Shits about to get real

Grats, you should enjoy this for sure. Are you using Cleglaws for KB? I think that would help a lot even if a low level set glove.

Nope. I crafted a 2 Passive KB MF glove which I have in stash. Currently using another crafted CB MF glove. Cleglaw in atma.

I found that I don't need KB yet. Only against hard mobs, then I will swap to it.

Nice, but you know CB is low dmg using missile weapons right? It doesn't work as effectively with Melee weapons. KB means you can herd monsters in a group and pierce is utilized better for more damage, also to proc Amp if you are using Atmas Scarab.

Check out other Procs from items worn on a Strafer, as for Multi shot, only the 2 centre (center) arrows from spread gain procs... Leech comes from all arrows. All arrows deal like 0.75% damage in comparison to Melee... maybe less, you may have to research this, this is why Strafe is great, because you deal max damage when you add like 10 points into it... or is it 5. I am sure you can check it all out... as for multi strike, they don't get +10 ED from adding more points, just more arrow spread.

Yes, but KB generally gets annoying because it affects my merc's ability to hit them. If I was the main damage dealer, then yea. I also know CB damage is reduced for ranged attacks. So I only switch to KB if I want to play super safe.

Right now, my style is mainly to let merc and valk gather a mob, freeze them with FA, try proc amp, and barrage them with arrows.

The real reason though is that my CB gloves has higher MF haha.

hey, no problem, I played D2 when Iron Maiden was a nromal curse in Act 4 and my act 2 merc diec instantly and I had to rely on MY BUILD, my bowazon... I killed, I did not rely on my merc, however, I learnt to use my Valk, which I could summon again after they died from Iron Maiden curse, and also use my Decoy to disperse monsters accorting to where I wanted them to go so I could strafe them, kill them and utilize my Pierce to deal the best damage AND proc more effectively ... and yup... I did NOT need a Merc if it died, that is because I had a Valk or a Decoy or I actually used a strategy to kill with my bowazon and NOT rely on them too often.

The game is too damn easy, if you haven't played Chaos runs in 1.09... you don't know how easy you have it, so, think for yourself if you don't have a merc, or just don't play with one at all.

Updates are going to be less frequent as I have just started a new job. Was in between jobs for the month of June, so had plenty of time to play. Sadly I probably can only squeeze sessions on the weekend haha.

In terms of progression though, there's nothing much to say at the moment. I've just reached Arcane Sanctuary. The journey wasn't easy though. I've spent so much gold reviving my merc. Probably close to 1.5 million gold haha. Claw Viper Temple was particularly difficult, as they were filled with Cold Immunes. There's pretty much no CC for them, plus the accompanying undead are such meat shields and cannot shatter (Skeletons were Cold Immune). I had to slowly wither them down, while keeping my stupid Merc alive because he is an alpha male that refuses to let my Valk do the tanking.

There was 2 champions which I could not kill. They were both Sand Maggots with "Stone Skin", making them Physical Immune. Even if I broke the immunity with Amp, I could not deal enough damage before it healed. I read that PMH or OW helps? Unfortunately I don't have sources of it readily available. I would have to keep Edge in stash (for PMH) or hope for Um (Duress)/Blackhorn Face. For now, I'll have to give up on them.

I have decided that it's time to start ditching MF bit by bit. I've got my cool bow, my damage is now relevant, it's time to play like a Strafezon rather than supporting my merc/valk while they deal damage. For a start, I have switched to Angelic set (dropped of 78% MF). My CTH is now 85-90% if I'm not wrong. I'll still monitor as I think Clvl affects it, so 2 rings may not be necessary later on. Boots, Helm, Armour and Belt are all also up for change if I find something worthwhile.

Lastly, I actually found another base for Harmony right soon after I made mine haha. Look at this beauty. Based on IAS calculators though, there's insignificant difference unless I have IAS from other gear to reach the BP. So it really depends if anything cool drops next.



This post was edited by Ducko on Jul 4 2025 11:12pm

Artemis vs Artemis

Definitely a good upgrade

Hey all. Really struggled to find time to do sessions. Finally an update after a month haha.

There's nothing much to say though. Last I stop, I was at Maggot's Lair. For the past month, I slowly progressed and finally finished Act 2. Overall no real challenge, but many irritating things. Firstly Claw Vipers are CI, which means I had a hard time protecting Merc. Then the Archers shoot hard at Palace Cellar, and merc/Valk AI is stupid. Tombs were also tedious. All the Greater Mummies mean I need to time my Frozen Arrow and shatter all the Skeletons/Preserved Deads. Things get worse if a Sarcophagus spawns. I just don't kill fast enough before it goes out of control (plus I want to focus on the Greater Mummies!). I have burnt loads of gold in the process...

Act 2 is always the act I hate the most. Monster are way too beefy. If PI spawns, it makes things worst as they regen so fast (most are Poison Immuned too, and I forgot to put Edge for PMH in stash). Greater Mummies mean the killing takes many times longer. Argh.

Duriel was a piece of cake though. Surprisingly, he didn't target my Merc. Always my Valk, who tanked like a boss (with many resummons of course). Shit drops as usual.



Notable drops during this month was just a cool Dwarf Star.



I did also find a +3Bow Matriachal Bow, so I might remake Harmony. See how.

This post was edited by Ducko on Aug 16 2025 07:06am