Strafezon

[Frost-LP]

i wanna make a strafezon.
but i dont know a thing about them
dus any1 has some suggestion's ?

[Aqua-THF]

Strafezons are fun and useful in many ways. Their main skill, Strafe, does more damage than Multiple Shot, costs less mana, and defeats any problems with aiming. Here is a skill outline.

20 Strafe (Duh)
20 Cold Arrow
20 Freezing Arrow
10 Critical Strike
5 Dodge
5 Avoid
5 Evade
1 In all other Passive Abilities

Stats:
Str: 103 for Archon Plate
Dex: Enough for Ward Bow 146
Vit: Rest
Nrg: None

This is what the Final stats must look like, +Str and +Dex items should off-set this a lot.

Why Strafe?
Strafe does 100% more damage than multiple shot when maxed. It can inflict a lot of damage on monsters grouped around Decoys, Tanks, and your Valkary. It is a very good skill.

Why Cold Arrow?
Synergy of Freezing Arrow.

Why Freezing Arrow?
Freezing Arrow offers a second form of damage (Cold). It is also useful to fire a few into the crowd surrounding your Merc/Valk/Decoy to freeze enemies and quick switch to Strafe and mow them down.

Why Critical Strike?
Critical strike is a chance od doubling your damage. After 10 points the returns start to deminish to 2 and 1 percents. I suggest leaving it at 10 and letting other %Deadly Strike items and +Skill items to add more.

Why Dodge, Evade, and Avoid?
These passive abilities are very useful in avoiding damage. I dont suggest anymore than 5 points in each as the returns started to diminish considerably. It is better to let +Skill items boost these skills any further.

Including all Pre-Reqs, this biuld can be accomplished with 95 Skills Points, in other words, level 83. (Taking into consideration the 12 points available from quests.)

This is the part about equipment. IAS is very important because Strafe has a big downside, the fire-lock. When Strafing, you will be unable to move or stop untill all shots are done firing. This is why it is important to have a strong Merc, Valk out at all times, and a decoy in the mix. Their are other bonuses to having these three meat shield out that I will discuss later.

Helm:
Andariel's Visage: This helm has +2 All Skills. This is very useful in that it increases the damage of Strafe and Freezing Arrow. It also has 20% IAS which is very important for any Bowazon.

Vampire Gaze: Dual leach, and damage reduction. Need I say more?

Armor:
Fortitude in Archon Plate: 300% ED will boost Strafe damage considerably. It also has resists which are very important in Hell difficulty.

Belt:
Nosferatus Coil: This belt has it all, Life leach, slow target, 15 Str, and 10% IAS.

Wep1:
Brand in Ward Bow: This bow is just awesome. 100% to cast bone spirit on striking. This is very useful, considering Bone Spear penetrates hitting multiple enemies. If you have piercing, this becomes even more deadly. ITD, Knockback and Deadly Strike also add to the allure.

Wep2:
Wrath in Ward Bow: This is for buffing the enemy. Strafe once or Twice into the crowd of enemies sorrounding your meat shields. After you see all of them Decrepified, switch to Brand and destroy.

Ring1
Bul Kathos: +1 Skills and Life Leach. Essential.

Ring2
Raven Frost: A lot of dex, and AR.

Boots:
Gore Rider: These boots have it all. Crushing Blow, Open Wounds, and Deadly strike. These are a must for any Bowazon.

Gloves:
Rare or Crafted Gloves: With +Skills to passive or bow abilities. 20% IAS, and preferably mana leach.

Amulet:
Highlords Wrath: +1 Skills and IAS. Very Nice.

Merc:
See other guides for the usual Act-2 Freezing Merc Setup.

Strategy:
This zon is best on Cows and Baal runs.

Strafe will fire an arrow in the direction of any meat shield you have, including, Merc, Valk, and Decoy. It is good to let the mob gather around your meat shields and than strafe with the Wrath. The monster will become Decrepified making them 50% more susceptible to physical damage. Switch to Brand and strafe again to finish the mob. The monsters in front will get hit with multiple arrows meant for monsters behind them. If you have pierce this is even better. Bone spears will also have the same effect.

To off-set resistances, use a lot of resistance charms.

Take it easy on me, this is my first attempt at a guide, if I recieve anything even resembling constructive criticism, or stabs at this guide, I am liable to kill myself... :loopy

[Ntrik_]

sigh... always look in sticky before you look at these guides.

