Matriarch/Patriarch/Guardian Archive Thread

Originally posted by humbuggerer on Mar 13, 2010:

Matriarch Sonia -- "Fists of Thunder" assassin

Fists!
of!
Thunder!

!!!!! !!!! !!! !! ! !

Name: Sonia
Class: Assassin
Experience: 883802160
Level: 82

Fists of Fire : 20/34
Claws of Thunder : 20/37
Dragon Tail : 20/34
Phoenix Strike : 20/34
Claw Mastery : 4/7
1 pt in BoS, Fade, CoS, MB and prereqs
(No claw block and no shadow)

MF: 58

Gear:
SotV /s +15 scintillating jewel
Raven frost (20/247)
Kenshi's Amulet of Chance
Lots of rares :)

Rich (BB code):
Raven Bite
War Fist
One Hand Damage: 87 - 118
Durability: 60 of 64
Required Level: 51
Required Strength: 108
Required Dexterity: 108
Fingerprint: 0xf997876c
Item Level: 86
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
85% Enhanced Damage
+63 to Attack Rating
+1 - 7 Lightning Damage
+100 poison damage over 6 seconds
+3 to Claws of Thunder (Assassin Only)
+2 to Dragon Flight (Assassin Only)
+2 to Martial Art Skills (Assassin Only)
+6 to Minimum Damage
+20 to Maximum Damage
Lightning Resist +30%
7% Faster Hit Recovery
1 Sockets (1 used)
Socketed: Ghoul Whorl

Glyph Scratch
Battle Cestus
One Hand Damage: 43 - 91
Durability: 67 of 72
Required Level: 54
Required Strength: 110
Required Dexterity: 110
Fingerprint: 0x86b4d3d3
Item Level: 86
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
20% Enhanced Damage
+1 - 3 Fire Damage
6% Life stolen per hit
+2 to Wake of Inferno (Assassin Only)
+2 to Venom (Assassin Only)
+2 to Martial Art Skills (Assassin Only)
10% Chance to cast level 8 Fire Bolt on striking
41 to Maximum Damage (Based on Char Lvl)
342 to Attack Rating (Based on Char Lvl)
20% Increased Attack Speed
1 Sockets (1 used)
Socketed: Shael Rune

Beast Horn
Diadem
Defense: 58
Durability: 19 of 20
Required Level: 67
Fingerprint: 0x80260f07
Item Level: 86
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
+4 to Minimum Damage
Poison Resist +31%
+2 to Assassin Skill Levels
All Resistances +13
Damage Reduced by 14
1 Sockets (1 used)
Socketed: Sol Rune

Storm Slippers
Boneweave Boots
Defense: 60
Durability: 15 of 16
Required Level: 66
Required Strength: 118
Fingerprint: 0x58aecb74
Item Level: 87
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
Fire Resist +39%
Lightning Resist +37%
16% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
Required Lvl +12
20% Faster Run/Walk
10% Faster Hit Recovery

Carrion Grasp
Heavy Gloves
Defense: 6
Durability: 13 of 14
Required Level: 30
Fingerprint: 0x53914819
Item Level: 86
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
Lightning Resist +18%
3% Life stolen per hit
+2 to Martial Art Skills (Assassin Only)

Bone Buckle
Mesh Belt
Defense: 40
Durability: 15 of 16
Required Level: 25
Required Strength: 58
Fingerprint: 0x93d92738
Item Level: 86
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
+41 to Life
Fire Resist +15%
Cold Resist +25%
63% Extra Gold from Monsters
24% Faster Hit Recovery

Bone Turn
Ring
Required Level: 74
Fingerprint: 0xce3e005a
Item Level: 86
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
+19 to Life
+8 to Mana
+83 to Attack Rating
Fire Resist +20%
6% Mana stolen per hit
+5 to Light Radius
5% Bonus to Attack Rating

Skin of the Vipermagi
Serpentskin Armor
Defense: 279
Durability: 11 of 24
Required Level: 29
Required Strength: 43
Fingerprint: 0xd3f569e3
Item Level: 87
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
120% Enhanced Defense
Magic Damage Reduced by 13
30% Faster Cast Rate
+1 to All Skills
All Resistances +50
1 Sockets (1 used)
Socketed: Scintillating Jewel

Raven Frost
Ring
Required Level: 45
Fingerprint: 0x7c17b6fe
Item Level: 75
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
+20 to Dexterity
+40 to Mana
+247 to Attack Rating
+15 - 45 cold damage with 4 sec Duration
20% Cold Absorb
Cannot Be Frozen

Charms totaling:
261 life
104 AR
46 cold resist
21 fire resist
10 FHR
11 light resist


Merc: Ragnar the Barbarian
'Treachery'
Vamp gaze
and:

Honor
Colossus Blade
One Hand Damage: 105 - 261
Two Hand Damage: 235 - 456
Durability: 26 of 26
Required Level: 63
Required Strength: 179
Required Dexterity: 100
Fingerprint: 0xa59e3d3d
Item Level: 86
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
+10 to Strength
160% Enhanced Damage
+250 to Attack Rating
Replenish Life 10
+1 to All Skills
25% Deadly Strike
Ethereal
7% Life stolen per hit
+1 to Light Radius
+9 to Maximum Damage
+2 to Mana after each Kill
+9 to Minimum Damage
5 Sockets (5 used)

Finds: Stormspire from the pit
Hellforges: lame. Oh sorry, I meant Lem.

My inspiration for this "phoenix striker" came from the two rare claws, both of which came from running pindle and of course my obsessive rare-item fetish. They seemed to fit together well, since the seemingly-useless Raven Bite (in a war fist) would make a nice offhand claw for WSM bugging. And of course the fool's mod w/ 2 MA skills on the main claw was sweet. Plus, they were both the "fist" type, so she looked different (and cool.).

I gave her some of my best gear (lol), and she didn't disappoint.. quite a fun character to play. Weapon speed bugging meant that her attack speed was maxed with zero non-weapon IAS, and her high AR made charging up quite easy: tap the attack button twice and then unleash the sizzles.. the charged bolts would flatten weaker monsters. I decided to use Dtail as a finisher because the group knockback made things much safer, as, especially with no block, things could get dicey in a hurry. With Dtail, there was no need to be too dainty about rushing into battle. Lightning immunes weren't much fun, mostly because the meteors (charge one of PS) take SO LONG to fall out of the sky. Don't really fit with the frantic pace of play you get with an MA assassin.

I did a few pindle and pit runs with her after killing Baal, and she was surprisingly effective (at /p1 of course). (Are there any alvl 85 areas without lightning immunes?)

Thanks for reading 👋
 
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Originally posted by humbuggerer on Nov 28, 2009:

matriarch Leona, blade fury assassin

In case you missed it, see this thread by Ceramic Weasel for the scoop on blade fury. Short Version: max the skill (103-105 base damage at slvl 20), and get as much off-weapon ED and deadly strike as possible. ‘Fortitude’ is the single key item (conveniently, I don’t have one). Damage from claw weapons can be buffed somewhat by CM, but the AR bonus doesn’t apply to blade fury.

Name: Leona
Class: Assassin
Level: 82

Naked/Gear
Strength: 173/189
Dexterity: 100/100
Vitality: 156/156
Energy: 25/29
HP: 817
Mana: 153
AR: 1710 / 7353 w/ BA aura

resists:
Fire/cold/lightning/poison: 75/62/75/75 (with fade)

Skills:
20 Blade Fury
20 Death Sentry
20 Venom
18 ==> 20 Shadow Warrior
1 in remaining shadow tree skills
future points will go .. ?? maybe CM

gear:
“mini-(mini-)forti”:

Natalya's Shadow
Loricated Mail
Defense: 644
Durability: 36 of 36
Required Level: 73
Required Strength: 149
Fingerprint: 0x3db9c7b5
Item Level: 86
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
+198 Defense
Poison Resist +25%
Poison Length Reduced by 75%
+2 to Shadow Discipline Skills (Assassin Only)
82 to Life (Based on Char Lvl)
111% Enhanced Damage
3 Sockets (3 used)
Socketed: Ruby Jewel
Socketed: Ruby Jewel
Socketed: Ruby Jewel

(make a good merc armor for an andy runner, methinks)

other gear:
Guillame’s face
Schaeffer’s hammer
2x pdiamond Moser’s (totally excessive in retrospect)
Gore rider
Laying of hands
String of ears
rare ammy (15% res all, 22% MF)
nagelring
rare ring (+108 AR, 4% ml)
2x +3 shadow claws on swap for buffing

charms:
fine, sharp, and steel
one shadow skiller
Gheed’s

merc:
blessed aim moron
Guillame’s
Reaper’s toll
eth Duriel’s

notes:
The %ED to demons on LoH was very obvious while playing through the game. The difficulty seemed to be inversely proportional to the number of demons. Act 2 was a terrible slog. A pair of gravepalm gloves would have made it much more tolerable, I think, but mine are ethereal, and I never put them on. Overall she was highly dependent on her merc. Without decrepify from reaper’s toll and the blessed aim aura, she was a slow killer. Safe though. The only real problems she faced were hard-hitting monsters that killed the somewhat-underleveled merc. A cursed Lister was a bit of a problem.

Her kill speed in general was pretty good (/p1 the whole way through hell), I thought, but my standards are relatively low. Death sentry does a lot of the killing during normal questing, of course. It should be noted that, with the exception of Baal, the act bosses all died very fast (silly little demons :p). Once separated, the hell ancients were also stupidly easy.

I opted for SW over SM mostly to have some control of the skills the shadow used. Overall, I was happy. She dropped DS pretty regularly, which was nice. She never used mind blast when I didn’t want her to. The SW could even be induced to buff with fade if I had the skill selected when approaching a fight. The shadow doesn’t use BF though, so I guess she was attacking with ‘normal attack’ the whole time. She was a good meat shield, though it took a large investment of skill points.

finds:
shadow skiller of balance
cold skiller

Anya’a quest reward: :surprise:
Loath Scratch
War Fist
One Hand Damage: 215 - 266
Durability: 64 of 64
Required Level: 51
Required Strength: 108
Required Dexterity: 108
Fingerprint: 0x9467876b
Item Level: 81
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
390% Enhanced Damage
+125 to Attack Rating
+7 to Maximum Damage
+4 - 7 cold damage with 4 sec Duration
+1 to Venom (Assassin Only)
Hit Causes Monster to Flee <== 100%!
Level 1 Enchant (11/11 Charges)

HF: hel/pul

future plans:
Pit runner. Wearing stealskull, war travelers, goldwrap, ‘rhyme,’ dual nagelrings, I have to say she isn’t bad. Though I haven’t run the pit before, I think she does ok, even though with a high MF setup it takes her 2-3 hits to kill even the regualr dark stalkers, her overall ability to clear a room is pretty good. Decrep + static field + CE will do that. ;) She can clear “most of” the pit within one cycle of fade (not including running/muling time though), so less than 2 minutes. A highlord’s ammy would, I think, be a nice addition to her MF gear but sadly I don’t have one.

Somebody with fort and a nice eth ‘death’ should give this build a try...

Thanks for reading. :)
 
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Originally posted by humbuggerer on Mar 18, 2011:

Matriarch ex-girlfriend: the venomous furysin

Choose your mat thread:

Click here if you think you can handle the unbridled spoofiness
Oh yeah, I'm so pissed my head could explode. After I saw him with that slut Anya, I almost lost it. At first I wanted to cut him up, but then I thought, nah, too quick. I’ll poison the bastard. Of course by then he’d run off with her to that resort in the Hamptons, what’s it called, Worldstone, and I had to kill like a million different nasty little buddies of his to get to him, but it was so worth it. Oh yeah, I ran into that backstabbing whore on the way. She was in a tough situation, but I decided to let her cool her heels for awhile longer. I finally caught up to B in the steam room, cloning himself. Yeah, no kidding, he’s such an egomaniac that he’s like constantly cloning. Anyway, I got out my broomstick and I totally faked him out. Then bam! right in the nuts. He never saw it coming.

What am I wearing?

So today I'm totally skeleton-head--it's so haute couture. And genuine LV Dancers—real patent leather. I had to go mucking around in those nasty Tunnels for like, ever, to get these boots. B also gave me some wand, mama. It’s not even perfect. No seriously. Last year he gave me this suit that’s like so lame, I mean, thorns?? Are you kidding? Thorns are soooo .09. He also gave me a handbag that I kept around just because I didn’t have anything better. It’s just unlucky, there’s something off about it.

Oh yeah, my new boyfriend Ulric. He is such a stud, he almost made me forget about that loser. He just has this, I don’t know, sparkle about him. And he’s so muscly. Plus I’ve got my shadow to keep me company. She doesn’t say much though, and she’s no good at helping around the house...

Click here for the nitty-gritty
ex-girlfriend
Class: Assassin
Experience: 770503928
Level: 81

Naked/Gear
Strength: 148/200
Dexterity: 105/170
Vitality: 220/220
Energy: 25/25 (yeah, it’s a real stat. Get over it.)
Life: 939
Mana: 194
Defense: 2082
AR: 3879 (BF, after demon limb enchant)

Fire: 75
Cold: 30
Lightning: 75
Poison: 75

FHR: 102
%DR: 34

Skills: (hard pts/level at casting)
Claw Mastery : 1/17
Psychic Hammer : 1/17
Burst of Speed : 1/17
Weapon Block : 1/17
Cloak of Shadows : 1/17
Fade : 14/34
Shadow Warrior : 20/42
Mind Blast : 1/17
Venom : 20/41

Dragon Talon : 20/23

Blade Fury: 1/4
Death Sentry: 1/4

Gears:
Death’s web (-50 ePR, s/eth)
swap: Ribcracker (ethereal for style points; non-upped for 3-frame Dtalon)
Head hunter’s glory (s/3x poison facet)
Giant skull (s/ort, pdiamond)
‘Bramble’ (+50 psd) (Thanks bcoe!)
Shadow amulet of Nirvana (23)
Trang's claws
IK Detail
Raven frost/BKWB
Shadow dancer
For buffing: +3 shadow claw (w/+2 SW); +4 venom claw; +3 shadow coronet; demon limb

Charms:
8x Mentalist’s GC
8x SC of whatever seemed useful

Code:
Death's Web
Unearthed Wand
One Hand Damage: 22 - 28
Durability: 18 of 18
Required Level: 66
Required Strength: 25
Fingerprint: 0x28e52608
Item Level: 88
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
+9 Life after each Kill
+2 to All Skills
+12 to Mana after each Kill
+2 to Poison and Bone Skills (Necromancer Only)
-50% to Enemy Poison Resistance
25% Target Defense
1 Sockets (1 used)
Socketed: Eth Rune

Head Hunter's Glory
Troll Nest
Defense: 563
Chance to Block: 20
Durability: 71 of 74
Required Level: 75
Required Strength: 106
Fingerprint: 0xd8839639
Item Level: 94
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
+392 Defense
+347 Defense vs. Missile
Fire Resist +30%
Poison Resist +34%
+7 Life after each Kill
+109 poison damage over 2 seconds
100% Chance to cast level 153 Poison Nova when you Die
13% to Poison Skill Damage
-13% to Enemy Poison Resistance
3 Sockets (3 used)

Giant Skull
Bone Visage
Defense: 392
Durability: 33 of 40
Required Level: 65
Required Strength: 106
Fingerprint: 0xb5c7581c
Item Level: 81
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
+27 to Strength
+257 Defense
Knockback
10% Chance of Crushing Blow
Lightning Resist +30%
+100 to Attack Rating
2 Sockets (2 used)
Socketed: Ort Rune
Socketed: Perfect Diamond

Bramble
Archon Plate
Defense: 799
Durability: 52 of 60
Required Level: 63
Required Strength: 103
Fingerprint: 0xb91f0812
Item Level: 85
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
+300 Defense
Poison Resist +100%
+13 Life after each Kill
50% Faster Hit Recovery
Level 21 Thorns Aura When Equipped
Level 13 Spirit of Barbs (33/33 Charges)
50% to Poison Skill Damage
Fire Resist +30%
5% to Maximum Cold Resist
5% Increase Maximum Mana
15% Regenerate Mana
4 Sockets (4 used)

Shadow Amulet of Nirvana
Amulet
Required Level: 64
Fingerprint: 0x5d76e0b3
Item Level: 88
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
+23 to Dexterity
+3 to Shadow Discipline Skills (Assassin Only)

Trang-Oul's Claws
Heavy Bracers
Defense: 69
Durability: 14 of 16
Required Level: 45
Required Strength: 58
Fingerprint: 0xaf41b642
Item Level: 86
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
+30 Defense
Cold Resist +30%
20% Faster Cast Rate
+2 to Curses (Necromancer only)
25% to Poison Skill Damage

Bul-Kathos' Wedding Band
Ring
Required Level: 58
Fingerprint: 0xcf8ebc1b
Item Level: 82
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
+50 Maximum Stamina
4% Life stolen per hit
+1 to All Skills
40 to Life (Based on Char Lvl)

Immortal King's Detail
War Belt
Defense: 89
Durability: 20 of 24
Required Level: 29
Required Strength: 110
Fingerprint: 0x9982287a
Item Level: 86
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
+25 to Strength
+36 Defense
Fire Resist +28%
Lightning Resist +31%

Raven Frost
Ring
Required Level: 45
Fingerprint: 0x7c17b6fe
Item Level: 75
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
+20 to Dexterity
+40 to Mana
+247 to Attack Rating
+15 - 45 cold damage with 4 sec Duration
20% Cold Absorb
Cannot Be Frozen

Shadow Dancer
Myrmidon Greaves
Defense: 128
Durability: 20 of 24
Required Level: 71
Required Strength: 167
Fingerprint: 0xa3fbda9
Item Level: 88
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
+22 to Dexterity
78% Enhanced Defense
Requirements -20%
30% Faster Run/Walk
30% Faster Hit Recovery
+2 to Shadow Discipline Skills (Assassin Only)

Ribcracker
Quarterstaff
Two Hand Damage: 72 - 203
Durability: 113 of 16
Required Level: 31
Required Strength: 15
Fingerprint: 0xf49a64dc
Item Level: 87
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
+15 to Dexterity
100% Enhanced Defense
255% Enhanced Damage
+30 to Minimum Damage
+65 to Maximum Damage
+100 Defense
+100 Maximum Durability
50% Increased Attack Speed
50% Faster Hit Recovery
50% Chance of Crushing Blow
Ethereal

Merc: Ulric the Barb
‘Lawbringer’ eBB
‘Fortitude’
Vamp gaze

After I found the near-perfect DW, I wanted to use it for something heretical... The idea was to see if venom could kill things in hell all on its own. It can, barely. BF was nice since I loathe single-target attacks. Her gear choices were pretty easy once I decided to use the ribcracker swap with Dtalon.

Gameplay was pretty simple. Buff to the max (demon limb, SW, fade, venom) and then sling some blades at the baddies (using DW ofc). For bosses or poison immunes, swap to the ‘cracker and kick some *** with talon. Even with all this stuff, venom was barely tolerable as a lone killing skill (not that I’m patient or anything).

Very special thanks to bcoe for letting me use his perfect ‘bramble.’ 👍

Thanks to y’all for reading.
 
Last edited:
Originally posted by janooo on Mar 18, 2012:

Matriarch #2 - Lightning Trapsin

Let me introduce my 2nd Matriarch, Reni, the Trapsin.
Last time I played a Trapsin I've had a hard drive crash (it was just after 1.13c came out). I lost both the char and a Vex I've found with her (my highest rune ever back then) in the process. As you can see it really took me a lot of time to beat the game with this build. :)
She was named after my girlfriend btw, :p and she is going to be my next PvP char after gaining a few more levels.

