Patriarch SirPants the Holy Freeze Zealot

[SirName]

SirPants is my first SPF pat/mat.

Although the intent from the start was to make a frost zealot, SirPants started out as a Holy Fire Zealot. This was to try out Holy fire, never had before. He played normal and NM almost untwinked as I didn't have that much to twink with. While leveling I was hoping to get lucky with a random Kuko Shakaku drop but it never happened. Found one later with my MF sorc but SirPants had gone cold by then.

Played most of NM on players 1 because Holy fire sucks. NM Diablo was a turning point. I had had enough. The damage was just too low. The fire immune Doom knights in CS were killed with open wounds... from my main weapon at the time: Malice flail. Zeal to apply OW and then ran around till they dropped or needed repeated treatment. Took a while. Respecced to at least close to final form after big D fight.

In Act5 Nm I found a Zakarum's Hand which was a huge improvement to Malice. Mana steal, ITD ,+2 HF and HS and ctc Blizzard as visual joy. That was a contender for endgame. However at that point MF sorc was all set up at Mephisto and all kinds of shiny stuff were being produced. It didn't take too long for a Nord's Tenderizer to drop and that was that. Entered hell at 75 after merc was able to equip the lucky lucky Reapers.

Hell was more or less rushed through on P1. Wanted my first pat.. Hellforge dropped a Lem. Ancients roll was good. Only one was cold&physical immune, no auras and not one was cursed. SirPants just stood in one place and zealed away. 2 minutes and 2 healing pots later it was all over. Otherwise Act 5 was one big NDE. Sirpants life was a bit low and the 60% block was not enough either.

Experienced a few arrogance induced deaths. Distinctly remember one time in WSK3 searching for the door down. Ran into a pack of physical immune Harlots and Oblivion Knights and "minions". Was cursed, merc started to lose health fast. I hit esc with a few hundred lifepoints left in the meter. Phew close one. But... then I noticed from the map that it was indeed a dead end. "I'll just disengage and have a nice day". Finger was put on 2 key for full rejuvs, took a deep breath, pressed esc aand chugged a few pots while trying to escape mid zeal cycle before dying half a second later.

Skills and stats: well this was a char that embraced the respec feature, so much so that when I was going to respec one last time there were none available anymore. I would have removed 10 ish points from Zeal and invested them in Holy Shield to get max block and enable dex -> vita. At patting SirPants had 65% chance to block. The bonus side is I can't forget Holy Shield and or it never runs out mid combat.

I must say I would still be in Arcane Sanctuary without the 1 point Sanctuary. Was stuck there for a bit and needed to level some to get that 1 point. Sanctuary was thereafter my solution to cold immune undead foes. What Sanctuary does is sets physical resist of undead to 0 enabling CB and leach. Leaching from wraiths is hilarious btw. I found the knockback useful too atleast in Arcane sanctuary. I didn't notice any improvement to kill speed from mercs Decrepify so I have a feeling those two skills don't stack. Decrepify slows the enemies down of course which is nice as HF isn't active at the time.

Something about items: I was in act 2 before sorc finally found a Angelic ammy and that made the on switch Demon limb enchant a bit useless, but still ran with it because why not. 13k AR is cool.

I tried Treachery on SirPants and equipped Rhyme as primary shied for CBF. I didn't like Treachey. Waiting for fade to proc in order to have resist at acceptable levels felt too risky and ethereal look caused confusion. I feel the visuals of Fade is something one gets used to but the randomness of proccing / running out of Fade is not. So I went back to the cool Doom Wing shield and Duriels combo. Another benefit of not having Holy Shield was being able to look at my shield.

Forgot about the Treachery completely until act5. Gave it to Chalan and shaeled the Reapers also. This put him in absolute beast mode (atleast for players 1). The idea of facing him as an enemy sends shivers down my spine. Best stop calling him the usual merc nickname..

Future plans: Hunt some essences for sorc so she can respec and be able to wear her Wartravs and upped Goldwrap..

Edit: made cracks in the wall of text and fixes typos.

