Tournament Guardian #2 - Hades, the March of the Doomed Summon Necro

[Jcakes]

Time to present my second SPF tournament guardian and first in 11 years!

Guardian Hades, a Necromancer from the March of the Doomed hosted by @Babyhell

Behold his shirtless glory

The basic rules are that at the end of each Act (after killing the Act Boss) and before proceeding to the next Act one of your skills gets damned. Once a skill is damned you can no longer put points in it (and if you had 0 points in it beforehand all skills that have it as a prerequesite are banned as well)

• Andariel damnation roll has to be made on available skills lvl 1-12
• Duriel damnation roll has to be made on available skills lvl 1-12
• Mephisto damnation roll has to be made on available skills lvl 18-30
• Diablo damnation roll has to be made on available skills lvl 18-30
• Baal damnation roll has to be made on available skills lvl 24-30. (Can be refused for an item restriction, but this didn't come up for me)

There is a little bit of leway though and that is the Cow Kings blessing. Prior to moving to the next difficulty you must kill the Cow King. Doing so grants you a single blessing that you can use once to un-damn a skill. The blessing can be saved and used at any point.

So after the heartbreak of losing my assassin in the Random tournament to Hell Ancients (and stupidity) I decided to let random.org decide my fate and rolled a Necromancer. One of the key challenges of this tournament is how much you hedge against your first two damnations. I decided to put some points into RS and SM, open up curses, Clay golem, summon resist and CE (with a single point in teeth). But then save my points to hedge a little bit. My first damnation was CE (locking me from bonespear my second choice) so from that point I just committed to a summon mancer.

You can read my act by act progress in the running thread. My final Damnation card looked like this:

Act Damnation          Royal Seal used (skill only)

No1 Corpse Explosion   Y
No2 Golem Mastery      N
No3 Attract            N
No4 Blood Golem        N
No5 Iron Golem         N

NM1 teeth              N
NM2 Iron Maiden        N
NM3 Lower Resist       N
NM4 Summon Resist      N
NM5 Revive             N

He1 Terror             N
He2 Poison Dagger      N
He3 Decrepify          Y
He4 Bone Prison        N

I used my royal seal on CE at the start of Act 3 (once I faded RS, amp and DV) and the royal seal on decrep straight away. Other than losing access to CE early, I was relatively lucky in my damnations.

I played /p8 single pass fullish (I am not as patient as @Grisu) clears through Normal and Nightmare and part clears (all waypoints, all quests, all superuniques) through hell. I played between /p3 and /p1 for hell mostly at /p3, but switched to /p1 about halfway through Act 5.

There is not much that can really be said about playing a summoner. They are very strong at tournaments for a reason (being basically item independent), the biggest challenge was no access to Corpse Explosion for most of the Tournament so I had to rely on raise skeleton + dim vision to clear corpses. Once I got access to CE in Act 3, progress speed increased exponentially.
I shopped a staff of teleportation in Act 2 hell, which allowed me to skip most of maggot lair + arcane sanctuary and made me wish I had done that earlier.
An interesting quirk of the damnations was that I had ~ 28 skill points available at the end of Act 2 hell (waiting on my Act 2 damnation before committing them). Once Act 2 damnation came up clear I dumped them all into CE + DV.

Character stats

Name:       Hades
Class:      Necromancer
Experience: 1022391817
Level:      84

            Naked/Gear
Strength:   60/69
Dexterity:  25/26
Vitality:   400/400
Energy:     25/35
HP:         999/1081
Mana:       191/191
Stamina:    547/547
Defense:    6/295
AR:         80/141

Fire:       189/149/89
Cold:       199/159/99
Lightning:  212/172/112
Poison:     222/182/122

MF:         89       Block:      1
GF:         118       FR/W:       0
FHR:        40       IAS:        0
FCR:        0

Amplify Damage: 1/3
Dim Vision: 19/21
Weaken: 1/3
Iron Maiden: 1/3
Terror: 1/3
Confuse: 1/3
Life Tap: 0/3
Attract: 1/3
Decrepify: 1/3
Lower Resist: 0/0

Teeth: 1/3
Bone Armor: 1/3
Poison Dagger: 0/0
Corpse Explosion: 20/22
Bone Wall: 0/0
Poison Explosion: 0/0
Bone Spear: 0/0
Bone Prison: 0/0
Poison Nova: 0/0
Bone Spirit: 0/0

Skeleton Mastery: 20/25
Raise Skeleton: 20/25
Clay Golem: 1/6
Golem Mastery: 1/6
Raise Skeletal Mage: 0/0
Blood Golem: 0/0
Summon Resist: 5/10
Iron Golem: 0/0
Fire Golem: 0/0
Revive: 0/0

Items - nothing amazing and I spent all my gold gambling circlets and not one + necro skill circlet ...

