Patriarch Mordu, Werebear Necromancer

maxicek

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Aug 5, 2005
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Mor'du

Mordu.png

Patriarch Mordu, Werebear Necromancer

Mordu is named after the villain in the Pixar film Brave. For those that haven't seen it he is a human warrior who asks a witch to give him the strength of ten men. So he gets turned into a bear. It is probably a better name for a bearbarian, but I thought it also fitted the idea of an undead bear.


Equipment

Weapon: 'Oath' Champion Sword

Switch Weapon: 'Beast' Berserker Axe
Switch Shield: 'Spirit' Monarch

Helm: Kira’s Guardian
Armour: 'Bone' Archon Plate
Belt: String of Ears
Boots: Gore Riders
Gloves: Laying of Hands

Amulet: Highlord’s Wrath
Ring 1: Rare - Grim Eye
Ring 2: Rare - Entropy Knot

Inventory: Steel and Sharp GCs with life, Fine SCs with Life

I wanted to try a necromancer with synergised chance to cast skills. The first question was the weapon. I decided to go with Oath rather than Brand or Bonehew, originally as I wanted to make this highly physical damage focussed with Fortitude. I also thought that the targeting of Bone Spirit would be useful instead of spraying Bone Spears in random directions.

Oath Champion Sword required 55 off weapon IAS to hit 7FPA in bear form, which is quite respectable. Easily covered by Highlord's, Laying of Hands and an IAS Jewel.

In the end I decided to drop the plan to go with Fortitude for Bone. Bone Armour is obviously very important for a melee necro without a shield and I didn't think having to constantly shift back to human form to cast it would be practical. The ctc from Bone fixed this and it went off constantly. The addition of a bit more decoration from Bone Spears didn't hurt either, or the +2 skills and resists.

Code:
Oath
Champion Sword
ShaelPulMalLum
One Hand Damage: 165 - 372
Two Hand Damage: 487 - 570
Durability: 21 of 21
Required Level: 57
Required Strength: 153
Required Dexterity: 93
Fingerprint: 0x3cd6e14a
Item Level: 87
Version: Expansion
30% Chance to cast level 20 Bone Spirit on striking
Indestructible
+50% Increased Attack Speed
360% Enhanced Damage
+75% Damage to Demons
+100 to Attack Rating against Demons
Prevent Monster Heal
+10 to Energy
+11 Magic Absorb
Level 16 Heart of Wolverine (20/20 Charges)
Level 17 Iron Golem (14/14 Charges)
Ethereal
4 Sockets (4 used)
Socketed: Shael Rune
Socketed: Pul Rune
Socketed: Mal Rune
Socketed: Lum Rune

Kira's Guardian
Tiara
Defense: 116
Durability: 19 of 25
Required Level: 77
Fingerprint: 0x57614ace
Item Level: 85
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+15% Increased Attack Speed
+20% Faster Hit Recovery
+76 Defense
All Resistances +69
Fire Resist +23%
Cannot Be Frozen
1 Sockets (1 used)
Socketed: Ruby Jewel of Fervor

Bone
Archon Plate
SolUmUm
Defense: 504
Durability: 52 of 60
Required Level: 63
Required Strength: 103
Fingerprint: 0x3be515aa
Item Level: 85
Version: Expansion 1.10+
15% Chance to cast level 10 Bone Armor when struck
15% Chance to cast level 10 Bone Spear on striking
+2 to Necromancer Skill Levels
+111 to Mana
All Resistances +30
Damage Reduced by 7
3 Sockets (3 used)
Socketed: Sol Rune
Socketed: Um Rune
Socketed: Um Rune

Highlord's Wrath
Amulet
Required Level: 65
Fingerprint: 0x3f2b29a9
Item Level: 85
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+1 to All Skills
+20% Increased Attack Speed
Adds 1 - 30 Lightning Damage
32% Deadly Strike (Based on Character Level)
Lightning Resist +35%
Attacker Takes Lightning Damage of 15

Grim Eye
Ring
Required Level: 46
Fingerprint: 0x8f3fb2ac
Item Level: 85
Version: Expansion 1.10+
12% Chance to cast level 4 Nova when struck
+145 to Attack Rating
4% Mana stolen per hit
Lightning Resist +20%
8% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
+3 to Light Radius