The Character:
Rich (BB code):
Reni, lvl 88 Assassin

Stats: Naked/Gear
Strength:   70/77
Dexterity:  55/70
Vitality:   350/357
Energy:     25/32
Unspent points: 35

Life: 1636
Mana: 437

Resists in Hell:
Fire: 2
Cold: 9
Lightning: 15
Poison: -17

Lightning Sentry damage: 1-7526
Death Sentry damage: 1-3148
Fire Blast damage: 4354-5099
Skills:
Traps:
Lightning Sentry, Death Sentry, Shock Web - 20 (40)
Fire Blast - 20 (41)
Charged Bolt Sentry - 9 (29)
Wake of Fire - 1 (22)

Shadow Disciplines:
Everything except Venom - 1 (9)

The Gear:
Code:
Helm:    Harlequin Crest (PTopazed)
Armor:  'Treachery' Gothic Plate
Gloves:  Magefist
Belt:    Goldwrap  -> forgot Arach @lvl80
Boots:  'Gale Shank' rare Wyrmhide Boots (30FRW/8Dex/19CR/34LR/23PR/25MF)
Amulet:  Mara's Kaleidoscope (30@res)
Ring 1:  The Stone of Jordan
Ring 2:  The Stone of Jordan
Claw 1:  Cunning Blade Talons of Swiftness
Claw 2:  Cunning Blade Talons of Alacrity
Switch:  2x Shadow Scissors Katar

Charms: 
GCs: 6x Entrapping skillers of Vita/Sustenance (39, 35, 34, 34, 34, 33)
SCs: 4x Ruby SC (11, 11, 10, 10), 2x Amber SC (11, 10)
Also both tomes and cube in inventory, 2x4 free space
Readouts:
Code:
Reni's Harlequin Crest
Shako
Defense: 105
Durability: 12 of 12
Required Level: 62
Required Strength: 50
Fingerprint: 0x81da3e32
Item Level: 87
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+2 to All Skills
All Stats +2
+132 to Life (Based on Character Level)
+132 to Mana (Based on Character Level)
Damage Reduced by 10%
74% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
1 Sockets (1 used)
Socketed: Perfect Topaz

Treachery
Gothic Plate
ShaelThulLem
Defense: 132
Durability: 55 of 55
Required Level: 43
Required Strength: 70
Fingerprint: 0xc09139f
Item Level: 36
Version: Expansion 1.10+
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)
Socketed: Shael Rune
Socketed: Thul Rune
Socketed: Lem Rune

Magefist
Light Gauntlets
Defense: 25
Durability: 18 of 18
Required Level: 23
Required Strength: 45
Fingerprint: 0xa5431b7e
Item Level: 88
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+1 to Fire Skills
+20% Faster Cast Rate
Adds 1 - 6 Fire Damage
+27% Enhanced Defense
+10 Defense
Regenerate Mana 25%

Goldwrap
Heavy Belt
Defense: 35
Durability: 18 of 18
Required Level: 27
Required Strength: 45
Fingerprint: 0xce699b63
Item Level: 49
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+10% Increased Attack Speed
+49% Enhanced Defense
+25 Defense
77% Extra Gold from Monsters
30% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
+2 to Light Radius

Gale Shank
Wyrmhide Boots
Defense: 62
Durability: 12 of 12
Required Level: 45
Required Strength: 50
Fingerprint: 0x87602f99
Item Level: 79
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+30% Faster Run/Walk
+8 to Dexterity
Cold Resist +19%
Lightning Resist +34%
Poison Resist +23%
25% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items

Mara's Kaleidoscope
Amulet
Required Level: 67
Fingerprint: 0x4969e434
Item Level: 87
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+2 to All Skills
All Stats +5
All Resistances +30

The Stone of Jordan
Ring
Required Level: 29
Fingerprint: 0x6597ecc9
Item Level: 49
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+1 to All Skills
Adds 1 - 12 Lightning Damage
+20 to Mana
Increase Maximum Mana 25%

The Stone of Jordan
Ring
Required Level: 29
Fingerprint: 0xd5206135
Item Level: 49
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+1 to All Skills
Adds 1 - 12 Lightning Damage
+20 to Mana
Increase Maximum Mana 25%

Cunning Blade Talons of Swiftness
Blade Talons
One Hand Damage: 10 - 14
Durability: 69 of 69
Required Level: 45
Required Strength: 50
Required Dexterity: 50
Fingerprint: 0x8a67cb78
Item Level: 95
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+3 to Trap Skills (Assassin Only)
+30% Increased Attack Speed

Cunning Blade Talons of Alacrity
Blade Talons
One Hand Damage: 10 - 14
Durability: 69 of 69
Required Level: 45
Required Strength: 50
Required Dexterity: 50
Fingerprint: 0x1d19402a
Item Level: 99
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+3 to Trap Skills (Assassin Only)
+20% Increased Attack Speed

Shadow Scissors Katar
Scissors Katar
One Hand Damage: 9 - 17
Durability: 68 of 68
Required Level: 45
Required Strength: 55
Required Dexterity: 55
Fingerprint: 0x8813dfd3
Item Level: 99
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+3 to Shadow Discipline Skills (Assassin Only)

Shadow Scissors Katar
Scissors Katar
One Hand Damage: 9 - 17
Durability: 68 of 68
Required Level: 45
Required Strength: 55
Required Dexterity: 55
Fingerprint: 0x2d866d05
Item Level: 99
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+3 to Shadow Discipline Skills (Assassin Only)
Charms:
Code:
Entrapping Grand Charm of Vita
Grand Charm
Required Level: 69
Fingerprint: 0xace850b
Item Level: 99
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+1 to Trap Skills (Assassin Only)
+39 to Life

Entrapping Grand Charm of Sustenance
Grand Charm
Required Level: 53
Fingerprint: 0x9fcd93ad
Item Level: 85
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+1 to Trap Skills (Assassin Only)
+35 to Life

Entrapping Grand Charm of Sustenance
Grand Charm
Required Level: 53
Fingerprint: 0x12fd7f90
Item Level: 80
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+1 to Trap Skills (Assassin Only)
+34 to Life

Entrapping Grand Charm of Sustenance
Grand Charm
Required Level: 53
Fingerprint: 0x3e4fba89
Item Level: 85
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+1 to Trap Skills (Assassin Only)
+34 to Life

Entrapping Grand Charm of Sustenance
Grand Charm
Required Level: 53
Fingerprint: 0xfc664c53
Item Level: 86
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+1 to Trap Skills (Assassin Only)
+34 to Life

Entrapping Grand Charm of Sustenance
Grand Charm
Required Level: 53
Fingerprint: 0xa84561cf
Item Level: 94
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+1 to Trap Skills (Assassin Only)
+33 to Life

Amber Small Charm
Small Charm
Required Level: 32
Fingerprint: 0x44b1ea33
Item Level: 85
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Lightning Resist +10%

Amber Small Charm
Small Charm
Required Level: 32
Fingerprint: 0xd467e6e9
Item Level: 85
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Lightning Resist +11%

Ruby Small Charm
Small Charm
Required Level: 32
Fingerprint: 0xc15e00b9
Item Level: 86
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Fire Resist +11%

Ruby Small Charm
Small Charm
Required Level: 32
Fingerprint: 0xbe93c656
Item Level: 80
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Fire Resist +11%

Ruby Small Charm
Small Charm
Required Level: 32
Fingerprint: 0x2dd96455
Item Level: 85
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Fire Resist +10%

Ruby Small Charm
Small Charm
Required Level: 32
Fingerprint: 0x2464e1d9
Item Level: 80
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Fire Resist +10%

The merc:
Azrael, act2 Normal diff. Combat aura
Helm: Andariel's Visage
Armor: 'Treachery' Dusk Shroud
Weapon: 'Infinity' 1.07 eth Giant Thresher
Code:
Andariel's Visage
Demonhead
Defense: 331
Durability: 20 of 20
Required Level: 83
Required Strength: 102
Fingerprint: 0x9885d113
Item Level: 86
Version: Expansion 1.10+
15% Chance to cast level 15 Poison Nova when struck
+2 to All Skills
+20% Increased Attack Speed
8% Life stolen per hit
+114% Enhanced Defense
+30 to Strength
+10% to Maximum Poison Resist
Fire Resist -30%
Poison Resist +70%
Level 3 Venom (20/20 Charges)

Treachery
Dusk Shroud
ShaelThulLem
Defense: 999
Durability: 11 of 11
Required Level: 49
Required Strength: 67
Fingerprint: 0xb4f5ac73
Item Level: 79
Version: Expansion 1.10+
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
Ethereal
3 Sockets (3 used)
Socketed: Shael Rune
Socketed: Thul Rune
Socketed: Lem Rune

Infinity
Giant Thresher
BerMalBerIst
Two Hand Damage: 261 - 745
Durability: 28 of 28
Required Level: 66
Required Strength: 178
Required Dexterity: 130
Fingerprint: 0x66a85965
Item Level: 87
Version: Expansion
50% Chance to cast level 20 Chain Lightning when you Kill an Enemy
Level 12 Conviction Aura When Equipped
+35% Faster Run/Walk
336% Enhanced Damage
-46% to Enemy Lightning Resistance
40% Chance of Crushing Blow
Prevent Monster Heal
+44 to Vitality (Based on Character Level)
30% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
Level 21 Cyclone Armor (30/30 Charges)
Ethereal
4 Sockets (4 used)
Socketed: Ber Rune
Socketed: Mal Rune
Socketed: Ber Rune
Socketed: Ist Rune

Questing:
Not much to say here, probably everyone at least tried out Trapsins by now and I didn't really invented anything new with this char..
It was quite slow going at the beginning as I forced the traps instead of meleeing/hax Raven Clawing my way through normal. I relied a lot on the merc and the Shadow when they became available. Put on 1.07 RC against Andy, she went down in like 5-6 shots iirc.
Needless to say, the progress was much faster with act2 merc. I was quite lazy and didn't do anything until lvl24 (LS) aside from BoS and summoning the Shadow. Normal became a joke after I put on the usual caster gear (SoJs, Vipermagi, Insight). Hit lvl45 in WSK so I was able to equip my endgame claws there. It was pretty cool that Shadow Master had twice as much life as me.
First death came in the Palace (nightmare), I was killed by a triple bosspack of horror archers. Rest of nm was quite fast, though the merc was killed a few times in act5.
I prepared the char for Hell in act 1 and put on Mara's, skillers and some resist SCs to boost both damage and defense. Before and after. I enjoyed questing with her, so I decided to do full clears. Varied the player settings a bit, but most of the time I went on /p7 (and died a couple times because of it).
Started to use Fire Blast in Hell also, don't think I touched it before that. It came handy against unbreakable light immune horrors in act2 Tombs and in the Spider Forest which spawned 3 types of light immune monsters.
I don't remember if I ever encountered this map layout in act3 Sewers. Usually the entrance to lvl2 spawns in some corner for me, not in the middle of the map. Weird stuff.
Merc went down instantly against Diablo, but it wasn't really a problem, I layed the traps from far and killed him off-screen. Merc sleeping in Chaos Sanctuary.
Shadow was a huge help against ancients. First the mana burn + cursed leaper jumped on me, than the might aura WW-er took down the merc and the Shadow and finally, all three started to chasing me. I run in circles, laid traps and resummoned the Shadow as fast as I could. After a while they fell one by one and I was left with Madawc. He was killed much more easily, just had to recast the Shadow and spam Fire Blasts. Here is a picture of merc sleeping on the top of Mount Arreat.
Baal was quite easy I must say. My tactic was quite simple: hide behind a pillar and lay traps from there. :p
I mastered this technique during the game btw and used it quite often. (I would like to draw your attention to the merc :p)

Finds:
Hellforge: Thul/Ko/Um
Hotspur from the Smith in normal
Not much else :/

Thoughts:
Died a lot of times because I forgot I have skills like Mind Blast and Cloak of Shadows. Next time I make an assassin I will use those a lot more.
I enjoyed questing with her, it was great but this was the last time probably when I did full clears.

Future:
Some Pindle/Baal runs for leveling, respec, then trading/shopping for another nice claw and then PvP (hopefully).

Thanks for reading!
👋
 
Originally posted by KoalaBear on Oct 17, 2012:

Matriarch KickKoala - Untwinked Trap Assasin

Name: KickKoala
Class: Assassin
Experience: 1465020051
Level: 88

Naked/Gear
Strength: 94/125
Dexterity: 73/87
Vitality: 313/323
Energy: 25/25
HP: 1163/1182
Mana: 155/155
Stamina: 570/570
Defense: 18/656
AR: 100000329/100000617

Fire: 121/81/21
Cold: 109/69/9
Lightning: 127/87/27
Poison: 121/81/21

MF: 215 Block: 10
GF: 128
FR/W: 28
FHR: 5
IAS: 0
FCR: 30

Skills
Fire Blast: 18/25
Shock Web: 20/27
Blade Sentinel: 0/0
Charged Bolt Sentry: 13/20
Wake of Fire: 0/0
Blade Fury: 0/0
Lightning Sentry: 20/27
Wake of Inferno: 0/0
Death Sentry: 20/27
Blade Shield: 0/0

Claw Mastery: 1/8
Psychic Hammer: 1/8
Burst of Speed: 1/8
Weapon Block: 1/8
Cloak of Shadows: 1/8
Fade: 1/8
Shadow Warrior: 1/8
Mind Blast: 1/8

Gear
Rich (BB code):
Head
Bitter Shell
Tiara
Defense: 47
Durability: 24 of 25
Required Level: 67
Fingerprint: 0x27013760
Item Level: 86
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+2 to Assassin Skill Levels
Adds 1 - 79 Lightning Damage
Damage Reduced by 4
Magic Damage Reduced by 3
Half Freeze Duration


Skin of the Vipermagi
Serpentskin Armor
Defense: 279
Durability: 24 of 24
Required Level: 29
Required Strength: 43
Fingerprint: 0xbe7c92f5
Item Level: 62
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+1 to All Skills
+30% Faster Cast Rate
+120% Enhanced Defense
All Resistances +30
Magic Damage Reduced by 9


Nagelring
Ring
Required Level: 7
Fingerprint: 0x91b207c1
Item Level: 40
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+69 to Attack Rating
Magic Damage Reduced by 3
Attacker Takes Damage of 3
23% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items


Nagelring
Ring
Required Level: 7
Fingerprint: 0xc7ee34b4
Item Level: 22
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+50 to Attack Rating
Magic Damage Reduced by 3
Attacker Takes Damage of 3
29% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items


War Traveler
Battle Boots
Defense: 127
Durability: 48 of 48
Required Level: 42
Required Strength: 95
Fingerprint: 0x8d9bc421
Item Level: 82
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+25% Faster Run/Walk
Adds 15 - 25 Damage
+166% Enhanced Defense
+10 to Strength
+10 to Vitality
40% Slower Stamina Drain
Attacker Takes Damage of 8
47% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
+30 Maximum Durability

Belt
Credendum
Mithril Coil
Defense: 113
Durability: 15 of 16
Required Level: 65
Required Strength: 106
Fingerprint: 0xa93bbf8
Item Level: 81
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+50 Defense
+10 to Strength
+10 to Dexterity
All Resistances +15

Glove
Havoc Fist
Bramble Mitts
Defense: 69
Durability: 12 of 12
Required Level: 42
Required Strength: 50
Fingerprint: 0x1177e94b
Item Level: 80
Version: Expansion 1.10+
10% Chance to cast level 3 Charged Bolt when struck
+10% Enhanced Defense
+4 to Dexterity
Lightning Resist +5%
Poison Resist +28%
25% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items

Weapon
Pain Song
Cestus
One Hand Damage: 7 - 25
Durability: 216 of 216
Required Level: 42
Required Strength: 42
Required Dexterity: 42
Fingerprint: 0xf4ba4c08
Item Level: 84
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+2 to Assassin Skill Levels
11% Enhanced Damage
+9 to Maximum Damage
+72 to Attack Rating
+5 to Strength
Repairs 1 Durability in 20 Seconds

Witch-hunter's Blade Talons of Craftmanship
Blade Talons
One Hand Damage: 10 - 15
Durability: 69 of 69
Required Level: 42
Required Strength: 50
Required Dexterity: 50
Fingerprint: 0xd52ae794
Item Level: 90
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+2 to Assassin Skill Levels
+1 to Maximum Damage

Scintillating Amulet of Luck
Amulet
Required Level: 25
Fingerprint: 0x9c75cd49
Item Level: 54
Version: Expansion 1.10+
All Resistances +13
33% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items

Weapon switch for gamble:whistling:
Edge
Composite Bow
TirTalAmn
Two Hand Damage: 4 - 8
Durability: 31 of 36
Required Level: 25
Required Strength: 25
Required Dexterity: 35
Fingerprint: 0xc59ee80d
Item Level: 43
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Level 15 Thorns Aura When Equipped
+35% Increased Attack Speed
+362% Damage to Demons
+280% Damage to Undead
Adds 75 Poison Damage Over 5 Secs (125 Frames)
7% Life stolen per hit
Prevent Monster Heal
All Stats +5
+2 to Mana after each Kill
Reduces all Vendor Prices 15%



Mercenary:

Name: Kasim
Race: Desert Mercenary
Type: Off-Nightmare
Experience: 82707624
Level: 88
Dead?: false

Naked/Gear
Strength: 191/212
Dexterity: 154/180
HP: 1887/1921
Defense: 1387/2471
AR: 1946/430066

Fire: 185/145/85
Cold: 166/126/66
Lightning: 184/144/84
Poison: 166/126/66


Gear
Code:
Ghoul Mantle
Balrog Skin
Defense: 833
Durability: 19 of 30
Required Level: 57
Required Strength: 165
Fingerprint: 0x17aab521
Item Level: 86
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+10% Faster Hit Recovery
+61% Enhanced Defense
+34 to Life
Lightning Resist +18%
Fire Resist +19%
Magic Damage Reduced by 3


Natalya's Totem
Grim Helm
Defense: 251
Durability: 39 of 40
Required Level: 59
Required Strength: 58
Fingerprint: 0xab958fc9
Item Level: 86
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+164 Defense
+16 to Strength
+21 to Dexterity
All Resistances +14
Magic Damage Reduced by 3



Insight
Thresher
RalTirTalSol
Two Hand Damage: 45 - 432
Durability: 41 of 65
Required Level: 53
Required Strength: 152
Required Dexterity: 118
Fingerprint: 0x523ad7e3
Item Level: 81
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Level 13 Meditation Aura When Equipped
+35% Faster Cast Rate
207% Enhanced Damage
+9 to Minimum Damage
220% 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



Oops:
This is my first mat:). Starting this game on August when i have got bored at other games. At first glance, the dark environment and 2d really make me :crazyeyes:.

Went through normal and nightmare on P8, and P1 on hell( immune make me :rant:).
The hell ancient is really damn challenge for me. Try at least 20 times to defeat them where both Kolic and Marc are LI:hang:. Both are handled by Fire blast, my merc and shadow warrior (1st time I really happy put a point on this skill).

Find:
Ist from countess run, the reaper's toll from pindle, Bartuc's Cut-Throat from a cheat at room outside countess, Arioc's needle (+3 all skills), and more ( coz this is the first mat :) )

Hell HF :Mal

Imbue/Socket/Personalise : NO:whistling:

Death : some... at least one at Hell ancient

Future plan : after another 6 untwinked char than maybe progress for lv 99?
 
Last edited:
Originally posted by LD50 on Sep 14, 2009:

Matriarch Merissa, an untwinked, mercless trapper

Oh yeah.. Finally, finally, I finish my sept.

Last one to beat hell Baal was Merissa, a trapsin. She went untwinked all the way, and didn’t use a merc. That’s because assassins work alone, and ninjas don’t have sidekicks that are mildly amusing but mostly just annoying. She had the rogue merc for a while but then the poor thing met her demise and Merissa thought that well, if you’re too weak to live, be dead.

The details:

Character info:
Title: Matriarch
Name: Merissa
Class: Assassin
Level: 82

Stats (base/gear):

LCS and Trap skilltree

Strength: 60/79
Dexterity: 55/64
Vitality: 230/230
Energy: 25/25

Life: 902/1001
Mana: 146/176

Defence: 260 (36% weapon block)

135 Stat points left. I saved these, because I was hoping for some good claws (that never came), and as I have no experience with assassins, I didn’t know how much str/dex I’d need (and was too lazy to figure it out).

Lightning sentry damage: 1-3067 (fires 10 times)
Death sentry damage: 1-1570 (fires 11 times)
Fire Blast damage: 1210-1504

Resists in hell:
Fire: 63
Cold: 38
Lightning: 75
Poison: -23

Skills (base/with eq):
Lightning Sentry: 20/26
Death Sentry: 20/26
Fire Blast: 20/26
Shock Web: 20/26
Charged bolt Sentry: 3/9

One point in prerequisites and 1/3 points in all Shadow Discipline skills, except Venom.

