- Mar 19, 2020
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@ffs Very cool use of Doom! Nice build overall, looks like a fun char. I might have to make one some day and give it a whirl.
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Round 3 is looming, and I needed an area runner in HC. I like to run XP-friendly areas for the 3rd round usually, even if it compromises rune drops a bit. CS Hammerdin was an easy choice for an area runner in HC, a decent chance for runes, with a distant someday goal of maybe going for 99 with him as well.
I already have a SC Hammerdin at level 95 who is geared out for full damage but I've found him to be a bit squishier than I would like. With that in mind, I want to focus on full survivability. Those that have followed with my other HC 99ers will know that I like to overdo it on safety, even if that means sacrificing some speed. Typically this has come in the way of over-maxed resists and 5k+ life. That much life isn't feasible for me on a hammerdin (without some serious beta-era equipment that I don't have, anyway) so I'll have to overindulge on safety in other ways. Obviously I still need good killing speed too, as the faster monsters become dead the lower risk they are.
First things first I quested to Anya (HF was an Ist) then leveled my fledgling Hammerdin up to 90 in the Pits, and then tried out several different builds both on paper and in-game. I tried all sorts of variations ranging from conventional damage-oriented builds using Harlequin Crest to weird absorb builds using Hellmouth/TGods to stacked DR% builds using the likes of Crown of Ages and Verdungos and everything in between. I settled on the following:
Which, after leveling him to 95 with all the testing, looks like this:
Now some reasoning:
I noticed in my testing that once the fire damage is negated (as it is with virtually all hammerdin CS builds) the biggest risk is actually physical damage if I get a nasty pack of Knights in there, or a bad combo on a swarm on Venom Lords (might, fanat, extra strong, etc). This prompted me to explore other options to try and mitigate that. Namely, Crown of Ages.
I know I know, everybody and their mother/father/sister/brother uses Harlequin Crest or Griffons. Remember, I'm looking for ultimate survivability, and sometimes that requires going off the board a bit. Also I'm sure some of you have noticed that I like to do things in a slightly unconventional way if I can.
The final thing I'm considering is 75% block vs 50% block (I have it here now) and the life tradeoff that ensues. I'm pretty sure most people go for max block but I'm wondering if the extra life I'd gain is worth going with a lower block rate. The reason for this is with a CoA setup it's a pretty big strength investment already, leaving dex and life points thinner than I'd like. The difference in dex for 75% vs 50% block at level 99 is 50 points, which equates to 270 life post BO from his CtA. I'm leaning 50% block, as the extra life helps with any kind of damage and he'll have quite high defense to begin with (already at 19k+ without maxed HS, thanks to the Defiance merc) which will negate a pile of the would-be hits. I usually play my chars full-vita so this is new territory for me, let me know what you guys think!
He's already shown his worth too, and the map seems like a good one with some decent finds in Stone Crusher, Horizon's (good bases, but the wrong ones!) and Death's Fathom. He's also picked up a few lower end qualifiers so far in the Um-Ist range, so hopefully that continues too!
--
Round 3 is looming, and I needed an area runner in HC. I like to run XP-friendly areas for the 3rd round usually, even if it compromises rune drops a bit. CS Hammerdin was an easy choice for an area runner in HC, a decent chance for runes, with a distant someday goal of maybe going for 99 with him as well.
I already have a SC Hammerdin at level 95 who is geared out for full damage but I've found him to be a bit squishier than I would like. With that in mind, I want to focus on full survivability. Those that have followed with my other HC 99ers will know that I like to overdo it on safety, even if that means sacrificing some speed. Typically this has come in the way of over-maxed resists and 5k+ life. That much life isn't feasible for me on a hammerdin (without some serious beta-era equipment that I don't have, anyway) so I'll have to overindulge on safety in other ways. Obviously I still need good killing speed too, as the faster monsters become dead the lower risk they are.
First things first I quested to Anya (HF was an Ist) then leveled my fledgling Hammerdin up to 90 in the Pits, and then tried out several different builds both on paper and in-game. I tried all sorts of variations ranging from conventional damage-oriented builds using Harlequin Crest to weird absorb builds using Hellmouth/TGods to stacked DR% builds using the likes of Crown of Ages and Verdungos and everything in between. I settled on the following:
Crown of Ages (Ber+Vex)
Maras (25 res - best I've got in HC)
Hoto (40 res)/ 35fcr Spirit (40 all res Sacred Targe - again, best I've got in HC)
Enigma Archon Plate
Trangs Gloves
Arach
Hotspur (fully upgraded)
FCR/res ring and Dwarf Star
Hammer dmg: 11k
Life: ~3.1k after BO
Resistances: 95/75/75/75 (overstacked to 120/134/115/104) -> 40% FR after Conviction (for Infector).
Other stats:
FHR: 90% (needed 1 sc of balance to hit the 86% breakpoint)
DR%: 30%
Fabsorb%: 15%
MDR: 15
Merc: A2 Defiance
Andys
Fortitude
Insight eth Thresher (I tried Reapers but like this way better, it's a pure comfort decision)
Maras (25 res - best I've got in HC)
Hoto (40 res)/ 35fcr Spirit (40 all res Sacred Targe - again, best I've got in HC)
Enigma Archon Plate
Trangs Gloves
Arach
Hotspur (fully upgraded)
FCR/res ring and Dwarf Star
Hammer dmg: 11k
Life: ~3.1k after BO
Resistances: 95/75/75/75 (overstacked to 120/134/115/104) -> 40% FR after Conviction (for Infector).
Other stats:
FHR: 90% (needed 1 sc of balance to hit the 86% breakpoint)
DR%: 30%
Fabsorb%: 15%
MDR: 15
Merc: A2 Defiance
Andys
Fortitude
Insight eth Thresher (I tried Reapers but like this way better, it's a pure comfort decision)
Which, after leveling him to 95 with all the testing, looks like this:
Now some reasoning:
I noticed in my testing that once the fire damage is negated (as it is with virtually all hammerdin CS builds) the biggest risk is actually physical damage if I get a nasty pack of Knights in there, or a bad combo on a swarm on Venom Lords (might, fanat, extra strong, etc). This prompted me to explore other options to try and mitigate that. Namely, Crown of Ages.
I know I know, everybody and their mother/father/sister/brother uses Harlequin Crest or Griffons. Remember, I'm looking for ultimate survivability, and sometimes that requires going off the board a bit. Also I'm sure some of you have noticed that I like to do things in a slightly unconventional way if I can.
The final thing I'm considering is 75% block vs 50% block (I have it here now) and the life tradeoff that ensues. I'm pretty sure most people go for max block but I'm wondering if the extra life I'd gain is worth going with a lower block rate. The reason for this is with a CoA setup it's a pretty big strength investment already, leaving dex and life points thinner than I'd like. The difference in dex for 75% vs 50% block at level 99 is 50 points, which equates to 270 life post BO from his CtA. I'm leaning 50% block, as the extra life helps with any kind of damage and he'll have quite high defense to begin with (already at 19k+ without maxed HS, thanks to the Defiance merc) which will negate a pile of the would-be hits. I usually play my chars full-vita so this is new territory for me, let me know what you guys think!
He's already shown his worth too, and the map seems like a good one with some decent finds in Stone Crusher, Horizon's (good bases, but the wrong ones!) and Death's Fathom. He's also picked up a few lower end qualifiers so far in the Um-Ist range, so hopefully that continues too!
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