Anything Goes D2 Lounge!

[Krupa]

@ ND: i have never run the cows with a blizz sorc so all i can do is assume, so take this with a grain of salt. cows have 50% resis, so infinity will have no direct affect on your damage output to them, should your cold mastery be exactly -150% or exceed that. if it doesn´t infinity will increase your LCS-skill damage by the difference of (150 - CM)%. however due to the merc the cows should clump up in small packs (if your blizz kills them fast enough) so those small clumps could be the reason you kill them faster with one. the damage of a blizz sorc will not scale with the amount of enemies, like it would for a light sorc, javazon or trapsin. i guess i would use a merc for cowing, but i have never tried

@ twibz: cows die very quickly without good equipment. so you really don´t need to worry about it. after pierce, cbf and ias, -% should be the best way to increase your damage. cows have 50% (according to AS). if +skills or +% increase your damage more is dependent of the amount of points in synergy and +skills you already use. ormus works just like facets or griffon does, so it will increase the damage

 

[pharphis]

Delirium works really well for a javazon.

 

[zaphodbrx]

I actually don't herd the cows, cause they all drop right on top of each other then and I'm afraid a zod rune might get hidden under a bunch of crap ( same reason I lure out the fourth and 5th waves in p8 baal runs ). Just lightningfury+100% pierce gets the job done. Blizsorc is pretty good too, and much less gear is needed ( no need of infinity/griffons/etc ). Teleport also makes getting the leg much easier. That said, I've never done more than a few dozen runs, cows are just so boring.

 

[EasyG]

The best setup for /p8 cows really depends at if you want MF or not. The advantage of MF is in case you want cow kings set. The advantage without mf is slightly mroe sockatbles and better setup possiblities.

The helmet has many choices: delirium, shako, griffons, like mentioned, but if you have a +2skills, 4 maek valkyrie wing, then I would go with that one. FRW, FHR and +2 skills and MAEK is absolute amazing for this build and you dont have to worry about mana anymore with your other items. If you go with another helmet, then go with que hegans wisdom for the MAEK and FHR or +2 Arkaines valor and then some other solution for your mana at rings or silkweave boots (heavy armor and silkweave boots will make you significant slower)Combined with spirit shield, you will allready be very close to the 5 frames FHR breakpoint. Belt also has various possibilities, but I think razortail wins this slot. If you dont have enigma for the FRW, then I would go with 40% frw boots, aldurs for example. +3/20 ias gloves, some jewelry and charms and the build is finished.

 

[Twibz]

Thanks for all the advice guys! MF in the cow level is not a priority for me, im doing it for bases and runes and gems and some half decent xp. For mf purposes that is what the sorceress in AT is for

With a light armor (I hate heavy armors on zons they look silly IMO) what is a good level of frw to reach?
Where can i best find a valkyrie wing? Hell meph?
Where can i best find 3/20 java gloves? Gamble them or get some rare 2/20s instead? Currently using 3/3ml.
Is there any benefit to upping titans?
And D/A/E! Who actually likes these skills? Theyre a damn nuisance! Do you use them for cows?

 

[SunsetVista]

FRW: You want to minimize leg collection time and you want to be able to not get surrounded by cows. Personal preference here.
Valkyrie Wing: Hell Meph can drop it, so that would work. Otherwise check the drop calculator.
3/20 Java Gloves: shop them from Hell Anya using the red portal. It's a pain, but you can check for sweet assassin claws too.
Upping Titans: not really worth it I think since most of your damage will be from the lightning.
D/A/E: depends on build. I don't use them for cows since I'm always running around and the cows don't have a ranged attack.

 

[WoRG1]

-If you need frw on armor and don't have Enigma, Stealth is VERY cheap...
-Valk Wing is most likely to drop from NM Diablo/Baal, quest-bugged Hell Andy, or Hell Meph...do note that the +2/+4maek recommended before is maximal, and may take a few to get (minimal is +1/+2maek), so that may take awhile...
-3/20 gloves are easiest shopped from Anya with a character who still has the red portal open next to her and is at least clvl68...look for gold-colored gloves while shopping (much, MUCH faster than having to mouseover EVERY pair...note that you can look for other nice stuff like assassin claws, but it will slow down the glove shopping immensely, as you then have to click on the weapons tab and look at them!!)
-Upped Titans do more damage, so they leech better...if you have the stats, sure, if not, then don't...
-As said before, Valk tends to mess up herding, so why get D/A/E on a cow 'zon?

