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Amazon Skills

From Diablo 2 Wiki
Revision as of 20:50, 14 February 2008 by 82.41.176.69 (talk)

Amazons enjoy great expertise with bows (and crossbows), and also with spears and javelins. Each of those weapon types is supported by a skill tree devoted that the appropriate weapon type. A third tree is comprised of skills with bonuses to attack damage, accuracy, and various defenses and camouflages. Most Amazons choose bow or spear, and then supplement with numerous skills from the Passives tree, though it is possible to successfully play a hybrid who uses both bows and javelins.


Multishot vs Strafe
A question often asked is what are the differences between these two skills, and which one should go for. The answer can only be decided by you but here are some comparisons of the skills.

You can read more about each skill in their individual sections below.

Multishot is available early at Character Level 6. Before sinking more points into Multishot try it out. You can use items such as the Unique Eye of Etlich Amulet or a +1 to Amazon Skills Amulet, or other +Skills items to boost Multishot up. You'll have plenty of time to try it out until Character Level 24 when Strafe is available.

Multishot

  • Only ¾ of the Damage is taken from your weapon.
  • Good at hitting monsters off screen
  • Fires more arrows for each additional skill point
  • Can be use to hit and run since players are not locked while using the skill
  • It is useful even with just a few skill points
  • Does not increase damage with more skill points
  • Mana cost increases with each skill point - can be offset with % Mana Steal Items

Strafe

  • Only ¾ of the Damage is taken from your weapon.
  • Aims automatically at Targets
  • Hits more targets for each additional skill point (up to 10)
  • Mana Cost remains fixed - you can easily regain mana with % Mana Steal Items
  • Strafe will fire at monsters in all directions rather than just one direction at once
  • Can put a lot of arrows into a single monster if other monsters are lined up behind it
  • Increases damage with each skill point
  • Character is frozen until it is finished Strafing




Magic Arrow

Magic Arrow
Required Level: 1
Prerequisites: None

Far in the ancient past, Amazons found their glorious arboreal city of Tran Athulua under siege by the pirates of the Twin Seas. These cut-throats were determined to turn the Amazon Islands into their base of operations. The conflict lasted many months as the pirates laid in for a long siege. During the battle, supplies ran short, and the Amazon archers found themselves without ammunition. Realizing that their defense rested solely upon the ability of the archers to keep the corsairs at bay, the priests of the city prayed to Athulua to aid them. In answer, Athula infused the minds of the Amazons with the power to harness their natural spiritual energies. One by one the archers melded their determination and will into shards of physical force that they then unleashed from their bows by the thousands, firmly routing the corsairs back to sea.

Effect: Creates an arrow composed entirely from Mana. Damage starts at the same level as a normal arrow and increases with higher levels of training.

Magic Arrow requires no arrows (making more Inventory space). This may be useful if you run out of arrows.

The stats listed below for mana cost are the true values and does not represent what is shown in-game.

Level1234567891011121314151617181920
Mana Cost1.51.31.21.11.00.80.70.60.50.30.20.1-0.1-0.2-0.3-0.5-0.6-0.7-0.8
Converts X% Physical Damage To Magic Damage1234567891011121314151617181920
+X% To Attack Rating10192837465564738291100109118127136145154163172181
Damage +X1234567891011121314151617181920

[/images/battle/diablo2exp/images/skills/magicarrow01.jpg File:Magicarrow01.gif]

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Fire Arrow

Fire Arrow
Required Level: 1
Prerequisites: None

Hefaetrus is the Amazonian god of fire and rebirth who lives deep within the great volcano, Mount Arnazeus, on the island of Philios. Although primarily the patron deity of farmers, from time to time he bestows his favors upon the warriors of the Islands, so they may keep safe his congregation. Through proper prayer and the sacrifice of many fierce enemies, an especially brave Amazon can attain the power to imbue her shots with the destructive power of fire, allowing her to rake blazing missiles from her bow.

Effect: Enchants an arrow with the additional damage of fire.

