Diablo 2 : Lord of Destruction Fire Trapper guide (1.11)
-V1.0 (7/25/07)
-By AceOfSpadezz
DISCLAIMER:
This guide is only for private use. It may not be sold or reposted
on any website, magazine, book, etc. You may print it out and distribute it
if you wish but you cannot sell it without letting me know and I will most
likely let you do it if you tell me. This guide can only be posted on and by
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on a personal website let me know beforehand and you will not be punished for
violating a copyright. This guide is property of AceOfSpadezz. My e-mail
address will be posted in the "Contact Info." part of the guide.
=====================
- TABLE OF CONTENTS -
=====================
I. Version History
II. Purpose of the Guide
III. Overview of the Assassin
IV. Skills*
A. Traps
B. Shadow Disciplines
C. Martial Arts
D. Skill Placement
V. Attributes
VI. Equipment
A. "Elite" Equipment
B. "Decent" Equipment
VII. Charms
VIII. Mercenary
IX. FAQ's
X. Contact Info.
XI. Credits
* When ever I mention any skill damage, radius, duration, or any other stat
regarding the skill I will be looking at the stats of the skill with all of
the suggested equipment, stat allocation, skill allocation, and mercenary
bonuses such as auras, that the build in this guide suggests.
I. VERSION HISTORY
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1.0 (7/25/07) Newly released.
II. Purpose of the Guide
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The purpose of this guide is to help readers build an Assassin that uses the
Fire based traps of the Traps skill tree. I will explain what items to use,
stat allocation, skill point allocation, mercenary information and what
charms to have in the inventory. This build is merely a suggestion and if you
think that you should build the character otherwise do what you think is best.
This character is somewhat expensive to make in with the "Elite equipment" but
quite cheap with the "Decent equipment."
III. Overview of the Assassin
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Assassin is one of the best characters in Diablo 2. She is very, very,
cheap and most kinds of Assassins own everything in dueling. She is also
very balanced character that can specialize in melee or casting type skills.
The Trapper is a very overpowered character when it is correctly built. The
Martial Artist is not as overpowered as the Trapper but can deal with any type
of monster because they can do all kinds of elemental damages. The Kick-Sin
uses the skill Dragon Talon which kicks a billion times and does a lot of
damage. You will be a Trapper that will specialize in the fire traps.
Pros: Traps are very overpowered and it doesn't take much to totally kick the
crap out of anyone.
Traps are virtually risk free because you can place them, sit back, and
watch the fireworks.(Literally)
If you surround your self in traps you are totally immune to melee
attackers; unless of course they have high resistances to fire.
Cons: Fire traps are slower than lightning traps.
Wake of inferno has a low radius of fire until wake of fire is maxed.
A lot of monsters in the higher levels of hell have immunities to fire.
Not as overpowered as a lightning trappers.
IV. Skills
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Trained in the ways of the Vizjerei to use stealthy and ruthless manuevers to
hunt down rouge mages, sorcerers, and witches. The shadow disciplines let the
Assassin use her mind and stealth to surprise her enemies. The Martial Arts
let her use her body as a weapon and the traps let her land many surprise hits
on the unsuspecting enemy. You will only be maxing out traps but no Assassin
is complete without a little mix of shadow disciplines.
The first sentence in the description may just be a metaphor in some skills
so don't be dissapointed when you don't the exact effect my description says.
=+=+=+=+
A. Traps
=+=+=+=+
You will focus on the middle row of skills in this skill tree. You will have
to waste a couple of points because you have to learn death senrty. "Why max
death senty out? This is a lightning trap!", you say. Well believe it or not
death sentry has fire damage because of corpse explosion therefore it serves
as a synergy for your fire traps.
Don't even think about learnig the stupid Blade "traps" because they suck
and it would be a waste of skill points.
++++++++++
Fire Blast
++++++++++
Required Level: 1
Effect: Throw a small grenadde that burns all foes within the small radius. A
nice crowd control skill to have in Normal Acts 1 and 2, but sucks in every
other place. Rain hell on your foes with this while your better traps do their
job. Bad by itself; good on a team of traps. You may think its kinda shitty
but its a synergy.
20 points; Max it!
+++++++++
Shock Web
+++++++++
Required Lvl: 6
Effect: Throw a net of spikes that spark up on contact with the floor. Good
for lightning trappers bad for you. Use this as a pre-requisite for death
sentry.
1 point as a pre-requsite.
+++++++++++++++++++
Charged Bolt Sentry
+++++++++++++++++++
Required Lvl: 12
Effect: Set up a small device that emits small quantities of charged bolts.
The most basic of the sentries is also the crappiest. I'm not even gonna waste
my time saying anythin else.
1 point as a pre-requiste.
++++++++++++
Wake of Fire
++++++++++++
Required Lvl: 12
Effect: Summon a small device that releases waves of fire in the shape of a
"V" to cook your foes. A pretty nice skill to take out lower monsters in
normal and nightmare but this skill is crap in hell. Has a really nice effect
but this made "Blizzard" make it do a rather low amount of damage. Use it in
midlevel dueling if your gonna use it in duels at all. It is a synergy so you
know what that means.
20 points; Max it!
++++++++++++++++
Lightning Sentry
++++++++++++++++
Required Lvl: 24
Effect: Set a trap that fires lightning to fry up your enemies. May be the
best trap at the disposal of the Assassin; sadly you won't be using it. It can
do up to 20k-30k damage but its minimum damage stays around 1-15 making sort
of crap.
