Matriarch Ono, the Bladesin

[LouB]

After finishing Tisiphone I was trying to decide what to build next and then I read TheNix’s thread on his Bladesin, LotsaBlades and then reread Snickersnack’s post on his Bladesin, Noether. As a result, I decided that next up for me was a Bladesin and thus was born Ono. I named her Ono, which is Japanese for Axe since I immediately thought that I’d use the Oath Berserker axe that I’d made.

I have only done one other Assassin and that was back in 2003/4. So, my knowledge of Assassins was essentially zero. I’ve now read several of the Mat threads for Furysins and the Guide that’s on the Pure Diablo website. They are all for 1.14. So, TheNix and Snickersnack’s threads are more helpful. Thanks to Snickersnack I’ve also read Ceramic Weasel’s Fury Analysis which has been VERY helpful. I’ve also looked at two other websites’ Furysin guides and I’m not going to follow either.

D2R has made MAJOR changes for a Bladesin since there are now synergies for Blade Fury and points in Blade Fury now add 10% a level to AR. As a result, It’s not a one point wonder skill and having enough AR to consistently hit a target isn’t the major concern that it was and thus the need for an ITD weapon is much less.

After reading Ceramic Weasel’s Fury Analysis several times I’ve pulled out several points:

Oath isn’t the best choice for a Bladesin as neither IAS or FCR affect Blade Fury. However, Death in an ethereal axe with its Crushing Blow and Deadly Strike is the top-rated axe and I did have an ethereal 5os Ettin axe. So, Death it is and Ono’s name is still appropriate.

Speaking of Crushing Blow, when you read the description on the Arreat Summit it says that the damage from CB is halved for "missile weapons". BF always counts as a "missile weapon" for calculating CB damage. This means that DS is more important than CB.

+X damage doesn't work with BF at all. So, Grief is worthless.

As I said I didn’t know anything about Assassins and hence dumb idea number 1. Equip the full Natalya set with the claw in the off-hand and Death in the main hand. Turns out that Assassins can only dual-wield claws. However, going through my stashes I found an Ethereal Cruel War Fist that I could pair with Natalya’s set. I used it for a few levels before I could equip death. I also respected my old Trapper and tried it with the Nat’s set, but it didn’t do as much damage.

Spoiler: Stats

Name: Ono
Class: Assassin
Experience: 1551604017
Level: 89

Naked/Gear
Strength: 162/300
Dexterity: 166/255
Vitality: 185/217
Energy: 25/57
HP: 781/1054
Mana: 157/282
Stamina: 411/411
Defense: 41/2440
AR: 100000794/2100034335


Fire: 182/142/82
Cold: 137/97/37
Lightning: 158/118/58
Poison: 128/88/28

MF: 62 Block: 63
GF: 186 FR/W: 43
FHR: 25 IAS: 25
FCR: 25

I decided that I had to put some of my own spin on her and so my Gear choices and skills were a little different:

Gear

Helm: Rare Circlet +2 Assassin, 17 Strength, 19 Dex, 5% life leach and resists
Armor: Fortitude Archon Plate
Shield: Phoenix Monarch
Gloves: IK Forge
Belt: IK Detail
Boots: IK Pillar
Amulet: Rare +2 Assassin, 27 Strength, Resists
Ring 1: Raven Frost
Ring 2: Rare Dual leach, and Strength
Switch: Grimmershred and Tiamat’s Rebuke

I also went with an Act 1 cold rogue wielding Wrath

Skills
Traps
Blade Sentinel 20/30
Blade Fury 20/30
Blade Shield 20/30
Death Sentry 8/18
+1 to other prerequisites

Shadow
Fade 11/20
Shadow Master 10/19
+1 to other prerequisites


Weapon progression
Clegclaw sword
Death sword
Honor Naga 27 – 48
Passion Small Cresent 48-51
Cruel War Fist 51- 55
Death Ethereal Ettin Axe 55-

Armor Progression
Greyform
Twitchthroe 16-49
Treachery Dusk Shroud 49- 51
Duress 51 - 63
Fortitude 63

