- Jan 1, 2011
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This is my second Necro. The first was a Fishymancer way back in 2005/6. So, to say that I was rusty playing a Necro is an understatement and coupled with my tendency to get face to face with monsters led to multiple very early deaths in Normal. As a result, between my frustrations over his deaths and other projects he was played sporadically and it took just over a year to get out of normal. However, once he did get beyond Act 2 Normal I enjoyed playing him and playing with his gear.
Ok, the name. As I was starting to think about making a Bonemancer I watched an Australian Movie titled Ihaka: Blunt Instrument. The character and name are Māori and I just assumed that the name meant blunt or blunt instrument in Māori and thought that it was a good match for someone using Bones. However, when I finally looked it up it turns out it means laughter and that was a very apt description of how most would have reacted to my beginning play with him.
The original plan was a strait Bonemancer with Bone Spear being my primary skill and very few points into anything other than the synergies. I’d put a point into Amp and the two prerequisites to get Decrepify and that was going to be it. I also thought that I wouldn’t put anything into summons, but that didn’t last long as I realized that I needed some sort of meat shield in front of me, so I dumped a point into skeletons, but that isn’t exactly a meat shield. I finally reached level 18 and things got easier.
Once I finished my latest Pally, I decided it was time to get serious and work on Ihaka. I found him in the upper 20s just starting the Canyon of the Magi.
Over the years I’d collected a number of Necro items and I decided that I wouldn’t use any nonNecro items if I could help it and thus began my twinking journey which is detailed below.
I decided to use a fire rogue with an Insight bow. That solved the mana issue and given the 15% ED Matriarch bow she did reasonable damage.
Gear
Helm – Rare Coronet with +2 Necro, resists and strength w/PTopaz
Armor – Chains of Honor
Weapon - Boneshade
Off-hand - Homunculus
Gloves - Trang-Oul's Claws
Belt – Arachnid Mesh
Boots- War Travelers
Amulet- Rare +2 Necro and mana
Ring 1 – The Stone of Jordan
Ring 2 – Rare FCR, resists and strength
Switch – Gimmershred / 4Fervor Monarch
Thoughts on the build
No life leach – I have no idea how many red potions I swallowed.
Can’t be frozen – not a requirement on this guy. I’m so used to putting a Raven Frost in one of the ring slots. However, I wanted the FCR ring so I tried it and had no problem casting when frozen.
Corpse Explosion – Why didn’t I use it more. About the only time I used it was around the greater mummies in Act 2 to get rid of the skeletons that they kept reanimating. If I had used it regularly, I would have probably stayed at least at players 5 instead of doing most of Hell at players3.
Bone Runeword Armor – Back when I first decided to make Ihaka, I thought this would be great armor for him. Thankfully, before actually making it I concluded that it was a waste of 2 Um runes. With Insight, I don’t need the Mana increase and since I’m already spamming Bone Spear, a 15% chance to cast an additional spear isn’t much. The only plus is that it offers +2 to skills instead of +1 until I can equip Enigma or Chains of Honor.
Why had I never made Stealth Armor before. Great for the Necro until being able to equip Skin of the Vipermagi and better for the rogue than Peace.
Mana Blood curse never heard of it before. From the animation I thought I was having Iron Maiden cast on me as when Bone spear hit a target, I’d lose life. That didn’t make any sense since there is no physical damage. I had to look it up and found that it’s called Mana Blood. Succubae and Baal can cast it IF the player has a larger mana pool than a life pool.
Dim Vision - I think @The Nix has it right with Dim Vision. I’ve seen a number of builds on other sites that don’t call for it and I wasn’t going to put any points into it, but his Pat post convinced me to try it so I put a point into it. Cast Dim Vision and the base monster don’t see you and you can run around the other casting BS. It made the whole game easier.