1 Skill point left, because I got a level from killing Baal.

Final equipment:

Head: Duskdeep (for the 15 res all)
Amulet: Amber (32%) of Luck (35%)
Body: Rare Field Plate (28 fire, 20 light, 17 psn res, -15req)
Weapon1: +2 assassin skills Scissors Katar
Weapon2: +3 traps Blade Talons (shopped from hell Anya, before +1 skills claws)
Rings: Scintillating (15@) of protection (2 dr), Nagelring (20mf)
Belt, Boots, Gloves:

Code:
Storm Strap
Demonhide Sash
Defense: 63
Durability: 11 of 12
Required Level: 50
Required Strength: 20
Fingerprint: 0xf1e6c37f
Item Level: 86
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties: 
+17 to Strength
+42 to Life
81% Enhanced Defense
Fire Resist +28%
Lightning Resist +19%
Replenish Life 7

Grim Nails
Heavy Boots
Defense: 6
Durability: 8 of 14
Required Level: 37
Required Strength: 18
Fingerprint: 0xd2105a6
Item Level: 72
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties: 
Fire Resist +23%
Lightning Resist +6%
Cold Resist +38%
+1 - 18 Lightning Damage
24% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
10% Faster Run/Walk

Fiend Finger
Gauntlets
Defense: 23
Durability: 15 of 24
Required Level: 14
Required Strength: 60
Fingerprint: 0xdf19e117
Item Level: 63
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties: 
45% Enhanced Defense
Lightning Resist +29%
19% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
10% Chance to cast level 3 Charged Bolt when struck

Charms: One trap skiller with 14 life, Gheeds, others with some crappy resist/life mods.

Merc:

Sharyn the rogue died somewhere in normal act2, and Merissa let her rest in peace. Here she has been brought back to marvel at the Worldstone, now that it’s safe to do it.

Finds:
Since I’ve not really played assassins before, I’ve never really noticed how claws with oskills seem to be almost nonexistent. You get a skill in them like 1 in 20 found. Compare that to wands and you might get a bit jealous… Diablo made me go “hooray”, but that soon turned to something else, as at first I only thought “zomg unik leet clawz!1” before it sunk in that yeah, those were really not the ones I was hoping for…

Runes: Lum from hell HF, NM might have been a Ko, but I don’t really remember. A Pul somewhere was the highest.

Spiritual Grand Charm of Sustenance (29), but other than those, and the boots :smug:, not much.


Discussion:

I played Merissa very occasionally, which made it unnecessarily hard, due to me not having a “touch” for her. Only at the very end I kinda got familiar with her, since I played all of act 5 in two days, and act 4 in 2 before that. Now that I’m comfortable with her, she’s a pretty cool girl. For the above reasons, I died pretty much earlier on, but in act5 only once, to Nihlathak and his wand of remote death.

She was not a particularly strong character, but then again her gear is what it is. I played at players1 from late NM on (p3 before), and that was smooth enough. I ended up using Mind Blast more than CoS, except in more confined areas, like the WSK and such indoor areas. I felt it was better because it made all the monsters swarm close to the converted, ready to be slaughtered by LS and DS, and also Fire Blast.

Lightning immunes were sometimes little more than food for DS, but depending on the other monsters, could be very hard too. I often respawned monsters, since 2 high-life lightning immune monster types with one non-lightning immune monster with low life is not fun. Sure, it was usually manageable with Fire Blast and liberal use of Mind Blast and CoS, but it was just too tedious for my taste. I had a wand of Lower Resistance on switch, and sometimes I used that to help in tough spots and with bosses obviously.

Last session started from Ancients wp. The Ancients were pretty stressful, but in the end not very hard. Throw some juvies on the ground, cast 5 LS’s, hit altar. Cast LR and run around trying to not get hit, occasionally casting more traps and LR. At first I thought that I’d Mind Blast them to keep them away but that didn’t work too well. Luckily the lightning immune Ancient is the thrower, so the final blows were dealt western style, standing face to face throwing stuff at each other. I won.

Baal was also pretty cake (o’rly?), but there were some scary moments with tentacles and clones and ice-wedges and whatnot.

I think Baal thought that we’re playing classic, and got me a little treat.

Future plans:

Don’t know yet. Of course some change of gear might be in order, maybe get a merc, give him the Infinity and go visit Baal again, see how that goes?

Wrap-up:

Now that I don’t feel bad about not having matted/patted all classes I might actually get to doing some other builds too…

Thank you for reading, have a nice week! 👋
 
Originally posted by Low Key on Nov 13, 2008:

Matriarch Tezaera - Statless Trapper

Another new mat, that I actually mat'd some weeks ago, but I might as well write this while I still remember something about it. :p

In the past I've done a couple of no-Vitality characters, an Amazon and a Paladin. Both characters proved to be pretty interesting and surprisingly durable, considering the low vitality. So I thought I should visit the same concept for the third time, but this time forgoing the use of stats all together. I also decided not use the runewords Delirium and Call to Arms, so it wouldn't be too easy.

Turns out is was plenty easy without them.

Matriarch Tezaera - 435 stat points unused.


Stats


Not really much to say about these, beyond what the above screenshot shows. Overall I had pretty easy time, since a trapper is essentially a caster build, so I could make due with extremely low stats for requirements, etc. Having 4 possible Jewel sockets in weaponry also really helped. More about that in the items section.

Skills

Death Sentry
- 20 (37)
Lightning Sentry - 20 (37)
Charged Bolt Sentry - 20 (37)
Fire Blast - 18 (35)
Shock Web - 9 (26)

Shadow Master, Cloak of Shadows, Mind Blast, Burst of Speed, Weapon Block - 1 (8, 14 when pre-buffed)

In retrospect, I think I probably made things way too easy for myself by choosing a pure trapper. Anyone who has ever played one should know just how insanely powerful the build is, yet being very safe at the same time. I did pick the class for these two reasons, thinking that being dependant mostly on Lightning damage would balance it out and make things more difficult for me. Seems I was wrong.

I really, really underestimated how well Death Sentry and Fire Blast take care of lightning immunes. 3k damage from each Blast easily takes out on enemy starting the Death Sentry chain reaction. On lower player settings this tactic was almost faster than using Lightning Sentries alone.

On top of that, any other difficulty I would have had with enemies was mostly negated by Cloak of Shadows and Mind Blast, as always when playing Assassins. The smart use of those two skills will keep you alive, no matter what you are facing. Gloams going blind, Frenzytaurs being pinned to a wall by Mind Blasts, etc. These two skills are probably one of the best in the entire game and they only take 1p each. Got to love 'em.

One skill I found fairly useful was Shadow Master, even if some people dislike her here. Sure, it's a pain when she goes overriding your trap placements, Mind Blasting the wrong things and attracting mobs, but the utility of having a durable summon that you can recast made up for it often. My merc always died before the Shadow Master and if the shadow went down, I was one click away from getting another one. Worth the 1p, in my opinion.

Items

Weapons
- Pair of Entrapping Blade Talons with 2os and Jewels.
These were socketed with +Str, -req% jewels, allowing me to wear both of them and other items. The +6 to trap skills helped too.
Switch - Pair of Shadow Blade Talons with plain -req jewels.
Head - Shako
Armour - Up'd Skin of the Vipermagi with Um, +50 All res.
Gloves - Rare gloves with +10 to both Str and Dex
Belt - Rare belt with Str, Life, FHR, resists.
Boots - Waterwalks
Jewelry - BKWB, SoJ, Mara's.
Charms - 4x Trapping skiller, 3x GC's with resists and +Str or Dex, several SC's with +All resist and life.

Merc - Holy Freeze. Eth Insight Cryptic Axe, Eth Vamp Gaze, Fortitude Archon Plate.

I really misjudged just what equipment I could use. I was mentally prepared for having to use very sub-standard equipment, but it turns out I could use near normal caster gear. Even with normal stat placement, the only change would like be switching the belt to an Arachnid Mesh and the Gloves to something else.

Code:
Cunning Blade Talons
One-Hand Damage: 10 to 14
Durability: 69 of 69
(Assassin Only)
Required Dexterity: 35
Required Strength: 35
Required Level: 45
Claw Class - Fast Attack Speed
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 97
Fingerprint: 0x348ab61
+13 to Strength
+7 to Dexterity
Cold Resist +20%
Requirements -30%
+3 to Trap Skills (Assassin Only)
Socketed (2: 2 used)

Cunning Blade Talons
One-Hand Damage: 12 to 14
Durability: 69 of 69
(Assassin Only)
Required Dexterity: 35
Required Strength: 35
Required Level: 45
Claw Class - Fast Attack Speed
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 94
Fingerprint: 0xecf2f79
+16 to Strength
+10 to Mana
+2 to Minimum Damage
Heal Stamina Plus 15%
Requirements -30%
+3 to Trap Skills (Assassin Only)
Socketed (2: 2 used)

Fiend Grasp
Heavy Gloves
Defense: 8
Durability: 14 of 14
Required Level: 51
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 86
Fingerprint: 0x539e601d
+10 to Strength
+11 to Dexterity
+16% Enhanced Defense
Fire Resist +22%
Cold Resist +12%
3% Mana stolen per hit

Imp Cord
Demonhide Sash
Defense: 53
Durability: 10 of 12
Required Strength: 20
Required Level: 50
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 86
Fingerprint: 0x1c6f6ed8
+17 to Strength
+57 to Life
+53% Enhanced Defense
Cold Resist +30%
Poison Resist +15%
24% Faster Hit Recovery

Find were pretty uninteresting, though I did get a good amount of good Ruby jewels and my Hellforges were Io - Gul. 👍

Still, I wish I would sometimes find something really good while questing.

Thoughts

Normal difficulty was taken care of with a 1.09 Ravenclaw, Nightmare was easy, since I started it with near full trapping gear at level 45. Enough about those. They might as well be an extended character generation and tutorial, as far as I'm concerned.

Act 1 Hell is always where the fun starts for me and this was no exception. I started out with p8, since I was already doing a great amount of damage and a high player setting really didn't slow me down. I ended up keeping this setting for the entire act. Nothing terribly difficult here, though some Lightning Immune Rogue Archers and Damned did give me some trouble. Tanking with merc + shadow and CoS and Mind Blast kept me safe. But I did have to park Griswold, who spawned LI/FI and kept killing my merc in two hits. Oh well.

Act 2 was pretty similar. A lot of weak non-LI enemies, like Burning Dead and pretty much everything inside Arcane Sanctuary, etc. I kept the p8 setting, expect for Maggot Lair. No way I'd be able to Fire Blast my way through that, without the ability to use tanks effectively. Beyond that, it was easy going.

Act 3 is where things started getting more difficult, greeting me with huge hordes of LI Cloud Chasers, Soul Killers, Gloams and other nasty monsters in the first few jungle areas. I was able to keep up with the p8 setting, though. Thanks to the horde type monsters having low health, Fire Blast/DS was still working. The city parts were pretty easy too, with Travincal being surprisingly easy. All of the council spawned inside the building, so I just spammed traps in from the windows and then went to mop out what was left. The Durance was huge, difficult and annoying as hell, so I dropped to p3 there and that remained as my setting for the rest of the acts, too.

Act 4 was the first really difficult act for me. All the areas spawned LI enemies for me, making my progress relatively slow. It's a short act, so nothing much to report. Chaos Sanctuary was pretty easy, since the only LI enemies there are Stranglers, which are mostly harmless. Oblivion Knights fail to impress casters.

Act 5 was pretty bizarre for me. I played it through in one sitting, that must have taken only and hour or two. It spawned absolutely no LI enemies on any area. Even boss packs with LI's were very, very rare. As a result I went through the act like a hot knife through butter. In retrospect, I probably had the easiest time here when compared to all the other acts. Ancients were done at p1, with me running in a circle while merc and shadow tanked and traps blasted away. Ball and his minions were a pushover, too. Lack of LI's really made it easy.

All of the act bosses were done in the exact same way. Keep summoning the dying Shadow to keep them busy, while the merc pokes and traps blast.

Thanks

I traded with alot of poeple for this character, so thanks for all you!
Special mention to Nagato, NagisaFurukawa's assassin which served as an inspiration for the character.

And thanks for reading this! 👍
 
Last edited:
Originally posted by @maxicek on Mar 13, 2008:

(M/P)atriachs Serenity, Katinka & de_Carabas

I finished most of these characters around the beginning of this year, I was waiting to get to a bit higher levels with them all before posting the threads. Denton said he hadn't seen the Mat thread for one of my characters in a Baal run, so here it is.

All three of these characters are designed for PvP. I know that puts some people off builds, but I think these three are good illustrations of how you can have a very capable PvM character and build something for PvP too. I'm stepping back from saying "capable PvP character" here, because none of them have yet sepped out onto the Blood Moor.

All equipment listed is what I used for questing, I will be tweaking it a bit for PvP.

Matriach Serenity - Blizzard Sorceress
Serenity is my second Blizz sorc, my first is my MF character. She is built almost exactly the same way, the only real difference is she has Strength and Dexterity for max block with a Stormshield. She is currently equipped for MFing and I am doing P8 Pindle runs with her. This has levelled her up to ** already, but the finds haven't been great. What more can you ask for in a character - probably the best MF character in the game and a capable PvP character too?

Skills
20 Blizzard
20 Ice Blast
20 Glacial Spike
20 Cold Mastery
5+ Ice Bolt (all points now go here)
1 in each cold armour
1 in Frozen Orb (miss click)
1 Warmth / Teleport / Static

Equipment
Weapon 1 - Death's Fathom (29%)
Shield 1 - Stormshield 'Eld'

Switch - Nothing PvM

Helm - Nightwing's Veil
Armour - Skin of the Vipermagi
Belt - Arachnid Mesh
Boots - Natalya's Soul
Gloves - Trang's Claws

Amulet - Tal Rasha's Amulet
Ring 1 - Rare with FCR
Ring 2 - Stone of Jordan

Inventory - 2x Cold skillers, resistance charms, 2x tomes & the cube.


Finds / Hellforge
Io NM, He Hell. No other finds of note when questing.

Random Thoughts
Nothing to say here that hasn't already been said in 100s of Blizz sorc Mat threads. Teleport & Telekinesis solve all CI problems, including rescuing Anya & getting the viper amulet.


Matriach Katinka - Lightning Trapper
Katinka is my first pure trapper. She is named after a character in the book "The Chronicles of Castle Brass" by Michael Moorcock. She is now level 87, I killed Baal at about 82.

Skills
20 Lightning Sentry
20 Death Sentry
20 Shockweb
20 Charged Bolt Sentry
1 in all Shadows except Venom
5 unused points at the moment - not sure if these will go into Fade or Weapon block yet.

Equipment
Weapon 1 - Bartuc's Cut Throat
Shield 1 - +3 Trap +1 LS Greater Talon

Switch - 2x +3 Shadow Skills Greater Talon

Helm - Rare 'Pain Circlet' - +2 Assassin Skills, 19% RA, 34% Cold resist, 30 life, 19 Dext
Armour - Skin of the Vipermagi
Belt - Arachnid Mesh
Boots - Natalya's Soul
Gloves - Trang's Claws

Amulet - Rare +2 Assassin Skills & resists
Ring 1 - Ravenfrost
Ring 2 - Rare with resists & mana.

Inventory - 6x Trap skillers, resistance charms, 2x tomes & the cube.


Finds / Hellforge
Can't remember NM, Lum in Hell.

Random Thoughts
Having played builds which are supported by 20 points into DS & LS, I knew how powerful she was going to be fully synergised. Everything not LI got fried very quickly, and everything else only took a bit longer for Corpse Explosion to do it's work. The two Ancient who were not LI went down very quickly, the other took a bit longer whilst my merc jabbed him and I lobbed fire bombs at him.


Patriach de_Carabas - Liberator
de_Carabas is named after a character in the Neil Gaiman novel Neverwhere, who in turn is named after a character in the story 'Puss in Boots'. I'm still levelling him as my main character in the Baalathon. Hopefully he will be better at PvP than he is finding stuff. He is currently level 87.

Skills
20 Blessed Hammer
20 Charge
20 Vigor
20 Concentration
5+ Blessed Aim (all points now go here)
1 Holy Shield

Equipment
Weapon 1 - Wizardspike
Shield 1 - Herald of Zakarum

Weapon 2 - 'Obedience' Cryptic Axe

Helm - Harlequin Crest
Armour - 'Lionheart' Archon Plate
Belt - String of Ears
Boots - Sandstorm Trek
Gloves - Trang's Claws

Amulet - Mara's (25%)
Ring 1 - Ravenfrost
Ring 2 - Rare with 10FCR & Mana Leech.

Inventory - 2x Lionbranded GCs, 4x Sharp GCs, 2x tomes & the cube.

Finds / Hellforge
Lem NH, Pull Hell. Found a few decent charms, but can't remember what.

Random Thoughts
He was good fun to quest with, but you have to resist the temptation to Hammer everything. Charging stuff and one hit killing in Hell is great fun though. LCS said 12K max damage from the charge. I'll probably go with a Weapon + Shield switch PvP, except for vs characters where blocking & resists are not required.


Thanks for reading.
 
Originally posted by @maxicek on Nov 5, 2009:

The Assassination Quartet - A Quadruple PvP Mat thread

The Assassination Quartet
A Quadruple PvP Mat thread

When, earlier this year, I traded my Zod rune for the Enigma with Corrupted, one of my reasons in doing so was my love of assassins, both PvP and PvM. Enigma just works so well on these characters. (And thank goodness that I didn't decide to wait for 1.13). Since then I have built and levelled four PvP assassins around this extraordinary armour.
So I introduce the Assassination Quartet.


Trinity - Reloaded

Lister: "I think we can handle one little girl".
Baal: "No, Lister. Your minions are already dead."


I'm getting Déjà Vu here - haven't I seen this before?
You mean the original Trinity?
Kind of, but since then I have got a lot better items, the key one being the Enigma that I traded with Corrupted, possibly more importantly, I have learnt a lot more about PvP. So Trinity has been re-built from scratch.


Stats (PvP)
Name: Trinity
Class: Assassin
Experience: 1924004019
Level: 92

Naked/Gear
Strength: 100
Dexterity: 75
Vitality: 355
Energy: 25

FR/W: 75
FHR: 54
IAS: 60
FCR: 70

Resists in Hell, with Fade, not including Anya:
Fire: 46
Cold: 53
Lightning: 81
Poison: 23


Skills
1 Fire Blast
1 Wake of Fire
19 Fade (Cast at level 43 - Gives 50% DR with Enigma)
20 Claw Mastery
8 Claw Block (60% ctb in PvP gear)
20 Mind Blast
20 Venom
9 Dragon Talon
1 all other Shadow Disciplines

So What is this Build?
Well at first glance it is a Ghost, but I decided to invest the extra strength for Shadow Dancers and put some points in Dragon Talon. Playing a WW Assassin without Death Sentry PvM, not to mention levelling to 90+ is not my idea of fun. So PvM she is pretty much pure kicks.
For PvP purposes this strictly makes her a Speederlander 'sin. -a Ghost with kicks if you will.

Do you intend to kick PvP?
Well I have the option if I want to try it. Will I be able to use it effectively? I'll have to see. Level 9 Dragon Talon gives me a level 17 in my PvP equipment, which is 3 kicks. It's not like there was anything else to do with the points. Blade Shield maybe.


Equipment

PvM

This setup hits the 65FCR (11 Frame) breakpoint and the 48FHR (5 Frame) breakpoint was nicely covered by Spirit. I wanted a four kick volley for PvM which meant that I needed to find +9 skills. Spirit helped here again and meant I only needed one Shogukusha's GC in my stash. This gave me more stash space to fill with lightning damage charms, which in the end boosted my kill speed better than using Tiamat's would have done.

Kicking with Stormlash is great, I levelled to 82 in The Cold Plains Cave so that I could use it throughout Hell. Static coupled with stun from Tornados is a great combination. Add in a nice chunk of Lightning damage and crushing blow and is it clear to see why this is the PvM kicker weapon.

