Venom PvM?

[Oniko]

I know that many hell monsters have high built-in poison resistances, which can't even be lowered by Conviction.

I am about done building my ladder Dclone/Trist killer, and am now faced with three options:

1) Max Phoenix Strike (no real use other than for extra elemental damage/crowd control)
2) Max Shadow Master (self explanatory)
3) Max Venom

Is Venom completely pointless for PvM? Her actual damage, like most Talon kickers, is relatively low, as she relies mostly on crushing blow and Life Tap to stay alive and kill monsters. It seems that Venom might at least negate a bit of the insane regeneration that the ubers seem to have.

I'm grateful for your learned opinion.

[ElmoCorruptsChildren]

I'd think that venom would be of no use to stopping uber boss life regeration, since all the damage done is in 10 frames.

[Oniko]

I'd think that venom would be of no use to stopping uber boss life regeration, since all the damage done is in 10 frames.

I'm concerned more about poison resistance than time, although I'd never even considered that. Could you explain why rate of damage would be a factor please?

[ElmoCorruptsChildren]

Well, I play SP, so I'll never face the ubers unless I install some mod. However, I hear that they can fully regenerate within 30 seconds. Unless you're constantly pelting them every 10 frames, and I'd assume that since you're a kicker you've got a bit of time between the kick and your next claw attack (more than .4 seconds), they'll just gain back whatever damage you had done to them w/ venom.

However, tack on a small charm with 100 poison damage over 5 secs, and that might help.

PvM: well... it doesn't hurt. You have more elemental options with Phoenix Strike, but venom is a click-and-forget skill that doesn't need much paying attention to. And if you don't need another tank in SM, well... it doesn't sound like you have much of a choice.

I'd first check to see what kind of resists the ubers have, tho; again, since I'm a SPer I have no idea...

[ilkori]

There is only one way to stop Uber generation (PMH doesn't work on them), and one more way that slows it.

Whenever a monster is poisoned, its natural regeneration is negated. That's why ElmoCorruptsChildren was mentioning the small charm with a longer poison duration. Missing an attack or two while using Venom would allow them to regen quite a bit. As for maxing venom, there are better sources of elemental damage (traps). There is a tendency for monsters with high physical resistances to have poison resistances, and in Hell, one of those is often an immunity.

To slow their regeneration, or cause negative regeneration while they are poisoned, use Open Wounds. Even a 10% chance will work since you are focusing on them all the time, and the effect lasts 8 seconds.


I wish I knew more about uber Trist, but here's what I'd do skill-wise:
X Talon (enough for 4 kicks with +skills, but without going up to 5 - there is enough happening that you don't want to be stuck)
20 Death Sentry (this is imho a must on any kicker - the corpse explosion alone is devestating and deals both phys and fire damage)
20 Lightning Sentry (lots of lightning damage if you have the points)
1 Venom (it has its uses, but there are more important things)
X Shadow Master (I aim for level 18 including +skills, she becomes a good tank here, and can deal some damage)
1 Mind Blast (convert a few of the minions to your cause for a while)