Key:
fhr= Faster Hit Recovery
fcr= Faster Cast Rate
rep= Replenish Life
frw= Faster Run Walk
PnB= Poison and Bone Skills
dmg= Damage
wsg= weapon switch glitch
The Gear:Low Budget gear for
86fhr/75fcr Setup
Weapon: 35%fcr Crystal Sword Spirit
Switch: Insight Runeword
Helm: Peasant Crown sockted with a Perfect Skull
Armor: Skin of the Vipermagi Perfect Skull.
Belt: String of ears (vs physical dmg chars) and 24fhr/40+life low str req belt.
Gloves: Magefists
Boots: Sanders, 30frw/10fhr/duel res (cold+lightning) or better boots
Ring #1: Soj
Ring #2: Soj
Amulet: +2PnB/10fcr Prefered other mods would be: Life/Mana/Rep/Resists.
Sheild: Ryhme with +3 Bone Spear or Bone Spirit or a combination of the two.
Inventory: 15Life small charms and 3%Frw small charms. Different amounts of frw are needed for different matchups which will be discussed later.
Supplement 5fhr small charms where needed to maintain the 86fhr breakpoint. Get as much mana and resists on these as you can afford.
Low Budget gear for
86fhr/125fcr Setup
Weapon: 35% FCR spirit sword
Switch: Insight Runeword
Helm: +2PnB/20-30frw/20%FCR Circlet. (I don't recommend using this setup untill u can get a circlet with at least 20frw)
Armor: Skin of the vipermagi with a Perfect Skull
Belt: 10fcr/17-24%fhr crafted belt. Life, Rep Life, Resist, and Poison Length Reduction and all preferred mods.
Gloves: Magefists
Boots: Sanders, 30frw/10fhr/duel res (cold+lightning) or better boots
Ring #1: Soj
Ring #2: Soj
Amulet: +2PnB/10FCR Life, Mana, Replife, Resists
Sheild: Ryme with +3Bone Spear or Bone Spirit or a combination fo the two.
Inventory: 15Life small charms and 3%Frw small charms. Different amounts of frw are needed for different match ups which will be discussed later.
Supplement 5fhr small charms where needed to maintain the 86fhr breakpoint.
High Budget gear for
86fhr/75fcr Setup
Weapon: +2PnB/20fcr/+3 Spear or Spirit Wand. These can be magic shoppable wands (try to get 2os if you go magic), but rares can also spawn with life/Mana/Res mods. If your really lucky it will spawn with mods such as Amp, Lower res, or a Golem which are tremendous in tvt.
Switch: +17 Meditation Insight Runeword
Helm: +2PnB/30%FRW/20fcr Circlet with a Perfect Skull
Armor: Skin of the vipermagi with a Perfect Skull
Belt: 24% FHR/50+Life/4-5Rep Life Rare Belt
Gloves: Blood Fists
Boots: Sanders, 30frw/10fhr/3-5dex/tri res (cold+lightning are the focus here).
Ring #1: Soj
Ring #2: Soj
Amulet: +2PnB/10FCR/40+life/rep life/mana/res
Weapon: +2PnB/20fcr/+3 Spear or Spirit Wand. These can be blue shoppable wands, but rares can also spawn with life/Mana/Res mods. If your really lucky it will spawn with mods such as Amp, Lower res, or a Golem which are tremendous in tvt.
Sheild: +2PnB/Deflecting/+3 Spear or spirit. Try to get the +3 Skill to match the wand. Prefered other mods would be: 3-5rep life, fhr, 2 Sockets, Res, Life, Mana.
Inventory: 15life/11-12mana small charms. Aim for 160 cold res (excluding anya) with switch charms. 3%Frw small charms with res you are lacking or 11-12mana.
Supplement 5fhr small charms where needed to maintain the 86fhr breakpoint.
High Budget gear for
86fhr/125fcr Setup
Weapon: 35% FCR spirit sword/112mana and 8 sorb are preferred here
Switch: +17 Meditation Insight Runeword
Helm: +2PnB/30%FRW/20fcr Circlet with a Perfect Skull.
Armor: Skin of the Vipermagi with a Perfect Skull.
Belt: 10%FCR 10-24% FHR Crafted belt/3-5rep
Gloves: Magefists
Boots: Sanders, 30frw/10fhr/3-5dex/tri res (cold+lightning are the focus here).
