Guardian #12 - Pynache, LF/Ice Arrow/Valk Amazon from the Random Tournament 2020

Jan 3, 2007
9,174
967
113
Greetings fellow forumites!

I thought it was time to do some writeups for recent Guardians - well, it will probably be a collection of links to the tournament posts mainly...we'll see.

So...presenting

Pynache, the Random Tournament 2020 Amazon (lv 85), LF/Ice Arrow being her skills of choice random rolls
(well, actually the main skill was Valkyrie, but more on that later...)


Pynache was created for Vang's Random Tournament 2020. She is my 9th tournament Guardian and my 12th overall. I finished her almost exactly one year ago (19th September 2020) but didn't find the time for a proper writeup until now.

Tournament rules
Usual rules and play style of mine applied: Single pass, untwinked, full clears (p8 in Normal an NM, p3->1 in Hell).

Basically every skill and item you are allowed to use is rolled randomly. You have 4 random skills you are allowed to use for the entire game plus 5 random skills each for Normal, NM and Hell for a total of 9 skills per difficulty. Here is my inital roll;
Forever:
(3-10) Lightning Fury
(2-7) Fire Arrow -> Decoy
(1-4) Multi-Arrow
(2-9) Valkyrie (locked from Normal)

Normal Skills

(3-2)Power Strike
(2-9) Valkyrie
(2-8) Evade
(2-5) Avoid
(2-6) Penetrate

NM Skills
Pierce
Avoid
Guided Arrow
Plague Javelin

Hell Skills
Ice Arrow
Jab
Dodge
Impale

Weapons (Including Class)
Maiden Pike Reflex Bow
Maiden Javelin
Throwing Spear
Long Battle Bow

Armor
Light Armor
Plated Belt
Heavy Boots
Chain Gloves
Helm
Small Shield


Normal
Pynache started out as a Power Strike Amazon - a build with which I was quite familiar from my last Random Tournament Amazon.

Backed up by multishot I ventured on and on with MF gear, trying to maximise MF following jiansonz's guide as usual.

No NDEs or anything in Normal, as she was quite powerful with Power Strike against single targets and LF against mobs. Anya's great gift
Demon Skewer
Maiden Javelin
Throw Damage: 11 - 55
One Hand Damage: 15 - 39
Quantity: 80
Required Level: 24
Required Strength: 33
Required Dexterity: 47
Fingerprint: 0xc0f666a7
Item Level: 44
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+1 to Javelin and Spear Skills (Amazon Only)
+20% Increased Attack Speed
92% Enhanced Damage
+13 to Maximum Damage
+119 to Attack Rating
+164% Damage to Undead
+184 to Attack Rating against Undead
7% Mana stolen per hit

upgraded to:

Demon Skewer
Ceremonial Javelin
Throw Damage: 34 - 116
One Hand Damage: 34 - 80
Quantity: 80
Required Level: 31
Required Strength: 25
Required Dexterity: 109
Fingerprint: 0xc0f666a7
Item Level: 44
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+1 to Javelin and Spear Skills (Amazon Only)
+20% Increased Attack Speed
92% Enhanced Damage
+13 to Maximum Damage
+119 to Attack Rating
+164% Damage to Undead
+184 to Attack Rating against Undead
7% Mana stolen per hit
Required Level +5
even reduced the amount of mana pots by a lot, so then I only needed to find a good weapon for my Barb merc. I chose barb because of the weapon restrictions - an Act II merc would have been restricted to Throwing Spear and nothing else, while the barb was allowed to use any Sword weapon I could find.

Nightmare
Finding an SoJ in SP untwinked always is nice, especially for mana hungry builds. I got Valkyrie to level 17 (War Pike) as soon as possible and she was the skill that carried me through NM and Hell. Although a teleport bugged merc made it difficult to keep her alive in NM Act I, because melee monsters only attacked her. On the plus side, that enabled my merc to poke Andariel in the side without being hit himself as shown in this progress post.

Progress was slow, but steady. The Valkyrie provided distraction and some damage against Mephisto while I threw ~800 LF Javelins at him, and helped against Diablo, although I had some targeting riddles with Diablo who kept attacking my minions while I had javelin and shield eequipped, but immediately ignored them and went for me with his lightning hose as soon as I switched to my Harmony Long Battle Bow which I made shortly before facing Diablo. LF was just too weak against bosses, so I put some points into Guided Arrow and used the Harmony Bow. A newly made Strength Zweihander for my Barb helped in the fight, too. You can see more info and screenshots in this post.

