Draft Guide - Mld Liberator - Topic

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Jun 27 2024 07:00am

10. 1v1 PvP Strategy & Videos

Libby / Mage vs Windy

Facing a Wind Druid with a Libby/Mage (using a simple FoH Stick with no other investment) requires mastering several key fundamentals:

(a) Mana Management: Ensure you have enough Mana that you don't run out ( = dead ).
(b) 45% Damage Reduction (DR): Using anything less is not advisable.
(c) Hammer Fields: Lay down a hammer field, move to another location to set up a new field, and then ideally backtrack to the tail end of your first hammer field and repeat the process, with your old hammers protecting you.
(d) Survivability: Avoid staying in one spot for too long to prevent a blind spot stomp, where the Druid teleports below or to the bottom right of you, potentially killing you almost instantly.

Using FoH intermittently to snipe the Oak Sage can bait the Druid into a stomp, but its not mandatory.

ferdia

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#12

Jun 27 2024 07:24am

note to self change description to make it Libby / Mage.

ferdia

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#13

Jun 27 2024 07:38am

Pala vs Bowa

In this match you can largely ignore both Hammers, FoH and Smite. Just play it as a charger. Simple and effective. 45% DR at all times. Dont be too direct in your approach.

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#14

Jun 27 2024 10:12am

1. Introduction to MLD

Mid-Level Dueling (MLD) is the level 49 dueling bracket in the game Diablo II: Resurrected (D2R). The bracket features Time, Faster Run Walk (FRW), and Skill / Item limitations, ensuring that each class can compete and succeed in 1v1 and Team Duels. Sorceresses and Druids may teleport while Paladins charge around the map and everything else runs. This format is similar to Euro PvP (Early 2000's) and DCL (Polish HLD League in D2R).

The release of D2R presented an opportunity to address several issues that had existed in Diablo II: Lord of Destruction (D2LOD), including:

FRW limit adjustments due to the removal of desync.
Strengthened rules for Druids, who were the weakest MLD class in D2LOD - Windies may now level to 65.
Weakened Amazons, who were the strongest MLD class in D2LOD - Banned Decoy & Valk, Reduced Max Allowed Skill Points in Guided Arrow from 20 to 15.
Redesigned flawed builds, such as ESBlizz, which were too brittle in D2LOD - Reduced global Cold Resistance limits while re-orientated Cold Sorc skill distribution to Warmth.

D2R Patch 2.4 and 2.6 New Additions

The D2R patches also introduced significant changes:

(a) Necromancers and Assassins: Received a massive damage boost.
(b) Assassins: Recast delay on Dragon Flight and Shadow Master removed.
(c) Optimal FHR Breakpoint Limits reduced across across the board.
(d) Armor Runeword "Hustle" Revolutionized the bracket by granting 65% FRW, 40% IAS, and +6 Evade in a single item.

Time Limits

The Damage to Life ratio at MLD is such that it takes less hits to kill an opponent. i.e. 400% enhanced damage weapons and enough skill points to do serious damage, while only two classes have BO ( Druids and Barbarians ). This is optimal especially when noting the FHR changes. We have also adopted fixed time limits for duels and defined "Attackers" and "Defenders" which, in tandem with a fixed time limit of 3 minutes per round in 1v1 and 5 minutes per round in team duels, results in faster matches without protracted duels as seen in other brackets.

Current State of MLD

More than 30 MLD tournaments have been hosted in D2R, including a combination of 1v1 and team tournaments, with every class winning a tournament. We continue to make minor amendments to the rules, strengthening the weaker classes while weakening the stronger classes, addressing past imbalances, and incorporating new elements to maintain a competitive and enjoyable dueling environment.

2. Introduction to Paladins

Paladins at MLD in D2R are a far cry from those in D2LOD. What happened to them?

