maximizing speed for uber frenzy

[donshi]

Currently making a frenzy axe barb. Was going to use 2 berserker axe like the standard, but I realized something. With an A1 Faith merc, I get maxed attack speed and attack frequency berserk regardless of my equipment.

So my question is, should I use EbotdEttin EdeathEttin and rely on my mercs fana aura. Or should I assume that my merc will die and go with 2 berserker axes? (mainly going to use this barb to uber)

If I go with berserker axe, I'd need to use LoH + highlords + 15ias jewel on helm to reach max speed.. which is annoying because I would like to utilize either lifetap from draculs or amplify from atmas. There's the option of using curse items on switch like lacerators, but I heard the delay from switching is costly to your time.

Also why do people bother using swords when they can use axes that do more damage and have same/similar range?

And random questions. For frenzy barbs, which skillers would be best? Masteries would increase AR+8% damage+5% critical+1% and @res+1%. Combat would increase frenzy damage+12% (5 from frenzy/8 from double swing). Or is it better to just replace 3 3/20 sc.

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[mystified]

first of all + sk do not affect synergy bonus. that said i would take max ar life gc over any skiller. imo 10max/ar is better than sc. life isn't as important on pvm.

as for axe vs sword...well u get decrep and grief with sword, swining 5 frames.
axes...well botdz and death is good combo for speed and dmg which is also availble on sowrd so...sword > axe imo when it comes to frenzier.

[donshi]

Ah right forgot that skillers dont affect synergies.

Definitely trying to stick eith botd death. Still dont see how swords are better than axes though.

[shuy]

Still dont see how swords are better than axes though.

Not better - just different.
Better is smiter but I prefer do ubers with barb ;)

Ref speed - do not think about merc aura. A1 merc is most smart and can survive about 20% of uber runs. It is much better then A2 merc which survive only 5% runs :wink:

IMO using life tap charges is annoying. If you do not use draculs or LW you should consider marrowalks instead of gore. Death give you enough CB, Highlord and masteries make most of you strikes critcal or deadly.

I'd need to use LoH + highlords + 15ias jewel on helm to reach max speed.. which is annoying because I would like to utilize either lifetap from draculs or amplify from atmas. There's the option of using curse items on switch like lacerators, but I heard the delay from switching is costly to your time.
Max speed is very nice and really helps, but do you think that if you will be little bit slower, you can have problems with Ubers ;)
I had UBarb with Beast and LW. After few torches I started experiments. 2xLW worked either althought it was really slooow.

[frenzy kujaku]

So my question is, should I use EbotdEttin EdeathEttin and rely on my mercs fana aura. Or should I assume that my merc will die and go with 2 berserker axes? (mainly going to use this barb to uber)

1) eBotdZ is a tad faster than eBotdEttin as your primary weapon. Assuming level 30 frenzy, without additional IAS, eBotdZ and eBotdEttin are the same speed (6fpa). However, you reach break points faster with eBotdZ than eBotdEttin. For example, with 20IAS from LOH, eBotdZ gives you 5.5fpa while eBotdEttin gives you 6fpa. But you need 65%IAS to reach 5fpa with eBotdZ/eDeathE as compared to 45% for eBOTDz/eDeathZ. When I wear eBotdZ/ eDeathEttin and dual Lacerators on switch, I find eBotdZ/eDeathEttin too slow for my liking. Beast/LW is faster simply because fanaticism allows me to hit 5fpa and 6.5fpa on startup. Charging up will be a good idea before hitting on the ubers.

2) Assume merc will die. I did not test act1 merc+Faith on frenzy. However, I did test her with my kicksin in ubers. I found that she doesn't survive as long as my act2 BA+Infinity merc with my frenzy. The comparison is biased here, since Howl takes the pressure off my merc whereas kicksin gets swarmed even with COS/MB. However, with my act2 merc, the only times he died were because of IM, lilith or taking consecutive hits from meph (Apparently, Meph's attack speed is faster than my merc's attack speed and fhr). As stated in another post, Blessed aim+ conviction+ fananticism +might +lifetap +40%CB +stacked resists (kiras) +high def (eFort) makes act2 merc a pretty good bulldozer out there.

If I go with berserker axe, I'd need to use LoH + highlords + 15ias jewel on helm to reach max speed.. which is annoying because I would like to utilize either lifetap from draculs or amplify from atmas. There's the option of using curse items on switch like lacerators, but I heard the delay from switching is costly to your time.

