Act 2 Merc Weapons and Runewords

Elite Polearms

(All ias breakpoints listed are for act2 hirelings using jab)

Ogre Axe Qlvl: 60
Req: str 195, dex 75
86.5 Avg dmg, Range 2, Up to 3s, speed 0
Ias breakpoints: 0, 9, 20, 37, 63, 105
Attack seconds:3.1, 3.3, 3.5, 3.8, 4.1, 4.5

Colossus Vougle Qlvl: 64
Req: str 210, dex 55
91 Avg dmg, Range 2, Up to 4s, speed 10
Ias breakpoints: 0, 5, 11, 22, 35,56,89, 147
Attack seconds: 2.7 , 2.9, 3.1, 3.3, 3.5, 3.8, 4.1, 4.5

Tresher Qlvl: 71
Req: str 150, dex 118
76.5 Avg dmg Range 1, Up to 5s, speed -10
Ias breakpoints: 0, 8, 22, 42,75, 142
Attack seconds: 3.3, 3.5, 3.8, 4.1, 4.5, 5

Cryptic axe Qlvl: 79
Req:  str 165, dex 103
91.5 Avg dmg ,Range 3, Up to 5s, speed 10
Ias breakpoints: 0, 5, 11, 22, 35,56,89, 147
Attack seconds: 2.7 , 2.9, 3.1, 3.3, 3.5, 3.8, 4.1, 4.5

Great Poleaxe Qlvl: 84
Req:  str 179, dex 99
86.5 Avg dmg, Range 4, Up to 6s, speed 0
Ias breakpoints: 0, 9, 20, 37, 63, 105
Attack seconds:3.1, 3.3, 3.5, 3.8, 4.1, 4.5

Giant Tresher Qlvl: 85
Req: str 188, dex 140
77 Avg dmg, Range 4, Up to 6s, speed -10
Ias breakpoints: 0, 8, 22, 42,75, 142
Attack seconds: 3.3, 3.5, 3.8, 4.1, 4.5, 5

Elite spears

Hyperion Spear  Qlvl: 58
Req: str 155 dex 120
77 Avg Dmg, Range 3, Up to 3s, speed -10 
Ias breakpoints: 0, 8, 22, 42,75, 142
Attack seconds: 3.3, 3.5, 3.8, 4.1, 4.5, 5

Stygian pike Qlvl: 66
Req:  str 168 dex 97
86.5 Avg Dmg, Range 3, Up to 4s, speed 0
Ias breakpoints: 0, 9, 20, 37, 63, 105
Attack seconds:3.1, 3.3, 3.5, 3.8, 4.1, 4.5

Mancatcher Qlvl: 74
Req: str 132 dex 134
67 Avg Dmg, Range 4, Up to 5s, speed -20
Ias breakpoints: 0, 9, 26, 52, 102
Attack seconds: 3.5, 3.8, 4.1, 4.5, 5

Ghost Spear  Qlvl: 83
Req: str 122 dex 163
86.5 Avg, Dmg, Range 4,Up to6s, speed 0
Ias breakpoints: 0, 9, 20, 37, 63, 105
Attack seconds:3.1, 3.3, 3.5, 3.8, 4.1, 4.5

War Pike Qlvl: 85
Req: str 165 dex 106
105.5 Avg Dmg, Range 4,Up to 6s, speed 20
Ias breakpoints: 0, 4, 9, 16, 24, 37, 54, 80, 125
Attack seconds: 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.9, 3.1, 3.3, 3.5, 3.8, 4.1

The runewords

The Cheap

Polearm Crescent moon (3s) Shael + Um + Tir
10% Chance To Cast Level 17 Chain Lightning On Striking
7% Chance To Cast Level 13 Static Field On Striking
+20% Increased Attack Speed
+180-220% Enhanced Damage (varies)
Ignore Target's Defense
-35% To Enemy Lightning Resistance
25% Chance of Open Wounds
+9-11 Magic Absorb (varies)
+2 To Mana After Each Kill

