Since my previous post in this thread, a small miracle appeared in the Cube:
And I had just the character to wear it, too: My Summoner Sorceress.
"Wha...?!"
You'll meet her later in this post.
I play Hardcore, and had long been accumulating iDR gear, but had never done anything with it. That changed in early 2021 after:
- I gambled
three Chromatic Amulets of Life Everlasting;
- I lost a level 87 Sorceress.
I decided it was time to get serious about damage reduction. And the biggest chunks of DR happen on magical items..
Tom_Bombadil
might have become a Singer, but after realizing I had enough DR gear to build a fairly safe Berserker, that's what he became. In addition to hat and amulet, he has 22 DR and 15 MDR from Gerke's Sanctuary, 8 DR from Nature's Peace, and 3 DR and 17 MDR from a "Prudence" Wire Fleece, for totals of 94 DR and 32 MDR. Oh, and he swings a 39%/+382 "Grief" Phase Blade. Naj's Puzzler on switch makes him an effective (by my standards) Nihlathak runner.
Victor_Victoria's DR total depends upon which shirt she wears. With the personalized Silks of the Victor (upgraded to Ornate Plate, socketed with Sol) which I built her to wear, she has 53 DR. She's probably safest when she dons her personalized Iron Pelt (Sol), which adds 27 DR (total 73) and 11 MDR. But she's happiest when she's clad in her recently acquired +2 Arkaine's Valor (10 DR inherent, plus Sol) for 63 total. She wields a "Passion" Matriarchal Pike, and wears IK belt, boots, and Gloves, Raven Frost, and this rare ring.
Doras_maid is a Dancer who wields a HotO Flail, kicks with Goblin Toe Mirrored Ballet Slippers, and wears a Trang's Girth, but the rest of her gear is rare or magical.
She has a total of 91 DR, from the items pictured plus 1 from Goblin Toe.
I was
very unhappy about losing my level 87 Orb/Enchantress, Tiffany_Aching. (Those who wear the lilac will know the name.) I decided to explore two possible ways to build a safer Sorceress. The first path involves DR and high Defense.
The rest of her gear includes a 2786 Def ethereal "Prudence" Dusk Shroud, Sigon's gloves and belt, and ethereal Sandstorm Trek (which she found herself). The armor brings her DR total to 87 and adds 17 MDR. With BC/BO/Shout from a Barb via self-MP, she currently has >22K Def. The IAS from the gloves gives her 6/8/8/8/11 Zeal with her "Passion" Phase Blade.
As promised, here's that Diadem again. (Charsi wanted 152K GP to fix the Bone Spirit charges. I replied with a vulgarity, a Ral rune, and a flawed gem.)
My hopes for keeping Zyralyna safe don't involve any DR gear. Her 1755 Def "Stone" Dusk Shroud does afford ~15K Def with BC/BO/Shout; more importantly, it gives her a level 15 Clay Golem. With the war cries, it survives well; with Enchant, it actually kills; and it distracts and slows ebil critters who mean harm to Zyralyna and her faithful mercenary.
She also has 75% Chance to Block with a Visceratuant Heater, and Decrepifies satisfyingly often with her "Lawbringer" Phase Blade. The weapon's level 18 Sanctuary aura also plasters Undead helplessly up against the walls of the Ancient Tunnels. This toon is
fun. The rest of her gear includes Sigon's gloves, belt, and boots, and these:
Zyralyna found this ring herself.
I've read that I really need a "pure Blizzard Sorc." I'm not yet 100% sold on the idea, but here's what I have so far:
Google
