[Guardian][HC Sept] HocusFocus, a lucky Barbarian that stayed concentrated to succeed

[Babyhell]

Welcome guys!

Here's the Barbarian of my Guardian Sept: HocusFocus!

Let's discover him

Shortcuts
Presentation - right below
The build and gearing
Guardian playthrough

• Playthrough

Achievements

• Reserved - Future achievements

Leveling & planning

• Leveling milestones, stats planning and resistances status

Final status

• Guardian dump

 

[Babyhell]

Build & gearing
Targeted Concentrate build
Somehow complete at clvl 63 (inc. NM skill quests), next points in Berserk to fully complete by clvl 79 (inc. Hell skill quests). One point had been put in Leap for additional safety.

Warcries (23)
Howl 1
Shout 1
Battle Orders 20
Battle Commands 1

Combat masteries (24)
Sword mastery 20
Increased stamina 1
Increased speed 1
Iron skin 1
Natural resistances 1

Combat skills (23+)
Berserk +
Bash 1
Stun 1
Concentrate 20
Leap 1
Leap attack ?

Evolution throughout the journey
Weaponry
Knell Striker
Bloodrise
The General Tan Do Li Ga
Strength (War Scepter)
Bloodletter
Swordguard
Grief

Armor
[1] Sigon set
[2] Shaftstop, Arreat's, String of Ears, War Travellers, Gerke's Sanctuary, 20 IAS rare gloves

Jewelry
[1] Nagelring + Angelic combo
[2] Rare Allres amulet, Ravenfrost, Rare dual leech ring

Inventory
Elemental damage
Replaced until full of Fine/max damage charms

Merc
Dimoak's hew
Insight in eth Partizan
Insight in eth Thresher

Coif of Glory
Strength helm +16 (gems)
Stealskull
Vampire gaze

Twitchtroe
Boneflesh
Duriel shell Ethereal
Shaftstop
Upped Duriel Shell Ethereal

Endgame gear
Note: IAS breakpoint for max speed is 42. Any Grief with LoH will do.
Weapon Grief
Shield Gerke's Sanctuary
Switch Hoto+Lidless wall
Helm Arreat's
Body Chains of honor
Belt String of Ears
Gloves Laying of Hands
Boots War Travellers

Mara 28
Ravenfrost
Dual leech rare ring

Max damage charms

 

[Babyhell]

Playthrough

Still to do: adding links to pics/pics

Early strategy
My recipe for melee characters is pretty straightforward... pick Sigon's set, upgrade the weapon here or there, and grab the damage charms asap. It will hold until the leveling in Act 5 and the 40/45, when I get access to the first really nice items (Ravenfrost, War Travellers, lvlreq 42 class specifics like Arreat's, Titan's, Bartuc's..., Vampire gaze, Duriel shell... not even speaking of runewords) and can build some interesting combinations.

So that was the followed path, and it worked no surprise.

Normal chapter
Normal mode had been a cruise through, as except for Act 1 on p8, difficulties have been managed in order to level in Act 5.

Leveling went from 27 to 33 at Eldritch, then Anya had been rescued in order to level at Pindle until 40.

Afterwards, it was time to face Ancients and Baal (killed at clvl 42), and a couple of runs to get to clvl 46 (dual leech rare ring lvlreq) and start Nightmare with new armor gear.

Nightmare chapter
Cain hadn't been rescued, and leveling had been managed on p5 in order to hit 48 before Andariel, which happened in Catacombs 2, and equip Swordguard.

From there, questing had been done on p3 killing packs/passing by most of the monsters. Merc is now a Might one - may be changed to a Holy Freeze later for safety, to get a damage boost for now. Duriel had been fought using General Tan Do Li Ga, because why should we be the only one slowed? In the end, Act 2 had been completed close to clvl 52, which had been catched at the end of the session out of Kurast docks.

Act 3 was still on p3. Easy enough, had to get through the Great Marsh. Took care of not killing the FE/LE council boss at Travincal to avoid a stupid death, even with over 1500 life with BO. Ended at clvl 56.

Act 4 then was still easy enough. Just handled enough killing to hit lvl 59 (and grab Grief) before Chaos Sanctuary, then switched to p7 and get the juicy xp, killing Diablo at lvl 61, and sitting now on over 2k hp with BO. Hellforge had been a Pul!

