Originally posted by RobbyD on Apr 10, 2014:
Patriarch MC_Snails - Beta Bramble Poison Nova Necro
I finished this character a while back, and was planning on presenting the Patriarch, but I lost the D2 drive at that point. But, at long last, I've finished this intro.
BACKGROUND
So as I was running for the 1.09 WF for my last 1.09 character, I got thinking about builds I wanted to try in 1.13 once I was free to pursue this patch. A character that came up in conversations with a buddy that used to play, and jived very well with leveraging cheezy overpowered beta runewords, is the Poisonmancer. I had a pretty nice stack of 1.09 Vex runes, so I figured if I had the patience to run 1.09 Pindle for the WF, I had the patience for getting the runes necessary for beta Bramble.
I have heard folks talk about using beta Bramble on a number of characters (PJ Zon, Venom Sin, Rabies Druid), but there is, IMHO, simply no choice between a Poisonmancer and any of these other characters for maximizing this item. I already planned on using the Trang's 3-piece for the EPD and reduced EPR, but then Nulio was good enough to trade me a Death's Web (and some 1.10a BWKBs), so I had everything I needed for an insanely OP build. I did go ahead and do the extra HF rushing for another beta CtA (lackluster roll of 9 BO, so I kept that in 1.10s and used my 12BO CtA for this), which resulted in a riduculous number of Larzuk rewards, so I wasn't stingy with sockets.
And, thus, MC_Snails was created. His name is a play on the Marble Coned Snail, which is a very poisonous critter.
So it is my pleasure to present:
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Patriarch MC_Snails - 1.13 Poisonmancer (using broken time-travel gear)
Character name : MC_Snails
Character type : Necromancer
Character level : 89
Character exp : 1612075045
LCS on Hell Baal defeat (BO had expired)
Stats (Base/Equipped)
Strength : 50/103
Energy : 25/27
Dexterity : 187/207
Vitality : 273/275
Stat Points Rem : 0
Skill Points Rem: 0
?
Life (Base/BO'd): 753/2004
Mana (Base/BO'd): 201/685
Stamina : 425/971
Final Resists: 75/70/75/75
Final Skills:
Summoning: (Base/Equipped)
Clay Golem: 4/13
Golem Mastery: 5/14
Summon Resist: 1/10
?
Poison & Bone: (Base/Equipped)
Teeth: 1/18
Corpse Explosion: 11/28
Poison Dagger: 20/37
Poison Explosion: 20/37
Poison Nova: 20/37
?
Curses: (Base/Equipped)
Amplify Damage: 1/13
Dim Vision: 1/13
Weaken: 1/13
Iron Maiden: 1/13
Terror: 1/13
Life Tap: 1/13
Decrepify: 1/13
Lower Resist: 11/23
Hell Weapon/Shield:
Main (DWeb traded from Nulio - the poison facet was one I found)
Code:
Death's Web
Unearthed Wand
One-Hand Damage: 22 to 28
Durability: 18 of 18
Required Strength: 25
Required Level: 66
Staff Class - Normal Attack Speed
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 88
Fingerprint: 0x59c5d325
+36 poison damage over 2 seconds
+11 Life after each Kill
150% Damage to Undead
+2 to All Skill Levels
+12 to Mana After Each Kill
+1 to Poison and Bone Skills (Necromancer Only)
100% Chance to cast Level 23 Venom When You Level Up
+4% to Poison Skill Damage
-49% to Enemy Poison Resistance
Socketed (1: 1 used)
Rainbow Facet
Jewel
Required Level: 49
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 85
Fingerprint: 0x57d43669
+36 poison damage over 2 seconds
100% Chance to cast Level 23 Venom When You Level Up
+4% to Poison Skill Damage
-4% to Enemy Poison Resistance
Trang-Oul's Wing
Cantor Trophy
'Um'
Defense: 183
Chance to Block: 60%
Durability: 20 of 20
(Necromancer Only)
Required Strength: 50
Required Level: 54