Spoiler: Gear readouts

Ono's Death
Ettin Axe
HelElVexOrtGul
One Hand Damage: 219 - 443
Durability: 13 of 13
Required Level: 55
Required Strength: 108
Required Dexterity: 28
Fingerprint: 0x3a0c3203
Item Level: 80
Version: Resurrected
100% Chance to cast level 44 Chain Lightning when you Die
25% Chance to cast level 18 Glacial Spike on attack
Indestructible
348% Enhanced Damage
20% Bonus to Attack Rating
+50 to Attack Rating
Adds 1 - 50 Lightning Damage
7% Mana stolen per hit
50% Chance of Crushing Blow
44% Deadly Strike (Based on Character Level)
+1 to Light Radius
Level 22 Blood Golem (15/15 Charges)
Requirements --20%
Ethereal
5 Sockets (5 used)

Phoenix
Monarch
VexVexLoJah
Defense: 140
Chance to Block: 0
Durability: 86 of 86
Required Level: 65
Required Strength: 156
Fingerprint: 0xadb8652d
Item Level: 85
Version: Resurrected
100% Chance to cast level 40 Blaze when you Level-Up
40% Chance to cast level 22 Firestorm on striking
Level 14 Redemption Aura When Equipped
391% Enhanced Damage
-28% to Enemy Fire Resistance
+386 Defense vs. Missile
+50 to Life
+5% to Maximum Lightning Resist
+10% to Maximum Fire Resist
Fire Absorb 16%
4 Sockets (4 used)

Skull Collar
Amulet
Required Level: 67
Fingerprint: 0xe5c915c6
Item Level: 93
Version: Resurrected
5% Chance to cast level 3 Chain Lightning on attack
+2 to Assassin Skill Levels
+27 to Strength
Replenish Life +8
All Resistances +17
Fire Resist +25%

Grim Knot
Ring
Required Level: 65
Fingerprint: 0x578eb697
Item Level: 93
Version: Resurrected
2% Mana stolen per hit
7% Life stolen per hit
+12 to Strength
+68 to Mana
Fire Resist +12%

Immortal King's Pillar
War Boots
Defense: 123
Durability: 24 of 24
Required Level: 31
Required Strength: 125
Fingerprint: 0x694c812b
Item Level: 99
Version: Resurrected
+40% Faster Run/Walk
+110 to Attack Rating
+75 Defense
+44 to Life
Set (2 items): 25% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
Set (3 items): +2 to Combat Skills (Barbarian Only)

(2 items): +50 to Attack Rating
(3 items): +75 to Attack Rating

Immortal King's Forge
War Gauntlets
Defense: 237
Durability: 24 of 24
Required Level: 30
Required Strength: 110
Fingerprint: 0xaba9a730
Item Level: 71
Version: Resurrected
12% Chance to cast level 4 Charged Bolt when struck
+65 Defense
+20 to Strength
+20 to Dexterity
Set (2 items): +25% Increased Attack Speed
Set (3 items): +120 Defense

Immortal King's Detail
War Belt
Defense: 194
Durability: 24 of 24
Required Level: 29
Required Strength: 110
Fingerprint: 0xa3d36c97
Item Level: 86
Version: Resurrected
+36 Defense
+25 to Strength
Lightning Resist +31%
Fire Resist +28%
Set (2 items): +105 Defense
Set (3 items): +25% Faster Hit Recovery

Raven Frost
Ring
Required Level: 45
Fingerprint: 0xc11d93b1
Item Level: 80
Version: Resurrected
+223 to Attack Rating
Adds 15 - 45 Cold Damage Over 4 Secs (100 Frames)
+18 to Dexterity
+40 to Mana
+20 Cold Absorb
Cannot Be Frozen
Death Veil
Circlet
Defense: 23
Durability: 35 of 35
Required Level: 67
Fingerprint: 0x459260e1
Item Level: 88
Version: Resurrected
+2 to Assassin Skill Levels
25% Enhanced Damage
+4 to Maximum Damage
Adds 16 - 49 Fire Damage
5% Life stolen per hit
+22 to Strength
+19 to Dexterity
All Resistances +13
Poison Resist +11%
1 Sockets (1 used)
Socketed: Eagle Eye