Fire Arrow is useful in early parts of the game. Before putting more than one point into the skill, keep in mind that [#explodingarrow Exploding Arrow] and [#immolationarrow Immolation Arrow] are available at higher Character Levels.

Level1234567891011121314151617181920
Mana Cost33.13.23.33.53.63.73.844.14.24.34.54.64.74.855.15.25.3
Fire Damage1-43-65-87-109-1211-1413-1615-1818-2121-2424-2727-3030-3333-3636-3939-4245-4951-5657-6363-70
Converts X% Physical Damage
To Elemental Damage
357911131517192123252729313335373941
+X% To Attack Rating10192837465564738291100109118127136145154163172181


Fire Arrow Receives Bonuses From
Exploding Arrow: +12% Fire Damage Per Level

[/images/battle/diablo2exp/images/skills/firearrow01.jpg File:Firearrow01.gif]

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Cold Arrow

Cold Arrow
Required Level: 6
Prerequisites: None

Although winter never seems to find its way to the ever-balmy Amazon Islands, cold climates are not unheard of. The summit of Mount Karcheus on the island of Philios is covered with snow all year long. Deep within an icy cave secluded amongst its towering peaks, is the Great Hall of Mirrors where mighty Karcheus the Watcher sits upon his throne. Ever vigilant, Karcheus keeps watch over the people of the Amazons. Warriors who have trained within his temple are able to instill their shots with the power of a freezing wind.

Effect: Enchants an arrow, adding cold damage and slowing your enemy.

This is similar to the Sorceress Ice Bolt spell. Monsters will be chilled when hit with Ice Arrow. When killed, chilled monsters have the chance of shattering leaving no corpse. This can be handy when dealing with monsters that raise corpses such as Shaman.

Before focusing more than one point into this skill keep in mind that [#icearrow Ice Arrow] and [#freezingarrow Freezing Arrow] are available at higher Character Levels.

Level1234567891011121314151617181920
Mana Cost3.53.63.73.844.14.24.34.54.64.74.855.15.25.35.55.65.75.8
Cold Damage3-45-67-89-1011-1213-1415-1617-1819-2022-2324-2527-2829-3032-3334-3537-3841-4245-4749-5153-56
Cold Length (seconds)45.26.47.68.81011.212.413.614.81617.218.419.620.82223.224.425.626.8
Converts X% Physical Damage
To Elemental Damage
357911131517192123252729313335373941
+% To Attack Rating10192837465564738291100109118127136145154163172181


Cold Arrow Receives Bonuses From
Ice Arrow: +12% Cold Damage Per Level

[/images/battle/diablo2exp/images/skills/coldarrow01.jpg File:Coldarrow01.gif]

[/images/battle/diablo2exp/images/skills/coldarrow02.jpg File:Coldarrow02.gif]

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Multiple Shot

Multiple Shot
Required Level: 6
Prerequisites: [#magicarrow Magic Arrow] [1]

Legend has it that the fabled Amazon archer, Palashia, bragged in her youth that she could best the combined skills of all her greatest rivals. Taking umbrage, her rivals gathered to challenge her outrageous boast, arranging a contest to decide the question. To preserve her honor, Palashia was to strike the targets of all her rivals before they could land a single arrow. When dawn arose on the day of the contest, Palashia stood ready with her bow. At the signal, her rivals nocked their arrows and loosed a volley towards their targets. Palashia gathered her energies, and let fly with her own, single arrow. To the amazement of onlookers, her arrow split into many, cleaving the arrows of her rivals, and moving on to strike every target directly in their centers. This mysterious technique quickly became a martial secret that only the finest archers are able to master.

Effect: Splits one arrow into several.

Only 3/4 of the Damage is taken from your weapon.

You can vary the spread of multiple arrows depending on how far away the mouse pointer is when you fire. Hold down shift which will allow you to fire in place without moving after a monster.

