most powerful shadowmaster possible?. my valk is almost maxed.wanna try this now.

[veteran player]

hypotheticaly what equipment would max her out?. also a few other questions. does she wear the same armor i wear but a magical version?. say if im wearing sharkstooth armor causes open wounds, does ow work on her?. i made one a while ago but she didnt spawn with the maul i was holding. 8( so im guessing she doesnt do the same damage the same as the wep im using...?.. thanks. also the shadowmaster thing on here didnt feature answers to most of these.

[mephiztophelez]

shadow's spawn with their own gearsets depending on the slvl of the master when cast.

they will ALWAYS use the same type of base armour and helm as you. so if you have a CoA and a Mageplate base armour on, your shadow will be wearing a "crown" and a mageplate graphic armour.

mods on YOU (such as the OW from a toothrow) will NOT have any effect on the shadow.

the "most powerful" shadow you can get is actually a shadow Warrior, not a master. the way skill levels and synergies work with a shadow is something like this:

an slvl 20 shadow will use slvl20 skills. every time a shadow uses a synergy skill, it gets the same benefit to synergies as putting a point in that skill. so if you can get your slvl20 warrior to cast 100 Shockwebs and lay out 100 Death Sentries, it now has 200 "points" worth of synergies added to it's slvl20 Lit Sentries. NOTE: if you re-cast your shadow, it loses all it's synergies and has to start retraining. because the Warrior only uses the skills you currently have set to your LMB/RMB hotkeys (or "normal attack"), it's easier to "force" it to synergise it's traps.

if you really want to "max out" your shadow, put 20 points into it and look for +shadow disciplines gear before casting it*. once cast, get it to throw a lot of shockwebs around (sitting in the arcane sanctuary or on the river of flame with some lit immune nasties trapped on the other side while your shadowpelts them with shockwebs for a while will do the trick). i've heard of people solo'ing hell with a well trained shadow. it can take a while, but it is doable.

*theoretical max shadow:
+3 helm, +3 ammy, +2 armour, +1 belt, +2 rings, +2 boots, +13 inventory, +12 weapons +20 skills +1 battle command = lvl59 (but good luck finding 2x +3shadow/+3Warrior claws)

[The Son Of Disaster]

So it is better to use a Shadow Warrior? because their skill is limited to what you use, thus giving you a bit more control? Or what? The only difference I see is a % bonus to defense vs resists on a Master.

Level 61 Shadow after shrine is top :P

[Sass]

Warrior you control. This is for those who are annoyed when monsters get MB'd. Also, she synergizes on a trapper.

Master will stun the crowd, phoenix the pack and can be immune to some elements. She also has buffs like Fade, Venom and Blade Shield where as the Warrior doesn't unless you tell her too (rarely).

It's all about preference and whether or not MB'd monsters bugs you or not.

[The Son Of Disaster]

Eh I was thinking PvP-wise. If I have WoF and MB set as my right and left click (not sure if MB can be a left click or not) If this would be more beneficial in PvP than the Master.

[veteran player]

thanks for the help. i was a lil let down when my shadow fighter wouldnt transfer elemental damage such as my small cold gc"s through her bladshield like i do on my persons.

i really wished she was an actual clone of what youre wearing and whats in you inventory. then she would really have a lot more play options.

ill get up maxed up and use a beast axe for switch to get the aura for her like i do with my valk. also a natures peace ring for added life for her. should be fun watching sorc run and unable to kill her and getting chopped with her bladeshiled. 8).

[Sass]

Eh I was thinking PvP-wise. If I have WoF and MB set as my right and left click (not sure if MB can be a left click or not) If this would be more beneficial in PvP than the Master.Then no, Warrior is still far inferior when it comes to pvp. Aside from being potentially immune to a caster, it'll MB the opponent whether you have it selected or not, while you're moving or not. She won't trap the opponent (no stun locks), but she'll also use pre-buffs before encounters (fade will make her immune). Also, more life.

