Jab Throw Tank Zon Euhcl Journey - Topic

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Jul 1 2025 10:05am

Unique Yari / Lvl 50 closing in

So it's been a bit crazy, zon taking some hard hits through act 2 nightmare, 550 hit points, taking like 80-150 damage .. quite hairy. Some of the packs can be dangerous, might, extra strong, i had to be careful. I was on the verge of deciding to not do duriel, and do inner cloister/bone ash runs to build exp. But the decided to press on and just get it done. Was a long haul through act 2 for the zon. But i'm glad i did! Got hone sundan, 175% ed, which is a major upgrade. Again, diverting from the original idea, but i am building it, so going 2-h is okay for now. Dealing great damage, leeching good, no shield, but have no good shield as of now, and no good runes to make a good shield.

So i did like 100 inner cloister/bone ash runs, and got from level 41-47, which helped a bit with hit points. 650 now, makes it more confident to go through act 3.

I am actually skilling inner sight. Hit rating is about 55-65%, increasing levels helped. Yet i do know the inner sight helps. Average monster defense in act 3 nightmare is like 700-1000, cutting that by 300, that's 30-40%, so i should be in the 75-80% hit chance range when i use inner sight. It is a bit of a hassle using it, i do have some faster cast rate on rings, and i try to use it when i hit as many monsters as possible without it being dangerous with the slow cast time. I.e. if valkyrie and merc engages them.

Merc still hits hard as hell, just kills anything he touches, lol, the scarab demons in act 2 it was a great help, that ethereal partizan was a huge improvement. And will probably even do well in early hell mode.

Barb is now leveling, going much easier, more hit points, like 1000 soon, and bonesnap+berserk just bashing everything in 1-3 hits. Very rarely do i go below 600 hit points. BO is about level 7, not very high, but trying to skill it from time to time.

One small issue is using hawkmail or goldskin, the first has nofreeze, the second has 35% all res and higher defense. I tend to use hawkmail myself, but really missing the 35% all res, so i use the other on zon, necessary for survival, so the slow jab when chilled is just something to calculate in combat. Barb has natural resist so that offsets it a bit, he actually has maxed elemental resists in nightmare ..... zon has about 40-50% with goldskin. Taking it off, lightning damage becomes a problem.

Quote (izParagonzi @ 28 Jun 2025 10:50)

I did read post 19... and i've tried howling a bit, and only doing boss monsters. It's fun. But one big problem: Howl doesn't work all the time! It simply does not hit the monsters! Sometimes it does - sometimes it just don't. I have no idea why. I'm 99% sure it's not lag, since i can hit the monsters next to me, and i can hit, chase, hit, and try howl, it still won't work. Yet on other similar mobs, like dark ones, now it suddenly works. But i do get it, i get just doing the boss monster packs. It's kind of fun, and neat, not wasting time on lesser monsters, i like that. You still get good exp, and increases chances to find good stuff.

I may do a reskill quest and optimalize the build. I would like to keep some throwing weapons on switch on the barb. But just can't find anything real good to compare with the bonesnap. It's better taking time, kiting and being careful if necessary, sneak in a berserk attack, than throwing 20 low damage throwing weapons and wasting my time.

Quote (Lazybumi @ 28 Jun 2025 17:02)

Nice progress :thumbsup:

Rock on ^^

izParagonzi

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#22

Jul 1 2025 03:08pm

Quote (Taurean @ 2 Jul 2025 04:05))

did read post 19... and i've tried howling a bit, and only doing boss monsters. It's fun. But one big problem: Howl doesn't work all the time! It simply does not hit the monsters! Sometimes it does - sometimes it just don't. I have no idea why. I'm 99% sure it's not lag, since i can hit the monsters next to me, and i can hit, chase, hit, and try howl, it still won't work. Yet on other similar mobs, like dark ones, now it suddenly works. But i do get it, i get just doing the boss monster packs. It's kind of fun, and neat, not wasting time on lesser monsters, i like that. You still get good exp, and increases chances to find good stuff.

I may do a reskill quest and optimalize the build. I would like to keep some throwing weapons on switch on the barb. But just can't find anything real good to compare with the bonesnap. It's better taking time, kiting and being careful if necessary, sneak in a berserk attack, than throwing 20 low damage throwing weapons and wasting my time.

Rock on ^^[/CENTER]

Howl. Radius could be issue, secondly, if you howled a monster, and it is close to you, it will attack (they become more aggressive and won't run away, this could be two of the reasons, also, there are Chaos Knights that will NOT be effected by howl, they are the Caster Knights and are not champion+, these are also found in other areas as well, like WSK. Those are just from my memory.

Remember you can still use 1 base Concentration skill while you are using Bonesnap, this gives you Leech and a bit of defense... note, I am not sure, but do you not also have 1 base leap skill? use that to get in closer to the runaways and knock em back (as long as they are in radius). Increased speed is later on in the build for running.

Not sure what mastery (weapon) you selected... forgot what Bonesnap is, and I don't think there are Throwing weapons of the same time (I can not recollect) ... So as an alternative new Barb build (idea only), Grief BA & Beast (Main) and 2x Lacerators on switch... this way you get the Axe Mastery... not sure if there is a throwing mastery, been awhile. I will leave it up to you to check it out, just remember to not radicalize it too bad... :rofl:

joking.

This post was edited by izParagonzi on Jul 1 2025 03:10pm

Taurean

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#23

Jul 3 2025 09:35pm

Act 3 done/Nightmare travincal runs

Act 3 nightmare is done, it was a friggin long stretch in the durance.... gruelling, in fact. The stygian dolls deal about 250-300 damage when exploding, i did have 1200 hit points on the barb, but still have to be careful, merc kills them fast so they die in fast succession. Had to search 90% of the damn second floor ... soo annoying ... but managed to stick it out.

AND managed to glitch zon through the stairs, thank frigg, after that 30 minute job, had i lost that, i would have freaked out.

Made 4 socket gothic plate with 4 x perfect topaz, 96% mf boost. And immortal king helmet with 1 ptopaz, lacking one more. Used both for switch on meph, 3 uniques, sadly non useable much. Bing sz wang as best drop xD

But managed to get to travincal runs, which i will do hundreds of now. Barb using the two magic find items, and find item skill. Reskilled the barb for berserk and find item, optimalized, and will upgrade the bonesnap as soon as i can. Already got some funny drops, first unique amulet, mahim oak, not optimal, but nice to have. Also some runes and rare rings.

Going to switch a few charms for goldfind charms, and pick gold. Getting 2500-3000 drops, too much to leave.

Zon on hold until i get barb to respectable level, 50 at the moment, will probably get to 60 or even more. Hoping for real good drops by then.............

Quote (izParagonzi @ 1 Jul 2025 23:08)

A lot of funny stuff there, but i got to say, monster level got to be lower than skill level of howl + character level. Nice to know.

And bonesneap is meace, yes ^^

Lazybumi

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#24

Jul 7 2025 04:45am

Gotta say act 3 is my least favorite act to have to go through
Glad you made it through and found a sweet spot to farm for long hours

Taurean

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#25

Jul 8 2025 06:11pm

Quote (Lazybumi @ 7 Jul 2025 12:45)
Gotta say act 3 is my least favorite act to have to go through
Glad you made it through and found a sweet spot to farm for long hours :D

Yeah lol. It's usually a very long stretch.

Yeah :) Moved on from travincal runs, finally. Barb did great. He is definitely the strongest player right now. The bonesnap is such a strong weapon. Berserk is a powerful skill. I could probably have used concentrate as mentioned by paragonzi. But one thing is so great with berserk ... the undead monsters take full damage. He swipes'em down with 2-3 hits. It's beautiful.

But! Zon has now FINALLY moved on from a3 travi, to a4 river of flame wp. She did the progression. Durance of hate was risky. 850 hit points. I decided to test one stygian doll explosion, took a whopping 400 damage or so, had 750, so two hits like that = ko ... idk if it was a 5% crit hit, but lol, i learned, don't do that again.

Tried so many things, switch weapons, tried coldsteel eye, 1-h + lidless wall for the high defense. It really does not work. Even with fend, it deals so little damage. 80-150, it's too little So, i went hone sundan + fend now. It is quite strong. Through act 4, some oblivion knights, they can hit a bit hard, could not tank 5 of them.

Also, some gloombats, lol, i have 75% elemental resists.......... yet, 4 of them did 4 consecutive hits and took about 400 hit points! I was a bit shocked (pun intended lol ^^)... did react and rejuv.

Jab + hone sundan is very strong... mephisto went relatively well. Crushing blow works good on bosses. Sadly, bad drops. Tried to tank a little bit, he hit me once and i took about 250 hit points. Decided not to. Valkyrie could tank quite well, level 11. But zon has quite low hit points ... D/a/e works okay, but you can take successive hits, and take a good chunk of damage. You have to play a bit easy with her.

I actually found BOTH riphook AND witchwild string from the council members!! So i decided for fun to try act 1 merc again. She hits very hard, lol! The occasional amp dmg increases damage a lot! But! I also found a 4 socket razor bow, AND KO RUNE! So i just decided to make harmony and use on a1 merc. Now we can run fast! I use boots with ~40% light+cold res, and 0% frw. So that helps a lot with the runeword.

