Holy fire Paladin (self use Conviction): What is the best Merc?

I would definitely stick with Dragon's myself and Hand of Justice as well. Just because dual dreams are expensive/time consuming (in my opinion they are better on sorceress)

that and I think Hydra spam is neat. Even if the damage isn't great.

fredkid wrote: 2 years ago

I saw a guide of a hybrid Holy Fire + Holy Shock with:

Dual Dream + Dragon + Hand of Justice (self using Conviction)

But deals less damage than the
Double Dragon + Dragon + Hand of Justice (self using Conviction)

Holy Fire L30 x L44 makes a huge difference.

For now, me and my aura are killing everything by ourselves (Merc even take a considerable time to activate his aura - which only has a chance to happen when he actually engage in combat).

So I am using
Act 2 Holy Freeze
with
Delirium + Gloom + The Reaper's Toll (just because it is the better spear/polearm with life leach that I have at the moment...)



And I thinking in maybe change weapon to Arioc's Needle at L81 just to increase Holy Freeze radius.

Mine is a Fist of the Heavens and Holy Fire hybrid.

Here: https://maxroll.gg/d2/d2planner/a5ick02u#2

A1 Cold + Faith + Delirium (+ Treachery or maybe Duress, I suppose)?

Aelanwyr wrote: 2 years ago

A1 Cold + Faith + Delirium?

She may proc Delirium Confuse more
But don't need IAS (already at max breakpoint with Hand of Justice + 20 ias gloves + Highlord's Wrath) so, maybe
Ice (to replace Act 2 Holy Freeze)
or
Mist ( Concentration and Pierce)

fredkid wrote: 2 years ago

Aelanwyr wrote: 2 years ago

A1 Cold + Faith + Delirium?

She may proc Delirium Confuse more
But don't need IAS (already at max breakpoint with Hand of Justice + 20 ias gloves + Highlord's Wrath) so, maybe
Ice (to replace Act 2 Holy Freeze)
or
Mist ( Concentration and Pierce)

Speaking from experience, Mist does good work. Pierce + Freezing Arrow + Confuse is a great combo.

Aelanwyr wrote: 2 years ago

fredkid wrote: 2 years ago

Aelanwyr wrote: 2 years ago

A1 Cold + Faith + Delirium?

She may proc Delirium Confuse more
But don't need IAS (already at max breakpoint with Hand of Justice + 20 ias gloves + Highlord's Wrath) so, maybe
Ice (to replace Act 2 Holy Freeze)
or
Mist ( Concentration and Pierce)

Speaking from experience, Mist does good work. Pierce + Freezing Arrow + Confuse is a great combo.

And Mist is cheaper to test (~4.5 Ist x ~13 Ist)
and don't "eat" a Faith base

I am actually in the same boat as you, looking to build a Holy Fire paladin but not sure what Merc to use. I want to try something other than an A2 Merc since I won't really need the merc to run Infinity/reapers toll. Dual Plague A5 merc seems interesting but how often will the lower res actually proc especially in solo games where the Holy Fire might kill most stuff before he has a chance to attack, though in games with parties it might come in handy. However A1 merc could be quite useful, ranged so might get some attacks off occasionaly if the Holy Fire doesn't kill and you could use Harmony to speed up solo runs of whatever you're doing. Then you could also switch to Faith/Mist when running in full games for the extra phys damage for both of you. It's kind of a toss up.

That said, Have you thought about running COA with 2 fire facets? You'll lose the fire res (which eventually can be supplemented elsewhere) but increase damag overall and add to all skills. Someone can correct me if i'm wrong but the +3 to fire skills on Flickering Flame doesn't actually boost the Holy Fire from the gear.

Blindfire187 wrote: 2 years ago

That said, Have you thought about running COA with 2 fire facets? You'll lose the fire res (which eventually can be supplemented elsewhere) but increase damag overall and add to all skills. Someone can correct me if i'm wrong but the +3 to fire skills on Flickering Flame doesn't actually boost the Holy Fire from the gear.

I think Crown of Ages with two Rainbow Facet: Fire Death is probably the BIS in general for this build.
Or a helm with 3 Rainbow Facet: Fire Death (if you want to maximize your damage)

But have no money for those at the moment ... and I think the increase in damage does not compensate the price (it is like a "skiller charm" x "skiller charm of vita" )

And yes, +3 to fire skills do not affect the Holy Fire from items.
Flickering Flame is there just for the -10/15 to fire resistance and the Resist Fire aura.
You can still benefit from the Resist Fire aura putting Flickering Flame on your Merc (but you lose the Merc's helm - Delirium in my case - and lose 10 max fire resistance too - 95 self using and 85 without it)

fredkid wrote: 2 years ago

Blindfire187 wrote: 2 years ago

That said, Have you thought about running COA with 2 fire facets? You'll lose the fire res (which eventually can be supplemented elsewhere) but increase damag overall and add to all skills. Someone can correct me if i'm wrong but the +3 to fire skills on Flickering Flame doesn't actually boost the Holy Fire from the gear.

I think Crown of Ages with two Rainbow Facet: Fire Death is probably the BIS in general for this build.
Or a helm with 3 Rainbow Facet: Fire Death (if you want to maximize your damage)

But have no money for those at the moment ... and I think the increase in damage does not compensate the price (it is like a "skiller charm" x "skiller charm of vita" )

And yes, +3 to fire skills do not affect the Holy Fire from items.
Flickering Flame is there just for the -10/15 to fire resistance and the Resist Fire aura.
You can still benefit from the Resist Fire aura putting Flickering Flame on your Merc (but you lose the Merc's helm - Delirium in my case - and lose 10 max fire resistance too - 95 self using and 85 without it)

Understandable, I'm playing NL so price isn't that big of an issue since I don't have to worry about resets and have been playing on/off since the games release.

It'll be a little bit before I get my Dragondin running, I'd like to hear what you end up doing for the merc by end game. I have all the gear for the pally himself but still need to get the Merc gear, just not sure what to run yet. I assume the Helm and armour is the same across all mercs (Andy's and Fort) for end game correct?

@Blindfire187

----

I spent all my savings on the Dragondin's equipment ... Now I have to rebuild my "fortune" before being able to do another extravagance

----

About Merc, the default end game set up (that is an offensive approach) is Fortitude + Andariel's Visage (or Guillaume's Face if you want more CB)

A defensive approach is Vampire Gaze + Shaftstop or Sazabi's Grand Tribute (with Act 5 Merc)
Saw this for high players count and Ubers.

And a more crowd control approach is Delirium + Treachery (or Gloom if you go full crowd control)

Chains of Honor as armor if your Merc needs life leach to survive and you want Helm + Weapon with no life leach.

Some summoners put Bramble on Merc too (I use with my Necro).

----

I really liked @Aelanwyr suggestion of Act 1 Cold with Ice/Brand + Delirium + Treachery and will probably try it next

Totally agree about the cold Merc by the way, lmao almost suggested it myself the other day. Went to buy KFC and came back Aelandwyr already did. Kudos.

Should definitely proc often. And I definitely can't think of a better option myself.

fredkid wrote: 2 years ago

@Blindfire187

----

I spent all my savings on the Dragondin's equipment ... Now I have to rebuild my "fortune" before being able to do another extravagance

----

About Merc, the default end game set up (that is an offensive approach) is Fortitude + Andariel's Visage (or Guillaume's Face if you want more CB)

A defensive approach is Vampire Gaze + Shaftstop or Sazabi's Grand Tribute (with Act 5 Merc)
Saw this for high players count and Ubers.

And a more crowd control approach is Delirium + Treachery (or Gloom if you go full crowd control)

Chains of Honor as armor if your Merc needs life leach to survive and you want Helm + Weapon with no life leach.

Some summoners put Bramble on Merc too (I use with my Necro).

----

I really liked @Aelanwyr suggestion of Act 1 Cold with Ice/Brand + Delirium + Treachery and will probably try it next

I did this build cause I dont have time but want to get to 99 safely.

I tried to have a little bit of everything- maxed resistances, 200% magic find, 75% block, 3k life buffed with CTA, and max Holy Bolt damage from FOH for AOE damage (wrecks Chaos, Worldstone, etc) along with enough increased cast rate to get to the decent break point for FOH.

I decided an A2 Prayer, with Enigma for the magic find, Andy for harder hits and Insight for the synergy for auto heal and mana regen so I can Charge for mobility.

The Flickering Flame of course lets you wear the Flame Rift Sunder for free, and the Boots and Gloves could be changed out for Uber runs.

I will note that the Attack Rating on Max Roll differs from what my character screen says in game. In game, Ive got 2K+ and 3K+ AR for Zeal and Charge, respectively, and if I use Lava Gout gloves, the Enchant ups the AR to 3K and 4K respectively. Of course, AR isnt a big deal when youre auto killing almost everything and Ignore Targets Defense takes care of the trash mobs when doing p8 Baal runs to the Throne.

Can use Dracs for Life Tap, or Souldrainers for the dual leech and -50 Def per hit and Gores for Boots for bosses if need be, I just use Chance and Wartravs for magic find and its paid off immensely for finding gear for other builds and for trading, and besides, going for 99 is so boring, might as well try to get a little something here and there.

My Conviciton Aura will negate Uber Mephistos Conviction.
Also, Maxroll is not showing the fire damage added to Smite for some reason.
Over all, this build took me a long time to get charms for, especially the P Combat life, and such, and everything I wanted Im just pulling off barely, as can be seen here:
https://maxroll.gg/d2/d2planner/37kpg03l

kchaazz wrote: 1 year ago

Also, Maxroll is not showing the fire damage added to Smite for some reason.

elemental damage is not added to Smite.

I have a same setup with the exception of Flickering Flame. I picked act 5 merc. he serves as a mule to stuff my gears because

1. I am running so fast, like 120% FRW in total and also zooming a lot, merc can hardly keep up with me.
2. I do not have access to Enigma, so I can not safely have merc back when in danger. I need, more or less, spend some focus to monitor merc health situation.
3. No merc can add additional tick damage in a tangible way. and I dont need more defensive support than what I already have.

so basicly IMO, having a merc, not much value gain compare to the focus I need to put in.

My Merc is just there for a little healing, a lot of mana regen, and the extra magic find when he does get a kill in. He never comes close to dying so far. I just figured why not mess around while trying to level. I can only play in the morning before work, so I hit Terror zones mostly. 3 bars from 97 haha.
I just traded runes to get a +42 all res, Eth Exile base and more runes for a 60% ED, 19 Strength Steelrend, so Im going to make another Paladin with full Fanatacism/ Zeal, physical build. Ive got a 2 OS, 30 All res Crown of Ages, but its only 11 damage reduction. Was thinking since Steel rends require so much strengh, why not a COA Helm too?
I actually began when D2R came out as a Fanaticism/ Zeal build and traded everything I could to get runes and magic find charms so I could gear my other chars. Its fun, but no AOE gets boring and there was no lobby for console back then so even more difficult.

I'm using an Act 5 merc with dual Plague for a huge Cleansing aura and chance to proc LR.

This guy is the only one capable of keeping up with the paladin and he really adds convenient value to me and the party.

You can use any configuration, well mine is

Vampire Gaze
Fortitude
Woestave

merc act 2 Blessed Aim

stealth wrote: 1 year ago

[..]
Woestave
[..]

That..could be fun. Basically turning your A2 merc into a Clay Golem.
Though 40ED is just painfully low.

In this case Kelpie Snare would be better (higher % ed and higher Slow)

Schnorki wrote: 1 year ago

stealth wrote: 1 year ago

[..]
Woestave
[..]

That..could be fun. Basically turning your A2 merc into a Clay Golem.
Though 40ED is just painfully low.