Ring #1: Soj
Ring #2: Soj
Amulet: +2PnB/10FCR/40+life/rep life/mana/res
Sheild: +2PnB/Deflecting/+3 Spear or spirit. Prefered other mods would be: 3-5rep life, fhr, 2 Sockets, Res, Life, Mana.
Inventory: 15life/11-12mana small charms. Aim for 160 cold res (excluding anya) with switch charms. 3%Frw (5%frw if non ladder) small charms with res you are lacking or 11-12mana.
Supplement 5fhr small charms where needed to maintain the 86fhr breakpoint.
Stash Items to obtain:
Stealth Runeword Armor
Death's Belt
+frw charms
Situational Necro Heads
The Skills:
Skill Tree:Teeth - 1Point
Corpse Explosion - 1Point
Bone Spear - Max
Bone Spirit - Max
Bone armor - 1Point
Bone wall - Max
Bone Prison - Rest of your left over points
Stat Placement:Strength = Enough for Magefists = 45
Dexterity = Enough for Max Block
Vita = Everything not used in Strength and Dex
Energy = None
Strategy:Vs. SorceressBlizzard:
Fist thing to mention is to make sure that your resist's are properly arranged to avoid extra damage from Cold Mastery. Cast 2 spirits in the direction of the Blizzer. Try to anticipate where they are going to tele. Spam spirit in that direction. Learn how much range they have and be careful to stay ranged enough to avoid blizz lock. If you do become locked run off screen and commence with first steps. If they use Energy Shield, as most good blizzers do, then you are going to need a flurry of damage at some point in the duel. try to keep spirits on them at all times timing if very key in this duel. You're going to want to spear/wall them at some point when they are low mana to keep them from getting away with running to regen mana. (recommended setup 86/75fcr)
Fire Ball:
If they try to stomp and you have 1K+ spirit /1k+life you will win most of the time. If they are smart they will stay ranged/use es which makes them a very difficult duel. (recommended setup 86fhr/75fcr heavy spirit dmg)
Fire Wall:
Make sure you have proper frw for this duel. you will want to be able to run off their walls to avoid taking heavy dmg in a hurry. They tend to play at a similar range to Blizz so you will learn to gauge when they are in striking range and move when they are about to cast. Keep spirits on them and like vs any energy shield sorcs you need to find a spot in the duel to do a large chunk of dmg. (recommended setup 86fhr/75fcr heavy spirit dmg)
Lightning:
This is a very balanced duel. Duel this char much the same way you do vs a blizz sorc. Be patient and wait for your chance to do a flurry of dmg. (recommended setup 86fhr/75fcr heavy spirit dmg)
Vs. ZonsBowa:
Keep walls up 95% of the time. They have the mobility advantage in this duel so you have to work with what you have. This duel usually comes down to who makes the most mistakes. Keep them from Name locking you by keeping spirit on them. When they try to lock you move closer and spear lock them. As they run away spam 3-4 spirit then try to catch them on a wall. If successful, you can change the course of the duel with this. I don't know why people think locking dodge locking them with spear is affective since you don't do any damage when they dodge you. (recommended setup 86fhr/125fcr Spear Heavy damage)
Plague:
Talk about an annoying char to duel. You will want to find a head with 75% poison length reduction. Duel them like you would a bowa mostly. Keep walls up and spirit on their tail, always looking for a chance to spear their path. (recommended setup 86fhr/75fcr heavy spirit dmg)
Charged strike:
This is an easy duel. All you have to do is stay ranged enough to keep spirit on them. If they get close spear them. These spear along with the spirit train you previously casted should be more than enough to kill them before they can get 3-4 strikes off on you. (recommended setup 86fhr/75fcr heavy spirit dmg)
Vs. AssassinsLs Trappers:
This is a very difficult duel. A proper gear setup is very crucial to having a chance in this duel. I recommend using at least 120 frw vs most trappers. If they are smart and play offensively you will constantly be on the run to avoid a cruel mind blast/ stun locked death. When this is the case place spirits in the direction u anticipate that they will run next. As they are running, spear their path and be sure to avoid a name lock while you are attacking. Avoid name locks and use wsg/run off mini map to break them. (recommended setup 86/125 with 120frw from charms or 86/75 with stealth. balanced spear/spirit dmg)
Wof Trappers:
This duel is not nearly as difficult as ls but it is crucial to avoid making any mistakes vs this char. If they are able to rope you into a corner full of traps they can easily come out ahead. Be sure to use plenty of frw and always be aware of traps on the ground around you. Avoid name locks and use wsg/run off mini map to break them. (recommended setup 86/125 with 120frw from charms or 86/75 with stealth. balanced spear/spirit dmg)
Kicker's/hybrids:
This generally an easy duel. Use allot of spirit dmg and steer clear when traps are laid. (86/75 heavy spirit dmg)
Vs. BarbsWW Barbs:
You will want to be in walk mode for this. Sacrifice all frw for life here. Spam spirit in their path as they come at you. If they choose to try to take you out name lock them and spirit till one of you dies. If they chose to avoid your spirits by running off screen try to catch them with a few spear on their way out. Take these few seconds to regen mana with insight. This is one duel where a golem is especially beneficial.
