Noobcannon - Making it fast?

[MalVeauX]

Hey guys,

I was looking at my noobcannon (ballista) and thinking it's been years since I've even made a cross bow based amazon. Maybe I'll throw it on one and have a blast. I'm interested in making it fast. I was thinking of making some 60% IAS armor and probably an IAS helm along with IAS gloves, and Shaeling the Ballista itself. Does this hit the break points for the fastest normal/guided/multi attack? Or what about Strafe? Xbows cap at 11 right?

Any info on how much IAS I need for the fastest strafe would be great.

By the way, I did check the stickies, but my brain is fried from a long work week so I found myself just confused and figured I'd just ask.... :grin:

Cheers,

[sirmessbu]

95% ias =13fps
138% ias =12fps
215% ias =11fps

[MalVeauX]

95% ias =13fps
138% ias =12fps
215% ias =11fps

Good heavens!

So the 215% takes into account the 80~100% that will be on the Ballista itself? It's a [10] weapon, and will have 100% on weapon IAS with a Shael. So to hit 215%, do I just need 115% off weapon IAS to achieve that? If so, that seems doable with 60% IAS armor, 45% IAS helm and a 10% IAS pair of knock back gloves.

Sound right?

Edit - Oh and I was thinking of Uping it to a collosal xbow for the extra damage since the speed won't change, even though it needs massive STR to use. Think it's worth while or would I just be better off loading up on DEX for the extra damage since the 160+ STR of the up'd version means less damage from DEX anyways? The base damage of the xbow itself goes from 55 to 90 something, so seems substantial to me. What do you all think?

Cheers, :smiley:

[YogiRat]

Since you already need 110str to equip the Burrito, why not use the IK gloves and belt? They would get you a long ways toward it's upped str req, 25 IAS too.

[MalVeauX]

Heya,

After looking at it again, a character at level 88 with my Ballista has it listed at 374 (it's a 180% ED one), with the +220 max. If I upgraded it to Elite, it would only go up to about 480, so about ~100 maximum damage increase. On the whole, more damage is always good, but looking at the STR req again, the 54 extra STR needed for the Elite version as 54 DEX would be 54% extra damage, which is about half the listed damage of the normal Ballista anyways, which is more than ~100 (the extra max of the Elite version).

Seems to me that overall, I'd be better off just putting points into Dex rather than up'ing the Ballista itself.

Or do you think the extra ~100 damage on the max side of things is really worth it?

Cheers,

[maiku]

215% IAS is achievable with Buriza. It's not as bad as it sounds. :smiley:

So if you Shael Buritto, that's 100% right there...now for the other 115%.

Amulet: Highlord's Wrath, Cat's Eye (20% IAS on either)
Helm: Andy's Visage (20%, w/ IAS Jewel = 35%, offers up to 30 Str), Mav's Diadem (suggest jeweling this for 45% IAS), Tiara/Diadem w/ 3 IAS Jewels = 45%, Giant Skull w/ 2 Sockets (2 IAS Jewels) = 30% IAS and +25-35 Str.
Armor: Treachery = 45% IAS, 4-socketed nice armor w/ IAS Jewels = 60%, Twitchthroe upp'd w/ IAS Jewel = 35% IAS (Twitch offers +10 Str)
Gloves: 20% IAS rares/crafted or Laying of Hands, 25% IAS w/ IK gloves and belt and/or boots, 30% IAS for Sigon's combo
Belt: Goldwrap/Nosferatu's Coil = 10% IAS

I'm going to second the suggestion of going with IK Gloves/Boots. You can then decide on whether you want IK Belt or Nosferatu's Coil (which has a lot of nice mods for a build like this, and the slow can offer additional crowd control + Buriza's cold damage). If you can get enough IAS without needing to use either Highlord's or Cat's Eye, then think about putting in an Atma's to get really sick damage with Amp.

If you go with IK stuff and/or Nosferatu's Coil, you should have a huge boost to your str to help cover the upgrade Str requirement for Buriza. With the right equipment, I'd say it'd be worth it, and you could still invest those extra points into Dex anyway. IK Gloves give +20 Str, IK Belt offers +25 Str, and Nosferatu's offers +15 Str. If you use in combination with an Andariel's Visage (+25-30 Str, I think) or Giant Skull (+25-35 Str), War Traveler's (+10 Str) or boots w/ Str boost, rings w/ Str on them, or Str charms (+2-6 Str a piece), you should have a lot of wiggle room. I don't think getting extra Str beyond your base 110 is a problem.

[MalVeauX]

Hrm,

So with only 115% needed, I could go that rout.

25% from IK Gloves/Belt combination (along with +45 STR, +20 DEX)
60% from my IAS armor (jewlers of the whale, ancient plate)
30% from Giant Skull (and +35 STR, Knockback)

That makes exactly 115%, which is what I need and it gives me the massive STR I need to use the up'd version of the Xbow (total bonus of +80 STR) and the 20 dex equates to 20% ED, so it's always welcome. I get my knock back too. That leaves my jewelry and boots free to do as I please with 'em.

Sounds like I have a plan.

Cheers! :laugh: :grin:

[maiku]

Indeed, I think you are all set. :smiley:

[MalVeauX]

Indeed, I think you are all set. :smiley:

Hrm,

But now the skills! Multi or Strafe... I used to use Multi back when I played arrow/bolt based Amazons, because I liked the plunk and go feel. I've played strafe too and while it does more damage, I always felt that things were hitting me if I got bum rushed and I tend to go light if any on the Vit on the bow girls. And while I could get Guided, it's not really necessary except for bosses, whom I don't plan on attacking very often, I like to clear areas.

How's this sound:

8 Critical (51%)
1 Penetrate/Pierce
20 Valk
1 in reqs, 6/4/6 in dodges (~40%'s)
10 Multi
20 Strafe
1 Guided

Done around level 70ish with quests since that's only 82 skill points. Remaining points from future levels, I can dump into critical strike for more %, or I can keep tossing it into dodges.

As for stats, I'm thinking enough STR to use equip and reach the needs of the up'd Buriza. The rest will go to Dex. I'm thinking Vit will stay base and I'll just use charms and play careful (more fun anyways) to increase damage output and just blast things to ribbons.

-- Any suggestions on the skills above?

Cheers,

[HobbesAC]

this is why i havent seen a single crossbow amazon since the release of patch 1.10 ladder runewords...