Eagle Eye
Jewel
Required Level: 49
Fingerprint: 0x3cffdbbd
Item Level: 59
Version: Resurrected
25% Enhanced Damage
+4 to Maximum Damage
Adds 16 - 49 Fire Damage
+5 to Strength

Fortitude
Archon Plate
ElSolDolLo
Defense: 1491
Durability: 60 of 60
Required Level: 63
Required Strength: 103
Fingerprint: 0xd71bad6a
Item Level: 85
Version: Resurrected
20% Chance to cast level 15 Chilling Armor when struck
+25% Faster Cast Rate
300% Enhanced Damage
+200% Enhanced Defense
+15 Defense
+122 to Life (Based on Character Level)
Replenish Life +7
+5% to Maximum Lightning Resist
All Resistances +25
Damage Reduced by 7
12% Damage Taken Goes To Mana
+1 to Light Radius
4 Sockets (4 used)

Tiamat's Rebuke
Dragon Shield
Defense: 169
Chance to Block: 0
Durability: 116 of 116
Required Level: 38
Required Strength: 91
Fingerprint: 0xb9ff4aa1
Item Level: 65
Version: Resurrected
3% Chance to cast level 6 Hydra when struck
5% Chance to cast level 7 Nova when struck
5% Chance to cast level 9 Frost Nova when struck
Adds 35 - 95 Fire Damage
Adds 1 - 120 Lightning Damage
Adds 27 - 53 Cold Damage Over 6 Secs (150 Frames)
+149% Enhanced Defense
All Resistances +32
+40 Maximum Durability

Gimmershred
Flying Axe
Throw Damage: 45 - 200
One Hand Damage: 51 - 197
Quantity: 330
Required Level: 70
Required Strength: 88
Required Dexterity: 108
Fingerprint: 0x16fabe6
Item Level: 87
Version: Resurrected
+30% Increased Attack Speed
204% Enhanced Damage
Adds 218 - 483 Fire Damage
Adds 29 - 501 Lightning Damage
Adds 176 - 397 Cold Damage Over 4 Secs (100 Frames)
Increased Stack Size

Spoiler: Charms in pack

Sapphire Small Charm of Life
Small Charm
Required Level: 32
Fingerprint: 0xe6e8f969
Item Level: 86
Version: Resurrected
+9 to Life
Cold Resist +11%

Small Charm of Vita
Small Charm
Required Level: 39
Fingerprint: 0x2966ad36
Item Level: 83
Version: Resurrected
+20 to Life

Mentalist's Grand Charm of Greed
Grand Charm
Required Level: 42
Fingerprint: 0x96638e0b
Item Level: 80
Version: Resurrected
+1 to Shadow Discipline Skills (Assassin Only)
26% Extra Gold from Monsters

Entrapping Grand Charm of Greed
Grand Charm
Required Level: 42
Fingerprint: 0xa73a17d7
Item Level: 85
Version: Resurrected
+1 to Trap Skills (Assassin Only)
39% Extra Gold from Monsters

Entrapping Grand Charm of Life
Grand Charm
Required Level: 42
Fingerprint: 0xec651a6a
Item Level: 65
Version: Resurrected
+1 to Trap Skills (Assassin Only)
+8 to Life

Cobalt Small Charm of Inertia
Small Charm
Required Level: 27
Fingerprint: 0x7a2b9982
Item Level: 85
Version: Resurrected
+3% Faster Run/Walk
Cold Resist +9%

Amber Small Charm of Greed
Small Charm
Required Level: 32
Fingerprint: 0x827cbdd6
Item Level: 68
Version: Resurrected
Lightning Resist +10%
8% Extra Gold from Monsters

Annihilus
Small Charm
Required Level: 70
Fingerprint: 0xbedd8e04
Item Level: 99
Version: Resurrected
+1 to All Skills
All Stats +18
All Resistances +16
+8% to Experience Gained

Fine Small Charm of Thunder
Small Charm
Required Level: 25
Fingerprint: 0xbb1b6b5d
Item Level: 49
Version: Resurrected
+3 to Maximum Damage
+13 to Attack Rating
Adds 1 - 11 Lightning Damage

Gheed's Fortune
Grand Charm
Required Level: 62
Fingerprint: 0x11f4410c
Item Level: 76
Version: Resurrected
105% Extra Gold from Monsters
Reduces all Vendor Prices 11%
37% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items

Hellfire Torch
Large Charm
Required Level: 75
Fingerprint: 0xd7d40e67
Item Level: 99
Version: Resurrected
5% Chance to cast level 10 Firestorm on striking
+3 to Assassin Skill Levels
All Stats +14
All Resistances +16
+8 to Light Radius
Level 30 Hydra (10/10 Charges)

Boreal Small Charm of Greed
Small Charm
Required Level: 58
Fingerprint: 0xba8442e7
Item Level: 88
Version: Resurrected
Adds 7 - 11 Cold Damage Over 1 Secs (25 Frames)
8% Extra Gold from Monsters

Serpent's Small Charm of Vita
Small Charm
Required Level: 40
Fingerprint: 0xa38f84ca
Item Level: 68
Version: Resurrected
+20 to Life
+17 to Mana

Spoiler: Merc

Mercenary:

Name: Sharyn
Race: Rogue Scout
Type: Ice - Normal
Experience: 89120988
Level: 89

Naked/Gear
Strength: 143/143
Dexterity: 217/242
HP: 1560/1610
Defense: 1304/2028
AR: 2299/2299

Fire: 181/141/81
Cold: 178/138/78
Lightning: 148/108/48
Poison: 148/108/48


Treachery
Dusk Shroud
ShaelThulLem
Defense: 403
Durability: 20 of 20
Required Level: 49
Required Strength: 77
Fingerprint: 0xf904c1f8
Item Level: 96
Version: Resurrected
5% Chance to cast level 15 Fade when struck
25% Chance to cast level 15 Venom on striking
+2 to Assassin Skill Levels
+45% Increased Attack Speed
+20% Faster Hit Recovery
Cold Resist +30%
50% Extra Gold from Monsters
3 Sockets (3 used)


Crown of Thieves
Grand Crown
Defense: 321
Durability: 39 of 50
Required Level: 49
Required Strength: 103
Fingerprint: 0x44838bff
Item Level: 88
Version: Resurrected
10% Life stolen per hit
+182% Enhanced Defense
+25 to Dexterity
+50 to Life
+35 to Mana
Fire Resist +33%
82% Extra Gold from Monsters

Tisiphone's Wrath
Matriarchal Bow
PulLumBerMal
Two Hand Damage: 20 - 47
Durability: 25 of 48
Required Level: 63
Required Strength: 87
Required Dexterity: 187
Fingerprint: 0x56d6a3c3
Item Level: 85
Version: Resurrected
30% Chance to cast level 1 Decrepify on striking
5% Chance to cast level 10 Life Tap on striking
+2 to Bow and Crossbow Skills (Amazon Only)
+375% Damage to Demons
+100 to Attack Rating against Demons
+259% Damage to Undead
Adds 85 - 120 Magic Damage
Adds 41 - 240 Lightning Damage
20% Chance of Crushing Blow
Prevent Monster Heal
+10 to Energy
Cannot Be Frozen

She romped through Normal and Nightmare at /P8 and Hell Act 1. I switched to /P5 while clearing the Tombs of Tal Rasha. The Ghost packs were taking just too long at players 8. I also skipped one of the arms of the Arcane Sanctuary for the same reason.

Even at players 5 packs of PIs just were taking too long to kill so, I also skipped a large portion of the Frozen Tundra when I found it full of Death Brigadiers. Other than the typical problems with PI Frenzytaurs everything else was easy.

The 7% Mana steal from Death was more than enough to keep the Mana pot full. I had planned and started with a Bul Kathos wedding band as my second ring, but I needed some mana leach when I switched to the Gimmershred and the only decent ring I had only had 2% but it wasn’t enough to keep the bulb full. I didn’t use Gimmershred very often and usually switched back once Decrepify was cast.

One dumb death in Upper Kurast. I’d been interrupted several times and thought that the only thing left was clearing the two temples. That wasn’t the case and I ran into a triple boss pack. One was Convicted and another was Lightning enhanced and I don’t think I had Fade active either. Two other dumb deaths in Act 5.