WoRG

 

[Twibz]

OK thanks a lot guys! Gunna shop some gloves tonight then and hope for a valkyrie wing, unless I have one laying around in a stash somewhere that i havent noticed...

I do quite like the peasant crown though, it has frw which i never even realised! if only it had 2 skills like shako...

 

[Smancer]

I started a Blizzballer. Well at least I am going to level and quest as a blizzballer. I intend to mat my blizzballer, than go full blizzard to MF by running AT, LK chests, and Meph.

I had some twinking gear that is making my life so much easier in Normal. I am running with Sigon Boots, Armor, Gloves and Helm. And before I could use Leaf I was using Angelic ammy, ring and sword. This gave me 100+ MF. I am currently level 21, and I swapepd out all the angelic stuff for leaf, a 25% mf ring, and an mf ammy.

I have a low requirement insight waiting for my normal and nm A2 merc.

I am really excited about this char because I am going to completely use her to farm equipment for herself, and future chars. I am going to spend a long time in NM farming Andy and meph for basic gear, hoping mostly for some SOJs.

My main goal is to find gear for my level 79 assassin, who is parked in Act 2. I don't think I can kill Duriel, I am just too weak. So I am going to use a blizzard sorc to farm faster. I think I will be able to kill Meph faster, and teleport will help a lot with Chest runnning and AT since no cold immunes. I am really pumped.

 

[BobTheWarrior]

I started a Blizzballer. Well at least I am going to level and quest as a blizzballer. I intend to mat my blizzballer, than go full blizzard to MF by running AT, LK chests, and Meph.

I had some twinking gear that is making my life so much easier in Normal. I am running with Sigon Boots, Armor, Gloves and Helm. And before I could use Leaf I was using Angelic ammy, ring and sword. This gave me 100+ MF. I am currently level 21, and I swapepd out all the angelic stuff for leaf, a 25% mf ring, and an mf ammy.

I have a low requirement insight waiting for my normal and nm A2 merc.

I am really excited about this char because I am going to completely use her to farm equipment for herself, and future chars. I am going to spend a long time in NM farming Andy and meph for basic gear, hoping mostly for some SOJs.

My main goal is to find gear for my level 79 assassin, who is parked in Act 2. I don't think I can kill Duriel, I am just too weak. So I am going to use a blizzard sorc to farm faster. I think I will be able to kill Meph faster, and teleport will help a lot with Chest runnning and AT since no cold immunes. I am really pumped.

Don't spend too long at NM Meph. I would guess a couple hundred runs max. You should be able to quickly get to either Hell Andy (harder than even hell Meph to farm IMO due to the other baddies that spawn in her throne room) or preferably get to Hell Meph as quickly as possible. Level in Nightmare to about 75 - hire a new merc if his level isn't keeping up with yours - then push hard to A3. You could stop over in AT for a bit if you want to level there too and get the feel for it.

What build is your assassin and why do you think you can't handle Duriel? If you have shadow warrior/master and your merc, chug some thawing potions, fill your belt with juvies, make sure your on /player1 and use BoS, you should be able to run circles around his cave while dropping traps or letting the merc poke at him. Once your in the cave pop a TP up in case you need to make a hasty exit. If you're playing softcore, as long as you have a TP up it may take a few resurrections to get him down but it shouldn't be any harder than normal Duriel was...

 

[Smancer]

Don't spend too long at NM Meph. I would guess a couple hundred runs max. You should be able to quickly get to either Hell Andy (harder than even hell Meph to farm IMO due to the other baddies that spawn in her throne room) or preferably get to Hell Meph as quickly as possible. Level in Nightmare to about 75 - hire a new merc if his level isn't keeping up with yours - then push hard to A3. You could stop over in AT for a bit if you want to level there too and get the feel for it.

