Hello,
In the past year(s) I saw a lot of people asking for common PvM guides like Hammerdin, Light sorc or Javazon. Now I decided to make a guide for all these 'common' builds.
Usually Lilith0 or Titus1986 posts the build then, but sometimes people get confused by other opinions (which are worse most of the time). I picked Hammerdin, Javazon, Light sorc, Javazon and Uber Smiter, as these are the most common.
Table of Contents:
0. Abbreviations meanings
1. The Hammerdin
1.1 Breakpoints (FHR, FCR)
1.2 Skills and stats
1.3 Equipment and Inventory
1.4 Merc
2. Whirlwind Barbarian
2.1 Breakpoints (FHR, FCR)
2.2 Skills and stats
2.3 Equipment and Inventory
2.4 Merc
3. The Javazon
3.1 Breakpoints (IAS, FHR, FCR)
3.2 Skills and Stats
3.3 Equipment and Inventory
3.4 Merc
4. Light Sorc
4.1 Breakpoints (FCR, FHR)
4.2 Skills and stats
4.3 Equipment and Inventory
4.4 Merc
5. The Uber Trist Smiter
5.1 Breakpoints (IAS, FHR)
5.2 Skills and Stats
5.3 Equipment and inventory
5.4 Merc
8. Screenshots
9. Conclusion
0. Abbreviations meanings
LF = Lightning Fury
CS = Charged Strike
PVM = Player versus Monsters
TS = Thunder Storm
FA = Frozen Armor
BH = Blessed Hammer
Conc = Concentration
DS = Deadly Strike
CB = Crushing Blow
WW = Whirlwind
FR = Fire Resist
LR = Light Resist
PR = Poison Resist
CR = Cold Resist
Sorb = Absorb
IAS = Increased Attack Speed
FHR = Faster Hit Recovery
FCR = Faster Cast Rate
FRW = Faster run/walk
PB = Phase Blade
WP = War Pike
TM = Thunder Maul
ED = Enhanced Damage / Enhanced Defense
Dex = Dexterity
Str = Strenght
Vita = Vitality
UT = Uber Tristram
1. The Hammerdin
The Hammerdin is a Paladin, using Blessed Hammer as main skill, with Conc aura. A Hammerdin is a pretty cheap char to make (unless for Enigma at ladder start), and can clear any area pretty easy.
1.1: Breakpoints
FHR Frames:
0% 9
7% 8
15% 7
27% 6
48% 5 <-- This one we are gonna reach
86% 4
200% 3
4680% 2
48% fhr is more than enough for in PvM. 86% fhr is for pvp, and absolutely not needed in PvM. Lower FHR bp doesn't make sense, since you are using Spirit shield, who already gives 55% fhr.
FCR Frames:
0% 15
9% 14
18% 13
30% 12
48% 11
75% 10
125% 9 <-- This one we are gonna reach
125% fcr is a must on a Hammerdin. Only some hybrids (hammer/smite or hammer/charge, using Grief as weapon) pvp builds can get away with 75% fcr. 75% fcr is OK too, but simply worse than 125%.
1.2 Skills and Stats
Stats:
Str: For gear
Dex: For Max Block AFTER Holy Shield
Vita: Rest of our points
Energy: Not needed, we have enough mana from gear.
Skills:
20 Blessed Hammer (our main skill)
20 Conc (our main aura)
20 Vigor (synergy for Blessed Hammer)
20 Blessed Aim (synergy for Blessed Hammer)
1 Holy shield
Rest in Resist Fire, Resist Light or Holy Bolt (Resist auras for passive +1 max resist every 2 points invested and Holy Bolt for killing immunes)
1.3 Equipment and Inventory:
Equipment:
Weapon: Hoto > 40 fcr, 3 skills, 30-40 all resist. Hard to beat, if not impossible
Shield: Spirit in Sacred Targe (highest block), 45 all res base. > fcr, resist, skills and mana. The best shield for a Hdin.
Belt: Arachnid's Mesh > 1 skill and 20 fcr for 125 fcr breakpoint. Best Caster belt imo
Gloves: Magefists > 20 fcr and some mana regeneration. (You could also use Trang's gloves, but Magefists are better. you won't need the cold resist, while the regenerate mana is useful)
Amulet: Mara's > 2 skills, 5 all attributes and 30 all res. One of the best options.
Rings: 1x 10 fcr ring with fire res and dex and 1x Soj (Or 2x soj if using 2/10 fcr amulet) > Sojs for skill and mana, fcr ring to reach 125 fcr bp
Helm: Harlequin Crest (aka Shako), socketed with an Ist rune or Um if you lack resist (I did Ist rune) > 2 skills, decent life and mana, 10 dr% and ofcourse 50% mf
Armor: Only one choice here. Enigma, in a low strenght req base (Made mine in MP) > 2 skills, teleport skill, 45 frw and high strenght
Boots: Hotspurs, Aldurs or War Travs > Hotspurs for insta 15% max fire res and 45 fire res, Aldurs for the fire res and life and War Travs for the MF (I used Hotspurs) (Waterwalks are fine too if you don't need the fire resist or mf)
You could also use 2 pala 10 fcr adds amu, and a second soj. I prefer mara's though.
Weapon switch: Cta, in scepter with 3 holy shield prefferd. > For BO and BCommands
Shield switch: Spirit in pala shield > +2 skills for bo. Can be random
Inventory:
Anni
Pala Torch
Pcombat skillers with life (or clean)
life/res scs if lacking res, otherwise mf scs or life/mana scs (just clean life small charms is also ok of course)
1.4 Merc
Act 2, Offensive Nightmare (might) or Defensive nightmare (Holy Freeze)
Ethereal Reapers Toll with Ber (Or 15 ias/40 ed jewel)
(eth) Treachery
Guillie Face with Cham (Or 15 ias/15 all res, 15 ias/40 ed or 40 ed/add jewel)
If you socket Reapers with 15 ias jewel, Guillie face should ALSO be socketed with an IAS jewel. So or Ber/cham or ias jewel/ias jewel in sockets.
Why Reapers Toll?
Because Reapers Toll gives your merc (one) the highest damage to kill those Magic immunes at Wave 2. (Keep in mind Reapers has Decr too!)
If you don't care about Baaling, and only doing Diablo and other places (except Baal then):
Act 2 Prayer, Might or Holy Freeze
Ethereal Insight (Meditation)
Ethereal Treachery
(Ethereal) Andariel's Visage 15 ias/30 fire resist (or Ral rune)
Why Insight?
For unlimited teleporting/spamming hammers. It's a matter of preference though, some still prefers Reapers merc here.
Again: You should only use Insight merc if you are NOT doing baals, or play in a team (where another player can take care of Wave 2), otherwise Reapers merc is gonna be better.
2. WW Barbarian
The WW Barb is a Barbarian, using the skill Whirlwind to kill the monsters. A WW Barb is pretty expansive to make at ladder, but at nonladder it's cheap. It kills fast, but not as fast as a hammerdin.
2.1 Breakpoints (FHR, FCR)
FHR Frames
0% 9
7% 8
15% 7
27% 6 <-- This one we are gonna reach.
48% 5
86% 4
200% 3
4680% 2
WW Barbs shouldn't need that many FHR in pvm. 27% is enough from my experience as Barbarian player (Played many PVM barbs in both Classic and Lod)
FCR Frames
0% 13
9% 12
20% 11
37% 10
63% 9 <-- This one we are gonna reach on switch
105% 8 <-- this one is reasonable too.
200% 7
As Barbarian, you teleport on switch, since you have 2x Hoto on switch, makes you hit the 63% breakpoint anyway.
IAS:
With Grief PB any ias is ok. 30 or 40, doesn't matter.
Botd 2handed:
Thunder maul:
0 14 1.78
3 12 2.08
16 10 2.5
26 8 3.12
47 6 4.16 <-- this we can reach
79 4 6.25
War Pike:
0 14 1.78
3 12 2.08
16 10 2.5
26 8 3.12
47 6 4.16 <-- this we can reach.
79 4 6.25
Great Poleaxe:
0 10 2.5
6 8 3.12
27 6 4.16
59 4 6.25 <-- This we can reach
Archon Staff:
0 12 2.08
6 10 2.5
16 8 3.12
37 6 4.16 <-- This we can reach
69 4 6.25
Ghost Spear:
0 10 2.5
6 8 3.12
27 6 4.16
59 4 6.25 <-- This we can reach
Collossus Blade:
0 8 3.12
13 6 4.16
39 4 6.25 <-- This we can reach
I picked War Pike in this guide.
