl25) if I want to zeal.

[illestkhmai]

Use that 1-point smith against bosses. At least to trigger crushing blow couple of times. Its too good (hope that they patch and cap that at 50% like static).
not to use.

I use that CM too and I use smith against bosses or I run conviction (got lvl25) if I want to zeal.

Agreed, use the smite.

[vknez]

stormlash...

[flamingchen]

That smite advice is good. lol baal is considerably easier than his minions and getting to him (I can't tele).

[JITBxvx]

Let me call attention to the unique tyrant club "Demon's Limb" with it's charges of level 23 enchant. I just traded for one it has 218% AR boost for about 11 minutes when you enchant yourself...it also adds about 111 fire damage on the top end, which really doesn't do too much unless you're stacking fire damage. I'm currently using razor's edge unique tomahawk while enchanted, and my frost zealot is doing much better. Combination of -25% target defense and 218% AR boost allows me to take out NM Cows pretty easily.

-JITBxvx on USEast NL

[flamingchen]

I had a demon's limb but got rid of it fast. Its not really that fast. The enchant was nice, but repairing it also got really expensive.

I would suggest a really low heaven's light (1 socket, +2 pally skills). I shaeled mine for 40% ias total, along with -33% target defense. Shouldn't cost too much, got mine for a lem (or it was just a good deal)

[JITBxvx]

Don't forget that you can use the cube to repair and recharge weapons:

Ort + chipped gem = fully repaired and recharged weapon

Orts are cheap, and anyone with an aura at the level to use it can farm chipped gems in normal in about 1-5 minutes.

Charges of enchant are about 10K apiece, but any piece of armor dropped in NM or Hell gets you about 30K - 35K instantly...so it's not quite that bad.

-JITBxvx on USEast NL