1 point as a pre-requisite.
+++++++++++++++
Wake of Inferno
+++++++++++++++
Required Lvl: 24
Effect: Set a trap the fires Infernos to incenerate your opponents. You will
be using this skill to deal most if not all of your damage. Technically it
does more maximum damage than lightning sentry but it has less synergies which
makes it weaker in the long run. Don't worry if you do less damage than your
lightning counterpart because you'll at least always land around 1k-2k while
lightning has a pretty high chance of doing low damage.
20 points; Max it!
++++++++++++
Death Sentry
++++++++++++
Required Lvl: 30
Effect Set a trap that fires lightning to fry up your enemies but also explode
thier remains to add even more damage. May seem better than lightning sentry
but because it has another effect it does less lightning damage. Crappy for
active use for a fire trapper but it adds a passive synergy boost so max it.
20 points; Max it!
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*
B. Shadow Disciplines
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*
Trained to use stealthy manuevers to give her an edge the Assassin gets even
more powerful when these are maxed out. These are like the Paladin's Auras,
and the Amazon's Passive and magic skills. The aura-like skills are Fade
and Burst of speed which make an aura like figure appear under your feet.
The passive-like skills add damage and let the Assassin block while having two
claw class weapons. The magic-like skills summon shadows and lower defenses of
monsters. Some Shadow skills will be left out because they will not be needed.
************
Claw Mastery
************
Required Lvl: 1
Effect: Train yourself to weild claw class weapons. Adds AR and damage to all
of your attacks with a claw type weapon. Since you will not be hitting people
with claw you will not need this need this skill.
1 point as a pre-requisite.
**************
Burst of Speed
**************
Required Lvl: 6
Effect: Focus your energy into your stealth and increase your run and attack
speed. This skill adds IAS and faster run speed. This may be the shadow skill
of your choice. "Why?", you ask. Trap casting speed is not based on FCR but
IAS (Don't worry if you are surprised I was to when I figured this out also).
If you want cast rate use this or you can use fade.
1 point as a pre-requisite for fade
OR
All of yoour extra points left over after maxing out all suggested skills.
**************
Psychic Hammer
**************
Required Lvl: 6
Effect: Use your mental energies to knockback the targeted monster. Crappy ass
skill that should never be used as a real skill.
1 point as a pre-requisite.
****************
Cloak of Shadows
****************
Required Lvl: 12
Effect: Use your stealth and sneak up on your enemies for a surprise attack.
Lowers enemies light radius all the way, lowers their defense, and gives you
a defense bonus. This skill is a must have for any Assassin. Use this skill
before fighting an army of monsters and you'll find that they will be very
easily defeated.
1 point as a pre-requisite and let your +skills do the rest.
************
Weapon Block
************
Required Lvl: 12
Effect: Use dual claws in the same way you would use a shield to block. A very
good skill to have considering if you will not be using a shield to block.
Put in all your extra skill points into this skill so you won't have to worry
about dying as often.
1 point as a pre-requisite and let your +skills do the rest.
****
Fade
****
Required Lvl: 18
Effect: Turn yourself into a shadow so elemental and physical damages have
less of an effect on you. Also reduces curse duration. This skill adds massive
resists and it also has a hidden effect. It has a "Damage reduced by X%" on it
but the skill itself doesn't list it. Every level into fade will give one more
percent of damage reduction with a cap of 50%. Also good for getting rid
of annoying ass Iron Maiden and Decrepify. Cannot be used at same time as
burst of speed. Also reduces shrine duration = to -curse duration.
All of yoour extra points left over after maxing out all suggested skills.
OR
None if you are going to use Burst of Speed
**************
Shadow Warrior
**************
Required Lvl: 18
Effect: Summon your own shadow to do your bidding. Summon a warrior that looks
almost exactly like you. Gets defense every level and always does what skills
you have on your buttons. Pretty good skill but shadow master is better.
If you will be using shadows I suggest you don't use this one. Because it will
use what skills you have on your buttons which means it will use traps. Her
traps are always going to be low level and her traps can "overwrite" your's
because only a total of 5 traps can be placed at once. Has a 6 second cast
delay.
0 points
OR
1 point as a pre-requisite.
**********
Mind Blast
**********
Required Lvl: 24
Effect: Channel a stream of mental energy to damage and stun your enemies. Has
a chance to convert your target(s) to do your dirty work. A good skill to use
in both PvP and PvM to stun them so they stay still so your traps land more
blows.
0 points
OR
1 point and let your +skills do the rest.
*************
Shadow Master
*************
Required Lvl: 30
Effect: Summon your own shadow to do your bidding but this time her advanced
shadow training gives her access to all of the Assassin skills, even ones you
don't even have yet. This shadow gains resists per level instead of defense.
This should be the shadow of your choice because it casts all buff skills:
Blade shield, venom and fade or burst of speed. Completly optional but it's
good to have for a distraction. Has a 6 second cast delay.
0 points or
1 point and let your +skills do the rest.
+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+
C. Martial Arts
+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+
Forget these even came into existance. You will not be needing any of these
skills at all. Don't even bother clicking on the skill tab at all.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
D. Skill Placement
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
In all you get 110 skills; 98 from leveling, 12 from quests. Here is the best
way of building this character:
20 points into Wake of Inferno
20 points into Death Sentry
20 points into Wake of Fire
20 points into Fire Blast
Plus the recommended optional skills:
1 point into Claw Mastery
1 point into Cloak of Shadows
1 point into Psychic Hammer
1 point into Shadow Warrior
1 point into Mind Blast
1 point into Shadow Master
The 20 leftover skills go into Weapon Block(if not using shield) and Fade or
Burst of Speed.