Clay Golem – This guy is an ideal tank. He goes right to where he needs to go and doesn’t wander off on his own. At level 17 his life is 7,986 and so he doesn’t die often. I fell in love with him when I made a Rhyme shield that had +1 to Bone Spear and +3 to Clay Golem. I wasn’t going to put any points in it, but I put one in plus a point to Golem Mastery.
White Wand or Boneshade wand – This was a tough one for me as I made White in a wand that had +1 to Bone Spear and +2 to Bone Prison and Bone Spirit. I went back and forth several times and ultimately went with Boneshade for the +2 to Necro skills instead of the +3 to bone skills. Frankly, I couldn’t tell the difference between 70% FCR and 75%.
Shield – Maxroll suggests a Spirit Monarch. Of course, they have an extra 100 points to strength from items and they want to get to 125% FCR. While Spirit offers FCR and +2 to skills for me using Trang’s Wing and especially Homunculus are better choices. Both will give max block rate versus 47% and Homunculus offers high resistances. I did try a Spirit shield and wasn’t impressed. Then again, I’m not one to sit on the edge of the action.
Helm – Ok, I hate the look of Peasant Crown and Harlequin Quest, so Necro circlets and coronets for me.
Insight Bow – The first one I made in a +3 Amazon skills Ashwood bow that I was able to equip at level 29. I made one in a +1-bow skill 15% ED Superior Matriarchal Bow that says it requires level 39 to equip. That may work on the Amazon itself, but on the rogue, it needed the equipping of Crown of Thieves and level 58 before I could meet the 187 Dexterity requirement. Cast Decrepify and she did reasonable damage.
No lightning absorb. I had 75% resistances on all 4 elements, but lightning damage was the cause of 2 of my deaths in Hell. One death from a boss led group of Gloams in the Plains of Despair. A second death in the WSK to a convicted Hierophant boss. The third death came in the throne room to a convicted Bartuc and his Hydras.
Finds – three Lem runes in Nightmare, which I thought was decent. In hell the forge dropped a Lum and I thought it was typical for me. Then in the Sanctuary a Mal dropped and in the Ancient’s way a Ber dropped. As far as sets and uniques goes I found a Carrion Wind, Wizard Spike, Ondal’s Almighty and an Etheral Edge.
The last thing is dealing with Magic Immunes. My play style is everything must die, so I needed a way to handle the few Magic Immunes. @The Nix has tried both Demon Machine and Pus Spitter and felt that both were useless. I suspect that Buriza would also be useless.
Ok, the name. As I was starting to think about making a Bonemancer I watched an Australian Movie titled Ihaka: Blunt Instrument. The character and name are Māori and I just assumed that the name meant blunt or blunt instrument in Māori and thought that it was a good match for someone using Bones. However, when I finally looked it up it turns out it means laughter and that was a very apt description of how most would have reacted to my beginning play with him.
The original plan was a strait Bonemancer with Bone Spear being my primary skill and very few points into anything other than the synergies. I’d put a point into Amp and the two prerequisites to get Decrepify and that was going to be it. I also thought that I wouldn’t put anything into summons, but that didn’t last long as I realized that I needed some sort of meat shield in front of me, so I dumped a point into skeletons, but that isn’t exactly a meat shield. I finally reached level 18 and things got easier.
Once I finished my latest Pally, I decided it was time to get serious and work on Ihaka. I found him in the upper 20s just starting the Canyon of the Magi.
Over the years I’d collected a number of Necro items and I decided that I wouldn’t use any nonNecro items if I could help it and thus began my twinking journey which is detailed below.
I decided to use a fire rogue with an Insight bow. That solved the mana issue and given the 15% ED Matriarch bow she did reasonable damage.