I managed Act V NM without much problems - even unsynergised LF was very good against the large mobs in the outdoor areas. Against tougher monsters game slowed down because I had to rely on my Valkyrie and my merc a lot. Some more screenshots from Act V.

Hell
The rolls for Hell were really bad then. Come on, I mean: (unsynergised) Ice Arrow, Dodge, Jab and Impale?!?!? Are you serious? Never let @Vang roll up your Hell skills 😬

I decided to forgo most of my MF gear, because the build was simply too underpowered with unsynergised LF and Cold Arrow as main attack skills. I made a Smoke Armor and managed to get 75/67/64/12 resistances and 900 life and a whopping 1-626 LF damage and 118-239 Jab damage :rolleyes:

After a suicidal attempt on p8 (fight against quill rat pack: 4 mins) I dropped to p3 quickly. After taking hours to clear the den of evil, I dropped to p1. So many LIs everywhere...my merc kept dying, so sometimes I decided to go with Valkyrie only to save some gold, e.g. in the fight against Andariel. More on Act I Hell here and here.

In Act II, i had to rely on this miracle of a weapon on my merc for LI/PI monsters:
Flaming War Sword of Fire Bolt
War Sword
One Hand Damage: 8 - 20
Durability: 44 of 44
Required Level: 51
Required Strength: 71
Required Dexterity: 45
Fingerprint: 0x19939127
Item Level: 86
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Adds 87 - 157 Fire Damage
Level 5 Fire Bolt (32/32 Charges)
, and boss pack fights often took over 5 mins. I learned the hard way, that the AR bonus from Ice Arrow is not applied and my cth was thus abysmal. I only survived Act II because my merc got teleport bugged accidentially and didn't need resurrections. I made use of this in the fight against Duriel. You can read more about my tedious Act II adventures here.

Act III cotinued with lots of PI/LI monsters, and Harmony with Ice Arrow and the awesome Flaming War Sword of Fire Bolt had to do some more work...and more work...and more work...read more about work in Act III here.

Act IV saw a new toy for my merc thanks to 300+ chippies:
Cruel Mythical Sword
Mythical Sword
One Hand Damage: 136 - 170
Durability: 27 of 44
Required Level: 66
Required Strength: 147
Required Dexterity: 124
Fingerprint: 0x9838469
Item Level: 25
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+20% Increased Attack Speed
240% Enhanced Damage
7% Life stolen per hit
2 Sockets (2 used)
Socketed: Amn Rune
Socketed: Shael Rune
Act IV also saw grail -0....almost.
More screenshots and stuff from Act IV here.

Got an upgrade from my imbue quest as weapon for the final stretch:
Imbue.JPG

Well, what do you know? Act V provided even more PI/LI immune monsters, with 3+ Blood Lord boss packs with those mods being my favourite as you can read about here.
I had to give up on full clears because of Champion Blood Lord that spawned unreachable for my merc and Valkyrie. I couldn't damage him enough, because he was regenerating too much...well, you can't have everything I guess.

By then I should have known that I was out of long even before I started the tournament (see my skill rolls...). So no wonder I had Vipers in Nihlatak's temple and oh boy was that a nuisance...but again, Valkyrie was the MVP and I am so thankful that Vang suggested to lock Valkyrie as a "forever" skill.

The fight against the Ancients was epic and deadly boring at the same time: around 40 mins in total!!! And yes, the mana and health pots DO disappear after some time on the ground (my usual method for this fight in case I run out of potions on my character)...the merc died during the fight and I simply stood there and let my Valkyrie kill Extra Strong, Stone Skin, FI Talic...

The rest of the game was quite easy, because LF - even unsynergised - is quite good in the WSK and against Baal's minions. Baal was another long fight, but safe.