[Kalkanor]

[QUOTE=mephiztophelez;6987253]

an slvl 20 shadow will use slvl20 skills. every time a shadow uses a synergy skill, it gets the same benefit to synergies as putting a point in that skill. so if you can get your slvl20 warrior to cast 100 Shockwebs and lay out 100 Death Sentries, it now has 200 "points" worth of synergies added to it's slvl20 Lit Sentries. NOTE: if you re-cast your shadow, it loses all it's synergies and has to start retraining. because the Warrior only uses the skills you currently have set to your LMB/RMB hotkeys (or "normal attack"), it's easier to "force" it to synergise it's traps.[QUOTE]

does this work with a lvl 1 SW? eg you have a lvl 1 shadow and 1 point in traps, for ever cast she does she gets synergy point?

[jakotaco]

an slvl 20 shadow will use slvl20 skills. every time a shadow uses a synergy skill, it gets the same benefit to synergies as putting a point in that skill. so if you can get your slvl20 warrior to cast 100 Shockwebs and lay out 100 Death Sentries, it now has 200 "points" worth of synergies added to it's slvl20 Lit Sentries. NOTE: if you re-cast your shadow, it loses all it's synergies and has to start retraining. because the Warrior only uses the skills you currently have set to your LMB/RMB hotkeys (or "normal attack"), it's easier to "force" it to synergise it's traps.

hmm, is this correct? I told that the shadows does indeed synergise on casting, but only once per skill (ie. casting a lvl 17 shock web gives teh synergy bonus of a lvl 17 shock web and so on.) Further I was told that the shadows skill level s is based on your skill levels in the shadow and in the skill used.

[Sass]

hmm, is this correct? I told that the shadows does indeed synergise on casting, but only once per skill (ie. casting a lvl 17 shock web gives teh synergy bonus of a lvl 17 shock web and so on.) Further I was told that the shadows skill level s is based on your skill levels in the shadow and in the skill used.*Just now read that*

According to AS, The skills a Shadow Master casts have the skill-level equal to half her skill-level +1. I know that AS says that, but I've heard so many conflicting numbers like: 1/2 hers + 1/3 your level; 1/2 hers + 1; equal level; 2/3 your level + 1/4 hers, etc etc. Anyone know for sure?

From what I understand from the synergy, she casts a trap at w.e level she does, and the "base" for that trap is now that level. The first trap has zero synergies, but if she casts another, the only synergy it'll have is the one previously cast.

Let me explain....no, there is too much, let me sum up*. She casts Shock Web. Let's say it's level 17. It has the damage output of a lvl 17 Shock Web with no synergies. Afterwards, she casts Lightning Sentry at level 17. This Lightning Sentry is boosted by Shock Web (12% / lvl x 17 levels), but not any boost by DS or CBS. If, however, she casts DS or CBS, they'll have the previous synergies. If she casts SW, LS, and DS, then recasts a LS, it'll be stronger than the previously laid LS.

As far as I know, the synergies don't ad up in the skill, just that the base level is determined.



*Cookie to whomever gets that.

[Kalkanor]

numnumnum cookie :) lol

[OneBYOne]

I would suggest to try to assemble the information you need yourself before asking, these are really not hard to come across, since it's stickied, if you need help with methods of quick search then you're welcome to ask.

"Q: What are the differences between Shadow Warrior and Shadow Master?

A: Shadow Warrior can cast only the two skills readied in your left and right skill button, while Shadow Master can use any of the Assassin's skills, even if there are no points in it.

Both the Shadow Master and Shadow Warrior come with inbuilt resistances. However, up till the level 17, the Shadow Master gains elemental resistance at a greater rate. Beyond that, SWarriors spawn with greater elemental resistance than SMs at the same level. Shadows gain elemental resistance at these rates:
Shadow Warrior: 4 * Slvl <capped at 75% for skill-based elemental bonus>
Shadow Master: 0.75((110*lvl) / (lvl+6)) + 5 <no cap>

Though neither Shadow can become innately immune to the elements, if she spawns with +resist all equipment or receives the effects of a Paladin's Salvation aura for example, both Shadows have the ability to be completely immune to an element(they cannot absorb, unfortunately), as their resistance is pushed to 100%(being minions, they have no 75% cap).. Both Shadows spawn with 40% PDR regardless of level(this can be increased if they decide to use Fade).