Code:
Name: Ihaka
Class: Necromancer
Experience: 1303438362
Level: 87
Naked/Gear
Strength: 95/204
Dexterity: 168/204
Vitality: 237/283
Energy: 25/99
HP: 678/792 (1040 bone Armor)
Mana: 197/661
Stamina: 387/387
Defense: 42/1638
AR: 795/1112
Fire: 196/156/96
Cold: 232/192/132
Lightning: 218/178/118
Poison: 231/191/131
MF: 208 Block: 78
GF: 180 FR/W: 25
FHR: 0 IAS: 0
FCR: 75
Amplify Damage: 1/21
Dim Vision: 1/21
Weaken: 1/21
Iron Maiden: 0/0
Terror: 1/21
Confuse: 0/0
Life Tap: 0/0
Attract: 0/0
Decrepify: 1/21
Lower Resist: 0/0
Teeth: 3/26
Bone Armor: 5/29
Poison Dagger: 0/0
Corpse Explosion: 1/20
Bone Wall: 20/42
Poison Explosion: 0/0
Bone Spear: 20/42
Bone Prison: 20/39
Poison Nova: 0/0
Bone Spirit: 20/41
Skeleton Mastery: 0/0
Raise Skeleton: 1/17
Clay Golem: 1/17
Golem Mastery: 1/17
Raise Skeletal Mage: 0/0
Blood Golem: 0/0
Summon Resist: 1/17
Iron Golem: 0/0
Fire Golem: 0/0
Revive: 0/0
Bone Spear Damage 3986-4191 with Boneshade
4131-4342 with White WandHelm – Rare Coronet with +2 Necro, resists and strength w/PTopaz
Armor – Chains of Honor
Weapon - Boneshade
Off-hand - Homunculus
Gloves - Trang-Oul's Claws
Belt – Arachnid Mesh
Boots- War Travelers
Amulet- Rare +2 Necro and mana
Ring 1 – The Stone of Jordan
Ring 2 – Rare FCR, resists and strength
Switch – Gimmershred / 4Fervor Monarch
Code:
Chains of Honor
Archon Plate
DolUmBerIst
Defense: 880
Durability: 60 of 60
Required Level: 63
Required Strength: 103
Fingerprint: 0x8e15eb1e
Item Level: 83
Version: Resurrected
+2 to All Skills
+200% Damage to Demons
+100% Damage to Undead
8% Life stolen per hit
+70% Enhanced Defense
+20 to Strength
Replenish Life +7
All Resistances +65
Damage Reduced by 8%
25% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
4 Sockets (4 used)
The Stone of Jordan
Ring
Required Level: 29
Fingerprint: 0xc66fecab
Item Level: 85
Version: Resurrected
+1 to All Skills
Adds 1 - 12 Lightning Damage
+20 to Mana
Increase Maximum Mana 25%
Trang-Oul's Claws
Heavy Bracers
Defense: 69
Durability: 16 of 16
Required Level: 45
Required Strength: 58
Fingerprint: 0x157a5181
Item Level: 85
Version: Resurrected
+2 to Curses (Necromancer only)
+20% Faster Cast Rate
+25% to Poison Skill Damage
+30 Defense
Cold Resist +30%
Demon Brow
Coronet
Defense: 40
Durability: 30 of 30
Required Level: 67
Fingerprint: 0x404f7aa8
Item Level: 84
Version: Resurrected
12% Chance to cast level 4 Nova when struck
+2 to Necromancer Skill Levels
+119 to Attack Rating
5% Life stolen per hit
+21 to Strength
All Resistances +16
24% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
1 Sockets (1 used)
Socketed: Perfect Topaz
Wraith Loop
Ring
Required Level: 66
Fingerprint: 0xf0fe7322
Item Level: 99
Version: Resurrected
+10% Faster Cast Rate
+15 to Attack Rating
+16 to Strength
+87 to Mana
Lightning Resist +14%
Poison Resist +30%
+1 to Light Radius
Wraith Clasp
Amulet
Required Level: 67
Fingerprint: 0x7243704d
Item Level: 99
Version: Resurrected
+2 to Necromancer Skill Levels
+4 to Maximum Damage
+18 to Energy
+64 to Mana
+2 to Light Radius
Arachnid Mesh
Spiderweb Sash
Defense: 124
Durability: 12 of 12
Required Level: 80
Required Strength: 50
Fingerprint: 0x6182f1a5
Item Level: 96
Version: Resurrected
+1 to All Skills
+20% Faster Cast Rate