Act 5 was all p8 but Ancients. After leveling at Eldritch up to clvl 65, It was about time to save Anya, unlock Mara's and clvl 67 at Pindle, and take care of Baal and his minions at clvl 70. Leveling stopped there at 73, when Hell started.

Hell chapter
Act 1 had been quested on p8, and had a pretty nice density of uniques&champs, giving in the end quite some experience, from 73 to almost 78.

Hell could be probably fully handled on p5+, but given my lateness regarding my year's goal, I need to speed it up.

Therefore Act 2 had been leaped through on p1, grabbing a level in the process, so have been Act 3 (completed 79.5) and 4 (79.75), before some leveling in Act 5 at Pindle to get 81 - 40M xp before Ancients, and journey had been completed without much difficulty at clvl 81, Baal delivering a big Dragonscale as last drop - take a look to his questing Haul pic in the Achievements post!

 

[Babyhell]

Achievements
His own drops while questing already... Dragonscale courtesy of Baal himself!

Spoiler: Unique Dumps

Dragonscale
Zakarum Shield
Defense: 574
Chance to Block: 0
Durability: 42 of 65
Required Level: 80
Required Strength: 142
Fingerprint: 0xaa67a610
Item Level: 99
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Adds 211 - 371 Fire Damage
+15% to Fire Skill Damage
+10 to Hydra
+196% Enhanced Defense
+23 to Strength
+5% to Maximum Fire Resist
Fire Absorb 12%

Rune Master
Ettin Axe
One Hand Damage: 121 - 243
Durability: 22 of 24
Required Level: 72
Required Strength: 145
Required Dexterity: 45
Fingerprint: 0x4eb941ac
Item Level: 87
Version: Expansion 1.10+
269% Enhanced Damage
+5% to Maximum Cold Resist
Cannot Be Frozen
4 Sockets (0 used)

 

[Babyhell]

Leveling milestones, stats planning and resistances status

For playthrough, read the dedicated post

Leveling follow-up
Note: strategy will be to level in Act 5, not to make a full p8 N/p3 NM/p1 H playthrough
Act 1 N - 17 p8
Act 2 N - 24 p5
Act 3 N - 27 p3
Act 4 N - 27 p1
Act 5 N - 42 Questing p1, leveling p8 at Eldritch (>33), Pindle (>40), and Baal (46)

Act 1 NM - 48 p5 then p3 at clvl 48
Act 2 NM - 51 p3
Act 3 NM - 56 p3
Act 4 NM - 61 (up to 59 p3/p5 (RoF) then CS p7 with Grief)
Act 5 NM - 73 (65 Eldritch p8, 68 Pindle p8, ancients p1, 70+ Throne & Baal p8)

Act 1 H - 77+ p8
Act 2 H - 78+ p1
Act 3 H - 79+ p1
Act 4 H - 79+ p1
Act 5 H - 81 p1 (p8 Pindle to get enough xp before Ancients to hit 81 after them, p3 Throne room & Baal)

Stats
For gearing, strength and dexterity have to be planned to maximize vitality in the end.
Max Strength gear: Gerke's Sanctuary 144
Max Dexterity gear: Grief Phase blade 136

BONUSES
STR DEX ITEM
 20  20 Arreat's face
 10     War travellers
     19 Ravenfrost
  5   5 Mara's kaleidoscope
 35  44 TOTAL
 30  20 Base stats

In the end:
> 144-65 = 79 points to be spent in strength
> 136-64 = 72 points to be spent in dexterity
Note: at clvl 59, some charms will be necessary to compensate the stats given by Mara's.
At clvl 67 - end of NM - and gearing complete, that will make:
Stat points earnt: 345

Spoiler

66x5 (levels) + 3x5 (Lam Esen quests)

STR 79
DEX 72
VIT 194
With 25 base vitality, it brings it to 1095 base HP.
Note: this is pure theory. I calculated that after having invested a bit too much already!

Resistances
For hell, 175@ shall be targeted to max them.

190 TOTAL
 20 Anya N & NM
 30 Arreat's face
 65 Chains of Honor
 28 Mara's kaleidoscope
 47 Natural resistance lvl 7

 

[Babyhell]

Sept complete!

