yep just like that, also gotta gear the merc in act1

at lvl 18 u can have 15max and 20ed on a single jewel so while that axe is good it could be better with just 6 regular 15max

oh I just made that with crap I had laying around and threw an ith in it for memories sake.

I just run a1 bow merc with enchant from my pvm cold sorc and swap to ravenclaw once I hit 15, give merc the psn bow, and at 33 give merc the ravenclaw while I swap to kuko. Really don't even need the gemmed axe and crystal sword anymore, just keep em around to make me smile.

I'll save the good jewels for lld eventually.

Could you use multiple hel runes to drop a high level unique to one that's usable by level 1?

E.g. 5 hels in rune master

hero editor 99 character. end

-req doesn't reduce level req just stat reqs

No but you can put them in shit like a 6os great maul or great sword that dont have a level req

Can also find -15req/10ed lvl1 jewels but those are rare af

20 psn dmg jewels are the best zero lvl requirement items you can get if doing a normal playthrough. By the time you stop 1 shotting enemies with even a few of these socketed you can start equipping better gear and shortly thereafter have access to insight, honor, etc.

Doubleswing early. Some like leap attack in that awkward level 18 to 30 stage, but I find it doesn't really pop off until I'm just about to get whrilwind.

Classic mode helps, too. Once you get whirlwind, it's pretty much cruise control all the way to endgame with a bonesnap and a dream.

Throw is probably easiest if you have no gear to give the barb first.

This post was edited by Dr_Lecter on Jul 5 2026 06:59pm

yes

This is my strategy for day 1 of season.
3 socket flails with gems.
Save all gems from a1 playthrough; shop 3os flails from a2 blacksmith (Fara)