Thanks for the responses.
I have read GuiGeek's guide a few times. It's a good guide, but there are a few key areas where this build differs.
1.) His build outputs lower DPS (damage per second), because he does not hit the 60 IAS breakpoint due to using Silks and only puts one point into pierce.
DPS = FA Damage x Firing Rate x Splash Multiplier due to Pierce.
His FA damage is about 4% or so higher due to +Skills from Silks. Because his firing rate and pierce are substantially lower, his DPS is much lower in large mobs and someone lower against bosses.
2.) His pierce is low, as above.
3.) He recommends dedicated points to energy. That recommendation along with the higher str requirement of Silks equates to 400 - 500 fewer hit points.
4.) Silks has a few drawbacks. Not being able to hit the IAS breakpoint is the biggest issue, although this does decrease mana consumption rate. The higher strength leads to required 50 extra str points and 10 extra dex points versus twitch. Finally, Silks is in a heavier armor class than twitch and thus slows the char run speed by 5%.
Vitality points = 3 health points; Energy points = 1.5 mana points (which equates to 2.25 mana points with 2 x SOJs)
Prioritizing Vitality points over Energy points leads to a much higher overall total, if that is a metric you take into consideration. With +mana from boots / goves / amulet, this build hits around 500 mana points without any additional points in energy.
5.) His build does not max valk and puts too many points in Immolation. Having a tank valk with points in Dodge is OP. The low marginal benefits to extra points in Immolation scale linearly. A lvl 25 valk tanks diablo and can kill on its own. His guide refers to being vulnerable to death by Diablo. My build with 1600 life, max valk, higher DPS, reasonable FR/LR never dies.
No mention of Eye of Ettlich in either guide, is weird.
There is never enough mana leech for this build to be sustainable, unlike when you have a +skill gothic So really number of trips back to Akara per cow-level, would be relevant information, but then again you are selling armors, so it all works out.
1.) Eye of Etlich is helpful at early levels, but since it is only a +1 ammy without resists, it is not helpful in the end game since the extra damage from +2 ammy makes a significant difference. The cold damage from the ammy does not help the build. I don't believe it affects the freeze time of mobs, which is already fairly long due to -35 enemy cold resists.
What is the reason that you would recommend using the Eye of Etlich?
2.) I agree that mana leech does not work for a Wizendraw Zon and that is the biggest drawback of this build and a really great benefit of using a P Skull'd gothic bow. The mana regeneration rate at 500 mana is helpful, but this build does rely on picking up mana pots and juvs. You can make it through cows and CS without having to return to town in over 90% of runs due to the efficient kill rate leading to lots of mana potions. But as you mentioned, you can always grab pots if you are selling 35k items.
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