A1 Rogue vs A2 Pokey

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Rassler

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A1 Rogue vs A2 Pokey

Yup, just me again.

After a lot of decision making and thinking about my Zon, I decided to remake her. Hybrid just wasn't my thing, and I was a little disappointed with her survivability.

So I got rid of her itamz, and remade her.

Now I'm at a standstill once more. I decided to go the full Frostmaiden/Strafe/Multi route with a max level Valkyrie to tank. She's doing great and I didn't realise how powerful a Level 30 Valk really is. She's awesome.

But here I am with another big decision to make - which Merc should I tag along my adventures?

For me (and I'm sure for most Bowazons) it comes down to 2:

Act 1 Rogue w/ Faith
vs
Act 2 Pokey - NM Offensive w/ Pride

For me, this is a decision between pure raw power, and safety/versatility.

Unfortunately, I only have enough wealth to try 1 out, and so I can't try them both and choose, which is why I come to you awesome people in the Amazon forums, with a few questions to hopefully help make my decision.

The cheaper option for me is to make Faith. I already have a 10% ED Great Bow lined up, and the runes to make it. I just need to go and find a Windforce and Shael it. I'll have to search for the IAS BPs with WF, but I know for sure I have 65IAS that isn't on the bow (gloves/ammy/helm).

The more expensive option is Pride, which will net me 3 high runes and a 4os polearm. Not to mention getting him decent helm and armor to withstand his own beating, especially in Act4.

Sorry if I'm sort of going on, but I'll sum it up here in this question:

Is the damage output of Pride + Might w/ Faith Mat Bow worth the cost vs Faith A1 Merc and Windforce?

For reference - My goal is to be able to Chaos in 8 player games at a decent speed. In case you need skill layout to help:
Max Valkyrie
Max Freezing Arrow
Max Cold Arrow
5 Strafe
1 Multi
1 in Passives (will be more in penetrate/pierce)
1 Guided/Pre-reqs

Thanks for any help and input!
 
Re: A1 Rogue vs A2 Pokey

In my opinion safety/versatility would be a nm defensive merc, instead of offensive; as a might merc offers nothing in the way of safety that your valk isn't doing.

You also want to consider that if you were using faith, you'd be getting most of the killing blows; which would translate into a LOT of returned walking around and tanking for you (they have an insane amount of HP).
 
Re: A1 Rogue vs A2 Pokey

You make a good point about the minions from Faith.

I think we have differing safety/versatility vs offensive views.

I considered Safety/Versatility as:
- Standing back, not being up close and personal
- Being able to go anywhere without having to worry about things such as curses (Oh Iron Maiden, how I hate thee)

I considered Offensive as:
- Added Aura for damage
- Up close and personal - tanking and keeping monsters away from me

Oh and just to be clear - I meant the A1 Rogue as the safe/versatile option, whereas the A2 Pokey as the Offensive option. In case that wasn't clear =S
 
Re: A1 Rogue vs A2 Pokey

It really depends on what level Might the might merc gets.

Level 20 Might adds +230% Damage.
Level 15 Fanat adds +288% Damage, +33% Speed, +110% AR.

If the merc caps out at level 20 Might (+any skills on gear) then I think A1/Fanat is heaps better (more damage, more speed, doesn't die in chaos sanct, coolness factor) but I really have no clue what level their aura is.

You could always use the Faith yourself and pickup a Might merc too.

Last option would be to get a little crazy and use Faith but give an A1 merc an "Ice" bow. That would be a massive amount of CC.
 
Re: A1 Rogue vs A2 Pokey

Plinko said:
It really depends on what level Might the might merc gets.

Level 20 Might adds +230% Damage.
Level 15 Fanat adds +288% Damage, +33% Speed, +110% AR.

If the merc caps out at level 20 Might (+any skills on gear) then I think A1/Fanat is heaps better (more damage, more speed, doesn't die in chaos sanct, coolness factor) but I really have no clue what level their aura is.

You could always use the Faith yourself and pickup a Might merc too.

Last option would be to get a little crazy and use Faith but give an A1 merc an "Ice" bow. That would be a massive amount of CC.
Click to expand...

Isn't Level 15 Fanaticism Aura:
+144% enhanced damage, +110% attack rating, +33% attack speed

Merc Lv:
Lv 15 Might: +180% enhanced damage (requires merc lvl 75)
Lv 16 Might: +190% enhanced damage (requires merc lvl 79)
Lv 17 Might: +200% enhanced damage (requires merc lvl 83)
Lv 18 Might: +210% enhanced damage (requires merc lvl 87)
Lv 19 Might: +220% enhanced damage (requires merc lvl 91)
Lv 20 Might: +230% enhanced damage (requires merc lvl 95)


 
Re: A1 Rogue vs A2 Pokey

I would think so as your the one giving of the aura, cause you are using the faith.

So in other words.
Merc has Faith you get 144%ed
You use the Faith you get 288%ed
 
Re: A1 Rogue vs A2 Pokey

zon faith + act 2 might merc with pride blows away any other choices

it gives superior damage and you have a tank which allows you to move points from dodge/avoid/evade/valk to something more useful
 
Re: A1 Rogue vs A2 Pokey

Goddamn it's a hard choice lol.

Does anyone have screenshots of a 90ish Zon with Pride Merc, and a 90ish Zon with WF/Faith Merc? I've checked the "Show off your Zon" thread but I haven't really found ones with just raw damage - most had charms and poison added here and there.

If I decide to go with the Pride - I'm hoping the damage is enough to allow me to blow away everything in Chaos before my merc gets close enough to kill himself on IM. =S

Thanks for the replies, it's made things a little clearer!

[Edit] All the aura's stack right? As in:
Might (lvl 19): 220%
Concentration (Lvl 16 min): 285%
Fanat (lvl 15): 288%
---------------------------------
Total: 793%

Do Fortitude and the DEX bonus combine with that aura damage? Or is it calculated seperately?
 
Re: A1 Rogue vs A2 Pokey

The auras do stack, yes.

I have a 91 zon with 500 dex and a might merc with no pride/ED gear/dmg charms. With just an average Harmony Matri things die in A4/A5. It's not the fastest but it's good enough (I'm a 95% Javazon).

I imagine with Pride and a Faith it would just be retarded (in a good way).
 
Re: A1 Rogue vs A2 Pokey

How would a might merc using a +4 ariochs, +2 arkaines, +2 delirium vector into the damage calculations?
 
Re: A1 Rogue vs A2 Pokey

Interesting question. I'm not sure, but does a Merc have a maximum aura level? Level 20 is reachable at lvl 95 - but can he get higher levels with +skills gear?

I was going to give my Merc an Andys to wear which is +2 skills, and I'm aiming for 91 at this moment to get him the Lvl 19 Might - would wearing Andy's make it Lvl 21 Might?
 
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