Question about Lit sorc merc

[madzlol]

Question about Lit sorc merc

Hi all,
I'm currently leveling up a lightning sorc to do some pit/nith runs and general MFing.

I've got most of the gear for my sorc sorted, but i was wondering what gear i should use on my merc.

The only thing i'm sure about is that i'll be using an infinity weapon on the merc.

So, my questions -

1) What weapon infinity should i use? I was going to go with Eth CV for simplicity, but is there much to gain from using another?
2) How important will the mods (ED and -lightning res) be on the infinity? Basically i'm wanting to know if i should pay a little more and try and get one with specific stats, or make my own.
3) Finally, which helm and body should i use?
Helm i'm thinking vamp gaze will probably be best?
But body... i can't decide between leviathan/chains of horror.. or what else?

Any feedback would be appreciated,
thanks

 

[madzlol]

Re: Question about Lit sorc merc

Oh and i forgot to add... Is vit or max block generally better for a MF lit sorc?

 

[guface]

Re: Question about Lit sorc merc

1. Eth CA is among the best to use. CV has a high str requirement. However, damagewise they are similar. CA is hard to get tho. 4 sox CA with ED is pretty pricey and rare (CV has natual 4 sockets max, CA has 5)

2. -ve light res is near useless on the merc (it doesnt translate to -ve light resist for you, only the merc's light attacks, which are obviously non existant except for the chain light procing). ED is nice but obivously the merc is not the kiling machine, you are. It is nice for some light immune bosses but lets face it, infi comes with 40% CB anyway, the difference between 940 or 980 max damage isnt gonna change much.

3. Rest of gear depends on a variety of factors. You need max resists, life leech. Other nice mods are FHR, IAS, and ofc defense. There are a variety of different armors for each and each has pros and cons. There is no right answer.

I use a defiance merc and so I use tal's helmut and eth bugged stone. He gets all the nice stone mods and 10% LL with max resists and also a 20k defense when his aura turns on.

 

[Robobaby]

Re: Question about Lit sorc merc

1) What weapon infinity should i use? I was going to go with Eth CV for simplicity, but is there much to gain from using another?

Ideally the elite polearm with the best tradeoff with regards to attack speed and damage. Eth Great Poleaxe and Eth Giant Thresher are both good options but you don't see them around much and its tougher to get 4os out of them.

2) How important will the mods (ED and -lightning res) be on the infinity? Basically i'm wanting to know if i should pay a little more and try and get one with specific stats, or make my own.

If its going on your merc then -lightning resistance is worthless since your merc deals physical damage. ED is important though so try and get it as high as possible and ideally in a superior base (which is really tough to find since getting a superior GP or GT that spawns with 4os is quite rare). I haven't seen one this ladder. The higher ED is the faster your merc kills. Pretty simple really.

3) Finally, which helm and body should i use?
Helm i'm thinking vamp gaze will probably be best?
But body... i can't decide between leviathan/chains of horror.. or what else?

Its your choice but enhanced damage, life leech, ias, procs and stuff like crushing blow are all good. Fortitude is a great merc armour for that stonking +300% enhanced damage and the res helps too.

Andarial's Visage is a good choice for a helm for the big life leech, +max poison res, huge strength and 20% ias. Socket it with an ias/fire resist jewel and you are rocking.

Some people prefer vamp gaze for the damage reduction but I rarely find survivability is a problem for my merc.

 

[redground]

Re: Question about Lit sorc merc

You could give him a Infinity with perfect -% resist and give im a Dream Helmet for some dmg boost a CoH for LL.

But people usually just give the merc a Fortitude and a VampGaze/Andy

 

[Robobaby]

Re: Question about Lit sorc merc

You could give him a Infinity with perfect -% resist and give im a Dream Helmet for some dmg boost a CoH for LL.

But people usually just give the merc a Fortitude and a VampGaze/Andy

Thats a pretty good idea. Dream adds some meaty lightning damage to your mercs attack and that dmg works with negative resists from infinity. It should do some fairly scary damage.

I find it hard to give up Andy Face though. It just has so many nice bonuses for your merc.

 

[madzlol]

Re: Question about Lit sorc merc

Thanks for the replies, i think i'll go:

-Infinity in Eth CA or if i cant find a CA, CV
-Andy Helm
-Fortitude

Now i just need to pick if i want defiance or holy freeze.

 

[redground]

Re: Question about Lit sorc merc

Thanks for the replies, i think i'll go:

-Infinity in Eth CA or if i cant find a CA, CV
-Andy Helm
-Fortitude

Now i just need to pick if i want defiance or holy freeze.

that is not a really hard decision, you can change mercs whenever you want..

Since you are a light sorc with a infinity merc you will kill things REALLY fast, so your merc is near you just for the aura, he might not even need to be a tank..

I´t take the holy freeze.

 

[guface]

Re: Question about Lit sorc merc

Thats a pretty good idea. Dream adds some meaty lightning damage to your mercs attack and that dmg works with negative resists from infinity. It should do some fairly scary damage.

Mercs dont have synergies with holy shock. The damage is actually pretty shocking (pardon the joke). Only a sorc or pala has synergies with HS to pull of decent damage.

One dream hat gives lvl 15 aura, which does 1-650 light damage. This may go up with infi. I dont think its worth sacrificing life leech, and in the case of andys visage, IAS though.

Again you're the one doing the killing, not the merc. If the merc does 500 light damage in 5 seconds, you'll be doing 500 000 with a decent chain lightening.

I´t take the holy freeze.

I like HF too, but find that with decent defense, the def merc survives better. And he gives you a healthy boost to your DR too, which does help. 9k defense for a sorc aint too shabby