Diablo II: Lord of Destruction ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PvP Throwing Barbarian Guide By: Joey Lau (J.Lau) Email: joeyl128@hotmail.com For: Computer Date: May 5, 2002 Latest Version: 1.03 Patch: 1.09 LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This document is protected by US Copyright Law. It is for private and personal use only--it cannot be reprinted in part or in whole, or reproduced in any way or in any form (written or otherwise). It is a free document that cannot be used in any sort of transaction. This FAQ cannot be referenced, altered, or used by anybody. This FAQ was created and is owned by me, Joey Lau. It can be found EXCLUSIVELY at GameFAQs.com. All copyrights and trademarks are acknowledged and respected that is not specifically mentioned herein. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ------------------ Table of Contents: ------------------ I. Introduction II. Stat Distribution - Strength - Dexterity - Vitality - Energy III. Skill Distribution VI. Equipment - Main Weapon - Secondary Weapon - Armor - Helm - Gloves - Boots - Belt - Ring1 - Ring2 - Ammy - Charms V. What To Do Against... - Barbarians a. Weapon/Shield b. Lancers/Maulers/etc. c. Throwers d. Hybrids - Paladins a. Chargers b. Smiters c. FoH'ers - Druids a. Weapon/Shield Werewolf b. No Shield Werewolf c. Werebear d. Elemental - Assassins a. Martial Artists b. Trappers - Sorceress' a. FO/TS b. Nova c. Hydra - Amazons a. Bowazons b. Javazons c. Hybridzons - Necromancers a. PDR/block b. 9 frame/block c. No PDR/block VI. My Equipment/Stat Distribution VII. Where to find good Throwing Weapons... VIII. Thanks To... =============== I. Introduction =============== Hi this is AzN GaMeR - My GameFAQs account name (Was known as *HolySamurai, now is *HostileFire on the USEast Realm). This is a Barbarian I have been playing with for about 4 months now (SpEeDyThRoWeR, lvl. 93) and he is doing extremely well in most duel games I join (legit private and public). I will help you out with my experiences as a PvP Throw Barb during the duration of this guide and I hope you will appreciate what I’m doing. Also this is pretty much my very first FAQ so manner please. I'll be using a lot of Diablo II terminology so if you need help go ask on the boards or check out Sashanan's Terminology FAQ... ===================== II. Stat Distribution ===================== Strength: If you can use your equipment without the +stats from your shield or weapon you will not run the risk of popping too much. So put just enough str for you equipment without the shield or weapon boosting them. Dexterity: More dex means more damage and chance to attack (+AR items help more though) but the damage doesn’t go up too much so leave it just enough for the use of all your equipment. Vitality: All the rest of the stat pts. go in here. Energy: None needed since it doesn’t require too much mana to Dbl. Throw... ======================= III. Skill Distribution ======================= I’ll only be listing the ones you need to put pts. in and remember to put 1 in all the prerequisites. 1 - Battle Command (+1 for BO) 1 - Frenzy (Fun to charge up and throw) 10 - Inc. Speed (Adds by % of your original R/W which means it can add a lot) 10 - Nat. Resistance (It doesn't really need to be so high in legit duels because duels are usually held in NM but most of the people reading this go to PK/duel games which means a lot of Hell games) 1 - Leap Attack (There are sometimes when you need to jump... You can use this to leap over rivers if needed to run away O_O) Max - Battle Order (Mmmm double life...) Max - Throwing Mastery (Only way to deal more damage) Max - Dbl. Throw (More AR = must have... 8k AR = the minimum you should have) Random - The rest of the pts. or more in Inc. Speed and Nat. Resistance... I chose Iron Skin because casting Shout is annoying... ============= VI. Equipment ============= I’ll list the top choices of each armor, weapon, etc. below... Keep in mind Throw Barbs can't use Titan's Revenge and they cannot socket throwing items. Also if you pass 55% IAS on a Throw Barb a glitch starts up in which only 1 javelin will lose quantity which will result in fairly short duels (Edit: I believe this only happens with Cruel Winged Harpoons). Main Weapon: 1) 2xCruel Winged Harpoons 2) 2xCruel Stygian Pilums 3) Cruel Ghost Glaives if it has 20%+ IAS mod Secondary Weapon: 1) Two +3 Warcry Swords/Javelins/Axes/etc. 2) One +3 Warcry Sword/Javelin/Axe/etc. and Whistan's Guard (Eld rune) - My dex is high enough so that I have max block at