Guardian dump

Spoiler: Stats

Name: HocusFocus
Class: Barbarian
Experience: 780986463
Level: 81

Naked/Gear
Strength: 105/160
Dexterity: 94/139
Vitality: 291/306
Energy: 10/15
HP: 1339/1390
Mana: 90/138
Stamina: 438/438
Defense: 23/2158
AR: 455/29757

Fire: 232/192/132
Cold: 182/142/82
Lightning: 182/142/82
Poison: 182/142/82

MF: 68 Block: 60
GF: 15
FR/W: 40
FHR: 42
IAS: 60
FCR: 0

Bash: 3/11
Leap: 1/9
Stun: 1/9
Concentrate: 20/28
Berserk: 20/28

Sword Mastery: 20/26
Increased Stamina: 1/7
Iron Skin: 1/7
Increased Speed: 1/7
Natural Resistance: 1/7

Howl: 1/7
Shout: 1/7
Battle Orders: 20/26
Battle Command: 1/7

Spoiler: Gear

Arreat's Face
Slayer Guard
Defense: 326
Durability: 52 of 55
Required Level: 42
Required Strength: 118
Fingerprint: 0x25bd1ab5
Item Level: 66
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+2 to Combat Skills (Barbarian Only)
+2 to Barbarian Skill Levels
+30% Faster Hit Recovery
20% Bonus to Attack Rating
4% Life stolen per hit
+170% Enhanced Defense
+20 to Strength
+20 to Dexterity
All Resistances +30

Mara's Kaleidoscope
Amulet
Required Level: 67
Fingerprint: 0xf06a5d7f
Item Level: 87
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+2 to All Skills
All Stats +5
All Resistances +28

Raven Frost
Ring
Required Level: 45
Fingerprint: 0xebedf86a
Item Level: 85
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+222 to Attack Rating
Adds 15 - 45 Cold Damage Over 4 Secs (100 Frames)
+19 to Dexterity
+40 to Mana
Cold Absorb 20%
Cannot Be Frozen

Death Circle
Ring
Required Level: 46
Fingerprint: 0xda3c40bf
Item Level: 75
Version: Expansion 1.10+
5% Chance to cast level 3 Chain Lightning on attack
+52 to Attack Rating
5% Mana stolen per hit
6% Life stolen per hit
+8 to Mana

String of Ears
Demonhide Sash
Defense: 108
Durability: 18 of 22
Required Level: 29
Required Strength: 20
Fingerprint: 0x14e8631e
Item Level: 60
Version: Expansion 1.10+
8% Life stolen per hit
+168% Enhanced Defense
+15 Defense
Damage Reduced by 11%
Magic Damage Reduced by 13
+10 Maximum Durability

War Traveler
Battle Boots
Defense: 134
Durability: 46 of 48
Required Level: 42
Required Strength: 95
Fingerprint: 0xdf25fc12
Item Level: 59
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+25% Faster Run/Walk
Adds 15 - 25 Damage
+180% Enhanced Defense
+10 to Strength
+10 to Vitality
40% Slower Stamina Drain
Attacker Takes Damage of 6
43% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
+30 Maximum Durability

Laying of Hands
Bramble Mitts
Defense: 84
Durability: 10 of 12
Required Level: 63
Required Strength: 50
Fingerprint: 0x45b42702
Item Level: 80
Version: Expansion 1.10+
10% Chance to cast level 3 Holy Bolt on striking
+20% Increased Attack Speed
+350% Damage to Demons
+25 Defense
Fire Resist +50%

Chains of Honor
Superior Archon Plate
DolUmBerIst
Defense: 945
Durability: 52 of 60
Required Level: 63
Required Strength: 103
Fingerprint: 0x386746d
Item Level: 87
Version: Expansion
+2 to All Skills
+200% Damage to Demons
+100% Damage to Undead
8% Life stolen per hit
+80% Enhanced Defense
+20 to Strength
Replenish Life +7
All Resistances +65
Damage Reduced by 8%
25% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
4 Sockets (4 used)
Socketed: Dol Rune
Socketed: Um Rune
Socketed: Ber Rune
Socketed: Ist Rune

Spoiler: Weaponry

Heart of the Oak
Flail
KoVexPulThul
One Hand Damage: 1 - 24
Durability: 30 of 30
Required Level: 55
Required Strength: 41
Required Dexterity: 35
Fingerprint: 0x51db593
Item Level: 83
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+3 to All Skills
+40% Faster Cast Rate
+75% Damage to Demons
+100 to Attack Rating against Demons
+150% Damage to Undead
Adds 3 - 14 Cold Damage Over 3 Secs (75 Frames)
7% Mana stolen per hit
+10 to Dexterity
Replenish Life +20
Increase Maximum Mana 15%
All Resistances +36
Level 4 Oak Sage (25/25 Charges)
Level 14 Raven (60/60 Charges)
4 Sockets (4 used)
Socketed: Ko Rune
Socketed: Vex Rune
Socketed: Pul Rune
Socketed: Thul Rune