V. Attributes
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Strength- Just have enough strength to wear your items. Strength should be
kept at a base of 125-135 for those that will be using "Shadow Dancer". If you
won't be using these keep it at a base of no more than 125.
Dexterity- Have enough to wear your items. Your base should stay at the max 30
if you'll be using HotO and CtA flails. But the dex required can vary if you
will use the +3 to traps claw because that can be on a variety of claw-class
weapons.
Vitality- Dump all of you extra points into this cuz your gonna have kinda low
defense and block%.
Energy- If you really need to put in at the most 10 points into this. Mana
will be an issue due to the high mana cost of Traps, but If you will be using
an Insight weapon on your merc than forget about energy.
VI. Equipment
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In this section I will put two lists of equipment: "Elite" equipment, items
that put you at full potential and "Decent" Equipment, items that make the
character at average power. All Runewords, Runes, and Items will have listed
all the mods on them and what to make them out of. The weapon 1 part will
have dual weapons on it.
See the FAQ's Sections for info on the +fire skills items and Upping items.
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU READ IT!!!!!!!!
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU READ IT!!!!!!!!
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU READ IT!!!!!!!!
A. "Elite" Equipment
===============================
Weapons or Weapon on switch one
===============================
*The Assassin can use two claw class weapons at the same time but only claw
class and no others. This section has an option of using either two claws, a
claw and a shield, or a flail and a shield. The Claws and shields listed are
expensive as hell.
*********+
Dual Claws
**********
If you will be using the dual claws option the only way to go is with:
"Cunning (Claw Class Weapon)" (Magical)
Required Level: 45 (if low claws, elites may require more)
Required Strength: ?
Required Dexterity: ?
+3 to Traps
Fill all sockets with:
"Rainbow Facet" Jewel
Required Level: 49
100% Chance To Cast Level 29 Blaze When You Level-Up
Adds 17-45 Fire Damage
+3-5% To Fire Skill Damage (varies)
-(3-5)% To Enemy Fire Resistance (varies)
OR
"Rainbow Facet" Jewel
Required Level: 49
100% Chance To Cast Level 31 Meteor When You Die
Adds 17-45 Fire Damage
+3-5% To Fire Skill Damage (varies)
-(3-5)% To Enemy Fire Resistance (varies)
Notes: Use lower weapons such as "Claws". These need to be socketed 3 for them
to be the best. If you socket these with the Larzuk quest I believe you'll get
at least 2 sockets. Go with all perfect, meteor on death jewels.
***************
Claw and Shield
***************
"Cunning (Claw Class Weapon)" (Magical)
Required Level: 45 (if low claws, elites may require more)
Required Strength: ?
Required Dexterity: ?
+3 to Traps
AND
"Jeweler's Monarch of Deflecting" (Magical)
Required Level: 55
Required Strength: 156
Defense: 133-148 (Varies)
+4 Sockets
+20% Increased Blocking
+30% Faster Block Rate
Fill all sockets with:
"Rainbow Facet" Jewel
Required Level: 49
100% Chance To Cast Level 29 Blaze When You Level-Up
Adds 17-45 Fire Damage
+3-5% To Fire Skill Damage (varies)
-(3-5)% To Enemy Fire Resistance (varies)
OR
"Rainbow Facet" Jewel
Required Level: 49
100% Chance To Cast Level 31 Meteor When You Die
Adds 17-45 Fire Damage
+3-5% To Fire Skill Damage (varies)
-(3-5)% To Enemy Fire Resistance (varies)
Notes: Use lower weapons such as "Claws". These need to be socketed 3 for them
to be the best. If you socket these with the Larzuk quest I believe you'll get
at least 2 sockets. Go with all perfect, meteor on death jewels.
**************************
Non-Claw Weapon and Shield
**************************
For the casters no weapon beats HotO. Also use the MOnarch stated above:
"Heart of the Oak"
4 Socket Maces
Ko + Vex + Pul + Thul
+3 To All Skills
+40% Faster Cast Rate
+75% Damage To Demons
+100 To Attack Rating Against Demons
Adds 3-14 Cold Damage, 3 sec. Duration (Normal)
7% Mana Stolen Per Hit
+10 To Dexterity
Replenish Life +20
Increase Maximum Mana 15%
All Resistances +30-40 (varies)
Level 4 Oak Sage (25 Charges)
Level 14 Raven (60 Charges)
+50% Damage To Undead
"Jeweler's Monarch of Deflecting" (Magical)
Required Level: 55
Required Strength: 156
Defense: 133-148 (Varies)
+4 Sockets
+20% Increased Blocking
+30% Faster Block Rate
Notes: Make HotO in a Flail for lower requirements. Fill all sockets in shield
with Rainbow Facets that add fire damage.
