A lightning Javazon: The Hardcore project

[Nosferatu]

A lightning Javazon: The Hardcore project

Presentation:

Evening ladies and gents, autumn is coming along nicely, isn’t it? Hopefully we will be able to enjoy the coming 1.13 and the ladder reset that will follow. That is the reason I created this thread, to prepare for the coming ladder. I am looking in to rolling a lightning javazon, and since I’ve never played one of those on a high level I am now here, seeking the cunning, that awesome knowledge that all you Amazon veterans out there posses! So please, find it in your hearts to help this… this… noob to achieve greatness. Let me bask in your glory, oh ye great ones. :worship:
This is a hardcore project. I and my brother are going to create new characters when the 1.13 patch comes out. He is probably going to roll a poison nova/revive/lower res necro, and I a lightning javazon. What I need for you folk is advice concerning skills, items and general tactics.

Goal:

The goal is simple, to survive the ladder. And to be able to efficiently do baalruns.

Progress so far:

As I said, I will play co-up with a poison nova/revive/ lower res necro almost all the time. So take that into consideration as we discuss tactics. Later during this thread, I might post an estimated build of his character as well. But for now, lets concentrate on the whole Amazon thing.

This is the skills ive been thinking about:

Javelin and spear skills:

Level 20 Lightning Fury
Level 20 Charged Strike
Level 20 Lightning Strike
Level 20 Power Strike
Level 8 Lightning Bolt

Passive and Magic:

Level 1 in all skills except Valkyrie: 9 skills total
Level 13 Valkyrie

Total 111 skills.

Basically I’m going for a strong lightning fury to swiftly kill large groups of mobs, and then a strong charged strike as backup for bosses. And level 13 valk to act as a potent tank with some killing potential. I’m going to go for at least +4 in passive and magic skills to get the valk up to level 17 and war pike.

But what about stats and items? Is it worth going for high def and damage reduced with a char that mainly will kill from afar? There are a lot of guides concerning this, but I haven’t seen anyone written from a HC player’s perspective. How much dex and such should one have to get max blockrate? The stats I put down should reflect the items used I guess. So I have to figure out a effective gear setup, and get enough str and dex to use that gear. And then put the rest in vitality.

Any ideas?

 

[QED]

Re: A lightning Javazon: The Hardcore project

But what about stats and items? Is it worth going for high def and damage reduced with a char that mainly will kill from afar? There are a lot of guides concerning this, but I haven’t seen anyone written from a HC player’s perspective. How much dex and such should one have to get max blockrate? The stats I put down should reflect the items used I guess. So I have to figure out a effective gear setup, and get enough str and dex to use that gear. And then put the rest in vitality.

Any ideas?

I personally do not go for high defense or much damage reduction on my jav zons simply because I don't get hit much. Instead I focus on IAS, resists, and +skills. The only HC difficulties I face with jav zons is the Fire Enchanted popping upon death. I will normally Charge Strike a monster down to a small amount of life and then toss some javs from a distance to finish it off. Best of luck.

 

[KremBanan]

Re: A lightning Javazon: The Hardcore project

With a Revive/Lower resist necro as partner, i would just put 1pt in the passives and the rest in LF/CS + synergies.

Focus on +skills, resists and mana after each kill/manaleech.

 

[Nosferatu]

Re: A lightning Javazon: The Hardcore project

I personally do not go for high defense or much damage reduction on my jav zons simply because I don't get hit much. Instead I focus on IAS, resists, and +skills. The only HC difficulties I face with jav zons is the Fire Enchanted popping upon death. I will normally Charge Strike a monster down to a small amount of life and then toss some javs from a distance to finish it off. Best of luck.

Ok, that's insightful. I can imagine that faster run/walk would come in handy in that kind of situation. Fire enchant, that is 50/50 fire/phys damage, yes? And can you block fire enchant as you can with suicide monsters from act 5?

 

[Nosferatu]

Re: A lightning Javazon: The Hardcore project

With a Revive/Lower resist necro as partner, i would just put 1pt in the passives and the rest in LF/CS + synergies.

Focus on +skills, resists and mana after each kill/manaleech.

Yes, + to resists is super important in HC. And since I'm going for javelins I can use a shield. How well does leech actually work when my damage is about 99% elemental? But I guess mana after each kill would work fine.

What kind if hireling would be best? Act 2 hirelings are usually the ones people pick I guess. But I don't think might will give me that big of a boost.