Lidless Wall
Grim Shield
Defense: 300
Chance to Block: 0
Durability: 68 of 70
Required Level: 41
Required Strength: 58
Fingerprint: 0xfeeafe46
Item Level: 75
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+1 to All Skills
+20% Faster Cast Rate
+99% Enhanced Defense
+10 to Energy
Increase Maximum Mana 10%
+5 to Mana after each Kill
+1 to Light Radius

Grief
Phase Blade
EthTirLoMalRal
One Hand Damage: 31 - 35
Indestructible
Required Level: 59
Required Strength: 25
Required Dexterity: 136
Fingerprint: 0xca827fa5
Item Level: 81
Version: Expansion 1.10+
35% Chance to cast level 15 Venom on striking
+40% Increased Attack Speed
Damage +356
Ignore Target's Defense
-25% Target Defense
+151% Damage to Demons (Based on Character Level)
Adds 5 - 30 Fire Damage
-21% to Enemy Poison Resistance
20% Deadly Strike
Prevent Monster Heal
+2 to Mana after each Kill
+15 Life after each Kill
5 Sockets (5 used)
Socketed: Eth Rune
Socketed: Tir Rune
Socketed: Lo Rune
Socketed: Mal Rune
Socketed: Ral Rune

Gerke's Sanctuary
Pavise
Defense: 227
Chance to Block: 54
Durability: 167 of 172
Required Level: 44
Required Strength: 133
Fingerprint: 0xc8e2f182
Item Level: 85
Version: Expansion 1.10+
30% Increased Chance of Blocking
+188% Enhanced Defense
Replenish Life +15
All Resistances +29
Damage Reduced by 12
Magic Damage Reduced by 16
+100 Maximum Durability

Spoiler: Inventory

Sharp Large Charm of Inertia
Large Charm
Required Level: 21
Fingerprint: 0x7ab10f95
Item Level: 80
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+5% Faster Run/Walk
+4 to Maximum Damage
+25 to Attack Rating

Fine Small Charm of Life
Small Charm
Required Level: 21
Fingerprint: 0x5dc865f7
Item Level: 85
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+3 to Maximum Damage
+19 to Attack Rating
+10 to Life

Fine Small Charm of Vita
Small Charm
Required Level: 39
Fingerprint: 0x8deae19f
Item Level: 80
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+3 to Maximum Damage
+20 to Attack Rating
+18 to Life

Fine Small Charm of Frost
Small Charm
Required Level: 21
Fingerprint: 0x4db8b33b
Item Level: 80
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+2 to Maximum Damage
+14 to Attack Rating
Adds 1 - 2 Cold Damage Over 1 Secs (25 Frames)

Sharp Grand Charm of Balance
Grand Charm
Required Level: 21
Fingerprint: 0x1e6b3fde
Item Level: 80
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+12% Faster Hit Recovery
+10 to Maximum Damage
+64 to Attack Rating

Sharp Grand Charm of Maiming
Grand Charm
Required Level: 63
Fingerprint: 0x5af51ee1
Item Level: 80
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+13 to Maximum Damage
+56 to Attack Rating

Sharp Grand Charm of Venom
Grand Charm
Required Level: 21
Fingerprint: 0xf44640d4
Item Level: 80
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+7 to Maximum Damage
+67 to Attack Rating
Adds 15 Poison Damage Over 4 Secs (100 Frames)

Fine Grand Charm of Inertia
Grand Charm
Required Level: 16
Fingerprint: 0x5b85d8f6
Item Level: 22
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+7% Faster Run/Walk
+5 to Maximum Damage
+25 to Attack Rating

Sharp Large Charm of Greed
Large Charm
Required Level: 21
Fingerprint: 0xc09e3bfc
Item Level: 64
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+6 to Maximum Damage
+28 to Attack Rating
15% Extra Gold from Monsters

Sharp Large Charm
Large Charm
Required Level: 21
Fingerprint: 0x6dade05a
Item Level: 61
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+5 to Maximum Damage
+34 to Attack Rating