==========
Weapon 2
==========
Your secondary weapon is usually adds a pre-buff. The best choice is "Call to
Arms" abbreviated CtA on the realms:
"Call To Arms"
5 Socket Weapons
Amn + Ral + Mal + Ist + Ohm
+1 To All Skills
+40% Increased Attack Speed
+250-290% Enhanced Damage (varies)
Adds 5-30 Fire Damage
7% Life Stolen Per Hit
+2-6 To Battle Command (varies)
+1-6 To Battle Orders (varies)
+1-4 To Battle Cry (varies)
Prevent Monster Heal
Replenish Life +12
30% Magic Find
Notes: Use a Flail or Crystal Sword for lower Dexterity Requirements
==========
Shield 2
==========
Use this to add +skills to the warcries on the CtA:
"Spirit"
4 Socket Shields
Tal + Thul + Ort + Amn
+2 To All Skills
+25-35% Faster Cast Rate (varies)
+55% Faster Hit Recovery
+250 Defense Vs. Missile
+22 To Vitality
+89-112 To Mana (varies)
Cold Resist +35%
Lightning Resist +35%
Poison Resist +35%
+3-8 Magic Absorb (varies)
Attacker Takes Damage of 14
(Ladder Only)
Notes: Make out of a Monarch(133-148 Def, Lvl 54 Req, 156 Str Req)
==========
Body Armor
==========
For you to be able to sneak up on your enemies even more you will need to
teleport. FOr this to happen you must wear the "Enigma" runeword:
"Enigma"
3 Socket Body Armor
Jah + Ith + Ber
+2 To All Skills
+45% Faster Run/Walk
+1 To Teleport
+750-775 Defense (varies)
+ (0.75 Per Character Level) +0-74 To Strength (BCL)
Increase Maximum Life 5%
Damage Reduced By 8%
+14 Life After Each Kill
15% Damage Taken Goes To Mana
+ (1 Per Character Level) +1-99% Magic Find (BCL)
Notes: Make out of a:
"Superior Archon Plate"
Required Level: 63
Required Strength: 103
+5%-15% Enhanced Defense
+x-xx Durability
======
Helmet
======
The best helm for any caster is without a doubt is the "Harlequin Crest",
commonly called "Shako" on the realms. Its nice for the life, mana, damage
reduction, and +skills.
"Harlequin Crest" Shako
Defense: 98-141 (varies)
Required Level: 62
Required Strength: 50
+2 To All Skills
+ (1.5 Per Character Level) 1-148 To Life (Based On Character Level)
+ (1.5 Per Character Level) 1-148 To Mana (Based On Character Level)
Damage Reduced By 10%
50% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
+2 To All Attributes
Notes: Socket with a Rainbow Facet for damage or an Um Rune for more resists.
======
Belt
======
The best choice for the casters is the "Arachnid Mesh" for giving max mana %,
+skills, and FCR.
"Arachnid Mesh" Spiderweb Sash
Defense: 119-138 (varies)(Base Defense: 55-62)
Required Level: 80
Required Strength: 50
16 Boxes
+90-120% Enhanced Defense (varies)
Slows Target By 10%
+1 To All Skills
+20% Faster Cast Rate
Increases Maximum Mana 5%
Level 3 Venom (11 Charges)
Notes: None
=====
Boots
=====
Every build of Assassin needs to have "Shadow Dancer". Adds some to the
shadow disciplines skills which could mean the difference between life and
death. It can't hurt to have more dex and FHR also.
"Shadow Dancer" Myrmidon Greaves
Defense: 122-144 (varies)(Base Defense 62-71)
Required Level: 71
Required Strength: 167
Assassin Kick Damage: 83-149
+70-100% Enhanced Defense (varies)
+1-2 To Shadow Disciplines (Assassin Only) (varies)
+30% Faster Run/Walk
+30% Faster Hit Recovery
+15-25 To Dexterity (varies)
Requirements -20%
(Ladder Only)
Notes: Really high Str Requirements.
======
Gloves
======
There are two choices for this category.
If you want faster trap cast rate then go with these. (Remember Trap cast rate
depends on attack speed).
"Lava Gout" Battle Guantlets
Defense: 120-144 (varies)(Base Defense: 39-47)
Required Level: 42
Required Strength: 88
+150-200% Enhanced Defense (varies)
2% Chance To Cast Level 10 Enchant On Striking
Half Freeze Duration
Adds 13-46 Fire Damage
+20% Increased Attack Speed
Fire Resist +24%
If you want +1 to all Fire Traps(See FAQ's section) then go with these:
"Magefist" Light Guantlets
Defense: 24-25 (varies)(Base Defense: 9-11)
Required Level: 23
Required Strength: 45
+20-30% Enhanced Defense (varies)
+10 Defense
+1 To Fire Skills
+20% Faster Cast Rate
Regenerate Mana 25%
Adds 1-6 Fire Damage
Notes: Up these if you can. (See FAQ's for details)
==========
Jewelery
==========
The jewelery suggested is very expensive and could take a lot of HRs to get.
========
Amulet
========
No doubt about it the best choice is:
"Mara's Kaleidoscope" Amulet
Required Level: 67
+2 To All Skills
All Resistances +20-30 (varies)
+5 To All Attributes
But this works also:
"Seraph's Hymn" Amulet
Required Level: 65
+2 To All Skills
+1-2 To Defensive Auras (Paladin Only) (varies)
+20-50% Damage To Demons (varies)
+150-250 To Attack Rating Against Demons (varies)
+20-50% Damage To Undead (varies)
+150-250 To Attack Rating Against Undead (varies)
+2 To Light Radius
(Ladder Only)
If you really can't get either of these then use:
"The Rising Sun" Amulet
Required Level: 65
+2 To Fire Skills
2% Chance To Cast Level 13-19 Meteor When Struck (varies)
+ (0.75 Per Character Level) 0-74 Fire Absorb (Based On Character Level)
Adds 24-48 Fire Damage
Replenish Life +10
+4 To Light Radius
Notes: For Mara's get a high res one. For Seraph's get a 1 to def. auras for
lower worth requirements. If you wear the Rising SUn you are totally immune
to fire
=======
Rings
=======
The best ring for Casters, is one of the most popular rings, "The SoJ".
