Source
r/diablo2•
decisivemarketer

Impale + Fend zon is fun (My Budget Build)

I found a steel pillar a couple of weeks ago, and I was pretty stoked about making a fend Amazon. Finally got her to hell last night, and I also found a jeweler mask with plus life. I put 3 ias jewels, made a treachery and gave my Merc a non eth reapers toll.

Now she obliterates everything so quickly even on p8. I make her hug tight with her Merc. Once they get to the monster pack, everything is wiped clean in like 2 fends.

What I like about this build so far is that you don't need eBOTD(although it'll be really nice). Slow missiles keep you safe from casters and archers. You have so many points left over you can max out penetrate critical strike and Valkyrie. This means, high damage, not having to wear gear like Angelics for AR, and a good meat shield you can cast right on to dangerous enemies. Steel pillar has -20% enemy defence and you can also cast inner sight to hit even better. Indestructible mod is really helpful as well, because you can fend and impale as much as you like without repairing. Decrepify from reapers and Valkyrie keep you safe, even when you get amped, you're still generally safe because of how fast you attack and leech.

The downsides to this build though, is the resistance and max life if you don't have CTA. With 2 handed weapons, you don't get a shield for resistances. And steel pillar requires 165 strength, 106 dex. Another issue is that your Merc walks a little too slow as I'm wearing hustle armor.

For now, I'm going to put on a kira and maybe my maras so she survives a little better. I could also choose to socket a hel on my steel pillar and get about 50 points I could put into vitality that will give me additional 150 life instead. I might also use a harmony on swap to get my merc moving a little quicker.

I'm gonna try to beat hell with her using these new gears and see how she does in cows.

Posted Sep 25, 2023, 3:20 AM UTC

119
Dyl_Hutch•

That’s awesome, Ive never played a fend zon, I’m sure you’ll slap hell

1
decisivemarketerOPSingle Player•

You should try it.

This is my first real melee character I was building up. I have sorcs trappers, hammerdin and fohdin. I was playing a barb. Tried full IK whirlwind and frenzy on p8 but just didn't cut it. The damages are all way too low if you don't have at least Oath.

Not to mention this character is dirt cheap. You just need reapers toll, steel pillar and treachery.

1
kukaine•

For your Merc mobility woes maybe try an Act V frenzy barb Merc with 1 or 2 lawbringers so you still get the decrep. Worth a shot

1
decisivemarketerOPSingle Player•

Good idea. Will need to see if the loss of might aura will significantly impact my damage or not.

1
Franske_NL•

Then give the act V Merc a last wish hahaha

1
aegenium•

Does decrepify completely remove physical immune? I remember using decrepify on my werewolf and be struggled with physical immunes even still.

1
Thetameter•

Decrep reduces physical resist by 50% , it does not simply delete the imunity. You will need decent damage or more time to kill those targets. AMP curse works better with 100%, but you are loosing the slow effect.

1
Shift_change27•

It’ll remove most physical immunes, though they will still be highly resistant.

The physical immunes that won’t budge will probably be unique ghosts or something.

1
decisivemarketerOPSingle Player•

It does for most monsters. Unless they are already physical immune and then stone skin on top of it probably. Even with this build, I'm still killing pretty fast on the ghosts. I'm gonna try and put on a bone break and and see how it goes. I think I have one with a good roll.

1
ChigBungusMaximus•

I found a sick eth, self-repair war pike (296ED) , 200-1k damage) off of mephisto and soon made my fend zon to use it. She absolutely rips but ias is definitely an issue. I chose to max inner sight because its OP. Getting any extra off weapon ED (fort would be great) goes a long way since fend gives maybe 300 OED?

1
decisivemarketerOPSingle Player•

Very nice. I've been identifying rares but no luck so far. Thanks for your ideas, I might put more points into dodge and avoid too. Inner sight is definitely an option. Was considering it too, but steel pillar already gives me -20% enemy defence.

1
ChigBungusMaximus•

I’ve never used steel pillar but that is a really cool mod. I think soul drainers would be cool for this same kind of usage but they are missing 20ias :-/

1
decisivemarketerOPSingle Player•

Generally laying of hands or draculs are the best pvm gloves. Ctc weaken also overwrites decrepify. In almost all situation, soul drainers can only be considered if you don't have the other 2 which is unlikely as LoH is much more common.

1
InspectorMiserable37•

Nice! My favorite single player char is my fendzon. She just has an eth hone-sundan but it works pretty well. Enigma with a reapers merc is so good. Once I get BoTD I doubt I’ll play any of my other toons as much. I’m also using Kira’s (was lucky to find a perfect 70 on the 2nd or 3rd one I got from meph)

1
decisivemarketerOPSingle Player•

I'm hoping to find an eth hone sundan as well. It'll probably take me a while to find a zod and another vex.

1
giftedcovie•

So no jab? Bosses would be super slow, no?

1
decisivemarketerOPSingle Player•

You can go for jabs, if you're farming bosses. But it only makes sense if you stack up crushing blow. And then again there isn't too much of a reason to stack up points into jab since it doesn't add much damage. It's mainly down to whether you prefer jab or impale. You would at least have one point into either skills anyway.

1
SeriouslySlyGuy•

My stabazon is level 94. I use fend(maxed), light strike (charged strike, power strike synergy maxed) and Valkyrie. With points in the Dodge, evade, critical strike skills.

I also have a ebotd matriarchal spear, enigma on a superior shadow plate (couldn't find a superior sacred armor). My Merc is from A1 and uses faith.

Honestly it's so damn fun to play.

1
decisivemarketerOPSingle Player•

Yeah I think it's my favourite melee build.

1