Fine Small Charm
Small Charm
Required Level: 21
Fingerprint: 0x27cca5e4
Item Level: 52
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+2 to Maximum Damage
+20 to Attack Rating

Fine Small Charm of Life
Small Charm
Required Level: 21
Fingerprint: 0x8712a693
Item Level: 80
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+3 to Maximum Damage
+18 to Attack Rating
+8 to Life

Fine Small Charm
Small Charm
Required Level: 21
Fingerprint: 0x17ff487e
Item Level: 80
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+3 to Maximum Damage
+18 to Attack Rating

Fine Small Charm of Sustenance
Small Charm
Required Level: 21
Fingerprint: 0x8b4d9a95
Item Level: 80
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+2 to Maximum Damage
+15 to Attack Rating
+15 to Life

Fine Small Charm of Inertia
Small Charm
Required Level: 27
Fingerprint: 0x8643d3f0
Item Level: 52
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+3% Faster Run/Walk
+3 to Maximum Damage
+11 to Attack Rating

Fine Small Charm
Small Charm
Required Level: 21
Fingerprint: 0x25005be
Item Level: 61
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+3 to Maximum Damage
+11 to Attack Rating

Fine Small Charm of Dexterity
Small Charm
Required Level: 21
Fingerprint: 0x5a8e7459
Item Level: 66
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+3 to Maximum Damage
+18 to Attack Rating
+1 to Dexterity

Horadric Cube
Fingerprint: 0x41bd7d4e
Item Level: 13
Version: Expansion 1.10+

Spoiler: Mercenary

Name: Vikhyat
Race: Desert Mercenary
Type: Off-Nightmare
Experience: 64583586
Level: 81
Dead?: false

Naked/Gear
Strength: 179/199
Dexterity: 144/149
HP: 1607/1688
Defense: 1189/3270
AR: 1865/391650

Fire: 165/125/65
Cold: 195/155/95
Lightning: 165/125/65
Poison: 165/125/65

Vampire Gaze
Grim Helm
Defense: 252
Durability: 39 of 40
Required Level: 41
Required Strength: 58
Fingerprint: 0x3f31a254
Item Level: 59
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Adds 6 - 22 Cold Damage Over 4 Secs (100 Frames)
6% Mana stolen per hit
8% Life stolen per hit
+100% Enhanced Defense
15% Slower Stamina Drain
Damage Reduced by 20%
Magic Damage Reduced by 14
24% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
1 Sockets (1 used)
Socketed: Perfect Topaz

Duriel's Shell
Great Hauberk
Defense: 1829
Durability: 41 of 150
Required Level: 63
Required Strength: 108
Fingerprint: 0x8da80dbc
Item Level: 59
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+182% Enhanced Defense
+101 Defense (Based on Character Level)
+15 to Strength
+81 to Life (Based on Character Level)
Cold Resist +30%
All Resistances +20
Cannot Be Frozen
Required Level +7
+100 Maximum Durability
Ethereal

Insight
Thresher
RalTirTalSol
Two Hand Damage: 50 - 482
Durability: 38 of 65
Required Level: 53
Required Strength: 152
Required Dexterity: 118
Fingerprint: 0xf84d069c
Item Level: 79
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Level 16 Meditation Aura When Equipped
+35% Faster Cast Rate
242% Enhanced Damage
+9 to Minimum Damage
209% Bonus to Attack Rating
Adds 5 - 30 Fire Damage
Adds 75 Poison Damage Over 5 Secs (125 Frames)
+3 to Critical Strike
All Stats +5
+2 to Mana after each Kill
23% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
4 Sockets (4 used)
Socketed: Ral Rune
Socketed: Tir Rune
Socketed: Tal Rune
Socketed: Sol Rune

 

[teddeeboy]

Congrats on finishing your sept. That some nice gear so assembled in HC.

Seemed like he just OHKO through Hell once you had your full gear. Any dangerous situation where you needed to use some leap CC?

 

[Babyhell]

@teddeeboy Apart from Act 4 and 5 Souls, where I was already leaping, there wasn't any non-manageable situation except in Act 5 in the Crystalline Passage, where it was loaded with packs of fast physical immune ghost... at some point I had to run away to put a TP and leave to Glacial trail before taking the TP back, as I hadn't found the Crystalline waypoint yet at that point.

Really, that was the only hot moment of the journey.

But well, leaping generates its own situations, so it's a matter of point of view ;-)