Stats and Skills
Code:
Name:       Pynache
Class:      Amazon
Experience: 1107665055
Level:      85

            Naked/Gear
Strength:   107/118
Dexterity:  151/152
Vitality:   242/242
Energy:     15/25
HP:         938/1154
Mana:       134/134
Stamina:    384/384
Defense:    37/447
AR:         725/1183

Fire:       175/135/75
Cold:       201/161/101
Lightning:  203/163/103
Poison:     122/82/22

MF:         209       Block:      40
GF:         50
FR/W:       30
FHR:        35
IAS:        40
FCR:        0

Magic Arrow: 1/1
Fire Arrow: 0/0
Cold Arrow: 1/1
Multiple Shot: 7/7
Exploding Arrow: 0/0
Ice Arrow: 20/20
Guided Arrow: 0/0
Strafe: 0/0
Immolation Arrow: 0/0
Freezing Arrow: 0/0

Inner Sight: 1/1
Critical Strike: 0/0
Dodge: 1/1
Slow Missiles: 1/1
Avoid: 1/1
Penetrate: 0/0
Decoy: 18/18
Evade: 1/1
Valkyrie: 20/20
Pierce: 0/0

Jab: 1/2
Power Strike: 0/0
Poison Javelin: 1/2
Impale: 0/0
Lightning Bolt: 1/2
Charged Strike: 0/0
Plague Javelin: 1/2
Fend: 0/0
Lightning Strike: 0/0
Lightning Fury: 20/21

Gear
Harmony
Large Siege Bow
TirIthSolKo
Two Hand Damage: 44 - 159
Durability: 27 of 44
Required Level: 39
Required Strength: 80
Required Dexterity: 95
Fingerprint: 0x806abb2f
Item Level: 78
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Level 10 Vigor Aura When Equipped
258% Enhanced Damage
+9 to Minimum Damage
+9 to Maximum Damage
Adds 55 - 160 Fire Damage
Adds 55 - 160 Lightning Damage
Adds 55 - 160 Cold Damage Over 6 Secs (149 Frames)
+5 to Valkyrie
+10 to Dexterity
Regenerate Mana 20%
+2 to Mana after each Kill
+2 to Light Radius
Level 20 Revive (25/25 Charges)
4 Sockets (4 used)
Socketed: Tir Rune
Socketed: Ith Rune
Socketed: Sol Rune
Socketed: Ko Rune

Tir Rune
Required Level: 13
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Weapons: +2 to Mana after each Kill
Armor: +2 to Mana after each Kill
Shields: +2 to Mana after each Kill

Ith Rune
Required Level: 15
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Weapons: +9 to Maximum Damage
Armor: 15% Damage Taken Goes To Mana
Shields: 15% Damage Taken Goes To Mana

Sol Rune
Required Level: 27
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Weapons: +9 to Minimum Damage
Armor: Damage Reduced by 7
Shields: Damage Reduced by 7

Ko Rune
Required Level: 39
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Weapons: +10 to Dexterity
Armor: +10 to Dexterity
Shields: +10 to Dexterity

Soul Nails
Matriarchal Javelin
Throw Damage: 67 - 127
One Hand Damage: 57 - 104
Quantity: 80
Required Level: 48
Required Strength: 107
Required Dexterity: 151
Fingerprint: 0x9cd3de29
Item Level: 87
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+1 to Javelin and Spear Skills (Amazon Only)
+40% Increased Attack Speed
93% Enhanced Damage
+236 to Attack Rating
6% Mana stolen per hit
8% Life stolen per hit

Rhyme
Small Shield
ShaelEth
Defense: 10
Chance to Block: 25
Durability: 16 of 16
Required Level: 29
Required Strength: 22
Fingerprint: 0xbe5e3ca7
Item Level: 12
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+40% Faster Block Rate
20% Increased Chance of Blocking
Regenerate Mana 15%
All Resistances +25
Cannot Be Frozen
50% Extra Gold from Monsters
25% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
2 Sockets (2 used)
Socketed: Shael Rune
Socketed: Eth Rune

Shael Rune
Required Level: 29
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Weapons: +20% Increased Attack Speed
Armor: +20% Faster Hit Recovery
Shields: +20% Faster Block Rate

Eth Rune
Required Level: 15
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Weapons: -25% Target Defense
Armor: Regenerate Mana 15%
Shields: Regenerate Mana 15%