Level 18 Summon Spirit Wolf (30 Charges)

Polearm Insight (4s) Ral + Tir + Tal + Sol 

Level 12-17 Meditation Aura When Equipped (varies)

+35% Faster Cast Rate

+200-260% Enhanced Damage (varies)

+9 To Minimum Damage

180-250% Bonus to Attack Rating (varies)

Adds 5-30 Fire Damage

+75 Poison Damage Over 5 Seconds

+1-6 To Critical Strike (varies)

+5 To All Attributes

+2 To Mana After Each Kill

23% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items

Polearm Obedience (5s) Hel + Ko + Thul + Eth + Fal

30% Chance To Cast Level 21 Enchant When You Kill An Enemy

40% Faster Hit Recovery

+370% Enhanced Damage

-25% Target Defense

Adds 3-14 Cold Damage 3 Second Duration (Normal)

-25% To Enemy Fire Resistance

40% Chance of Crushing Blow

+200-300 Defense (varies)

+10 To Strength

+10 To Dexterity

All Resistances +20-30 (varies)

Requirements -20%

The rich

Polearm Doom (5S) Hel + Ohm + Um + Lo + Cham

5% Chance To Cast Level 18 Volcano On Striking

Level 12 Holy Freeze Aura When Equipped

+2 To All Skills

+45% Increased Attack Speed

+330-370% Enhanced Damage (varies)

-(40-60)% To Enemy Cold Resistance (varies)

20% Deadly Strike

25% Chance of Open Wounds

Prevent Monster Heal

Freezes Target +3

Requirements -20%

Polearm Destruction (5S) Vex + Lo + Ber + Jah + Ko

23% Chance To Cast Level 12 Volcano On Striking

5% Chance To Cast Level 23 Molten Boulder On Striking

100% Chance To Cast level 45 Meteor When You Die

15% Chance To Cast Level 22 Nova On Attack

+350% Enhanced Damage

Ignore Target's Defense

Adds 100-180 Magic Damage

7% Mana Stolen Per Hit

20% Chance Of Crushing Blow

20% Deadly Strike

Prevent Monster Heal

+10 To Dexterity

Polearm Infinity (4S) Ber + Mal + Ber + Ist

50% Chance To Cast Level 20 Chain Lightning When You Kill An Enemy

Level 12 Conviction Aura When Equipped

+35% Faster Run/Walk

+255-325% Enhanced Damage (varies)

-(45-55)% To Enemy Lightning Resistance (varies)

40% Chance of Crushing Blow

Prevent Monster Heal

0.5-49.5 To Vitality (Based on Character Level)

30% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items

Level 21 Cyclone Armor (30 Charges)

Polearm Pride (4s) Cham + Sur + Io + Lo (Support weapon for melee chars or Bowa)

25% Chance To Cast Level 17 Fire Wall When Struck

Level 16-20 Concentration Aura When Equipped (varies)

260-300% Bonus To Attack Rating (varies)

+1-99% Damage To Demons (Based on Character Level)

Adds 50-280 Lightning Damage

20% Deadly Strike

Hit Blinds Target

Freezes Target +3

+10 To Vitality

Replenish Life +8

1.875-185.625% Extra Gold From Monsters (Based on Character Level)

Melee weapon Eternity 5s Amn + Ber + Ist + Sol + Sur

Indestructible

+260-310% Enhanced Damage (varies)

+9 To Minimum Damage

7% Life Stolen Per Hit

20% Chance of Crushing Blow

Hit Blinds Target

Slows Target By 33%

Regenerate Mana 16%

Replenish Life +16

Cannot Be Frozen

30% Better Chance Of Getting Magic Items

Level 8 Revive (88 Charges)

Weapon Breath of the Dying 6s Vex + Hel + El + Eld + Zod + Eth

50% Chance To Cast Level 20 Poison Nova When You Kill An Enemy

Indestructible

+60% Increased Attack Speed

+350-400% Enhanced Damage (varies)