I could probably do better as a bowa than a spearzon at the moment xD Even with a1 merc. But... i'm going spear as for now. We'll see how it plays out. I MAY change to bowa................ WWS is a very strong bow for this stage of the game ... strafe could be the winner. I have mana leech ring+amulet+circlet too so it can work.

So i am going quite well now. A bit concerned with chaos sanctuary. And a little bit conflicted if i should do quest bugged diablo runs, or eldricht+shenk. Opting for the latter. I decided to not do boss quest runs this ladder... just for variation.

I also have STILL not found a real good armor or shield piece. And that is stemming. If i find a Fal rune, i can make lionheart in a good 12% ed 3 sock mesh armor i found. Just hoping for a really good armor drop soon.

Taurean

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#26

Jul 8 2025 08:38pm

I actually decided. I'll make a bowa instead. Reskill, restat, start over. I really like the tank jab idea. But. I've been very unlucky with the armor+shield thing here, and weapon also. Those are the three pieces that must be good for it to have a chance. Yes, hone sundan does good damage. But, i take like 100-200 chunks of hit points, with 850 hit points. It's just too inhibiting to play that way. I've tried before .... and i had the same experience. It is so dangerous. You can get amp'd by a pack, then it's ko, just like that.

Maybe if i find really good armor pieces and a really good weapon, like titan's revenge or something, then i may switch back again.

Witchwild string is such a great bow, and now i have harmony too. And just about to do like 200 eldricht+shenkruns in nightmare. I need a proper build. So that is what i will go with for now. Fun is fun. Unfair is unfair. I'm not going to torture myself.

Lazybumi

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#27

Jul 9 2025 04:55am

Quote (Taurean @ Jul 9 2025 09:11am)

Yeah lol. It's usually a very long stretch.

Yeah :) Moved on from travincal runs, finally. Barb did great. He is definitely the strongest player right now. The bonesnap is such a strong weapon. Berserk is a powerful skill. I could probably have used concentrate as mentioned by paragonzi. But one thing is so great with berserk ... the undead monsters take full damage. He swipes'em down with 2-3 hits. It's beautiful.

But! Zon has now FINALLY moved on from a3 travi, to a4 river of flame wp. She did the progression. Durance of hate was risky. 850 hit points. I decided to test one stygian doll explosion, took a whopping 400 damage or so, had 750, so two hits like that = ko ... idk if it was a 5% crit hit, but lol, i learned, don't do that again.

Tried so many things, switch weapons, tried coldsteel eye, 1-h + lidless wall for the high defense. It really does not work. Even with fend, it deals so little damage. 80-150, it's too little So, i went hone sundan + fend now. It is quite strong. Through act 4, some oblivion knights, they can hit a bit hard, could not tank 5 of them.

Also, some gloombats, lol, i have 75% elemental resists.......... yet, 4 of them did 4 consecutive hits and took about 400 hit points! I was a bit shocked (pun intended lol ^^)... did react and rejuv.

Jab + hone sundan is very strong... mephisto went relatively well. Crushing blow works good on bosses. Sadly, bad drops. Tried to tank a little bit, he hit me once and i took about 250 hit points. Decided not to. Valkyrie could tank quite well, level 11. But zon has quite low hit points ... D/a/e works okay, but you can take successive hits, and take a good chunk of damage. You have to play a bit easy with her.

I actually found BOTH riphook AND witchwild string from the council members!! So i decided for fun to try act 1 merc again. She hits very hard, lol! The occasional amp dmg increases damage a lot! But! I also found a 4 socket razor bow, AND KO RUNE! So i just decided to make harmony and use on a1 merc. Now we can run fast! I use boots with ~40% light+cold res, and 0% frw. So that helps a lot with the runeword.

I could probably do better as a bowa than a spearzon at the moment xD Even with a1 merc. But... i'm going spear as for now. We'll see how it plays out. I MAY change to bowa................ WWS is a very strong bow for this stage of the game ... strafe could be the winner. I have mana leech ring+amulet+circlet too so it can work.

So i am going quite well now. A bit concerned with chaos sanctuary. And a little bit conflicted if i should do quest bugged diablo runs, or eldricht+shenk. Opting for the latter. I decided to not do boss quest runs this ladder... just for variation.

I also have STILL not found a real good armor or shield piece. And that is stemming. If i find a Fal rune, i can make lionheart in a good 12% ed 3 sock mesh armor i found. Just hoping for a really good armor drop soon.

Yeah for the zon, chaos would be a good place to farm
For the barb, trav would be great for that horking

Taurean

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#28

Jul 9 2025 06:13pm

Too crazy not to mention ^^ I spend 1-2 hours muling, spending respec quest, optmializing bowa........... I set out arreat plateau in act 5.... 2 minutes into it, what happens? A goddamn titan's revenge drops............. what are the chances of that xD I've waited the whole season for a good 1-h spear .. it's been inhibiting... I change setup. THEN it drops.