2.2 Skills and stats
Stats:
Dex: For gear (if using Grief PB's)
Vita: Till ~2.5k-3k life AFTER BO
Str: Rest of our points (More damage means more leeching
We need 136 dex to use Pbs, with 2.5k-3k life we have more than enough in PvM, even in HC. More strenght means more damage, which means more leech.
As Barbarian we DON'T need max block. Using a shield means you do less damage, which results in less life leeched. But if you REALLY want to use a shield, do it.
Skills:
20 Whirlwind > Our main attack
20 Battle Orders > Big life and mana boost
20 Mastery* > Increases damage and ar for Whirlwind
20 Shout (last points in here)
1 Natural Resist
1 Increased Speed
1 Battle Commands
1 Berserk
*Mastery depends on what weapon base you use.. Keep in mind Archon Staff belongs to MACE MASTERY!
Rest of our skills goes to Berserk (more damage vs immunes), Natural res, incr speed or Item Find (I did a mix between these myself), no other option here which is useful in terms of damage or life.
2.3 Equipment and Inventory
Equipment:
Dual Grief PB setup:
Weapons: Grief PB Highest damage you can get (400 is max) x2
Helm: Guillie Face > High CB, some str, some DS and 30 fhr, sock it with an Um rune or 40 ed/9 strenght jewel
Armor: Enigma > 2 sks, teleport, 45 frw and some dr%
Gloves: Laying of Hands > 50 fire res and 350% dmg to demons, the best option for regular pvm. (Better than Steelrends indeed)
Belt: String of Ears or Arachs > String of ears for the LL, mdr and dr%, Arach to reach 105 fcr on switch
Rings: Raven Frost and Melee ring (ar, dual leech, resists are a must then. Get one with FCR for reaching the 105% fcr bp on switch) > Raven for CBF and Melee ring for leech
Amulet: Highlords Wrath > 1 skill, 3x% DS and 35% light res. Best choice for melee imo
Boots: Goreriders > cb, ds and ow.. simply the best melee boots ingame.
Again: I don't suggest using a shield. Using a shield means lower damage. Lower damage means lower life leeched. If you really want to use Shield (and max block), use Stormshield, socketed with resist or ed jewel instead 1 Grief PB.
Ebotd setup:
Weapon: Ethereal BOTD in War Pike/Archon Staff/Thunder Maul/Great Poleaxe/Collossus Blade
Rings: Raven+Dwarf/wisp or rare ring with AR and resists (NN leech that much, Botd offers already that already)
Rest of the gear is the same as the Dual Grief Setup.
Inventory:
Anni
Barb torch
max/ar/life and life/res (if needed)
About resistance:
You should cap atleast Fire and Light resist. Cold isn't that important and so is Poison.
2.4 Merc
Act 2 Offensive Nightmare (Might)
Weapon: Ethereal Reapers Toll 15 ias/40 ed
Armor: (Ethereal) Treachery or Fortitude (Both do the job)
Helm: Guillie Face 15 ias/15 all res or 15 ias/40 ed (Both is ok)
Might is obvious, this means extra damage.
Reapers toll for Decry for immunes.
Treachery/fort for 45 ias and fade/30 res 300 ed 5% max light res
Guillie Face for the Crushing Blow and DS.
3. The Javazon
The Javazon is an Amazon, using Lightning Fury and Charged Strike to kill her opponents. This char is a real killing machine, together with a Infinity merc. This build isn't that expansive, can be on ladder, since you need Infy for merc, but Nonladder it's cheap.
3.1 Breakpoints
IAS Bp's Matriarchal Javelin
0
6
16
30
52 <-- This we reach anyway with 20 ias gloves, 20 ias amulet and a 15 ias jewel.
89
We have to go for the highest IAS Breakpoint. since 89 is almost not reachable (without losing damage/res/life etc), 52 ias is the way to go.
FHR Bp's:
0% 9 <-- This is enough. You won't need FHR when you don't get hit.
7% 8
15% 7
27% 6
48% 5 <--- this we will reach when teleporting
86% 4
200% 3
4680% 2
FHR isn't needed that hard for a javazon, since shes mostly at range. And for teleporting, we do that on switch, where she wears Spirit Monarch (which adds 55 fhr anyway)
FCR Bp's:
0% 19
7% 18
14% 17
22% 16
32% 15
48% 14 <-- This one we are gonna reach
68% 13
99% 12
152% 11
Teleporting we do on switch, where we use Spirit monarch, wich adds 25-35 and Griffon's wich adds 25 fcr too.