"The Stone of Jordan" Ring X2
Required Level: 29
+1 To All Skills
Increase Maximum Mana 25%
Adds 1-12 Lightning Damage
+20 To Mana
Notes: Adds a crapload of mana.
B. "Decent" Equipment
The decent equipment is for either midlevel players that have leeter items or
poorer players that can't afford the best items. In other words this equipment
mediocre to average.
==========
Weapon 1
==========
One of the few low level items that is of any use is the "Spirit" Runeword in
swords. Adds a lot of FCR, mana, and life. "Suicide Branch", the cheapest of
the options, is hard to find cuz nobody uses it, but has some pretty nice mods
"Spirit"
Tal + Thul + Ort + Amn
4 Socket Swords
+2 To All Skills
+25-35% Faster Cast Rate
+55% Faster Hit Recovery
Adds 1-50 Lightning Damage
Adds 3-14 Cold Damage 3 Second Duration
+75 Poison Damage Over 5 Seconds
7% Life Stolen Per Hit
+250 Defense Vs. Missile
+22 To Vitality
+89-112 To Mana
+3-8 Magic Absorb
"Suicide Branch" Burnt Wand
One-Hand Damage: 8 To 18
Required Level: 33
Required Strength: 25
+50% Damage To Undead
+1 To All Skills
50% Faster Cast Rate
Increase Maximum Mana 10%
All Resistances +10
+40 To Life
Attacker Takes Damage of 25
ALso there are two fairly low items that give +to fire skills:
"Hexfire" Shamshir
One-Hand Damage: (59-61) To (97-102) (78-81.5 Avg)
Required Level: 33
Required Strength: 58
Required Dexterity: 58
+140-160% Enhanced Damage (varies)
Adds 35-40 Damage
+3 To Fire Skills
Level 6 Hydra (36 Charges)
Ignore Target's Defense
Fire Resist +25%
10% To Maximum Fire Resist
OR
"Hellplague" Long Sword
One-Hand Damage: 5 To (32-34) (18.5-19.5 Avg)
Required Level: 22
Required Strength: 55
Required Dexterity: 39
+70-80% Enhanced Damage (varies)
+2 To Fire Skills
Adds 25-75 Fire Damage
Adds 28-56 Poison Damage Over 6 Seconds
5% Life Stolen Per Hit
5% Mana Stolen Per Hit
Notes: Make spirit out of a Crystal or Broad Sword to make it less
requirements. Spirit Sword is easier to make than a Spirit Shield.
==========
Weapon 2
==========
CtA is the best weapon to add pre-buffs which really help out a lot.
"Call To Arms"
Amn + Ral + Mal + Ist + Ohm
5 Socket Weapons
+1 To All Skills
+40% Increased Attack Speed
+250-290% Enhanced Damage (varies)
Adds 5-30 Fire Damage
7% Life Stolen Per Hit
+2-6 To Battle Command (varies)
+1-6 To Battle Orders (varies)
+1-4 To Battle Cry (varies)
Prevent Monster Heal
Replenish Life +12
30% Magic Find
Notes: Since this is the poor section go with a 1 BO CtA.
================
Sheild 1 and 2
================
The cheapest good sheild is the "Lidless Wall" just called "Lidless" on the
realms. One of the best shields for a caster cuz it adds mana, FCR, and
+skills. This shield has better defense than spirit but doesn't have any
resists :(
"Lidless Wall" Grim Shield
Defense: 271-347 (varies)(Base Defense: 50-150)
Required Level: 41
Required Strength: 58
Chance to Block: 45%
+80-130% Enhanced Defense (varies)
+1 To All Skills
Increase Maximum Mana 10%
20% Faster Cast Rate
+3-5 To Mana After Each Kill (varies)
+10 To Energy
+1 To Light Radius
or
"Splendor"
Eth + Lum
2 Socket Shields
+1 To All Skills
+10% Faster Cast Rate
+20% Faster Block Rate
+60-100% Enhanced Defense (varies)
+10 To Energy
Regenerate Mana 15%
50% Extra Gold From Monsters
20% Magic Find
+3 To Light Radius
Notes: Make Splendor out of a Grim Shield(50-151 def, req lvl 25, req str 58)
If possible up the Lidless (See FAQ's for details) and put in a Perfect
Diamond.
============
Body Armor
============
The best low armor for the caster is the "Skin of the Vipermagi" called
"Vipermagi" on the realms. Nice for the resists and FCR.
"Skin of the Vipermagi" Serpentskin Armor
Defense: 246-279 (Base Defense: 111-126)
Required Level: 29
Required Strength: 43
+120% Enhanced Defense
+1 To All Skills
30% Faster Cast Rate
Magic Damage Reduced By 9-13 (varies)
All Resistances +20-35 (varies)
Another good candidate is the "Que-Hegans Wisdom":
"Que-Hegan's Wisdom" Mage Plate
Defense: 628-681 (varies)(Base Defense: 225-261)
Required Level: 51
Required Strength: 55
+140-160% Enhanced Defense (varies)
+1 To All Skill Levels
+3 To Mana After Each Kill
20% Faster Cast Rate
20% Faster Hit Recovery
Magic Damage Reduced By 6-10 (varies)
+15 To Energy
Notes: Up these if you can. (See FAQ's for deatails)
========
Helmet
========
The best Helmet for a low caster is the "Peasant Crown":
"Peasant Crown" War Hat
Defense: 108 (Base Defense: 45-53)
Required Level: 28
Required Strength: 20
+100% Enhanced Defense
+1 To All Skills
15% Faster Run/Walk
Replenish Life +6-12 (varies)
+20 To Energy
+20 To Vitality
Another decent helmet is the "Lore" Runeword:
"Lore"
Ort + Sol
2 Socket Helms
+1 To All Skill Levels
+10 To Energy
+2 To Mana After Each Kill
Lightning Resist +30%
Damage Reduced By 7
+2 To Light Radius
Notes: Lore is best made in a Grim Helm (Def 60-125, lvl Req 25, 58 str Req)
Up the Peasant Crown if possible.