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 88
Fingerprint: 0xd893c2a5
+25 to Strength
+15 to Dexterity
+30% Increased Chance of Blocking
+125 Defense
Fire Resist +65%
Lightning Resist +22%
Cold Resist +22%
Poison Resist +62%
+2 to Poison and Bone Skills (Necromancer Only)
***Partial Set Item Bonuses***
-25% to Enemy Poison Resistance
Replenish Life +15
***Partial Set Item Bonuses***
Socketed (1: 1 used)
Um Rune
Inserted into a Cantor Trophy
All Resistances +22
Required Level: 47
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
BO Switch (CtA rolled back when I rolled the 15BO CtA my Teslot uses)
Code:
Call to Arms
War Scepter
'AmnRalMalIstOhm'
One-Hand Damage: 35 to 60
Durability: 70 of 70
Required Strength: 55
Required Level: 57
Mace Class - Fastest Attack Speed
Item Version: Expansion
Item Level: 72
Fingerprint: 0xaca1e55e
GUID: 0xca012d88 0x11d1e814 0x0
+253% Enhanced Damage
Adds 5-30 fire damage
7% Life stolen per hit
Replenish Life +12
30% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
40% Increased Attack Speed
+12 to Battle Orders
+10 to Battle Cry
+7 to Battle Command
+2 to Holy Shield (Paladin Only)
+1 to Meditation (Paladin Only)
Prevent Monster Heal
150% Damage to Undead
+2 to All Skill Levels
Socketed (5: 5 used)
Lidless Wall
Grim Shield
Defense: 321
Chance to Block: 40%
Durability: 70 of 70
Required Strength: 58
Required Level: 41
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 75
Fingerprint: 0x973165a4
GUID: 0xffffffff 0xdeadbeef 0x0
+10 to Energy
+113% Enhanced Defense
Increase Maximum Mana 10%
+1 to Light Radius
20% Faster Cast Rate
+1 to All Skill Levels
+5 to Mana After Each Kill
?
Hell Armor:
Helm: Harlequin Crest (pTopaz)
Ammy:
Rare "Bitter Eye" (readout below - had been collecting dust in 1.09)
Armor:
MY PRECIOUS: Beta Bramble Dusk Shroud (readout below)
Gloves: Trang-Oul's Claws
Belt: Trang-Oul's Girth
Boots:
Rare "Storm Greaves" (readout below)
Ring1: 1.10a Bul Kathos' Wedding Band
Ring2:
Rare "Order Coil" Ring (readout below)
Code:
Bitter Eye
Amulet
Required Level: 67
Item Version: Expansion
Item Level: 97
Fingerprint: 0xde9a6dae
+18 to Strength
Fire Resist +20%
Lightning Resist +52%
Cold Resist +20%
Poison Resist +20%
+2 to Necromancer Skill Levels
Level 2 Teleport (25/25 Charges)
?
Bramble
Dusk Shroud
'RalOhmSurEth'
Defense: 765
Durability: 20 of 20
Required Strength: 77
Required Level: 61
Item Version: Expansion
Item Level: 71
Fingerprint: 0x2bc53ef1
GUID: 0x3f8582b4 0x3f8582b4 0x0
Regenerate Mana 15%
+300 Defense
Fire Resist +30%
+5% to Maximum Cold Resist
Poison Resist +100%
Increase Maximum Mana 5%
+13 Life after each Kill
50% Faster Hit Recovery
Level 21 Thorns Aura When Equipped
Level 13 Spirit of Barbs (33/33 Charges)
+168% to Poison Skill Damage
Socketed (4: 4 used)
Storm Greaves
Light Plated Boots
Defense: 14
Durability: 18 of 18
Required Strength: 50
Required Level: 29
Item Version: Expansion
Item Level: 93
Fingerprint: 0x78655a87
+3 to Dexterity
+21% Enhanced Defense
Fire Resist +7%
Lightning Resist +39%
16% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
30% Faster Run/Walk
Order Coil
Ring
Required Level: 48
Item Version: Expansion
Item Level: 93
Fingerprint: 0x7a0c0b8
+105 to Attack Rating
Fire Resist +9%
Lightning Resist +35%
Cold Resist +9%
Poison Resist +9%
Replenish Life +4
26% Extra Gold from Monsters
10% Faster Cast Rate
The +18 on the rare ammy was just so nice with helping me gear up his STR for the Trang's belt. Having the extra -25% EPR from the partial set on the Trang's Wing was the goal here.
