Matriarch #3, Trillian the Phoenix striker assassin

[zaphodbrx]

Matriarch #3, Trillian the Phoenix striker assassin

No I'm not a no-lifer with nothing to do. I started all these characters three months back and its only now that I am finishing hell with them. This one is easily the most fun hero I ever played and really had a blast.

Character name : Trillian
Character type : Assassin
Character level : 83
Character exp : 896327556

Strength : 118
Energy : 25
Dexterity : 106
Vitality : 261

Life : 1389 / 996
Mana : 295 / 146

Resistances ( with fade active, hell ): 72-55-75-75

Way, Way too much str and dex, considering my requirements were only 96/82 and with Bartucs I have 170 str. Didn't have items in the beginning and used up all the respecs.

Skills: (base/with gear)

Phoenix strike: 20(30)
Claws of thunder: 20(30)
Fists of fire: 16(26)
Shadow master: 12(18)
Dragon claw: 5(15)
Claw mastery: 5(11)
Weapon block: 4(10)
Fade: 3(9)
Cloak of shadows, mind blast: 1(7)
All prereqs: 1
Traps: none ( style points, I know death sentry is very effective )

My thoughts about the skills

Phoenix strike, claws of thunder and fists of fire
An absolute beast of an ability, nothing is immune to me, fire meteors are the best because of huge burn damage, lightning is good in open spaces, ice is good for freezing. The other 2 skills are not impressive. You might think to use only claws of thunder in places with no LIs, but it doesn't work. The damage is low and the second charge of PS is just better, even if you sometimes release the wrong charge.

Dragon claw and claw mastery
These are mainly there to increase my attack rating. And hey physical damage is good too. I claw LI/FIs to death rather than bothering with ice.

Fade, weapon block
Great defensive spells, I really love the fact that my resistances are maxed, amps and decrepify go away quickly and I block half the enemy attacks.

Cloak of shadows, Mind Blast
I was really disappointed by CoS. It does none of the amazing things that are often talked about. Even if it does 'something', it doesn't solve any of her main problems. Archers and gloams still fire from off screen, oblivion knights still spam their crap, mana burning a-holes still drain mana. And it makes the screen go all dark. Overall useless spell but 1 point for prereq.
Mind blast is good. But the problem is, sitting there spamming mindblast is time better spent doing other things ( phoenix striking ). And my shadowmaster spams mind blast too, I didn't really use it.

Shadow master
An amazing minion. Not only is she an incredible tank, but her phoenix strike attacks are easily as powerful as mine ( synergy? idk ), she spams mindblast and death sentry galore. Easily the best summon in the game. She sometimes annoys me by spamming mindblast when I really just want her to tank, or sometimes equipment like 'causes monster to flee', but thats easily solved by recasting.

Gear: Played nearly untwinked till hell ancients ( had stuff like malice Scissors Suwwayyah ), but realized I could not beat the game without better gear.

Entropy Touch
Ring
Required Level: 13
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 21
Fingerprint: 0xb16d782f
+21 to Attack Rating
Damage Reduced by 1
Fire Resist +29%
Lightning Resist +27%

Strong Plated Belt of the Squid
Defense: 15
Durability: 24 of 24
Required Strength: 60
Required Level: 30
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 79
Fingerprint: 0xb3863d8b
+77 to Life
+32% Enhanced Defense

Imp Brogues
Chain Boots
Defense: 15
Durability: 16 of 16
Kick Damage: 6 to 12
Required Strength: 30
Required Level: 18
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 60
Fingerprint: 0x1b140004
+2 to Dexterity
+57% Enhanced Defense
+15 to Attack Rating
Cold Resist +27%
Poison Resist +38%
+1 to Light Radius
10% Chance to cast Level 3 Charged Bolt when struck

Glyph Hold
Vampirebone Gloves
Defense: 79
Durability: 14 of 14
Required Strength: 50
Required Level: 47
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 75
Fingerprint: 0x4559fdd5
+5 to Strength
+20% Enhanced Defense
Fire Resist +8%
20% Increased Attack Speed
+2 to Martial Art Skills (Assassin Only)

Hawkmail
Tigulated Mail
'Ral'
Defense: 341
Durability: 36 of 36
Required Strength: 86
Required Level: 30
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 26
Fingerprint: 0x7c1859d
+92% Enhanced Defense
Fire Resist +30%
Cold Resist +15%
+15% to Maximum Cold Resist
Required Level +5
10% Faster Run/Walk
Cannot Be Frozen
Socketed (1: 1 used)