 

[Dogbert]

Re: A lightning Javazon: The Hardcore project

insight act2 or infinity act2 holy freeze

 

[Nosferatu]

Re: A lightning Javazon: The Hardcore project

Ah, yes, holy freeze would make it easier to crowd control I imagine.

What about gear? Is titans the obvious choice? I was thinking about stormshield, but the str requirement is almost chocking.

 

[dyolf]

Re: A lightning Javazon: The Hardcore project

Ah, yes, holy freeze would make it easier to crowd control I imagine.

What about gear? Is titans the obvious choice? I was thinking about stormshield, but the str requirement is almost chocking.

Stormshield is hard to beat for a hardcore character without huge life. Nice block rate and pdr is hard to pass up. The strength requirement is not so steep if you can get you hands on thundergod belt, sandstorm treks, torch, anny and possibly enigma. Well, the last one is ofc borderline cheating because those hr are kind of hard to find...

 

[Nosferatu]

Re: A lightning Javazon: The Hardcore project

Enigma might be a little over my price range yes. But so is anni, at least when the new ladder hits.

 

[Yogirat]

Re: A lightning Javazon: The Hardcore project

Um, have you looked here?
I also recommend a point in jab, it will serve you well early and later (LI's) in the game. It is truly a one point wonder skill.

 

[taxcut1]

Re: A lightning Javazon: The Hardcore project

Sounds like a fun project... The Revives/ Skeles are a "meatshield"... The nec lowers res and you're the killing machine...

I built a Straffe/ Freeze Zon with a friend's Summon/ Sage Druid in HC... We used a defiance and a freeze merc, it worked very well...

Try a harmony bow on weapon switch even if don't use any bow skills.... I went with straffe zon so we could use a harmony bow... The vigor's added speed helps summons get to whatever threat there is... No teleport becomes a drag and vigor speeds things up... Harmony on an Act 1 merc is nice but who wants to risk a KO rune in HC when you're poor... We each died a few times and had to remake but we did finish hell hardcore... You've inspired me to plan a HC build with a friend...


Good luck and act 3 dolls will kill you...

 

[Nosferatu]

Re: A lightning Javazon: The Hardcore project

Um, have you looked here?
I also recommend a point in jab, it will serve you well early and later (LI's) in the game. It is truly a one point wonder skill.

Nice thread, I had missed it. Quite new to these forums, and since they are so large there is a lot of stuff one has to "take in".

As Jag is a pre-req I have to put down 1 level in it. But I have never relay used it before. I will try it out and see the result for myself. But its hard to belive that I will do any real damage with a jav in close combat without the grotesque lightning damage that my skills add.

 

[Nosferatu]

Re: A lightning Javazon: The Hardcore project

Sounds like a fun project... The Revives/ Skeles are a "meatshield"... The nec lowers res and you're the killing machine...

I built a Straffe/ Freeze Zon with a friend's Summon/ Sage Druid in HC... We used a defiance and a freeze merc, it worked very well...

Try a harmony bow on weapon switch even if don't use any bow skills.... I went with straffe zon so we could use a harmony bow... The vigor's added speed helps summons get to whatever threat there is... No teleport becomes a drag and vigor speeds things up... Harmony on an Act 1 merc is nice but who wants to risk a KO rune in HC when you're poor... We each died a few times and had to remake but we did finish hell hardcore... You've inspired me to plan a HC build with a friend...


Good luck and act 3 dolls will kill you...

Good input, I never would have thought of that myself. I have played fishymancer before, and I understand the frustration one feels when all of your 10 frenzy minotaurs gets stuck and left behind.

Yes, the dolls are a scary bunch, haha. During all the dungeons in act 3 I am going to see to it that my merc, valk and copy stay along way ahead of me all times. :grin:

 

[Antifate]

Re: A lightning Javazon: The Hardcore project

Hmm, I wonder if you can skip Valk since your buddy is providing tons of meatshields...

I'd probably damage whore it out SC style and skip Valk.

 

[Nosferatu]

Re: A lightning Javazon: The Hardcore project

Hmm, I wonder if you can skip Valk since your buddy is providing tons of meatshields...

I'd probably damage whore it out SC style and skip Valk.

hmm, ok, I have always viewed valk as a sure thing in HC. But what you say makes seance. :yes: Damage whoring can be quite fun.

 

[Nosferatu]

Re: A lightning Javazon: The Hardcore project

Been thinking about a thing. People seem to value good titans quite highly, especially ethereal ones. I don't get this actually. Ok, I get it for those that use skills that boost physical damage. But for a lightning javazon I don't understand. Without enhanced damage, that extra damage will seem as a drop in a very big ocean of death. So whats the point?