[Aqua-THF]

Their is no Strafezon guide in stickies..

[Kooldac]

Thanks for the long responce. I was just looking to get some info on a Strafezon builf and you basically summed it for me quite well. Thanks again.

[Frost-LP]

tnx Aqua-THF
this gonna rock
but have u ever seen a ama with just barehand's but it shoot multishot or some???
And about brand: it's gonna rock
2 bad last wish can't be set in a bow or some

[Aqua-THF]

Uhmm, no problem guys. I think the zon is using a str bug. That is all I know.

[Kooldac]

Hmm, I do have one question Aqua-THF or anyone else that chooses to respond - what about Valkyrie? You mentioned adding Freezing Arrow and it's synergies into the skill tree, but do you think it would be easier to just increase the ability of that "decoy" and up it to a Valkyrie - someone that can actually attack, lol. Only one man's opinion here. :rainfro

[Aqua-THF]

Actually, I said put one point in Valk and Decoy. These are just distractions and meatshields. And for every minion you have out, that is one extra strafe arrow fired. Your Merc is better for tanking and melee. Valk would cost too many skill points. And I think it is better to have two forms of damage, in this case Physical and Cold. This is only THE MANS opinion. Ahaha.

[Kooldac]

Lol, I see what you are saying. Good point made.

Also, I was doing a little research into your guide and I have a thought for the glove choice. Your choice is fine, I just thought another option would be the Ghoulhide Heavy Bracers - awesome addition to attack rating (w00t Zon), damge to undead (iffy), and then a mana leech which a Strafezon certainly needs.

[Aqua-THF]

Ewww, ugly gloves. Im sorry to say but the attack rating and the damage are both only against undead. No IAS, ouch. I suggest sticking with what I got down their.

[Kooldac]

Ahhh, poopie. I didn't see the undead part for the AR. Sorry about that. Now to make myself feel even mroe newbish... whats "IAS"? I know once I see it I am going to slam my head into a wall... :hbut

[Aqua-THF]

Increased Attack Speed

[Kooldac]

For the past 3 days, I have been experimenting with your setup Aqua-THF. I just created a new single player character and created all the items. I do have to say that it is working for me very very well. Being able to Decripfy and bust out Bone Spears consistantly is nice. The only thing I haven't done is make a merc, maybe i'll do that next.

I find that I can mow down groups very easily (w00t Hell Cows), but I seem to have trouble on single bosses, specifically Baal. I just can't do enough damage to him.

Lastly, I found that the mana steal on the items wasn't enough and that I needed to simply get more max mana, so I went with the Shako. It helped me a lot. I just was consistantly running out of mana w/o it.

[Ntrik_]

Originally Posted by Kooldac

For the past 3 days, I have been experimenting with your setup Aqua-THF. I just created a new single player character and created all the items. I do have to say that it is working for me very very well. Being able to Decripfy and bust out Bone Spears consistantly is nice. The only thing I haven't done is make a merc, maybe i'll do that next.

I find that I can mow down groups very easily (w00t Hell Cows), but I seem to have trouble on single bosses, specifically Baal. I just can't do enough damage to him.

Lastly, I found that the mana steal on the items wasn't enough and that I needed to simply get more max mana, so I went with the Shako. It helped me a lot. I just was consistantly running out of mana w/o it.

mana pots always help.

[Kooldac]

Originally Posted by N_Edd

mana pots always help.

Wat r t3h mana p0ts? lolz

Yes, I am aware of mana pots, I use them often... but when you fight Baal or any monster with a mana burn missile attack, you can go through 4 mana pots within 5 seconds. I don't know, maybe i'm just doing something wrong here... :shocked

[Aqua-THF]

A merc would help a lot, and if you remember I said Cows would probably be best. I mentioned baal runs, but I meant with a bunch of other people. I am glad it is working. Now how about a sticky?! Ahahaha...

[Frost-LP]

if mana is such a problem..
give your merc Insight.
lvl 12-17 meditation aura.
thats very nice.
but i think its only worth it for a Sorc.
she needs it more.

[Aqua-THF]

I think their was a huge discussion about this and it was decided that didnt work for mercs? I could be horribly wrong. Correct me if so...

[SweatyOgre]

You're correct, there was a discussion about this. I myself was on the "doesn't work for mercs" side because of something djnat said awhile ago, but I was proved wrong. I have also tested this myself and now use it for my botting sorc. Insight DOES work on mercs.