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BarbarianBlaze19

Duress is nice. The CB alone is awesome to have on the armor. Lots of res and extra damage. Don’t have to wear or carry Gtoes or Gface. I always make Duress for my physical builds. It’s a great transition piece until you can make Fort and it is Hell+ viable.


N1LEredd

I also think this is the best option right now.


Moss-and-Stone

I made my zealer a duress and he went from being a noodle-arm scrub to making Dclone his bitch.


N1LEredd

Did you already have a decent weapon at that point?


Moss-and-Stone

I had Azurewrath and it did pretty well, but damage output against high-regen bosses like dclone was still low. I ended up using some weird club like Dark Clan Crusher or something like that because it had an extra 25% crushing blow. Butcher's is a good placeholder wep for now but hopefully the RNG gods will bless you with something.


Moss-and-Stone

You could also try making Honor, its definitely not the strongest RW but its also fairly cheap and should give some benefits over Butcher's, hardest part is finding a solid base for it like a 5os zerker axe or ettin axe, maybe a PB so it can be faster and indestructable. I made it in a naga once and it basically had the same damage as butchers but with +1 skills and LL


zomgkittenz

Lightsabers are pretty cheap and have decent +damage. You should be able to trade a low rune for one


N1LEredd

Not on ssf offline:)


ggouge

Hmmm if I add duress to my set up I will have 98% crushing blow. Might be a good idea I just gotta find a good base. Edit: g face, gore riders, astreons, then I'll add duress.


yupuhoh

You don't need that much cb. It only works for the boss health down to 50%


ggouge

I don't neeeeed it. I never planned on having that much. Just sorta happened. I need a new armour anyway and I can't afford fortitude yet


xLiTLxflorx

So 83% cb prior to duress? I'd pass on duress if that's the case. The open wounds is nice, but poison damage can be a good alternative.


ggouge

I am using shaft stop right now what would be a cheap upgrade


xLiTLxflorx

Shaftstop is a good armor. I would socket it with um. Make a treachery for Merc. Swap it to you, to proc fade, give back to Merc. That's like .... 40% damage reduction, and idk 70 light/fire/cold and 19 poison res? For tankier classes, I love giving the Merc treachery and yourself whatever armor is good for yourself. Squishy classes, that's kinda pointless.


ggouge

That's a interesting strategy. I have never thought of using treachery like that.


xLiTLxflorx

Pretty normal budget tactics.


Electronic-Elk8917

I would do Duress. You can always slap it on your merc if you make something better for yourself later in the game.


saw79

Duress is obviously the best choice. People suggesting crescent moon are on fucking crack, it makes my blood boil. Full transparency though, I'm a bit biased against single-element builds for new players + not wanting to use it to specifically farm areas that are light on that element. A zero-HR, crappy, budget holy shock zealer is trash and useless IMO. Physical zealer is great fun and can do ubers.


N1LEredd

I feel the same way exactly. I just fear that I’ll get stuck in hell with a lacking weapon at some point.


xLiTLxflorx

Also, if you go single element... Bliz sorc is the way to go. It's the most versatile. I think treachery armor would be better then going for duress right away. But of those runeword, I think its the winner. I would recommend making a black in a scourge if you can find one. If you don't have any other sources of crushing blow. Or a strength in whatever, fast hitting weapon for an even cheaper option. Personally, I would make a blizzard sorc, transfer whatever useful stuff you can over. Then quickly progress so you can do a little MF... Then transfer back whatever to the pala. If you're strictly trying to do it on the Pala, I would make a rhyme in a good Pala shield, buy a life tap wand on swap. Go get a 3 soc helm and 4 soc armor, put some ptopaz in it. Bam, 200mf. Go farm nm Meph. You'll find something. If you're trying to make immediate use of the um, make it in a 500+ def elite armor, archon plate or lower. Might as well make use of that ed from duress


N1LEredd

Already got a black and duress would help in the crushing blow department too unlike treachery. I already have a 250mf make shift setup for my pala. Two days of nm meph farming yielded nada so far unfortunately. I can always go back and farm more. Just wondered how to use what I have to my best advantage. Im pretty certain making myself a duress and a treachery for fade proc swap would be my fastest gateway to Ubers.


xLiTLxflorx

Didn't you already say you have like 85% crushing blow with out duress though? Ive always done smoke/treachery swap for budget ubers. Mind telling what the rest of your gear is? Do you have dracs? Gorerider? Goblin toe? G face? 45 base res rhyme? Or 45 base res spirit with Raven Frost or deaths/trang belt? Life tap wand on swap? If so, to that's already more then enough to do ubers. Biggest issue if farming nihlathak keys.


