Hardcore Uber Smiter Question

[sudkamp]

Hardcore Uber Smiter Question

Hi, I'm just trying to work out what skill points to get. My understanding is, that an uber runner really only needs

1. Fanatism MAXED
2. Holy Shield MAXED
3. 1 pt Smite.

20 pts smite is apparently unneccessary but I still see many builds use it. Where do you guys put the rest of the skill points.

MAX Lightning?
MAX Defiance? <-- seems pretty useless as most of the damage is elemental?

Right now in terms of armor, I have the choice between GA vs Duress. I guess if I use GA, I won't need to max lightning.

This is what I'm thinking of using (Note I already have these items available, and not uber RICH)

Helm: Guillames (um'd)
Amulet: Cats Eye or Rare resist ammy
Armor: GA vs Duress
Weapon: Black Flail vs Something Cheap
Boots: Gore Riders
Shield: Um'd Hoz.
Rings 1: Raven Frost
Ring 2: Raven frost
Gloves: Dracs

Charms: Resist, and +30 Life LC's.

Note. This is making the assumption, I have a BO barb to buff me, and hammerdins to kill the minions.

I don't see why I need zeal or sacrifice synergies...

[Pitboss_2000]

By 'hardcore', do you mean 'dedicated', or as 'if you die, your character is gone'? Your gear looks fine (although you forgot to mention a belt, most people use TGods, or Verdungo's or the String of ears), although I don't think a Black Flail will be fast enough to hit the last breakpoint (not 100% sure though).

You don't really need max Smite as you will be doing most of the damage you deal to the Ubers with Crushing Blow. I also use my pala to run Nihlathak, help people kill the Council and the Ancients, or run bosses and then Zeal comes in quite handy.

If you don't plan on doing any of that you might as well max Defiance, I have no idea where else to put it. maybe resist auras to get a bit of extra fire and lightning res?

[sudkamp]

Hardcore as in Hardcore Ladder Character. I guess this character is exclusively for ubers, and helping kill ancients.

I'm a bit reluctant to max defiance, as this is why I have a bo barb. Any more defense is pretty much a waste.

In terms of lightning resist aura, it is pretty useless if I decide to go the Guardian Angel Route. Guardian Angel vs Duress, not really sure what to pick.

I think the only useful thing to get next is to maximize smite, and maximize conviction, so that I will be a useful party member when doing baal runs or what not.

I hope you see my dillemna.

[Pitboss_2000]

I only have Guillaume's and Gore Riders on my pala and I never had the idea that I really needed more Crushing Blow, so if that's your main reason to get Duress, I'd go for GA.

If you don't need the defense, don't max Defaince. :) You could indeed go for Conviction, or Salvation to help out partymembers, like you said.

I'm surprised you let your HC characters go near anything that casts IM, buy the way. :D

[sudkamp]

Isn't most of the damage you are receiving elemental, so having extra defense is a bit of a waste?

Actually a lot of the smiters that use duress, i do see them usings kiras guardian a fair bit. Also I am contemplating using wizard spike over black meh..

Decisions Decisions Decisions.

[Pitboss_2000]

Ah, brainwave! Smite always hits, so you don't need the second raven Frost. Replace it by something with resists, for starters. Also, Highlord's Wrath is a great amu for smiters, it offers 20% IAS, +1 to skills and good lightning resist. I would personally switch Black for something with more attack speed, but that's just me.

[Full_Circle]

Isn't most of the damage you are receiving elemental, so having extra defense is a bit of a waste?

Actually a lot of the smiters that use duress, i do see them usings kiras guardian a fair bit. Also I am contemplating using wizard spike over black meh..

Decisions Decisions Decisions.

A lot of the damage you take is elemental, but the physical damage you take tends to be in fairly large chunks (especially from Lilith). You didn't mention your belt, so I'll assume it's going to be Verdungos, which would put you at either 15% DR (or 30% DR with treachery fade prebuff). I'd get a bit more in the DR department.

My current set-up:

Helm: Guillames (um)
Amulet: Highlord's
Armor: Shaftstop (15% IAS, Resist Jewel)
Weapon: Heaven's (2 Shael)
Boots: Gore Riders
Shield: Sanctuary Sacred Rondache
Belt: Verdungos
Ring 1: Ravenfrost
Ring 2: Dwarfstar
Gloves: Dracs

Skills:
20 Smite
20 Holy Shield
20 Fanat
20 Resist Lightning
3 or 4 Salvation
~rest in Defiance

That gives me 85% lightning resist and enough cold and fire absorb to render them relatively harmless, and 45% DR w/out fade.

[sudkamp]

Thanks for the replies, they have been very helpful.

One more question. Should I attempt to get as close to base strength as possible, and max out on strength large charms.

Or should I just put say like 50 points base in strength, and get as many 30+ life large charms instead.

I figured if I use all str charms, I am in a way wasting space on life charms. Which is the way to go?