With the damage reduction from Fade (at least when I remembered to cast it), Redemption from Phoenix and Life tap from Wrath she really was hard to kill. It took me 3 tries to kill the Ancients. The first time I cast a portal when the Rogue died, the second time I cast a portal instead of casting the SM and the third time I hardly moved and just kept casting BF and BS.

The forges were very good to me this time. An Um in Nightmare and a Mal in Hell. Otherwise a Lum was the highest rune I found.

With just 62% MF I didn’t expect to find much but was a little surprised. A M’avina’ embrace, Trang’s Girth, Ondal’s Wisdom, Two Tal Rasha’s Horadric Crests, and an Earth Shifter. With the Earth Shifter being a self-grail item for me.

After learning in detail about the Max damage bug I decided to see if I really understood it and socketed the circlet with
Eagle Eye
Jewel
Required Level: 49
Fingerprint: 0x3cffdbbd
Item Level: 59
Version: Resurrected
25% Enhanced Damage
+4 to Maximum Damage
Adds 16 - 49 Fire Damage
+5 to Strength

Since Blade Fury is a ranged attack and the circlet didn’t have any additional min or max damage I did get the full effect of the %ED and the max value.

 

[TheNix]

Congrats on the Matriarch, Bladesins are fun.

 

[LouB]

@TheNix Thanks, I did enjoy her and I found this on the way. While I had to add the sockets I felt it would be perfect for a Fury Claw if I ever find a Jah and decide to make another Bladesin.

Feral Claws
One Hand Damage: 22 - 53
Durability: 51 of 52
Required Level: 58
Required Strength: 113
Required Dexterity: 113
Fingerprint: 0xf7fc5a79
Item Level: 95
Version: Resurrected
+2 to Shadow Master (Assassin Only)
+2 to Death Sentry (Assassin Only)
+3 to Blade Fury (Assassin Only)
3 Sockets (0 used)

 

[PhineasB]

yes, that is a great base for Fury claw for BF Sin! Congrats on the Mat, and the grailer!

 

[little birdy]

Nice Mat, good work! I have a strong preference for dual claw Assassins, but ‘Death’ is obviously a very good weapon choice for a Bladesin too. When you experimented with Nat’s set, did you have any points in Claw Mastery? That gives the Blade skills a nice boost. My Bladesin runs with Nat’s set (dual Nat’s claws for style points), with maxed Claw Mastery, Blade Sentinel, Blade Fury, and Blade Shield. She shreds demons Currently my favourite Baal runner. Pre-set Blade Sentinels before each wave and then fire away with Blade Fury. Very satisfying! (I have a Stormlash on switch for some CB against Baal, which is admittedly a slow fight, but Baal’s waves are relatively quick and easy.)

 

[Maltatai]

All that stellar gear and still she looks so unhappy...

How would the build have fared untwinked, do you think?
How did Sharyn do, apart form dying with her employer those two times?

 

[LouB]

My playstyle tends to be stand your ground and slug it out, which isn't the usual ranged character style. I also tend to ignore my merc unless I notice that she isn't participating in the action. Couple that with her having no life leach and poor resistances until
Fade got cast and the answer is surprisingly well. There were some areas that she died quickly multiple times, but having under 50% lightning and Poison immunity and no life leach will do that to any character. If I had equipped her with Fortitude and Vamp she would have done much better.

As far as playing untwinked, I wouldn't try it at players 8 but think it is a very doable build. The changes in D2R adding Synergies and AR make it a powerful attack. Also, one skill I never used in Nightmare or Hell is Cloak of Shadows. I just never felt it was needed as things just died quickly once I started hitting them. Now playing untwinked, I would think it would be a critical skill.

 

[LouB]

@little birdy the answer is yes to maxing Blade Mastery as I respected my old trapper to maximize Blade Fury. My experimentation was really just to see how the Eth Cruel War Fist would do in terms of Blade Fury damage. I took it to Larzuk and got a single socket and just put a single 28% ED Jewel in it which brought the one hand damage to 246-294 versus 219-443 for death, So even with the full Nat's set and maxed Claw mastery the LCS numbers were less than what I had for the setup with the axe. I ignored all of the other benefits to using the set.

 

[snickersnack]

Very nice! And, I'm glad that my thread a while back inspired someone.

Wrath is one of those runewords that I never thought much of, but now I plan on making one at some point.