Multishot is very useful to use when trying to hit monsters off screen or monsters that are moving around really quickly. When combined with % Mana Steal and % Life Steal, Multishot can quickly fill your Life to full and regain Mana to full. Multishot will only hit a target with one of the many arrows no matter how many appear to be hitting the monster. Multishot increases in Mana Cost with more points so you will need to offset this cost with a higher % Mana Steal. Multishot can be combined with other Arrow Spells. Hit a monster with Freezing Arrow then follow up with Multishot. Multishot can be a good choice to focus in and is a useful skill on all difficulty levels. You may not wish to place 20 points into this skill. As more points are placed into Multishot, the cost of the spell goes up. There is probably an ideal level for your characters, some suggest 6, or less than 10.

You may wish to assign Multishot to your right mouse button. That way if you need to get away, clicking the left button won't cause you to Multishot rather than move.

Level1234567891011121314151617181920
Mana Cost4567891011121314151617181920212223
# of Arrows23456789101112131415161718192021
Damage -25%

[/images/battle/diablo2exp/images/skills/multishot01.jpg File:Multishot01.gif]

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Exploding Arrow

Exploding Arrow
Required Level: 12
Prerequisites: [#magicarrow Magic Arrow] [1], [#firearrow Fire Arrow] [1], [#multipleshot Multiple Shot] [6]

Another gift of Hefaetrus, an Amazon warrior practiced in this skill can imbue the arrows that she fires with the ability to explode upon impact. The resulting detonation not only allows her to damage her intended target, but also anything caught within the explosive blast. The sight of a full battalion of Amazon archers firing a volley of such arrows is eerily beautiful. Many warriors, having witnessed good friends consumed by the flames of these arrows, vow never to fight against Amazon warriors ever again.

Effect: Adds fire damage to normal arrows and explodes on impact.

Level1234567891011121314151617181920
Mana Cost55.566.577.588.599.51010.51111.51212.51313.51414.5
Fire Damage2-67-1112-1617-2122-2627-3132-3637-4144-4951-5758-6565-7372-8179-8986-9793-105102-116111-127120-138129-149
+% To Attack Rating202938475665748392101110119128137146155164173182191


Exploding Arrow Receives Bonuses From
Fire Arrow: +12% Fire Damage Per Level

[/images/battle/diablo2exp/images/skills/exploadingarrow01.jpg File:Exploadingarrow01.gif]

[/images/battle/diablo2exp/images/skills/exploadingarrow02.jpg File:Exploadingarrow02.gif]

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Ice Arrow

Ice Arrow
Required Level: 18
Prerequisites: [#coldarrow Cold Arrow] [6]

The second of the prizes Karcheus bestows to a true warrior, this skill enables the Amazon to instill her arrows with the glacial force of a fierce blizzard. Enemies struck by this power not only feel the icy sting of the enchanted shaft, but also the force of a chilling arctic wind that, mysteriously, they alone can feel.

Effect: Arrows have additional cold damage and momentarily freeze the target.

Player vs Player: Other players will be chilled, not frozen.

An upgrade to Cold Arrow, Ice Arrow is similar to the Sorceress' Ice Blast spell. Ice Arrow will hit one target and will freeze them in place. In higher difficulty levels the Cold length will be reduced so consider this before focusing heavily in this skill (more than one point). Freezing Arrow is a much better replacement at Level 30.

Level1234567891011121314151617181920
Mana Cost44.24.54.755.25.55.766.26.56.777.27.57.788.28.58.7
Freeze (seconds)22.22.42.62.833.23.43.63.844.24.44.64.855.25.45.65.8
Cold Damage6-1012-1618-2224-2830-3436-4042-4648-5260-6572-7884-9196-104108-117120-130132-143144-156162-175180-194198-213216-232
+X% To Attack Rating202938475665748392101110119128137146155164173182191


Ice Arrow Receives Bonuses From
Cold Arrow: +8% Cold Damage Per Level
Freezing Arrow: +5% Cold Length Per Level

[/images/battle/diablo2exp/images/skills/icearrow01.jpg File:Icearrow01.gif]

[/images/battle/diablo2exp/images/skills/icearrow02.jpg File:Icearrow02.gif]

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Guided Arrow

Guided Arrow
Required Level: 18
Prerequisites: [#magicarrow Magic Arrow] [1], [#coldarrow Cold Arrow] [6], [#multipleshot Multiple Shot] [6]

Hunting and fighting during the night and in the deepest darkness is a necessary skill to any daughter of the Amazon islands. Devoted disciples of Athulua can, with great difficulty and strict discipline, train themselves to fire their arrows at targets blindly, as if the hand of Athulua herself guided the arrows. As might be imagined, this is an art that the Sisters of the Sightless Eye have long envied and yet have never replicated.