(a) In D2LOD Paladins had Desync - With practice, all Paladins could turn invisible in the blood more and win via the element of surprise. Desync is not in D2R.
(b) Screen Size increased - An increased screen size gives players/classes/builds a fraction of a second longer to react to Paladins.
(c) Class Changes in D2R - Necro, Assa, Bowa, Druid & Barb have all been given damage boosts in D2R. These classes were already not easy in D2LOD and now they are just harder.
(d) FHR Changes - Paladins need to catch opponents, with the FHR changes, you will not always catch and kill an opponent first time. You can be lucky once, doing it repeatedly requires skill.

As a consequence of all of the above Paladins are now considered the worst class at MLD to 1v1 with. Having said that, they remain strong in Team formats playing a support role which few other classes can mimic.

There are basically 3 types of MLD Paladin Build:

1. Liberator or "Libby" - Hammer/Charge
1.5 Mage - Hammer/Charge/FoH
2. Charger
3. Vindicator/Templar or "V/T" - Charge/Smite/FoH

This guide is for the Liberator Build

3. Introduction to Liberators

Liberators (or "Libbys") are Paladins that use Blessed Hammer and Charge. Like most level 49 builds, they do not require a significant investment to be competitive. Most of the gear is inexpensive, apart from jewels, which cost around 500fg each as of June 2024. The build also offers a smooth learning curve. Additionally, the change in the Faster Hit Recovery (FHR) mechanic in D2R allows opponents to be less affected by hits, making it easier for them to teleport away or continue attacking and out-damage the Paladin. The wider screen size also gives opponents more time to prepare against Paladins. In summary, Paladins have not benefited from the changes in D2R, unlike Necromancers, Assassins, Barbarians, and Amazons, who received damage boosts. Consequently, Paladins are considered the weakest class in the Mid-Level Dueling (MLD) bracket. Despite this, Paladins still deal a lot of damage, have two strong attack methods, and possess powerful auras, making them valuable in team duels. They are very fast and provide significant utility in both support and offensive roles during team engagements.

What to prioritise on your Libby

With spirit shield you dont really have resistance problems, therefore your main concern is your Mana Pool. Mana is the key component to success with a Liberator. Paladins do not naturally have a high mana pool, you have to invest into your Mana pool in order to make the build work. This means having a Mana pool north of 1000 Mana. Rare Circlet / Amulet, more then 10 small charms with 17mana each - these are some of the things you will need to actively explore. While you will gain a massive mana boost in team duels vs BO (allowing you to run 10 skillers, it is imperative that you have enough mana move freely in a 1v1 duel (even with meditation skill active you need a high mana pool)

ferdia

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#15

Jun 29 2024 07:36am

10. 1v1 PvP Strategy & Videos

Libby / Mage vs Nec

Dueling vs a Nec on any type of Paladin at MLD is brutal, quite often the duels are under 30 seconds, 1 single engagement, either he dies or you die. We are using Charge, not Blessed Hammer, to win this duel. Unless you are a GOD, Blessed Hammer will simply not connect. The matchup is heavily Nec favored, even with Bone Armor, Bone wall and Bone Prison banned in this specific 1v1 match-up. Load up on Charge damage, Peace Armor and just go for it. A sick rare weapon is optimal. In the scenario where you have the Necro low after connecting with a Charge, it is useful to have a FoH stick on swap and finnish the duel using FoH - going in a 2nd time with Charge is stretching your luck.

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#16

Jun 29 2024 10:37am

10. 1v1 PvP Strategy & Videos

Libby / Mage vs Barb

Mage vs Barb is Barb favored (almost everything is favored vs a Paladin ok) but thats not to say you cant have your moments. In the below video I used 75% FCR but a Suicide Branch (this would mean no FoH) to hit 125FCR is also viable and will Hammer hit the Barb far more often. In this match you want 45% DR at all times, charge around and try to figure out the length of your opponents whirlwinds and patterns to his game play for you to take advantage of. If the Barb is double throwing a lot you can try to charge him but its quite risky so use it sparingly.

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#17

Jun 30 2024 03:17am