Brimstone Greaves
Boots
Defense: 5
Durability: 12 of 12
Required Level: 14
Fingerprint: 0x130d3804
Item Level: 20
Version: Resurrected
+49% Enhanced Defense
Cold Resist +27%
Poison Resist +18%
73% Extra Gold from Monsters
25% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items

Nokozan Relic
Amulet
Required Level: 10
Fingerprint: 0xfebe978
Item Level: 22
Version: Resurrected
+20% Faster Hit Recovery
Adds 3 - 6 Fire Damage
+10% to Maximum Fire Resist
Fire Resist +50%
+3 to Light Radius

Carrion Strap
Plated Belt
Defense: 16
Durability: 24 of 24
Required Level: 19
Required Strength: 60
Fingerprint: 0xfabfef37
Item Level: 39
Version: Resurrected
+38% Enhanced Defense
+6 to Strength
+8 to Life
Cold Resist +20%
Lightning Resist +20%
Repairs 1 Durability in 20 Seconds

Smoke
Ghost Armor
NefLum
Defense: 189
Durability: 20 of 20
Required Level: 37
Required Strength: 38
Fingerprint: 0xb140e3a
Item Level: 50
Version: Resurrected
+20% Faster Hit Recovery
+75% Enhanced Defense
+280 Defense vs. Missile
+10 to Energy
All Resistances +50
+-1 to Light Radius
Level 6 Weaken (18/18 Charges)
2 Sockets (2 used)
Socketed: Nef Rune
Socketed: Lum Rune

Nef Rune
Required Level: 13
Version: Resurrected
Weapons: Knockback
Armor: +30 Defense vs. Missile
Shields: +30 Defense vs. Missile

Lum Rune
Required Level: 37
Version: Resurrected
Weapons: +10 to Energy
Armor: +10 to Energy
Shields: +10 to Energy

Raven Claw
Heavy Gloves
Defense: 11
Durability: 14 of 14
Required Level: 25
Fingerprint: 0x7d612b5c
Item Level: 40
Version: Resurrected
12% Chance to cast level 4 Charged Bolt when struck
+68% Enhanced Defense
+3 to Strength
Lightning Resist +12%
Poison Resist +25%
20% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items

Storm Turn
Ring
Required Level: 51
Fingerprint: 0x27f3738b
Item Level: 67
Version: Resurrected
+9 to Minimum Damage
Lightning Resist +27%
Poison Resist +30%
6% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items

Nagelring
Ring
Required Level: 7
Fingerprint: 0xb8e181c1
Item Level: 83
Version: Resurrected
+56 to Attack Rating
Magic Damage Reduced by 3
Attacker Takes Damage of 3
28% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items

Chromatic Circlet
Circlet
Defense: 25
Durability: 35 of 35
Required Level: 41
Fingerprint: 0xe7621ce1
Item Level: 72
Version: Resurrected
All Resistances +25

Battle Staff of Teleportation
Battle Staff
Two Hand Damage: 6 - 13
Durability: 40 of 40
Required Level: 24
Fingerprint: 0x369d8bb8
Item Level: 85
Version: Resurrected
Level 5 Teleport (30/48 Charges)

Golemlord's Bone Wand
Bone Wand
One Hand Damage: 3 - 7
Durability: 15 of 15
Required Level: 45
Fingerprint: 0x6c9a3086
Item Level: 80
Version: Resurrected
+3 to Summoning Skills (Necromancer Only)

Soul Guard
Fetish Trophy
Defense: 43
Chance to Block: 0
Durability: 19 of 20
Required Level: 42
Required Strength: 33
Fingerprint: 0x99a5fe5c
Item Level: 69
Version: Resurrected
+2 to Necromancer Skill Levels
+4 to Maximum Damage
Adds 13 - 28 Poison Damage Over 4 Secs (100 Frames)
+3 to Life Tap (Necromancer Only)
+18 to Life
All Resistances +19
Poison Resist +18%
Requirements --20%
1 Sockets (1 used)
Socketed: Perfect Diamond

Charms

Crimson Small Charm
Small Charm
Required Level: 1
Fingerprint: 0x13aff1a4
Item Level: 55
Version: Resurrected
Fire Resist +3%

Small Charm of Vita
Small Charm
Required Level: 39
Fingerprint: 0x4e3af0de
Item Level: 75
Version: Resurrected
+20 to Life

Tangerine Small Charm of Dexterity
Small Charm
Required Level: 5
Fingerprint: 0x1d0cae81
Item Level: 35
Version: Resurrected
+1 to Dexterity
Lightning Resist +4%

Azure Small Charm of Greed
Small Charm
Required Level: 15
Fingerprint: 0xafdf3f51
Item Level: 59
Version: Resurrected
Cold Resist +3%
10% Extra Gold from Monsters

Lapis Grand Charm of Greed
Grand Charm
Required Level: 7
Fingerprint: 0x56457069
Item Level: 36
Version: Resurrected
Cold Resist +18%
29% Extra Gold from Monsters

Shimmering Large Charm of Sustenance
Large Charm
Required Level: 26
Fingerprint: 0x59ac3adc
Item Level: 43
Version: Resurrected
+18 to Life
All Resistances +7