Ral Rune
Inserted into a Tigulated Mail

Fire Resist +30%

Required Level: 19
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion

Harlequin Crest
Shako
Defense: 113
Durability: 12 of 12
Required Strength: 50
Required Level: 62
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 75
Fingerprint: 0xbb8da3f8
+2 to Strength
+2 to Energy
+2 to Dexterity
+2 to Vitality
Damage Reduced by 10%
50% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
+2 to All Skill Levels
+124 to Life (Based on Character Level)
+124 to Mana (Based on Character Level)

Bartuc's Cut-Throat
Greater Talons
One-Hand Damage: 84 to 149
Durability: 69 of 69
(Assassin Only)
Required Dexterity: 79
Required Strength: 79
Required Level: 42
Claw Class - Very Fast Attack Speed
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 75
Fingerprint: 0x47a32388
+20 to Strength
+20 to Dexterity
+184% Enhanced Damage
+25 to Minimum Damage
+50 to Maximum Damage
8% Life stolen per hit
+2 to Assassin Skill Levels
30% Faster Hit Recovery
20% Bonus to Attack Rating
+1 to Martial Art Skills (Assassin Only)

Bartuc's Cut-Throat
Greater Talons
One-Hand Damage: 82 to 145
Durability: 69 of 69
(Assassin Only)
Required Dexterity: 79
Required Strength: 79
Required Level: 42
Claw Class - Very Fast Attack Speed
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 75
Fingerprint: 0xba0fe2af
+20 to Strength
+20 to Dexterity
+172% Enhanced Damage
+25 to Minimum Damage
+50 to Maximum Damage
9% Life stolen per hit
+2 to Assassin Skill Levels
30% Faster Hit Recovery
20% Bonus to Attack Rating
+1 to Martial Art Skills (Assassin Only)

Angelic Wings
Amulet
Required Level: 12
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 60
Fingerprint: 0x7d80bcbe
+3 to Light Radius
20% Damage Taken Goes to Mana

***Partial Set Item Bonuses***
+75 to Life
+1 to All Skill Levels
***Partial Set Item Bonuses***


Angelic Halo
Ring
Required Level: 12
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 49
Fingerprint: 0x89f10df5
+20 to Life
Replenish Life +6

***Partial Set Item Bonuses***
+996 to Attack Rating (Based on Character Level)
50% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
***Partial Set Item Bonuses***

Merc: Act 2 holy freeze

1: Godly Ornate Plate of Stability
Defense: 1204
Durability: 49 of 60
Required Strength: 170
Required Level: 43
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 85
Fingerprint: 0xce593975
+167% Enhanced Defense
24% Faster Hit Recovery

2: Stealskull
Casque
Defense: 229
Durability: 19 of 24
Required Strength: 59
Required Level: 35
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 44
Fingerprint: 0x84c241d9
+215% Enhanced Defense
5% Life stolen per hit
5% Mana stolen per hit
35% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
10% Increased Attack Speed
10% Faster Hit Recovery

3: Obedience
Thresher
'HelKoThulEthFal'
Two-Hand Damage: 56 to 662
Durability: 61 of 65
Required Dexterity: 94
Required Strength: 122
Required Level: 53
Polearm Class - Fast Attack Speed
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 85
Fingerprint: 0xb3ba3f48
+10 to Strength
+10 to Dexterity
+370% Enhanced Damage
+204 Defense
All Resistances +27
Adds 3-14 cold damage over 3 seconds
Requirements -20%
40% Faster Hit Recovery
-25% Target Defense
40% Chance of Crushing Blow
30% Chance to cast Level 21 Enchant When You Kill an Enemy
-25% to Enemy Fire Resistance
Socketed (5: 5 used)

Hel Rune
Inserted into a Thresher

Requirements -20%
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion

Ko Rune
Inserted into a Thresher

+10 to Dexterity

Required Level: 39
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion

Thul Rune
Inserted into a Thresher

Adds 3-14 cold damage over 3 seconds

Required Level: 23
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion

Eth Rune
Inserted into a Thresher

-25% Target Defense

Required Level: 15
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion

Fal Rune
Inserted into a Thresher

+10 to Strength

Required Level: 41
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion

Ancients and Baal were some of the hardest areas, I really struggled with them. Was thankful that lister was not cursed or extra strong, and Baal was a wimp as usual. Died many many times, such a low hp hero. Gloams, harpies, frenzytaurs etc all very problematic.

Future plans: pit runs, this hero is too weak for anything else.

 

[SeeiN2StarS]

Re: Matriarch #3, Trillian the Phoenix striker assassin

nicely donea! How was fists of fire? How was skill progression?

 

[jiansonz]

Re: Matriarch #3, Trillian the Phoenix striker assassin

That Entropy Touch ring is amazing! Love it.

Cloak of shadows, Mind Blast
I was really disappointed by CoS. It does none of the amazing things that are often talked about. Even if it does 'something', it doesn't solve any of her main problems. Archers and gloams still fire from off screen,

Only when you didn´t manage to nail them with your CoS. Only bosses and champs can still see you under CoS. What must have happened in your case is that archers/gloams were just outside CoS range (which is a little more than the visible screen - 13 yards, I think) and still saw you. Archers can see you from quite a long distance, but they will be hit by CoS if they are close enough to fire. But they can move closer (and into firing range) after you cast CoS.

What I do when I encounter ranged attackers, is that I move a few steps diagonally (diagonally because I will avoid most hits that way) towards them, cast CoS, then go back a little longer than from where I first advanced from.

CoS stops spawners from spawning, resurrectors from resurrecting, megademons and Flayer Shamans from Inferno-ing, treebeasts and Frenzytaurs from Frenzy-ing. Etc. Not to mention it often stops meleers from swarming you. What´s not to like?

oblivion knights still spam their crap,

Yeah, they are 'boss' creatures, so they can still see you.

And it makes the screen go all dark.

Yeah, that´s a drawback. Not indoors, though, where it´s already dark.

Overall useless spell

Yeah, right...

It´s a main skill for me. I am seriously handicapped without it.

Died many many times, such a low hp hero. Gloams, harpies, frenzytaurs etc all very problematic.

Most of these can be handled pretty well with proper use of CoS. Champion pack is another story, though...

Low HP along the way? Because it was certainly not low in the endgame. Nearly 1400 life - I´ve only had that much life with Barbarians (haven´t played any serious shifter Druid yet).

 

[Fyourics]

Re: Matriarch #3, Trillian the Phoenix striker assassin

Nice! I've gotta give phoenix strike a try, what with all the great things I hear about it. Also, style points for naming. The hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy is always a plus.

 

[zaphodbrx]

Re: Matriarch #3, Trillian the Phoenix striker assassin

Well the point with CoS is that I could really care less about flayers resurrecting or megademons inferno. Would it really help if I came across a pack of cursed extra strong frenzytaurs? I think not..
Again none of the normal monsters were really a problem except mass ranged units ( against which I just could not get CoS to work ), and if it doesn't work against bosses or champions whats the point. Much more effective technique is to cast a shadow master right in the middle of enemies to tank and keep doing that.

Yea, I love the ring too. Its an Ormus drop, one of the best rings he has given me.

The skill progression was kinda weird. I started out as TS/DT and then respeced sometime in late nightmare so I never actually used FoF or CoT, only phoenix strike.

 

[jiansonz]

Re: Matriarch #3, Trillian the Phoenix striker assassin

Would it really help if I came across a pack of cursed extra strong frenzytaurs? I think not..

Well, CoS can get all of them except the boss off your back, if you have at least some bit of room to maneuver. Once they are blinded, you need just one small distraction* and a minion will not be able to find you for the CoS duration. The minions won´t Frenzy either, they can only use normal attack when blind.

(* This can be almost anything, from them bumping into something, getting hit with a kick/MB, swing at you and then you are not standing next to them when they are about to do their next attack, etc.).


Shadow is great, but you can only cast that in one place at a time. Sometimes you might need both crowd control techniques at the same time.
Also, Shadows have a long casting delay (6 seconds) - I´ve met many nasty boss packs where she didn´t survive that long.


I guess we all have the skills we like and the ones we do not like. I have never liked (the widely popular) Zeal or Whirlwind, for example.

 

[purplelocust]

Re: Matriarch #3, Trillian the Phoenix striker assassin

Well done! And I'm surprised, like jiansonz, that you didn't find CoS more useful- it really is great and makes some underpowered builds quite feasible. Perhaps the overall power of the build meant that by the time you realized it might be helpful, it was too late to make good use of it. And that is quite a nice Ormus reward ring there.