======
Belt
======
A very good belt for a low level caster is the "Gloom's Trap":
"Gloom's Trap" Mesh Belt
Defense: 90-102 (varies)(Base Defense: 35-40)
Required Level: 36
Required Strength: 58
16 Boxes
+120-150% Enhanced Defense (varies)
5% Mana Stolen Per Hit
Increase Maximum Mana 15%
Regenerate Mana 15%
+15 To Vitality
-3 To Light Radius
Another good candidate is:
"String of Ears" Demonhide Sash
Defense: 102-113 (varies)(Base Defense: 29-34)
Required Level: 29
Required Strength: 20
16 Boxes
+150-180% Enhanced Defense (varies)
+15 Defense
6-8% Life Stolen Per Hit (varies)
Damage Reduced By 10-15% (varies)
Magic Damage Reduced 10-15 (varies)
Notes: It's better to use Gloom's Trap for the mana bonus but if you feel like
you need the damage reduction then use the other belt. Up these if you
can see FAQ's for details.
=======
Boots
=======
A good choice of boots depends on what you think you'll need the most. If you
need mana:
"Silkweave" Mesh Boots
Defense: 112-130 (varies)(Base Defense: 37-44)
Required Level: 36
Required Strength: 65
+150-190% Enhanced Defense (varies)
30% Faster Run/Walk
+5 To Mana After Each Kill
Increase Maximum Mana 10%
+200 Defense VS. Missile
If you need life:
"Waterwalk" Sharkskin Boots
Defense: 112-124 (varies)(Base Defense: 33-39)
Required Level: 32
Required Strength: 47
+180-210% Enhanced Defense (varies)
20% Faster Run/Walk
+100 Defense Vs. Missile
+15 To Dexterity
+5% Maximum Fire Resist
Heal Stamina Plus 50%
+40 Max Stamina
+45-65 To Life (varies)
Notes: Up the uniques if you can.(See FAQ's for details)
========
Gloves
========
No fire caster is complete without these:
"Magefist" Light Gauntlets
Defense: 24-25 (varies)(Base Defense: 9-11)
Required Level: 23
Required Strength: 45
+20-30% Enhanced Defense (varies)
+10 Defense
+1 To Fire Skills
+20% Faster Cast Rate
Regenerate Mana 25%
Adds 1-6 Fire Damage
Notes: Up these if you can.(See FAQ's for details)
========
Amulet
========
There are many choices to chose from but the cheapest is:
"Eye of Etlich" Amulet
Required Level: 15
+1-5 To Light Radius (varies)
+1 To All Skills
3-7% Life Stolen Per Hit (varies)
Adds (1-2) to (3-5) Cold Damage (varies)
Cold Duration: 2-10 Seconds (varies)
+10-40 Defense vs. Missile (varies)
Also:
"Telling of Beads" Amulet (Part of the Disciple Set)
Required Level: 30
+1 To All Skills
Poison Resist +35-50% (varies)
Cold Resist +18%
Attacker Takes Damage of 8-10 (varies)
"The Rising Sun" Amulet
Required Level: 65
+2 To Fire Skills
2% Chance To Cast Level 13-19 Meteor When Struck (varies)
+ (0.75 Per Character Level) 0-74 Fire Absorb (Based On Character Level)
Adds 24-48 Fire Damage
Replenish Life +10
+4 To Light Radius
Any other magical amulets that add Resists, +Assassin or +Traps Skills will do
Notes: A +3 to Traps Skills amulet is the best magical amulet to use, but
is very expensive.
=======
Rings
=======
There are two main rings to choose from:
"Dwarf Star" Ring
Required Level: 45
Fire Absorb 15%
Heal Stamina Plus 15%
+40 Maximum Stamina
+40 to Life
100% Extra Gold From Monsters
Magic Damage Reduced By 12-15 (varies)
or
"Ravenfrost" Ring
Required Level: 45
+150-250 To Attack Rating (varies)
Adds 15-45 Cold Damage, 4 sec. Duration (Normal)
Cannot Be Frozen
+15-20 To Dexterity (varies)
+40 To Mana
Cold Absorb 20%
Notes: The unique rings are good for dueling against cold or fire based chars.
Dwarf Star, Hexfire, and Rising Sun combo make you totally immune to
Fire.
VII. Charms
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Charms are a very helpful source of skills and attribute points. In order to
be at the fullest power you must have a full inventory of really good charms
These charms are very expensive and require many HRs.
The Annihilus is one of the best charms in the game so Blizzard made limited
1 per character. Nicknamed "Anni" on the realms.