Hell Charms:
Fungal Grand Charm of Strength (4)
Fungal Grand Charm of Sustenance (22)
Fungal Grand Charm of Greed
3x Fungal Grand Charm
2x Hexing Grand Charm of Vita (both 39)
Shimmering Small Charm of Strength (5/2)
Shimmering Small Charm of Strength (4/2)
Various resist, MF, and 1.09 Inertia SCs
?
Endgame Merc Gear (the weapon is beta Crescent Moon in a 1.07 base Thresher):
I made this beta Crescent Moon Thresher in a base I paid handsomely for years ago - after making it, I struggled in finding a scenario where it would best be used - I can't think of a better use for it than for this character. It worked pretty well, but PN worked so fast that I really didn't notice the impact of the Static very often.
Code:
Treachery
Superior Scarab Husk
'ShaelThulLem'
Defense: 804
Durability: 15 of 17
Required Strength: 85
Required Level: 51
Item Version: Expansion
Item Level: 90
Fingerprint: 0x15617f27
+13% Enhanced Defense
Cold Resist +30%
Increase Maximum Durability 12%
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
Ethereal (Cannot be Repaired), Socketed (3: 3 used)
?
Crown of Thieves
Grand Crown
Defense: 336
Durability: 50 of 50
Required Strength: 103
Required Level: 49
Item Version: Expansion
Item Level: 90
Fingerprint: 0xc33b22bf
+25 to Dexterity
+50 to Life
+35 to Mana
+195% Enhanced Defense
Fire Resist +33%
Lightning Resist +26%
12% Life stolen per hit
87% Extra Gold from Monsters
15% Increased Attack Speed
Socketed (1: 1 used)
Ambergris Jewel of Fervor
Required Level: 31
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 85
Fingerprint: 0xcdea0aeb
Lightning Resist +26%
15% Increased Attack Speed
Crescent Moon
Superior Thresher
'ShaelUmTir'
Two-Hand Damage: 62 to 837
Durability: 33 of 33
Required Dexterity: 108
Required Strength: 142
Required Level: 53
Polearm Class - Very Fast Attack Speed
Item Version: Expansion
Item Level: 87
Fingerprint: 0xcae8260
GUID: 0x479d2a0 0x479d2a0 0x0
+247% Enhanced Damage
+2 to Attack Rating
20% Increased Attack Speed
Ignore Target Defense
25% Chance of Open Wounds
+2 to Mana After Each Kill
+10 Magic Absorb
20% Chance to cast Level 13 Static Field on striking
10% Chance to cast Level 17 Chain Lightning on striking
Level 18 Summon Spirit Wolf (20/30 Charges)
-35% to Enemy Lightning Resistance
Ethereal (Cannot be Repaired), Socketed (3: 3 used)
I loaded him up with IAS to maximize the proc-ing of that Static. I kept the Crown of Thieves over Andy's because I did want maxed resist when he's not Faded - he spends a lot of time un-faded.
Planning:
Well, I was originally going to go with a Blackbog's Sharp with the partial Trang's -25%EPR, and opt for stabbing act bosses, but wiser players than I impressed upon me the huge impact a Death's Web would have. Luckily, I had some nice skillers to trade for the DWeb (and BKWBs) from Nulio. I'm very glad I did.
The challenge I had was to manage requirements through NM so that I had the right allocation in Hell (I know, I know - there' respec now, but an old 1.09 guy like myself just doesn't want to resort to that). The Trang's Wing and that fantastic ammy made it doable.
CHARACTER PROGRESSION
Early Normal (twink gear):
Pretty straigtforward - along with my usual favorite partial set mix-and-match (Arctic/Death's/Angelic), an Envy Bow from Level 1-15 (I especially like the second affixes on some of the Envy Jewels):
Code:
Gemmed Long Bow
Two-Hand Damage: 3 to 10
Required Dexterity: 19
Required Strength: 22
Bow Class - Normal Attack Speed
Item Version: Expansion
Item Level: 73
Fingerprint: 0xe868ab5a
+5 Defense
Cold Resist +15%
Poison Resist +10%
+100 poison damage over 2 seconds
17% Extra Gold from Monsters
Socketed (5: 5 used)
Levels 15-30 were, of course, managed using a converted 1.09 Raven Claw (worked just fine, but slowed down in Act 3)
Late Normal (Main Skill):
At level 30, the main skill was avaialable, so items like Skin and Peasant Crown went on the boost the level.