Weapon: Stormlash 'Shael'
Shield: 'Spirit' Monarch

Switch Weapon: Beta 'Call to Arms'
Switch Shield: 'Spirit' Monarch

Helm: Rare Assassin Circlet
Armour: 'Enigma' Breast Plate
Belt: String of Ears
Boots: Gore Rider Myrmidon Greaves
Gloves: Trang Oul's Claws

Amulet: Mara's
Ring1: Ravenfrost
Ring2: Rare with mana leech

Inventory: Steel Grand Charms, 6x Lightning Damage Large Charms, 1x Shogukusha's GC, 2 tomes and the cube.


PvP
Pretty much a standard Ghost Setup but with Shadow Dancers rather than rare boots. 65FCR, 48FHR and 60IAS giving 9 frame trapping and 7/3 kicks. Even without kicking, I think the extra strength investment (about 30 points when you take the dext bonus from Shadow Dancers into consideration) is worth it for 2 more shadow skills and 30FHR.

Weapon1: Fools Runic Talons of Swiftness 'UmUm'
Weapon2: 'Chaos' Runic Talons

Switch Weapon: Beta 'Call to Arms'
Switch Shield: 'Spirit' Monarch

Helm: Magical +2 Assassin Circlet, 20FCR socketed with Ruby and Ambergris Jewels of Fervour
Armour: 'Enigma' Breast Plate
Belt: Arachnid Mesh
Boots: Shadow Dancer
Gloves: Trang Oul's Claws

Amulet: 27% Mara's
Ring1: 20/240 Ravenfrost
Ring2: A selection of FCR rings with mana, AR and resists

Inventory: 2x Mentalist GCs of Balance, 8x Mentalist GCs with life, 5x Plain Shimmering SCs, 5x SCs with varying amounts of life & mana.


Finds
Hellforge: Fal NM, Pul Hel.
I found an Amber SC of Vita when running Pindle to level. Baal dropped a BKWB on a Baal run I was hosting. A pair of +2/21 dext Shadow Dancers dropped in one of colony's Baal run games, which he kindly gave to me.


Random Thoughts

So how does she play?

Ghosts have a lot of hotkeys. You need to string together 4 different buttons - Mind Blast, Wake of Fire, Teleport & WW at the correct time. At the beginning of PvP Week 3 I was in all kinds of trouble, frequently just standing there pushing the wrong buttons. It took some time, but eventually I was stringing it together.

I enjoy playing her, but personally I don't feel Ghosts are particularly well suited to FFAs and team duels, which we play a lot of in SP PvP. During team battles you can either be a mind blast spamming machine, which is a bit tedious, but I had quite a bit of success sneaking around the back of the opposing team and taking out any sorcs / bowazons that were hanging back.

I would like to level her a bit more, maybe to 95 and get a point into Blade Shield, but realistically I think I am more likely to spend the time levelling other characters.



Zhora
Zhora is a 102FCR teleporting trapper, built around this PvP Trapper Guide by TienJe. Cookie for anyone who knows where the name comes from, without resorting to Google / Wikipedia etc.

Stats
Name: Zhora
Class: Assassin
Experience: 1622427736
Level: 90

Strength: 48
Dexterity: 79
Vitality: 393
Energy: 25

Resists in Hell, with Fade, not including Anya:
Fire: 75
Cold: 35
Lightning: 95
Poison: 85

FR/W: 95
FHR: 86
IAS: 60
FCR: 110


Skills
10 Fire Blast
1 Wake of Fire
20 Shock Web
20 Charged Bolt Sentry
20 Lightning Sentry
20 Death Sentry

2 Mind Blast
1 in all other Shadow Disciplines except Venom


Equipment
Weapon1: Rare Greater Claws with +2 Assassin Skills & +2 LS
Weapon2: Cunning Greater Talons with +2LS

Switch Weapon: Beta 'Call to Arms'
Switch Shield: Lidless Wall

Helm: 1.07 Valkyrie Wing
Armour: 'Enigma' Breast Plate
Belt: Arachnid Mesh
Boots: Sandstorm Trek
Gloves: Magefist

Amulet: Crafted +2 Assassin Skill 20FCR
Rings: Rares with 10% FCR, mana and resists as required.

Inventory: 2 Entrapping GCs of Balance, 8 Entrapping GCs (some with life), 5x Plain Shimmering SCs, 4x SCs with varying amounts of life & mana, 1x Serpents SC of Balance.


Finds
Hellforge: Lem NM, Hel Hell.
I found a Spiritual GC of Sustenance with one of these characters, I think it was this one.


Random Thoughts
This character had a few outings in PvP Week 3, although I mainly played Trinity. She does about 11K trap damage at the top end. Hitting the 102FCR breakpoint makes a big difference, affecting both Teleporting and how fast I can spam Mind Blast. The downside is that I can't fit Cannot Be Frozen into my gear. As I'm teleporting and not walking, this isn't too big a deal, but getting chilled does obviously affect my trap laying speed. Time to find a Cham for that 1.07 Valk...

It took me a long time to decide what to do with her spare skill points. In the end I decided to put them into Fire Blast, as recommended in the guide. This isn't intended to lob at opponents in the corner of the screen, more as a very short range attack to stun whilst the LS targets in. I used it a couple of times in PvP Week 3, it seemed to work quite nicely - it's a nice surprise if someone decides to try and tank you.



Ultraviolet
Ultraviolet is a weapon/shield trapper using a Spirit Phase blade to hit the maximum trap laying speed and use fade for maximum damage reduction with a Stormshield. The build is described in the same PvP Trapper Guide by TienJe as the build for Zhora. I couldn't decide which to build - so I did both.


Stats
Name: Ultraviolet
Class: Assassin
Experience: 1618706383
Level: 90

Strength: 89
Dexterity: 163
Vitality: 268
Energy: 25

Block: 75
FR/W: 75
FHR: 109
IAS: 45
FCR: 115

Resists in Hell, with Fade, not including Anya:
Fire: 38
Cold: 70
Lightning: 85
Poison: -20


Skills
1 Fire Blast
1 Wake of Fire
20 Shock Web
20 Charged Bolt Sentry
20 Lightning Sentry
20 Death Sentry

11 Mind Blast
1 in all other Shadow Disciplines except Venom


Equipment

Weapon: 'Spirit' Phase Blade 35% FCR
Shield: Stormshield + Jewel of Fervour

Switch Weapon: Beta 'Call to Arms'
Switch Shield: 'Spirit' Monarch

Helm: Rare +2 Assassin Circlet, 20FCR socketed with Jewel of Fervour
Armour: 'Enigma' Breast Plate
Belt: Arachnid Mesh
Boots: Shadow Dancer
Gloves: Rares with 20IAS

Amulet: Crafted +2 Assassin Skill 20FCR
Ring1: Ravenfrost
Ring2: A selection of FCR rings with mana, AR and resists

Inventory: 2x Entrapping GCs of Balance, 8x Entrapping GCs with varying amounts of life, 5x Plain Shimmering SCs, 5x SCs with varying amounts of life & mana.


Finds
Hellforge: ?? NM, Gul Hell.
I found a few reasonable bits and pieces in the Pits whilst levelling, but nothing worth writing about.


Random Thoughts
This build hasn't yet made it onto the Blood Moor yet, but I'm looking forward to see how she performs. The max block and DR should make her more durable against BvCs, but at the expense of a much lower life pool. I think I am going to need to get my hands on some (more) Uber entrapping charms to make her really shine.

All my spare skill points went into Mind Blast for a longer stun duration. I'm not sure that I need it, but I have seen others recommend it so I thought I would try it and form my own opinion.

My Weapon/Shield setup is viable for fighting casters but obviously, given the high investment in stats, I could also equip exactly the same gear as Zhora for a more caster orientated battle. It is going to be interesting to see which one of the two that I prefer.



Pris_II
Pris_II is the re-build of probably my most successful PvP character pre-Enigma, Pris.


Stats
Name: Pris_II
Class: Assassin
Experience: 1618832718
Level: 90

Strength: 100
Dexterity: 75
Vitality: 315
Energy: 25


FR/W: 75
FHR: 54
FCR: 70

Resists in Hell, with Fade, not including Anya:
Fire: 40
Cold: 45
Lightning: 75
Poison: 17


Skills
1 Fire Blast
1 Wake of Fire
9 Shock Web
20 Charged Bolt Sentry
20 Lightning Sentry
20 Death Sentry

2 Mind Blast
20 Venom
1 in all other Shadow Disciplines


Equipment

Weapon1: Fools Runic Talons of Swiftness 'UmUm'
Weapon2: 'Chaos' Runic Talons

Switch Weapon: Beta 'Call to Arms'
Switch Shield: 'Spirit' Monarch

Helm: Rare 'Doom Cowl' 2/20 Circlet
Armour: 'Enigma' Breast Plate
Belt: Arachnid Mesh
Boots: Shadow Dancer
Gloves: Trang Oul's Claws

Amulet: Mara's
Ring1: 20/240 Ravenfrost
Ring2: A selection of FCR rings with mana, AR and resists

Inventory: 2x Mentalist GCs of Balance, 6x Mentalist GCs with life, 2x Entrapping GCs with life, 5x Plain Shimmering SCs, 5x SCs with varying amounts of life & mana.


Finds
I honestly can't remember any decent finds, including her HF drops - which probably means they sucked.


Random Thoughts
Unlike my original Pris, I played this character through the game as a pure trapper and then levelled to 90 in The Pits. I want to add at least two more levels on this character, preferably level her to 94. Getting time for MP Baal runs is the problem, Pit runs are becoming tedious. I was thinking about deleting the original Pris, but she has a lot of sentimental value, especially as it was her that found the Zod rune in the first place. Maybe 1.13 re-specs will make this re-build redundant and I will be able to re-spec Pris instead. We'll see, but I won't hold my breath.

I haven't played this exact character PvP, but I did try my original Pris with Enigma. Without Enigma the WW Trapper is a strong but defensive build, but you have to rely on opponents coming to you. Enigma brings another dimension to the build, allowing much more aggressive play. I have high hopes for this character and I'm looking forward to playing her in the future.



Equipment Readouts
Some of this equipment is still changing as I get better items. Much of the gear is shared amongst the four, especially the skillers:

Weapons
Code:
Chaos
Runic Talons
One Hand Damage: 101 - 186
Durability: 25 of 30
Required Level: 60
Required Strength: 115
Required Dexterity: 115
Fingerprint: 0x24853fa3
Item Level: 87
Version: Expansion
Properties:
+2 to Lightning Sentry (Assassin Only)
+3 to Mind Blast (Assassin Only)
+3 to Dragon Flight (Assassin Only)
323% Enhanced Damage
+216 - 471 Magic Damage
35% Increased Attack Speed
+1 to Whirlwind
+15 Life after each Demon Kill
11% Chance to cast level 9 Charged Bolt on striking
9% Chance to cast level 11 Frozen Orb on striking
+10 to Strength
25% Chance of Open Wounds
3 Sockets (3 used)
Socketed: Fal Rune
Socketed: Ohm Rune
Socketed: Um Rune

Pain Thirst
Greater Claws
One Hand Damage: 19 - 117
Durability: 156 of 156
Required Level: 42
Required Strength: 61
Required Dexterity: 61
Fingerprint: 0xe5b5a426
Item Level: 75
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
+1 to Minimum Damage
+13 to Maximum Damage
+2 to Assassin Skill Levels
Requirements -20%
+1 to Dragon Tail (Assassin Only)
+2 to Lightning Sentry (Assassin Only)
+2 to Dragon Flight (Assassin Only)
67 to Maximum Damage (Based on Char Lvl)
Cold Resist +20%
15% Increased Attack Speed
1 Sockets (1 used)
Socketed: Sapphire Jewel of Fervor

Cunning Greater Talons of the Lamprey
Greater Talons
One Hand Damage: 21 - 35
Durability: 69 of 69
Required Level: 45
Required Strength: 79
Required Dexterity: 79
Fingerprint: 0x86404490
Item Level: 98
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
8% Life stolen per hit
+3 to Shadow Warrior (Assassin Only)
+2 to Lightning Sentry (Assassin Only)
+2 to Dragon Flight (Assassin Only)
+3 to Trap Skills (Assassin Only)
All Resistances +27
7% Faster Hit Recovery
2 Sockets (2 used)
Socketed: Scintillating Jewel
Socketed: Scintillating Jewel of Truth

Fool's Blade Talons of Quickness
Blade Talons
One Hand Damage: 10 - 60
Durability: 66 of 69
Required Level: 47
Required Strength: 50
Required Dexterity: 50
Fingerprint: 0x4e23e8f5
Item Level: 97
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
40% Increased Attack Speed
46 to Maximum Damage (Based on Char Lvl)
379 to Attack Rating (Based on Char Lvl)
50% Chance of Open Wounds
2 Sockets (2 used)
Socketed: Um Rune
Socketed: Um Rune

Call to Arms
Superior War Scepter
One Hand Damage: 37 - 63
Durability: 80 of 70
Required Level: 57
Required Strength: 55
Fingerprint: 0xd24f673
GUID: 0x3ff0f5af 0x14584f 0x0
Item Level: 87
Version: Expansion
Properties:
15% Increase Maximum Durability
+3 to Vigor (Paladin Only)
+1 to Holy Shield (Paladin Only)
+1 to Sanctuary (Paladin Only)
150% Damage to Undead
271% Enhanced Damage
Replenish Life 12
40% Increased Attack Speed
+10 to Battle Cry
+12 to Battle Orders
+9 to Battle Command
+2 to All Skills
7% Life stolen per hit
+5 - 30 Fire Damage
Prevent Monster Heal
30% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
5 Sockets (5 used)
Socketed: Amn Rune
Socketed: Ral Rune
Socketed: Mal Rune
Socketed: Ist Rune
Socketed: Ohm Rune

Armour
Code:
Enigma
Breast Plate
Defense: 825
Durability: 48 of 50
Required Level: 65
Required Strength: 30
Fingerprint: 0x1d34cc49
Item Level: 20
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
+757 Defense
+14 Life after each Kill
45% Faster Run/Walk
+1 to Teleport
+2 to All Skills
67 to Strength (Based on Char Lvl)
89% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
Increase Maximum Life 5%
+15 Damage Taken Goes To Mana
Damage Reduced by 8%
3 Sockets (3 used)
Socketed: Jah Rune
Socketed: Ith Rune
Socketed: Ber Rune

Doom Cowl
Diadem
Defense: 89
Durability: 17 of 20
Required Level: 67
Fingerprint: 0x862052d0
Item Level: 86
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
46% Enhanced Defense
Lightning Resist +26%
+2 to Assassin Skill Levels
30% Faster Run/Walk
20% Faster Cast Rate
Cold Resist +19%
15% Increased Attack Speed
1 Sockets (1 used)
Socketed: Sapphire Jewel of Fervor

Valkyrie Wing
Winged Helm
Defense: 120
Durability: 37 of 40
Required Level: 44
Required Strength: 115
Fingerprint: 0x1b726dfb
Item Level: 54
Version: Expansion
Properties:
+35 Defense
30% Faster Run/Walk
30% Faster Hit Recovery
30% Faster Cast Rate
Lightning Resist +23%
45% Increased Attack Speed
1 Sockets (1 used)
Socketed: Ambergris Jewel of Fervor

Shadow Dancer
Myrmidon Greaves
Defense: 128
Durability: 21 of 24
Required Level: 71
Required Strength: 167
Fingerprint: 0x44a50195
Item Level: 88
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
+21 to Dexterity
78% Enhanced Defense
Requirements -20%
30% Faster Run/Walk
30% Faster Hit Recovery
+2 to Shadow Discipline Skills (Assassin Only)

Arachnid Mesh
Spiderweb Sash
Defense: 128
Durability: 10 of 12
Required Level: 80
Required Strength: 50
Fingerprint: 0x49db00d
Item Level: 87
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
104% Enhanced Defense
5% Increase Maximum Mana
20% Faster Cast Rate
+1 to All Skills
Slows Target by 10%
Level 3 Venom (11/11 Charges)

Trang-Oul's Claws
Heavy Bracers
Defense: 74
Durability: 12 of 16
Required Level: 45
Required Strength: 58
Fingerprint: 0xbdc4e834
Item Level: 87
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
+30 Defense
Cold Resist +30%
20% Faster Cast Rate
+2 to Curses (Necromancer only)
25% to Poison Skill Damage

Arachnid Mesh
Spiderweb Sash
Defense: 136
Durability: 12 of 12
Required Level: 80
Required Strength: 50
Fingerprint: 0xb9e99b6a
Item Level: 87
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
117% Enhanced Defense
5% Increase Maximum Mana
20% Faster Cast Rate
+1 to All Skills
Slows Target by 10%
Level 3 Venom (11/11 Charges)

Magefist
Light Gauntlets
Defense: 25
Durability: 18 of 18
Required Level: 23
Required Strength: 45
Fingerprint: 0x4a35f9e0
Item Level: 87
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
29% Enhanced Defense
25% Regenerate Mana
+10 Defense
+1 - 6 Fire Damage
20% Faster Cast Rate
+1 to Fire Skills

Lidless Wall
Grim Shield
Defense: 300
Chance to Block: 20
Durability: 70 of 70
Required Level: 41
Required Strength: 58
Fingerprint: 0x3468c73f
Item Level: 87
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
+10 to Energy
99% Enhanced Defense
10% Increase Maximum Mana
+1 to Light Radius
20% Faster Cast Rate
+1 to All Skills
+4 to Mana after each Kill

Sandstorm Trek
Scarabshell Boots
Defense: 176
Durability: 14 of 14
Required Level: 64
Required Strength: 91
Fingerprint: 0x3beab64c
Item Level: 86
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
+12 to Strength
+14 to Vitality
168% Enhanced Defense
Poison Resist +70%
20% Faster Run/Walk
20% Faster Hit Recovery
50% Slower Stamina Drain
90 Maximum Stamina (Based on Char Lvl)
Repairs 1 Durability in 20 Seconds

Jewellery
Code:
Rune Wing
Amulet
Required Level: 89
Fingerprint: 0x8bcf90d9
Item Level: 96
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
+17 to Mana
10% Regenerate Mana
Fire Resist +35%
Lightning Resist +27%
+2 to Assassin Skill Levels
20% Faster Cast Rate

Mara's Kaleidoscope
Amulet
Required Level: 67
Fingerprint: 0x37fd387f
Item Level: 87
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
+5 to Strength
+5 to Energy
+5 to Dexterity
+5 to Vitality
Fire Resist +27%
Lightning Resist +27%
Cold Resist +27%
Poison Resist +27%
+2 to All Skills

Raven Frost
Ring
Required Level: 45
Fingerprint: 0xc0bb0082
Item Level: 85
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
+20 to Dexterity
+40 to Mana
+240 to Attack Rating
+15 - 45 cold damage with 4 sec Duration
20% Cold Absorb
Cannot Be Frozen

Death Band
Ring
Required Level: 66
Fingerprint: 0x1ece8869
Item Level: 82
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
+16 to Strength
+66 to Mana
+101 to Attack Rating
Poison Resist +26%
10% Faster Cast Rate

Blood Loop
Ring
Required Level: 33
Fingerprint: 0x3f38cfd7
Item Level: 80
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
+7 to Energy
+89 to Mana
+82 to Attack Rating
Cold Resist +29%
+50 poison damage over 3 seconds
10% Faster Cast Rate

Bone Finger
Ring
Required Level: 34
Fingerprint: 0xbb056c3b
Item Level: 93
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
+76 to Mana
+70 to Attack Rating
+4 to Maximum Damage
Fire Resist +25%
10% Faster Cast Rate
Level 4 Ice Blast (30/30 Charges)

Plague Loop
Ring
Required Level: 22
Fingerprint: 0xfcc9dd6b
Item Level: 30
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
+1 to Strength
+56 to Mana
+71 to Attack Rating
Lightning Resist +30%
10% Faster Cast Rate

Charms
Code:
Mentalist's Grand Charm of Balance
Grand Charm
Required Level: 42
Fingerprint: 0x1f8defc4
Item Level: 85
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
12% Faster Hit Recovery
+1 to Shadow Discipline Skills (Assassin Only)

