PVM Zealot Weapon question...

[gvandale]

Ok, so I'd like to make a pure PVM zealot.

The only guide I can find is the frostzealot, which really isn't my cup o' tea. So I haven't seen any regular ol' 1.09 style pure zealots. So this is my pathetic attempt at looking for help / suggestions...

Items:
Helm: 2 o/s, 23res, 14dr COA (vamp while leveling)
Armor: COH (shaft while leveling)
Weapon: ???
Shield: Up'd HOZ (won't up til I hit level req)
Belt: T-God's
Boots: Gore Riders
Gloves: Dracul's (life tap)
Rings: Raven Frost + Dual Leech
Amulet: Highlords

Skills:
20 Sacrifice
20 Zeal
1 Holy Shield (and all pre-reqs = 1)
20 Fanatacism (and all pre-reqs = 1)
1 Redemption (and all pre-reqs = 1)
1 Salvation

This gets me to clvl 63 (74 skill points spent), which is easily attainable. I usually aim for 80-85 lvl max. So after the above, I'm not sure if I should max Holy Shield, or pump up blessed aim for the inheret AR bonus, or even split the two.

So now my questions:
1. What weapon to use? I have a headstriker. Which gives 1.5% per clvl in deadly strike, +15str, pmh, +max dmg per clvl, and 150%ed. This is upgradeable, so would it be good? I mean, if I use highlords / gores, i could get a decent amount of ds as well. I have access to plenty of weapons, and figured this may be 'original', but would it be effective? I can get / have a unique 'zerker axe and/or afford most any item to boot. (p.s. I know botd would be best, but out of my price range atm)

2. What merc? I was thinking of holy freeze merc. Comments?

3. Sockets? COA / HOZ / COH my resists should be fine, so what the hell do I put in my HOZ / COA? I never thought pal's needed FHR or FBR, leech with life tap and dual leech should be good.

Oh well, thanks for your help in advance.

g

[memememe173]

Uping Zak won't do that much...lem + ko can be much better spent

Unless you are using T-gods for it's +str, verdungo's would be much better

Death's Cleaver, Stormlash, Uped Eth Headstriker, Eth Razor's Edge can all be used as a upper middle class Zealot weapon, among many other things...

Holy Freeze, Might and Defiance...I maxed Holy Shield so defense is takne care of so defiance is out, get a decent ar and the extra damage matters less, but Holy Freeze will be helpful from the den to the Worldstone...

If resists arn't maxed, Diamond the zak...FBR with HS is 2 frames at 12 (IIRC) and 1 frame at 80...with HoZ you hit the first one, so forget FBR...extra life is good (rubies) ed jewels, sheal (FHR can't hurt) or IAS jewels if you don't hit 4frames http://diablo2.ingame.de/tips/calcs/...p?lang=english

and your not fluffy any more?

[gvandale]

still fluffy.

what would be ideal weapon (other then botd)

[TheKbob]

Stormlash for Static and good speed//dmg

Crescent Moon Conquest Sword (There is a review in Wyrmers Telsadin guide, page 2)

Schaefers is a classic, but slow

Uped Herald is stupid... my friend got 12 more def... woo hoo?

Sockets: Get max res first, then go for dmg mods//life mods.

I don't really see the point in Death Clever.. when eth zodded its not a bad weap, but its just silly. I would prob prefer a nice solid Crescent Moon Zerker... I may go buy one here soon for my zealot just to see if it is Viable.

~Kbob

[memememe173]

still fluffy.

what would be ideal weapon (other then botd)

Doom Zerker or Stormlash, but with the price difference Stormlash pulls way into the lead

[tydon]

Why does upgrading HOZ only add 12 def?

Anywho, do not use death cleaver. You will spend more time in town repairing it than using it. 2-3 repairs per baal run, and the same for a pit run. Stormlash is better, and is about the same price.

[memememe173]

Why does upgrading HOZ only add 12 def?

Anywho, do not use death cleaver. You will spend more time in town repairing it than using it. 2-3 repairs per baal run, and the same for a pit run. Stormlash is better, and is about the same price.

Because a Gilded Shields defense range ends at 168...and a Zakarum Shield starts at 169

[gvandale]

looks like stormlash it is, and/or a crescent moon zerker.

hmmm....

i started him tonight, and he is raping already. Full sigon's and civerb's cudgel (best low level melee weapon ihmo). He is level 14 already. Rocking and rolling. Solo'd norm a1 thru a2. I am whooping so much butt that I kept moving forward. Normally, most char's aren't mid way through a3 at level 14. HEE-HEE this is gonna be fun!

fluffy g
:yep:

[Xanadu]

Right now im in act 4 hell with my pure zealot. I use glimmershred, which i believe to be the best zealot weapon. It has massive elemental damage plus very good phys. damage. PIs are no trouble. My skills are as follows.

20 Zeal
20 Sacrifice
20 Holy Shield (this is a MUST for hell)
20 Fanat.
20 Defiance (not finished here yet)
Plus all pre-reqs.

This setup WILL beat the game on hell solo. Good luck.

[ian_linington]

Full sigon's and civerb's cudgel (best low level melee weapon ihmo).

if you don't mind me asking... what sort of damage are you doing with the cudgel? Just wanna know cos for twinkleing I use angelic, sigons and deaths sets. Just want to see if I can improve on it. I swap weapons at lvl 24 to "Holy Thunder" in a War Scepter (lower str req)


Cheers


Ian L.