Gemmed Helm
Helm
Defense: 18
Durability: 24 of 24
Required Level: 18
Required Strength: 26
Fingerprint: 0xf1518641
Item Level: 20
Version: Expansion 1.10+
48% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
2 Sockets (2 used)
Socketed: Perfect Topaz
Socketed: Perfect Topaz

Perfect Topaz
Required Level: 18
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Weapons: Adds 1 - 40 Lightning Damage
Armor: 24% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
Shields: Lightning Resist +40%

Perfect Topaz
Required Level: 18
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Weapons: Adds 1 - 40 Lightning Damage
Armor: 24% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
Shields: Lightning Resist +40%

Fortuitous Amulet of Fortune
Amulet
Required Level: 12
Fingerprint: 0x63fa8acf
Item Level: 18
Version: Expansion 1.10+
39% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items

Smoke
Demonhide Armor
NefLum
Defense: 238
Durability: 28 of 28
Required Level: 37
Required Strength: 50
Fingerprint: 0xef09cc1b
Item Level: 47
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+20% Faster Hit Recovery
+75% Enhanced Defense
+280 Defense vs. Missile
+10 to Energy
All Resistances +50
-1 to Light Radius
Level 6 Weaken (18/18 Charges)
2 Sockets (2 used)
Socketed: Nef Rune
Socketed: Lum Rune

Nef Rune
Required Level: 13
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Weapons: Knockback
Armor: +30 Defense vs. Missile
Shields: +30 Defense vs. Missile

Lum Rune
Required Level: 37
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Weapons: +10 to Energy
Armor: +10 to Energy
Shields: +10 to Energy

Shadow Spiral
Ring
Required Level: 13
Fingerprint: 0x4f4fc9fe
Item Level: 40
Version: Expansion 1.10+
12% Chance to cast level 4 Charged Bolt when struck
+97 to Attack Rating
4% Life stolen per hit
+2 to Strength
Cold Resist +24%
10% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items

Gold Ring of Fortune
Ring
Required Level: 31
Fingerprint: 0x93374fbc
Item Level: 80
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+86 to Attack Rating
24% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items

Skull Fringe
Plated Belt
Defense: 17
Durability: 24 of 24
Required Level: 22
Required Strength: 60
Fingerprint: 0xeda02d75
Item Level: 78
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+10% Faster Hit Recovery
+49% Enhanced Defense
+53 to Life
Lightning Resist +15%
Fire Resist +18%
Repairs 1 Durability in 33 Seconds

Beast Grip
Chain Gloves
Defense: 11
Durability: 16 of 16
Required Level: 37
Required Strength: 25
Fingerprint: 0xfdc9933a
Item Level: 80
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+15% Enhanced Defense
+9 to Strength
Cold Resist +29%
Lightning Resist +27%
16% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
Repairs 1 Durability in 33 Seconds

Wraith Blazer
Scarabshell Boots
Defense: 115
Durability: 14 of 14
Required Level: 49
Required Strength: 91
Fingerprint: 0x5ee572b2
Item Level: 86
Version: Expansion 1.10+
12% Chance to cast level 4 Charged Bolt when struck
+30% Faster Run/Walk
+75% Enhanced Defense
Cold Resist +35%
Lightning Resist +38%
24% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items

Lucky Large Charm of Sustenance
Large Charm
Required Level: 19
Fingerprint: 0x6758a25d
Item Level: 63
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+16 to Life
6% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items

Ocher Small Charm of Dexterity
Small Charm
Required Level: 10
Fingerprint: 0x7c108e72
Item Level: 17
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+1 to Dexterity
Lightning Resist +7%

Tangerine Small Charm
Small Charm
Required Level: 1
Fingerprint: 0x22bf1b0c
Item Level: 17
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Lightning Resist +5%

Viridian Small Charm of Life
Small Charm
Required Level: 14
Fingerprint: 0x11ffe715
Item Level: 10
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+8 to Life
Poison Resist +7%

Boreal Small Charm of Shock
Small Charm
Required Level: 58
Fingerprint: 0xa24dbe85
Item Level: 80
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Adds 1 - 3 Lightning Damage
Adds 6 - 13 Cold Damage Over 1 Secs (25 Frames)

Small Charm of Vita
Small Charm
Required Level: 39
Fingerprint: 0x866edef1
Item Level: 76
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+17 to Life

