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#1
Jan 3 2026 05:46pm
Hey everyone :)
I will do my first bowazon playthrough. All PVM, no special rules, softcore ladder

I have a couple of questions that could really help me, especially regarding skills

Skills?
What are the usual skills to put in skills to early to rush through the early game and respec later?
Also about later, strafe or multishot?

Equipment?
I have a faith gmb, are 2/20 gloves better or lay on hands? Catseye or highlords? And what is a good option if I do not have money for 40/15 jewels for my helmet, I have a 3os diadem and all the runes, or what would you propose I should use?
Armor, is hustle very bad? Should it always be Forti or what other options would there be?

Merc?
Merc I guess Emilio, do I need reapers toll or can I just have a bonebreak charm? Insight necessary or will I not have mana problems with a dual leech ring at high lvl?


Finally
It would be amazing if someone could give some suggestions or link posts of people who already broke this stuff down. Since I am not experienced with bowazon at all, it would be amazing to know what combination of skills and equipment would be great.
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#2
Jan 3 2026 09:07pm
I did a P8 full clear untwinked single pass run.

https://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=106220519&f=161

What I learnt is that Freezing Arrow (with multiple sources of +cold damage) is very good for crown control. More damage from might is better than some CC from holy freeze. And also please get some LR because gloams gave me PTSD. Max valk can pretty much solo norm to NM too, absurdly strong.

You're twinked so I suppose gear isn't much an issue. My only encouragement is that if I could do it with such suboptimal gear, you should have no issues with much better gear!

This post was edited by Ducko on Jan 3 2026 09:09pm
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#3
Jan 3 2026 09:59pm
Quote (Ducko @ 4 Jan 2026 16:07)
I did a P8 full clear untwinked single pass run.

https://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=106220519&f=161

What I learnt is that Freezing Arrow (with multiple sources of +cold damage) is very good for crown control. More damage from might is better than some CC from holy freeze. And also please get some LR because gloams gave me PTSD. Max valk can pretty much solo norm to NM too, absurdly strong.

You're twinked so I suppose gear isn't much an issue. My only encouragement is that if I could do it with such suboptimal gear, you should have no issues with much better gear!


I looked through your whole tread you linked, and yes I posted information for you and you played it through thoroughly and great.

Did you find out how to use WSK2 wp to Detect Souls? ... strategy is to ALWAYS retreat to the back wall first before rushing forward over the bridge... you are fucked if souls are there, however, if everyone retreated, it does NOT instigate their first attack... thus you use a Decoy on the bridge to lure out the monster types in that area and then strafe or use Valk and your Merc doesn't run into the fray.

Now, when going into Throne room ... you always use a high lightning defense amulet, like Mara of crafted etc because of souls... also Dolls are a bitch if your merc kills one off next to you etc, then safely remove souls IF you can (this is solo play, not group)... IF YOU are unsure that you can kill them, make next game.

It is strategy to survive, not die pointlessly each time (unless you are after your bodies for gear... just don't equip new gear after your first death, other wise you will LOSE gear.)

Rerun certain areas is you don't have Razortail or Witchwild bow ... NM Cows... re-roll the small charms from Pgems and hope for the best... LoH will come in time... maybe even in Nightmare etc.

Anyway, this is what I did in my run, sorry the clips are out of date:

https://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=68926021&f=161

My final gear Hell completed on HC:

Quote (izParagonzi @ 31 Oct 2013 12:10)
Thanks...



Whole Act posts are easy, considering I am only doing areas once... and my flame was directed at the Man... guess that did not go down well... :)
________________________


Anyway... I have my game on hold before I take finish up Chaos Sanc and Diablo... so I thought I would post the gear I am using.


Equipment:
Natalyas Helm
Twitchroe Armor (not upped)
Razortail Belt
Witchwild Bow (upped with 2x Shael runes)
Cleglaws Gloves
8% LL ring with 25% fire res and minor crap mods
6% ML Manald ring
Mahim Oak Curio Amulet
Rare boots with 32% Lightning and 32% Fire resistences (no FRW and crap other mods)

Inventory:
4x Large charms with 6 max dmg / upto 43 AR
1x Grand charm with 9-24 cold damage (1 sec duration [normal])
10 Small charms dealing cold damage from 1-2 to 5-9
07 Small charms dealing fire damage from 1-3 to 7-15
01 Small charm with 15 max life ( +12 life with one of the fire dmg SCs)
Tome of ID
Tome of TPs
Cube

Merc Gear: = Act2 Offensive = Might Aura
Eth Wormskull Helm (5% LL)
Insight Poleaxe (non eth) & slevel 15 Aura
Shaftstop Armor (non eth, not upped)
_____________________

Skills:
20 Strafe
20 Cold Arrow
20 Valk
15 Freezing Arrow
09 Pierce
01 Pre Requisites


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#4
Jan 4 2026 08:52am
Quote (izParagonzi @ Jan 4 2026 12:59pm)
I looked through your whole tread you linked, and yes I posted information for you and you played it through thoroughly and great.

