Here's how to obliterate smiters with just 1 click, eyes closed.
The BM way of auto-winning on bowzon against at least 90% of matchups.
Strafe sucks if not built properly for pvp (very different compared to pvm).
The next hit delay of 4 frames simply makes most people aiming for max speed (2fpa) only hit 1 out of 3 arrows (an actual 6 fpa only)
If instead of aiming for max speed, you aim to completely avoid NHD you hit faster.
And you can avoid NHD if you hit at an alternative rate of 4+5 frames (an actual 4.5 fpa, 33% faster)
How?
This can only be achieved with a crossbow (bows hit at a constant frame rate).
Sure, with a bow you could try to reach 5 fpa, but this is effectively slower, harder to obtain and bows have less base dmg.
Using a Faith Colossus Crossbow, with lvl 15 fana, and not a single source of IAS, you reach this 4+5 frame rate, which is the fastest possible strafe speed against a single target.
Not only is this faster than a max speed strafe, Colussus Xbow is also 1.43x more base dmg than GMB.
1.43x more dmg per, 33% faster? Yeah we're looking at ultra high dps here.
And not requiring any IAS from gear is unlocking so many options (like pushing this dmg further, stacking DR or sorb/res, reaching high fcr, etc.)
Col Xbow requires 163 str... enigma covers most of it. This is ofc a tele build, it's pvp.
Cleglaw gloves for 25% slow and KB.
Arach for an extra 10% slow and fcr, or just SoE to face tank and win vs a smiter even at melee range with strafe.
With 163str already, you might as well use CoA and potentially reach 50% DR.
Vs casters you can just replace those items above with fcr/res gear, as long as you keep it at 0 ias.
You can get 99fcr. Or just have max sorb and stacked res.
Cast slow missile, hold strafe and auto-win against any caster, they melt and they can barely make your hp bar move.
Make sure you have lvl 32+ strafe (else you won't shoot 10 arrows against a single target) you normally get it from anni/torch/cta(5) faith(2) enigma(2) CoA(1) plus potentially extras from amy/arach/circ
Oh, and against 10% slow, your col xbow + fana lvl 15 + 0 ias is still keeping you at 5fpa (no NHD).
But if you know you'll play against 50% slow, you can still maintain it with 35ias.
Full gear list:
Col Xbow Faith
Cta + spirit (or BO barb lol, then whatever you like on swap)
Enigma
CoA Ber + Ber/jewel
Circ with fcr/frw/res/2os
Blackhorn's Face + Lo
Arach
SoE
Tgods
Cleglaw
Trang
Dracs (OW vs bone armor and ES, if lifetap procs you can't die)
Gores
Aldurs/hotspur
cold/light/psn res boots
Marrowwalk (fun BM with prison and lifetap)
2x ravens
2x dwarf
2x wisp
Nature's peace (oak)
ar/stats ring
max/ar/life charms (no need frw, you ain't gonna run away with that build, even smiters are gonna flee from you)
This is interesting. Have you actually tried this build against smiters before? Is enigma and tele a must or is sticking with Fort for the extra damage viable? I already have the Str needed for COA and SS so rocking a Colossus Xbow is no problem.
I currently run a COA with 2x 40/15 jewels, I could pick up a second COA with 2xber. If im not using engima I could stick with verdungos for 46% DR with Xbow out.
I would just be changing out my bow, helm, and amulet. Whats your recommendation for amulets? Atmas for the 20% AR bonus and 5% chance of amp dmg?
The level 32 requirement sucks, guess you really have to commit to the build, or swap multi for the strafe, which means your GA looses the multi synergy bonus.
Ever thought about doing this with an Ice Colossus Xbow
The runeword comes with 20 IAS, plus the 50% on my gear would be 70%, which would give me 7+(4)+11, which would be better than the 8+(5+4)+12 of the Faith C Xbow using 0% IAS. But that level 18 holy freeze aura + 50% slow would be brutal against a smiter, probably cause them to be hitting at close to 1/3 their normal speed.
D2:R