CS Strafer

[Bornaloserbaby]

CS Strafer

Hi all!

I am thinking of reviving my old Pit strafer from her boring life as a mule to take on Diablo and his minions in the CS!!.
This was my first character in the new ladder season so with the addition of an anni and a torch she will have 20-40 stat points too many in str. (Is this enough to warrant a rebuild? I suppose the rune quests would be nice anyways but damn i'm lazy)

Likely Gear.

Helm: ??
Armour: Treachery
Bow: WF Shael
Switch: Harmony or Demon Limb....Or Limb in stash
Gloves: LoH (ofc)
Belt: RazorTail
Rings: 2 Ravens (I couldn't use anything else)
Ammy: Atmas
Boots:??

Allthought I cant afford it yet my aim is to get Faith for an Act1 cold Rogue.
I suppose that I should also aim to replace the treachery with forti but again I'm not rich enough atm.
So I have a few questions.

Firstly about gear....Once I have faith for my merc I'll be pretty wiped out in terms of wealth so what is a good budget choice for a helm. I'm really not into Andys visage since it looks like a purple turd mask and my ama is very vain :kiss:.
Some ideas I thought about were...

Giant Skull. A little bit of CB (so little its almost irrelevant). The massive + to str could mean +alot to Dex. And the best part is 2 open sockets for some Max dmg jewels or some well needed fire res. + it looks cool

StealSkull. With 10%IAS it would mean I could socket my WF with something other than a shael. Dual leach and MF are also helpfull. Sadly it wont win any fashion awards.

A rare circlet. Res//dex//LL//FRW//Skills seems to be the best choice but I would imagine trading//finding one could become troublesome and possibly exspensive. Circlet also looks teh best!

And as for boots...

Cow King boots. My fav pit strafer boots of all time. +20 dex + fire dmg AND some mf to boot! (sowwy for the terrible pun)

WT'S. Always a favourite (not of mine)

Gore Riders. PPL always say to use gores on strafers but is it really worth it for some 15% crushing blow which is massively nerfed? DS and OW are also useful I guess. But its seriously lacking in other mods that a Mfing strafer holds dear

Any other suggestions? like rares or something with some +res?


Since I've never run the CS with a strafer before I have some newb questions

Is it worth teleing (I have some ammys with tele charges) to the CS entrance or should I just grind my way there?

When I get to diablo do I need some gear switch? Like maybe a dwarf star or 2 to help with the red hose of death. I've run diablo before with my summoner and never had a problem but I think with less meat sheilds he might start chasing me down and my ama wont be able to stand too many hosings.

Do you think with this set up I'll be able to run games with more than a few ppl in?


Thanks for any help in advance!

 

[maiku]

Hi all!

I am thinking of reviving my old Pit strafer from her boring life as a mule to take on Diablo and his minions in the CS!!.
This was my first character in the new ladder season so with the addition of an anni and a torch she will have 20-40 stat points too many in str. (Is this enough to warrant a rebuild? I suppose the rune quests would be nice anyways but damn i'm lazy)

Likely Gear.

Helm: ??
Armour: Treachery
Bow: WF Shael
Switch: Harmony or Demon Limb....Or Limb in stash
Gloves: LoH (ofc)
Belt: RazorTail
Rings: 2 Ravens (I couldn't use anything else)
Ammy: Atmas
Boots:??

Some ideas I thought about were...

Giant Skull. A little bit of CB (so little its almost irrelevant). The massive + to str could mean +alot to Dex. And the best part is 2 open sockets for some Max dmg jewels or some well needed fire res. + it looks cool

If you have one of these, I'd take it over all the other options. First, that little bit of CB *is* relevant, for a few reasons. First, you are a Strafer which means your arrows can proc a lot of effects fast and efficiently. Second, you are using Amp from Atma's Scarab which reduces enemy PDR and makes CB effective. If enemies have high PDR or are PI, then CB is indeed useless, in whatever amount you have. But fast Strafe + Amp + CB = pwnage. Giant Skull should give you 10% CB. Now add in Goreriders for your boots, and that becomes 25% (15% CB from the boots) total in your setup, which is a significant amount. (I usually recommend 20-30% CB on Strafers if they're using some kind of Amp setup, like Atma's or WWS.) You want to kill Diablo and other high life or physical damage resistant monsters in Chaos fast, and this is your best bet, IMO. You still have 2 sockets to customize as you want. I'd probably pick nice IAS jewels to stick in them.