Spoiler: Stats and skills

Name: SirPants
Class: Paladin
Experience: 853355473
Level: 82

Naked/Gear
Strength: 118/149
Dexterity: 147/149
Vitality: 225/225
Energy: 15/21
HP: 877/1099
Mana: 136/136
Stamina: 370/390
Defense: 36/1479
AR: 720/313626

Fire: 192/152/92
Cold: 149/109/49
Lightning: 169/129/69
Poison: 166/126/66

MF: 5
Block: 61
GF: 21
FR/W: 30
FHR: 58
IAS: 45
FCR: 0

Sacrifice: 20/20
Smite: 1/1
Holy Bolt: 0/0
Zeal: 20/20
Charge: 1/1
Vengeance: 0/0
Blessed Hammer: 0/0
Conversion: 0/0
Holy Shield: 0/0
Fist of the Heavens: 0/0

Might: 1/1
Holy Fire: 1/1
Thorns: 1/1
Blessed Aim: 0/0
Concentration: 0/0
Holy Freeze: 20/20
Holy Shock: 0/0
Sanctuary: 1/1
Fanaticism: 0/0
Conviction: 0/0

Prayer: 1/1
Resist Fire: 0/0
Defiance: 1/1
Resist Cold: 20/20
Cleansing: 1/1
Resist Lightning: 0/0
Vigor: 1/1
Meditation: 0/0
Redemption: 0/0
Salvation: 3/3

Spoiler: Equipment

Guillaume's Face
Winged Helm
Defense: 217
Durability: 40 of 40
Required Level: 34
Required Strength: 115
Fingerprint: 0xa6ae1505
Item Level: 87
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+50% Faster Hit Recovery
35% Chance of Crushing Blow
15% Deadly Strike
+120% Enhanced Defense
+15 to Strength
1 Sockets (1 used)
Socketed: Shael Rune

Angelic Wings
Amulet
Required Level: 12
Fingerprint: 0xbb3499ef
Item Level: 87
Version: Expansion 1.10+
20% Damage Taken Goes To Mana
+3 to Light Radius
Set (2 items): +75 to Life

Duriel's Shell
Cuirass
Defense: 694
Durability: 150 of 150
Required Level: 41
Required Strength: 65
Fingerprint: 0x5ddb806e
Item Level: 87
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+192% Enhanced Defense
+102 Defense (Based on Character Level)
+15 to Strength
+82 to Life (Based on Character Level)
Cold Resist +30%
All Resistances +20
Lightning Resist +30%
Cannot Be Frozen
+100 Maximum Durability
1 Sockets (1 used)
Socketed: Ort Rune

Grim Band
Ring
Required Level: 46
Fingerprint: 0x586ae2f1
Item Level: 87
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+2 to Minimum Damage
+96 to Attack Rating
5% Mana stolen per hit
+6 to Energy
Fire Resist +11%
5% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items

Angelic Halo
Ring
Required Level: 12
Fingerprint: 0xceb50b5d
Item Level: 87
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+20 to Life
Replenish Life +6
Set (2 items): +984 to Attack Rating (Based on Character Level)

String of Ears
Demonhide Sash
Defense: 106
Durability: 22 of 22
Required Level: 29
Required Strength: 20
Fingerprint: 0xa2d488d4
Item Level: 87
Version: Expansion 1.10+
7% Life stolen per hit
+161% Enhanced Defense
+15 Defense
Damage Reduced by 14%
Magic Damage Reduced by 13
+10 Maximum Durability

Gore Rider
War Boots
Defense: 140
Durability: 34 of 34
Required Level: 47
Required Strength: 94
Fingerprint: 0xd4bb1342
Item Level: 87
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+30% Faster Run/Walk
15% Chance of Crushing Blow
15% Deadly Strike
10% Chance of Open Wounds
+160% Enhanced Defense
+20 Maximum Stamina
Requirements -25%
+10 Maximum Durability

Laying of Hands
Bramble Mitts
Defense: 85
Durability: 12 of 12
Required Level: 63
Required Strength: 50
Fingerprint: 0x5bf90741
Item Level: 87
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%


Nord's Tenderizer
Truncheon
One Hand Damage: 137 - 168
Durability: 53 of 55
Required Level: 68
Required Strength: 88
Required Dexterity: 43
Fingerprint: 0xda97c76d
Item Level: 87
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+25% Increased Attack Speed
292% Enhanced Damage
166% Bonus to Attack Rating
+150% Damage to Undead
Adds 205 - 455 Cold Damage Over 5 Secs (125 Frames)
Freezes target +2
Cold Absorb 7%
Level 16 Blizzard (12/12 Charges)

Doom Wing
Royal Shield
Defense: 169
Chance to Block: 45
Durability: 180 of 180
Required Level: 41
Required Strength: 114
Fingerprint: 0x6943b9cc
Item Level: 87
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+30% Faster Block Rate
20% Increased Chance of Blocking
All Resistances +70
Fire Resist +12%
Attacker Takes Damage of 3
1 Sockets (1 used)
Socketed: Perfect Diamond

