i use FO/FW in hc classic
FO is really the only decent damage dealer in classic (where + skill items are not available or if they are , there not safe on hc)
but getting a perf 17 hit with FO in classic is luck based mainly (merc won't help to tank) but even andy/mefi hell are np

Bliyyard requires high lvl and is only more effective than FO vs melee only mobs (like mefi ..yes he does have the sphere but over-ranged by Blizzard)

so i have to agree , FO is atm > Blizz

Going to give this FO/hydra build a try, lets hope i can down Meph fast:p
Btw, did you went for max block? Or just enough in str, en rest vita?

a smart player does not try max block with a spirit shield.

orb or blizz depends on what you wanna do and how many skillpoints are avialable

however I still say that
cm lvl 27 is best because few monsters have more than 50% cold resistances (32 for mephi and 36 for clone) and thus

if one has cm lvl 27 with items, it is more viable to invest something in the synergy because the amstery will not make you deal more damage

This post was edited by Ancalagon on Aug 11 2008 07:09pm

your wasting points that only effect like 3 monsters in the entire game. If you want more, clvl24 offers -135% and this will take more than half of the non-cold immune critters in hell to -100% cold resistance. Anything more, from a PvM standpoint is a complete waste. UNLESS, you are building your sorc for the SOLE PURPOSE of running hell mephy. At that point you want to shoot for -175% in cold mastery, clvl32 and no more.

I made a ES/Orber just because of this guide.
Nothing like killing mephisto really quickly and taking next to nothing damage

should we look back at page 5

the argument I am trying to make is pretty much more of the following
either you have a maxed out mastery and wasted points because the - resi don´t apply
or you don`t have that level and are not at -100% resis with a whole lot of monsters

let`s see
so by going for lvl 27 mastery I ~ gain
35% more effective damage than you do with your orb/blizzard as said in the example
+ I synergize it for 38% more basedamage
overall more damage for the orb
and by the way.. the sorc has enough points to synergize the orb, have that levle of mastery and have a decent punch from a second element

so let`s see
I get all bosses down more quickly
I get normal monsters down more quickly
safety is the same for the both of us, should I continue?

monsters that have 40% coldres in hell:
dark one
devil kin
carver
fallen
hephaisto 45 %

monsters with 50% coldres in hell:
temple guard
doom ape
jungle hunter
dune beast
quill rats
spike fiend
thorn beast
razor spine
hell bovine
assailant
death mauler
death brawler
siege beast
black lancer
blunderbore
mauler
urdar
blood temptress
hell temptress
succubus
menace worm
venom lord
rancid defiler
fetid defiler
wretched defiler
minions of destruction
ghost
horadrim ancient
defiled warrior
barricades
talic
bloodraven
baal
diablo



monsters that have more than 50% coldress in hell
cantor 75% coldres
warped one (75%)
dark shape (80%)
apparition (75%)
wraith 60%
unraveller 66%
abyss knight 60%
bone archer 75%
undead flayer 75%
undead soul killer 75%
undead stygian doll 75%
fire tower 85%
evil demon hut 70%
mawdac (70%)
nille (70%)
radament 60%
summoner 75%
izual 75%
andy 66%
duriel 95%
uberdia 95%
meppel 75%

This post was edited by Ancalagon on Aug 14 2008 03:42am

Gear, stats and skills plz

Btw, so its possible to almost 2 shot mephi by letting the orb explode inside him?

hows the meter/orb built in 8 player games? im talking about mfing meph

This isn't common knowledge by now?
Orb is the ultimate PvM cold spell.
I knew this when I first started playing d2, it was a no brainer lmao.

Blizzard is far more effective for group damage though.. since its damage isn't watered down as it passes through the group like orb does.. rather it just drops 14k damage or w.e in a square shape right from above

This post was edited by XoDiaC on Aug 14 2008 06:30pm