The Classic Elemental Bowzon Guide by Damric

About me: I bought D2 after trying it at a friend's house back in 2000. I played like every version of both Classic and LoD and played LoD exclusively for a long time. I grew bored with LoD and went back to Classic and I really enjoy it. One of the first things I noticed is that in classic weapon damage is pretty low compared to LoD. For example Rare Gothic bows, lances, mauls, whatever are way lower than the elite unique and runeword items I was used to. I still wanted to make a bow amazon so I looked at the Set Items list in Arreat Summit and this is what I found:


Arctic Set: Ok, bow damage looks really low but the cold durations make this viable for a cold damage amazon since the duration bonus will stack with your cold skills.

Arctic Furs
Quilted Armor Defense: 45 - 51 (varies)(Base Defense 8-11)
Defense: (48-342) - (54-348) (varies)(Base Defense 8-11)
Required Level: 2
Required Strength: 12
Durability: 20
+275-325% Enhanced Defense
All Resistances +10
+ (3 Per Character Level) 3-297 Defense (Based On Character Level) (2 Set Items)
Cold Resist +15% (3 Set Items)

Arctic Binding
Light Belt Defense: 33 (Base Defense: 3)
Required Level: 2
Durability: 14
Cold Resist +40%
+30 Defense
+40% Better Chance Of Getting Magic Items (2 Set Items)
Cold Resist +10% (3 Set Items)

Arctic Mitts
Light Gauntlets Defense: 9-11 (varies)
Required Level: 2
Required Strength: 45
Durability: 18
+20 To Life
10% Increased Attack Speed
+50 To Attack Rating (2 Set Items)
+10 To Dexterity (3 Set Items)

Arctic Horn
Short War Bow Two-Hand Damage: 9 to 21 (15 avg)
Required Level: 2
Required Strength: 35
Required Dexterity: 55
Base Weapon Speed: [0]
+50% Enhanced Damage
20% Bonus To Attack Rating
+ (8 Per Character Level) 8-792 Attack Rating (Based On Character Level) (2 Set Items)
+20-30 Cold Damage, 3 sec. Duration (Normal) (3 Set Items)


Partial Set Bonus
+5 To Strength (2 Items)
+50 To Life (3 Items)

Complete Set Bonus
+5 To Strength
+50 To Life
Cannot Be Frozen
Adds 6-14 Cold Damage
Cold Duration: 4 seconds



Vidala's Set: Again poor bow damage, but 50% pierce made me decide to try it on a Fire Using Amazon


Vidala's Barb
Long Battle Bow Two-Hand Damage: 3 to 18 (10.5 Avg)
Required Level: 14
Required Strength: 40
Required Dexterity: 50
Base Weapon Speed: [10]
Adds 1-20 Lightning Damage
+ (8 Per Character Level) 8-792 To Attack Rating (Based On Character Level) (2 Items)

Vidala's Ambush
Leather Armor Defense: 64-67 (varies) (Base Defense: 14-17)
Defense: (66-311) - (69-314) (varies) (Base Defense: 14-17)
Required Level: 14
Required Strength: 15
Durability: 24
+50 Defense
+11 to Dexterity
+24% Fire Resist (2 Items)
+ (2.5 Per Character Level) +2-247 Defense (Based On Character Level) (3 Items)

Vidala's Fetlock
Light Plated Boots Defense: 9-11 (varies)
Required Level: 14
Required Strength: 50
Durability: 18
Assassin Kick Damage: 8-16
30% Faster Run/Walk
+150 to Maximum Stamina
All Resistances +8 (2 Items)

Vidala's Snare
Amulet Required Level: 14
Cold Resist 20%
+15 To Life
50% Better Chance Of Getting Magic Items (2 Items)


Partial Set Bonus
+75 To Attack Rating (2 Items)
+15 To Dexterity (3 Items)

Complete Set Bonus
+75 To Attack Rating
Adds 15-20 Cold Damage, 2 sec. Duration (Normal)
Piercing Attack [50]
Freezes Target
+15 To Dexterity
+10 To Strength



Character Builds: you can build an elemental type amazon with a low damage bow using one of these 2 sets.



Statistics: all of these builds will have similar points in these attributes:

Strength: enough for gear. No more needed.
Dexterity: enough for gear. No need to place more since your main damage will not be physical.
Vitality: Place as many as you can here.
Energy: 100-150 depending on your mana needs. This is a mana-munching build. In classic you don't have the luxury of Meditation mercinaries or Battle Orders from your own Call to Arms.


Equipment: All of these builds use basically the same equipment:

Headgear: To help out with mana, any 3 socket helm with 3 Perfect Saphires or 3 Perfect skulls or a combination. Otherwise a Nice Rare helm will do. For %Magic Find, a Tarnhelm or 3 Perfect Topaz Helm.
Rings: For the Rich players 2xSoJ's. Otherwise 2x Manald heal (40% mana regeneration), or nice resist rare rings. For Magic Find, use Nagel Rings or Rare %mf rings.

The Rest of gear depends on the build (see below).




Magezon1: this build can kill all except cold +fire immune with powerful freezing arrow or explosive arrows that pierce the enemies

Arctic Set +Eye of Etlich +Rare Boots

20 freezing arrow
20 ice arrow
20 fire arrow
20 explode arrow
1+++ valkerie/ pierce



Magezon2: uses frost arrow only to hold monsters still for immolition arrow to cook them

Arctic Set +Eye of Etlich +Rare Boots

20 freezing arrow
20 immolition arrow
20 fire arrow
20 explosive arrow
1+++ in pierce/cold arrow



Frostzon: this amazon is solely cold damage and uses valkerie to handle cold immunes.

Arctic Set +Eye of Etlich +Rare Boots

20 freezing arrow
20 ice arrow
20 cold arrow
20 valkerie
1+++ in pierce/decoy



Firezon1: uses explosive arrows to kill and a strong valkerie and decoy

Vidala's Set +Magefist +rarebelt

20 fire arrow
20 explode arrow
20 valkerie
20 decoy
1+ to Pierce (to get near 100% with Vidala's Set)
1+ Dodge Skills


Firezon2: Uses Powerful Immolition Arrows and a moderate Valkerie and Decoy

Vidala's Set +Magefist +rarebelt

20 Fire Arrow
20 Explode Arow
20 Immolition Arrow
1+ to Pierce (to get near 100% with Vidala's Set)
10+ Decoy
10+ Valkerie
1+ Dodge skills