Cow King boots. My fav pit strafer boots of all time. +20 dex + fire dmg AND some mf to boot! (sowwy for the terrible pun)

WT'S. Always a favourite (not of mine)

Gore Riders. PPL always say to use gores on strafers but is it really worth it for some 15% crushing blow which is massively nerfed? DS and OW are also useful I guess. But its seriously lacking in other mods that a Mfing strafer holds dear

Generally the best Strafer boots are, IMO, War Traveler's and Goreriders. Which one you choose should depend on your equipment setup and what purpose you're using your zon for. Want to do a lot of MF and/or have CB elsewhere in your setup? Use War Traveler's, because the stats will benefit you more when you've met other needs. Need more CB or DS or both? Goreriders because CB is sweet on a Strafer w/ Amp. You can chew through high-life enemies, boss monsters and their minions, and act bosses with greater ease, which helps to keep your kill speed high.

On ranged attacks, assuming 0% PDR, you can knock off up to 12.5% life per Crushing Blow. With fast Strafe & 20-30% CB, you can expect somewhere between 1-3 Crushing Blows per enemy as you strafe packs and this will help to weaken them a lot and your succeeding arrows finish the kills. But it's real purpose is to slam seal uniques, their minions, and the treasure chest at the end of the labyrinth: Diablo. Melee attacks can knock off 25% enemy life per CB. Ranged attacks can do 12.5% on normal enemies. It's not that nerfed, I think, and I've found it to be very useful on my Bowazons. It was nerfed because it was potentially too powerful from afar, where you don't have to worry about being rushed, crushed, or killed by face-to-face encounters. Your Valk & Decoy suffer instead of you. However, in the right setup, a little CB can add a lot of damage.

Since I've never run the CS with a strafer before I have some newb questions

Is it worth teleing (I have some ammys with tele charges) to the CS entrance or should I just grind my way there?

I don't think it's worth teleporting, since Amazons cast too slowly. Load yourself up with some faster run/walk charms or switch to Vigor from "Harmony" when you need to travel. Kill everything along the way. Everything in River up to the door of CS is a bonus to your CS finds. IIRC, River also counts as a Level 85 area, so you have the potential for some decent drops if there are any unique monsters in the lava field.

When I get to diablo do I need some gear switch? Like maybe a dwarf star or 2 to help with the red hose of death. I've run diablo before with my summoner and never had a problem but I think with less meat sheilds he might start chasing me down and my ama wont be able to stand too many hosings.

A Dwarfstar might be nice insurance. If you can get your fire resist up, that'd definitely help, because I think his ring of fire is worse than his lightning hose of death, which you should be able to outrun or dodge (unless you lag, in which case, RIP). Other interesting options might be including items w/ Slow to mess up Diablo, like Cleglaw's gloves (25%), Nosferatu's Coil (10%, replace your Razortail for a bit), Blackhorn's Face (20%), etc. and you'll want some items granting cold damage so you can chill and slow him further. Recast Valk in his face whenever she's blasted to bits, peg him with something to screw him up (Slow, chill, curses, etc.), and move often and use Guided Arrow or Strafe to whittle him down.

Necro Summoner has a special advantage with having everything at his disposal that could nullify a boss. Clay Golem = automatic Slow. Decrepify = more Slow stacking on top of Gumby's contribution, makes Diablo do less damage, helps troops survive. Skellies + Merc = Italian-style mob protection, mass damage. It's almost too easy. I'm running one right now. Even with crap, a Summoner will get rid of bosses without breaking a sweat, as long as one follows Nightfish's recommendations in the guide.

An Amazon can borrow many of the techniques that a Summoner would use, substituting items and smart tactics with Valk, Decoy, and Merc at her command.

Do you think with this set up I'll be able to run games with more than a few ppl in?

Yes, easily.

 

[KremBanan]

Helm: ??
Armour: Treachery
Bow: WF Shael
Switch: Harmony or Demon Limb....Or Limb in stash
Gloves: LoH (ofc)
Belt: RazorTail
Rings: 2 Ravens (I couldn't use anything else)
Ammy: Atmas
Boots:??

You would like to reach the 120IAS breakpoint, with these you have now 105.

So the helm choice is really up to you. You can go with a Shako for mf, alongside Wartravelers you will get a mf% boost. Also Stealskull is a great helm, mf/ias/leech makes it a very underrated helm.
Also a 3sox helm with 40ed jewels are an option. You can also ed/ias or ed/max the Wf, then you must have more ias in the helm.