+200% Damage To Undead

-25% Target Defense

+50 To Attack Rating

+50 To Attack Rating Against Undead

7% Mana Stolen Per Hit

12-15% Life Stolen Per Hit (varies)

Prevent Monster Heal

+30 To All Attributes

+1 To Light Radius

Requirements -20%

Weapon Hand of Justice 4s Sur + Cham + Amn + Lo

100% Chance To Cast Level 36 Blaze When You Level-Up

100% Chance To Cast Level 48 Meteor When You Die

Level 16 Holy Fire Aura When Equipped

+33% Increased Attack Speed

+280-330% Enhanced Damage (varies)

Ignore Target's Defense

7% Life Stolen Per Hit

-20% To Enemy Fire Resistance

20% Deadly Strike

Hit Blinds Target

Freezes Target +3

Weapon Fortitude 4s El + Sol + Dol + Lo

20% Chance To Cast Level 15 Chilling Armor when Struck

+25% Faster Cast Rate

+300% Enhanced Damage

+9 To Minimum Damage

+50 To Attack Rating

20% Deadly Strike

Hit Causes Monster To Flee 25%

+200% Enhanced Defense

+X To Life (Based on Character Level)*

All Resistances +25-30 (varies)

12% Damage Taken Goes To Mana

+1 To Light Radius

Weapon Phoenix 4s Vex + Vex + Lo + Jah

100% Chance To Cast level 40 Blaze When You Level-up

40% Chance To Cast Level 22 Firestorm On Striking

Level 10-15 Redemption Aura When Equipped (varies)

+350-400% Enhanced Damage (varies)

Ignores Target's Defense

14% Mana Stolen Per Hit

-28% To Enemy Fire Resistance

20% Deadly Strike

+350-400 Defense Vs. Missile (varies)

+15-21 Fire Absorb (varies)

The Merc Gear

Headpiece
Andariel visage (IAS and Life Leech) / Tal rasha helm (Life leech and @Resistances)/ Vampire Gaze (Life leech and Damage Reduction) All this itens can be socketed for rune/jewel

Armor:
Fortitude runeword on ebuged armor (Damage and Res)
Treachery on ebuged armor (IAS, @res/dmg red)

Weapon: Eth Reapers Toll, Eth Bonehew, runewords above.

Obviously you can use alternative gears but i don't gonna cover it here.

Hope you guys enjoy the post :) See you arround.

The Keymakers

The keymakers are the characters i use to farm keys in diablo2, necessary to collect the preciousss torches :)  The sorceress build i use for farm the Countess/Summoner and the assassin/barbarian to farm Nihlathak.

The how: My post about the pandemonium event

Learn about maps navigation in the forgotten tower (countess) with BTneandertal 

Learn about maps navigation in Halls of Pain/ Vaught (Nihlathak) with Djwatters22

Some tips for the Countess by Dbrunski125

All of them are great diablo2 twitch streamers/youtubers be shure to subscribe and like the videos ;)

Bosses resistances

Countess physical 20, Magic 20, Fire 108, Cold 130, Light 33, Poison 20

Summoner physical 30, Magic 30, Fire 30, Cold 75, Light 30, Poison 30

Nihlathak physical 0, Magic 25, Fire 33, Cold 70, Light 33, Poison 70 

The 200 FCR lightning sorceress

The build: hardpoints static field, telekinesis, teleport, warmth, frozen armor. Max points,  Lightning, Chain Lightning, Lightning mastery, Nova and Charged bolt.

The gear: (The goal is 194 ++ fcr total) I've 209. 

Eschuta temper (40), vipermagi (35), spirit shield (35), fcr rare/magic rings (10 each), magefist (20) (i prefer this one and not trangoul because of the mana regen), griffons (25), crafted caster amulet (19 didnt roll perfect one), arachnid mesh belt (20), boots wartrav/aldurs/rare boots. Switch: Spirit shield + Call to Arms runeword

Alternative gear: (Try got a minimum of 117% fcr)

Spectral Shard Blade (50) Suicide Branch Burnt Wand (50)Wizardspike Bone Knife (50) Heart of the Oak (40)

Rare Circlets (20), Trangoul gloves (20), crafted caster belt (10), Stealth armor (25)

The merc gear: the only mandatory item here is Insight runeword for the mana regen.

