HC trapper untwinked, just LS is not enough.

[MCPWTB]

I want to build a better untwinked HC assassin, but lightning trap just isn't enough without Infinity. Can't get Chaos for WW/LightTrap sin, can't really afford a Kick/Trap sin (http://diablo.incgamers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=572795), but maybe a Fire/Trap sin (http://diablo.incgamers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=675292)?

I built a HC lightning trapper un-twinked, but when I got to act 1 hell, it became difficult when dealing with light immunes. After maxing the lightning synergies properly, I was upgrading fireblast and trying to use it along with my act 2 holy freeze merc to deal with the LIs. But it just wasn't working very well, and eventually I'll have to deal with LI gloams or similar units which are fairly dangerous to my health.

Without Infinity I found it too dangerous to run around hell using a lightning trapper with fire blast. I need something else.

For martial arts and Shadow Disciplines I'll be assuming I'm still using LS/DS traps.

Skill breakdown of possibly useful skills to supplement Traps, please leave commets, suggestions, or queries. I want to build a more balanced assassin for hardcore.

Untwinked, any recommendations on strategies? Maybe on bosses I can use dragon talon with the two Strength Runewords after setting up some traps. On LI's same deal, set up 2+ DS traps, go in for the Dragon Tail and get it on with my merc, giggidy.

Martial Arts: Okay, I run into an LI, maybe there is a way for me to just kick its ***.
I have a question only: What sort of hybrid trap/martial arts assassin builds could there be for untwinked?
Only thing I can think of is Cobra Strike or Tiger Strike + Dragon Talon, I am considering +18 or +24 Dragon Talon finishing move w/ one into cobra/tiger strike and a weapon switch to two Amn Tir Strength claws.

Shadow Disciplines: Simple to break down in my eyes.

* Weapon block: +1. "Weapon Block does not work while walking or running." Appears useless in many ways, ie when an LEMS shoots at you, but if you're normally standing around letting your enemies shoot you, great skill, but well maybe HC isn't for you.

* Fade: +20. I'm in hardcore and untwinked. I'll take my maximum physical DR and resists I can get, period.

* Mind Blast: +1. Not much gain by maxing this skill other than the stun length, as far as I can tell duration of conversion stays the same 6s to 10s. Lvl 20 chance to convert 36% 5.8s stun, Lvl 8 chance to convert 30% 3.4s stun. I think if I have 5+ to skills I can use this well enough, cast it on LIs.

* Shadow Master: You gain a tank, but you lose out on damage in the trap tree. I'd only use it if I had spare skill points. Comments?

Traps:
* So from my experience Light Tree with fireblast just wasn't enough, sometimes things got downright dangerous. Obviously if I put skill points outside of the trap tree, I'm going to lose out on the tremendous damage from LS.
* I've looked at fire/lightning combinations but I'm left with a question, do my LS and WoF traps do enough damage? Any experience in hardcore with variations of build? It seems safe enough otherwise.
Shock Trooper Guide (http://diablo.incgamers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=675292) Fire/Light hybrid as linked up top.

[CarloC]

I've found a normal lightning trapper to do more damage. The shock trooper guide is more of a for-fun thing, and may not be up a HC player's alley.
TBH, trappers are the safest untwinked class, other than summoner necros, so maybe you're playing too in-your-face?

[MYK]

Defiance Mercenary, he needs a weapon and leech. Underleveled he will just try to die all the time. Mind Blast the punks off of him when his health starts dropping. Use mindblast as much as you want and more. When they're all fighting each other it's a perfect time to use Fire Blast to take out Lightning Immunes. Don't bother with other Fire Traps.

I did a LOT of nightmare runs before going into Hell. I suggest getting at least Spirit Sword, and 4 more +skills and high resists before hitting Hell. I prefer running BoS even if it means lower damage, as I find running around really fast is most useful.

The "Easy" build is Fire Blast, LS, DS, one of the other two lightning skills. LS is your main attack, FB kills Lightning Immunes and DS blows everything to pieces.

[Greyeagle]

A lightning trapper is one of the best untwinked builds for a sin, especially in hardcore. You wont get better damage out of fire traps, so I wouldn't look that way. With just FB, LS, and DS, with gear you can shop along the way you should be able to do enough damage to get through hell. It really helps to get FB maxed by the time you enter hell.

If you're hardcore and having trouble, keep your focus on resists, remember mind blast and cloak of shadows. Also, for a first time through with the build consider a max shadow as a supplement. Maxed out with a few +skills she can tank very well in hell. Of course, she 'tanks' a little oddly and you have to get used to it - but she does work.

[stephan]

Max FB before the last LS synergy and you are fine. Don't put so many points Fade, it's not a solution to a reckless playstyle. Trappers should rarely get hit to begin with.

[MCPWTB]

Who is being reckless?

I'm worried about LEMS and Extra strong Fire enchanted corpse explosion. Even as I lay down some traps at the edge of my vision, I suddenly see a fire enchanted/extra strong walking CE coming my way. My traps kill it so fast that if I'm unlucky with lag it's over.

Fade will help save me from this assuming I don't have some extra DR from items.

I'll just have to stick with max FB before hell, and use a lot of MB.

I thought about the kick build, but then I thought of all the untwinked melee HC characters that have met their end at the hands of something eventually.

It's better to stick with FB, LS, DS and a good merc.

Thanks for the input.(ps I am trying the kick/light/fade build anyways)

[Raztax]

I hated FB till I had it maxed, now I like it for dealing with LI's (with BoS up, you can toss them really fast)
You only really need to kill one of them and then a DS trap should rip the rest apart. I've never played HC but I rarely die on closed Bnet