Upgrading Arreat's Face

[Tubba Blubba]

Upgrading Arreat's Face

Arreat's Face
Slayer Guard
Defense: 539
Durability: 28 of 28
Required Level: 42
Required Strength: 108
Fingerprint: 0x88b515c2
Item Level: 85
Version: Expansion 1.10+
Unidentified
+2 to Combat Skills (Barbarian Only)
+2 to Barbarian Skill Levels
+30% Faster Hit Recovery
20% Bonus to Attack Rating
5% Life stolen per hit
+[highlight]198[/highlight]% Enhanced Defense
+20 to Strength
+20 to Dexterity
All Resistances +30
[highlight]Ethereal[/highlight]

I recently found this, and according to my calculations, it should receive another ~200 defense if upgraded, which in my opinion would be worth it for use on mercs. However, someone mentioned that the defense varies if upgraded, and that it might end up with roughly the same defense (e.g. a 120 base defense roll), however, with a max of 168 (which would add something like 225 defense), it seems worth it to me. Opinions, ideas, suggestions, more info? Thanks.

 

[DeathMaster]

Re: Upgrading Arreat's Face

One word - NO.

More words - not worth it. when you up armor, the base def get rerolled. So you could get low base def which resulted no improve on def value, but added status and level requirement. Worse, this particular item can be only used on a barb merc, what improvement do you think you will have even you got luck (rolled the best possible base def)?

General speaking, no armor is worth up, expect very few special one (eg. up belt to get extra roll of potions). I upped body armor twice, trust me, I really regrade my stupidity now.

PS: I have upped a few belt for the extra potion, they are good upgrade. eg. Goldwrap is a popular belt for up.

 

[Arkardo]

Re: Upgrading Arreat's Face

It's fine the way it is now for a Barb merc. If you want to use such a merc, have an Um to spare AND want to take your chances, go for it. ^^

 

[Tigereye1]

Re: Upgrading Arreat's Face

Some info:
The base defense for items with %Enhanced Defense are always max+1.

In the case of Ethereal Arreat's Face with 198%ED, the defense are calculated like
121 * 1.5 = 181.5 => truncated to 181 (base defense is 93-120)
181 * 2.98 = 539.38 => truncated to 539

If upgraded to Guardian Crown (base defense is 117-168) the defense will be between:
117*1.5 = 175.5 => truncated to 175
175*2.98 = 521.5 => truncated to 521

and

168*1.5 = 252
252*2.98 = 750.96 => truncated to 750

 

[Tubba Blubba]

Re: Upgrading Arreat's Face

It's fine the way it is now for a Barb merc. If you want to use such a merc, have an Um to spare AND want to take your chances, go for it. ^^

One of my main merc is a Barbarian and it works very well if you do not need the aura. In particular since my two best weapons are swords.

 

[Shagsbeard]

Re: Upgrading Arreat's Face

Defense is hugely overrated in D2. Upping any armor from exceptional to elite is rarely worth the added defense. But in today's game, where people have 100's of Ums left over from countless Hellforge rushes and LK runs, the cost isn't an issue. So go for it... but don't expect to see much of an improvement.

 

[Tanksaabas]

Re: Upgrading Arreat's Face

unless your merc will hit the 10k mark , the upping for a handful of defense is worthless

 

[Tubba Blubba]

Re: Upgrading Arreat's Face

Defense is hugely overrated in D2. Upping any armor from exceptional to elite is rarely worth the added defense. But in today's game, where people have 100's of Ums left over from countless Hellforge rushes and LK runs, the cost isn't an issue. So go for it... but don't expect to see much of an improvement.

Um? Upping a piece of armor is Ko + Lem.


But after seeing the responses, I guess it isn't worth it. Ebugged Stone adds such ridiculous amounts if I want that anyway, and even the standard Eth Arreats adds a good deal by itself.

 

[sirpoopsalot]

Re: Upgrading Arreat's Face

General speaking, no armor is worth up, expect very few special one (eg. up belt to get extra roll of potions). I upped body armor twice, trust me, I really regrade my stupidity now.

PS: I have upped a few belt for the extra potion, they are good upgrade. eg. Goldwrap is a popular belt for up.

In addition to taking belts from normal to exceptional for the extra rows, occasionally a shield will get some extra blocking % by going from exceptional to elite (Visceratuant gets 12% better blocking, Moser's gets 8%, etc).

But I agree with sentiment that defense alone isn't a good enough reason to upgrade and item to elite (I have done it on a few normal->exceptional items, but the cost is much lower).

 

[Arkardo]

Re: Upgrading Arreat's Face

Um? Upping a piece of armor is Ko + Lem.

Whoops! :whistling: