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#1
Jun 20 2024 01:01am


Ferdia's D2R MLD Bowa (Bowa / Jav) Guide



Table of Contents


1. Introduction to MLD

2. Introduction to Bowa's

3. Breakpoints

4. Items

5. Charms

6. Stash Items

7. Stats

8. Skills

9. GM Rules and Limitations

10. 1v1 PvP Strategy & Videos

11. Team Duels PvP Strategy & Videos
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#2
Jun 20 2024 06:55am


1. Introduction to MLD


Mid-Level Dueling (MLD) is the level 49 dueling bracket, with Wind Druids allowed to level up to 65 to use Enigma. This bracket emphasizes Faster Run Walk (FRW) and skill/damage limitations similar to those in Euro PvP (EP) in Diablo II: Lord of Destruction (D2LOD) and the Polish League (DCL) in Diablo II: Resurrected (D2R). In MLD, only Sorceresses and Wind Druids are permitted to teleport. The ruleset is designed to ensure that every class has at least one competitive build capable of winning a 1v1 tournament. Tournaments and duels typically take place on the Europe Realm.

2. Introduction to Bowa's

MLD Bowa's are one of the strongest builds that you can make at LvL 49. They compete very well vs most classes/builds and in D2 they only had 1 hard counter (High Charge Damage Paladins). Multiple MLD tournaments were won with Bowa's in D2LOD down through the years. It can be difficult (not impossible) to build a MLD Bowa on a budget but the build really shines when heavily invested ( in particular, a 400ed 2sox bow and 30ias 400ed Erep Stygians or Matri Javs )

For the purposes of PvP, there are two types of Bowa's - Dex Build and Vita Build. Dex build - More damage, Less Life ( Also described as a Glass-Cannon). Vita Build - More Life, Less Damage. I advocate both builds but recommend Dex Build to new players as it has a faster learning curve. Once you get the hang of not dying, switching to Vita Build will be very comfortable.


3. Breakpoints

IAS: 105% IAS needed for Shadow Bow's and 145% IAS needed for Matri Bows. For this reason you can live with no IAS on a Shadow Bow but a Matri Bow MUST have 20ias base.
FRW: Aim 125 FRW
Life: Aim for 1200-2000 Life (Vita Setup)
Guided Arrow: Aim for 2500-3000 Guided arrow (GM Rules)
FHR: At MLD you can do without any FHR but vs Druid in particular I recommend 20 FHR.


This post was edited by ferdia on Jun 20 2024 06:59am
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#3
Jun 20 2024 07:40am


4. Items

What Bow to use?

When it comes to Bows, you have multiple choices. i.e. Shadow Bow, Spider Bow, Matri Bow & Blade Bow. Shadow and Spider fire at 8FPA with 105IAS and 125IAS respectively. Matri and Blade fire at 7FPA with 145IAS. You can also use either of the 7FPA bows as 8FPA bows and use funky jewels to get to the 8FPA max damage numbers. I recommend Shadow Bow as it has the highest Max Damage possibility.

What Armor to use?

When it comes to Armors, there are now two choices: (a) Jewelers Dusk Shroud of the Whale (4sox 100life) and (b) Hustle(65frw, 40ias, 10all res, 20FHR, +6 Evade, 50% slower stamina drain and 10 Dexterity). In order to use Hustle you need to somehow make up for the lost IAS. The best way to do that would be to find a Shadow Bow with 20IAS base. So something like 400ed 2sox 20ias would work. A brief comment on Hustle - With Hustle you do not need any FRW small charms, so you are getting a life boost at the expensive of damage. Hustle is pretty amazing all round.

Helmet

1. Rare 2PSM 30frw 2sox Circlet (x2 15ias/30ed Jewels)
2. 3PSM 30FRW 2sox Circlet (x2 15ias/30ed Jewels)
If you have IAS on your shadow bow you can ditch one of the IAS jewels for a 30ed 18max 9dex jewel. or even a 30ed 9str 9dex 9max jewel.

Armor

1. 4Soc Dusk of the Whale 100 life
2. Hustle

Weapon

1. Shadow Bow 400% Enhanced Damage with 2 open soc
2. Matri Bow 400% Enhanced Damage with 20ias and 2 open soc
3. Spider Bow 400% Enhanced Damage with 20ias and 2 open soc
4. Blade Bow 400% Enhanced Damage with 20ias and 2 open soc

Shield

1. Artisans Dragon Shield of Deflecting
2. Artisans Kite Shield of Deflecting
On a Dex build the shield type (Kite/Dragon) does not matter, but for a Vita Build you want a Dragon Shield for the higher Block Chance. x3 30ed 9str 9dex jewels in it. You will need a -req jewel to wear the Dragon shield as it has a higher Str Req.

Javs

1. Erep 30ias 400%ed+ Stygian Pilums
2. Erep 400%ed+ Matri Javs
3. Eth Titans

I do not recommend Hyperion's. If you have amazing Hyperion's, build a barb.