Slows Target by 10%
+98% Enhanced Defense
Increase Maximum Mana 5%
Level 3 Venom (11/11 Charges)
War Traveler
Battle Boots
Defense: 120
Durability: 48 of 48
Required Level: 42
Required Strength: 95
Fingerprint: 0x30e5de0e
Item Level: 85
Version: Resurrected
+25% Faster Run/Walk
Adds 15 - 25 Damage
+151% Enhanced Defense
+10 to Strength
+10 to Vitality
40% Slower Stamina Drain
Attacker Takes Damage of 6
50% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
+30 Maximum Durability
Ihaka's Boneshade
Lich Wand
One Hand Damage: 10 - 31
Durability: 17 of 17
Required Level: 79
Required Strength: 25
Fingerprint: 0x30ef9c0f
Item Level: 84
Version: Resurrected
+2 to Necromancer Skill Levels
+25% Faster Cast Rate
+2 to Bone Spirit (Necromancer Only)
+3 to Bone Spear (Necromancer Only)
+3 to Bone Wall (Necromancer Only)
+5 to Bone Armor (Necromancer Only)
+4 to Teeth (Necromancer Only)
Homunculus
Hierophant Trophy
Defense: 208
Chance to Block: 52
Durability: 20 of 20
Required Level: 42
Required Strength: 58
Fingerprint: 0x6436d2b1
Item Level: 87
Version: Resurrected
+2 to Curses (Necromancer only)
+2 to Necromancer Skill Levels
+30% Faster Block Rate
40% Increased Chance of Blocking
+194% Enhanced Defense
+20 to Energy
Regenerate Mana 33%
All Resistances +59
+5 to Mana after each Kill
1 Sockets (1 used)
Socketed: Perfect Diamond
Gimmershred
Flying Axe
Throw Damage: 45 - 200
One Hand Damage: 51 - 197
Quantity: 42
Required Level: 70
Required Strength: 88
Required Dexterity: 108
Fingerprint: 0x16fabe6
Item Level: 87
Version: Resurrected
+30% Increased Attack Speed
204% Enhanced Damage
Adds 218 - 483 Fire Damage
Adds 29 - 501 Lightning Damage
Adds 176 - 397 Cold Damage Over 4 Secs (100 Frames)
Increased Stack Size
Gemmed Monarch
Monarch
Defense: 146
Chance to Block: 0
Durability: 86 of 86
Required Level: 54
Required Strength: 156
Fingerprint: 0x285e5a78
Item Level: 85
Version: Resurrected
+60% Increased Attack Speed
+13 to Attack Rating
8% Damage Taken Goes To Mana
4 Sockets (4 used)
Socketed: Jewel of Fervor
Socketed: Jewel of Fervor
Socketed: Nickel Jewel of Fervor
Socketed: Dun Jewel of Fervor
Jewel of Fervor
Jewel
Required Level: 31
Fingerprint: 0x7fb7fd28
Item Level: 96
Version: Resurrected
+15% Increased Attack Speed
Jewel of Fervor
Jewel
Required Level: 31
Fingerprint: 0x62c59f66
Item Level: 96
Version: Resurrected
+15% Increased Attack Speed
Nickel Jewel of Fervor
Jewel
Required Level: 31
Fingerprint: 0x8e6d2578
Item Level: 85
Version: Resurrected
+15% Increased Attack Speed
+13 to Attack Rating
Dun Jewel of Fervor
Jewel
Required Level: 31
Fingerprint: 0x3d366662
Item Level: 85
Version: Resurrected
+15% Increased Attack Speed
8% Damage Taken Goes To Mana
Ihaka's White
Tomb Wand
DolIo
One Hand Damage: 10 - 22
Durability: 15 of 15
Required Level: 35
Required Strength: 25
Fingerprint: 0x5cb0fb
Item Level: 96
Version: Resurrected
+3 to Poison and Bone Skills (Necromancer Only)
+20% Faster Cast Rate
+2 to Bone Spear (Necromancer Only)
+4 to Skeleton Mastery (Necromancer Only)
+3 to Bone Armor (Necromancer Only)
+2 to Bone Spirit (Necromancer Only)
+2 to Bone Prison (Necromancer Only)
+1 to Bone Spear (Necromancer Only)
Hit Causes Monster to Flee 25%
+10 to Vitality
+13 to Mana