3.2 Skills and stats
Stats:
Str: For gear
Dex: For gear
Vita: Rest of our statpoints.
Energy: You won't have mana problems.
Skills:
20 Lightning Fury > Our main attack
20 Charged Strike > Our main attack vs bosses and a synergy for Lightning Fury
20 Lightning Bolt > Synergy
20 Lightning Strike > Synergy
20 Power Strike > Synergy
1 Critical Strike > Needed for Pierce
1 Penetrate > needed for Pierce
1 Pierce > A must for any bow/javazon, together with Razortail we reach 100% pierce.
Some like to have Valkyrie, I don't, you need to skill Dodge skills (Dodge, Evade and Avoid) too then, and you can't attack when you are dodging.
Some like to have Slow Missile, Sure. why not. I didn't do it myself since I don't think I need it that much.
3.3 Equipment and Inventory
Equipment:
Weapon: (Eth) Upped Titan's Revenge > High damage, some frw, good stats..
Shield: Head Hunter's Glory 3 socks with Rbfs (15 ias/15@ are ok too, so are Um runes) or 4 socketed Monarch with 4x Facet > Both shields works, I prefer HHG's because it offers resists along with 3 sockets. But 4sox monarch should be better when you don't have to worry about resist (for cows as example)
Gloves: 3 java/20 ias gloves or 2 java/20 ias gloves with adds (res, mana leech) > You need the 20 ias, and the java skills increases your damage. I picked 2 java/20 ias/4 mana leech/dual res (mine are 30 cold 30 light res)
Belt: Razortail > This is the best, 33% pierce is over powered for a Javazon. A must and only choice imo.
Rings: Raven + Soj/wisp/dwarf > Raven for CBF, and Soj for the skill, wisp or Dwarf are ok too if u need it, cuz the sorb.
Amulet: Highlord's Wrath > We need the ias and the skill means more damage, the light res is always nice. (If we sock HHG/4sox monarch with atleast 2 ias jewels, we can also use Mara's (2 sk 20-30@, 5 stats)
Boots: Silkweave Boots or Aldurs > Silkweave for the MAEK, Aldurs for the fire res, life and high frw.
Helm: Griffon's Eye with 15 ias/15 all res jewel or Light facet if u dont need more ias. > Griffons adds lots of damage, thanks to the +light skill dmg and -enemies light resist.
Armor: Enigma. This gives us mobility, as well nice strenght and mf boost. Enigma of Bone hybrid is nice too for its 30 all resists. (Regular Enigma is fine too though)
About sockets: We have 4 or 5 open sockets (depending on the shield we use), we need one 15 ias jewel. It can be in helm, but you also could use it in your shield. This means you can put a facet in Griffons or just use the Griffons from your light sorc.
Weapon Switch: CTA (Call to Arms) > Because the BO ofcourse.
Shield Switch: Spirit Monarch > +2 skills and 55 fhr for teleporting on switch. Any FCR will be ok.
Inventory:
Anni
Amazon Torch
Java skillers with life
Res/life scs (Some with all res, some with fire res)
3.4 Merc
Act 2 Nightmare Defensive (holy freeze) or Nightmare Offensive (might)
Weapon: Ethereal Infinity (In Elite base. Tresher or Giant Tresher are the best, but any other elite polearm will do the job as well.)
Armor: Ethereal Treachery or Ethereal Fortitude > Both is ok, Treachery has fade and ias, while Fort has 30 all res and 300 edmg.
Helm: Andariel's Visage 15 ias/30 fire res or Ral rune, or Vampire Gaze with 15 ias/40 ed jewel > Merc needs life leech, and these are the best helms then.
Might merc can be nice for ur merc to kill some immunes, while Holy Freeze is nice for it's slowing.
4. Light Sorceress
The Light sorceress is a Sorceress using Lightning and Chain Lightning to kill his opponents, its one of the fastest chars ingame, since she teleports quick and kills quick as well. This char is pretty expansive for beginning ladder/players, but most of the gear is easily achievable in these forums for cheap at nonladder and later on in ladder.