Switch
--------
Demon Limb
Tyrant Club
One Hand Damage: 99 - 180
Durability: 65 of 65
Required Level: 63
Required Strength: 133
Fingerprint: 0xa3b0f1a1
Item Level: 75
Version: Expansion 1.10+
212% Enhanced Damage
+123% Damage to Demons
+150% Damage to Undead
Adds 222 - 333 Fire Damage
8% Life stolen per hit
Fire Resist +20%
Repairs 1 Durability in 20 Seconds
Level 23 Enchant (20/20 Charges)

Rhyme
Aerin Shield
ShaelEth
Defense: 31
Chance to Block: 42
Durability: 50 of 50
Required Level: 29
Required Strength: 50
Fingerprint: 0xe66f879a
Item Level: 31
Version: Expansion 1.10+
+40% Faster Block Rate
20% Increased Chance of Blocking
Regenerate Mana 15%
All Resistances +40
Cannot Be Frozen
50% Extra Gold from Monsters
25% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
2 Sockets (2 used)
Socketed: Shael Rune
Socketed: Eth Rune

Spoiler: Chalan the wild

Name: Chalan
Race: Desert Mercenary
Type: Off-Nightmare
Experience: 67041772
Level: 82
Dead?: false

Naked/Gear
Strength: 181/181
Dexterity: 145/145
HP: 1647/1647
Defense: 1217/1762
AR: 1874/1874

Fire: 146/106/46
Cold: 176/136/76
Lightning: 146/106/46
Poison: 146/106/46

Steel Shade
Armet
Defense: 312
Durability: 19 of 24
Required Level: 62
Required Strength: 109
Fingerprint: 0x3e191f1d
Item Level: 87
Version: Expansion 1.10+
8% Mana stolen per hit
+108% Enhanced Defense
Replenish Life +14
+9 Fire Absorb


Treachery
Mage Plate
ShaelThulLem
Defense: 233
Durability: 57 of 60
Required Level: 43
Required Strength: 55
Fingerprint: 0xe317375e
Item Level: 71
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

The Reaper's Toll
Thresher
Two Hand Damage: 54 - 635
Durability: 33 of 33
Required Level: 75
Required Strength: 107
Required Dexterity: 81
Fingerprint: 0x68d83a77
Item Level: 87
Version: Expansion 1.10+
33% Chance to cast level 1 Decrepify on striking
+20% Increased Attack Speed
201% Enhanced Damage
Ignore Target's Defense
Adds 4 - 44 Cold Damage Over 1 Secs (37 Frames)
15% Life stolen per hit
33% Deadly Strike
Requirements -25%
Ethereal
1 Sockets (1 used)
Socketed: Shael Rune

Pics or it didn't happen:

 

[Babyhell]

Nice write up!

 

[D2DC]

Congrats on the first of many!

 

[PhineasB]

Congrats on the Pat, a very nice one at that. Best of luck on your future charcters!

 

[b1ur]

Congrats on the first SPF Pat! Now time for a Guardian

Just out of curiousity - why no Holy Shield?

 

[SirName]

Thank you everyone.

@b1ur
Mistakes were made Well it was a combination of trying living without HS and not being able to change the situation.

In the past I have always gone with an all or nothing approach to blocking. But I read recently of someone aiming for 66% block and decided to try this downshifted approach as well.

In hell I realized that the blocking itself is only a small portion of HS greatness. And that I would definetly benefit from it's +defense and rediculous block rate bonus. However all respecs were used up.

At every level up HS was always 3 levels away and skillpoints went to sacrifice / salvation with direct payoff. That "3 levels away" naturally grew larger and larger as I progressed. Knowing HS actually needed more than that 1 point to be effective as I had no +skills made it an even bigger turnoff.

Next up a barb without BO.

 

[Miron]

Congrats on the pat!

 

[Luhkoh]

Next up a barb without BO.

Lol or sorc without teleport? Very nice writeup, and only just now noticed your name of SirName + paladins name. Love it. Keep up the good work!

 

[teddeeboy]

Congrats on your 1st Pat/Mat . He had decent gear for the first . Hopefully you can find the essences to respec him. I built this in 1.10 final as the token melee Pat way back and he was tanky for a melee char without a CTA .

This sounds like a Sept challenge. A Sin with no CoS,Fade or BoS may be added