"Annihilus" Small Charm
Required Level: 70
+1 To All Skills
+10-20 To All Attributes (varies)
All Resistances +10-20 (varies)
+5-10% To Experience Gained (varies)
The Hellfire Torch is another "uber charm" that is limited to one per
character. It kicks ass and no character is complete without one. Called
"torch" on the realms:
"Hellfire Torch" Large Charm
Required Level: 75
25% Chance To Cast level 10 Firestorm On Striking
+3 to random character class skills (varies)
+10-20 To All Atributes (varies)
All Resistances +10-20 (varies)
+8 to light radius
Level 30 Hydra (10 charges)
Notes: Of course get a torch that adds to Assassin skills skills, duh.
Having at least 1 of these Grand Charms makes a player more powerful. Modded
charms are more expensive than plain ones. Called "Trap GCs" on the realms.
Richer players should have X9 of these.
Entrapping Grand Charm
+1 To Traps Skills(Assassin Only)
Notes: Very Expensive charms
Fill the rest of the space up with Small Charms. Its up to you what the mods
are but the better(and more expensive) charms are:
Serpent's Small Charm of Vita
+13-17 Mana(varies)
+16-20 Life(Varies)
Shimmering Small Charm of Vita
+3-5% to All Resists
+16-20 Life(varies)
VIII. Mercenary
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The ideal mercenary for the Fire Trapper is the Act 2 Desert Mercenary.
They have an aura as soon as you get them which could benefit you and your
party. Go with the Normal or Hell Defensive mercs so they give you a defiance
aura. You could also go with the Nightmare combat or defensive to give you
either Thorns or Holy Freeze respectively.
========
Weapon
========
For any Elemental Character there is no other weapon other than the Infinity
Runeword:
"Infinity"
Ber + Mal + Ber + Ist
4 Socket Polearms
50% Chance To Cast Level 20 Chain Lightning on Kill
Level 12 Conviction Aura When Equipped
+35% Faster Run/Walk
+255-325% Enhanced Damage (varies)
-(45-55)% To Enemy Lightning Resistance (varies)
40% Chance of Crushing Blow
Prevent Monster Heal
0.5-49.5 To Vitality (BCL)
30% Magic Find
Level 21 Cyclone Armor (30 Charges
(Ladder Only)
Another good choice due to the high mana cost of traps is:
"Insight"
Ral + Tir + Tal + Sol
4 Socket Polearms
Level 12-17 Meditation Aura When Equipped (varies)
+35% Faster Cast Rate
+200-260% Enhanced Damage (varies)
+9 To Minimum Damage
180-250% Bonus to Attack Rating (varies)
Adds 5-30 Fire Damage
+75 Poison Damage Over 5 Seconds
+1-6 To Critical Strike (varies)
+5 To All Attributes
+2 To Mana After Each Kill
23% Magic Find
(Ladder Only)
Notes: Make either in a Cryptic Axe(Elite) or Partizan(Exceptional).
============
Body Armor
============
For your trusty sidekick to have more damage you'll need a "Fort" as it is
called on the realms.
"Fortitude"
El + Sol + Dol + Lo
4 Socket Body Armor
20% Chance To Cast Level 15 Chilling Armor when Struck
+25% Faster Cast Rate
+300% Enhanced Damage
+200% Enhanced Defense
+15 Defense
+X To Life (BCL)
Replenish Life +7
+5% To Maximum Lightning Resist
All Resistances +20-30 (varies)
Damage Reduced By 7
12% Damage Taken Goes To Mana
+1 To Light Radius
(Ladder Only)
Poorer Players could use:
"Silks Of the Victor" Ancient Armor
Defense: 468-514 (varies)(Base Defense: 218-233)
Required Level: 28
Required Strength: 100
+100-120% Enhanced Defense (varies)
+1 To All Skills
5% Mana Stolen Per Hit
+2 To Light Radius
or
"Guardian Angel" Templar Coat
Defense: 770-825 (varies)(Base Defense: 252-274)
Required Level: 45
Required Strength: 118
+180-200% Enhanced Defense (varies)
+20% Increased Chance Of Blocking
+30% Faster Block Rate
+ (2.5 Per Character Level) 2-247 To Attack Rating Against Demons
(Based On Character Level)
+1 To Paladin Skill Levels
+4 To Light Radius
15% To Maximum Poison Resist
15% To Maximum Cold Resist
15% To Maximum Lightning Resist
15% To Maximum Fire Resist
Notes: Make Merc Forts out of Etheral items as they will not break. Use an
Archon Plate(410-524 def, 103 str req, Req Lvl. 63) Up the uniques if
possible. (See FAQ's for details)
========
Helmet
========
There are two choices for merc helms if you're rich:
"Andariel's Visage" Demonhead
Defense: 310-387 (varies)(Base Defense: 101-154)
Required Level: 83
Required Strength: 102
+100-150% Enhanced Defense (varies)
+2 To All Skills
20% Increased Attack Speed
8-10% Life Stolen Per Hit (varies)
+25-30 To Strength (varies)
+10% To Maximum Poison Resist
Fire Resist -30%
Poison Resist +70%
15% Chance To Cast Level 15 Poison Nova When Struck
Level 3 Venom (20 charges)
(Ladder Only)
or
"Crown of Ages" Corona
Defense: 349-399 (Base Defense: 111-165)
Required Level: 82
Required Strength: 174
+50% Enhanced Defense
+100-150 Defense (varies)
+1 To All Skills
Damage Reduced By 10-15% (varies)
All Resistances +20-30 (varies)
+30% Faster Hit Recovery
Socketed (1-2) (varies)
Indestructible
Poorer players should give their mercs:
"Vampiregaze" Grim Helm
Defense: 252 (Base Defense: 60-125)
Required Level: 41
Required Strength: 58
+100% Enhanced Defense
Adds 6-22 Cold Damage - 4 Second Duration
15% Slower Stamina Drain
6-8% Life Stolen Per Hit (varies)
6-8% Mana Stolen Per Hit (varies)
Damage Reduced By 15-20% (varies)
Magic Damage Reduced By 10-15 (varies)
Notes: Put in two Ber runes into the CoA to give 16% more dmg reduce. Up the
Vampiregaze if possible. (See FAQ's for details)
IX.FAQ's
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
None yet since this is my first version and it is very recent but here are the
FAQ's I think will arise:
Q:What is an HR?
