Gear check act 3

**JimMoriarty** · 27-06-2012, 19:39

Hello barbs,
After trying to gear for act 3 Im really clueless right now, I just keep dying to elite/ champs and dunno what to improve beside block which is just too expensive right now. I'd really apreciate some pro's opinion.
I tried several things from increasing HP to 60k to adding life on hit to 1400 but nothing really matters as soon as mobs can pull me in some **** they poop I loose life like nothing.

My stats are:
9500 Armor (buffed)
950+ AR
20% Block SS
14500 dps
1k LoH
42k HP

What improvement would really make a difference (beside block)?

Thanks in advance

**liquid_mage** · 27-06-2012, 20:04

Can you link your Skills/Runes?

**JimMoriarty** · 27-06-2012, 20:29

http://us.battle.net/d3/en/calculato...kXR!bVe!acZcab

and if its of any importance i got 15% dodge

**tsevenhuysen** · 27-06-2012, 22:20

I'm in pretty much the same boat, but not quite as far along as you. It's pretty frustrating that the only thing I can really accomplish with my Barb is Butcher runs, and that's a slow way to make progress towards any real gear upgrades...

I hope PvP comes out soon!

**JimMoriarty** · 28-06-2012, 00:35

Originally Posted by tsevenhuysen

I'm in pretty much the same boat, but not quite as far along as you. It's pretty frustrating that the only thing I can really accomplish with my Barb is Butcher runs, and that's a slow way to make progress towards any real gear upgrades...

Yeah know what you mean, for me its the same with act2, I can really kill every pack there no exception and never died the last 10-20 runs. If you are using shield I think the biggest upgrade is a decent shield with 20+ Block. I got my Stormshield in act 2 (pre 1.0.3)and had a lot of truble. With my only 20% SS I cleard whole act 2 without too much problems and that was even pre 1.0.3.

In the end I think you really need some luck with the drops to get further. I've been reading through forums and testing stuff for the last couple of days and right now the only thing I can actually do is keep farming act2 with my MF gear and hope for some crazy drops. Obv I could clear act 3 but, since the drops arent even much better the repair costs arent worth it at all.

**Muggs** · 28-06-2012, 12:32

Your dps is very low. The game has shifted a bit from super defensive to needing more offense. Also if you are running both armor passives to get those armor numbers your armor is a bit low. I am running 860-1000ar, 9.5k armor, 23kdps, 17% dodge, 52khp and I can run act3 with not too much issue if I play smart. If you want to easy mode act3 it is 1100ar, 10karmor, 25-30kdps and as much HP as you can muster.

As for spec I don't run full defensive I tend to run Tough as nails, Juggernaut, and Weapon Master. I think a lot of people underestimate juggernaut since not only does CC have a chance to heal you but it lasts much shorter. And if I am not CCed I can run out of the stuff on the ground that will kill you. If I was going full defense which I don't like since I kill way too slow but I would replace weapon master with superstition. Remember there are diminishing returns on armor so stacking past a point you will not see as much of a return on your investment. There are some champ packs that will just hurt you no matter what like the swift skull cleaver champs since they attack slow but hard making revenge spam not as viable.

And until they fix the loot in act3 you should really be stacking MF and running act2 or 1 if need be since you get a much better return on your investment. I regularly run act2 with 100mf before NV and 25khp and 45k dps and that is where I see the best return on investment since act3 loot is not worth the time. (supposedly it will be hotfixed in today but who knows.)

Something that might help you too is running with a monk using mantra of healing time of need. Which will add another 20% to your resists so with warcry you are a dynamic duo.

**bigmonto** · 28-06-2012, 15:25

Well I just cleared Act 3 with the following stat and same build:

10k armor
720+ AR
28% Block SS
24000+ dps
400 LoH
50k HP

I am fine with most of elite packs, of course for some of the packs does take me a while as I wait for WotB cooldown. The real problem I have is with the elite packs that are based on range enemies with trapping abilities.

With that said I found loh not that important once you have decent defence. I did drop my loh to 200 while upping my dps to 26k, and actually find the fight to be easier. I can definitely use soome more AR though.

**JimMoriarty** · 28-06-2012, 17:25

How do you think can one really increase dmg (beside the obv strenght)? I got a weapon with 400 LoH, socket and 87% critdmg but with only 750 dps. Would it be much of an improvement to upgrade to a like 900 dps weapon?

**Muggs** · 28-06-2012, 17:41

Originally Posted by JimMoriarty

How do you think can one really increase dmg (beside the obv strenght)? I got a weapon with 400 LoH, socket and 87% critdmg but with only 750 dps. Would it be much of an improvement to upgrade to a like 900 dps weapon?

Crit/critdmg and IAS is on ways to increase dp the other is spec running with weapon master or ruthless is another boost in dps. Since the nerf to damage I have moved away from vit gear and more towards str, crit, crit dmg etc gear since I am not as squishy.

**liquid_mage** · 28-06-2012, 17:50

Good stuff guys, i'm farming act 2 usually with only 0-2 deaths per hour or so. I am also prepping for Act 3.

My rough stats are:
Life: 44k
Armor: 8500 buffed
All Res: ~700 buffed
Str: ~1300
Dex: ~400
Vit: ~1000
DPS: ~14500 (with Weapon Master) (it jumps to 20k with Berserker Rage)
LoH: ~820
CritHit: 5%(total)
Crit Dam: 75%(total)
Att Spd: 6%

I'm running into the issue of trying to get my DPS to around 20k-24k and my All Resist to ~800. Its rough all gear upgrades seem like they are 1.5m+ per item.