The SM attacks roughly one frame faster with DC/CoT/BoI/FoF. The SWarrior attacks roughly one frame faster with BF/DFlight. Both have the same Normal Attack speed.

The SM spawns with items at a higher level than the SWarrior(this is in addition to the SM spawning with better quality equipment at higher levels, consult the other FAQs). Specifically:
Shadow Warrior item level formula: 18 + 2 * Slvl
Shadow Master item level formula: 24 + 3 * Slvl

The SWarrior has a defense bonus of 12%/level, SMs have no innate defense bonus.

The SM has a life regen of 50 hp/sec, whereas the SWarrior has a life regen of 75 hp/sec.

Both Shadows attack twice with DF/DC/CoT/FoF/BoI in one 'click' (that is, when you see your Shadow DF'ing someone, she actually has the chance to inflict the damage of two DFs in one stroke, even though only one DF is seen)

Both Shadows have an AI delay of 0.6 seconds (15 frames) before they can do any other action.

Shadow Master costs 40 mana to cast and Warrior costs 27 at level one and rises by 2 with each skill point."

http://diablo.incgamers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=128208

"Q: How do you calculate the skill level of the skills the Shadows use?

A: Shadows' skills are 1/2(your Assassin's level in that skill including +skills) rounded down PLUS 1/3(level of shadow at time of casting including +skills), rounded down. So, if you had a lvl 24 MB and slvl 9 SM, your SM would cast an slvl 15 MB. This formula is also used to calculate synergy bonuses in the FAQ below.

Q: Do Shadows benefit from synergies?

A: Yes, but in a strange way. Shadows do not appear to have a synergy cap of 20 points, as per other classes, but continue to gain synergy bonuses even after slvl 20, assuming the Assassin has +skills that will boost that level above 20(potentially allowing the Shadow to do more damage with a certain skill than the Assassin herself, or at least matching it). However, to gain the synergy bonuses of a certain skill, it must choose to use that skill (for example, a Shadow would need to use Fists of Fire before getting Fists of Fire's synergy bonuses on PS's Meteor. The same principle works with Lightning Traps, for example). Note: Once that particular Shadow dies (or you re-cast it), it has to "re-learn" all its synergies.

While it's possible to get a Shadow to do more damage with a Lightning Trap than yourself, it often becomes a trying exercise in order to get your Shadow to use the skill you want it to (given how fickle the Shadow AI is). It's easier to control which skill a Shadow Warriors uses, but it gets difficult keeping even a high level SWarrior alive in Hell.

As an example to illustrate how a Shadow might do damage with her skills:

Assuming the Assassin has:
20 LS (+20 skills)
20 DS (+20 skills)
20 CBS (+20 skills)
20 SWeb (+20 skills)
20 SWarrior (+11 skills)
LS damage/bolt: 4485 avg.

As synergy bonuses stretch beyond slvl 20(for the Shadow), the Shadow would use (according to the formula in the previous FAQ):
31 LS
31 DS
31 CBS
31 SWeb
LS damage/bolt: 4244 avg."

http://strategy.diabloii.net/news.php?id=538

So the answer is, it depends on what you need the minion for, and what gear you have.

Beside the limit of resistance from skills to the master is 87,5 all resist.

It may be a good thing that the warrior's item level is lower, some resistance mods are more probable.

Not certain about this, but it's likely fade will be enough in itself together with a high level minion to ensure complete elemental immunity, since salvation seems to be.

Maxing fade and warrior / master, and getting both at level 60, following the formula above, would give 90% physical resist minions.

[The Son Of Disaster]

Epic post man, great info. Thanks a ton :D

[veteran player]

so my stat placement points have abso no affect on her performance or damage output?. im guessing no sadly 8(.. but that was the last question i forgot to ask.

thank you for the info up above. cleared up a lot of things.