I'm currently in the process of making an elemental zon, that is Left mouse button is freezing arrow, and the right mouse button is immolation arrow. I know that they beefed up immolation arrow with the new patch, but I'm not entirely sure if it is worth doing.
***I like to make a build that ends at 82 because from about lvl 80-99 is completely different from lvl 1-80.***
I know I made the builds a little less powerful than I could have (with only +5 to skills), but from past experience playing Diablo 2, you very rarely come across uber equipment. It doesn't seem right to make a build off of items that you probably won't get anyway. So when considering the resistances and increased HP of monsters in hell does it seem like the amazons elemental arrow would be effective even when adding in the physical damage and such?
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It's a long way to the top if you want to rock n' roll - AC/DC
I didn't realize that immolation arrow had a delay until i started to use it. However, it seems like it might work out with the freezing arrow if you make freezing arrow left click and immloation right click (or vice-versa) and alternat shots. That way the delay hardly effects anything. The only problem is immunitites... but every build has that issue.
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It's a long way to the top if you want to rock n' roll - AC/DC
Not too many bosses are both fire and cold immune, so, in theory, the build should be fine. Moreover, the few bosses that you do find that are immune to those elements, you can revert back to Magic Arrow to whittle them down. Not only does it not cost you ammunition to use, but if you have an abundance of mana, or if you've invested in it enough to the point where it's mana cost becomes irrelevant, then the skill becomes invaluable. The best bow for this kind of build in the mid-game, and that's where I assume you are at level 45, is th unique Cedar Bow, Kuko Shukaku. Heavy on fire damage plus the Immo Arrow skill boost and Bow & Crossbow skill boosts make it a nice weapon. Either that, or Lycander's Aim if you're incredibly lucky enough to find it.
The two problems that I see with this build is spreading the points out between the two elements and your Passives. I always consider Valkyrie to be amazing, to the point where she can effectively take much more damage than your merc. However, to make her this effective requires spending a good amount of points in the respective fields. Decoy is awesome, too, as it lures out those enemies that aren't quite willing to show themselves unless something is in range. I've not experimented with elemental Amazons before, but it was my understanding that her most powerful elemental abilities had a cooldown period, whereas the usual Strafe build had no such restriction. Also, mana steal is crucial to Amazons as far as using their skills repeatedly and, as I have little knowledge of how elemental attacks may or may not steal mana, am not sure this might actually hinder you more than help you.
Let me know how this build works out for you. I'm quite interested in seeing how manageable and effective it is.
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Avast ye! Scyberdragon be te thank for the sig, arr!
valk would be a nice skill to have, but I'm hoping that freezing them will allow my merc to live long enough to survive. As far as the mana leech on elemental skills, I believe you only get the mana leech from the physical damage. The nice thing about the new patch is, if it doesn't work out I'll just respec and make one that does work.
i miss the good old days when 1 guided arrow with peircing would hit an enemy like 5 times.
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It's a long way to the top if you want to rock n' roll - AC/DC
Just my two cents...im playing a zon now, single player with players set to eight. I'm act II nightmare, and unless im just terrible, which i may be, valk is basically as invaluable as my bow.
True enough: as a wind druid, I simply could not survive without my summoned grizzly bear. Being able to place a tank wherever you need it is critical.
That being said, I only put one point into the grizzly and let +skills bump him up to about 11. I do not think 20 points into valk is worth it, unless she has very little HP.
Basically, being able to place Valk in certain places makes her, IMO, an invaluable asset. Case in point - while farming Andariel in Hell mode, having both the hired merc (Act 2, Nightmare Defense merc) and Valk double team her is usually the way it pans out for me. Under normal circumstances, my hired merc, whose armed with Woestave (unique Halberd), Etheral Duriel's Shell (unique Cuirass) and Blackhorn's Face (unique Death Mask) is there just to slow Andariel's attacks while the Valk draws her attention and I strafe and summon another Valk when the one facing her gets low on health. With 20 points in Valk and a few in Decoy to boost her HP, she can survive Andariel's assault long enough so that, if worst case scenario happens and Valk really takes a pounding, the cooldown on Valk expires and I can summon another Valk without placing myself in any danger. Also, if you can place the Valk in a position to where Andariel sprays only the Valk and not you and your merc, not only does it increase your chances of keeping the merc alive longer, but also increase the length of time the merc stays in the fight to keep Andariel slowed.
Most of the times, the merc does die, but by the time he does, the duration on the slow effect keeps Andariel's attacks from being as devastating as they can be until she goes down. On a couple of rare occasions, I have kept the merc alive without once having to heal him (although I did give him an Antidote potion once Andariel was dead). It's all on how you use the Valk, and mine has a HP total to the tune of over 3,000.
I could see perhaps not using the Valk in an Elemental build, but then you rely heavily on your merc, and he can fall very easily to uniques, super uniques and bosses which then leaves you to "run and gun" it. If you don't put points into Valk, I highly suggest then that you at least give consideration to Decoy.
On a slightly off topic side note - I've also considered giving an Impaler build a go using the Hwanin's Majesty set, since the weapon of the set is indestructible. I don't know if it's viable, but at least it'd be a fun thing to try sometime.