Mentalist's Grand Charm of Balance
Grand Charm
Required Level: 42
Fingerprint: 0xb0863153
Item Level: 86
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
12% Faster Hit Recovery
+1 to Shadow Discipline Skills (Assassin Only)

Mentalist's Grand Charm of Sustenance
Grand Charm
Required Level: 53
Fingerprint: 0x3b132c57
Item Level: 86
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
+34 to Life
+1 to Shadow Discipline Skills (Assassin Only)

Mentalist's Grand Charm of Sustenance
Grand Charm
Required Level: 53
Fingerprint: 0x9a5141c
Item Level: 85
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
+34 to Life
+1 to Shadow Discipline Skills (Assassin Only)

Mentalist's Grand Charm of Vita
Grand Charm
Required Level: 69
Fingerprint: 0x637ecb6e
Item Level: 86
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
+36 to Life
+1 to Shadow Discipline Skills (Assassin Only)

Mentalist's Grand Charm of Vita
Grand Charm
Required Level: 69
Fingerprint: 0x36368a89
Item Level: 80
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
+38 to Life
+1 to Shadow Discipline Skills (Assassin Only)

Mentalist's Grand Charm of Vita
Grand Charm
Required Level: 83
Fingerprint: 0x9ac72002
Item Level: 94
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
+41 to Life
+1 to Shadow Discipline Skills (Assassin Only)

Mentalist's Grand Charm of Vita
Grand Charm
Required Level: 69
Fingerprint: 0x4a653e5
Item Level: 80
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
+39 to Life
+1 to Shadow Discipline Skills (Assassin Only)

Mentalist's Grand Charm of Life
Grand Charm
Required Level: 42
Fingerprint: 0xfac77cc3
Item Level: 58
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
+20 to Life
+1 to Shadow Discipline Skills (Assassin Only)

Mentalist's Grand Charm of Life
Grand Charm
Required Level: 42
Fingerprint: 0x23727d6d
Item Level: 80
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
+19 to Life
+1 to Shadow Discipline Skills (Assassin Only)

Entrapping Grand Charm of Sustenance
Grand Charm
Required Level: 42
Fingerprint: 0x2bb25a09
Item Level: 80
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
+27 to Life
+1 to Trap Skills (Assassin Only)

Entrapping Grand Charm of Vita
Grand Charm
Required Level: 83
Fingerprint: 0x1867670e
Item Level: 99
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
+45 to Life
+1 to Trap Skills (Assassin Only)

Entrapping Grand Charm of Life
Grand Charm
Required Level: 42
Fingerprint: 0x94bc5452
Item Level: 80
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
+12 to Life
+1 to Trap Skills (Assassin Only)

Entrapping Grand Charm of Balance
Grand Charm
Required Level: 42
Fingerprint: 0x477dd0f8
Item Level: 86
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
12% Faster Hit Recovery
+1 to Trap Skills (Assassin Only)

Entrapping Grand Charm of Balance
Grand Charm
Required Level: 42
Fingerprint: 0x3f750d52
Item Level: 85
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
12% Faster Hit Recovery
+1 to Trap Skills (Assassin Only)

Entrapping Grand Charm
Grand Charm
Required Level: 42
Fingerprint: 0x2515151b
Item Level: 99
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
+1 to Trap Skills (Assassin Only)

Entrapping Grand Charm of Dexterity
Grand Charm
Required Level: 42
Fingerprint: 0xd0c15a1
Item Level: 99
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
+3 to Dexterity
+1 to Trap Skills (Assassin Only)

Entrapping Grand Charm
Grand Charm
Required Level: 42
Fingerprint: 0xebec7e0a
Item Level: 88
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
+1 to Trap Skills (Assassin Only)

Entrapping Grand Charm
Grand Charm
Required Level: 42
Fingerprint: 0xee83ec65
Item Level: 88
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
+1 to Trap Skills (Assassin Only)

Entrapping Grand Charm
Grand Charm
Required Level: 42
Fingerprint: 0xf9db07
Item Level: 80
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
+1 to Trap Skills (Assassin Only)

Serpent's Small Charm
Small Charm
Required Level: 40
Fingerprint: 0xb50ff95c
Item Level: 69
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
+17 to Mana

Snake's Small Charm of Vita
Small Charm
Required Level: 39
Fingerprint: 0xfd8cb484
Item Level: 85
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
+17 to Life
+10 to Mana

Lizard's Small Charm of Vita
Small Charm
Required Level: 39
Fingerprint: 0x7892e563
Item Level: 63
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
+18 to Life
+5 to Mana

Serpent's Small Charm of Balance
Small Charm
Required Level: 40
Fingerprint: 0xefaec64b
Item Level: 64
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
+16 to Mana
5% Faster Hit Recovery

Lizard's Small Charm of Vita
Small Charm
Required Level: 39
Fingerprint: 0x11d4fa6e
Item Level: 74
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
+20 to Life
+7 to Mana

Serpent's Small Charm of Life
Small Charm
Required Level: 40
Fingerprint: 0x9e550203
Item Level: 80
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
+5 to Life
+15 to Mana

Serpent's Small Charm
Small Charm
Required Level: 40
Fingerprint: 0xee0bb9fb
Item Level: 80
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
+17 to Mana

Serpent's Small Charm of Sustenance
Small Charm
Required Level: 40
Fingerprint: 0xb7e8102a
Item Level: 68
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
+13 to Life
+16 to Mana

Shimmering Small Charm of the Glacier
Small Charm
Required Level: 25
Fingerprint: 0x6c119586
Item Level: 83
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
Fire Resist +5%
Lightning Resist +5%
Cold Resist +5%
Poison Resist +5%
+3 - 6 cold damage with 1 sec Duration

Shimmering Small Charm
Small Charm
Required Level: 25
Fingerprint: 0x681bf799
Item Level: 80
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
Fire Resist +5%
Lightning Resist +5%
Cold Resist +5%
Poison Resist +5%

Shimmering Small Charm of Fire
Small Charm
Required Level: 25
Fingerprint: 0xb909ecab
Item Level: 80
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
Fire Resist +5%
Lightning Resist +5%
Cold Resist +5%
Poison Resist +5%
+2 - 4 Fire Damage

Shimmering Small Charm
Small Charm
Required Level: 25
Fingerprint: 0x968ce85e
Item Level: 85
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
Fire Resist +4%
Lightning Resist +4%
Cold Resist +4%
Poison Resist +4%

Shimmering Small Charm
Small Charm
Required Level: 25
Fingerprint: 0xf1467e9c
Item Level: 75
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
Fire Resist +4%
Lightning Resist +4%
Cold Resist +4%
Poison Resist +4%

Thanks
- Thanks to everyone with whom I traded with for the gear - The trades have been spread out over some time, sorry I can't remember everyone, but especially thanks to Undying for the 1.07 Valk, Jae for the 20FCR Amulet, Beta CtA and the Fool's Runics, Naab for the base for Chaos, colony for giving me the 2/21 Shadow Dancers in a Baal run, Ashmer for the Entrapping of Vita and of course Corrupted for the Enigma.
- Thanks to everyone who I Baaled Trinity and Zhora with prior to PvP week, especially to colony for hosting many runs with the behemoth that is now called Im_ABarb.
- Thanks to everyone who I have duelled with, it's always lots of fun.


What's Next?
Well I'm almost finished on my fifth 2h Sword Sept 2 character, so he is next. After that I'm going to make some more PvP characters. Almost certainly a wind druid as I have never built one of those, probably a bone necro too. Trouble is that I don't have any decent skillers for those two, so it will require some investment in the SPTF again. I have a reasonable set of Lionbranded skillers, so another Liberator probably and a T/V or VT, also some more PvM and PvP assassins.... Much to keep me occupied until D3, and probably until the D3 Expansion pack is out.
 
Last edited:
Originally posted by MukTuk on Oct 13, 2008:

Matriarch Yoshimo, Trapassasin

"Careful! I'm sure all manner of stupid mousetraps await our toes in the dark..." - Yoshimo, Baldur's Gate II

Yoshimo was a bounty hunter in BG2, a thief class that specialised in traps, so thats where I picked the name from.

This was my first time playing an assassin, aside from a martial arist I abandoned at level 8 in normal. It was quite fun, right from beginning to end. Lightning sentry will tear apart anything non-LI, and Death sentry takes care of those, as well as providing amusing 'splat' and 'splotch' explosion noises. Fire Blast (and the Merc) was the backup for killing LI's. Shadow Master proved herself useful, certainly a minion that doesn't waste time - she was teleporting into enemies faces and if not, she was often providing back-up support with random mindblasts here and there. Mindblast itself was a fun skill, though I didn't make heavy use of it. I was surprised to find it could stun the ancients, and was also useful for spamming against LI bosses so the merc could take them down. I didn't get much use out of CoS, except in gloam heavy areas where it was handy to keep them still.

I was planning to use Fade, but by NM I was addicted to the speed given by BoS, so I added a few charms and my resistances were maxed. 90% run/walk is certainly fun and hard to give up. It also boosted killing speed as I could lay down traps that much quicker, and also run around not getting killed while the monsters did. I lost my shadow a lot of times though, since I must have been outrunning her, so that was a nuisance.

I played through normal untwinked (exception: Insight Polarm at level 29), but then added some things at the start of nightmare to kick it up a notch. The Trapassassin would do pretty well untwinked, owing to Fade for resistances, Mindblast and CoS for 1-pt wonder crowd control, and the fact that you can shop your end-game claws at Anya in NM (and get a decent pair in the meantime in Normal), but it works even better if you twink on some +skills, as that boosts the damage. Traps are also fun in that you can cast them at the edge of the screen to scout, and even stay back where its safe while the enemies die.

Speaking of shopping claws, that takes time! It must've taken me about half an hour to scrounge up 2 +1 traps and 2 +1 shadow disc claws in normal, and maybe in hour in total looking for +3 trap and +3 shadow disc claws in NM before I just gave up and settled for 2 +2 assassin skills before I went insane. I was getting a bit tired of swapping to buff up the shadow and BoS anyway.

I had only one death, to some exploding dolls from a bosspack in Act 3 NM. One or a few must've ran next to me and the trap fried them, taking me down in the process. I treated them with caution afterwards.

Insight is a must, traps eat your mana fast at 20 per cast, and unless you want things take forever to die you'll want to drop 3-5 traps at a time, so mana depletes quickly. Raven Frost is another must too, being chilled murders your trap laying speed since it is IAS based.

Hellfore was Lem/Fal, and I also lucked out with a Pul rune from a sparkly chest.

I can't think of anything more, so I guess it must be stat time.

STATS
Yoshimo
Level 83

Strength: 96 (88)
Dexterity: 91 (55)
Vitality: 342
Energy: 25

I ended up using more Str and Dex than I needed. I was aiming to be able to use Greater Talons (req of 79), and I also got unexpected +str and +dex on some stuff I found. I'm not too concerned anyway.

Life: 1323
Mana: 188

Resistances: 75 all

Fireblast Damage: 1,500 - 1,877
Lightning Sentry Damage: 1-3,172
Death Sentry Damage: 1-1,876

SKILLS
29 (20) in Fireblast, Ligtning Sentry, Death Sentry
23 (14) in Charged Bolt Sentry
17 (10) in Shadow Master
8 points in pre-reqs and misc

STUFF
Code:
Witch-hunter's Blade Talons of Readiness
One-Hand Damage: 10 to 14
Durability: 69 of 69
(Assassin Only)
Required Dexterity: 50
Required Strength: 50
Required Level: 42
Claw Class - Very Fast Attack Speed
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 65
Fingerprint: 0x722a95a3
Fire Resist +27%
Lightning Resist +30%
+2 to Assassin Skill Levels
10% Increased Attack Speed
Socketed (2: 2 used)
 
Socketed with:
Ruby Jewel
Required Level: 13
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 85
Fingerprint: 0xc283cfbc
Fire Resist +27%
 
Ambergris Jewel
Required Level: 14
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 26
Fingerprint: 0xfe0b4ed6
Lightning Resist +30%
 
Witch-hunter's Blade Talons
One-Hand Damage: 10 to 14
Durability: 69 of 69
(Assassin Only)
Required Dexterity: 50
Required Strength: 50
Required Level: 42
Claw Class - Fast Attack Speed
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 65
Fingerprint: 0x652a20f1
+8 to Dexterity
Cold Resist +29%
Poison Resist +15%
19% Extra Gold from Monsters
+2 to Assassin Skill Levels
Socketed (2: 2 used)
 
Socketed with:
Sapphire Jewel of Avarice
Required Level: 14
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 28
Fingerprint: 0xc2731f16
Cold Resist +29%
19% Extra Gold from Monsters
 
Beryl Jewel of Daring
Required Level: 28
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 85
Fingerprint: 0x229c15f9
+8 to Dexterity
Poison Resist +15%
 
Shadow Hood
Circlet
Defense: 26
Durability: 35 of 35
Required Level: 35
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 49
Fingerprint: 0x5c31f423
+6 to Strength
+10 to Dexterity
All Resistances +14
+1 to Assassin Skill Levels
Level 2 Ice Blast (25/25 Charges)
 
Skin of the Vipermagi
Serpentskin Armor
Defense: 279
Durability: 23 of 24
Required Strength: 43
Required Level: 29
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 88
Fingerprint: 0xf4b82d57
+6 to Life
+120% Enhanced Defense
Magic Damage Reduced by 10
All Resistances +39
30% Faster Cast Rate
+1 to All Skill Levels
Socketed (1: 1 used)
 
Socketed with:
Scintillating Jewel of Spirit
Required Level: 26
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 88
Fingerprint: 0x54cf34c9
+6 to Life
All Resistances +13
 
Glyph Cord
Battle Belt
Defense: 42
Durability: 18 of 18
Required Strength: 88
Required Level: 25
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 70
Fingerprint: 0x174d7b77
+2 to Strength
+55 to Life
Fire Resist +25%
Lightning Resist +21%
 
Grim Touch
Heavy Bracers
Defense: 81
Durability: 16 of 16
Required Strength: 58
Required Level: 35
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 99
Fingerprint: 0x66299e73
+80% Enhanced Defense
+12 to Attack Rating
Poison Resist +18%
3% Life stolen per hit
20% Increased Attack Speed
Half Freeze Duration
 
Natalya's Soul
Mesh Boots
Defense: 138
Durability: 65 of 66
Kick Damage: 23 to 52
Required Strength: 65
Required Level: 25
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 83
Fingerprint: 0xa582e5ac
+96 Defense
Lightning Resist +21%
Cold Resist +15%
+50 Maximum Durability
40% Faster Run/Walk
Heal Stamina Plus 20% (Based on Character Level)
 
Beast Master
Ring
Required Level: 13
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 30
Fingerprint: 0xbca7b667
+14 to Attack Rating
Fire Resist +29%
Lightning Resist +29%
10% Faster Cast Rate
 
Raven Frost
Ring
Required Level: 45
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 60
Fingerprint: 0x35cb9a0d
+17 to Dexterity
+40 to Mana
+217 to Attack Rating
Adds 15-45 cold damage over 4 seconds
20% Cold Absorb
Cannot Be Frozen
 
Cunning Amulet of the Apprentice
Required Level: 45
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 75
Fingerprint: 0xd312dc77
10% Faster Cast Rate
+3 to Trap Skills (Assassin Only)

CHARMS
Code:
Garnet Small Charm of Greed
Keep in Inventory to Gain Bonus
Required Level: 20
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 53
Fingerprint: 0x62117c6e
Fire Resist +9%
8% Extra Gold from Monsters
 
Jade Small Charm
Keep in Inventory to Gain Bonus
Required Level: 20
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 79
Fingerprint: 0x79fe94e3
Poison Resist +8%
 
Jade Grand Charm of Balance
Keep in Inventory to Gain Bonus
Required Level: 15
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 83
Fingerprint: 0x6739a2c6
Poison Resist +24%
12% Faster Hit Recovery
 
Mentalist's Grand Charm of Craftmanship
Keep in Inventory to Gain Bonus
Required Level: 42
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 66
Fingerprint: 0x90207e4c
+1 to Maximum Damage
+1 to Shadow Discipline Skills (Assassin Only)
 
Sapphire Large Charm of Craftmanship
Keep in Inventory to Gain Bonus
Required Level: 27
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 83
Fingerprint: 0x69917139
+1 to Maximum Damage
Cold Resist +14%
 
Jade Small Charm of Dexterity
Keep in Inventory to Gain Bonus
Required Level: 20
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 44
Fingerprint: 0x88407ab3
+1 to Dexterity
Poison Resist +9%
 
Shimmering Grand Charm of Life
Keep in Inventory to Gain Bonus
Required Level: 27
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 67
Fingerprint: 0xe081f4e9
+15 to Life
All Resistances +15
 
Sapphire Grand Charm
Keep in Inventory to Gain Bonus
Required Level: 22
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 50
Fingerprint: 0xad798e7
Cold Resist +27%
 
Viridian Small Charm of Life
Keep in Inventory to Gain Bonus
Required Level: 14
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 3
Fingerprint: 0xe913ba17
+7 to Life
Poison Resist +7%

MORON
I used a Holy Freeze merc, as its pretty much the default choice if you're not using Might. I wonder if Might may have been better though, his main role was to stab LI's to death, so Might would both kill them quicker *and* not shatter corpses that could instead be exploded.

1,789 Life
539-2,881 Damage (without Holy Freeze)

Code:
Duriel's Shell
Cuirass
Defense: 683
Durability: 150 of 150
Required Strength: 65
Required Level: 41
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 75
Fingerprint: 0x6e651910
+25 to Strength
+186% Enhanced Defense
Fire Resist +20%
Lightning Resist +20%
Cold Resist +50%
Poison Resist +20%
+100 Maximum Durability
Cannot Be Frozen
+103 to Defense (Based on Character Level)
+83 to Life (Based on Character Level)
Socketed (1: 1 used)
 
Perfect Amethyst
Inserted into a Cuirass
+10 to Strength
Required Level: 18
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
 
Tal Rasha's Horadric Crest
Death Mask
Defense: 109
Durability: 20 of 20
Required Strength: 55
Required Level: 66
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 59
Fingerprint: 0x3bf09f28
+10 to Strength
+60 to Life
+30 to Mana
+45 Defense
All Resistances +15
10% Life stolen per hit
10% Mana stolen per hit
Socketed (1: 1 used)
 
Perfect Amethyst
Inserted into a Death Mask
+10 to Strength
Required Level: 18
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
 
Insight
Colossus Voulge
'RalTirTalSol'
Two-Hand Damage: 90 to 805
Durability: 26 of 26
Required Dexterity: 45
Required Strength: 200
Required Level: 48
Polearm Class - Slow Attack Speed
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 85
Fingerprint: 0x78b9ccb2
+5 to Strength
+5 to Energy
+5 to Dexterity
+5 to Vitality
+226% Enhanced Damage
+9 to Minimum Damage
Adds 5-30 fire damage
+75 poison damage over 5 seconds
23% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
+5 to Critical Strike
35% Faster Cast Rate
183% Bonus to Attack Rating
+2 to Mana After Each Kill
Level 14 Meditation Aura When Equipped
Ethereal (Cannot be Repaired), Socketed (4: 4 used)


Thats all folks, thanks for reading.
 
Last edited:
Originally posted by MukTuk on Feb 26, 2011:

Matriarch Shredder, Blade Fury Assassin

I wanted to make a Blade Fury Assassin after reading through Ceramic Weasel's excellent Blade Fury Analysis. Blade Fury is interesting in that it is a fixed speed attack, so the only thing you need to worry about is total weapon damage, whether it be physical or elemental, speed is irrelevant. It's also highly controllable, you can very easily and quickly change targets, or just focus fire on a specific high-priority one - unlike Strafe which is uncontrollable.

