Creating the perfect D2 team?
Writing down thoughts for a team I'm putting together.
Classes:
- Amazon: Amazons are one of the classes who don't really offer much to directly benefit other party members. They have inner sight and slow missile, both of which aren't really relevant for most situations. Their Valkyrie is not valuable in large team-based games. That being said, javazons are probably some of the most powerful builds in the game, so having at least one is a good idea.
- Assassin: One of the fastest levelers thanks to her high aoe damage.
- Barbarian: Battle Orders and Battle Command are tremendously powerful. Shout's good too. The Barb's high damage as well as his item find are great for teamplay. Having at least 1 will be important.
- Druid: Druids bring Heart of the Oa…
Hammerdin notes
- 1 Skills
- 2 Stats
- 3 Gear
- 3.1 Helm
- 3.2 Armor
- 3.3 Weapon
- 3.4 Shield
- 3.5 Gloves
- 3.6 Belts
- 3.7 Boots
- 3.8 Amulet
- 3.9 Ring
- 3.10 Final Thoughts
- 1 to Prayer, Defiance, Cleansing, Might, Holy Bolt, Smite, Charge (7 points)
- 20 Blessed Hammer (main attack, max first)
- 20 Concentration (aura, max third)
- 20 Vigor (synergy, max second)
- 20 Blessed Aim (synergy, max fourth)
- 20 Holy Shield
Consider shifting some points from Holy Shield to the max resists, maybe.
Str: enough for gear
Dex: enough for 75 block
Ene: nothing
Vit: rest
Prioritize 125% FCR, +skills, res, block, fhr, hp. Apparently mana is not an issue at higher levels with the right gear. List from best to budget.
Crafting practically all caster gear in the beginning will help with mana issues.
- Shako
- Rare circlet with FCR, skills, stats
- R…
Why is Sandstorm Trek so popular?
I have been puzzling over this for years now. Multiple builds recommend Sandstorm Trek for footwear. Taurean's Javazon guide names them "with little doubt the best boots" possible for a Javazon. Hnk's Hammerdin build lists them as the best possible choice (without bothering to state why, despite doing so for other items). These are but two of many, many guides singing praises for Sandstorm Trek over other boots.
...why?
Let's examine the statistics.
+140-170% Enhanced Defense Decent for boots, but a percentage bonus to a relatively small number is still a small boost. Regardless, several other boot types (Upped Gore Rider, Marrowwalk, and such) offer better defense.
+20% Faster Hit Recovery Nice, I suppose. But nothing eye-opening.
+20% Fast…
The Twink.
Twinking: using particularly useful, low-level items. Collecting thoughts below.
The best twinks are generally set items, low level uniques, and a very select group of rare and magical affixes. I'll be evaluating each in context of early game. Certain traits become much more valuable in contrast to their late-game counterparts, with FRW and damage becoming more important while survivability is optional due to the low level of danger in the early game.
- Angelic Raiment: The weapon is godawful. Thankfully the full set's bonuses aren't mind-blowing, and the ring and amulet are superb for their level if put together with the (average) armor. Overall, a 4/5.
- Arcanna's Tricks: Eh. The amulet's extreme rarity and the mediocrity of the staff set this …
Meteorb notes
There have been a few excellent guides on meteorb (like this ) but there's sooooo much information on them. I'm condensing stuff here for easier reading.
- 1 Skill Distribution
- 2 Stats
- 3 Equipment
- 3.1 Helm
- 3.2 Amulet
- 3.3 Weapon
- 3.4 Body Armor
- 3.5 Shield
- 3.6 Gloves
- 3.7 Belt
- 3.8 Boots
- 3.9 Rings
- 3.10 Tal Rasha's Set
Cold: 20 Frozen Orb, 5 prerequisites, a total of 17 Cold Mastery (including from +skill items)--at least 26 skill points. Don't bother with ice bolt as the synergy's too tiny to matter and your points are scarce. Cold armors are nice but not essential; you can get them from an orb and save some points.
Lightning: 1 Static Field, 1 Telekinesis, 1 Teleport--three skill points.
Fire: 1 Warmth, 4 prerequisites, 20 Meteor, 20 Fireball, 10-20 in Fire Mastery, rest i…