What should I MF for in NM to prep for Hell (LF amazon)? i

[vanmorrison]

What should I MF for in NM to prep for Hell (LF amazon)?

Hi, I'm currently playing a lvl72 amazon using charged strike, lightning fury, freezing arrow (per Nightfish's guide).

I've beaten NM and was looking forward to pit running in Hell, but I'm having survivability problems. My killspeed is fantastic, but I die often, and my merc dies REALLY often, which is especially annoying because I rely on his Insight to keep my mana afloat.

So what are some items I can run for in NM to up my (and especially my merc's) survivability?

I'm using a defiance merc.

Current gear:

Me:

Peasant Crown
War Hat
Defense: 108
Durability: 11 of 12
Required Strength: 20
Required Level: 28
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 59
Fingerprint: 0x1dbca07a
+20 to Energy
+20 to Vitality
+100% Enhanced Defense
Replenish Life +12
15% Faster Run/Walk
+1 to All Skill Levels

Doom Scarab
Amulet
Required Level: 27
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 51
Fingerprint: 0xb9b2a78c
+26 to Mana
+15 to Attack Rating
Damage Reduced by 3
Fire Resist +30%
+1 to Amazon Skill Levels
+1 to Light Radius

Gemmed Gothic Plate
Defense: 132
Durability: 55 of 55
Required Strength: 70
Required Level: 18
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 38
Fingerprint: 0x85d8559d
96% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
Socketed (4: 4 used)

Nagelring
Ring
Required Level: 7
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 12
Fingerprint: 0xcd9a6aef
+51 to Attack Rating
Magic Damage Reduced by 3
Attacker Takes Damage of 3
25% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items

Nagelring
Ring
Required Level: 7
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 13
Fingerprint: 0x4822fe55
+60 to Attack Rating
Magic Damage Reduced by 3
Attacker Takes Damage of 3
23% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items

Goldwrap
Heavy Belt
Defense: 35
Durability: 18 of 18
Required Strength: 45
Required Level: 27
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 52
Fingerprint: 0x16fcba84
+53% Enhanced Defense
+25 Defense
65% Extra Gold from Monsters
30% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
+2 to Light Radius
10% Increased Attack Speed

Brimstone Spur
Sharkskin Boots
Defense: 65
Durability: 13 of 14
Required Strength: 47
Required Level: 25
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 59
Fingerprint: 0x1f8fcfaa
+64% Enhanced Defense
Lightning Resist +36%
Poison Resist +31%
51% Extra Gold from Monsters
10% Faster Hit Recovery
Poison Length Reduced by 25%

Lancer's Gauntlets of Regeneration
Defense: 13
Durability: 24 of 24
Required Strength: 60
Required Level: 45
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 82
Fingerprint: 0xefd2e5c9
Replenish Life +5
+3 to Javelin and Spear Skills (Amazon Only)

Wizendraw
Long Battle Bow
Two-Hand Damage: 5 to 32
Required Dexterity: 50
Required Strength: 40
Required Level: 26
Bow Class - Fast Attack Speed
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 49
Fingerprint: 0xd4770e0c
+15 to Energy
+30 to Mana
+79% Enhanced Damage
+71 to Attack Rating
Cold Resist +26%
20% Increased Attack Speed
Fires Magic Arrows
-22% to Enemy Cold Resistance


Titan's Revenge
Ceremonial Javelin
Throw Damage: 76 to 203
One-Hand Damage: 76 to 149
Quantity: 120
(Amazon Only)
Required Dexterity: 109
Required Strength: 25
Required Level: 42
Javelin Class - Fast Attack Speed
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 59
Fingerprint: 0x98cc03a1
+20 to Strength
+20 to Dexterity
+184% Enhanced Damage
+25 to Minimum Damage
+50 to Maximum Damage
9% Life stolen per hit
+2 to Amazon Skill Levels
30% Faster Run/Walk
+2 to Javelin and Spear Skills (Amazon Only)
Replenishes Quantity
Increased Stack Size

Whitstan's Guard
Round Shield
Defense: 154
Chance to Block:  92%
Durability: 63 of 64
Required Strength: 53
Required Level: 29
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 59
Fingerprint: 0xc0e2e256
+175% Enhanced Defense
+55% Increased Chance of Blocking
All Resistances +19
+5 to Light Radius
40% Faster Block Rate
Half Freeze Duration
Socketed (1: 1 used)

Merc:

Sigon's Visor
Great Helm
Defense: 57
Durability: 22 of 40
Required Strength: 63
Required Level: 6
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 60
Fingerprint: 0xcbd2c8c
+30 to Mana
+25 Defense

Rattlecage
Gothic Plate
Defense: 331
Durability: 33 of 55
Required Strength: 70
Required Level: 29
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 66
Fingerprint: 0x67e9bab2
+45 to Attack Rating
+200 Defense
Hit Causes Monster to Flee 40%
25% Chance of Crushing Blow

Insight
Poleaxe
'RalTirTalSol'
Two-Hand Damage: 72 to 137
Durability: 65 of 65
Required Strength: 62
Required Level: 27
Polearm Class - Slow Attack Speed
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 35
Fingerprint: 0x8d2437dd
+5 to Strength
+5 to Energy
+5 to Dexterity
+5 to Vitality
+253% Enhanced Damage
+9 to Minimum Damage
Adds 5-30 fire damage
+75 poison damage over 5 seconds
23% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
+2 to Critical Strike
35% Faster Cast Rate
208% Bonus to Attack Rating
+2 to Mana After Each Kill
Level 12 Meditation Aura When Equipped
Socketed (4: 4 used)

My Charms:

Ocher Small Charm of Strength
Keep in Inventory to Gain Bonus
Required Level: 10
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 15
Fingerprint: 0x8ea99549
+1 to Strength
Lightning Resist +7%

Tangerine Small Charm of Strength
Keep in Inventory to Gain Bonus
Required Level: 5
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 23
Fingerprint: 0x147b80d
+1 to Strength
Lightning Resist +3%

Lapis Small Charm of Frost
Keep in Inventory to Gain Bonus
Required Level: 10
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 22
Fingerprint: 0x685afb12
Cold Resist +7%
Adds 1-2 cold damage over 1 seconds

Russet Small Charm of Strength
Keep in Inventory to Gain Bonus
Required Level: 10
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 48
Fingerprint: 0x61724b8f
+1 to Strength
Fire Resist +6%

Russet Small Charm
Keep in Inventory to Gain Bonus
Required Level: 10
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 28
Fingerprint: 0x9a200c65
Fire Resist +7%

Snake's Grand Charm of Life
Keep in Inventory to Gain Bonus
Required Level: 23
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 36
Fingerprint: 0x9d0e98d4
+20 to Life
+37 to Mana

Small Charm of Sustenance
Keep in Inventory to Gain Bonus
Required Level: 17
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 59
Fingerprint: 0x3cb029f2
+15 to Life

Rugged Small Charm of Life
Keep in Inventory to Gain Bonus
Required Level: 14
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 22
Fingerprint: 0x59967e43
+10 to Life
+4 to Maximum Stamina

Ocher Small Charm of Flame
Keep in Inventory to Gain Bonus
Required Level: 10
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 35
Fingerprint: 0x498441fb
Lightning Resist +7%
Adds 1-2 fire damage

Garnet Large Charm of Winter
Keep in Inventory to Gain Bonus
Required Level: 27
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 58
Fingerprint: 0xb4910229
Fire Resist +11%
Adds 5-12 cold damage over 1 seconds

Viridian Small Charm of Thunder
Keep in Inventory to Gain Bonus
Required Level: 25
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 50
Fingerprint: 0x9a105dd7
Poison Resist +7%
Adds 1-12 lightning damage

Ruby Grand Charm
Keep in Inventory to Gain Bonus
Required Level: 22
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 61
Fingerprint: 0x37de96ae
Fire Resist +27%

 

[snickersnack]

Re: What should I MF for in NM to prep for Hell (LF amazon)?

What are you dying from most?

What is killing your merc most?

The first thing I can recommend is to use Decoy. It really makes the build safe.

As far as where to run, I'd say NM meph. Roll a map that makes it fast to get there. Obviously, a sorceress would be faster and would be able to hold more mf% and still kill quickly.

As for what items to "run for". Don't run for specific items. Just run nm meph until your merc is equipped better. I noticed that your merc doesn't have life leech, which is very important for a melee merc.

 

[Ziggyzug]

Re: What should I MF for in NM to prep for Hell (LF amazon)?

Hi Van, to be honest I think you're going to get brutalized in the pits no mater what at level 72. I think the critters there are all level 85+ (Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.)

But I think there's a couple items that'd help with your survival. (They'd tank your MF % in hell while leveling though.)

On the merc, I'd probably drop him for a prayer merc and double dip on the health regen or go for a HF merc and get a little crowd control. (Take this with a grain of salt, I'm personally biased against defiance mercs.)

For the mercs gear I'd go hunting for Tal Rasha's mask (For the LL.), a Shaftstop and a better base item for your insight.

For your Zons gear I'd go looking for a razortail belt if your pierce % is low. (the extra carnage caused by the LF and FA shots going through is cackle worthy.)

For rings, I'd probably hit NM Andy up for some SOJ's to up the mana pool.

For boots and chest piece I'd go one of 2 ways, keep what ya got or switch it up a little so you're not relying on your merc for mana. If you switch it up you could go with a chest piece loaded with pRubies and Tir runes and silkweave for extra mpk goodness.

That's my .02

Zig

 

[snickersnack]

Re: What should I MF for in NM to prep for Hell (LF amazon)?

Oh, btw, I actually us a normal defence merc (defiance aura) for my fishyzon's merc. He wears eth Andy and eth Duress for high defense. Holy freeze could work very well also.

 

[jiansonz]

Re: What should I MF for in NM to prep for Hell (LF amazon)?

I recommend you craft a couple of Blood Helms for the merc, and use the best you get. Look for high values (4% life steal and 10% DS are the maximums). You can´t go wrong with life steal and Deadly Strike.

Yeah, make another insight in a better polearm. At least an ethereal exceptional one of some sort.


Cannot be Frozen is an excellent ability to have on a melee merc. Then they will keep hitting (and leeching) at regular speed even when they get hit by cold damage. The Spirit Shroud, Duriel´s Shell or even a measly Hawkmail can help a lot.

 

[Rhone]

Re: What should I MF for in NM to prep for Hell (LF amazon)?

I generally think of life leech, resists, and DR% as the most essential things to put on my merc in the body armor and helm slots. Shaftstop and Tal's helm, as mentioned above, will get the job done; I also like Vampire Gaze with Duriel's Shell, which has a slightly lower life leech and DR% but Duriel's Shell comes with CBF, as jiansonz mentions.

Prayer and HF merc are certainly valid options, but I don't think the Defiance merc is really all that bad. I use Defiance merc on my WSK running Fishyzon and I like it.

I'd consider swapping out the Nagelrings for rare rings that offer resists along with maybe some other useful mods (like +mana). Maybe one such rare ring combined with a Raven Frost for CBF. You might want to replace that ptopaz'd breastplate with something that offers decent resists (Skin of Vipermagi would be a good option here; I really like Tal's armor on my Fishyzon but it's going to be a while before you find that).