Entropy Knot
Ring
Required Level: 47
Fingerprint: 0xac495c79
Item Level: 85
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+120 to Attack Rating
3% Life stolen per hit
+11 to Strength
Poison Resist +20%
Level 5 Fire Bolt (32/32 Charges)

String of Ears
Demonhide Sash
Defense: 106
Durability: 16 of 22
Required Level: 29
Required Strength: 20
Fingerprint: 0x8d06e33a
Item Level: 88
Version: Expansion 1.10+
8% Life stolen per hit
+160% Enhanced Defense
+15 Defense
Damage Reduced by 15%
Magic Damage Reduced by 12
+10 Maximum Durability

Gore Rider
War Boots
Defense: 154
Durability: 23 of 34
Required Level: 47
Required Strength: 94
Fingerprint: 0x6100c274
Item Level: 85
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+30% Faster Run/Walk
15% Chance of Crushing Blow
15% Deadly Strike
10% Chance of Open Wounds
+187% Enhanced Defense
+20 Maximum Stamina
Requirements -25%
+10 Maximum Durability

Laying of Hands
Bramble Mitts
Defense: 81
Durability: 7 of 12
Required Level: 63
Required Strength: 50
Fingerprint: 0xac3193c8
Item Level: 99
Version: Expansion 1.10+
10% Chance to cast level 3 Holy Bolt on striking
+20% Increased Attack Speed
+350% Damage to Demons
+25 Defense
Fire Resist +50%

Beast
Berserker Axe
BerTirUmMalLum
One Hand Damage: 85 - 252
Durability: 23 of 26
Required Level: 64
Required Strength: 138
Required Dexterity: 59
Fingerprint: 0x9c1c5872
Item Level: 86
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Level 9 Fanaticism Aura When Equipped
+40% Increased Attack Speed
255% Enhanced Damage
20% Chance of Crushing Blow
25% Chance of Open Wounds
Prevent Monster Heal
+3 to Werebear
+3 to Lycanthropy
+37 to Strength
+10 to Energy
+2 to Mana after each Kill
Level 13 Summon Grizzly (5/5 Charges)
5 Sockets (5 used)
Socketed: Ber Rune
Socketed: Tir Rune
Socketed: Um Rune
Socketed: Mal Rune
Socketed: Lum Rune

Spirit
Monarch
TalThulOrtAmn
Defense: 134
Chance to Block: 0
Durability: 86 of 86
Required Level: 54
Required Strength: 156
Fingerprint: 0x65c87af
Item Level: 88
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+2 to All Skills
+34% Faster Cast Rate
+55% Faster Hit Recovery
+250 Defense vs. Missile
+22 to Vitality
+100 to Mana
Cold Resist +35%
Lightning Resist +35%
Poison Resist +35%
+7 Magic Absorb
Attacker Takes Damage of 14
4 Sockets (4 used)
Socketed: Tal Rune
Socketed: Thul Rune
Socketed: Ort Rune
Socketed: Amn Rune

Steel Grand Charm of Balance
Grand Charm
Required Level: 41
Fingerprint: 0xf2a2f24a
Item Level: 85
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+12% Faster Hit Recovery
+128 to Attack Rating

Coral Small Charm of Balance
Small Charm
Required Level: 29
Fingerprint: 0x3554b4de
Item Level: 86
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+5% Faster Hit Recovery
Lightning Resist +9%

Steel Grand Charm of Vita
Grand Charm
Required Level: 69
Fingerprint: 0x9b75e233
Item Level: 99
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+115 to Attack Rating
+36 to Life

Steel Grand Charm of Vita
Grand Charm
Required Level: 69
Fingerprint: 0x3c258b31
Item Level: 85
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+105 to Attack Rating
+38 to Life

Steel Grand Charm of Vita
Grand Charm
Required Level: 69
Fingerprint: 0x4a915e79
Item Level: 81
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+117 to Attack Rating
+37 to Life

Fine Small Charm of Vita
Small Charm
Required Level: 39
Fingerprint: 0x2886c8a6
Item Level: 85
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+2 to Maximum Damage
+19 to Attack Rating
+19 to Life

Fine Small Charm of Vita
Small Charm
Required Level: 39
Fingerprint: 0x863d634
Item Level: 88
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+3 to Maximum Damage
+18 to Attack Rating
+16 to Life

Fine Small Charm of Vita
Small Charm
Required Level: 39
Fingerprint: 0x6da10e9c
Item Level: 81
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+2 to Maximum Damage
+14 to Attack Rating
+17 to Life

Fine Small Charm of Vita
Small Charm
Required Level: 39
Fingerprint: 0x2444ad40
Item Level: 85
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+1 to Maximum Damage
+18 to Attack Rating
+16 to Life

Fine Small Charm of Vita
Small Charm
Required Level: 39
Fingerprint: 0x207b2dfa
Item Level: 85
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+3 to Maximum Damage
+12 to Attack Rating
+19 to Life

Serrated Small Charm of Vita
Small Charm
Required Level: 45
Fingerprint: 0x155c099d
Item Level: 93
Version: Expansion
+6 to Maximum Damage
+16 to Life

Steel Grand Charm of Vita
Grand Charm
Required Level: 69
Fingerprint: 0x4fd68574
Item Level: 81
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+120 to Attack Rating
+37 to Life

Sharp Grand Charm of Vita
Grand Charm
Required Level: 69
Fingerprint: 0x212c1fc4
Item Level: 88
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+10 to Maximum Damage
+64 to Attack Rating
+36 to Life

Sharp Grand Charm of Sustenance
Grand Charm
Required Level: 37
Fingerprint: 0x6e509078
Item Level: 85
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+7 to Maximum Damage
+53 to Attack Rating
+28 to Life


Skills

Amplify Damage: 4/7
Dim Vision: 1/4
Weaken: 1/4
Terror: 1/4
Confuse: 1/4
Attract: 1/4
Decrepify: 3/6

Teeth: 20/23
Bone Armor: 1/4
Corpse Explosion: 1/4
Bone Wall: 20/23
Bone Spear: 20/23
Bone Prison: 20/23
Bone Spirit: 0/0

Clay Golem: 1/4
Golem Mastery: 1/4
Summon Resist: 1/4

I pumped the common synergies for both Bone Spear and Spirit first, then the points went into Bone Spear. This gave me a strong armour and maximised the damage from both the chance to casts. I cast bone spear on only a few occasions in human form - Mainly on the vipers when I went for Nihilathak.

To deal with PIs I retreated, shifted to human form and cast Amplify Damage. This worked well, with the merc often killing them before I was back in bear form - He benefited from the fanaticism before I transformed back. Originally I planned to use Decrepify instead but the duration was too short. Essentially I wasted 8 points in curses I didn't use.

I started without Clay Golem but in A1 it was obvious I needed him. My Den of Evil reward went there and I added Golem Mastery & Summon Resist with the next levels. I was casting him at level 6 from switch and he got shredded fairly quickly. If I did it again I think the 8 points I put in curses would have been better spent here and in Amp.

Stats

Name: Mordu
Class: Necromancer
Experience: 1182480969
Level: 86

Naked/Gear
Strength: 142/153
Dexterity: 93/93
Vitality: 260/260
Energy: 25/35
HP: 722/1037
Mana: 195/306
Stamina: 409/429
Defense: 23/1118
AR: 420/1468

Fire: 192/152/92
Cold: 119/79/19
Lightning: 183/143/83
Poison: 139/99/39

MF: 8 Block: 9
GF: 0 FR/W: 30
FHR: 37 IAS: 105
FCR: 0

Mordu LCS.jpg


Mercenary

A2 NM Offensive 'Might'
Weapon: Infinity
Helm: Tal Rasha's HC
Armour: Treachery

A mercenary that provides both a damage boost and your ability to hit stuff is great until he dies. As I played without Call to Arms, he died a lot, especially in A2.

Code:
Name:       Emilio
Race:       Desert Mercenary
Type:       Off-Nightmare
Experience: 77265480
Level:      86
Dead?:      false

            Naked/Gear
Strength:   188/188
Dexterity:  151/151
HP:         1807/1867
Defense:    1330/2528
AR:         1922/1922

Fire:       165/125/65
Cold:       195/155/95
Lightning:  165/125/65
Poison:    165/125/65

Tal Rasha's Horadric Crest
Death Mask
Defense: 114
Durability: 20 of 20
Required Level: 66
Required Strength: 55
Fingerprint: 0x57f84a09
Item Level: 87
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+20% Faster Hit Recovery
10% Mana stolen per hit
10% Life stolen per hit
+45 Defense
+60 to Life
+30 to Mana
All Resistances +15
1 Sockets (1 used)
Socketed: Shael Rune

Treachery
Great Hauberk
ShaelThulLem
Defense: 1084
Durability: 26 of 26
Required Level: 56
Required Strength: 108
Fingerprint: 0x2d9806ae
Item Level: 88
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
Thresher
BerMalBerIst
Two Hand Damage: 71 - 833
Durability: 33 of 33
Required Level: 63
Required Strength: 142
Required Dexterity: 108
Fingerprint: 0x2c532938
Item Level: 80
Version: Expansion 1.10+
50% Chance to cast level 20 Chain Lightning when you Kill an Enemy
Level 12 Conviction Aura When Equipped
+35% Faster Run/Walk
295% Enhanced Damage
-53% to Enemy Lightning Resistance
40% Chance of Crushing Blow
Prevent Monster Heal
+43 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

Finds

11/20 Emerald SC of Vita whilst levelling in NM. A Mal in the Tamoe Highland. +3 LS 3os Suwayyah. An essence from Duriel which is one less that needs farming - I need about 20 tokens for various characters. A junk Eschuta's in The Frigid Highland.


Gameplay


Playthrough was at /players5 for acts 1-3 and /players3 for acts 4 & 5. Kill speed was getting too slow at /players5, which was causing the merc lots of trouble.

As a werebear gameplay is pretty simple. Cast golem, cast bone armour, shift into a bear, whack stuff. In case of PIs, run away a bit, shift back, cast golem, cast bone armour, shift into a bear, whack stuff. My first death was in A3 to a pack of Thrashers. Usual story, the merc checked out early, I followed shortly after. Act 4 was death free, there were a couple of deaths in the WSK. One from PI witches which were probably the toughest challenge for this character.

Generally he was pretty tough. Bone Armour kept him safe from melee attacks, it was definitely worth substituting the Fortitude damage for Bone. Did the Bone Spirit help? Somewhat. I could take out individual PIs slowly without casting Amp. Was it really useful? Probably not. But it was fun.
 
Last edited:
What a great character @maxicek Kudos 👏

I did a similar Bone / Oath Necro in my 7x7, but without wereform, and found him quite enjoyable. Bear approach is an elegant solution for slow IAS and gives some +life coverage also, at expense of CtA (but that’s not truly needed) and regular curse casting for melee. And both are still single target normal attack.

Sorry if I missed it, but was he p1 the whole way or could be handle higher p-setting?

Will say it again, great character. Congrats!
 
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Reactions: maxicek
Thanks everyone.

What a great character @maxicekI did a similar Bone / Oath Necro in my 7x7, but without wereform, and found him quite enjoyable. Bear approach is an elegant solution for slow IAS and gives some +life coverage also, at expense of CtA (but that’s not truly needed) and regular curse casting for melee. And both are still single target normal attack.

Agreed if you don't use CtA in bear form the life should be similar. The trade off is increased attack speed vs cursing flexibility.

Sorry if I missed it, but was he p1 the whole way or could be handle higher p-setting?

I think I put it in the video but forgot to put it in the thread, I have just edited it in. Playthrough was at /players5 for acts 1-3 and /players3 for acts 4 & 5.
 
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Reactions: PhineasB
I'm planning to make a bear in every class - As with the Vengeance characters, it isn't a sept as some already are included in other septs:

ClassNameBuild
Level
Title
AmazonIllianTitan Bearzon
86​
Matriarch
AssassinUrsulaWearbear
86​
Matriarch
BarbarianBannerBearbarian
0​
0
DruidIorekFire Claws
76​
Champion
NecromancerMorduBearmancer
86​
Patriarch
PaladinIsklorPolar Bear
85​
Patriarch
SorceressLyannaDream Bear Sorc
76​
Champion
 
Last edited:
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