lvl. 93 but keep in mind not all shields only need that little dex to max block some need more Armor: 1) Shaftstop (ED/IAS, ED/Max, IAS, ED, Um rune or Jah rune) 2) Guardian Angel (Um rune) - Only use is for elemental type characters but isn't needed too much 3) ED/IAS or ED/Max Jeweler's (insert light armor with low str requirement and can reach 4 sockets here) of the Whale Helm: 1) .09 Arreat's Face (ED/IAS, ED/Max, IAS, ED, Um rune or Jah rune) 2) .08/.09 Vampire Gaze (ED/IAS, ED/Max, IAS, ED, Um rune or Jah rune) - Not the best choice of helm but the extra PDR helps against Zons Gloves: 1) Sigon's - 10% life leech and 30% IAS allows you to tank arrows, WWs, etc. and gives you speed in your attacks 2) Crafted 20% IAS, Knockback gloves - Any extra mods like life leech would help a lot Boots: 1) Sigon's - The only spot where it would be viable without totally screwing a build 2) War Travelers - +damage, +Vit and +Str = very useful 3) IK's - the +AR and +life is also good another of the Thrower's top choices Belt: 1) String of Ears - Hopefully perfect PDR and life leech which helps out a lot 2) M'avina's Tenet - Extra 20% R/W helps a lot against Zons though not as much as Strings help Ring1: 1) Raven Frost (+AR is more useful then +dex so try to get the highest +AR one) Ring2: 1) Corruption Grip (+AR and mana leech is needed with all the #1 choices) 2) Viper Whorl (+AR though not as high as Corruption Grip but has +life and +mana mods) Ammy: 1) Corruption Heart/Havoc Torc (Corruption Heart for more leech and +dex but Havoc Torc for Hell if your resistance doesn't max) 2) Cat's Eye (R/W, 20% IAS and +25 dex is very useful) Charms: (Any of these put together is very useful as well) 1) R/W SCs 2) +Life SCs 3) +AR, +dmg SCs 4) +1 Warcry with +40 life GC ======================== V. What To Do Against... ======================== Any other problems you have against any other characters just message me or post on the board and I can help you out if I have experience against them. Keep in mind I don't over abuse absorb the most I usually use is the very least a Raven (standard) and Guardian Angel. Also as you can see reading the above I don't use poison since its bugged in PvP and doesn't go through the 1/4 PvP penalty but its your choice you pubbie duelers ^_^ ------------- 1) Barbarians ------------- A. Weapon/Shield Most Weapon/Shield Barbs out right now have max PDR, max block and a lot of life. This is one of the hardest match-ups for the Throw Barb since desynch will most likely allow for them to hit you and you ending up losing all the damage you have done or your Javelins will most likely run out for you and you'll end up having to end the match. Try to get them on the run chasing after you and start chucking javelins back at them is the only thing you can do. Any other Barb that doesn't have too much PDR will most likely die though since you can pretty much stand there and watch there life go down (Hehe I actually did that it was funny tanking WW against a Barb with max block but couldn't tank damage for ****). Also while running around the ponds it seems as you get stuck on it a lot which seems to cause more desynch so try not to use it too much. B. Lancers/Maulers/etc. Well any Barb without a Shield, even with max PDR will not beat a good Throw Barb unless your javelins break. Use the same strat that you use vs. Weapon/Shield Barbs but most likely you can tank the Whirlwind and they will end up on the floor after the Whirlwind because you would've been still chucking the javelins at them while they were Whirlwinding. Good Barbs with no shields though have high IAS on their weapon and either has high AR or the Eth bug which means tanking might equal your death pretty quick. C. Throwers One of the most fun match-ups. Try to anticipate where they will be going and to dodge the javelins that come towards you. Also keep in mind that "locking" on them isn't a good idea since it is easily avoided by running around and they get a better chance to hit you by stopping and then tossing 1 Dbl. Throw then start to run again. D. Hybrids Most Hybrids I know are of the Weapon/Shield - Thrower variant and are very versatile taking the best of both worlds (Lol go buy that CD). Play more defensively seeing as how you'll never know when they switch and change on you. Take advantage when they get lag before the switch and they end up using WW as a Thrower (Haha thats you PKPKPK). ----------- 2) Paladins ----------- A. Chargers Another hard match-up if its against a really good Charger but most aren't too good