Blade Fury was an excellent skill for quickly spreading debilitating effects amongst a crowd of monsters, I could easily apply Slow, Chill, Open Wounds, Crushing Blow and Flee to a group of monsters to soften them up before taking them down one by one. Early in the game I wore the Face of Horror and Rattlecage (which Shredder is modelling here), which I planned to replace with Guillame's and Duress, but by the time I could equip them I liked the Hit Causes Flee so much that I kept the Face of Horror on for the whole game intead of using Guillame's. One other interesting equipment choice I used was Cleglaw's Gloves + Cleglaw's Shield. An odd combination, but it turned out to be very useful. The Gloves are already a good choice for the 25% Slow and Knockback, and adding the Shield gave me a scaling AR boost of 10 per level, which is important because Blade Fury offers no increased AR (and Claw Mastery does not add AR with claws either), so this helped to boost the hit-rate. The shield then gains a 15% res all boost, which with a PDiamond added makes it 34% Res All, which is not totally bad for a shield. The scaling AR combined with a Blessed Aim merc (and later Enchant charges) easily took care of my AR needs throughout the entire game.

My weapon of choice was Gimmershreds. With Venom adding in, I was dealing 5 different types of elemental damage per attack, meaning no monster could stand in my way - I could kill anything. Kill speed in Hell was ok, not too fast, but considering the fact that it was ranged, fast and multi-elemental there isn't much to complain about. Add in the effects of Chill, Slow, KB and Flee as well as Mindblast and Cloak of Shadows, it meant the battlefield was always under my control. This is a very safe character - I had no deaths, and not even any NDE's of note. Nothing would get near me if I didn't want it to. Here's Hephasto being killed off-screen because of repeated knockbacks. He never got a hit on anyone.

There was one bug I encountered, often when trying to use another skill it wouldn't work, and would only work the second time. This was annoying (and sometimes dangerous) when I needed a quick Shadow Master resummon or a Mindblast/Cloak. This affected Town Portals too, a few times when I cast Town Portal a few blades flew out instead! I'm not sure what that was all about, but it's something to take note of.
I can't think of too much more to add right now, so enjoy some stats.

STATS
Name: Shredder
Class: Assassin
Level: 82
Strength: 112 (75)
Dexterity: 128 (80)
Vitality: 337 (325)
Energy: 37 (25)
HP: 1,249
Mana: 274

Resistances: (With Fade)
Fire: 75 (33)
Cold: 75 (73)
Lite: 75 (33)
Posion: 75 (33)

Blade Fury Damage: 966-2,227
As best as I can calculate, made up of:
- 229-450 Fire
- 22-448 Lite
- 183-465 Cold
- 319-334 Poison
- 213-530 Physical

AR: 13,107 (enough for about 85-95% all through Hell)

SKILLS
Blade Fury: 20
Fade : 16
Mind Blast : 8
Venom : 20
Shadow Master : 20
+ Pre-Reqs

EQUIPMENT
Code:
Shredder's Gimmershred
Flying Axe
Throw Damage: 45 - 198
One Hand Damage: 51 - 195
Quantity: 240
Required Level: 70
Required Strength: **
Required Dexterity: 108
Fingerprint: 0x2337be6a
Item Level: 83
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
201% Enhanced Damage
+218 - 483 Fire Damage
+29 - 501 Lightning Damage
+176 - 397 cold damage with 4 sec Duration
30% Increased Attack Speed
Increased Stack Size
 
Cleglaw's Claw
Small Shield
Defense: 27
Chance to Block: 5
Durability: 15 of 16
Required Level: 18
Required Strength: 22
Fingerprint: 0xc7601d1c
Item Level: 99
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
+17 Defense
Poison Length Reduced by 75%
Set (2 item):
All Resistances +34
1 Sockets (1 used)
Socketed: Perfect Diamond
 
The Face of Horror
Mask
Defense: 51
Durability: 20 of 20
Required Level: 49
Required Strength: 23
Fingerprint: 0x8859c023
Item Level: 49
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
+20 to Strength
+25 Defense
Hit Causes Monster to Flee
50% Damage to Undead
All Resistances +10
+1 - 97 Lightning Damage
1 Sockets (1 used)
Socketed: Jewel of Thunder
 
Jewel of Thunder
Jewel
Required Level: 49
Fingerprint: 0x547463e2
Item Level: 60
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
+1 - 97 Lightning Damage
 
I socketed this way back in Normal, by Hell I couldn't think of anything
I needed to put in it. Why not more damage?
 
Duress
Dusk Shroud
Defense: 1291
Durability: 20 of 20
Required Level: 49
Required Strength: 77
Fingerprint: 0xea0dcf52
Item Level: 73
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
185% Enhanced Defense
12% Enhanced Damage
+37 - 133 cold damage with 2 sec Duration
40% Faster Hit Recovery
33% Chance of Open Wounds
15% Chance of Crushing Blow
-20% Slower Stamina Drain
All Resistances +15
Cold Resist +30%
3 Sockets (3 used)
 
Wilhelm's Pride
Battle Belt
Defense: 75
Durability: 16 of 18
Required Level: 42
Required Strength: 88
Fingerprint: 0x1de1e57e
Item Level: 88
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
75% Enhanced Defense
Cold Resist +10%
5% Life stolen per hit
5% Mana stolen per hit
 
I couldn't think of what to wear for a belt, so I went for some Dual Leech.
 
Cleglaw's Pincers
Chain Gloves
Defense: 8
Durability: 16 of 16
Required Level: 4
Required Strength: 25
Fingerprint: 0x38f08fe4
Item Level: 83
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
Knockback
Slows Target by 25%
Set (2 item):
820 to Attack Rating (Based on Char Lvl)
 
Gore Rider
War Boots
Defense: 158
Durability: 34 of 34
Required Level: 47
Required Strength: 94
Fingerprint: 0xc169a65d
Item Level: 72
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
+20 Maximum Stamina
193% Enhanced Defense
+10 Maximum Durability
Requirements -25%
30% Faster Run/Walk
10% Chance of Open Wounds
15% Chance of Crushing Blow
15% Deadly Strike
 
Raven Frost
Ring
Required Level: 45
Fingerprint: 0x446ce8be
Item Level: 85
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
+17 to Dexterity
+40 to Mana
+209 to Attack Rating
+15 - 45 cold damage with 4 sec Duration
20% Cold Absorb
Cannot Be Frozen
 
Raven Frost
Ring
Required Level: 45
Fingerprint: 0x40f016bc
Item Level: 78
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
+19 to Dexterity
+40 to Mana
+216 to Attack Rating
+15 - 45 cold damage with 4 sec Duration
20% Cold Absorb
Cannot Be Frozen
 
Saracen's Chance
Amulet
Required Level: 47
Fingerprint: 0x4a7f0c2d
Item Level: 64
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
+12 to All Stats
Resist All +24%
10% Chance to cast level 2 Iron Maiden when struck

CHARMS
Code:
Steel Large Charm of Strength
 +5 to Strength
 +76 to Attack Rating
Grand Charm of Balance
 12% Faster Hit Recovery
Shimmering Small Charm of Burning
 Resist All +5%
 +3 - 6 Fire Damage
Shimmering Grand Charm of Life
 +15 to Life
 Resist All +15%
Steel Small Charm of Sustenance
 +11 to Life
 +36 to Attack Rating

MERC
Blessed Aim Merc. Untill I could use Enchant charges, BA was vital for getting my hit-rate to a useable level. It was annoying to have to rely on him for that though, if he dies then my hit rate plummets. Once I could use Enchant, the relative impact of BA is not as great, but still worth keeping around.

Code:
Honor
Partizan
Two Hand Damage: 141 - 300
Durability: 33 of 33
Required Level: 27
Required Strength: 103
Required Dexterity: 57
Fingerprint: 0xe2063f06
Item Level: 80
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
+10 to Strength
160% Enhanced Damage
+250 to Attack Rating
Replenish Life 10
+1 to All Skills
25% Deadly Strike
Ethereal
7% Life stolen per hit
+1 to Light Radius
+9 to Maximum Damage
+2 to Mana after each Kill
+9 to Minimum Damage
5 Sockets (5 used)
Tal Rasha's Horadric Crest
Death Mask
Defense: 109
Durability: 20 of 20
Required Level: 66
Required Strength: 55
Fingerprint: 0x3bf09f28
Item Level: 59
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
+60 to Life
+30 to Mana
+45 Defense
10% Life stolen per hit
10% Mana stolen per hit
All Resistances +15
+10 to Strength
1 Sockets (1 used)
Socketed: Perfect Amethyst
Duriel's Shell
Cuirass
Defense: 682
Durability: 150 of 150
Required Level: 41
Required Strength: 65
Fingerprint: 0x6e651910
Item Level: 75
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
186% Enhanced Defense
Cold Resist +30%
+100 Maximum Durability
Cannot Be Frozen
102 Defense (Based on Char Lvl)
82 to Life (Based on Char Lvl)
All Resistances +20
+25 to Strength
1 Sockets (1 used)
Socketed: Perfect Amethyst

SCREENSHOTS
* My Shadow Master, joining in on the Blade Fury fun

* Worst. Duriel Drop. Ever

* The Shadow Master was incredibly useful for keeping crowds distracted with Mind Blast while I was busy. Once, she surprised me by calling along some friends to help out.

* Poor Bonebreaker, trapped behind the torch. I put him out of his Misery shortly after.

* Round 1! Frenzytaur vs Flayer! Place your bets now!

* This would have been the best LK map, if only it were in Hell (and if only I cared to run LK as well). Two Bonfires right next to a WP.

* A map feature I had never encountered before in the City of the Damned. It should shoot flames out periodically. No matter how many times you play this game, there's always something new to learn.
 
Last edited:
Originally posted by Nacaa on Jun 23, 2004:

Matriarch Charlotte

Played my Trapsin for about 3 days and got her to Matriarch status today with the help from SnakeEye and Immortal to get past Ancients and Hell Baal. Did a few Baal runs after that too with Slartibartfest. Fun as always to MP.

Character name : Charlotte
Character type : Assassin
Character level : 81

Without Items:

Strength = 80
Energy = 74
Dexterity = 79
Vitality = 267

With Items:

Strength = 122
Energy = 76
Dexterity = 121
Vitality = 269

Life 1393
Mana 669

Lightning Sentry Damage: 1 - 3636
Fire Blast Damage: 1726 - 2086

Items:
Dual Bartucs
Skin of the Vipermagi
+3 Traps Amulet
2x Manald Heal rings
Silkweave
Frostburns
Nightsmoke Belt

Res was around -10/-15 in Hell but with fade it got up to around 25% and I don't get hit usually since my Shadow Master takes the damage.

Normal was pretty easy since I tweaked her abit. Wasn't able to use Lightning Sentry on a normal basis until Act4 since the mana got emptied to quick. Nightmare was a breeze and everything went down really quick. Lightning Immunes where taken care off by my merc or Fire Blast. I thought that Hell was going to be a bit problematic with lightning immunes and such but it wasn't... I used Fire Blast which works wonders to get a corpse or two and Death Sentry for the Corpse Explose. There isn't one monster I can't kill. If I bump into a Lightning/Fire immune I go to another crowd and kill those and use DS on those bodies and it will go down aswell.

Act Bosses goes down pretty easy actually. I was surprised to see that Diablo didn't take more than around 30 seconds in Hell at p1 to kill with LS.

Gonna tweak it for Pit runs now I think

:winner:
 
Originally posted by NagisaFurkawa on Apr 18, 2008:

Matriarch Nagato, Assassin of Sorts

Introduction

<Disclaimer: Beware of otaku monologue.> Nagato Yuki (?? ??) is one of the most popular fictional characters to have come out of Japan in the last few years. Last seen (disregarding manga and light novels) saving the world in Su**m**a H**u*I no Yu*u*su no more than two years ago to the day, Nagato-san. . . hm? Stop embarrassing myself!? Nobody cares!?!? T_T. Ahem~

Nagato wasn't exactly the most difficult of characters to play (though she had more than her fair share of problems), but the build was definitely *interesting*.

1) All stat points were invested into Vitality.
2) Wake of Fire was the primary killing skill.
3) Death Sentry and Blade Fury were used to counteract Fire immunities.
4) Wake of Inferno was used against bosses and in narrow places (Maggot Lair/Arcane Sanctuary).

----------------------------------------------------------

Vitals
Name: Nagato.
Level: 78 (582322353 EXP).

Strength: 20 (130). <- Perfect optimization. <3.
Dexterity: 20 (99). <- Darn that zarf for not giving me his 20 dex Raven. x).
Vitality: 420 (445).
Energy: 25 (40). <- How come Assassins get 25 base Energy, but only 20 Strength and Dexterity?!

Life: 1621. <- I wish I had CTA, but I doubt that I would be able to equip it.
Mana: 202.
Resists: 1/21/-8/4 (49/69/40/52 with Fade).
Attack Rating: 3812. <- See above, but replace CTA with Demon Limb.
Defense: 577. <- Compare this to a 15% ED Archon Plate which has 603. . . .

Skills
Wake of Fire: 20 (26) [424-487].
Wake of Inferno: 20 (26) [1385-1572].
Death Sentry: 1 (7) [1-109, 5.3 yards].
Blade Fury: 1 (7) [352-722, 464-850 with Venom].
Fire Blast: 20 (26).
Claw Mastery: 16 (22).
Cloak of Shadows/Mind Blast: 1 (7).
Fade/Venom/Weapon Block: 1 (7).
Other Prerequisites: 1 (7).

Equipment
Code:
Bartuc's Cut-Throat
Greater Talons
'Hel'
One-Hand Damage: 102 to 180
Durability: 35 of 35
(Assassin Only)
Required Dexterity: 53
Required Strength: 53
Required Level: 42
Claw Class - Very Fast Attack Speed
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 87
Fingerprint: 0x5b296903
+20 to Strength
+20 to Dexterity
+150% Enhanced Damage
+25 to Minimum Damage
+50 to Maximum Damage
7% Life stolen per hit
+2 to Assassin Skill Levels
Requirements -20%
30% Faster Hit Recovery
20% Bonus to Attack Rating
+1 to Martial Art Skills (Assassin Only)
Ethereal (Cannot be Repaired), Socketed (1: 1 used)

Bartuc's Cut-Throat
Greater Talons
One-Hand Damage: 81 to 144
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: 84
Fingerprint: 0x4f2ad777
+28 to Strength
+20 to Dexterity
+169% Enhanced Damage
+25 to Minimum Damage
+50 to Maximum Damage
Cold Resist +29%
7% 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)
Socketed (1: 1 used)

Sapphire Jewel of Virility
Required Level: 42
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 80
Fingerprint: 0x36c2056d
+8 to Strength
Cold Resist +29%

Guillaume's Face
Winged Helm
Defense: 217
Durability: 39 of 40
Required Strength: 115
Required Level: 37
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 87
Fingerprint: 0x4cc997bf
+15 to Strength
+20 to Life
+120% Enhanced Defense
+65 to Attack Rating
30% Faster Hit Recovery
35% Chance of Crushing Blow
15% Deadly Strike
Socketed (1: 1 used)

Argent Jewel of Hope
Required Level: 37
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 80
Fingerprint: 0x41fe3c5a
+20 to Life
+65 to Attack Rating

Lionheart
Light Plate
'HelLumFal'
Defense: 98
Durability: 58 of 60
Required Strength: 35
Required Level: 41
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 84
Fingerprint: 0xd9ddb2d7
+25 to Strength
+10 to Energy
+15 to Dexterity
+20 to Vitality
+50 to Life
+20% Enhanced Damage
All Resistances +30
Requirements -15%
Socketed (3: 3 used)

Cleglaw's Pincers
Chain Gloves
Defense: 8
Durability: 16 of 16
Required Strength: 25
Required Level: 4
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 87
Fingerprint: 0x75b6b78a
Knockback
Slows Target by 25%

M'avina's Tenet
Sharkskin Belt
Defense: 84
Durability: 13 of 14
Required Strength: 20
Required Level: 45
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 87
Fingerprint: 0xda25083d
+50 Defense
5% Mana stolen per hit
+5 to Light Radius
20% Faster Run/Walk

Gore Rider
War Boots
Defense: 146
Durability: 34 of 34
Kick Damage: 39 to 80
Required Strength: 94
Required Level: 47
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 59
Fingerprint: 0x2189f48b
+20 to Maximum Stamina
+172% Enhanced Defense
+10 Maximum Durability
Requirements -25%
30% Faster Run/Walk
10% Chance of Open Wounds
15% Chance of Crushing Blow
15% Deadly Strike

Mara's Kaleidoscope
Amulet
Required Level: 67
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 87
Fingerprint: 0x3704e0e6
+5 to Strength
+5 to Energy
+5 to Dexterity
+5 to Vitality
All Resistances +21
+2 to All Skill Levels

Raven Frost
Ring
Required Level: 45
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 86
Fingerprint: 0x948330ef
+19 to Dexterity
+40 to Mana
+241 to Attack Rating
Adds 15-45 cold damage over 4 seconds
20% Cold Absorb
Cannot Be Frozen

Corruption Hold
Ring
Required Level: 66
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 86
Fingerprint: 0xaba29d6e
+17 to Strength
Fire Resist +20%
Lightning Resist +11%
Cold Resist +11%
Poison Resist +23%
6% Life stolen per hit

Sharp Grand Charm
Keep in Inventory to Gain Bonus
Required Level: 21
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 81
Fingerprint: 0x1e0664f7
+65 to Attack Rating
+8 to Maximum Damage

Sharp Grand Charm of Quality
Keep in Inventory to Gain Bonus
Required Level: 33
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 86
Fingerprint: 0xa60a5f6
+54 to Attack Rating
+12 to Maximum Damage

Steel Grand Charm of Storms
Keep in Inventory to Gain Bonus
Required Level: 35
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 87
Fingerprint: 0x322d62a2
+116 to Attack Rating
Adds 1-25 lightning damage

Small Charm of Storms
Keep in Inventory to Gain Bonus
Required Level: 37
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 85
Fingerprint: 0xa0bf200c
Adds 1-24 lightning damage

Steel Small Charm of Life
Keep in Inventory to Gain Bonus
Required Level: 49
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 81
Fingerprint: 0x518d1a62
+8 to Life
+32 to Attack Rating

Fine Small Charm of Sustenance
Keep in Inventory to Gain Bonus
Required Level: 21
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 49
Fingerprint: 0x5a73ef6d
+12 to Life
+11 to Attack Rating
+3 to Maximum Damage

Mercenary
Name: Zanarhi.
Level: 76 (53370240 EXP).
Class: Desert Mercenary - Defensive (Nightmare).

Equipment
Code:
Insight
Partizan
'RalTirTalSol'
Two-Hand Damage: 188 to 394
Durability: 33 of 33
Required Dexterity: 57
Required Strength: 103
Required Level: 27
Polearm Class - Slow Attack Speed
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 58
Fingerprint: 0x968bf8d9
+5 to Strength
+5 to Energy
+5 to Dexterity
+5 to Vitality
+252% Enhanced Damage
+9 to Minimum Damage
Adds 5-30 fire damage
+75 poison damage over 5 seconds
23% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
+3 to Critical Strike
35% Faster Cast Rate
206% Bonus to Attack Rating
+2 to Mana After Each Kill
Level 16 Meditation Aura When Equipped
Ethereal (Cannot be Repaired), Socketed (4: 4 used)

Crown of Thieves
Grand Crown
Defense: 296
Durability: 47 of 50
Required Strength: 103
Required Level: 49
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 87
Fingerprint: 0x5551c725
+25 to Dexterity
+50 to Life
+35 to Mana
+160% Enhanced Defense
Fire Resist +33%
12% Life stolen per hit
99% Extra Gold from Monsters

Shaftstop
Mesh Armor
Defense: 667
Durability: 34 of 45
Required Strength: 92
Required Level: 38
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 59
Fingerprint: 0xd1996b08
+60 to Life
+212% Enhanced Defense
+250 Defense vs. Missile
Damage Reduced by 30%

----------------------------------------------------------

Ramblings
What more can I say? I love Wake of Fire. It's my favorite skill to build around in HC tournaments (yet another reason why I fail) because of it's lovely animation and FAT AoE.

1) I went dual claw instead of the more standard route (fat weapon of horrible speed) for the stats, skills, AR, block, and style. AR was also the reason behind picking Claw Mastery over Venom.

2) Wake of Fire does a lot more damage than I originally thought it would. The listed damage is pretty low, but it manages to kill at a *reasonable* rate.

3) This mercenary can't seem to stay alive for more than a few seconds unless Mind Blast is spammed.