4.1 Breakpoints
FHR Frames
0% 15
5% 14
9% 13
14% 12
20% 11
30% 10
42% 9 <-- This one is fine too.
60% 8 <-- This one is we are gonna reach
86% 7
142% 6
280% 5
1480% 4
We don't need more fhr in PvM. 42 fhr is also ok.
FCR Frames Lightning and Chain lightning
0% 19
7% 18
15% 17
23% 16
35% 15
52% 14
78% 13
117% 12 <-- We are gonna reach this.
194% 11
FCR Frames any other skill
0% 13
9% 12
20% 11
37% 10
63% 9
105% 8
200% 7
We need 117% fcr for the Lightning FCR breakpoint. Less is less optimal. More is not needed.
By reaching 117% fcr, we also hit the 105% fcr breakpoint for teleport.
4.2 Skills and Stats
Stats:
Str: For gear
Dex: Base
Vita: Rest of our statpoints
Energy: Not needed, we have enough.
Since we are using a shield which is horrible with max block, full vita is better. We don't need max block on a PvM sorc, not even in Hardcore. Max block means less damage, which results in more hits taken.
Also a sorceress should never 'stomp' a group of mobs. Just play smart/safe and you won't have any troubles without block.
Skills:
20 Lightning > Our main skill
20 Chain Lightning > Nice skill for groups and synergy for lightning
20 Charged Bolt > Synergy and nice vs bosses
20 Light Mastery > Big boost for all our Lightning attacks
1 Thunder Storm > Always nice to have, an extra source of damage.
1 Frozen armor (optimal) > Nice to have, some extra safety
1 Warmth > Mana regeneration, a must.
20 Nova > Synergy (Last points goes here)
1 Telekenis (optimal for fast taking wp/taking gold etc)
Rest of our skills goes to Warmth
We don't need teleport, since we are using Enigma.
4.3 Equipment and Inventory
Equipment:
Weapon: Hoto (Heart of the Oak) > 3 skills, 40 fcr and 30-40 resist, as well a little mana boost and some rephl life. Simply the best overall, and cheap too.
Shield: Spirit Monarch 32+ fcr > 2 skills, fcr, mana, resist.. all nice mods and the best overall.
Armor: Enigma > 2 skills, big strenght boost, free teleport (saving 1 or 2 skills), high mf
Gloves: Dracul's Grasp or Chancies > Dracul's for the LAEK (Life after each kill) and Chancies for the MF.
Boots: Hotspurs > 45 fire res (to counter the lack of fire res on Spirit), 15% max fire res makes this an excellent choice. War Travs are OK too for the MF.
Belt: Arach's > 1 skill, 20 ias and 5% max mana. We need the fcr, the skill will boost our dmg.
Amulet: Mara's Kaleidoscope > 2 skills 5 stats and up to 30 all resist makes this an excellent choice. All mods are handy
Rings: Sojs > skills and mana boost.
Helm: Griffon's Eye with lightning facet > 1 skill, 25 fcr and light dmg boost. We need the fcr, the -elr and +light dmg boosts our dmg, the skill boosts our dmg a little more!
About Facets: Since Light mastery already gives you high +light damage, -resist on RBF is much more important. +4/-5 is gonna be better than +5/-4.
You can also go for the Crescent moon build:
Magefists, Vipermagi (w/ facet) and Cmoon instead draks/chancies and Enigma, rest the same.
I recommend the hoto build myself, because:
Enigma offers you LAEK, 1 more skill, high strenght (thus high life in the end) and high mf
Draks offers even more LAEK or Chancies offers more MF
Hoto offers 40 all res, rephl life and mana boost
Inventory:
Anni
Sorc Torch
Light skillers with life
1 sc with 5 fhr and res (if you want to reach the 60 fhr breakpoint)
some scs with life/res or life/mana
4.4 Merc
Act 2 Nightmare Defensive (Holy Freeze) or Act 2 Nightmare Offensive (might)
Ethereal Infinity
(Ethereal) Fortitude or Treachery
(Ethereal) Andariel's Visage 15 ias/30 fire res jewel or Ral rune.
We need infy, fort+treachery are the best armors and Andariel's visage for the life leech.
Again Might for some phys damage for merc, thus slightly faster killing immunes, Holy freeze for slow.
This post was edited by Klaasje123 on Feb 19 2017 02:09pm