so just keep running back and tossing and use the ponds to your advantage (Edit: Ponds will stop the constant charge attack). Run away as fast as you can when you see the Holy Freeze aura under him and they will most likely take it off so you can run at them again and start chucking. They desynch a lot more then Barbs though so be careful. B. Smiters Probably a lot easier then the Chargers since they aren't as fast. Keep running and then chucking javelins back most Smiters probably also have FoH though so try to get away if you ever see the Conviction aura under you. Leap Attack out at times when you seem to be stuck to a wall, pond, house, etc. C. FoH'ers Most of the ones I duel just stand there casting FoH so I don't know how good they really are because most of them die even with max block and PDR... --------- 3) Druids --------- A. Weapon/Shield Werewolf Sort've like dueling a Zealot but usually a lot stronger and has more R/W. Duel them exactly like the Weapon/Shield Barbs and they will die easy since they don't have Whirlwind to screw with you though the across the screen Fury can hurt a lot. (Remember the pond desynch~) B. No Shield Werewolf Easy... Duel same as above but they die a lot quicker since they don't use a shield... C. Werebear Wearbears don't do sufficient damage to hurt you greatly though they do have more life the Werewolves. You can usually tank all their attacks while chuckin' Javalins of your own. D. Elemental I've dueled these a few times and I think that one of them might've been the best PvP Elemental Druid (from the DiabloII.Net forum of course). Not hard at all other then that they seem to have a lot of life, max block and max PDR and it was a very annoying duel while they run around like a madman. ------------ 4) Assassins ------------ A. Martial Artists Another one of the harder match-ups against experienced ones (Haha too bad there aren't too many other then from the people at DiabloII.Net forums). They usually MB then DF in then put you in a sort of stun lock (I had 56% FHR and can barely get out) with real damaging Scissor Suwayyah's, nice ethereal claws, quick weapons, etc... Try to run downward or to the left which sort've screws with the DF targeting. And whenever they cast MB try to LA out of it right after cause you don't want to be caught in the stun lock. Or you can try to cause them to get block animation, which might allow you to run away for a short time. B. Trappers Haha most of these aren't too good at all. The only 2 Trappers I knew that beat me a few times was *CC-Maxus and my cousin PKPKPK and they both had an awesome trapper with 75% PDR, max block, 1.9k+ and 10-12 frame MB. Try to LA out a lot when you see MB and just so you know LS isn't too good of a Trapper skill and any Trapper using solely LS isn't too good. WoF should be the choice for most Trappers. ------------- 5) Sorceress' ------------- A. FO/TS This is what most Sorcs are though not many know how to use them well. I've been seeing a lot of PDR/Block Sorcs now, which may cause some trouble since they can just tank you and cast FO most of the time. The ones with no block and Oculus (or Wizzy for that matter) though usually die very easily since they usually cast at 8-9 frames and you can get a "lock" onto them and they will die in about 2 Dbl. Throws. Not many know that maxed CM works real well too so the FO isn't as damaging as it should be. Again the real hard ones I duel I can barely beat (8 frame cast/max block/1.5k+ life/high FO and CM) and of course they come from DiabloII.Net and that person I'm mainly talking about is GirI so if you ever want a challenge message him. What you do against most good Sorcs though is toss Javelins in the direction they will probably tele into or are tele-ing from. The FO trap = nasty though so watch out for that. B. Nova Haha Nova Sorcs die real fast unless they have both PDR and block. They think you're a Zon and they think a few measly lvl. 40+ Nova's and their TS will kill you but they are usually very wrong. Just tank the Novas and toss javelins like mad. Message *awksamurai if you want to own someone... He casts at 9 frames, has no block, around 1.2k life and thinks his lvl. 42+ TS/Nova will kill all (keep in mind he complains a lot about any kind of absorb or Guardian Angel even when no one uses it and he will accuse you of using them probably whenever you kill him)... C. Hydra Play defensively and wait till they come after you. Some just hide in their Hydras, which is when you toss at them from a screen away. Try to target using your cursor