Small Charm of Good Luck
Small Charm
Required Level: 33
Fingerprint: 0x46c391c
Item Level: 84
Version: Expansion 1.10+
7% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items

Red Large Charm of Sustenance
Large Charm
Required Level: 34
Fingerprint: 0xe1d9622
Item Level: 59
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+1 to Minimum Damage
+24 to Life

Arcing Large Charm of Sustenance
Large Charm
Required Level: 40
Fingerprint: 0x7ab391e2
Item Level: 77
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Adds 1 - 46 Lightning Damage
+22 to Life

Garnet Grand Charm of Pestilence
Grand Charm
Required Level: 15
Fingerprint: 0xb3f044fa
Item Level: 22
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Adds 25 Poison Damage Over 5 Secs (125 Frames)
Fire Resist +25%

Fine Small Charm of Vita
Small Charm
Required Level: 39
Fingerprint: 0xabb8c773
Item Level: 76
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+2 to Maximum Damage
+19 to Attack Rating
+17 to Life

Ocher Small Charm
Small Charm
Required Level: 10
Fingerprint: 0x50aa62b2
Item Level: 21
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Lightning Resist +6%

Small Charm of Good Luck
Small Charm
Required Level: 33
Fingerprint: 0xb3a9eb69
Item Level: 78
Version: Expansion 1.10+
6% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items

Small Charm of Vita
Small Charm
Required Level: 39
Fingerprint: 0x93542077
Item Level: 68
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+17 to Life

Cobalt Small Charm
Small Charm
Required Level: 20
Fingerprint: 0x792d49bc
Item Level: 52
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Cold Resist +8%

Small Charm of Sustenance
Small Charm
Required Level: 17
Fingerprint: 0x452e9560
Item Level: 45
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+13 to Life

Fine Small Charm of Balance
Small Charm
Required Level: 29
Fingerprint: 0x85e3e2fe
Item Level: 85
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+5% Faster Hit Recovery
+1 to Maximum Damage
+12 to Attack Rating

Small Charm of Fortune
Small Charm
Required Level: 18
Fingerprint: 0x931c47eb
Item Level: 49
Version: Expansion 1.10+
4% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items

Emerald Small Charm of Burning
Small Charm
Required Level: 32
Fingerprint: 0x6a06fa51
Item Level: 60
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Adds 3 - 6 Fire Damage
Poison Resist +10%

Bronze Small Charm of Storms
Small Charm
Required Level: 37
Fingerprint: 0x7ed877
Item Level: 88
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+3 to Attack Rating
Adds 1 - 20 Lightning Damage

Ruby Grand Charm of Sustenance
Grand Charm
Required Level: 37
Fingerprint: 0x3ab131dc
Item Level: 61
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+29 to Life
Fire Resist +27%

Mercenary:

Name: Healfdane
Race: Barbarian
Type: 1hs-Normal
Experience: 74632972
Level: 85
Dead?: false

Naked/Gear
Strength: 209/209
Dexterity: 135/135
HP: 1647/1695
Defense: 1533/1915
AR: 2188/2188

Fire: 176/136/76
Cold: 183/143/83
Lightning: 183/143/83
Poison: 153/113/53

Havoc Visage
Casque
Defense: 89
Durability: 19 of 24
Required Level: 47
Required Strength: 59
Fingerprint: 0xfc06b8e1
Item Level: 56
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+10% Faster Hit Recovery
3% Life stolen per hit
6% Deadly Strike
+23% Enhanced Defense
+15 to Life
Fire Resist +13%


Wraith Carapace
Cuirass
Defense: 293
Durability: 34 of 50
Required Level: 47
Required Strength: 65
Fingerprint: 0x11f6778d
Item Level: 83
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+44% Enhanced Defense
+33 to Life
Cold Resist +30%
Lightning Resist +30%
Fire Resist +10%
Damage Reduced by 1
Magic Damage Reduced by 2
Half Freeze Duration
2 Sockets (2 used)
Socketed: Ort Rune
Socketed: Thul Rune

Ort Rune
Required Level: 21
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Weapons: Adds 1 - 50 Lightning Damage
Armor: Lightning Resist +30%
Shields: Lightning Resist +35%