A:HR is an abbreviation for High Rune. High Runes are these Mal, Ist, Gul, Vex
Ohm, Lo, Sur, Ber, Jah, Cham, and Zod. Zod and Gul are questionable cuz in
recent times people have started to not count these as HRs as they have no
uses in any good runewords. Zod is in BotD (This is very good but hardly
anyone makes it) and Gul isn't in any common good runewords.
Also some people consider the Um Rune as an HR sometimes. HRs are the main
currency on the realms and most people use these to trade for items.
Q:What is an Attribute Rune?
A:They are runes that Give +10 to an attribute. They are in a lot of decent
Runewords so they are worth a bit.
Io Rune +10 to Vitality
Ko Rune +10 to Dexterity
Lum Rune +10 to Energy
Fal Rune +10 to Strength
Q:What is FHR, FCR, IAS, and AR?
A:FHR is Faster Hit Recovery, FCR is Faster Cast Rate, IAS is Increased Attack
Speed, and AR is Attack Rating.
Q:What is a pre-buff?
A:A pre-buff or sometimes just called buff is a skill that you cast before
you go into battle that adds somthing like damage or life or something in
that neiborhood. e.g. Enchant, Battle Orders, Battle Command, Etc.
Q:What is Upping?
A:Upping an item is when you make the base item of a unique a quality
higher. Example. Magefist are Light Gauntlets and therefore look exactly
like Crusader Gauntlets and Battle Gauntlets graphicwise. Upping the
gloves to exceptional will turn them into battle gauntlets giving them
more base defense but also higher lvl and str requirements. UPPING TO
ELITE IS LADDER ONLY!!!!! Upping to Exceptional is both ladder and non
ladder. Both work in singleplayer also.
To up any Armor items to exceptional you use the horadric cube recipie:
1 Tal Rune + 1 Shael Rune +1 Perfect Diamond + Normal Unique Armor
To up any Armor items to elite you use the horadric cube recipie:
1 Ko Rune + 1 Lem Rune + 1 Perfect Diamond + Exceptional Unique Armor
To up any weapon items to exceptional you use the horadric cupe recipe:
1 Ral Rune + 1 Sol Rune + 1 Perfect Emerald + Normal Unique Weapon
To up any weapon items to elite you use the horadric cube recipe:
1 Lum Rune + 1 Pul Rune + 1 Perfect Emerald + Exceptional Unique Weapon
Q:What is up with the +Fire Skills on Magefist?
A:The Fire skills added by Magefist can add damage to all Fire based skills
not just the Sorceress' Fire skills. This applies to All of the Druid's fire
elemental skills and fire claws, the Assassin's Fire traps and Fists of Fire
the Sorc's Fire skills, the Necro's corpse explosion and Fire Golem, the
Amazon's fire based arrows, and the Paladin's Holy and Resist Fire Auras.
The +Fire skills given by "Hellclap" Short War Bow, "The Salamander" Battle
Staff, "Hellplague" Long Sword, "Hexfire" Shamshir, and "The Rising Sun"
Amulet all work the same way.
WARNING!: The +Fire skills given by any Magical item with the prefixes
Burning, Blazing, and Volcanic will only give to sorc Fire skills. This
Includes the "Burning Grand Charm" Also the Fire skills given by
"Flamebellow" Balrog Blade don't work for anyone else besides sorcs.
Q:Can I add you as a friend?/ Can you add me?/ Can I have a free item?
A:NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!
X. Contact Info.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My E-mail address is [email protected]
Feel free to comment on my guide and in the future even more guides. If you
have any suggestion regarding skill allocation, attrribute allocation, or
if you think that another item should be put in the guide then plz call me.
Or email me if you have any other questions or suggestions regarding this
guide. If you will be sending me suggestions or info please give me a name
you would like to be called for me to add in the credits.
I ask you that you don't send spam to my email; I already get enough of that.
Plz don't email me suggesting I spell better or use better grammar. And most
importantly don't email me asking me if you can get an item or if I can add
you as my friend cuz I won't do either. The only time you can ask me for an
item is if I specifically said I had the item and it was up for grabs. And
don't expect a freebie. Any emails with no subject will be DELETED!!!!
XI. Credits
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Me AceOfSpadezz for writing the guide; lol.
(Insert Blizzard staff credits here) for creating the game.
FrostyDragon and for introducing me to the game.
All of the people who have previously written character FAQ's for helping me
figure out the overall layout of how to write the guide.
Blizzard's Diablo 2 Expansion site at <http://www.battle.net/diablo2exp/> for
providing skill info, set item info, unique item info, horadric cube recipes,
normal item info, character info, and charms info.
You for reading the FAQ and possibly emailing suggestions
CNET and GameFAQ's for Hosting the site.
(C)2007 AceOfSpadezz 
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