I’m new to LLD and need some help regarding what to socket in Swordback Hold on a bowazon.

Mine is upgraded (barbed shield - level 30 required) and I socketed it with a 24 max jewel. The level requirement increased to 32.

What jewel would be optimal? Alternatively, should I just use a non-upgraded swordback with a 24 max jewel?

Hello young noob, the answer to your quest is...

Use lv 25 or under jewel(s)

That's it, that'll be 500 fg btw jk

As swordback is used mainly against casters would it not then be better to use non-upgraded with a higher damage jewel?

Probably, I'm just answering his question regarding what to use so his upd swordback doesn't pass over the lv limitation, a regular swordback would do just fine with a 24 maxer for sure -but to each their own

That'll be 500 fg ..jk

This post was edited by danzeva on Mar 7 2024 11:16am

Yes and no.

yes, higher dmg jewel would be better if you're not using it vs a char u need defense for. (bowa, barb, charger).

but that said raw dmg on a 3 os shield will be better overall than OW. so you'd likely want like a +72 max artisans kite shield of deflecting OR equilibrium.

Artisans kite of deflecting or good rare 2 socket shield(never 1 socket)

Keep 2, one for dmg and one maybe eth eth for mana regen duels like zvz or something

I have an artisan’s kite shield of deflecting with 72 max. In what scenarios, if any, would you want the OW over this? VS ES maybe?

MAYBE es, but even then you likely still want more max to kill their mana and keep it down. OW also stops replife, but an ES sorc should have lower replife anyways and no access to insight.

One thing i didn't see mentioned yet is that applying OW with a ranged attack is only half the dmg of OW from melee hit.

Up'd swordback is pretty specific in being pretty good for bvb. works best with 4 fpa ww

on bowa, my advice is 20 ed 9 dex jewels in a Artisans kite of Deflecting for the most bang for what you spend. 72 max is ok, but with throw/lfury, there is 0% inherent ED%, which means 60% ed from your shield (and ideally your circ and squid plate) adds a TON of damage. and the 27 dex is = to +81 life.

This post was edited by Pants1 on Mar 8 2024 06:17am

OW is 100% trash at level 30