Another merc problem - Tanking Meph on p3

[LordHoth]

Well I've just gotten my first hell sorceress, a meteorber, to Hell Meph. Currently I'm level 84 (just hit it) and my merc is 82 or 83 I think. I've tried doing the moat trick and I didn't really like it so I've just had my merc tanking. He does fine on p1 with his current equips below, but I've been trying p3 as the p1 experience isn't doing much at my level. The problem is my merc can't quite tank on p3 unless his aura kicks in at the very beginning (the defiance one).

I don't think I'm misplaying it, tp over to him, bait him away from the back as there are usually guys there, static field him down to 50%, then Meteor, 2 fire balls, meteor 2 fire balls, rinse and repeat. I use meteor instead of FO because I have difficulty positioning myself far enough to get him where the orb explodes and because my meteor seems to do more damage.

I've tried every combination of equipment that I can think of for my merc, vamp glaze/rockstopper/Crown of Thieves for the helms, treachery/shaftstop/duress for the armor, kelpie, reapers toll, insight, obedience for the weapon. I've even tried buffing him with enchant from an off hand orb/spirit shield beforehand.

Well this is getting pretty long already, but I wanted to try to provide as much information as possible. If I forgot anything please ask. Here are my equips and my mercs.

Merc:
Vampire Gaze
Grim Helm
Defense: 252
Durability: 40 of 40
Required Strength: 58
Required Level: 41
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 87
Fingerprint: 0xf0a151db
+100% Enhanced Defense
Magic Damage Reduced by 14
Damage Reduced by 20%
All Resistances +12
Adds 6-22 cold damage over 4 seconds
7% Life stolen per hit
7% Mana stolen per hit
15% Slower Stamina Drain
Socketed (1: 1 used)

Duress
Dusk Shroud
'ShaelUmThul'
Defense: 2606
Durability: 11 of 11
Required Strength: 67
Required Level: 49
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 81
Fingerprint: 0x67092f87
+180% Enhanced Defense
+17% Enhanced Damage
Fire Resist +15%
Lightning Resist +15%
Cold Resist +45%
Poison Resist +15%
Adds 37-133 cold damage over 2 seconds
40% Faster Hit Recovery
33% Chance of Open Wounds
15% Chance of Crushing Blow
-20% Slower Stamina Drain
Ethereal (Cannot be Repaired), Socketed (3: 3 used)

he Reaper's Toll
Thresher
'Shael'
Two-Hand Damage: 38 to 455
Durability: 65 of 65
Required Dexterity: 89
Required Strength: 114
Required Level: 75
Polearm Class - Very Fast Attack Speed
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 99
Fingerprint: 0x86e23e04
+223% Enhanced Damage
Adds 4-44 cold damage over 1 seconds
12% Life stolen per hit
Requirements -25%
20% Increased Attack Speed
Ignore Target Defense
33% Deadly Strike
33% Chance to cast Level 1 Decrepify on striking
Socketed (1: 1 used)


Mine are full tal's, 35% spirit, frostburns (had magefists but was running out of mana on p3), 99 mana 10% fcr ring, rare ring with big strength, LR, 10% FCR, and a smidge of MF, and wartravs for the strength and MF. I have 2 plain fire skillers, 1 cold, and a smattering of resist/MF charms. I have level 30 fireball and meteor, and 29 frozen orb.

Thanks in advance for any help you can give,

-LH

[Scudstorm]

The question I would ask is... can you tank meph?

Because my Tal sorcs usually can once they got their Tal Set. 4 red pots should get you past the fight at p3. Tele right on top of him (with namelocking). This way, he'll attack you and not your merc.

Also, I'd use Insight on a Meteorber's merc so that I can use Magefists.

[LordHoth]

Hm, never really thought of tanking him completely myself. Sometimes I would give my merc a break and tele on top of him, untill I could feed him some pots or a purple. I'll have to try that if I get bored questing my blizzy, I have about 1200 ish health at the moment so I might be able to. That was my 2nd option, making a pure blizzard sorceress for more damage. Thanks for the help. :thumbup:

[litokrn]

i'd toss in a FO once in a while just so he's slowed (movement and attack).
also, roam around act 1 for a few seconds if you want to get your merc's aura on before u head on in.

[LordHoth]

i'd toss in a FO once in a while just so he's slowed (movement and attack).
also, roam around act 1 for a few seconds if you want to get your merc's aura on before u head on in.

That did it! I tried tanking him myself a few times, died once by not being able to chug fast enough (my poison resist is in the 40s as well, so that might have contrubuted a bit to it). This time I threw a FO at him and between Kelpie's plus the FO it was enough to slow him even when my mercs aura didn't turn on. Roaming act 1 didn't seem very attractive as that adds a decient bit of time to my run.

But thanks again for the replies. Now that I have gotten a sorceress past the boring part (i.e. low levels) I don't think I'll ever be able to play another non-sorceress character untill I get Enigma. TP=most universally powerful skill in the game=obv statement. :thumbup:

Edit: Update, I'm gonna try just using Fireball and FO again. It seems to be working a bit better and the bit of time positioning yourself so the orb explodes inside of Meph seems to be better than using meteor.

[xcalizorz]

Having a stack of Full Rejuvs will help Emilio out a lot, and save you from denting your pocket book. They're pretty easy to come by in Hell. When you run out, run Andy/Pit/Tunnels, and whatever amount you get should last you quite a few Meph runs.