1) Atmas takes too long to trigger. I use Atmas on a 3fpa Strafer (2fpa is theoretical) equipped with Matbow Faith (level 14 fanaticism+ 50%IAS) and I do not get Amp dam as fast as dual lacerators on my frenzy barb in ubers. Although I posted dual lacerators are kinda of slow due to weapon-switching and I still prefer Beast/LW, it is not entirely out of the picture. It is more of a question of experience and skill than gear setup. Dual lacerator/amp dam is definitely more challenging than LW/lifetap but having run more than 5 runs with the dual lacerator setup, I have not died yet. That is considering that I wear, 3%ll Arreats, Nos instead of SOE and have only 4.1-4.2k life. I have also tested with Guillimare+Nos+dual lacerator to max my damage output but I was not able to kill Baal/Diablo (in particular Baal) within the 14 seconds duration of amp dam. Again, even with lower life (w/o arreats), I haven't died either, although a good number of full rev was used (4-10 of them). So, my point here is, it really is up to your playing style. Draculs sounds good but I still prefer the Lt on LW, since I also get fade all the time.

Also why do people bother using swords when they can use axes that do more damage and have same/similar range?

1) I suppose it is a matter of preference. I haven't tested on sword barbs since I would have to remake a new barb and get an eBOTDCB/eDeathCB. Thus I cannot comment on the attack quality of swords vs axes.

2) It certainly looks cooler wielding an axe than a sword. Makes the barb looks like a mindless psychotic hacker on a killing rampage, not flinching nor batting an eyelid to the gore he is going to produce. Or think of it as a anti-hero battling out hundreds of low-life in a gangfight scene. Who will carry swords?! Just my opinion. :whistling:

And random questions. For frenzy barbs, which skillers would be best? Masteries would increase AR+8% damage+5% critical+1% and @res+1%. Combat would increase frenzy damage+12% (5 from frenzy/8 from double swing). Or is it better to just replace 3 3/20 sc.

1) Skills are not so important in melee combat. What I do is I stash my Warcry GCs and use them for prebuff. I used to wear 3-4 Bcomb gcs which I found to NOT significantly affect my AR or damage or time to clear ubers when I took them off. I wear 3 Bmastery gcs just for the teeny-weeny bit of stacked resists and a weeny bit of AR/Damage. Max/AR is better.

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. Thanks!

1) I feel that DR on Frenzy is a little overrated. I hardly have any DR when I wear nos (just 8% from COH + 11% from LW fade or 15% from Treachery fade). I did not observe significantly increased damage to my life bulb regardless of life tap or amp dam. I feel that Nos is better than Dungos and SOE because of +str (increase a tad of your damage), +ll (pNos is just 1% less LL than pSOE), 10%IAS (free up Highlords for maras or any rare ammy. +15IAS is all you need to break into the last fpa) and finally 10% slow target (which I found to be useless because no significant change was observed in uber attacks). It is a little tricky with amp dam but I still had to gulp a few full rev with meph, and 1 or 2 randomly with baal/diablo. Since, regardless of having more or less DR I still had to use full rev, why not maximise my damage output? With lifetap, the option is clear. Lifetap gets all my life back and more damage is good (Lt: 50% of attack damage). Since none of the ubers can KO me in a few strikes even with less life (4.1-4.2k) and low DR (19%) and I can tank, chat with friends without attacking, trash talk the spawns, find out how my merc's day has been and not dying all at the same time, why not hit them back harder? I exaggerate but that is the beauty of Barbs that other chars possibly do not have.

Hence to maximise attack speed and attack damage and not compromise life leech, 20%IAS (LOH)+10%IAS (NOS)+15%IAS (jewel in Helm), will be just nice to hit the last breakpoint using eBotdZ/eDeathZ. You will still get nicely stacked resist from maras and arreats.

Cheers
Frenzy Kujaku

[neno]

Axes are drawn so bad that it's funny to hear someone supports axes over swords for looks. :P

Swords are also used for Grief Phase Blades which is too awesome to avoid 'cause of dmg, and hitting some insane startup speeds.

[jhtvman]

Always assume that your merc will die very fast in Uber Tristram. I've never had one last more than about 10 seconds after getting Meph's attention, regardless of how geared out they were.

Still dont see how swords are better than axes though.
Weapon indestructibility. Grief or LW in a Phase Blade saves you the trouble of ever having to worry about repairs. Plus there's the speed advantage.

[donshi]

Always assume that your merc will die very fast in Uber Tristram. I've never had one last more than about 10 seconds after getting Meph's attention, regardless of how geared out they were.


Weapon indestructibility. Grief or LW in a Phase Blade saves you the trouble of ever having to worry about repairs. Plus there's the speed advantage.

Well Phase Blades are obvious. I just meant why people bother putting BOTD in colossus swords/blades.