Amulet

1. Rare 2PSM 50-60life, 80-90mana + adds (Str/Dex/Res/Repl)
2. 3psm/100 Life Amulet

Gloves

1. 2PSM/20ias/9Str/15Dex Gloves + adds (Resistances)
2. 3PSM/20ias

Ring 1

Raven 20 Dex, any AR (We dont use Jab or Multi or AR for anything)

Ring 2

Rare dual stat 15str/15dex/90 mana ring + adds (Repl Life, Resistances)

Belt

1. String 15/15
2. Mavina Set Belt (20FRW)
3. Crafted 24fhr 70-80life +OW
4. Rare 24fhr 60 life 15str + Resistances

Boots

1. Sanders Boots - In D2LOD you wanted to Str-Bug your boots. As thats no longer a thing, Sanders are now the Best Boots to wear.
2. WaterWalks - In certain matchups you will not need as much FRW and can consider using Waterwalks (Vs Light Sorc / Pala).

Resistance Gear

Any lack of Resistances should be made up via charms until you have gear that gives you 75 all res. 3frw/11single res and 20life 11single res are worth using over having sub optimal resistance gear.


This post was edited by ferdia on Jun 20 2024 07:42am
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#4
Jun 20 2024 08:13am


5. Charms


Depending on your Gear (Javs, Armor, Boots) you want to add to your total FRW by using 3FRW small charms. These can be either 3frw/10ar/3max (remember we dont need Attack Rating) or 3frw/17mana or 3frw/11 single res) the rest of your small charms should be 3max/10ar/20life. Reminder you are not using Jab, Impale or Multishot, so no AR is needed.


6. Stash Items


1. Jewelers Dusk of the Whale with x4 15IAS 30 Cold res jewels. This should be replaced as soon as possible with Charms / Gear (as the loss of 120ed is huge)
2. Mavina Belt
3. Rare Belt 24fhr 60Life 15str + Resistances (Dual Resistances Ideally
4. Waterwalks
5. Craft OW Belt
6. a 2nd ERep Jav (in the scenario where you duel alot)


7. Stats

Dex or Vita?

Dex - Enough Str for gear, all other points to Dexterity (Dex Build). I recommend all players new to Bowa's to start as Dex (better learning curve)
Vita - Enough Str and Dex for gear, all other points to Vitality (Vita Build). I recommend going Vita in the long term.

Hell Rushed, all stat/skill quests completed.



8. GM Rules and Limitations


MLD Bowa's could use Nokozan / Infernostride / Dwarf Star and god knows what else in D2LOD. No more. With the changes to Synergies they get an automatic damage boost to Guided Arrow simply from 1 point pre-req of Multi-shot. As Bowa's are so strong, we allow only Max 1 Point Multi Shot and Max 1 Point Guided Arrow. We banned Strafe, Valk and Decoy and %DR (so no string of ears and no Vampire Gaze). TLDR: WE have had to Nerf Bowa quite significantly in D2R due to all of the changes in the game (bigger screen size, more synergy damage, FHR changes etc).


9. Skills


There are several ways to use your skill points:

1. Pub Duels - Max Multi, Max Guided, 1 Point Fury, 65% Crit, 1 point Dodges
2. GM MLD Duels - 1 Point Multi, 15 Points Guided, 1 Point Fury, 65% Crit, rest in Dodge/Avoid & Evade
3. Old D2LOD: 1 Point Multi, Max Guided, 1 Point Valk, 65% Crit, rest in Dodge/Avoide Evade (optional use of Jab)

The skill placement is heavily dependent on the items you use. Rares are challenged by magic items on a Bowa as: Gloves, Circ and Amulet can get + 3PSM each (to a total of +9 all PSM skills), whereas rares will only grant +1 or +2 PSM each. (to a total of +5~6 PSM).
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#5
Jun 20 2024 12:47pm
why no hyperions? thats all i got :/

Nice guide, good to know my build is viable^^

This post was edited by maGeneSs on Jun 20 2024 12:48pm
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#6
Jun 20 2024 01:11pm
Quote (maGeneSs @ Jun 20 2024 07:47pm)
why no hyperions? thats all i got :/

Nice guide, good to know my build is viable^^


Hyperions are typically for jab duels. At MLD you never want to risk trading damage, therefore you dont use Jab (and Impale is banned). Therefore having stygians that do 600+ throw damage is preferable over Hyperions. Matri's are the Go-To for most MLD Zons as you dont need any IAS on them (faster then Stygians).

This post was edited by ferdia on Jun 20 2024 01:11pm
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#7
Jun 20 2024 01:17pm
Quote (ferdia @ Jun 20 2024 09:11pm)
Hyperions are typically for jab duels. At MLD you never want to risk trading damage, therefore you dont use Jab (and Impale is banned). Therefore having stygians that do 600+ throw damage is preferable over Hyperions. Matri's are the Go-To for most MLD Zons as you dont need any IAS on them (faster then Stygians).


well guess i gotta go shopping...

got some nice fools stygians, but as i just learned that i dont need ar these will be even more useless
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#8
Jun 20 2024 01:23pm
Quote (maGeneSs @ Jun 20 2024 08:17pm)
well guess i gotta go shopping...

got some nice fools stygians, but as i just learned that i dont need ar these will be even more useless


Hyperions are amazing on barbarians at MLD by the way.
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#9
Jun 20 2024 01:24pm
Quote (ferdia @ Jun 20 2024 09:23pm)
Hyperions are amazing on barbarians at MLD by the way.


looking forward to that guide ;)
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#10
Jun 20 2024 01:36pm
Quote (maGeneSs @ Jun 20 2024 08:24pm)
looking forward to that guide ;)


ill do the draft for that next. I need to record alot of 1v1 duels before i can do a finnished version of any of these guides.

This post was edited by ferdia on Jun 20 2024 01:36pm
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