Magic Damage Reduced by 4
Code:
Fungal Grand Charm of Strength
Grand Charm
Required Level: 42
Fingerprint: 0xfe1c300e
Item Level: 80
Version: Resurrected
+1 to Poison and Bone Skills (Necromancer Only)
+6 to Strength
Fungal Grand Charm of Greed
Grand Charm
Required Level: 42
Fingerprint: 0x8c33a94e
Item Level: 73
Version: Resurrected
+1 to Poison and Bone Skills (Necromancer Only)
27% Extra Gold from Monsters
Lapis Small Charm of Good Luck
Small Charm
Required Level: 33
Fingerprint: 0xc15872d3
Item Level: 82
Version: Resurrected
Cold Resist +6%
7% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
Fungal Grand Charm of Sustenance
Grand Charm
Required Level: 42
Fingerprint: 0x44514f2b
Item Level: 96
Version: Resurrected
+1 to Poison and Bone Skills (Necromancer Only)
+22 to Life
Small Charm of Good Luck
Small Charm
Required Level: 33
Fingerprint: 0xa65d4173
Item Level: 80
Version: Resurrected
7% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
Serpent's Small Charm of Good Luck
Small Charm
Required Level: 40
Fingerprint: 0xf684af2c
Item Level: 80
Version: Resurrected
+13 to Mana
7% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
Serpent's Small Charm of Good Luck
Small Charm
Required Level: 40
Fingerprint: 0xc60d7050
Item Level: 80
Version: Resurrected
+14 to Mana
7% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
Coral Small Charm of Good Luck
Small Charm
Required Level: 33
Fingerprint: 0x4f928dc9
Item Level: 80
Version: Resurrected
Lightning Resist +8%
7% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
Small Charm of Good Luck
Small Charm
Required Level: 33
Fingerprint: 0x41fece5d
Item Level: 80
Version: Resurrected
7% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
Hellfire Torch
Large Charm
Required Level: 75
Fingerprint: 0xeaf021cc
Item Level: 99
Version: Resurrected
5% Chance to cast level 10 Firestorm on striking
+3 to Necromancer Skill Levels
All Stats +18
All Resistances +10
+8 to Light Radius
Level 30 Hydra (10/10 Charges)
Small Charm of Good Luck
Small Charm
Required Level: 33
Fingerprint: 0x5afebe51
Item Level: 85
Version: Resurrected
7% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
Small Charm of Good Luck
Small Charm
Required Level: 33
Fingerprint: 0xd71ba236
Item Level: 63
Version: Resurrected
7% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
Beryl Small Charm of Good Luck
Small Charm
Required Level: 33
Fingerprint: 0xa02228b6
Item Level: 80
Version: Resurrected
Poison Resist +5%
7% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
Bronze Small Charm of Good Luck
Small Charm
Required Level: 33
Fingerprint: 0xb47ca7da
Item Level: 73
Version: Resurrected
+3 to Attack Rating
7% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
Gheed's Fortune
Grand Charm
Required Level: 62
Fingerprint: 0x84f3cf9a
Item Level: 99
Version: Resurrected
153% Extra Gold from Monsters
Reduces all Vendor Prices 14%
39% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
Annihilus
Small Charm
Required Level: 70
Fingerprint: 0xbedd8e04
Item Level: 99
Version: Resurrected
+1 to All Skills
All Stats +18
All Resistances +16
+8% to Experience Gained
Serpent's Small Charm of Inertia
Small Charm
Required Level: 40
Fingerprint: 0xc8b3f9a8
Item Level: 85