Crazy crazy. So now i'm doing bowa. It goes well. I could probably respec back to 1-h jab tank and do perhaps even better.. i even made lionheart in a good mesh armor. But. I think i'll stick to bowa for now. It goes smooth, 5 levels in 2 hours.

Maybe i'll change at a later time. But i know from experience, hell is a different beast. If i can find or make a great (not good, great) shield, then it can be an option.

How the ways of the world works. I've been down and out irl. But in the game, luck strikes. Weird.

izParagonzi

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#29

Jul 11 2025 01:40pm

Read all... grats.

I would have switched to Bowazon myself finding Witchwild Bow so soon, dang, that is the Bow I used in my solo Bowazon thread and killed Uber D and got me an Anni and also completed Hell Difficulty in D2LoD vs 1.13(?) Oh, you got stung by Murphy, all I have to say is kill NM Baal and run NM Cows hunting Small charms to re-roll for better chance to get 3/20/20s and maybe other great rolls.

Oh, as for Berserk barb ... Council / River + Chaos seal bosses are easy to deal with and MF'ing. Also, there is an old trick I used for Chaos in the day while Seal popping... herd the monsters to the last seal boss to the center(centre) and kill last seal boss ... boom, they all drop items that you can pick up because they died in the radius. This is one of the things that always happened in Chaos runs where members of the group were running around (late to the party) and they found the odd great item or rune. So I adopted it in the past and it worked.

Find those NM Cow small charms to re-roll ... only need like 10, and continue playing through the game. Nice reading your run.

Taurean

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#30

Jul 11 2025 09:22pm

Quote (izParagonzi @ 11 Jul 2025 21:40)
Read all... grats.

I would have switched to Bowazon myself finding Witchwild Bow so soon, dang, that is the Bow I used in my solo Bowazon thread and killed Uber D and got me an Anni and also completed Hell Difficulty in D2LoD vs 1.13(?) Oh, you got stung by Murphy, all I have to say is kill NM Baal and run NM Cows hunting Small charms to re-roll for better chance to get 3/20/20s and maybe other great rolls.

Oh, as for Berserk barb ... Council / River + Chaos seal bosses are easy to deal with and MF'ing. Also, there is an old trick I used for Chaos in the day while Seal popping... herd the monsters to the last seal boss to the center(centre) and kill last seal boss ... boom, they all drop items that you can pick up because they died in the radius. This is one of the things that always happened in Chaos runs where members of the group were running around (late to the party) and they found the odd great item or rune. So I adopted it in the past and it worked.

Find those NM Cow small charms to re-roll ... only need like 10, and continue playing through the game. Nice reading your run.

Thanks for the advice!!

I don't know if i will run cows, but it is good advicee. I do have some 3-4 small charms that i roll. Not hoping for anything special, just as long as they get more useful, i am happy. Even 2 dex/str is good, as a stat booster.

Thanks for advice on berserk barb. I may try that strategy a bit later when i'm even stronger. Just for fun ^^ Test it out. Thanks!!

Decided to start moving on to hell. At crystalline passage for now. If i can farm act 1 hell, even just den of evil, then that is an upgrade to act 5 frigid. They have more experience, and higher stuff can drop.

Bowa done about 150 travi+frigidruns, gotten 10 levels from 53-63, and a pretty big find is skullder's ire just from a random monster. I use vidala's boots+amulet on bowa, for the 50% magic find boost. Very happy with that find. Good reward for all the time put in. Lionheart does good, i use that for progress, use skullder's when i do runs and feel comfortable i can play safely with the reduced stats. Socketed it with a perfect ruby, was very conflicted, but it's hardcore .. safety must be a priority. Running with low hit points is very dangerous.

Barb runs after bowa now, i am 80% confident barb can handle act 1 hell, from earlier experiences. Both have 75% all resist in nightmare.

Bowa does a bit low damage, 150-280, but it is expected, using strafe, amp procs every now and then, and when it does, they just go down fast. I do reasonable okay progress, and that is what i expect, so i hope it continues like that.

Very excited about baal drops .. but i have to get there first ^^

Valkyrie level 20, barely taking any damage, even from 4 champion moon lords frenzied. Quite impressive. But i know she's going to get pummeled in hell. Have to take it slower then. A pack of quill rats with might+extra strong can be a quick KO ........ just have to use decoy and be careful. The hell witches in frozen river, amp'd the valkyrie and about 15 blood star, she took 70% damage in 3 seconds...... so they deal good damage.

Happy at the moment. But hard times await. Gonna do my best.

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