FraterPerdurabo

It depends on a number of things:
Stormshield Eld or Ber? Use Ber to get max DR%, but Eld to save many points in DEX (therefore more VIT)
What level are you, and what level is your Oak? This is very important. Also, don't forget that you have to keep adding to DEX every level to keep max block.
At the moment, 4.2k seems fine without lifers, you should have way more than that with lifers (my +43 lifer gives over 200hp with Oak and BO).
With max block and storm you will always have lower life, see how much you get when you switch to Spirit and 163%fcr set.

DiGiTaLiS

the stormshield is ber'd. my life is 4.2k with the fcr / spirit set up and about 4.1kish with stormshield / dr set up. druid is 88 and oak is level 31 with battle commands with stormshield and 33 with spirit.

FraterPerdurabo

Your health is kind of low, but it's mainly due to the fact that you are quite a low level and don't have lifers.

With lifers, you could raise it by up to 1.5k, I believe.

Also, I would recommend some more leveling and max out that Oak.

swanny708

What should a smiter add his skills to once he has maxed out fana, holy shield, and smite?
And what stats should I use?
I have a banaras, spirit, and that's about it... I got both for free, because i'm extremely poor... not a single hr

VakAtk1

Definance to up Hshield

swanny708

What about charge?

UberMF

I saw invisibles lite mf sorc guide.. and it was ladder i think... beacuase it had infinity and stuff listed as options also a spirit, and i heard that was also LADDER,

I play non ladder, and i have a mf sorc, what would the non ladder merc gear, and an optional shield to use instead of Lidless.

BTW your totally hauling ass with this thread, GJ!

BTW im using a A1 cold merc.. but if there is better tell me please :)

FraterPerdurabo

I think that there was a guide to a Smiter a few pages back, but anyway:
stats:
STR: always only enough for gear
DEX: Max block if you have Zaka, if not, don't bother.
VIT: rest
ENE: none

skills:
Your options are open. Since you are PvM (PvP is the realm of the rich), Defiance is a possibility, however, remember that each 2 points in a Resist aura gives passive +2 resi to that element and +1 max resi, so if you put 20 points into Resist Fire, you will have 85 max fire resi. For PvMing, I would max out Resist Lightning.
A possibility, but not necessarily.
Pointless for PvM.
Thanks man, just trying to help out. Anyway, onto your issue:
1) You should really go for Infinity. It will be more expensive, but definately worth it.
2) List the rest of your gear, otherwise one can't tell.
3) a1 mercs are pretty much useless without decent gear, so I would go for a2 Holy Freeze (nightmare merc) with Infinity.

Scythe

Ok now, this isn't exactly a question on a build but its related to it. Just started playing or should I say going to play Diablo 2 after I stopped playing it sometime ago. Everything is pretty much updated such as new rune words, events (Uber boss in Tristram) and such that i have been reading. I want to start playing and I have no items to begin with. The question is, what should my first build be?

FraterPerdurabo

What was the last patch that you played? 1.10 or 1.09? Which realm are you on? Ladder or non-ladder?

I would seriously recommend that you go for a MF sorc. I wrote a guide for one a loong time ago, so you could use that for reference, but it's not all that good. Tubgirl There is the Hellfire torch which was the latest major addition to Diablo. The new runewords are mostly garbage, but some of them, i.e. Treachery are used a little bit (for BM mainly).

Anyway, let me know if you need anything else.

Ares

Umm Frater i think you forgot that he just started and he has no items so how would he get all of that?... Just make a Blizz sorc man they are tough and will own andy.. or you can make a fireball sorc those take her in like 3 hits man/

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FraterPerdurabo

The items are not the key, you can wear anything. The item list is just my way of showing how to get maximised efficiency out of a MF sorc. You didn't read it, did you?

Scythe

Thanks guys, I play US East Ladder and the last time i played Diablo 2, I believe it was 1.10 cause i remember something about Diablo Clone. Didn't really played then because I used b.net to chat with my friends who were on Warcraft. I read that guide and it looks like a nice set up, probably going to go with frozen orb. Last time I played, I didn't like Blizzard.

PoTatoes

Im gonna start d2 again after getting banned on west ladder..so i need a bit help on making a bvc for pvping. for weapons im using griefz and a beastz (i got from the drop game ^^) and i got a dusk nigma, arreats, maras, 1 raven, treks and gores, a low ass barb torch, and last but not least dracs.
so i was wondering if i could improve any of the items i have so in pvp i pwn :)

(im sorta on a budget since i borrowed 100fg just to get those items and pay for some other stuff..so i cant get the gg items -_-)

Espada

you forgot belt and id suggest you to use arachnid sash

FraterPerdurabo

Dude, I was about to write you a quick guide for a bvc, but Loits is in the process of writing an all out one (he's awesome with BvCs), so he should have it ready in the next few hours.

Loits

It's a little incomplete, so post on what you would like me to expand on.

PoTatoes

yay the loits and frater guides :)

FraterPerdurabo

(Y)

Guys he wrote it up here:
Tubgirl

SilverTears

Hey, Frater. I need a good PvP smiter guide man... I've been looking all over for one all I find is the uber trist smiters.

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