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Avast ye! Scyberdragon be te thank for the sig, arr!
If you find your merc dying too much, try putting a Crown of Thieves or Andariel's Visage on him for life leech. Combine this with a Treachery runeword (+40%IAS and 15% to proc Fade on struck) makes him nearly invincible against anything but being surrounded by Hell Cows.
My merc also has about 4k health with Oak Sage, and 7k with Oak + BO.
I am now tempted to start another Amazon for running Cows.
True enough: as a wind druid, I simply could not survive without my summoned grizzly bear. Being able to place a tank wherever you need it is critical.
That being said, I only put one point into the grizzly and let +skills bump him up to about 11. I do not think 20 points into valk is worth it, unless she has very little HP.
Thats execly what i meant. The valk will problably don't get so high because bows zons shouldn't stack +skills. Still one point is enough becuse you can recast her.
a neat thing about the valk is you can optimize her HP by spending more points in decoy. once valk is at lvl 8 (i believe, use this skill tree to verify) 1 hard skill point in decoy will add more HP to valk than 1 hard skill point in the actual Valk skill.
If you normally spend 12 points in valk its would be more beneficial to just put 8 points in valk and 5 (includeing 1 prerequisit point) points in decoy. Just a tip if you didn't already know.
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It's a long way to the top if you want to rock n' roll - AC/DC
***I like to make a build that ends at 82 because from about lvl 80-99 is completely different from lvl 1-80.***
Here is my build at lvl 82 (Very easily attainable):
http://www.diablofans.com/tools/skillcalculator.php?class=Amazon&build=0000000000014041040511f1f100kkl0l5l0l0l0lal00
Here is my build at lvl 99 (Not as easily attainable):
http://www.diablofans.com/tools/skillcalculator.php?class=Amazon&build=0000000000014041040511f1f100kkl0l5l0l0l0lal00
I know I made the builds a little less powerful than I could have (with only +5 to skills), but from past experience playing Diablo 2, you very rarely come across uber equipment. It doesn't seem right to make a build off of items that you probably won't get anyway. So when considering the resistances and increased HP of monsters in hell does it seem like the amazons elemental arrow would be effective even when adding in the physical damage and such?
Support the music and check out my band's website:
www.blueruinmusic.com
Support the music and check out my band's website:
www.blueruinmusic.com
They are very rare and only really show up in Act 2 Tombs of Tal Rasha.
But alternating fire might work. Try it out and let us know! I've seen a lot more fire being used in Chaos runs.
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The two problems that I see with this build is spreading the points out between the two elements and your Passives. I always consider Valkyrie to be amazing, to the point where she can effectively take much more damage than your merc. However, to make her this effective requires spending a good amount of points in the respective fields. Decoy is awesome, too, as it lures out those enemies that aren't quite willing to show themselves unless something is in range. I've not experimented with elemental Amazons before, but it was my understanding that her most powerful elemental abilities had a cooldown period, whereas the usual Strafe build had no such restriction. Also, mana steal is crucial to Amazons as far as using their skills repeatedly and, as I have little knowledge of how elemental attacks may or may not steal mana, am not sure this might actually hinder you more than help you.
Let me know how this build works out for you. I'm quite interested in seeing how manageable and effective it is.
Avast ye! Scyberdragon be te thank for the sig, arr!
i miss the good old days when 1 guided arrow with peircing would hit an enemy like 5 times.
Support the music and check out my band's website:
www.blueruinmusic.com
This will probably be my build:
http://www.diablofans.com/tools/skillcalculator.php?class=Amazon&build=000000000011111111k111j1z100kkl0l0l0l0l0lal00
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And I would never spend 20 points in valk...
That being said, I only put one point into the grizzly and let +skills bump him up to about 11. I do not think 20 points into valk is worth it, unless she has very little HP.
Most of the times, the merc does die, but by the time he does, the duration on the slow effect keeps Andariel's attacks from being as devastating as they can be until she goes down. On a couple of rare occasions, I have kept the merc alive without once having to heal him (although I did give him an Antidote potion once Andariel was dead). It's all on how you use the Valk, and mine has a HP total to the tune of over 3,000.
I could see perhaps not using the Valk in an Elemental build, but then you rely heavily on your merc, and he can fall very easily to uniques, super uniques and bosses which then leaves you to "run and gun" it. If you don't put points into Valk, I highly suggest then that you at least give consideration to Decoy.
On a slightly off topic side note - I've also considered giving an Impaler build a go using the Hwanin's Majesty set, since the weapon of the set is indestructible. I don't know if it's viable, but at least it'd be a fun thing to try sometime.
Avast ye! Scyberdragon be te thank for the sig, arr!
My merc also has about 4k health with Oak Sage, and 7k with Oak + BO.
I am now tempted to start another Amazon for running Cows.
Thats execly what i meant. The valk will problably don't get so high because bows zons shouldn't stack +skills. Still one point is enough becuse you can recast her.
If you normally spend 12 points in valk its would be more beneficial to just put 8 points in valk and 5 (includeing 1 prerequisit point) points in decoy. Just a tip if you didn't already know.
Support the music and check out my band's website:
www.blueruinmusic.com