I've always lamented the loss of Dario and wanted another classic barb to work on. With the loss of my laptop which contained all of my previous SP characters I have to start fresh, so now seems like the perfect time to go for it!

Gimli is a classic HC axe barbarian who will hope for a godly rare Ancient Axe.

Rules:
Classic
Hardcore
/players 8 at all times

Goals:
Kill the Balrog (Hell Diablo)
Find an A-tier Ancient Axe*

*A-tier Ancient Axe must meet these requirements:
-180%+ enhanced damage
-with any one of the following extra modifiers:
tri-dura
LL
ML
+Barb skills
**S-Tier would have two of the extra modifiers.

First set pretty quickly!

First unique is The Diggler


Early Angelic's?!

I think it was around level 24 I was able to make a Giant Axe appear in the gamble screen. I was planning to re-roll one with a whole (tiny classic) stash of chipped gems, but I got this awesome one on the very first roll...


The GFG axe look that is turning the fashion scene upside down and establishing a new dynasty.

Dario had to farm norm Andy before he was able to take on norm Duriel... Will Gimli be so shameful???


Seemed fine this time.

Used this for a while despite the low defense. Those inferno attacks from the act 3 shamans can melt!


Glacial Spike mercs always playing a key role for 2h melee players in this fight


Ormus' ring pretty much a godly ring for me at the moment

2nd chance at early Angelic's-


-And success! Although I doubt I will be using this until at least Hell act 1. I plan to use Sigon's gloves/helm/boots trio for the great LL, AR, and MF bonuses for all of NM, and with that great AR/lvl bonus from Sig helm, I won't need the Angelic's combo at all. Angelic's will be end-game though for Hell.


A more relevant amulette du jour

Always have to pay a visit to the golden beetles


Toorc took advantage of his low intelligence stat and charged at me solo

The rest were inside so I could bottleneck them at the doorway... easiest council ever!


To top it off, Geleb stayed sequestered at the very back until everything else was dead! You know it was an easy council when your classic merc survives.

Norm Meph downed


Before I entered this portal I wanted to give a shout out to Barani, who as a classic/naked mercenary made it all the way through his respective act on p8 without dying. Classic mercenaries can't travel between acts so this will be goodbye