Valk and Pit running

[Rane-]

I have noticed that when Pit running I am killing very slowly. I blame this on my not-so-perfect gear, namely my bow (un-upgraded goldstrike/buriza). My question is; "Is it better to spend the points that would go into valk, into D/A/E/CS instead?" Having 5 base D/A/E/CS is fine, but are they less useful than valk later? I think that as you start to kill quicker valk becomes even less usefull than it is now. Don't get me wrong, I love valk, but for a pure strafezon that only runs pits and goes nowhere else in the game, is valk worth it over more D/A/E/CS? And yes I know about diminishing returns.

[det]

What level are you? Other skills? Stats? Maybe your Dex is very low? You should have no problem spending all the points you want:

20 Strafe
about 25-30 across the board in DAE (or less if you wear 20 IAS, +3 passive gloves, available at vendors )
12 Valk (and cast with +skill items available at vendors = +3 passive gloves, +2 zon skill javs)
Some Pierce, some Penetrate, some CS (again, those gloves help a great deal). Leaves even one point for FA, just to Freeze..not kill.

About 75-80 points, a good level to run the pit IMHO

I think (especially in HC) the question is: What is worse? My Valk dies or I die?

[ConFusion]

I think (especially in HC) the question is: What is worse? My Valk dies or I die?

The answer would be: my valk dies so noone tanks for me so I die as well. :P

Good tank = easy to survive. My last ama made me love valks.

[det]

So true. Usually my merc dies first (if I am not quick on the rejuvs) Then..when I see my Valk losing health fast, I know it is time to retreat to live and fight another day.

[Shanksie1337]

One question before i do a lengthy reply:

Rane do you play HC or SC?

[flapserdk]

Hire an act II merc defensive and equip him with some good gear. My slvl 90 merc has a Grisarmor with IAS jewels and resistance, Stealskull and a Bonehew with Amn and Shael. He does around 2000 in damage and hardly ever die.

I only use Valkyrie (my is lvl 10 + skillers) as a tank, because I like to use the points else where.

[Rane-]

lol I was hoping Shanksie would see this . I'm a pure Strafezon meaning skills are 20 Strafe and rest are the passive tree. I play SC.

Also to add to my original question; If I should use Valk still should it be as a tank or a killer (more points to get to lvl 17 so it gets fend?

[Shanksie1337]

for SC i really think 1 point into D/A/E is enough - with +skills they should be ~slvl 5 = ~40-50% chance each, and this is plenty - after all in order to hit you they have to get past your merc & valk (assuming you have positioned yourself well).

The reason i'd always go for max valk is to protect your merc, not yourself, and not really to do the killing. The merc provides the all important might aura and decrepify and this ensures we kill all the faster. So with a decent Valk, all monsters have 2 targets, thus halving the pressure on your merc and ensuring he stays alive easier, and for longer.

"about 25-30 across the board in DAE (or less if you wear 20 IAS, +3 passive gloves, available at vendors )"

REALLY only applies to HC imho - and i'd go so far to say that i'd invest much less myself in HC, as my zon has never died in the pits due to monsters - her only death was due to Norton AV switching me out to desktop at a very bad moment.

Put all the points you can spare into Critical Strike and Peirce - as more damage = more leech = virtual immortality.

@flapserdk - i really think you'd fare better with a might merc + reapers toll
- not only would he do more damage (thus stay alive easier due to more leech).
- might aura + decrepify is hard to beat (unless ofc you are NL, in which case any decent polearm would suffice).

[Rane-]

Ok, so what lvl (after + skills) do you think Valk should be at Shanksie? 17? or different?

P.S. Thnx for the quick help

[det]

At lv 17 she gets a rare warpike..so anything from there is a good skill level to cast her at (currently casting a lv 19)

She never dies before my merc. But if he is dead and she goes down, you know it is time to re-evaluate your startegy :lol: