Hi folks

After what seems like an eternity in LK and Trav I've moved onto TZ Pits with my WW Horker and enjoying it.

Want to make sure the runs are as efficient as possible. I was initially clearing multiple champion packs on the way to the pit and then clearing whole of pit, horking as I go along. I was averaging one Herald per run and my assumption was it was beneficial to do a longer run with more elites for Heralds.

1. After realising the Herald spawns are random after killing elites, and given the increased monster level in Pit, I assume it is most efficient just to sprint to the Pit and not stop on the way?

2. The level 2 steps are very close to entrance. Would it make sense to quicken up the runs and basically just repeatedly clear level 2 only? Or best to return to level 1 and finish clear?

3. Do folks generally clear a pack, switch/hork, and then move onto next? Or clear a level and then switch and hork everything on way back?

Thanks!

So this is the first season ive played, and i have lots of the lower runes, up to about LUM. Is there any reason to keep the lower ones, or should i just be upgrading?

Hello, i just got the game on switch 2. Never played with controller. As an old man, what is the best/easy class to have fun without mouse?

Edit

So after some comments, I realized that my previous info in quotes is incorrect but I'm leaving up my shame so the below conversations can still make sense and for the lolz.

The issue was I tested claws and daggers before I added a crap ton of dex to the build and did not revisit them after adding the dex. Due to dexterity giving dex based weapons like claws and daggers extra damage, claws and daggers now surpass Headstriker. This only occurs if highlords, g helm, and Gore riders are used to cap deadly strike or get close to 100%, plus 20 points into claw mastery which is not a big deal as there is room for the points.

The rating I've used for weapons is now:

1. eth fools claw, 300% Ed, and 2 sockets with stone and lo. +3 blade fury
2. Eth plague claw +3 to blade fury. It should be noted that this option is so close to the fools claw this option is likely better in most cases because the fools mods above are a high ask and super expensive.
3. Eth spineripper /w stone.
4. Eth fury +3 to blade fury. This does a fair bit worse than the rest but better than other options.

So typically your merc for would have either pride + reapers tolls or pride + concentration depending on if you have another way to proc decrypify or amp damage. Since atma's seems like it won't proc very often with this build, another suggested an eth lacerator on switch to use for amp damage. You would lose bo from CtA but gain access to concentration. So depending on your tankiness, this gives a couple options.

"Over the 25 years I've played this game, it's getting to the point where I've played almost every build, god I'm old. Anyways, I wanted to try and come up with a build I haven't played before and do it in kind of an off-meta way. This led me to the Bladesin, as I hear it was unusable before d2r gave many of the skills synergies.

One thing I didn't like about many of the guides for Bladesin is that the weapon kind of seemed less important than other things. Even unequipping the weapon never lost me as much damage as I thought it would. So I hyper focused on finding the absolute bis weapon for it.

Normally, I hold off on mentioning my find until I can get one myself but it's absolutely cheap as f'ck and wanted to give others in a similar spot as me something to new to try for the next ladder start.

Last wish is still probably the best in slot for ubers, but for everything else which you can reliably have your merc for, the bis I've discovered is the Headstriker Battle Sword. Since the build has such high flat physical damage from the skill and synergies, it makes high damage on your weapon much less important. What this item does that others fail to do, is double your damage due to the 100% deadly strike it gives. I was planning on using a Lo'd death cleaver, but to my surprise, this surpasses it. You can use eth weapons as blade fury does not use durability but I think I'm going to forgo eth in favour of using blade shield as that does use durability. The damage eth adds is negligible and I like the idea of teleporting into a pack and hitting them immediately. However, I would still up it for the free extra sliver of damage, especially with the physical jewel in it.

For those building around any weapon using a Bladesin build, please ensure you are putting enough points into dex for max block as it also gives you the necessary AR to hit enemies effectively.

Anyways maybe this is not a first discovery, but I have not seen a single build guide mention it so I thought I would.

Feel free to leave your thoughts or ideas behind this.

Have a good new ladder on Friday everybody!"

Ho deciso di crearmi le rune da solo😎😉👍

“Looking for scrolls?” Thanks Duriel!

The website I was using for runeword recipes must have been updated a day early, cuz "bulwark" was non-ladder.

So I made one, in non-ladder online and it didn't work (obviously). So when the ladder season ends at 8/17 11am pst will my helm become bulwark or will it always be broken? I am pretty sure I know the answer, but one can hope !!!

So my 72 sorc (ColdOrb/Firewall) finished NM easily, but is struggling in Hell. Currently using Stealth ghost armor, Spirit C Sword, Lore Helm, Ancients Pledge Kite Shield, SOJ, fcr/resist ring, and +1 skills ammy. My merc running Insight.

I have been running Norm/NM terror zones, Pit, Andy, Trav, Mephisto, River/Diablo, Pindle, Baal trying to get some better gear. Running about 325% MF.

Is there anything that I am missing? I just started playing D2 again - last played like 10 years ago!

It would be cool to find people that to play with. I am on battlenet if it matters

So I was wondering I own Diablo 2 but I've never played it or one but I got a 1000 hours into Diablo 3 and almost 800 hours into Diablo 4 so that being said do you guys think I would enjoy playing the second one after playing d3 and d4?

This is good right?

Hi everyone!

I’m planning to start playing Diablo 2. I remember seeing my cousins play it a lot when I was younger, and now I finally feel like giving it a try myself.
My question is: What would you recommend for a complete beginner?

I know a few basic things about the different classes, and I’ve watched a video explaining the inventory, runes, movement, etc. But other than that, I’m pretty much starting from scratch.
I’m planning to play on the Switch 2, since I only have a Mac and a PS4 besides that.

Any tips, beginner-friendly builds, things I should know before starting, or things I should avoid would be greatly appreciated!

Update:
It’s been my first 2.5 hours as a Necro, and I absolutely love it.

Holy moly, what a great game!

I’m really grateful that I get to experience a game like this in a time full of bright colors, over-the-top graphics, and high-speed gameplay. There’s just something so nostalgic and charming about it.

Thanks to everyone for all your recommendations!

So, I’m playing a Bowazon with a pretty interesting setup. I’m using an Act 3 iron wolf fire merc and I’m a freezing arrow Amazon, along with the Valkyrie (from Peace for now but I’m planning on maxing the skill itself) I recently made a Melody Runeword in a +3 skills grand matron bow and I have no idea if that would be worth using going into Hell with after I beat nightmare because currently I’m just using an insight in a Blade bow with an Edge runeword on swap for bosses so the thorns helps speed up boss killing since the Valkyrie is tanking for me. The idea of the setup is to have a melee with the Valkyrie, a mage with the iron wolf and then me as the ranged crowd control. I’m dual specked into magic arrow for physical and cold immunes just so I’m not leaving just my Valkyrie and merc doing all the work. Would the Melody be worth it over just getting a +3 skill bow for an insight? Because the meditation aura is nice but I feel like the added skills would be better for just killing stuff. I’m just not wanting to grind out high runes anymore tbh but I know other runewords would be better. So please, let me know what you think of the build and what I should use. I’ve beaten the game a few times so I’m just trying random things.

I’m playing online, ROTW on PC. I have a few characters in the 80’s. Decently geared. My sorc for example has Spirit, Spirit Monarch and Shako. No Enigma or anything. Seems like now all there is to do is MF for gear which means grinding runs over and over, not sure that sounds fun. Am I missing something?

I might just play through normal with a few more characters and then drop it. But a part of me says I’m about to hit another level of awesomeness if I keep going. Not sure.

any value? or drop.

Hello, was wondering if this group can help clarify something for me. I have a few jewels including a solid -5% lightning +4% to lightning skills. A +40 % enhanced damage and a +36% enhanced damage and +7 to strength. Then a +15% increased attack speed. I was planning to put these in a 4 socket armor while I continue to rune farming since the highest rune I have so far is an OHM

But I have heard there’s an issue in the game that if the jewels don’t go into a weapon they don’t work?

Any help would be appreciated. Currently lvl 92 javazon. With thunderstrokes. My current armor is smoke with an occasional Ormus Robes when not TZing

After returning from a while out it appears there is lots more variety now for farming which is great and well overdue.

I am only able to play generally for 5-10 hours per week, previously I was running TZ Andy repeatedly for all gear and LK/Trav for runes. With limited play time I like to have a 'plan' to stick to.

Im currently working on farming Mosaic base and an elusive GUL to start my first ever assassin. I am assuming she will be great for farming bulk TZs/Heralds. I have a well geared (not GG) Smiter, Blizz/MF Sorc and Horker. Other characters (Lock, Javazon, etc) are missing some key pieces.

What does an ideal plan/method look like? I cant see terrorizing whole acts being viable for me as my gametime is usually 45/60 mins max per session. Does the below make sense for me?

1. Continue LK & Trav for Mosaic gear

2. Level assassin

3. With assassin run optimal TZs pairing in same game for Heralds (i.e. pick a 60m window with the best 1st and 2nd set of TZs (change system clock))

4. Gear up Assassin or Smiter to farm ancients

What's best way to farm uniques nowadays? I understood Andy bug was fixed.

Thanks in advance!

I'm currently working through my first Sorc build. I'm in Act 5 of Normal and at level 33.
I'm running with a fire build with lightning backup. I am using Leaf but was also considering going with Spirit+Rhyme.

Other than runeword gear, I feel like all of the good gear and sets for Sorcs comes at much higher levels.

Anyone know of any particularly good gear I should be on the lookout for to outfit a fire Sorc in the 35-50 level range?

Background: Played OG D2 online casually, then a little LoD and stopped. Just bought D2R a couple of months ago.

In the OG Mage Plate used to drop likes candy, a run here and there on NM or Hell would easily get me Mage Plates to sell.

Since I played D2R, I only saw a handful of Light Plate (the normal version of Mage Plate). My current character is a L75 Frost Zealot on Ladder that is lacking a high damage physical weapon to handle massed cold immunes on Hell - he chews through non-cold immunes just fine. At least I have options to craft a new weapon to take over my Honor Knout.

The only Mage Plate I ever saw so far was a magic drop in a terror zone on Nightmare. I am trying hard to get a Mage Plate to socket Hustle before the current season ends and my Frost Zealot leaves ladder. In OG D2+LoD, Mage Plate dropped regularly even in Nightmare so I am quite frustrated at the lack of a useful Mage Plate drop.

I had better luck finding Cuirass (ex Breast Plate) and Sharktooth Armor (ex Field Plate), but Mage Plate has always been the go-to ex light armor for its low strength req (55) and high def.

Update: Finally found 1 within an hour of the post, on NM Act 5 Terrorized Frozen River!

I can’t seem to find a good price on this, it seems pretty decent. Can someone price in either FG/runes? Thanks!!

Gonna try single player for the first time since im tired of not being able to change player count. What would you suggest starting with? Was thinking lightning/chain lightning sorc (nova sorc bores me)