Effect: Imbues an arrow with the ability to seek its nearest target.

  • Guided Arrow is very effective in Player vs Player battles.
  • Guided Arrow is handy when it is difficult to hit a moving enemy (Sand Leapers) or you want to hit an enemy around a corner. Keep in mind that Strafe and Multishot can also get the job done.
  • Players focused in Strafe or Multishot may wish to use this for single monsters or bosses.
  • Guided Arrow does not work with Pierce.
Level1234567891011121314151617181920
Mana Cost87.77.57.276.76.56.265.75.55.254.74.54.243.73.53.2
Damage +%5101520253035404550556065707580859095

[/images/battle/diablo2exp/images/skills/guidedarrow01.jpg File:Guidedarrow01.gif]

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Immolation Arrow

Immolation Arrow
[/diablo2exp/skills/castingdelays.shtml Casting Delay]: 1 Second
Required Level: 24
Prerequisites: [#magicarrow Magic Arrow] [1], [#firearrow Fire Arrow] [1], [#multipleshot Multiple Shot] [6]
[#explodingarrow Exploding Arrow] [12],

Hefaetrus will sometimes bestow this ability to his greatest champions. These fire-instilled arrows burn with such a fierce intensity that the very earth surrounding where they impact ignites into flame. Although the fires last but a few moments, some say the effect is as if the pillars of the mighty kingdom of Hefaetrus were reaching up through the ground to strike down the enemies who linger nearby.

Effect: Enchants an arrow that does fire damage, and explodes into a patch of fire on the ground. Creatures passing through the flames take additional damage.

This skill is somewhat similar to the Sorceress' Firewall. If you can keep a monster in the same place (by attacking your Decoy or Valkyrie), you may find this skill to be useful. This might be an option when facing Stone Skin Unique Monsters as well.

Level1234567891011121314151617181920
Mana Cost66.577.588.599.51010.51111.51212.51313.51414.51515.5
Explosive Damage10-2020-3030-4040-5050-6060-7070-8080-90100-110120-130140-150160-170180-190200-210220-230240-250270-280300-310330-340360-370
Fire Duration 3 Seconds
Average Fire Damage Per Second8-1014-1619-2225-2831-3337-3943-4549-5155-5760-6366-6972-7578-8084-8690-9296-98101-104107-110113-116119-121
+X% To Attack Rating3039485766758493102111120129138147156165174183192201


Immolation Arrow Receives Bonuses From
Fire Arrow: +5% Average Fire Damage Per Second Per Level
Exploding Arrow: +10% Average Fire Damage Per Level

[/images/battle/diablo2exp/images/skills/immolationarrow01.jpg File:Immolationarrow01.gif]

[/images/battle/diablo2exp/images/skills/immolationarrow02.jpg File:Immolationarrow02.gif]

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Strafe

Strafe
Required Level: 24
Prerequisites: [#magicarrow Magic Arrow] [1], [#multipleshot Multiple Shot] [6], [#coldarrow Cold Arrow] [6], [#guidedarrow Guided Arrow] [18]

Once a warrior has attained this facility, she can fire a volley of arrows with amazing speed and precision, striking one target after another. Veteran mercenaries often tell a tale of a new recruit who was nearly struck down in battle because he was too distracted when first seeing an Amazon use this ability. Do not doubt his word, as he is probably referring to himself. Just smile and buy him another tankard of ale.

Effect: Fires a volley of arrows at multiple nearby targets.

Strafe is the skill of choice for many high level Bowazons, although Multishot is also an option.

Strafe will automatically aim and fire at targets on the screen up to the Strafe limit. As you get more points in Strafe it will hit more monsters at once.