4) Cloak of Shadows is nice, and I'd recommend it to anyone playing an assassin. However, I absolutely REFUSE to use it.

5) I really don't like those pesky Ancients. Even in Nightmare, they were a pain to kill (read: 15+ minutes).

----------------------------------------------------------

Twinking
Levels 1-7: The claw was enough (ditched the shield).
Level 8: Gemmed Cap. +14 Max Damage. x).
Level 11: Cathan's Jewelry. Gemmed Breast Plate. +27 Max Damage.
Level 15: Raven Claw.
Level 28: Naj's Circlet.

Cow King's Boots (or a hax Raven Claw) would have helped, but this was more than enough. By level 45, most of the end game gear (except the Guillaume's, which I didn't even have at that time...) was equippable thanks to the stats from Lionheart/Naj's Circlet/Raven Frost. x).

Special Thanks
~ Nagato for being awesome.
~ LynKyle/Thy/Jae/omg for letting me leech in an MP game. <3.
~ S_W for the ethereal Bartuc's and Gores.
~ Darkoooo for the pretty Argent Jewel of Hope.
~ Low Key for the Sapphire Jewel of Virility.
~ bassen for the Guillaume's Face.
~ bodis for the Corruption Hold rare.
~ Anyone who cared enough to read. =).
 
Originally posted by nebux on Nov 16, 2005:

#2 Matriarch Lili a trapssin

My second char who beated hell ball was Lili a lighting trapssin build.She was born 1.11b after the death of her brothers and sisters(killed by the new spell of Ball shift+delete in the 1.11b) and played untwiked for 86lvl(beat ancients by herself).Then she found another sister Blizz(AtmaRH) who helped her to lvl 89 in the dangerous world of MP.
Stats:
st 76 (88)
dx 76
vit 363
en 25 (33)
Skills:
FB 10 (23)
SW 20 (33)
LS 20 (33)
DS 20 (33)
WB 10 (13)
Fade 10
SM 3
Equipment:
head: Shadow Shell
Coronet
Defense: 30
Durability: 29 of 30
Required Level: 39
Item Version: 1.10 Expansion
Item Level: 73
Fingerprint: 0xcc11e114
+8 to Energy
+5 to Minimum Damage
Fire Resist +43%
Lightning Resist +18%
Cold Resist +18%
Poison Resist +18%
20% Faster Cast Rate
+2 to Trap Skills (Assassin Only)
body: Treachery
Lili's Linked Mail
'ShaelThulLem'
Defense: 166
Durability: 25 of 26
Required Strength: 74
Required Level: 43
Item Version: 1.10 Expansion
Item Level: 86
Fingerprint: 0x61300875
Belt: Arachnid Mesh Spiderweb Sash
Boots rares with fire res, mf and fast run
Gloves magical with lighting rez and mf
Rings rares with res to all, life
Amulet magic with +3 to trap
Weapons:
Carrion Fist
Greater Claws
One-Hand Damage: 33 to 68
Durability: 52 of 52
(Assassin Only)
Required Dexterity: 76
Required Strength: 76
Required Level: 37
Claw Class - Fast Attack Speed
Item Version: 1.10 Expansion
Item Level: 84
Fingerprint: 0x7175bc0a
+9 to Strength
+86% Enhanced Damage
Adds 1-14 lightning damage
+3 to Dragon Flight (Assassin Only)
+2 to Venom (Assassin Only)
+3 to Mind Blast (Assassin Only)
+1 to Mana After Each Kill
+2 to Trap Skills (Assassin Only)
and another with + 3 to traps
switch 2 claws with +3 to shadows disciples
for prebuff i'm keeping in stash an amu ans a helm with +3 to shadows
Merc
Arioc's Needle Hyperion Spear
Tal's mask
Rattlecage Embossed Plate
Defense: 498
Thank to all who helped her in to journey
 
Originally posted by Neksja on Jul 10, 2008:

Matriarch Nnenna, Lightning Trapper (M/P #23)

Hello 👋

Meet Nnenna, my latest addition to my Mat/Pat Collection. She is my 3rd Assassin (before her, matted Kicksin and Nat's PStriker) and she was actually the first one I liked. But more about her, after all the readouts, statistics and stuff.

Character name : Nnenna
Character type : Assassin
Character level : 84
Strength : 20 (72)
Energy : 25 (30)
Dexterity : 20 (86)
Vitality : 450 (455)
Life : 1124 / 1566
Mana : 281 / 149
Stamina : 742 / 736

Resists: 52/41/30/39
Resists after Fade: 75/75/75/75

Skills Base/with Gear:

Lightning Sentry 20/39
Death Sentry 20/39
Charged Bolt Sentry 20/39
Shock Web 20/39
Fire Blast 10/29
1 prereqs and wonders

Damage numbers:

LS: 1-8610
DS: 1-3032
CBS: 1-904

Fire Blast: 2037-2480

Gear:

Helm: Rare Circlet
Amulet: Mara's Kaleidoscope
Weapon1: Cunning Blade Talons
Weapon2: Cunning Blade Talons
Armor: Treachery LP
Gloves: Rare Gloves
Ring1: Ravenfrost
Ring2: Stone of Jordan
Belt: Arachnid Mesh
Boots: Rare Boots

Switch: Nothing (Soon 2x +3 Shadow Blade Talons)

Gear Readouts:
Code:
Hailstone Visor
Circlet
Defense: 28
Durability: 32 of 35
Required Level: 67
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 87
Fingerprint: 0xcf9e549b
+23 to Strength
+16 to Dexterity
+40 to Attack Rating
Fire Resist +56%
Lightning Resist +17%
Cold Resist +41%
Poison Resist +17%
+2 to Assassin Skill Levels
Socketed (1: 1 used)

Bitter Talisman
Jewel
Required Level: 42
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 86
Fingerprint: 0x5b19930d
+7 to Strength
+9 to Dexterity
+40 to Attack Rating
Cold Resist +24%

Mara's Kaleidoscope
Amulet
Required Level: 67
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 87
Fingerprint: 0x755ed509
+5 to Strength
+5 to Energy
+5 to Dexterity
+5 to Vitality
All Resistances +25
+2 to All Skill Levels

Cunning Blade Talons
'ShaelHel'
One-Hand Damage: 10 to 14
Durability: 69 of 69
(Assassin Only)
Required Dexterity: 40
Required Strength: 40
Required Level: 45
Claw Class - Very Fast Attack Speed
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 99
Fingerprint: 0x5ccb2416
Requirements -20%
20% Increased Attack Speed
+3 to Trap Skills (Assassin Only)
Socketed (2: 2 used)

Cunning Blade Talons of the Vampire
One-Hand Damage: 17 to 18
Durability: 69 of 69
(Assassin Only)
Required Dexterity: 35
Required Strength: 35
Required Level: 48
Claw Class - Fast Attack Speed
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 99
Fingerprint: 0xc1e3b979
+9 to Strength
+7 to Dexterity
+7 to Minimum Damage
Fire Resist +23%
Adds 3-6 cold damage over 2 seconds
9% Mana stolen per hit
Attacker Takes Damage of 2
Requirements -30%
+3 to Trap Skills (Assassin Only)
Socketed (2: 2 used)

Bone Gyre
Jewel
Required Level: 42
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 86
Fingerprint: 0xa0a6c1c8
+9 to Strength
+7 to Minimum Damage
Adds 3-6 cold damage over 2 seconds
Requirements -15%

Doom Talisman
Jewel
Required Level: 29
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 87
Fingerprint: 0x19fb48a8
+7 to Dexterity
Fire Resist +23%
Attacker Takes Damage of 2
Requirements -15%

Treachery
Light Plate
'ShaelThulLem'
Defense: 91
Durability: 58 of 60
Required Strength: 41
Required Level: 43
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 66
Fingerprint: 0x9b3566b1
Cold Resist +30%
50% Extra Gold from Monsters
+2 to Assassin Skill Levels
45% Increased Attack Speed
20% Faster Hit Recovery
25% Chance to cast Level 15 Venom on striking
5% Chance to cast Level 15 Fade when struck
Socketed (3: 3 used)

Beast Clutches
Sharkskin Gloves
Defense: 75
Durability: 13 of 14
Required Strength: 20
Required Level: 51
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 87
Fingerprint: 0x24cfce7c
+15 to Strength
+12 to Dexterity
+88% Enhanced Defense
Lightning Resist +21%
Poison Resist +29%
Level 3 Power Strike (27/27 Charges)

Raven Frost
Ring
Required Level: 45
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 88
Fingerprint: 0x5d317a6f
+17 to Dexterity
+40 to Mana
+172 to Attack Rating
Adds 15-45 cold damage over 4 seconds
20% Cold Absorb
Cannot Be Frozen

The Stone of Jordan
Ring
Required Level: 29
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 87
Fingerprint: 0x55cbe89d
+20 to Mana
Adds 1-12 lightning damage
Increase Maximum Mana 25%
+1 to All Skill Levels

Arachnid Mesh
Spiderweb Sash
Defense: 137
Durability: 11 of 12
Required Strength: 50
Required Level: 80
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 87
Fingerprint: 0x3e71fed9
+119% Enhanced Defense
Increase Maximum Mana 5%
20% Faster Cast Rate
+1 to All Skill Levels
Slows Target by 10%
Level 3 Venom (11/11 Charges)

Dread Slippers
Light Plated Boots
Defense: 9
Durability: 17 of 18
Kick Damage: 8 to 16
Required Strength: 50
Required Level: 38
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 87
Fingerprint: 0xf4ae9ead
+9 to Dexterity
Fire Resist +13%
Lightning Resist +32%
Poison Resist +29%
20% Faster Run/Walk
10% Faster Hit Recovery

Charms:
Code:
Entrapping Grand Charm
Keep in Inventory to Gain Bonus
Required Level: 42
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 80
Fingerprint: 0x6938b27d
+1 to Trap Skills (Assassin Only)

Entrapping Grand Charm
Keep in Inventory to Gain Bonus
Required Level: 42
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 60
Fingerprint: 0x94a3986
+1 to Trap Skills (Assassin Only)

Entrapping Grand Charm
Keep in Inventory to Gain Bonus
Required Level: 42
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 84
Fingerprint: 0xd27d645d
+1 to Trap Skills (Assassin Only)

Entrapping Grand Charm
Keep in Inventory to Gain Bonus
Required Level: 42
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 54
Fingerprint: 0x64f91882
+1 to Trap Skills (Assassin Only)

Entrapping Grand Charm
Keep in Inventory to Gain Bonus
Required Level: 42
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 86
Fingerprint: 0x7d9a2f97
+1 to Trap Skills (Assassin Only)

Cobalt Small Charm of Sustenance
Keep in Inventory to Gain Bonus
Required Level: 20
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 43
Fingerprint: 0x47cde30d
+12 to Life
Cold Resist +8%

Tangerine Small Charm of Inertia
Keep in Inventory to Gain Bonus
Required Level: 27
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 86
Fingerprint: 0x3c34781e
Lightning Resist +5%
3% Faster Run/Walk

Lapis Small Charm of Life
Keep in Inventory to Gain Bonus
Required Level: 14
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 85
Fingerprint: 0x1ec5dfb2
+8 to Life
Cold Resist +7%

Jade Small Charm of Inertia
Keep in Inventory to Gain Bonus
Required Level: 27
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 80
Fingerprint: 0x67b5acd1
Poison Resist +9%
3% Faster Run/Walk

Crimson Small Charm of Life
Keep in Inventory to Gain Bonus
Required Level: 14
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 22
Fingerprint: 0x63607a5d
+7 to Life
Fire Resist +5%


Merc, act2 HF:
Code:
Vampire Gaze
Grim Helm
Defense: 378
Durability: 21 of 21
Required Strength: 48
Required Level: 41
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 85
Fingerprint: 0x8f63da3d
+100% Enhanced Defense
+1 to Minimum Damage
Magic Damage Reduced by 14
Damage Reduced by 20%
Adds 6-22 cold damage over 4 seconds
8% Life stolen per hit
8% Mana stolen per hit
15% Increased Attack Speed
15% Slower Stamina Drain
Ethereal (Cannot be Repaired), Socketed (1: 1 used)

Scarlet Jewel of Fervor
Required Level: 31
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 86
Fingerprint: 0x1efa4ce3
+1 to Minimum Damage
15% Increased Attack Speed

Duriel's Shell
Cuirass
Defense: 971
Durability: 126 of 126
Required Strength: 55
Required Level: 42
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 87
Fingerprint: 0x643b1775
+23 to Strength
+185% Enhanced Defense
+29% Enhanced Damage
Fire Resist +20%
Lightning Resist +20%
Cold Resist +50%
Poison Resist +20%
+100 Maximum Durability
Cannot Be Frozen
+105 to Defense (Based on Character Level)
+84 to Life (Based on Character Level)
Ethereal (Cannot be Repaired), Socketed (1: 1 used)

Realgar Jewel of Virility
Required Level: 42
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 86
Fingerprint: 0x411d958b
+8 to Strength
+29% Enhanced Damage

Insight
Giant Thresher
'RalTirTalSol'
Two-Hand Damage: 219 to 684
Durability: 28 of 28
Required Dexterity: 130
Required Strength: 178
Required Level: 66
Polearm Class - Fast Attack Speed
Item Version: Expansion
Item Level: 87
Fingerprint: 0x6a3a1639
+5 to Strength
+5 to Energy
+5 to Dexterity
+5 to Vitality
+250% Enhanced Damage
+9 to Minimum Damage
Adds 5-30 fire damage
+75 poison damage over 5 seconds
23% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
+4 to Critical Strike
35% Faster Cast Rate
204% Bonus to Attack Rating
+2 to Mana After Each Kill
Level 17 Meditation Aura When Equipped
Ethereal (Cannot be Repaired), Socketed (4: 4 used)

Best Finds:

NM HF - UM, Hell HF - Fal, IKSC from Pits.

Gameplay:

LS all the way. I used it for everything. Killing, scouting, disturbing LI's (although it didn't work :rolleyes:). Most of the time, I used Fire Blast against LI's, but if I met a nasty/huge pack of LI's, I used DS also. LI's were a lot easier than I thought. With that 2k FB and Merc's poking, it was pretty fast.

Died once in Hell, to those Dark spear (the spear version of Dark Archer, forgot their name) dudes in Ancient Way act5. Ancient went down for first try, only Malawc was LI, but he was cursed. Other two died rather quickly, but right after those, Malawc killed my Merc and I was left alone with my Fire Blast. After 10 juvies and a lot of FB's, he went down and I got to WSK.

Throne and Baal was easy, just merc died twice (once to Lister gang, once to Baal). No big problems, I dealt all the waves with LS and DS right after first corpses. Geez, it was quick (I played /p1, but still). And Baal dropped me a Grand Charm, which was very good, because now I can burn those 400 pgems I have left to that single charm :)

Stat points?!:

Yep, all to Vitality. Actually, quite easy to do so, if you use Blade Talons. Still, I kind of geared her the way, that she can use Greater Talons if I manage to get some godly claws. Practically, I played naked all the way to lvl51 (those gloves, yummy) because I couldn't wear anything. After that, I could use everything else but Boots (50str), Mara's (lvl67) and the circlet (lvl67). I didn't regret the choice to take all-vita route, it helped really, really much through normal and NM.

Other thoughts:

"Pure" lightning trapper is easy to play, even through Hell. With just few points in Fire Blast, it deals enough damage to kill LI's (or make that first corpse for DS). Not sure, how she would manage, if she wouldn't use such nice gear (at least I think so) and she wouldn't be pure vita.

She kind of revived my trust to Assassins. Still, I'm a little sceptic, so I decided I'm going to try out BF-sin in future. Not sure when and how, but I'll try :)

Thanks:

You for reading
The SPF Community
Jingizu for 3 trapskillers
THC64 for those awesome gloves and 1 skiller (and perhaps those shadow claws)

Wishes, Mat Nnenna
 
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Originally posted by purplelocust on Feb 11, 2009:

Matriarch Alecto- BF assassin

Matriarch Alecto, twinked BF assassin

Quick summary:

Well, a while ago I found an ethereal Stormlash. At that time, I hadn't yet found a non-ethereal one, so that was something of a bittersweet find. On the plus side, the ethereal Stormlash is widely regarded as the best possible weapon for a blade fury assassin. I'd never made a BF sin, so I figured I'd try with the eth Stormlash and if I didn't like it, I'd never like it!

Skills:
20 Death Sentry
20 Fade
20 Venom
18 Shadow Master
1 in BF
2 unspent

Stats:
level: 82
STR: 83/118
DEX: 41/67
VIT: 239/239
E: 25/25
117 unspent

life: 1129
BF damage with Venom and Enchant active: 636-2113
AR: 1981 with Enchant
resists: 75/75/75/50


Gear:
Guilluame's helm, 1 OS
ethereal Stormlash, 1 OS
Duress Dusk Shroud
Tiamat's socketed with a fire facet (just borrowed from Calorique the Fireclaws bear)
Crescent Moon amulet
Lava Gout gloves
rare ring +11 str +26 life +114 AR 22LR
Raven Frost
Gore Rider boots
switch: dual +skill claws for prebuff
charms: mostly +str, +AR, +life and resists, a mish-mash. Three trap skillers, one with +5 dex, one with 34 life and one with more FRW.

Merc gear:
Holy Freeze
Treachery great hauberk
Reaper's Toll
Delirium or hatless

Gameplay:
Gear used en route was drawn from some accumulated ethereal weapons including: ethereal Coldsteel Eye, ethereal Spineripper, ethereal Headstriker, Ghostflame, ethereal Nord's Tenderizer. ethereal Fleshripper, and of course finally the ethereal Stormlash. I do have an ethereal Baranar's Star but I didn't invest the strength to try it out.

Gameplay went well but was a little too dependant on the Death Sentry for much of Hell. Basic play: CoS, merc and shadow and BF kill a few things, DS finishes off the bulk of the monsters.

AR problems were obvious from time to time- I used many ITD weapons and then on bosses/champions when progressing, I actually switched to full Clegs for the huge AR and crushing blow. The enchant from Lava Gouts of course helped AR a good deal once I equipped those.

The very high level requirement (82) of Stormlash meant that I wasn't even using it until I was almost done. I was playing hell mostly on /players 1 so that meant I didn't get too much time to spend with the Stormlash because I hadn't levelled much. It's socketed but I never did decide what to put in there, as is the Guillame's. I had thought an Eth might be good but before I decided, I'd killed Baal.

Intermediate reports:

Normal- this was quite easy going. She was twinked, but not optimally, just a quick and easy setup using sets. Cathan's helm, rings, armor and amulet, Hsarus full set and then Cleg's full set. The knockback is good on the Cleg's gloves and it was a great setup which killed nicely until I switched to an ethereal Coldsteel Eye. I still kept the full Clegs on switch as it has good crushing blow and AR. The big stats and low requirements for the gear meant I didn't have to worry about planning stats carefully. Basically, points were being saved until Venom was available, and DS, and then tossed in there. At level 45:

Naked/Gear Strength: 35/65
Dexterity: 41/42
Vitality: 105/105
Energy: 25/25
HP: 413/444

with 105 stat points unspent

NM went well, and Hell as well. I put Delirium on the merc and that was a treat, lots of mobs just playing amoungst themselves while BF and then Death Sentry took them out.

One odd sight was that my merc levelled up in NM CS while IM'd, giving the level up message simultaneously with the IM swirlies. Not something you see every day! I think I have a screenshot of that somewhere but I haven't found it.

Code:
Stormlash
Scourge
One Hand Damage: 15 - 463
Durability: 33 of 33
Required Level: 82
Required Strength: 115
Required Dexterity: 67
Fingerprint: 0x5bc003b5
Item Level: 87
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Properties:
286% Enhanced Damage
+1 - 473 Lightning Damage
30% Increased Attack Speed
+30 Attacker Takes Lightning Damage of
33% Chance of Crushing Blow
+4 Lightning Absorb
15% Chance to cast level 10 Static Field on striking
20% Chance to cast level 18 Tornado on striking
150% Damage to Undead
Ethereal
1 Sockets (0 used)

Finds:
Not much- she wasn't carrying much MF and so the better drops were mostly socketables. An ethereal 4 os champion sword that may eventually find its way onto an A5 merc, some decent resist small charms, a couple of decent rare min damage jewels, and an Ist from the Hellforge, were the highlights. Two rare thunder mauls dropped along the way, within a few screens of each other, but both had weak mods.