Lucky Grand Charm
Grand Charm
Fingerprint: 0xd1dd3974
Item Level: 48
Version: Resurrected
5% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items

Crimson Small Charm
Small Charm
Required Level: 1
Fingerprint: 0x4d720d3
Item Level: 43
Version: Resurrected
Fire Resist +5%

Coral Small Charm of Thunder
Small Charm
Required Level: 25
Fingerprint: 0x2242478b
Item Level: 49
Version: Resurrected
Adds 1 - 12 Lightning Damage
Lightning Resist +8%

Burly Large Charm of Sustenance
Large Charm
Required Level: 24
Fingerprint: 0xc8c04788
Item Level: 49
Version: Resurrected
+29 Defense
+18 to Life

Tangerine Small Charm
Small Charm
Required Level: 1
Fingerprint: 0x487008eb
Item Level: 42
Version: Resurrected
Lightning Resist +3%

Tangerine Large Charm of Greed
Large Charm
Required Level: 5
Fingerprint: 0x8767b811
Item Level: 11
Version: Resurrected
Lightning Resist +7%
6% Extra Gold from Monsters

Small Charm of Fortune
Small Charm
Required Level: 18
Fingerprint: 0xea6f9f73
Item Level: 52
Version: Resurrected
5% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items

Mercenary

Mercenary:

Name:       Leharas
Race:       Desert Mercenary
Type:       Off-Nightmare
Experience: 71990276
Level:      84
Dead?:      false

            Naked/Gear
Strength:   184/204
Dexterity:  148/153
HP:         1727/1811
Defense:    1274/1977
AR:         1898/413764

Fire:       168/128/68
Cold:       198/158/98
Lightning:  168/128/68
Poison:    181/141/81

Duriel's Shell
Cuirass
Defense: 653
Durability: 48 of 150
Required Level: 41
Required Strength: 65
Fingerprint: 0xcda7bdba
Item Level: 61
Version: Resurrected
+170% Enhanced Defense
+105 Defense (Based on Character Level)
+15 to Strength
+84 to Life (Based on Character Level)
Cold Resist +30%
All Resistances +20
Cannot Be Frozen
+100 Maximum Durability


Loath Visage
Circlet
Defense: 50
Durability: 35 of 35
Required Level: 18
Fingerprint: 0x941ae8bb
Item Level: 26
Version: Resurrected
3% Life stolen per hit
+63% Enhanced Defense
Poison Resist +13%
Magic Damage Reduced by 2
5% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items


Insight
Thresher
RalTirTalSol
Two Hand Damage: 36 - 427
Durability: 50 of 65
Required Level: 53
Required Strength: 152
Required Dexterity: 118
Fingerprint: 0x9d6bfb38
Item Level: 82
Version: Resurrected
Level 14 Meditation Aura When Equipped
+35% Faster Cast Rate
203% Enhanced Damage
217% Bonus 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 Items
4 Sockets (4 used)
Socketed: Ral Rune
Socketed: Tir Rune
Socketed: Tal Rune
Socketed: Sol Rune

Ral Rune
Required Level: 19
Version: Resurrected
Weapons: Adds 5 - 30 Fire Damage
Armor: Fire Resist +30%
Shields: Fire Resist +35%

Tir Rune
Required Level: 13
Version: Resurrected
Weapons: +2 to Mana after each Kill
Armor: +2 to Mana after each Kill
Shields: +2 to Mana after each Kill

Tal Rune
Required Level: 17
Version: Resurrected
Weapons: Adds 75 Poison Damage Over 5 Secs (125 Frames)
Armor: Poison Resist +30%
Shields: Poison Resist +35%

Sol Rune
Required Level: 27
Version: Resurrected
Weapons: Armor: Damage Reduced by 7
Shields: Damage Reduced by 7

(used for boss fights)
Guillaume's Face
Winged Helm
Defense: 217
Durability: 30 of 40
Required Level: 34
Required Strength: 115
Fingerprint: 0x57bdd7e0
Item Level: 73
Version: Resurrected
+30% Faster Hit Recovery
35% Chance of Crushing Blow
15% Deadly Strike
+120% Enhanced Defense
+15 to Strength

Thanks
@Babyhell for hosting the tournament (but not for damning CE out of the gates )
@Vang for showing us how it is done with the first guardian of the tournament
and all the participants which have made reading updates a blast.

Hopefully I will be back with another Tournament Guardian (and I don't have to wait another 11 years)

 

[Babyhell]

As I said on the running thread, you did it the hard way SP, even if the character can be less challenging than a melee fighter somehow and @Vang's barbarian success was no joke either!

Congrats on your second Guardian

As a sidenote, it is my first tournament hosting ever, inspired by @Vang's Random Tournaments (who deserves this special mention <3), I'm glad you enjoyed it!

 

[Vang]

@Jcakes Congrats on the guardian!

@Babyhell Was a lot more challenging than I thought, I am super mad I kicked the bucket with my druid in Act5 NM.