Advice sought

[Shryke]

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Hey there. I've returned to D2 from many years ago and would like some advice from you vets:

I've managed to get my ladder WW Barb up to level 82, and now face the summit in Hell. I believe I am a bit under-geared, which is no surprise.

My chest is a crafted Hellforge BP with approximately 1200 def, and my two axes are zerker axes. The first axe is a Cruel Berserker Axe, with 220% ED (no other mods). The second axe is crafted with 180% ED. My resists are from low teens for poison up to the 50s for fire. My life leech is pretty low at the moment.

My question is this: I would desperately love to up my damage. I have been relying on purchasing zerk axes from Act 5 hell and crafting them with Blood. So far, my best is 180% ED(only had enough to craft 3 axes).

Can anyone offer some recommendations outside of crafting? My issue with crafting is the Perfect Rubies. I have perfect gems of everything else, but no more rubies! Pain.

Thanks.

[Kennoth]

That depends if you are playing classic, or expansion. If you are playng LoD, runewords are your best option. eBOTD on something huge like martel de fer (did I spell this right) combined with high end spells will give you nice damage. Skill items will further enhance your spell damage. Of course, that runeword is expencive, and if you're broke try finding something that suits your current character skill

http://www.battle.net/diablo2exp/items/runewords-110.shtml

Increasing the mastery for your weapon will always help. And keep in mind that a lot of Uniques tend to have high ED

[Mursilis]

From the equipment mentioned I think eBOtD is a bit out of the OP's price range.

I'd suggest getting some Crushing Blow (CB) to go with your equipment. Some low level items that provide it are:

Goblin Toe
Guillaume's Face
Duress armor (runeword)

As well as several weapon options, Black runeword for example. This should greatly reduce the monster's life and even with so-so weapons make the Ancients very possible.

[Kennoth]

From the equipment mentioned I think eBOtD is a bit out of the OP's price range.



Yup. That's why there are great, relatively cheap runewords for weapons with great ED and other effects

[Shryke]

That depends if you are playing classic, or expansion. If you are playng LoD, runewords are your best option. eBOTD on something huge like martel de fer (did I spell this right) combined with high end spells will give you nice damage. Skill items will further enhance your spell damage. Of course, that runeword is expencive, and if you're broke try finding something that suits your current character skill

http://www.battle.net/diablo2exp/items/runewords-110.shtml

Increasing the mastery for your weapon will always help. And keep in mind that a lot of Uniques tend to have high ED

Thanks, however, it appears the Zod runes and such, at least on the ladder, are.... nearly mythical. My highest rune is a Ko.

My axes are maxed as well.

[Shryke]

From the equipment mentioned I think eBOtD is a bit out of the OP's price range.

I'd suggest getting some Crushing Blow (CB) to go with your equipment. Some low level items that provide it are:

Goblin Toe
Guillaume's Face
Duress armor (runeword)

As well as several weapon options, Black runeword for example. This should greatly reduce the monster's life and even with so-so weapons make the Ancients very possible.

I am fully maxed in Axes. I also carry, on switch, that unique club which lets me cast Enchant, which is quiet nice for attacking rating.

Can you recommend an Axe solution?

[Kennoth]

Zod is very easily traded if ur rich :D . Just be careful for the dupes. Best thing when playing baba, is to, when picking your major skill, also choosing your weapon you will use on high level. That way there is no skill expences as you can max the mastery for it.

http://www.battle.net/diablo2exp/items/elite/uaxes.shtml

These are elite unique axes, and they're mostly cheap also (along with majority baba uniques).

[Shryke]

Zod is very easily traded if ur rich :D . Just be careful for the dupes. Best thing when playing baba, is to, when picking your major skill, also choosing your weapon you will use on high level. That way there is no skill expences as you can max the mastery for it.

http://www.battle.net/diablo2exp/items/elite/uaxes.shtml

These are elite unique axes, and they're mostly cheap also (along with majority baba uniques).

As I feared. My axe drops have been abysmal.

And I would never trade for a rune. I've got a purist streak in me and would never take the risk of a dupe.

[Kennoth]

Well, it's the main Bnet currency. You need them

[Voorhees]

I would try to get some good crushing blow going for myself. Perhaps around 50% or better. Or, you could join a game where other people are fighting them. Your warcries will be welcomed and their damage will aid you. It IS a muliplayer game afterall.
And you don't need duped runes for pvm. Pvp almosty definately but not for pvm.

[Mursilis]

Runewords that don't require HRs (Vex+) may be in your price range. There are a few good ones that can be made in Axes, specifically:

Crescent Moon (ctc Static Field, ITD, 25% OW, +180-220% ED)
Kingslayer (230-270% ED, 33% CB, 50% OW, PMH, 20% AR, 30% IAS)
Oath (ctc Bone Spirit, 50% IAS, 210-340% ED, PMH, HoW charges)
Strength (25% CB, 35% ED, 7% LL)

There are a couple others (Honor, Malice, Passion, Steel, Venom) but I think the above are your best options. You need CB, so Kingslayer is your best option but it is also the most expensive with Mal + Um + Gul + Fal needed. Strength on the other hand only requires Amn + Tir and also gives decent CB but not much for other mods.

For your second axe I'd suggest Crescent Moon for the ctc Static Field and OW, along with decent ED%. CB and SF together should reduce the monster's life quite quickly for you and make things alot more manageable. However Oath is also a good alternative to use as it has high ED%, PMH and with the Heart of Wolverine charges your damage will increase dramatically, assuming you can keep the spirit alive.

[Shryke]

Runewords that don't require HRs (Vex+) may be in your price range. There are a few good ones that can be made in Axes, specifically:

Crescent Moon (ctc Static Field, ITD, 25% OW, +180-220% ED)
Kingslayer (230-270% ED, 33% CB, 50% OW, PMH, 20% AR, 30% IAS)
Oath (ctc Bone Spirit, 50% IAS, 210-340% ED, PMH, HoW charges)
Strength (25% CB, 35% ED, 7% LL)

There are a couple others (Honor, Malice, Passion, Steel, Venom) but I think the above are your best options. You need CB, so Kingslayer is your best option but it is also the most expensive with Mal + Um + Gul + Fal needed. Strength on the other hand only requires Amn + Tir and also gives decent CB but not much for other mods.

For your second axe I'd suggest Crescent Moon for the ctc Static Field and OW, along with decent ED%. CB and SF together should reduce the monster's life quite quickly for you and make things alot more manageable. However Oath is also a good alternative to use as it has high ED%, PMH and with the Heart of Wolverine charges your damage will increase dramatically, assuming you can keep the spirit alive.

Thanks. I was looking at those Runewords. Unfortunately, I don't have any of the non-junk runes as yet, so it appears I am miles and miles away from even those mid-level RWs.

Which again leaves me crafting axes, trying to find a Cruel Berzerker Axe of Alacrity at the vendor, and gambling. Frustrating.