I might do just that, I just need to see how my damage is later in the game. With insight, I can afford to take more damage to mana due to the high recovery rate.



Yes I know, the damage will be low if I go dual element. I'm not convinced it will be any faster if I go single element, as half the monsters will need to be killed by merc. I have never tried this build so we will see how it goes. Thanks!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm playing on and off all day. Doing some Countess runs for RALS. Here is the first one, behind merc leveling text.



And here are two more! Now I'm ready to make a bow.



And here it is. Merc is (almost) ready for some Andariel farming.



I still need some more TAL runes though. I want to put two in my shield and make a Stealth for Merc. So I will farm Countess a little bit more to see if I can get those. TALs for my shield are first priority.

The damage even with max block will be fairly significant especially if you find yourself near fanatascism / mana burn packs. Theyre super super rare but with that insight pumpin your mana back up like crazy youd still want that extra damage reduction to your mana. Better to spend 4 points and not need it then to go 16 deep and wish you put 4 more in.

Damage wise you wont lose much by taking 4 points away from meteor and slappin them into tk

Good point, in that case I might as well go pure cold and farm Ancient Tunnels in Hell.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My screenshots keep saving out of order. Anyone know why? Anyway, got a TAL rune for merc stealth and used gem shrines to up to a perfect emerald. Pemerald and ETH rune will go into a shield for poison resist against Andariel and mana regen.

Andariel time



Quest kill. LOL!



GULL dagger, definitely using as primary.

A few runs later, and LOL again! 20 fg for this, any takers?



Trash items, let's just move on for now.



Radament down. I static fielded him and took him down. Merc is defensive merc. I need an EL rune to make MALICE for him (ITH + EL + ETH). I have the rest plus the base.

Great progression an anchient tunnel farming is fast and easy for mfin for sure. Think of those 4 skill points more as 25% damage reduction because you do take 25% less damage to your es for those final 4 hard points

Switching to this vendor shield



The cube is mine



Got the EL rune for MALICE runeword

And here it is. No need for a 3xELD polearm, this will do just fine.



Staff. Maggot lair still annoying as hell, even with teleport.



And finally, got the energy shield! Only a few more levels until I respec. need to decide if I'm going to put 1 pt in everything and focus on maxing frozen orb first. Any thoughts?

Amulet was no problem. Those charging snakes are unblockable. If they ever get mana burn, I'm toast!



Fire Eye. No good drops.



Third try, also no good drops.



After I kill Duriel, should I progress through Act 3 or should I farm Andariel for a bit?

cubing up to p emerald for andy
I think you should rush through normal make spirit lore then farm nm andy nonstop
your aren't getting anything out of staying and farming normal