Thul Rune
Required Level: 23
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Weapons: Adds 3 - 14 Cold Damage Over 3 Secs (75 Frames)
Armor: Cold Resist +30%
Shields: Cold Resist +35%


Cruel Mythical Sword
Mythical Sword
One Hand Damage: 136 - 170
Durability: 27 of 44
Required Level: 66
Required Strength: 147
Required Dexterity: 124
Fingerprint: 0x9838469
Item Level: 25
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+20% Increased Attack Speed
240% Enhanced Damage
7% Life stolen per hit
2 Sockets (2 used)
Socketed: Amn Rune
Socketed: Shael Rune

Amn Rune
Required Level: 25
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Weapons: 7% Life stolen per hit
Armor: Attacker Takes Damage of 14
Shields: Attacker Takes Damage of 14

Shael Rune
Required Level: 29
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Weapons: +20% Increased Attack Speed
Armor: +20% Faster Hit Recovery
Shields: +20% Faster Block Rate

Against bosses
Strength
Falcata
AmnTir
One Hand Damage: 41 - 79
Durability: 18 of 24
Required Level: 42
Required Strength: 150
Required Dexterity: 88
Fingerprint: 0xc65e1738
Item Level: 79
Version: Expansion 1.10+
35% Enhanced Damage
7% Life stolen per hit
25% Chance of Crushing Blow
+20 to Strength
+10 to Vitality
+2 to Mana after each Kill
2 Sockets (2 used)
Socketed: Amn Rune
Socketed: Tir Rune

Amn Rune
Required Level: 25
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Weapons: 7% Life stolen per hit
Armor: Attacker Takes Damage of 14
Shields: Attacker Takes Damage of 14

Tir Rune
Required Level: 13
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Weapons: +2 to Mana after each Kill
Armor: +2 to Mana after each Kill
Shields: +2 to Mana after each Kill

Against bosses
Cleglaw's Pincers
Chain Gloves
Defense: 8
Durability: 16 of 16
Required Level: 4
Required Strength: 25
Fingerprint: 0xf188ce06
Item Level: 87
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Slows Target by 25%
Knockback
Set (2 items): +850 to Attack Rating (Based on Character Level)

Against PI/LIs:
Flaming War Sword of Fire Bolt
War Sword
One Hand Damage: 8 - 20
Durability: 44 of 44
Required Level: 51
Required Strength: 71
Required Dexterity: 45
Fingerprint: 0x19939127
Item Level: 86
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Adds 87 - 157 Fire Damage
Level 5 Fire Bolt (32/32 Charges)

Summary
These were my thoughts on Hell gameplay with Pynache:

1. The one skill that carried the whole build through Hell was Valkyrie. Period. Without it, death would have (probably) been inevitable. But with 18 points in Decoy and level 23 Valkyrie, almost nothing could kill my Valkyrie (I remembered somewhat late, in Act iI or III Hell, that additional points in Decoy not only boost life, but also resistances of the Valkyrie).

2. No synergies is a biiiiiig difference to having syngergies. LF does 1-585 lightning damage at level 20 without any other synergies, releasing 21 bolts. No Pierce means lots of missing damage.

3. Ice Arrow is bad. The AR bug makes it such a nuisance to even hit something, and unsynergised the damage is a not-so-whopping 233-250 with 5.8 seconds of freeze. I really only used it against LI/PI bosses or some ranged monsters who tend to flee lots of the time. Hitting them was a different matter though.

4. My barbarian merc kept dying a lot. Well, A LOT. Capital LOT. According to tales, he regenerates fully in 16 seconds and should be sturdier than deset mercs. I don't know...most of the time, I'd rather have had a desert merc with an additional aura. HF for example would have made the trip safer and swifter (additional cold damage for LI/PIs). But since I had to rely on Throwing Spears only for the desert merc, the barb seemed the better choice initially and then I decided to stick with him to try something different for once.

5. Use Valkyrie, my friends. Seriously. If you don't, do it!

Well. that is it! Thanks for reading Pynache's story!

Thanks to:
@Vang for another great iteration of the Random tournament and suggesting to lock Valkyrie as a skill for all difficulties.
all participants of the tournament who kept the tournament alive and inspired me to keep on pushing through the game even though the journey was very tedious.
You for reading this writeup! :)
 
Last edited:
PurePremium
Estimated market value
Low
High