What does a hammerdin need before the reset?

[Rosebudteg]

I'm a growing hammerdin playing my first time through (level 53). I only started maybe a month or so ago and I really like it.

But I hear that a ladder reset is coming. Because I've invested some time into this build I'm going to continue to play it when it goes non-ladder.

I'm concerned that when I do go non-ladder getting the ladder only items is going to be hard to impossible.

I'm trying to get a Insight polearm for my merc, but is there any other ladder only items I should try to get before the reset?

[Karth]

Spirit sacred targe or rondache with good resists & 35 fcr is a good thing to have. You'll also want to make a spirit in any sort of paladin shield for your BO switch. A Fortitude wouldn't be bad for your mercenary but I prefer treachery; you already have a ton of ED on a hammerdin's merc, especially a might merc. I can't think of anything else.

[Rosebudteg]

You've touched on another subject that I wanted to ask about.

I've read that I want the Act 2 Nightmare Defensive merc with the cold ability to slow down the baddies. But which one would a might merc be?

And why Sacred Targe or Sacred Rondache? Why not the bigger shields? Is there something that the targe or rondache has that the others don't?

[Scoobydoo]

And why Sacred Targe or Sacred Rondache? Why not the bigger shields? Is there something that the targe or rondache has that the others don't?
Both sacred targe and sacred rondache has higher block rate compared to the other elite paladin shields, therefore requiring less dex investment to achieve an overall higher block chance; or max block of 75%.


Sacred Targe 60% base block rate
Sacred Rondache 58% base block rate
Kurast Shield 55% base block rate
Zakarum Shield 52% base block rate
Vortex Shield 49% base block rate


Although the other 3 shields does usually have higher def numbers, they also require more str investment to equip them.