Version: Resurrected
+3% Faster Run/Walk
+17 to Mana
Code:
Mercenary:
Name: Rozene
Race: Rogue Scout
Type: Fire - Normal
Experience: 79998540
Level: 87
Naked/Gear
Strength: 141/146
Dexterity: 213/243
HP: 1500/1637
Defense: 1257/3094
AR: 2270/456471
Fire: 209/169/109
Cold: 176/136/76
Lightning: 176/136/76
Poison: 176/136/76
Fortitude
Superior Wire Fleece
ElSolDolLo
Defense: 1533
Durability: 32 of 32
Required Level: 59
Required Strength: 111
Fingerprint: 0x733dae0b
Item Level: 85
Version: Resurrected
20% Chance to cast level 15 Chilling Armor when struck
+25% Faster Cast Rate
300% Enhanced Damage
+215% Enhanced Defense
+15 Defense
+87 to Life (Based on Character Level)
Replenish Life +7
+5% to Maximum Lightning Resist
All Resistances +30
Damage Reduced by 7
12% Damage Taken Goes To Mana
+1 to Light Radius
4 Sockets (4 used)
Crown of Thieves
Grand Crown
Defense: 304
Durability: 30 of 50
Required Level: 49
Required Strength: 103
Fingerprint: 0xf5056d1
Item Level: 99
Version: Resurrected
9% Life stolen per hit
+167% Enhanced Defense
+25 to Dexterity
+50 to Life
+35 to Mana
Fire Resist +33%
96% Extra Gold from Monsters
Insight
Superior Matriarchal Bow
RalTirTalSol
Two Hand Damage: 65 - 154
Durability: 42 of 48
Required Level: 39
Required Strength: 87
Required Dexterity: 187
Fingerprint: 0x31ebe7c8
Item Level: 88
Version: Resurrected
Level 15 Meditation Aura When Equipped
+1 to Bow and Crossbow Skills (Amazon Only)
+35% Faster Cast Rate
228% Enhanced Damage
200% Bonus to Attack Rating
+1 to Attack Rating
Adds 5 - 30 Fire Damage
Adds 75 Poison Damage Over 5 Secs (125 Frames)
+5 to Critical Strike
All Stats +5
+2 to Mana after each Kill
23% Better Chance of Getting Magic ItemsThoughts on the build
No life leach – I have no idea how many red potions I swallowed.
Can’t be frozen – not a requirement on this guy. I’m so used to putting a Raven Frost in one of the ring slots. However, I wanted the FCR ring so I tried it and had no problem casting when frozen.
Corpse Explosion – Why didn’t I use it more. About the only time I used it was around the greater mummies in Act 2 to get rid of the skeletons that they kept reanimating. If I had used it regularly, I would have probably stayed at least at players 5 instead of doing most of Hell at players3.
Bone Runeword Armor – Back when I first decided to make Ihaka, I thought this would be great armor for him. Thankfully, before actually making it I concluded that it was a waste of 2 Um runes. With Insight, I don’t need the Mana increase and since I’m already spamming Bone Spear, a 15% chance to cast an additional spear isn’t much. The only plus is that it offers +2 to skills instead of +1 until I can equip Enigma or Chains of Honor.
Why had I never made Stealth Armor before. Great for the Necro until being able to equip Skin of the Vipermagi and better for the rogue than Peace.
Mana Blood curse never heard of it before. From the animation I thought I was having Iron Maiden cast on me as when Bone spear hit a target, I’d lose life. That didn’t make any sense since there is no physical damage. I had to look it up and found that it’s called Mana Blood. Succubae and Baal can cast it IF the player has a larger mana pool than a life pool.