Boots.. The Wts and Gores are ofc to be considered, dont underestimate the Open wounds. CB and DS are never bad. I used to have a pair Aldurs boots(->50fr) in stash for taking on Diablo, works fine and a cheap boost to fireres.

What you are missing though, is lifeleech. Swap out one of the Ravens and try getting a rare ring: ll/fireres/lightres some AR also would be yummie(ofc dex/str/maxdam would be sweet also, but it would cost a billion). On my Wf glasscannons I like to have 15ll(but thats more because of my playstyle, I like to tank )

For switch, I personally would just go with the Demon Limb.


Gl with your ama and when you get the Faithmerc, you will not be dissapointed.

 

[Bornaloserbaby]

Hey guys thanks for the good advice..

I definatly wont be running this ama until I get faith so the 105 IAS I get from the setup I suggested will be fine.

Maiku I really like your switch ideas.. I'll keep my LoH on becuase the dmg to demons is too good to pass up vs Diablo (and 50 fire res) but I will certainly switch out my belt and helm for Nos and blackhorns for a sweet 30% Slow and Prevent monster heal if I recall correctly.
And Krem if I'm short on FRes when it comes to dia I will certainly keep some aldurs boots just incase. Allthough by the sounds of it I will be needing those gores to take the big man down.
LifeLeach does appear to be an issue. But I've had a brain fart :scratch: !
If I were to socket the GSkull with 1 IAS jewel I could then use an AMN in my WF and still have 100%IAS. If I can find a decent rare ring tho I guess it would be better for the build overall. LL/Fire res// Dex is going to help bigtime.


Revised Gear selection.

Helm: GiantSkull Socketed with 1 Ias/Max dmg jewel and 1 +Max dmg jewel
BlackHorn's face in cube for Diablo. (no need for an ias jewel here the switch to nos will give 10%IAS keeping me over the BP)
Armour: Treachery
Gloves: LoH
Boots: I guess it has to be Gores
Belt: RazorTail/Nosferatu's in cube for switch
Bow: WF socketed with a ED/Cold dmg jewel.
Rings: 1 Raven 1 rare ring with LL//Fire Res//Dex
Ammy: Atmas
Weapon Switch: Harmony for faster run and Valk pre-buff. DemonLimb in cube for enchanting.

Charms: Anni/ Ama torch. 4xs Sc's with 11Fire Res +2 Dex. 1xs GC 14 res all 7%FRW. 2cs GC's with 10 max dmg + other mods. And since I have ZERO mf so far a gheeds.
I guess MF isnt all that important??


Again thanks for the help guys (and the awesome guide Krem!)

 

[KremBanan]

Imo, a Giant Skull is a waste. This because Wf already has Knockback. If you want 2sox, then there are other options.

 

[xxnothing]

Imo, a Giant Skull is a waste. This because Wf already has Knockback. If you want 2sox, then there are other options.

Giant Skull for the CB plus 2os, not the knockback I would assume....

 

[Bornaloserbaby]

Hrmm well the giant skull does have +strenght and a little CB and 2 socks. The knockback doesnt matter.
I think until I can get my hands on a nice circlet it will do.

So a circlet/tiara/etc with FRW//Res//Life leach//Dex would be the best option? The + ama skills arent that neccesary.

And on a side note, would it be exspensive?

I am sort of factoring out MF at the moment. Killing quickly will do for now. So I'm not going for shako or stealskull.

 

[Smackin]

Wheres LL?

 

[Bornaloserbaby]

Wheres LL?

Well, either from the rare tiara//coronet//circlet//diadem or the rare ring.

If I can get some nice LL off a helm then I'd prolly use another raven.

What are the chances of gettin a ama helm with say 1-2 Skills 30%FRW Fire Res//LL//And possible dex for under an IST? (Europe soft-core ladder)

 

[NASE]

1 in about a million perhaps. Those circlet things are always very rare and expensive. It's even more rare then 40 (30?) frw with 3 sock and they already cost much more then an ist.

If you want a cheap build, build around uniques, rares, cheap runewords or crapy rares.

 

[Bornaloserbaby]

ok...well that sucks and makes me want to make a GF barb so I can gamble one...
BTW if I get super unl and roll a 12 Fana faith. How much more IAS is needed for the last bp?