The inventory. Torch, Ani, Lightning Gcs,  Life scs, Res scs.

The Trapsin

The build: hardpoints Burst of Speed, Fade, Cloack of shadows, Mindblast, Wake of fire and Wake of inferno . Max points,  Death sentry, Fireblast, Lightning sentry, Charged bolt sentry, Shock web.

The gear: (Goals 102FCR, 48/86 FHR, Max Res)

Enigma armor, Shako, Spirit shield, Heart of the Oak runeword, Magefist/Trang oul gloves, Arachs, SOJ/BK rings, rare boots (res focus), Crafted amulet/Maras. Switch: Spirit shield + Call to Arms runeword.

Alternative gear: +traps or assa skills/20Fcr circlets, wizzardspike,bloodfist, crafted caster belt/goldwrapnosferatus coil, fcr/res rings, aldurs/nat boots, traps amulet. Switch: Spirit shield + lower res wand.

The merc gear: Sol Vamp Gaze, Sol Eth Gladiators Bane, Infinity or Insight

The inventory. Torch, Ani, Traps GCs, Life scs, Res scs.

Gameplay tips: (the speed you put the traps on ground is based on IAS not FCR)

CTA/Burst of speed buff, teleport till Nihlathak use Cloack of Shadows to blind archers/vipers, put 3 lightning sentry and 2 death sentry (near to you because your merc+traps probably will kill some of Nita minions), keep attacking Nita with Fireblast, after monsters start die put more death sentrys.

The Retributioner (Con Barb)

The build: Hardpoints: Leap, Berseker, Howl, Battle command, Iron skin, Natural resistance, Increased Stamina, Increased Speed.

Max points into Concentrate, Battle Orders, Bash, Mastery (swords or axes), other points into Shout

The Gear: Andariel Visage, Stormshield, Fortitude, Highlords, Upped Gores, Ravenfrost ring, Nature Piece Ring, String of Ears belt, Death Cleaver (i don't have Grief on a zerker axe and 60dealy is nice), switch Lacerator axe (For proc amplify damage on Nita), Lava gout gloves

Alternative gear: Vamp Gaze/ Arreats F, Gerke Sanctuary shield, Cats Eye amulet, Verdungos belt, Grief on a phase blade/ upped head striker/ Azurewrath/ Lightsaber, switch Lawbringer runeword (to proc decrepify). Steelrend/ Draculs gloves.

The merc gear: Sol Vamp Gaze, Sol Eth Gladiators Bane, 2shaels (or 15ias/ed jews) 1 amn Tomb Reaver.

Inventory: Torch, Ani, Combat Skillers, Gheeds fortune, some mf scs, max dmg ar scs.

Gameplay tips: First i want to talk a little about gear choice, one of the biggest problems in farm Nihlathak are the Vipers, they give a tons of damage (poison/phisical), andys visage give me 10 to Max poison res thats the main reason of my choice (also IAS and life leech), strings of ears/stormshield give me damage reduction i need (50% DR) (helps againt corpse explosion damage and the vipers), Natures ring is for the Damage reduced by X (you can put sol runes into helm and shield but i don't have more socket quest). All i talk before is the defensive aspect, now go for the offensive, Deadly strike (boots, weapon and amulet), i choose Axes because sometimes Nihlathak comes with Stoneskin so i use Lacerator to proc amplify damage to destroy him quicker, you can go with swords and use lawbringer but decrep is not that effective as AD.

Try get the high defense you can (they will have like 10% chances to hit you), if you find Vipers stop runnin and start leapin! If you found to many vipers/archers/sucubus howl them before going to Nita.

Hope you guys enjoy the post GLHF!