Playing a barbarian.
I've been using ee armour and stating some vit.
I've read approx 60% of damage is physical.

I'm trying to understand if I should be using heavy armour, or medium armour for some magic defence given my low int?

And if medium, I'm assuming scale is usually the preference for extra physical defence?

If heavy, not sure about chain vs plate? Assuming plate given the insignificant magic decrease?

Or do I just drop defence entirely and focus strength?

Forgot to mention, I mostly play solo.

This post was edited by Bradymuck on Jan 26 2024 03:40pm

I’m playing only solo as well. I do 1-25/30 with str armor, then i switch to heavy ee armor. Both chain and plate are working fine.

Check out bob’s guide
https://forums.d2jsp.org/topic.php?t=82660445&f=272

It depends on your weapons. Personally i run all magic find armor until 55 (which is a 200 ee chain) and i only need that for the 4 corner monsters (very difficult objective).

I also put all my stats in attack and i dont care how often i die as long as the monster dies eventually as well..

The main thjng is to make sure your damage is stronger than their heal…..otherwise you will need outside help no matter what kind of armor you wear.

Best TYPE of EE armor are scales. Then leathers, then the heavies, then padded robes, then regular robes. Which you may as well not even use EE robes in general, as stat armors are better overall. I personally only have a lvl 50 plate for ee armors, that i put on then just because. But if i had a 55 scale with ee id prolly wait around til lvl 60 to put it on and i normally go around 80 vita without sneaky. Rest into dex for me (daggers/axes). Each person is different however.

The first 3 classes Feeder (since you are using a Barbarian), Samurai and then Paladin can use all armor types. Then you are subject to Robes (Monk / Ninja / Warlock) and lastly Headhunter that can not use Heavy armor.

Point is, basically Scales are more versatile with high physical defense and some magical defense. Thus more expensive than plates or chains and more sort after.

Chain over Plate is my preference because of some of the physical and magic defense balance. But I also stat Base int to 30 because I also heal on my characters while melee.

Level 1 to 25 I actually use Stat with +Max Life on my items ... outside of the EE on my weapon(s).

At level 25, I use a 40 strength level 25 (Tier VIII) chain mail up to level 45 when I switch to a +47 Str Scale, all without Enhanced Effect.

At level 60 or 70, I would change to my ML Plate without Enhanced Effect... that is now gone to the Grave, so I will have to resort to my level 45 Plate with 38 Intelligence @ 65+

Everyone is different, and yes I only solo on Hardcore, it is better that you find what works for you, I stat vita to max 100 and int to 30 (if not using my Guardian)

Wish you the best of luck, also remember there have been some good changes to the game.

Thanks all, appreciate the input