 

[Yogirat]

Re: A lightning Javazon: The Hardcore project

LI's, you will have to deal with them to get through the game unless you just want to do cows. Good magics or rares will work fine. Perf/eth Titans are only a status symbol anyway.

 

[BKC]

Re: A lightning Javazon: The Hardcore project

im not sure but wont lower resist break all the immunities? (gloams??)

If you ever consider to play your character without your friend (which happens!) then a 17 pt valk is a very nice meat shield next to your a2 merc.

You could consider a faith bow/pride polearm on either an a1 or a2 merc. That will boost the damage from your friends skellies by a lot (or hell put them both in ) (i just realised that is a long way from scratch to those 2 runewords btw!)

its the question whether you need that bit of extra damage or not (on bosses you wont considering your CS). But vs light/poison immunes it might be the difference.

Regards,
BKC

 

[KillaMike]

Re: A lightning Javazon: The Hardcore project

explaining high ed eth titans:

upgrade them and get your hands on ML ring = infinet mana leech

gear in hc = SS as a must, use hel to reduce str req
weapon: it is very hard to beat Titans, unless thunder stroke but repear costs are sooooo anoying.
helmet: perfict is Griffon eye, but shako is nice for hp/dr/mana/skills but i hate condom looks of it
armour: trechery ais doing wounders, and Fade is nice as well, or get your hands on viper.
rings: raven is a must and second ring usually ml
boots: i love Silke weaves with 5 mana per kill, other wise its upto you for marrows/treks.
amulet: perfict choise would be 2 skills 30str 49 fire/cold/light but any amu will do.


skills:

i would like to change something:

Pierce: get at least 50% then your damage on LF goes silly
and get rid of valkie, you got enought meat shield

merc: insight + heal ( normal / hell combat merc a2 ) for poor skellies to get healed



P.S. psn mancer sucks without some gear like t-o gloves dw and other nice items

 

[Nosferatu]

Re: A lightning Javazon: The Hardcore project

wow, good feedback everyone.

Ive been taking in all of you opinions about the valk and thought it over. And in the end, I decided to let the math to the choice. So after some calculations I realized that the damage from those extra skills wont effect LF in a significant way. The CS will do an sickening amount of damage anyway, at least with lower resist support. And when we take in the valks damage in to the equation, its clear that in overall time, the valk will be more resourceful than a very slightly stronger LF and stronger CS. Since the valk will help me shield, and kill LI's. "Edit:" The support it will add during those few times I will solo will prove invaluable.

A question about valk thou, does she only receive bonus from the skills a actually put down points in, or will she receive bonuses to her dodge and such for my + to PM?

BKC:

Haha, yes, faith/pride can be quite hefty for a first char. And if we are talking hefty, I might as well get my hands on a Infinity. I think that would be more appropriate considering the awesome amount of elementalish damage we will whip out. Conviction lowers poison res right?

KillaMike:

Is it really worth hel to reduce the strenght req? I mean, is it worth to save like 15 stats to not be able to um or perf diamond socket the shield?
I like Titans since they add a nice faster run/walk and some very nice stats. Can't argue with that.
I think I will start out with a gambled circlet with some skills, and whatever else good I can get on it. Then I will use upgrade to shako if I can find it, even thou its ugly *** hell. And then when I'm rich (because I will get rich sooner or later) I will get my hands on a Griffons perhaps. If I feel like I need it. If I find a valkyrie wing or a vampire gaze I might use those up untill I can get my hands on shako. As I'm typing this I am forgetting all about andariels helm. That helm has to be quite good for a javazon with the + str and faster attack speed, right?
Treachery, is that really a good HC armor in your opinion? Fade is in it self, an excellent skill. But since I will do everything in my power to NOT get hit. I don't see that as a very big bonus. The faster attack speed is nice, but I don't think that makes the armor worth the slot. I'm thinking more in the lines of beginning with a Smoke, then perhaps Duriells shell of shaftstop. When when I'm a little more wealthy get my hands on a Fortitude or a Gloom.
Raven will be a good choice since it adds dex and cannot be frozen. A must really.
I think all the boots you recommended would work fine. And I think that Tearhaunch would also work in a pinch.
"2 skills 30str 49 fire/cold/light" sounds crazy hard to get. But it would in fact be perfect. ^^

When I'm thinking about it. Wouldn't a upped guardian angel be a good armor? The max res, block rate, and faster hit recovery could prove to be a lifesaver.