Quote (jimmycongo @ Jun 25 2026 11:32am)

Yup, I have some nice gloves I could use. Fire damage is so nice though.

Quote (ahyp @ Jun 25 2026 08:45am)

FWIW I do think the explosive nature is proccing hex bane in an aoe. I think 66% pierce is nice as you can stagger some of the explosions. With mist or buriza it does do damage and Pierce’s right through to the next target but feels like the explosion does more. Using a demon machine, Really nice that some can hit and explode and others can pierce right through and explode further away. Also you get a socket for QOL

Quote (bradpityme @ Jun 25 2026 01:07pm)

This is what I feel as well after trying a bunch of combinations. Although I've just been using a demons limb to enchant, I gotta try the hoz set.

I personally also just put 1 point in demon, and pre-buff demon to roll an aura using skillers with a witch from 96tz p8, whose job is only the cast amp dmg and has a fanata aura. I don't think its strictly necessary I just think its fun to include. I've followed jimmy's blood boil guide last ladder 99% as well, using a 96tz p8 a5 lancer demon and had no issues.

Thanks to jimmy for prolonging my d2 fun with build guides!

Quote (ahyp @ 25 Jun 2026 15:50)

You know, it is also possible to remove a few points of synergy damage out of Hex Purge and add them until you get 20 soft points in bind demon. You can bind an urdar/lancer/whatever and get holy freeze/cursed or fana and use it as a meat shield. let merc go with conc and might or prayer. probably something to think about.
You lose about 500 hex bane damage on each arrow and downgrade to 1 defiler so bound soul max of 4 will be slightly slower, but i bet it gives much more QOL and lets your brain go fully afk and also helps your merc survive
https://i.imgur.com/6suVCu5.png

Quote (jimmycongo @ Jun 25 2026 05:56pm)

Only thing I'd do different there is put a point in each of the sigils in exchange for losing 3 more purge points. When facing a tough fight, sigil: death can really help speed it up.

Also, I did a Baal video where you can see it looks like CB doesn't proc at all.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6s5SeKOZ_k

Quote (SinsOfTheSun @ Jun 25 2026 07:55pm)

It does work.
But ranged attack = half effective
vs boss = half effective

so we're down to 1/16 dmg

and people still believe CB dmg scales with player count...
It does not.

So on p8, CB with ranged weapon only does 1/16/4.5= 1.39% current hp dmg
... if it hits
... further reduced by DR%
there's not much left

Quote (SinsOfTheSun @ Jun 25 2026 08:18pm)

Normal CB dmg performed by a melee attack against a non-boss non-super-unique mob is 1/4 current hp as dmg
vs boss its 1/8

ranged attacks is half that
1/8 vs regular mobs
1/16 vs boss

Crushing Blow damage to monsters is divided by 0.5 + (0.5 * # players)
/p8 means your CB dmg is divided by 4.5

That's where my 1.39% dmg comes from
Now if you have 10% CB?
This means your effective CB dmg is also 1/10th of that overall per attack
0.139%

And you can further calculate the real average dmg by dividing the total life of the target by half, to factor in the fact that is does dmg based on current life, not max life.
So say you fight a p8 diablo with 502,154 life
(502,154/2)*0.139% = 349 dmg per hit

divide that again by 2, cuz diablo has 50% block chance
and divide it probably by 2 again cuz you don't have much ar on a bowlock

Quote (ahyp @ Jun 26 2026 07:37am)

Based on what I've learned from ^Sinsofthesun on crushing blow:







I think this is the new build I'll be using.
https://maxroll.gg/d2/d2planner/locnxx0h

It's shredding everything, screen clearing everything, doing slightly less density clearing than javazon, and very respectable single target, all from a safe range with permaslowed monsters and never losing hp/life.
Only need a 15% gheeds in this build. If you wanted to squeeze more juice out, you could use a crafted caster ammy and have 125 teleframes on swap, or use a nice glove with dual leech/resists for QOL. Easy to swap around belt/rings/neck/gloves while you're gearing, too.
I will for sure play this next ladder unless they nerf it.

You don't even really need the inventory of skillers either. Can just use whatever resist/mf charms.
I am working on a pre-enigma budget build now for p1 chaos clearing.

Quote (N1ck0 @ Jun 26 2026 06:43am)

you running 3 defillers??

you dont really need max mirror blade, just put 1 point to have a total of 15 for the max shots, you can probably use the remaining points into blood oath for more tankiness

i dont really get don using bind demon at all xD

Quote (ahyp @ 26 Jun 2026 06:37)

Based on what I've learned from ^Sinsofthesun on crushing blow:







I think this is the new build I'll be using.
https://maxroll.gg/d2/d2planner/locnxx0h

No prebuff, could use a limb or horazons if you wanted to, but no need. It's shredding everything, screen clearing everything, doing slightly less density clearing than javazon, and very respectable single target, all from a safe range with permaslowed monsters and never losing hp/life.
Only need a 15% gheeds in this build. If you wanted to squeeze more juice out, you could use a crafted caster ammy and have 125 teleframes on swap, or use a nice glove with dual leech/resists for QOL. Easy to swap around belt/rings/neck/gloves while you're gearing, too.
I will for sure play this next ladder unless they nerf it.

You don't even really need the inventory of skillers either. Can just use whatever resist/mf charms. Or fill it with bolts and go completely braindead
I am working on a pre-enigma budget build now for p1 chaos clearing.