Dim Vision - I think @The Nix has it right with Dim Vision. I’ve seen a number of builds on other sites that don’t call for it and I wasn’t going to put any points into it, but his Pat post convinced me to try it so I put a point into it. Cast Dim Vision and the base monster don’t see you and you can run around the other casting BS. It made the whole game easier.
Clay Golem – This guy is an ideal tank. He goes right to where he needs to go and doesn’t wander off on his own. At level 17 his life is 7,986 and so he doesn’t die often. I fell in love with him when I made a Rhyme shield that had +1 to Bone Spear and +3 to Clay Golem. I wasn’t going to put any points in it, but I put one in plus a point to Golem Mastery.
White Wand or Boneshade wand – This was a tough one for me as I made White in a wand that had +1 to Bone Spear and +2 to Bone Prison and Bone Spirit. I went back and forth several times and ultimately went with Boneshade for the +2 to Necro skills instead of the +3 to bone skills. Frankly, I couldn’t tell the difference between 70% FCR and 75%.
Shield – Maxroll suggests a Spirit Monarch. Of course, they have an extra 100 points to strength from items and they want to get to 125% FCR. While Spirit offers FCR and +2 to skills for me using Trang’s Wing and especially Homunculus are better choices. Both will give max block rate versus 47% and Homunculus offers high resistances. I did try a Spirit shield and wasn’t impressed. Then again, I’m not one to sit on the edge of the action.
Helm – Ok, I hate the look of Peasant Crown and Harlequin Quest, so Necro circlets and coronets for me.
Insight Bow – The first one I made in a +3 Amazon skills Ashwood bow that I was able to equip at level 29. I made one in a +1-bow skill 15% ED Superior Matriarchal Bow that says it requires level 39 to equip. That may work on the Amazon itself, but on the rogue, it needed the equipping of Crown of Thieves and level 58 before I could meet the 187 Dexterity requirement. Cast Decrepify and she did reasonable damage.
No lightning absorb. I had 75% resistances on all 4 elements, but lightning damage was the cause of 2 of my deaths in Hell. One death from a boss led group of Gloams in the Plains of Despair. A second death in the WSK to a convicted Hierophant boss. The third death came in the throne room to a convicted Bartuc and his Hydras.
Finds – three Lem runes in Nightmare, which I thought was decent. In hell the forge dropped a Lum and I thought it was typical for me. Then in the Sanctuary a Mal dropped and in the Ancient’s way a Ber dropped. As far as sets and uniques goes I found a Carrion Wind, Wizard Spike, Ondal’s Almighty and an Etheral Edge.
The last thing is dealing with Magic Immunes. My play style is everything must die, so I needed a way to handle the few Magic Immunes. @The Nix has tried both Demon Machine and Pus Spitter and felt that both were useless. I suspect that Buriza would also be useless.
Code:
I came up with five possible choices.
Use two pieces of the Trang set and gain access to fireball. The problem was that with very few + all skills the damage was less than 10% of what Bone Spear generated and to kill anything took forever.
I have a rare wand with +2 to Necro and +2 to Iron Golem, thus I gain access to Iron Golem without dumping in any points. I tried it with an IK Stone Crusher on some Plague bearers and while I guess it would kill something it took way too long.
I’m not a big fan of the Sunder Charms. They drop the resistance to 95%, so while the Bone Spear will do damage it is going to take a while. I didn’t even try one.
The fourth method was to use Gimmershred. Which did work after a fashion. It’s ranged, offers lots of elemental damage and decent physical damage. The strength and dex required are not a major hurdle. There are two major issues. The first is that his chance to hit is less than 60%. The big problem is his throw speed! Even with the 30% IAS on the axe it is still just over 1 throw per second and to call it slow motion is an understatement. To help I made a monarch with 4 Fervor jewels, and it only improves to 1.8 attacks per second.
The last and the best is to move around so that the rogue will shoot the target and to cast decrepify and let the rogue do the heavy lifting. In most areas this is fairly easy. While I did use Gimmershred it was a minor contribution with decrepify really helping.
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