strafe: to max or not max?

[lAmebAdger]

the topic name says it all,

i was wondering if i could get away with 1 point in strafe and actually benefit?
it reduces strafe animation and gives me more points to stick in other skills (want to have much in pierce/penetrate/valk/crit. strike)

if not, at which level does strafe become good enough?
surely you don't have to max it?


if possible i'd also like these questions to be answered under these conditions:

-untwinked play (+3-6 to bow/xbow tab isn't asking too much, maybe)
-multishot will be used and will get around 13 points

[Scudstorm]

After +skills, enough points for 7-arrow strafe is usually ok. With Razortail, you don't need much in Pierce.

I'm not a big fan of any untwinked physical damage char, though... you need a good weapon. Of course, bowas have a easier time on ladder since Harmony is cheap :P

[KremBanan]

For me Strafe isnt about max arrows, but about minimum arrows. So I like to have minimum 20pts in Strafe.

[Banjotron]

I've had 3 88+ strafers across multiple ladders. The minimum arrow issue is one you really need to be thinking about.

Lets go ahead and assume +4 bow skills. That's not hard to get at all. If you have 24 points of strafe total, you'll be firing 8 arrows per strafe as a minimum, regardless of the number of enemies on screen. If you have 1 point, you'd have a minimum of 3.

[Kijya]

For a pure strafer, max, but for hybrids that benefit much for the saved points on their other skills, aim for level 8 or level 12 in my opinion.

[NASE]

aim for level 8 or level 12 in my opinion.

Why go that high*?
A lighting hybrid will use charged strike as their single target attack. A for those spares single target lighting immunes monsters, you can used guided arrow or magic arrow.

*:this is not an advise, just a question.

[Kijya]

Why go that high*?
A lighting hybrid will use charged strike as their single target attack. A for those spares single target lighting immunes monsters, you can used guided arrow or magic arrow.

*:this is not an advise, just a question.
I don't believe that it's worth 4 skillpoints to get an extra min arrow and some ed on hybrids, but with some +skills you may end up in a region where spending one or two extra skillpoints to get one more min arrow can be worth it, and up to level 6 you do gain extra max arrows so ... :cloud9:

Strafe is not only a LI killer for me, but a lazy man's skill to use when things die easily and you're to tired to bother aiming :wink:


Strafe Number of Arrows
Level: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 12 16 20
Min: 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 4 5 6 7
Max: 5 6 7 8 9 10 10 10 10 10 10


...

Viewing the table we can conclude that the maximum gains one arrow per level until level six has been reached, and the minimum gains an additional arrow each fourth level. Considering this we could assume that a level eight or twelve would make the most use of our skill points while still not reducing our lightning synergies to much. Leveling beyond this is therefore, in my opinion, not advised unless you're making a primarily strafe centered hybrid.

[amne]

I think it is also important to remember that all arrows that strafe spams carry whatever bonuses/curses/a.s.o. your gear grants you, for example CtC amplify damage, while multiple shot does that only to the 2 center arrows. Now if you happen to have atma's or WWS, that provide a 5%, respectively 2% CtC amp, or you have stuff that gives you open wounds etc., strafe will dramatically improve your damage. I like to max strafe, but if you choose a hybrid you might settle, in my opinion, for slvl 6. IIIRC, the damage penalty (3/4 of weapon damage) is compensated by enhanced damage from strafe at levels 22-24, but that increase in damage might be worthwile only with a high damage bow.

[Elusien]

I currently have a 7x Zon with only 1 pt into strafe and after +Skills from equipment, its around level 8 (Off the top of my head)
I find that having 1 point into strafe is really enough for me to take out enemies if i dont know where they are coming from.
It allows me to invest more points into the passive's.

Thats just what i have done, the others who have more experience may know more ;)

[lAmebAdger]

thanks all! i think i will stick with my one pointer for now... i hope to get 2 more +skills so i can reach slvl6

[NASE]

Just spend those two points; It's not going to make or break your build.

[KremBanan]

If it works now with only 1 hard point and it satisfies you needs, then its ok to stick with it.