Did you find out how to use WSK2 wp to Detect Souls? ... strategy is to ALWAYS retreat to the back wall first before rushing forward over the bridge... you are fucked if souls are there, however, if everyone retreated, it does NOT instigate their first attack... thus you use a Decoy on the bridge to lure out the monster types in that area and then strafe or use Valk and your Merc doesn't run into the fray.

Now, when going into Throne room ... you always use a high lightning defense amulet, like Mara of crafted etc because of souls... also Dolls are a bitch if your merc kills one off next to you etc, then safely remove souls IF you can (this is solo play, not group)... IF YOU are unsure that you can kill them, make next game.

It is strategy to survive, not die pointlessly each time (unless you are after your bodies for gear... just don't equip new gear after your first death, other wise you will LOSE gear.)

Rerun certain areas is you don't have Razortail or Witchwild bow ... NM Cows... re-roll the small charms from Pgems and hope for the best... LoH will come in time... maybe even in Nightmare etc.

Anyway, this is what I did in my run, sorry the clips are out of date:

https://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=68926021&f=161

My final gear Hell completed on HC:


Thanks. I definitely could have played it more safe, but at that point I didn't bother anymore hahaha. Your advices were helpful though!
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#5
Jan 4 2026 10:18am
When I played my hc bowa years ago I used kiras guardian. I was twinked of course so I don’t know if it’s practical for a walkthrough but it was cheap and useful.

I prefer cats eye over high lords

I think you will want forti for end game, since damage is so important it’s hard to suggest anything else it’s like night and day when you finally get one but I’m sure there’s some good temp options out there

And yes laying of hands for gloves and you could even swap ghoulhides for certain areas

For starting zons I like going exploding arrow and can usually play that until nm duriel

Multi shot won’t really be good until you have end game gear so you will have to strafe for a while

Won’t need insight, reapers is nice but you can also use magic arrow at high levels

This post was edited by SagittariusA on Jan 4 2026 10:24am
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#6
Jan 5 2026 10:28pm
Quote (izParagonzi @ Jan 4 2026 10:59am)
I looked through your whole tread you linked, and yes I posted information for you and you played it through thoroughly and great.

Did you find out how to use WSK2 wp to Detect Souls? ... strategy is to ALWAYS retreat to the back wall first before rushing forward over the bridge... you are fucked if souls are there, however, if everyone retreated, it does NOT instigate their first attack... thus you use a Decoy on the bridge to lure out the monster types in that area and then strafe or use Valk and your Merc doesn't run into the fray.

Now, when going into Throne room ... you always use a high lightning defense amulet, like Mara of crafted etc because of souls... also Dolls are a bitch if your merc kills one off next to you etc, then safely remove souls IF you can (this is solo play, not group)... IF YOU are unsure that you can kill them, make next game.

It is strategy to survive, not die pointlessly each time (unless you are after your bodies for gear... just don't equip new gear after your first death, other wise you will LOSE gear.)

Rerun certain areas is you don't have Razortail or Witchwild bow ... NM Cows... re-roll the small charms from Pgems and hope for the best... LoH will come in time... maybe even in Nightmare etc.

Anyway, this is what I did in my run, sorry the clips are out of date:

[URL]https://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=68926021&f=161[/URL]

My final gear Hell completed on HC:


About rerolling charms—let’s say I get a GC from Hell Baal or SC from nightmare throne . How many times should I reroll it? Once or keep reroll untill get what i want .
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#7
Jan 6 2026 02:56am
Quote (Wekimeki @ Jan 6 2026 11:28am)
About rerolling charms—let’s say I get a GC from Hell Baal or SC from nightmare throne . How many times should I reroll it? Once or keep reroll untill get what i want .


Reroll the same charm over and over until you get what you want.
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