What build is your assassin and why do you think you can't handle Duriel? If you have shadow warrior/master and your merc, chug some thawing potions, fill your belt with juvies, make sure your on /player1 and use BoS, you should be able to run circles around his cave while dropping traps or letting the merc poke at him. Once your in the cave pop a TP up in case you need to make a hasty exit. If you're playing softcore, as long as you have a TP up it may take a few resurrections to get him down but it shouldn't be any harder than normal Duriel was...

Yea I am Kick trap at the moment. I think I am going to respec to all trap. I only have one point in my shadow idiot. So the merc and the shadow will die. If the merc dies I can't keep recasting the shadow because no mana. The merc has good gear I think, durry shell, vamp gaze and a Poleaxe insight. Holy freeze, thinking of switching to might for more leach... COS is makes up for the freeze. And more dead bodies means better DS.

I am running with a spirit sword, Rhyme Shield, Stealth, Dwarf star, Some rare boneweave boots for kick dmg, Ik belt, crafted 5% crushing blow gloves with some leach, Lore helm.

I really want a Lem, to make treachery.

 

[Kitteh1]

This might upset you ND, but I got a Lo rune on run 50-60 :loving:

 

[NorthDakota]

Duuuude I saw. I made the un-amused face of squinty eyed anger when I saw -.- Everyone getting these high runes is makin me all hot and bothered. I gotta get back in there.


Also congrats. If I had any say in the matter, everyone would find runes much faster than my sluggish pace.

 

[Red Wine Lips]

I've just started running hell meph and just had a unique jewel drop (wasn't aware these existed). ID'd it and found it was a rainbow facet with -4%/+3% fire. Not sure if this is a rare find but seems kinda nice

 

[SunsetVista]

Yep, the rainbow facets are annoyingly rare. That's why I'm running Hell Meph again, I need more of them!

 

[Red Wine Lips]

Must be lucky then, I've found 2 in the last 10 or so runs.

 

[Pyrotechnician1]

3/3 is the lowest and 5/5 is the highest. There is one for each element and they can have ctc skills on level up, or on death. Obviously the higher the numbers the better they are, but the ctc on death are looked for more often (unless you play hardcore of course).

 

[coju]

Thanks for the advice guys, should my main aim be just more and more damage with a cowzon via +skills or +%lite dmg from facets/griffons/ormus etc.

Thats a point! Would a +%lite dmg off ormus work with a javazon? At the moment im using a vipermagi and eventually want enigma but that is miles away for me at the mo...

I'm making one and NM Andy and Durry both fell quite quick on my java!

 

[BobTheWarrior]

Yea I am Kick trap at the moment. I think I am going to respec to all trap. I only have one point in my shadow idiot. So the merc and the shadow will die. If the merc dies I can't keep recasting the shadow because no mana. The merc has good gear I think, durry shell, vamp gaze and a Poleaxe insight. Holy freeze, thinking of switching to might for more leach... COS is makes up for the freeze. And more dead bodies means better DS.

I am running with a spirit sword, Rhyme Shield, Stealth, Dwarf star, Some rare boneweave boots for kick dmg, Ik belt, crafted 5% crushing blow gloves with some leach, Lore helm.

I really want a Lem, to make treachery.

Drop in on Durry with the warrior up and hope he goes after the warrior or the merc. If he goes for the merc just be ready to feed him pots (Shift+1-4 on the keyboard to feed him, if you didn't know). Drop some traps and keep moving. Definitely switch to a might merc, HF is only needed if you have no other means of crowd control. Are you going to make Treachery for yourself or your merc? I personally didn't like it on my assassin as the ctc will either override your BoS or will override your Fade with a lower level. However, it's great on the merc...

Yep, the rainbow facets are annoyingly rare. That's why I'm running Hell Meph again, I need more of them!

Would quest bugged Andy be a better target? Can't remember if she drops jewels at a good rate or not, might want to hit up the dropcalc. Andy would also give you a better shot a SoJ's.

 

[Kitteh1]

Travincal is a good source I've always found.