Strafe is good at alerting you to new monsters entering the area. If you start firing at a new direction where you previously have not been firing at, you will know a monster is over there in that new direction.

Try to lead groups of monsters into a tight pack. You will then be able to take advantage of Pierce. This will also keep you from switching back and forth in opposite directions which will save time.

Strafe isn't as good against a single monster as large groups of monsters. You may quickly run out of Mana when using shots against a single monster. Try switching to another skill if you are fighting single monsters.

Strafe will sometimes fire a little off screen, but Multishot is much better for firing at monsters off screen.

Strafe works very well with Cold Damage. Find an item that adds Cold Damage to make all your hits Cold Damage Arrows. This will chill monsters and will also sometimes shatter them preventing monsters from raising the corpses. Freezing Arrow also works well with Strafe especially in Normal and Nightmare mode before Cold Length is significantly reduced. You can also set one mouse button to Freeze Arrow and the other to Strafe (or use Hot Keys). Fire a Freeze Arrow to stop the monsters in their tracks, then follow up with Strafe to shatter them.

You may wish to assign Strafe to your right mouse button. That way if you need to get away, clicking the left button won't cause you to Strafe rather than move.

Strafe works with the Paladin's Concentration Aura in the following way:
Damage = Bow_Damage*(1 + Dex_bonus + Concentration_bonus + Strafe_bonus)

There is a rather hidden "Minimum shots" effect in Strafe. What this means is that Strafe will fire at least this many shots at one monster, but will fire more up until the Strafe limit if there is more than one monster. This is very useful in making multiple hits vs. one single monster, but the downside is that it puts you in Strafe lock more often.

The formula is as follows: Min Arrows fired = 2 + slvl / 4 rounded down.
Which means, at level 4, 3 shots are fired; at level 20, 2 + 20/4 or at least 7 arrows are shot.

Strafe Lock
While you are Strafing, your character will be locked in place. You will be unable to move until you are done Strafing. Keep in mind that as you put more points into Strafe and it hits more targets, the time you are locked will be longer. Hardcore players might wish to avoid placing too many points into Strafe. For players on Normal mode this is generally not a problem. Be sure to not fire a Strafe right before trying to run away and you will usually be OK.

Level1234567891011121314151617181920
Mana Cost: 11
Attacks up to56789101010101010101010101010101010
Damage +%5101520253035404550556065707580859095100
3/4 Weapon Damage

[/images/battle/diablo2exp/images/skills/strafe01.jpg File:Strafe01.gif]

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Freezing Arrow

Freezing Arrow
Required Level: 30
Prerequisites: [#coldarrow Cold Arrow] [6], [#icearrow Ice Arrow [18]
]

The greatest of the powers attained by those dedicated to Karcheus is the skill to imbue their arrows with the freezing power of a devastating avalanche. Enemies within the impact of a freezing arrow are frozen in their tracks and feel crushing pain, as if a mass of magical ice had toppled onto them.

Effect: Enchants an arrow to deliver cold damage that freezes any monsters near the point of impact.

Player vs Player: Other players will be chilled, not frozen.

Freezing Arrow is similar to the Sorceress' Glacier Spike. Freezing arrow can be a bit more powerful however because in addition to the base arrow damage, it can also work with Pierce and Critical Strike.

Before significantly investing in Freeze Arrow keep in mind that Cold Length Durations are reduced in Nightmare and Hell. On Hell Difficulty the freeze will last 0.5 seconds. If you fire continually with a fast bow, you may find, however that this is enough to keep a monster from moving very far.

Level1234567891011121314151617181920
Mana Cost99.51010.51111.51212.51313.51414.51515.51616.51717.51818.5
Cold Damage40-5050-6060-7070-8080-9090-100100-110110-120125-135140-150155-165170-180185-195200-210215-225230-240250-260270-280290-300310-320
+X% To Attack Rating40495867768594103112121130139148157166175184193202211
Duration: 2 seconds
Radius: 3.3 Yards


Freezing Arrow Receives Bonuses From
Cold Arrow: +12% Cold Damage Per Level
Ice Arrow: +5% Freeze Length Per Level

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