So I've made it to Crystalline Passage. It's been quite a while since I last had a Bow upgrade. I don't got the runes for Edge yet, so I was thinking of just using 3 x PRubies/Ral/Ort in an Razor Bow or something in the interim. Then this dropped.



Looks not too bad. 10 max damage, and about 2 x Ral worth of Fire damage. Certainly an upgrade from my first Gemmed bow in the 2nd post.

Question time:

1. Any opinions on which combination of PRuby/Ral/Ort or jewels or other combinations would be good at this juncture? I'm looking at averages at the moment, and PRuby/Ral are both 17.5, while Ort is 25. If I find a decent 3 Soc Bow in A5, I'm thinking of Ral/Ort/Ort until Edge...

2. Which base do you think I should build Edge in? I'm contemplating Siege Crossbow at the moment. Don't think Cho-Ko-Nu drops so early?

I have completed Act 5 without much issue. Scariest point in the game was when I was saving Anya, and a bunch of Abominables surrounded me and kept me stunned with no escape. Burned all my Rejuvs and Potions until I finally managed to break free from the surround.

Baal gave shit drops unfortunately



When people said Valk was the most powerful summon, I never quite understood until I saw it first hand. One Punch Woman. Great tank too, while I shoot safely from a distance. What an awesome helper!!!

Something I found myself enjoying about playing a Zon is Pierce. Something about the arrows hitting multiple enemies feel good. I can't wait to see the interaction with Strafe when I have it skilled.

One mistake that I made for this act was not reading jiansonz guide properly. He said that Artisan's Great Helms were available for purchase, as well as Greaves of Luck. That would have been a big boost to my MF!!! And here I was gambling every last bit of my gold trying to get a MF Circlet to no avail. In the end, I got it after completing Cows and put in 3 PTopaz (looks really ugly on Artemis though). Swapped out my rare +Fire Damage Circlet which I shared in a few post before, and also upgraded my boots from 18% to 34%MF.



Onwards to NM!



This post was edited by Ducko on Jun 6 2025 11:59pm

I was doing some reading and realised that penetrate and blessed aim don't stack?!? Looks like some changes are going to be needed. I could either

1. Respec, remove my points invested in penetrate, and invest more in DEA or crit.
2. Since I'm dex heavy and doing full clear, there's maybe a chance that I don't need the higher AR that I blessed aim gives. So switch to might for more damage? Or HF for more safety (which I doubt I need, but maybe merc and valk would in hell?)

Offense is the best defense versus defense is the best offense. Torn between either, but maybe since I'm playing SC, I should just screw the safety aspect. I still have a while more to think while I deal with Act 1 first.

I have currently stopped at Outer Cloister. Countest dropped me an Ort. So far in all my different characters, Countess has always been nasty to me Don't matter, cuz what's important is manifesting my Buriza/WWS/WF/Goldstrike!!!!!. I think it will come, the signs are there......





While it does overall less damage than my current bow, I absolutely love the additional Pierce. I think I'll use this until I get my Edge.

I also found a Partizan and made an Insight. Yay to small upgrades!



This post was edited by Ducko on Jun 9 2025 08:49am

Life tip. When in doubt and undecided between 2 equally feasible options, just flip a coin and stick to it. Holy Freeze it shall be.

I badly need to get a weapon upgrade. Right now I feel like a side character in my own movie. Both merc and Valk are just clearing everything while I'm just....there.

NM Andy done. 2 uniques 1 set dropped, but none useful. Onwards to A2!



This post was edited by Ducko on Jun 10 2025 08:44am

I'm telling you...a cool bow is coming to mama soon.





and yet another Stormstrike, all in 1 gaming session.

M A N I F E S T

LMAO. I told you guys we're on to something. Look at what dropped en route to Arcane.



It dropped literally 10 minutes after I made my Edge Siege Crossbow. I was already pleased with being a relevant damage dealer again, and then the Skystrike dropped haha. Need to do some math to figure out which deals better damage though. Any help?



Also, a random cool jewel dropped. I might use it in later stages.



M A N I F E S T

This post was edited by Ducko on Jun 11 2025 10:52am

What a good session tonight was. We cleared Canyon of the Magi, all 7 Tombs and Duriel. We are done with Act 2.

But that's not the point of this post. I just want to share 3 drops.

First, a Guillaume! Just because of it, I'm investing extra stat points into Strength to use it. I'll still mostly use my 3PTopaz helm, but it will be switched when I need to kill tough bosses. Strangely I badly needed this helm for my other chars but it never dropped, yet it dropped so early for Artemis when it's not BiS.



The next cool drop is a Tal's Belt! I have been looking for a better belt. Secretly hoping a Goldwrap will drop. But I'll make do with Tal's first. Gives Mana, 20 Dex and small bit of MF! Manifesting a Razortail drop though.



Last cool drop is a unique Amulet. There's no real use for it, but it's always nice to get Unique jewellery. Manifesting Atma/Cat Eye/Highlords!



Very fun character so far!

This post was edited by Ducko on Jun 12 2025 11:25am

I never intended to play this character so fast, but there's no burnout so far. Merc + Valk are sweeping everything quickly and easily, whilst I go pewpew with Strafe safely from a distance. My damage isn't the greatest, but it is still something when there's big mobs because of pierce. Helps that item progression is there! Hell PI will likely be the main obstacle. We'll see.

I have completed Act 3 without any significant gear upgrades. I did find my first Unique Ring, it was a fucking low 16% Nagel, a mere 1% upgrade from my magical ring...



In my final session whereby I did Trav to Meph, I though it was going to be something special. 2 unique exceptional clubs dropped from random chests side by side, before an Aldur Jagged Star dropped a minute after.



Alas, I was optimistic for nothing. Meph dropped a Frostburn which I don't need. Wished it was Chancies...



There are 2 things I'm looking to do soon. I am currently Clvl 64. When I hit Clvl 66, I will power shop for Jeweller's Armour and put 4 PTopaz.

The next thing is when I reach Clvl 69. I will start to craft Hit Power & Blood Gloves. Additional mod I'm looking for are mainly 20IAS, but I welcome MF or +2 Passive too. Hit Power will be the main glove, while Blood will be for bosses or if I get KB from other sources.

Praying for good NM Forge. Let's go!

Quick update to share some loot as I finished up to City of the Damned.

First up is Cleglaw! As I don't have BiS gear using Harmony, a 15IAS jewel may suffice, and maybe I could use this over a 20IAS crafted glove. Will need to look up the IAS calculator later on to decide.



Second is my first mid rune! Unfortunately, I don't think there's any runewords I can use with it.



Lastly, I MANIFESTED a Goldwrap! Upgraded it and will use it till Razortail drops.



River of Flame is next!

Oh fuck off