At level 42, very useful items like skillers and Homunculus were equipped (though the Hexing of Vita charms weren't available, so I used lower level suffix Hexing charms), which boosted damage output nicely.
For the Merc, I decided not to bring my 1.09 eth Honor Partizan forward. Instead, I used one of the many socket rewards I have avaialble and put an Amn Rune in a Hwanin's Justice.
?
Nightmare:
While the beta Bramble was available at level 61, so it could have been put on in Act 3, and the Death's Web is available at level 66, I opted to hold off until Hell equip these items, sticking with Blackbog's Sharp and Skin of the Vipermagi. I did, however, set him up with the Trang's 3-piece when I could equip it - that took a little bit of gear-juggling due to the STR requirement of the Trang's Girth. My 2 Hexing GCs of Vita were equipped at level 69.
I also went ahead and equipped the beta CtA on casting switch when it became available.
For the merc, come level 53, I was torn between the Obedience and the beta Crescent Moon, but the decision ended up being made for me. Obedience uses Hel, which makes a Thresher light enough for a level 53 merc to carry, whereas Crescent Moon does not. So Obedience was used through NM.
Hell:
Here's where the really broken equipment was equipped - beta Bramble, Death's Web, 1.10a BKWB, and beta Crescent Moon for the Merc.
I noted a real difference in Nova effectiveness with the DWeb and beta Bramble, as most monsters went back to dying to a single Nova, and most importantly, broken PnI monsters died to one or two Novas as well.
?
SO... How did he do?
Damage output from Poison Nova varied in effectiveness as he progressed through late Normal and all of Nightmare. It continued to be pumped through synergies, but monster life and poison resists also progressed, and I had a hard time killing some high life/high PR monsters like Venom Lords in NM Act 4. However, generally most monsters died to a single Poison Nova in large groups.
The obvious PnI solution was CE, which worked as well as one would expect.
Once my obvious skill points had been allocated, I went off of my experience to decide what to pump. I had originally expected to pump Clay Golem and/or Golem Mastery, because I did not like the plateauing of the -Resists of LR. However, the Golem (which attracted monsters like a beacon) actually was very durable with the modest investment I had made, and I saw the benefit of the extra range and duration of LR with more points, so I decided to keep pumping that. All the way through Hell Act 3, I noted that very few PnI monsters were unbreakable, with a few exceptions...
Stygian/Fetish Dolls: These were notable ubreakable PI monsters in Hell. That actually was not a bad thing, since I didn't want them dying next to MC_Snails anyway. It did make clearing places like the Flayer Dungeon and Durance of Hate a little tricky, but I did rely heavily on the monster-attracting quality of the Golem for this.
Hell Act 5 introduced many more unbreakable PnI monsters, though, so there were some areas that were a bit tedious. Since I kept /P8 throughout the whole game, some monsters took some work to kill. I also noted enough HP for some monster types to require multiple Novas.
Nihlathak:
WIN - CE to keep him from popping the corpses, he ended up going with a direct attack I never knew he had - Arctic Blast (he may not have this in 1.09).
Ancients: WIN - /P8 and all, while it took a number of Novas, they bit the dust without too much fuss.
OBSERVATIONS
The -EPR of Death's Web was indeed a tremendous difference-maker. The fact that most Hell Act 1 to Act 4 PnI monsters are breakable with LR meant that the -EPR from DWeb and the Trang's 3-piece was quite useful.
One thing that was a bit of a challenge was the lack of any FBR in that Trang's Wing - this became an issue whenever MC_Snails was around a lot of projectile-shooting monsters - the Quill Beasts particularly come to mind. He had a hard time getting a nova off with so many darts coming in, but once he did, no more troubles.
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tl;dr: MC_Snails killzd all teh monsters
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POST-PAT PLANS
MC_Snail has proven quite effective againt The Pit, Ancient City, Council, and RoF/CS. I've run these areas for a while and he's now level 92.
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Thanks everyone for reading.