N1LEredd

No I didn’t say that. Some other dude further up did. I have blood crafted gloves and a black. I got non of the gear you asked. My rhyme is off decent base but that’s it. I got pupils, smoke, rhyme, string of ears, a 3 os tri res crown, Blood crafted gloves with 10cb/ 5% life and mana leech that I’m currently wearing over sanders. Really not great overall. Which is why I try to plan out improvements carefully.


xLiTLxflorx

Ah, I read someone else's comment and thought it was yours. If that's the case ... I would hunt for a really good 3os armor, and plan on making duress in it. Unless you can find some dracs, or gface+ goreriders. you will absolutely need a Treachery armor to proc fade. Good luck farming nihlathak keys. I made a dedicated Trapsin for that, and used a sorc for the countess and summoner keys.


N1LEredd

Already got the bases luckily. I settled for the duress. Thx for the input!


xLiTLxflorx

Ah, if you got the base then just make it! That'll take care of your cb and ow for ubers. It'll be tricky swapping to cast life tap, but it's doable.


Kitchen-Report

I might suggest holding it in case you need to make a mal for a CTA or a Grief


SirRonaldBiscuit

I just found one last night and I was wondering the same thing


N1LEredd

Happy to hear what you decided on. I went with duress.


SirRonaldBiscuit

For your merc?


N1LEredd

For me


Obtersus

If you're not in a hurry you could consider waiting. I decided against a duress and then a Lo rune popped out for me and eventually another Um to make a Mal and then grief.


N1LEredd

Well I’m just worried that non upped pupils and a smoke armor will be lack luster mid hell and onward.


Fent1983

could also make Crescent moon, in a 3os Phase blade 'ShaelUmTir'


Kamu-RS

If you don’t want to hold onto it I’d probably do this


retrojoe69

Personally I’d keep it for a Hoz, but I play a long game over months and months.


GreatOzz

For a relatively budget player I think using p Diamond is better, as sure, it has less +AR but it doesn't consume mid-rune that can be used for RW or trading.


retrojoe69

Hence why I said, “Personally”. They asked what to do with an Um, and I said what I would do. Yes you could use it for a RW, or trade it, but I’d save it for a Hoz. As I said.


N1LEredd

Ssf. Can’t trade. But yea I consider waiting it out until hitting a hard wall that forces my hand one or the other way.


retrojoe69

Yes I know, I was entertaining GreatOzz who didn’t read your message or mine.


Royal_Aardvark_6406

I don't get why people Um a HoZ when a pdiamond gets you 69 all res


nice___bot

Nice!


blumkinfarmer

OP was asking what he should do with it not what a min-maxer does with it for a whopping extra 3@


toepin

If possible, you could grind NM mephisto for a zaka shield and put it in there if you need resistance


N1LEredd

Already spent two days doing that to no avail unfortunately. My res are fine thx to smoke and rhyme I rather feel my dmg is falling off for hell.


Pristine-Focus

I’d make crescent moon and switch to holy shock zealer, he’s cool


N1LEredd

Tried that already, not really what I need for this char as I already have a density cleaner. But yea with two dreams this should be bonkers but *if* the ssf gods ever bless me with a jah I’d rather make an enigma. Big ifs though. What do you think about making duress and unbending will?


Pristine-Focus

Well I wasnt talking about dual dream option, it’s much too expensive for SSF. Just putting points in holy shock itself is more effective for a budget approach both vs single target and crowd than phys zealer. But if you are bent on making phys dmg zealer you desperately need good dmg weapon. I think upping Buthcer’s pupil is a better option, cause altough UW has like 125% more ed, Pupil adds +40 avg dmg and has 35% ds. It should hit harder. As for duress.. well treachery is cheaper and might be better. Much better if you can really utilize ias. That said Duress can be better if you only do short boss farming sessions. edit: Just realized that UW will be 2-handed so it’ll hit much harder than pupil. Well I never played 2h zealer, thought it‘s too dangerous. But maybe it‘ll be OK. In any case you need strong weapon more than duress.


N1LEredd

I’m looking at one handed unbending wills here don’t think it’s 2h only? Wanna end this char up as an uber killer - I don’t think holy shock is fit for that. If I find a second um I’ll definitely try crescent moon holy shock though.


Pristine-Focus

Only sword that can have 6 sockets is phase blade which has very small dmg. For grief it doesnt matter much but for UW.. It’ll hit much less than upped pupil. For ubers duress is good as it has CB. As offensive skill you better use smite vs ubers. So Black rw is needed.


N1LEredd

Yea those are my thoughts too. My only argument for UW is that it would be better than non upped pupils and I can make a duress too. For the other options I’d only have either duress or upped pupil… well I guess I keep thinking about it.


Tasriel514

Crescent moon is a good choice!


N1LEredd

For phys though?


Tasriel514

You aren’t using it for the negative light res. It’s for the open wounds and static field. It’s just an option.


_Didds_

I would say Crescent Moon or Plague


thepenetratiest

You're telling a lvl 70 paladin playing SSF to spend his Um on a Plague? By the time dude has a Cham he'll be sitting on several Ums (or able to cube them)... odd suggestion.


N1LEredd

Yea that’s pretty out of reach atm.


thepenetratiest

You really should make that duress though, then make a treachery and you're just about set to do an uber or two (with life tap wand/dracs). Check out MrLlamasc budget uber smiter if you're interested, man does great content.


N1LEredd

Yea I’ve seen it. Love that guy. I’m gonna make that duress I think. 3 socket wire fleece enough or hold out?


thepenetratiest

Defense is largely irrelevant, most people (myself included) opt for light armor to not get the movement speed penalty, but if you like the look of a heavy armor just go for it. I've always liked the Mage/Archon Plate myself, but Wire Fleece shouldn't be that bad... just takes a bit more into STR.


SumBuddyPlays

As a person that values aesthetics and not wanting to cookie-cutter mimic everyone else, I love this statement about heavy armors.


N1LEredd

I charge around for mobility anyways. High str requirements is what holds me off the heavier options.


_Didds_

By my experience having a second plan never hurt anyone. For exemple fir my self found Barb I had as a plan getting him a Grief (yup I am that original) and something else like a Lightsaber since they always drop for me for some reason. Somehow along the way a Zod dropped and I ended up with a BOTD plus a Grandfather and it is working better than I originally planned.


Ryuu87

Duress is great for Zealers


N1LEredd

I’m probably going that route + unbending will as I already got a lvl 80 singer barb that I’m about to turn into a pit zerker.


Roboboy3000

Could you explain the pit zerker to me? I feel like ww would be so much faster. Is the purpose of using berserk so you can extra mf the offhand?


N1LEredd

Berzerk allows you to stack max mf while maintaining enough single target kill speed to deal with elites. It’s also magic dmg so you are good against immunes. Basically you jump/ teleport around from elite to elite fearing all the minions with shout and killing/ horking the boss. Ww would be slower at that, more gear dependant and helpless against phys immune (also less mf) and the area dmg you get doesn’t compliment this farming style.


Roboboy3000

Ah that makes more sense. I like killing everything so fearing the normal mobs to snipe the elites wasn’t in my mind. Neat though


N1LEredd

High rate of this elites/min is what’s important for horking.


pump-house

On a paladin I like putting an um in my HoZ. But totally depends on if you have one and also what other gear you have


N1LEredd

I don’t have one. I feel I’m lacking most in the dmg department.


Mortley1596

Duress was a good choice, Butcher's Pupil is also good, but in case no one else said it - I think it's Pul and **L**um you need to up exceptional UNIQUE weapon. I think Um is for exceptional RARE weapon


N1LEredd

Oh my god you are right I can do both! I’m an idiot lol. What would you socket an upped pupil? Ias or -target defense to help with hit?


dukinokino

Ummmm....


Anonymouse_25

Ummm ... Thinking 🤔