Please Help Optimize my Phoenix Striker

[graushwein]

I am pretty poor. The highest rune I have is like one lvl 50 and another lvl 40. I do however have something like 100 pgems though. But I consider myself to be poor. I have bargain equipment seen below. My level is 75. I have 4 points to spend.

Modified Stats.
Strength 120
Dexterity 109
Life not sure (Near 1,000 Health)
Mana doesn't matter
[I have 100 points to spend]

SKILLS
1 dragon claw
13 fists of fire
20 claws of thunder
20 phoenix strike

10 claw mastery
1 burst of speed
1 Cloak of Shadows
1 fade
8 weapon block
1 shadow master
1 mind blast

That all doesn't take into account the 2 bartucs that I use.

I'm thinking about getting a point in the corpse explosion trap? Then maxing out Shadow Master? What skills should I get from here?

Two Bartuc's Claws, Rockstopper Helm, Shaftstop Armor, String of ears Belt, Bloodfist gloves, Tearhaunch boots.
(Fade plus stuff I have 58% Damage Resistance and 72% Fire/Lightening resists. I hear Damage Resist is Capped at 50% but isn't that the same as having twice as much life?)

My jewelry isn't that good. What should I look for? In hell I have trouble getting high enough resistances so I mostly have resist and life steal. Though life steal I just checked out and only got 10 health back when I have 18% LS and do 400 average damage!??

I have resist charms.

My mercenary is the defense aura one with moderate (non-special) stuff. I'm thinking about getting a frost aura one, but that radius is so small it didn't seem to help before. I'm thinking about a frost mage from act 3 will slow guys down more and stay alive longer? Reviving the Aura guy really is a drain cuz he dies so much.


So to give you a copy/paste Q and A.
1. How should I spend the rest of my stat points?

2. What skills should I get?

3. What equipment should I get?

4. Can you recommend jewelry qualities I should get?

5. Mercenary recommendations and equipment?


Trading: I am a packrat so I have over 100 pgems. Otherwise I have unique and set items lvl 40 and below. I might have 1 rune that's 50+, two that are 40+, some 30's and a bunch of lvl 20's runes. I don't consider myself to be rich. Am I wrong in this?

[Sass]

Well for jewelry, Angelic Amulet + 2x Rings will make a huge boost in AR. Also, you said you had resist charms. If they're SC, you might be richer than you think, but that's for another time.

The Nightmare Freeze merc's aura hits ~ a full screen. If you buy one at that lvl, he'll freeze everything around.

1. How should I spend the rest of my stat points?What are your base str / dex? If you put lots of points in them, you shouldn't need any more in, so vita would be good. Usually, people wait on this after getting their end gear, or if playing for the first time through, spend it sparingly.

2. What skills should I get?You have none in Venom, nor do you have 1 point in Death Sentry. These are highly recommended. Venom will do wonders for killing speed. Also, Blade Fury. One point in this is enough, and you have a ranged attack that helps with venom.

3. What equipment should I get?Eventually, you'd probably want to get into the Nat's Set. It is great for a claw/claw phoenix striker, has lots of skills and res (with DR). All in all, amazing for your particular build. With it's already active 30DR, the belt can go for something better (maybe a tgods, which are fairly cheap, depending on where you are. Listing Realm and non ladder or ladder will help determine equipment.

4. Can you recommend jewelry qualities I should get?Angelic Ammy and Rings all the way. Any hitting problems will virtually disappear when you have these on.

5. Mercenary recommendations and equipment?A2 HF merc with nice armor (Duress can work with your budget, but work on merc's gear at the very end.) Any leech helm will work for him (tal's has leech and res with life). The weapon can be an insight (if ladder).

[graushwein]

I play ladder US East

They are large charms.

[BIGeyedBUG]

I'm thinking about getting a point in the corpse explosion trap? Then maxing out Shadow Master? What skills should I get from here?

DS is a really good idea. My first priority after that would be pumping FoF. A strong SM can be really nice, especially in HC, but I wouldn't rate it as game changing as those.

Two Bartuc's Claws, Rockstopper Helm, Shaftstop Armor, String of ears Belt, Bloodfist gloves, Tearhaunch boots.You're strong on defensive mods, but pretty weak on +skills for my tastes, other than the Bartuc's. I'd try to get more from the other slots. Some good options are Harley, Treach, rare diadem/gloves...and so on.

CtH is also really important, whether it comes from AR or -%defense.
I hear Damage Resist is Capped at 50% but isn't that the same as having twice as much life?)Not quite since it only protects against physical, but it's still extremely nice. Although when it comes down to it, an Assassin can sometimes get 100% damage resistance by using MB and CoS and having some guile.

Can you recommend jewelry qualities I should get?For equipment in general, a Phoenix Striker's mantra is usually +skills, CtH, and (sufficient) IAS. As far as jewelry goes, I'd look for +skills and misc. mods from the ammy, and resists and misc. mods from the rings.

Though life steal I just checked out and only got 10 health back when I have 18% LS and do 400 average damage!??Leech can be tricky, since it's penalized by the target's physical resistance, their drain factor, and by the NM/Hell penalties.

My mercenary is the defense aura one with moderate (non-special) stuff. I'm thinking about getting a frost aura one, but that radius is so small it didn't seem to help before. I'm thinking about a frost mage from act 3 will slow guys down more and stay alive longer? Reviving the Aura guy really is a drain cuz he dies so much.I think the Act 2 Mercs are the most useful, and out of those I really like the HF and BA versions the best with a Phoenix Striker. Defiance is fine, but kind of meh for an Assassin.

A few people like the Act 3 mercs, and the Ice version is the best of the lot, but I think it's more to be different and for the challenge than anything. They really are much more limited than the other mercs.

How should I spend the rest of my stat points?No Energy, sufficient STR/DEX to use your equipment, everything else in VIT.

[graushwein]

Alright, I've picked up a few more nice items and let me update my progress.

I have made it to Act 4 in Hell. I died about 3-4 times getting through act 3.

At level 78 I now have a bargain assassin torch, +2 Assassin amulet with bonus to AR, Goblin Toe boots for 25% Crushing Blow.
I have about 1050 health and my AR is 5500. Still I only have about a 70% chance to hit.

My Defense is only 1,000 and monsters have about 70% chance to hit me. What can I do about this?

Hell is a whole different ballgame. I have to constantly backoff and take monsters out piecemeal. Overall the only problems I have are with Megademons (winged demons) because they are fire immune and 75% Lightening resists, oh and 50% PDR! They take forever to kill.
Rare bosses on the other hand are pretty touch and go, but doable with care in most cases. Izual was a pushover compared to the rare creatures.

Hephasto The Armorer is unbeatalbe! I have 50% PDR, great resists, and over 1000 health. Despite all of this he still hits me for around 700-800 damage per hit! I die in less than a second! I have Death Sentry but still can't do much to him with it because I have to run around him like a coward. What can I do?

Please help! Am I too low level or is it something else?

[Bladewind]

You will need more Crushing blow. That is all I can say really.
Also if you are dual claw, shoot for at least 50 claw block.

[cryptoknight]

sometimes you just gotta bring out the Cobra Strike.....

and mentioned above....crushing blow.....works wonders(easiest way..."strength"(Amn+Tir) runeword greater talons...or any 2 socket claw