Summary:
Well, BF is an interesting skill and definitely has some nice features. I didn't find it a terribly fun skill to use, though, and in Hell it seemed like even with good gear, the DS was carrying a lot of the killing duty. It was very nice to get some great use out of some of my ethereal grail items, though. One thing I realized in retrospect is that BF could have been useful in some old tourney situations from Skunkbelly tourneys with odd limitations, but I wasn't very familiar with BF at the time.
 
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Originally posted by Reborn2k on Oct 9, 2006:

Matriarch Guile

Matriarch Guile


Stats:

Str 50/57
Dex 50/64
Vit 395/402 ---> 1623 life
Ene 25/32 ---> 435 mana

Resistances: 75/75/71/73

Block: 49% (Weapon Block)

Skills:

20 Fireblast ---> 3.9k-4.6k
20 Lightning Sentry ---> 1-7k
20 Death Sentry
20 CB Sentry
10 Shockweb
1 BoS
1 Mindblast
1 Weapon Block

Equipment:

Harlequin Crest
Mara's Kaleidoscope
Skin of the Vipermagi
Arachnid Mesh
SoJ x 2
Magefist
Cunning Scissors/Blade Talons x2 (+3 to Trap Skills)

+

Spirit Stalker
Light Plated Boots
Defense: 10
Durability: 18 of 18
Kick Damage: 8 to 16
Required Strength: 50
Required Level: 29
Item Version: 1.10 Expansion
Item Level: 86
Fingerprint: 0xa0bca8c1
Fire Resist +30%
Lightning Resist +20%
Cold Resist +13%
11% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
30% Faster Run/Walk
Half Freeze Duration

Charms:

4 Cunning Grand Charms (+1 to Trap skills, one of Vita (+37 life))
rest filled with +all res grand and small charms (some of Vita)

Merc:

Rockstopper
Leviathan
Reaper's Toll

Oh well, I just wanted to get this character through in the end. I kinda lost the interest in her, although I first planned to push her towards 10k max LS damage with a few more skillers and +3 traps/+3 LS claws.... But in the end it was worth it because I found this on my way through hell and HF only gave a Ko... :roll:

Cheers!
 
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Originally posted by scarred_life on Sep 2, 2008:

Matriarch Tanok

Pushed my trapper through the rest of hell yesterday, and here she is.

Character name : Tanok
Character type : Assassin
Character level : 85
Character exp : 1070935159

Strength : 95
Energy : 25
Dexterity : 75
Vitality : 325

Life : 1346 / 1192
Mana : 365 / 148
Stamina : 579 / 579

-Skills (with equipment):
20 (42):
Fire Blast (4678-5471)
Charged Bolt Sentry
Lighting Sentry (1-8557)
Death Sentry (1-3379)

12 (34):
Shock Web (Any other points will go here)

1pt each (lvl 10 with prebuff):
Claw Mastery
Weapon Block
Burst of Speed
Fade (75 resist F/C/L and 41 P)

-Equipment:
Weapon Switch 1: 2x Cunning Blade Talons
Weapon Switch 2: 2x Shadow Blade Talons
Helmet: Cunning Tiara of the Tiger (Larzuk'd and filled with 2x Um)
Amulet: Cunning Amulet of the Mammoth
Armor: "Treachery" Dusk Shroud
Belt: Upped Nightsmoke
Gloves: Laying of Hands
Boots: Natalya's Soul
Ring 1: Stone of Jordan
Ring 2:
Code:
Bitter Turn
Ring
Required Level: 29
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 88
Fingerprint: 0x4d806dfe
+1 to Dexterity
+83 to Mana
Lightning Resist +29%
+5 to Light Radius
10% Faster Cast Rate
5% Bonus to Attack Rating
Inventory:
7x Trap Skillers (plain)
9x SC's composing mainly of life/mana or resists

Merc:
Armor: Duriel's Shell
Helmet: Crown of Thieves
Weapon:
Code:
Obedience
Superior Cryptic Axe
'HelKoThulEthFal'
Two-Hand Damage: 237 to 1091
Durability: 33 of 33
Required Dexterity: 72
Required Strength: 122
Required Level: 59
Polearm Class - Slow Attack Speed
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 85
Fingerprint: 0xbfb9d87
+10 to Strength
+10 to Dexterity
+370% Enhanced Damage
+15% Enhanced Damage
+238 Defense
All Resistances +28
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
Ethereal (Cannot be Repaired), Socketed (5: 5 used)
NM and Hell HF:
Fal/Fal

If you haven't already noticed I decided to go fully offensive giving up both the shadow summons and CoS as well. I do not regret giving them up. This girl was a blast to play, she's a very powerful and fun character to play. I'm thinking I might be tweaking her gear a bit more and maybe slaughter some cows repeatedly or see what else she can handle (opinions welcome). I'm not sure what I have planned next, maybe finish my HF/HS zealot I've been delaying forever.

My thanks to the following people in helping me complete this project:
-Skal (for the Tiara I was never able to find)
-Scottee (for 3 of the trap skillers)
-RibGriller (for 2 of the trap skillers)
-Low Key (for 1 of the trap skillers)
-Starlight_Wizard (for 1 of the trap skillers)
 
Originally posted by Sir Lister of Smeg on Aug 17, 2007:

Matriarch Lighttrap

I finally made my first assassin matriarch, Lighttrap, the lightning trapsin. Thus I have now at least one patriarch or matriarch from each class. Since it's all softcore I won't call it a septumvirate though.

She was started a long time ago (year(s)), stood for a longtime in normal Lut Gholein until I took her up again and through the rest of normal and nightmare, only then to park her again, feeling the need to switch gear. Last week I finally took her up again after another half year hiatus to start hell and today I took her throught the final part of hell act V and the Moo Moo Farm.

As anything before is rather long ago, I can only tell some about hell. In nightmare she'd been wearing the full Iratha's set together with dual Bartucs, Treachery, Raven Frost, Dwarf Star (or possibly a manald heal, I'm not sure anymore), and Natalya's boots. Now in hell I felt I had to change something, that was the thing that originally stalled her. In the end I decided to try how she would fare without resistances (she'd still have the option to fade, and it would also be triggered by Treachery sometimes), something I was pretty sure about it would turn out to be suicide. Not to forego safety all together, I did give her Thundergod's Vigor for the lightning absorb, although I doubted it would do a lot with negative resistance. The rest that had been Iratha's set also changed to laying of hands (for increased attack speed and some fire resistance, it still remained negative), a nice rare coronet with +2 assassin skills, resistances, faster run/walk, and a cunning amulet. With a little bit in terms of resistances from charms (I opted mostly for skillers), all were still negative, though cold barely and fire not far behind, lightning was already in the middle of the red spectrum, whereas poison was close to infra-red. With fade from Treachery active all resistances except poison did become positive though.

I expected to quickly run back to the rogue camp, but before I knew it she had beaten Andariel (although she'd drunk some antidotes in advance), I don't remember any real problems in act I, I think she started at players 8, then went to 5, then to 3, and then back to 5. She did not go far into the Mausoleum though. She was able to kill the lightning immunes, but it just took a lot of time and a lot of drinking of mana potions (she was not using an insight merc), she was to encounter an area with all lightning immunes later on though.

Act II again went past easily, though she did switch to players 3 at some point, a setting that was to remain for most of the game (all except the Ancients). The combination of mindblast, lightning sentry, death sentry and firebomb worked, and Duriel didn't stand too long either (after some antifreeze in advance).

About act III I was more weary, taking into account possible gloams, certainly some lightning immune flayer-type monsters, undead stygian dolls, the council with at least a few lightning immunes, lightning immune zealots, hierophants with blizzards and lightning, to name but a few. The spider forest and both it's caves went past fine, but then I had to go into the great march, luckily there were no gloams, but it became clear quite quickly that running through was not an option with all the blowdarts and surroundings by their melee equivalent. Then in the flayer jungle the situation was worse, with for the first time lightning immune soul killers (in large numbers of course). The dungeon brought some dolls, but nothing really bad, and the lightning immune soul killers had a harder time surrounding me there than out in the open. I even went into the other cave, but the sight of gloams made me exit very quickly. Kurast had it's share of lightning immunes, but it wasn't too bad, the lightning immune zealots (cowards would be a better word) were annoying (not dangerous, but having to stun them in order to firebomb them) though. She visited all the temples and possibly found something interesting, but I don't remember. Travincal was more interesting, being pounded by meteors, blizzards and lightning while being attacked in melee by lightning immune zealots while having negative resistances and lightning as main damage is certainly interesting. Mindblast helped out of course, but all in all it took a while to do it careful enought to survive. Against the council I started out putting some lightning sentries in front the temple, hoping to kill the non-lightning immunes first and get the lightning immunes to exit, since the field back was clear, and with a few hierophants to the side it was a bit hard to kill them. Taking everything out, both council and hierophants took a while and a few merc resurrections. But then it was into the durance. I went carefully because of the dolls which were on both the first two levels, the big guys were of course lightning immune, but again no real trouble. Downstairs there were first a few vampire bosspacks, which took time, but not more than that, the same went for the rest of the council, and even Mephisto himself wasn't hard, as long as I carefully evaded his blizzards and balls.

Act IV had lots of stranglers, and I had already the need to drink a lot of blue pots, but luckily they tend to drop them as well. There were also some black souls, but with proceeding slowly and carefully they were not more than a major nuisance. The River of Flame had Urdars, Pit Lords and maggots, the maggots were lightning immune I think (I'm not sure anymore), but the young were not and gave a lot of power to the death sentries, the urdars were a major pain in the *** though, especially the boss-packs and led to a number of merc resurrections. The hellforge dropped a hel and then it was on to the Chaos Sanctuary. Of course the merc died, but there was no real trouble, apart from the occasional mana issue (I had to buy potions at some point). Diablo dropped a dol.

Act V started off nicely, with burning dead archers and spike fiends in the Bloody Foothills, but I got through alive. The other two succeeding outside areas brought little problems and it was into the crystalline passage. I'm not sure anymore, but it was either here or later, in the Ancient's Way that all three monster types were lightning immune: frenzytaurs, rogue spearwomen and skeleton mages iirc. It was not a problem killing them though, it was a major annoyance, so after finding the waypoint I exited the game and upon reentering I had only one lightning immune. Then the big worry of gloams in the frozen river proved false, instead there were sirens, succubi, and abominables. The former two were of course quite dangerous but with no lightning immunes, there was not real problem. I continued to the Frozen Tundra, before exiting the game and after reentering searching for Nihlathak. The second level had quite a few lightning immunes, but no real trouble, the third level had of course vipers who turned out to be lightning immune as well. Anyway, vipers meant no moron. In spite of their danger, they're not exactly hard to kill, but once there was a vey close call, when I moved after the cloud had already visually disappeared, but was apparently still present. After that I stood still a bit longer every time. Of course I found Nihlathak only in the fourth wing I tried. There I started, after clearing the entrance, putting some sentries next to his platform and ran away, after a while I repeated, but with more death sentries, then I saw him for a short while, he'd apparently teleported to that passage on the side, only to disappear again, and die very shortly afterwards. I then proceeded clearing the rest of the level, still having to deal with a viper champion pack. Then it was on to the Ancients. On the first try, they killed the merc nearly immediately, but I managed to kill two more. The last one's, whirlwinder, health bar just wouldn't go down any further though at some point, he was not lightning immune, but it did not seem to hurt him, and he was fire immune (he was magic resistant and had stone skin, but it was odd that he did not seem to take damage). Melee, with venom from Treachery didn't seem to hurt him either. The next roll caused the merc to go down almost immediately again, had a might enchanted and a cursed one, but this time all were killable, with the lightning enchanted thrower as last. WSK had some gloams and oblivion knights, and other far more nice combinations, and I had one close call trying to stun some hierophants while still being surrounded by too many critters. The throne had of course the mandatory gloam stair trap which I survived, I even cleared the level, frequently using cloak of shadows, as I'd also done on the other level with gloams, I also encountered one lightning and fire immune boss that did require the attention of the moron he had previously killed. The waves went down easily enought, as did Baal, although I frequently went to town to have him unsummon his clone. I also cleared the Moo Moo Farm, but, due to her being quite slow there (at players3), I did also kill the cow king since I figured her not being a good cow runner (as I really don't want to do that at a players setting lower than 3).

In act V I did visit and clear all the side areas and encountered one monster I did not know existed, although I could have guessed it had to since I'd encountered an undead version often enough, Stygian Dolls, which used blowdarts and did not explode. Her best find in hell in terms of set and unique items was probably a Naj's Light Plate that was better than my previous best, though still not perfect. For the rest she found and rerolled a few skillers. The best part was however, that I ended up not exchanging her gear at all and surviving through hell with negative resists (after rescuing Anya, cold resistance got to +2%). I don't know whether she had any deaths in normal and nightmare, but she might be the first character I've taken through the game without dying once.

Now for skills, stats and gear:

Character name : Lighttrap
Character type : Assassin
Character level : 85
Character exp : 1112421092

1 in all shadow disciplines except venom and shadow master
Shadow Master 5
Fire Blast, Charged Bolt Sentry, Lightning Sentry, Death Sentry 20
Shock Web 3

Strength : 80
Energy : 25
Dexterity : 59
Vitality : 301
Stat Points Rem : 55
Skill Points Rem: 0

Life : 1272 / 1121
Mana : 259 / 151
Stamina : 616 / 551

Gold (Inventory): 0
Gold (Stash) : 2057386

Entrapping Grand Charm
Serpent's Small Charm
Dwarf Star
Raven Frost
Mentalist's Grand Charm
Mentalist's Grand Charm of Maiming
Treachery Dusk Shroud
Thundergod's Vigor
Laying of Hands
Amber Small Charm of Dexterity
Snake's Small Charm of Inertia
Serpent's Small Charm of Strength
Cunning Amulet of the Colossus
Serpent's Small Charm of Balance
Mentalist's Grand Charm of Greed
Natalya's Soul
Snake's Small Charm of Balance
Mentalist's Grand Charm of Balance
Mentalist's Grand Charm of Strength

Bartuc's Cut-Throat
Greater Talons
One-Hand Damage: 88 to 155
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: 85
Fingerprint: 0x531cf3d3
+20 to Strength
+20 to Dexterity
+200% 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)

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: 86
Fingerprint: 0x43d52c92
+20 to Strength
+20 to Dexterity
+172% 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)

Storm Shell
Coronet
Defense: 63
Durability: 30 of 30
Required Level: 67
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 87
Fingerprint: 0x75b87a7c
+56% Enhanced Defense
+5 to Minimum Damage
All Resistances +17
5% Mana stolen per hit
+2 to Assassin Skill Levels
20% Faster Run/Walk

Mercenary Items :

Tal Rasha's Horadric Crest
Duress Superior Dusk Shroud

Obedience Superior Cryptic Axe
Ethereal (Cannot be Repaired), Socketed (5: 5 used)
 
Originally posted by sirpoopsalot on Dec 14, 2009:

Matriarch Qiwi - BF assassin

Once upon a time I got lucky and found an ethereal Fleshripper - a great weapon for Blade Fury. I always intended to give it a test run, but that project has been on the back-burner for quite a while. Then someone recently pointed out this thread by Ceramic Weasel, and after reading through it (and seeing how well the Fleshripper stacked up to some very high-end weapons), it inspired me to finally get around to tackling a BF assassin.

The usual...


Matriarch Qiwi
LCS <-- no idea how accurate that is - probably not very.

Skills (with equipment):
29 Blade Fury
22 Venom
29 Death Sentry
29 Lightning Sentry
2+ Fire Blast (remaining points will go here, for more DS shots)
1 Mindblast, prerequisites

Gear:
ethereal Fleshripper (Ruby Jewel of Ire, 37/+5 max = 273 ED total)
Fortitude
Stormshield (-requirements, fire resist jewel)
Guillaume's Face (15 @resist jewel)
Goreriders
Highlord's Wrath
Nosferatu's Coil
Ravenfrost (19/244)
DreadLoop rare ring: (7L/4M leech, 11@ resists, 119 AR, +1 max. damage)
Crafted 'Blood' Gloves: (24f / 24l / 18p resists, 1L/3M leech, 10% Crushing Blow, +12 life)

Switch: CtA + Lidless Wall
7x Entrapping (+37 life, 50 poison damage, 28% Greed, 4xplain)
9x Steel/Fine small charm of Balance/Inertia (+218 AR, +11 max damage, 20 FHR, 17FRW 1 from 1.09)

Misc. Breakpoints & stuff:
6-frame Blade Fury
48+ FHR (5 frames)
-50% Target Defense
93% Deadly Strike
85% Crushing Blow
60% Open Wounds
30% Slows Target (plus Decrepify from the merc often)
41% Damage Reduction (Fade + Stormshield)
75% Blocking
15L / 7M Leech

Neeraj, Blessed Aim merc, level81
ethereal Reapers Toll (Ruby Jewel of Fervor)
Treachery mage plate
Vampire Gaze (IAS jewel)

Finds:
Fal/Pul Hellforge
+5 @resists small charm
+8 @resists large charm
that's about it (other than a few Failed Grail additions)


Notes:
1. No, I didn't use the enigma. I thought about it, but decided to go with a more generic approach, and the Fortitude just compliments the build a lot better than the Enigma (through the extra resists & damage).

2. I initially planned to go with Blades of Ice as my anti-Physical Immunes backup (I figured it would be adequate-but-crappy; I wanted to see by what margin). But there was one problem with that plan: melee attack + ethereal (non-repairing) weapon. So I ended up settling on a 'cookie-cutter' BF assassin instead. :(

3. That said, DS was a very nice helper for physical immunes.

4. Neeraj was painfully, painfully stupid. I don't know if it was because he was a BA merc (I can't remember how long it's been since I used one of these auras) and they have different AI than the other Act2 mercs, or if he just plain sucked. I've used plenty of Act2 mercs before, and I can only ever remember one other Act2 merc that was as nearly as stupid as him. He was so bad at times that I wish I'd been able to hostile him to relieve my frustrations (if only temporarily).

5. For a change of pace, I didn't feel like taking her through with the usual twinking gear, so at level18 I immediately jumped 100% into Blade Fury with Clegaw's set. At level38 I upgraded to an ethereal Fleshrender, then Heaven's Light at 61.

6. /players8 for Normal & Nightmare, /players1-5 for Hell (depending on kill-speed & leech & immunities).

7. This actually completes my 2nd Septavirate of Mats/Pats. Not bad considering I never really set out to complete the first one. :p

8. There were some things that I really liked about the ranged aspect of Blade Fury compared to the other ranged attack skills that I've tried. The most obvious was the fact that you don't ever run out of ammo - it's very nice never needing to go to town to repair a weapon or pick up arrows/bolts. The 2nd thing I liked was the continuous attack - it was nice to not bother to namelock individual monsters when a swarm came up, instead just point towards an empty space to start, hold the mouse button down, and then aim at the monsters that seemed the most dangerous without lifting off the attack button.


Overall:
I played as almost a pure BF assassin until the Durance of Hate in Hell, and it was getting a little monotonous at times near the end. The attack (and leech) was so powerful that I barely ever used Cloak of Shadows or Mindblast, and DS was only for helping take out physical immunes. So 98% of the gameplay was pretty much holding down the right mouse button until everything died, collecting the drops, and refreshing my prebuff from time to time.

But once I got into the Durance I decided to start mixing in Death Sentry a lot more, and with Stygian Dolls and a few other dangerous monsters starting to pop up more, I added a little more CoS and Mindblast too - and once I diversified my skill usage a little, all of the sudden I found the build quite enjoyable to play. And with DS mowing things down more often, the pace seemed to roll along even faster too.

So I'm glad I finally tried it - especially because it turned out even more enjoyable than I'd hoped (at least for the last couple of acts). And enjoying the combo of Blade Fury and Death Sentry as much as I did, it's already got me thinking about a much more original idea (you'll have to wait to find out those details).
 
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