and aiming for them. ---------- 6) Amazons ---------- A. Bowazon Not too hard actually unless they have real skill and abuse Buriza, slow, knockback, Windy and/or pierce. Get them to chase you and chuck those javelins back at them or use that aiming you should be practicing and toss from one or two screens away. Keep yourself running and this is where the secondary weapon + shield comes in with 80% block (glitched for Whistan's supposedly) you can run away and not cause too many invisible arrows on yourself. Never get too close so they can "lock" on you because against good 7-8 fps Zons you're dead. B. Javazon A very annoying match-up being they are pretty much the better Thrower. They can dodge your attacks, max block, max PDR, and get around 1.5k+ life. Duel them like you would Throwers other then that try to be a little more defensive. Also there are a few good "Jabazons" out there with perfect ethereal Titan's, max block, a lot of IAS, good % to hit, max PDR, 2k+ life and high R/W which might cause a lot of trouble if you don't run a few frames faster then them. C. Hybridzon This is what most legit duelers go. Very annoying since they can tank themselves in near you then switch to a Bow and shoot you down. Most of them don't actually use LF in duels though and mainly use the Titan's for R/w and the shield to tank for them until they can get near you. Run a lot and attack backwards hoping to get them while they are running. --------------- 7) Necromancers --------------- A. PDR/block I play most Necromancers very offensively since they go down pretty fast after the BA wears off. Actually try to dodge most of the BS' since it hurts very badly and to keep them on the run so they don't cast it too much. Not many will try to go BS for Dbl. Throw since the Throw Barb will always win. I've beaten a few of the better Necromancers from the DiabloII.Net PvP forums. This is a match where you really have to anticipate where they go next since they are usually on the run. All PDR/block Necros usually cast at 10 frames. Use walls to block Invisible BS' which happen a lot and never stop and stand in the open. B. 9 frame/block Same as above other then maybe play even more offensively and chase him down and chuck those javelins like mad. No PDR = very bad against Throw Barbs. C. No PDR/block Haha the crappiest of the Necro duelers other then they have an advantage over you in Necro vs. Sorc, Necro vs. Necro, etc. They might have around 1.8k+ life but that block could save their lives. Play all out offensive and don't even bother dodging the BS' and they might try to get very few of them off at once after they notice that. ================================== VI. My Equipment/Stat Distribution ================================== 1) My Equipment Main Weapons: A. Cruel Winged Harpoon of the Wraith (298%ED, 7% mana leech) B. Cruel Winged Harpoon of Strength (285%ED, +2 str) Secondary Weapons: A. +3 Warcry Sword B. +3 Warcry Sword Armor: A. Shaftstop (ED/IAS) B. Guardian Angel (Um rune) Helm: A. Perf. .09 Arreat's Face (ED/Max) Gloves: A. Sigon's Boots: A. Sigon's Belt: A. Perf. String of Ears B. Thundergod's Vigor Ring1: A. Corruption Grip Ring2: B. 248AR/20dex Raven Ammy: A. Corruption Heart B. Havoc Torc Charms: The same I listed above other then most of them have secondary mods... 2) Base Stat Distribution Strength: 123 Dexterity: 150 Vitality: 277 Energy: 10 3) Stats Life w. BO: 3633 Mana w. BO: 319 Attack Rating: 9659 Defense w. Shout: 5521 Throw Damage1: 301-2170 Throw Damage2: 295-2110 =========================================== VII. Where to find good Throwing Weapons... =========================================== They sell them here... Or you can find some magic elite throwing weapons in the Hell, Moo Moo Farm. .-----------------------------. |Difficulty | Act | Shop from?| .-----------------------------. | Hell | 4 | Halbu | | Hell | 5 | Anya | | Hell | 5 | Malah | .-----------------------------. ================== VIII. Thanks To... ================== CJayC - For finally posting it after I mailed him it 2... 3 times was it? o_O Phreek (DiabloII.Net forum) - He got me all excited about this build and too bad he's quitting wish him luck with DAoC PhiSig67 (DiabloII.Net and GameFAQ name) - Pretty much made up the Hybrid build and he keeps bugging me to make one... I started on one but my sword disappeared so I quit on him again... PKPKPK (GameFAQ name) - Haha my cousin. We practice duel a lot and our skill is pretty much equal. People from clan gosupvp - Thanks for the duels! Unpublished FAQ © 2002 Joey Lau