tanking is usually more effective because most good ww barbs will ww lock you. (Recommended setup 86/75 heavy spirit dmg)
Throw barbs:
This is a fun duel that will normally result in victory for the necro. Just be smart and don't try to tank their invis harpoons. Duel them much like a bowa. (recommended setup 86fhr/125fcr Heavy Spear dmg)
Tele Barbs:
This is a harder version of the ww barb. If played right this is just as hard or harder then tele windy. You won't win if you can't tank em. (86/75 heavy spirit dmg)
Vs. DruidsTele Windy:
Use teeth on summons. Run downward mostly. Try to namelock a few spirit then spear lock them so that your spirits land. Never try to tank no matter how far ahead you are in this duel. This is your toughest 1v1 matchup vs the best chain lockers. (recommended setup 86fhr/125fcr use ryhme if 125 fcr use deaths if 75fcr)
Fury:
Start by killing their spirit and any summons with spear or teeth. Get enough distance to build a spirit train then switch to walk mode. Tank and spirit till they die. ( 86fhr/75fcr Heavy spirit dmg)
Vs. PaladinsHammerdins:
This is probably the 3rd hardest matchup. Fire golem helps more here than any other duel, so if you can attain one somehow u may do very well vs hdins. Name lock spirits (3-4) then proceed to use the name lock to wall them in hopes of stopping them mid charge on a wall. Well placed walls/keeping fire golem up is the key to this duel. (86/75 heavy spirit dmg)
Libby's:
Easier than hdins because they have sacrificed something to achieve high charge dmg which is bad vs pnb's. If they play like an hdin this is pretty similar to that duel in that you need to have well placed walls. The only drawback in this duel is they force you to have max block. (86/75 heavy spirit dmg)
Chargers:
Very imbalanced duel here. Keep a wall between you and the charger. Name lock them when they get close. Put a spirit train on them as they charge away. If they don't charge off screen wall them with name lock. If they do charge off screen to break name lock use the few seconds you have to regen mana with insight. Rinse and repeat. You should win 8 or 9 out of 10 here. (86/75 heavy spirit dmg)
Smiter's:
Don't tank. Don't get cornered up backed against a wall. Easy duel (86/75 heavy spirit dmg)
Charger/Foh:
These can be a long boring duel if they want to have a chance to win. Keep walls up to tank foh's. Avoid foh name lock when possible. Keep an eye on your resists be sure conviction isn't sending you below 75%. If they come into range to name lock you spirit lock/wall them. (86/75 heavy spirit)
NvN: These are by far my favorite duels as they are the most balanced and come down to skill and strategy above everything else. (Propper gear obviously helps allot but can be overcome with good skills in this duel). I recommend 86fhr/125fcr balanced spear and spirit dmg for several reason. First of all 8 magic sorb is not to be overlooked on Spirit Runeword. thats a reversal of 16pvp dmg per hit taken. over the course of a long duel this is often several hundred life. Secondly 125fcr gives you a huge edge over 75fcr in damage per second in a spear vs spear situation. Spear vs spear dueling will come down to accuracy, damage, and life. (86/125 balanced spear and spirit dmg)
If the opponent is of the type that prefers to play very defensively using more spirit then spear you will need to be careful to have walls up in front of you all the time. These duels tend to take allot of patience and rep life on gear plays a much bigger role. Vs this opponent i'd recommend using pcrown (if you dont have a circlet with rep life) and as much other rep life gear as you can muster (2pnb/15rep amulet+10fcr5rep/mana ring) to take advantage of the length of this duel. (86fhr/highest rep/ maintain dmg/ 70-90frw/125 or 75fcr depending on gear)
enjoy
