So i am contemplating which build to go with the next season in a month and i need help deciding. All options amazon. Hardcore.

I really don't want to be switching weapon slots, but providing some options.

1) Normal attack, critical strike, jab, 1-h spear+shield. Maybe thinking about this: Keeping a 2-h spear or melee weapon in switch slot, and using impale (spear only though) on that, for bosses and boss monsters. I've done an impale zon before and it's kind of fun. Although turn off sound, lol, listening to that YYYAH! sound gets real tiring after a while xD Boss fights become quite interesting, you can run and dodge, sneak in, get in an impale strike, and this way, you can actually deal decent damage while playing relatively safe. I remember taking big chunks of hit points off mephisto this way, lol, it was a thrill, i knew he could at least take 90% hit points with the multi-charged strike, lightning or frozen orb attacks. Also, using 2-h spears, you get 4 range, meaning bosses will usually target your merc instead of you.

1-h + shield normal attack for regular monsters, kind of satisfying, that "tchk tchk" sound, and one cool element is that even 1-h spears have 2 range, meaning instead of daggers which i was contemplating to use, that has 0 range, you don't have to be right up close in order to attack. This saves a bit of time when dealing with groups of monsters and kiting bosses.

2) Poison+plague javelin + impale on switch. Or previous method, with poison javelin+shield. I like the poison javelin. It deals really good damage for ladder start. Yet it can get a little bit monotonous, and one drawback is that sometimes, it can be a bit hard to use. The javelin can hit a strafing monster and the poison cloud stops. Sometimes, it also glitches, the poison cloud doesn't affect enemies. Not many monsters are immune or even resistant to poison, and when getting both in higher levels, they deal good damage. Yet, using a 2-h spear on switch with impale, you can still assist your merc and sneak in a big hit with physical damage. The obvious big wall is lister pack, which all have 95% poison resist in all difficulties. With bosses, you can use poison AND impale. Which i've never tried before. Yet, losing the shield and obvious resistance bonuses, is a big loss. Big difference between 50% all res and 10% all res.

3) Magic arrow + elemental arrow bowa. I know i wrote to someone earlier that elemental arrows cost a bit of mana early on, and they do. And i really hate potting all the time. Yet, at least, with level 13 magic arrow, they cost 0 mana, and deal some extra damage, helping the bowa deal more damage.. along with critical strike. And against bosses, elemental damage helps out. Andy has -50% fire resist in all acts, so focusing on exploiting that could be a thing. Immolation arrow deal damn high damage and is a good crowd dealer. I have started with bowa quite a few times, and am not really motivated to use that. But putting an extra spin on it with some skills one doesn't always use, could perhaps get the old passion back. I know i lose out on multishot or strafe, which is a huge loss, but this is about having fun and trying to make some underdog build work. Just use them sparingly to not make mana consumption too demotivating.

More to come in next post

4) Was also considering just using critical strike, and just playing through. Then use whatever unique weapon i may find, and keep using that along with critical strike. Even if it is a 1-h weapon, and shield, just tolerating the slow block speed. Could be a fun challenge.

5) Tank zon with a1 merc. Just focusing on pushing defense as high as absolutely possible ... switching armor pieces as one finds them... using strength, and vitality, and dex as needed. Obviously critical strike melee zon, to shield the a1 merc. And of course skilling dodge/avoid and evade to increase survivability as much as possible. Now this is kind of a fun thought. Barbarian has +4 hp for each point of vitality, zon has 3, but with the extra dodge%, that's kind of like pushing hit points higher. So a zon can be tanky and a tough melee fighter. I actually feel kind of the most for trying this, this season. I've always had fun contemplating using a maul with a zon, lol ^^ bonesnap with critical strike ^^ Maybe tank zon with 1 point in jab, use spear, can also throw it if needed, yet focusing on, and not being scared of, going melee. Even facing down archer packs, letting a1 merc shoot uinterrupted. A big problem with a1 merc, if being ranged or magical oneself, is that if one is chased, a1 merc also gets chased, and stop dealing damage. Being melee, you can sheld a1 merc and this helps damage output.

Hmm... this session of reflection has been enlightening. What do you all think though? Which option do you feel the most for? Or, any other ideas are greatly appreciated!!

directly to lightning fury, remaining points in charged strike
this would be my skilltree with lvl30



lvl31 - 99
max out lightning fury and free skillquest points into charged strike - when max reached, other synergies

if u like to have valkyrie, u can take her exactly with lvl30 but charged strike on lvl1 or skill it later whenever u need


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act1 till have javelin: gamble throwing spears every couple lvls to get more dmg
get stealth in act2 norm
get ancients pledge act5 quest2
in act5 u should found ur first javelin - imbue/craft it
check anyas quest gift


on nightmare countress farm for sol rune to make lore
also another sol if u have a insight base and craft blood helm/armor for him
shop ias gloves, frw/res boots, res belt
gamble rings / skill amu

start farmin hell
if feeling weak, feel free to go back to nightmare and do some cs/baal runs or whatever

Good points there. I won't do lightning, i know it's powerful as heck, but it's boring. Like driving the highway - pleasurable, but not too exciting when doing it for the hundredth time ^^

But, that's some interesting tips there. Thank you for gambling throwing spears tips. Didn't think of that. Just wondered when they became available...

Safety crafting that can be interesting if i go for the tankzon route. Can't shop ias gloves? I guess you mean to say gamble .. yes, that's possible, and this season, i made a travi barb and only did travi+hork, so i got pots of gold, gambled, and while one may not get super good items all the time, you do surely get a bit of magic and rare items that can be helpful out in the field. So picking up wands, orbs and armors and selling'em, that can be a good idea. And at least TRY not to stack stash full of charms with barely any bonuses on them xD To keep more stuff for gold. It's a decent idea.

The crafting safety is a decent option. Maybe i will hunt countess more this season for runes. Maybe i've overlookd it a bit. Doing 20-30 runs each difficulty, it can be profitable. I've done some crafting before, and say, blood helm for merc, 5-10% crit, 1-3% leech, it's decent stats for early craft level. Though, ral+perfect ruby, must be at hellforge at least before getting it. I've done it before though. Helped a2 merc damage output.

Thanks for the tips!

this could be help too, for early merc

Dang that's funny xD Lol ^^ Thanks for that ^^ Though, i usually try to either get a 3 socket polearm, or a pike with damage modifier, hopefully finding an eth one .. makes a2 into a melee range punching tank ^^ But again, kind of opting to go a1 merc + tankzon this season .. but maybe :) I could also maybe use that weapon on my zon, lol. 2-h weapon tankzon .. cool as hell ^^ (now that's an ironic oxymoron isn't it xD)

it can be cool for ww barb, but not for zones...
u want a spear, not polearm

I've got an open mind ^^

:rofl: