3/20/2 is cheap but so are 2/20s. For the same price you could probably get a 2/30/20/1 with some mods which will save you more time from moving faster in town

There's no real DPS increase, it's either even or you get like 100 more damage on hammer. On top of this, rare circ can get other mods like mana or stats/life/res

Void511's build using Pride merc / redemption aura is definitely a good one if you don't mind using a few mana pots.



They both have their pros/cons. I'd just get whatever is cheap/available. I personally went w/ 3/20 2os because I wanted the DR and I wasn't seeing any 2/30/20 with useful mods in that price range.

Why not max Conc + Aim before Vigor? You have to "waste" 3 skills before making +dmg from Vigor.

What aura to use when casting FoH?
Conc when using Hammer?

This post was edited by Xshoot on Mar 14 2024 03:34pm

Foh doesnt need any aura, nothing boost it
It would be hard to switch from hammer+conc to foh+other aura 3 times per second anyway lol

You can either use self conc and typical insight merc
Or
Pride merc (for conc) and you use redemption to fix mana/hp regen
This second option has more dmg (cuz you can max hammer synergies) but requires poting from time to time

FOH/Hammer Build (update on my final build. I will add maxroll link soon):

Merc:
Prayer (Insight/Cure/CoH).

Gear:
Hoto, Magefist, Enigma, Arach, 3pcomb 20fcr 2os ber Circlet, ST Spirit, Bk, Soj, WT/Aldur, Mara // CTA+Spirit.

(Still thinking about Shako + 2pal/10fcr Amy for cheaper option)

Skills:
20Foh, 20Holy bolt. 1Holy Shield. 1Concen. 20Hammer. 20Blessed.

After that, for lvl90 target, Vigor if I got +7 skills to put or Concentration if less than 7. (Cost 3x skills to start adding in Vigor +14. Cost 0x skills to start adding in +7,5Concen.).

This post was edited by Xshoot on Mar 15 2024 06:26am

for a cheaper option shako and 3pcomb/10fcr amulet isn't a bad way to go.

I made some testing on Maxroll. Shako seem to add more dmg for hammer cauz it apply +2 on Conc.

Shako = 7420–7473dmg.
3comb/20fcr Helm = 7287–7339dmg.

I think it would be the same for 2pal vs. 3comb amulet.

This post was edited by Xshoot on Mar 15 2024 08:09am

FOH/Hammer final Build:

After lot of testing on Maxroll, here's the best setup for Foh/Hammer hybrid paladin. You will have max res, 125fcr and nice life/mana pool. You don't have to invest point in str/dex to equip your gear. All vitality (460points at lvl90). Hammer dmg: 7420–7473dmg

Merc:
Prayer (Eth Insight/Cure/CoH).

Gear:
Hoto, Magefist, Enigma, Arach, Shako (ber), ST Spirit, 2xBk, Aldur, 2pal/10fcr/10allres Amulet // CTA+Spirit.

Skills:
20Foh, 20Holy bolt. 1Holy Shield. 1Concen. 20Hammer. 20Blessed. 9Vigor.

Note: You lose 50dmg for 9Vigor vs. 13Conc but you gain QoL in town.

This post was edited by Xshoot on Mar 15 2024 08:16am

the main difference is that the pcomb gear boosts your foh damage a little bit more and is a cheaper alternative. same thing w/ 3/20 circlet versus 2/20 circlet with good mods. one gives a little more hammer damage, the other gives a little bit more foh damage. to be clear this is all minute min/maxing. any basic gear combo works pretty well. the 125fcr build you've posted there has good QOL and will work just fine.

Here is a breakdown of hammer dmg / foh dmg #s based on the gear choices I've tried out. You can check skill distribution for hammer dmg optimization at lvl 97 on this d2planner link https://maxroll.gg/d2/d2planner/rf3av0sb. This is all tested/confirmed in game. Option #1 is basically the setup you've described and is under "mage pvm 125fcr spirit/insight merc".

FOH dmg here = FOH holy bolt dmg since that is all we care about for clearing density.

#1 - 125fcr shako/spirit/hoto - insight merc

5680 foh
9634 hammer

#2 - 125fcr 2/20circ/hoz/hoto - insight merc

5872 foh
9635 hammer

#3 - 125fcr 3/20circ/hoz/hoto - insight merc

6064 foh
9360 hammer

#4 - 86fcr 3/20circ/hoz/2pal3hamm2foh scepter - pride merc

6448 foh
10712 hammer

This post was edited by XanderOptik on Mar 15 2024 09:11am