"budget" a5 merc gear questions

I am leveling a fohdin offline right now, at lvl 60. It's been a lot of fun and I am going to do an a5 merc with him.

What options would you pick?
I have sazabi's full set, Treachery, Hustle, Arreat's Face, lightsaber, Lawbringer Phase Blade, a 3 socket Mythical Sword i could make something in.

Eventually i think i'd want Grief + Lawbringer, but I don't want to use a Lo on Grief at the moment.

I just finished maxing out fist of the heaven's and Holy Bolt, trying to decide what to points in next. I may do Fanaticism for the merc, even though guides are telling me to do Conviction or Holy Shock.

oh i also have a Headstriker - i hear that's a good options as well right?

You have everything you need.
Arreat's Face + threachery/Hustle + Lawbringer + Hustle in a Phase Blade.

As last weapon, you could also do a Plague in your Mythical Sword, but you need Cham.
Gives a lot of quality of life !

Full Sazabi's with Lawbringer is quite durable. My uber smiter has a Merc like that.

Hustle weapon for cheap fana aura is worth considering, too. If you have a Cham, Plague can serve as a "budget" Infinity.

There are many great and suitable options at your disposal. Just try them and see what you enjoy most.

vued wrote: 8 months ago

Full Sazabi's with Lawbringer is quite durable. My uber smiter has a Merc like that.

Hustle weapon for cheap fana aura is worth considering, too. If you have a Cham, Plague can serve as a "budget" Infinity.

There are many great and suitable options at your disposal. Just try them and see what you enjoy most.

if i ever find a Cham i'm immediately making a Plague. it seems really good.

Spectie wrote: 8 months ago

oh i also have a Headstriker - i hear that's a good options as well right?

Right, especially an ethereal one after an upgrade and socketing with a 40/15 jewel or similar.

Spectie wrote: 8 months ago

oh i also have a
Headstriker - i hear that's a good options as well right?

Headstriker is nice on the Bash a5 merc, less on the Frenzy.

Sazabi is nice but you can't compare it to Arreat's Face + Treachery/Hustle

vued wrote: 8 months ago

Plague can serve as a "budget" Infinity.

Plague is more here for high level cleasing aura.

Hi, I think you can try
Ginther's Rift + lightsaber (Socket Amn/ Io)
Treachery/ Shaftstop (Socket Sol/ Um)
vamp gaze (Socket Sol/ Um)

Lv 70 below, your top priority is to keep merc alive.

I just play 60-80 recently, merc cant survive a5 Key Stone if you dont put full defense.

foh and hammer is range magic light, you probably only need tank. I am not sure , I havent play foh yet.
(Ass/Sorc/nec 60-80 mainly need tank. merc attack too low, even if 4 hit kill 1)

Spectie wrote: 8 months ago

I am leveling a fohdin offline right now, at lvl 60. It's been a lot of fun and I am going to do an a5 merc with him.

What options would you pick?
I have sazabi's full set, Treachery, Hustle, Arreat's Face, lightsaber, Lawbringer Phase Blade, a 3 socket Mythical Sword i could make something in.

Eventually i think i'd want Grief + Lawbringer, but I don't want to use a Lo on Grief at the moment.

I just finished maxing out fist of the heaven's and Holy Bolt, trying to decide what to points in next. I may do Fanaticism for the merc, even though guides are telling me to do Conviction or Holy Shock.

I just finished Hell on HC SP FoH smiter hybrid and maxed out Fanaticism, Holy Shield, FoH+ Holy Bolt, and a few points into Smite and I liked it way better than what the max roll guide and other guides FoHdin says, which is to go for Conviction and Holy Shock. Feels way more versatile, especially when it comes to animal lightning immunes (i.e. Beetles, Frenzy Bulls, etc). Areas like the Maggot Lair, Far Oasis, Ice cavern levels, and even WSK are often full of these and it makes them way more manageable.

Been finding Conviction and Holy Shock are almost negligible to the farming efficiency of the build because most of your damage is coming from Holy Bolts.

My merc of choice has been the A2 Prayer merc with Insight Thresher, Cure helmet, and Chains of Honor. Seems like pretty much best merc for this build. But if you've got your heart set on a5 merc it sounds like your gear is already pretty solid for the time being.

BigD wrote: 8 months ago

My merc of choice has been the A2 Prayer merc with Insight Thresher, Cure helmet, and Chains of Honor. Seems like pretty much best merc for this build. But if you've got your heart set on a5 merc it sounds like your gear is already pretty solid for the time being.

not likely solid or enough runes.

He just start fresh and reach lv 60. that makes merc not have enough res or life. a5 merc probably best choice in lv 60 because it is most likely survive.

he is offline new char. online , your think should be best

BigD wrote: 8 months ago

My merc of choice has been the A2 Prayer merc with Insight Thresher, Cure helmet, and Chains of Honor. Seems like pretty much best merc for this build. But if you've got your heart set on a5 merc it sounds like your gear is already pretty solid for the time being.

Alternatively to CoH you can use other armor with life leech like Skin of the Flayed One, Greyform, or Boneflesh.

leox wrote: 8 months ago

BigD wrote: 8 months ago

My merc of choice has been the A2 Prayer merc with Insight Thresher, Cure helmet, and Chains of Honor. Seems like pretty much best merc for this build. But if you've got your heart set on a5 merc it sounds like your gear is already pretty solid for the time being.

not likely solid or enough runes.

He just start fresh and reach lv 60. that makes merc not have enough res or life. a5 merc probably best choice in lv 60 because it is most likely survive.

he is offline new char. online , your think should be best

Full Sazabi's plus Lawbringer is pretty solid.

A2 merc doesnt have issues with survivability if played right. Cure Helm + Insight + Prayer Aura leads to very high health & mana regen, providing a good backup for lack of LL until you can get CoH or another armour with LL. Before CoH I had Treachery on mine, and as long as you're not plunking him in the middle of a mob with Extra Strong+Might Aura or some shit, he was fine. In fact on FoHdin its quite abit easier than other builds because in areas where you can line up monsters, Holy Bolts can heal + Pierce and damage monsters.

For boss killing, you can also position your merc opposite side of a boss and Holy Bolt them, enabling your merc to tank bosses much easier. I also used the Principle body Armour for this with its 100% CTC Holy Bolt with Smite on bosses. Areas like Chaos & Baal waves with Demons/Undead only it also worked well all through Hell difficulty.

i ended up finding an ethereal Headstriker yesterday. Apparently that's very good with the Bash merc. I may try that as well.

BigD wrote: 8 months ago

Spectie wrote: 8 months ago

I am leveling a fohdin offline right now, at lvl 60. It's been a lot of fun and I am going to do an a5 merc with him.

What options would you pick?
I have sazabi's full set, Treachery, Hustle, Arreat's Face, lightsaber, Lawbringer Phase Blade, a 3 socket Mythical Sword i could make something in.

Eventually i think i'd want Grief + Lawbringer, but I don't want to use a Lo on Grief at the moment.

I just finished maxing out fist of the heaven's and Holy Bolt, trying to decide what to points in next. I may do Fanaticism for the merc, even though guides are telling me to do Conviction or Holy Shock.

I just finished Hell on HC SP FoH smiter hybrid and maxed out Fanaticism, Holy Shield, FoH+ Holy Bolt, and a few points into Smite and I liked it way better than what the max roll guide and other guides FoHdin says, which is to go for Conviction and Holy Shock. Feels way more versatile, especially when it comes to animal lightning immunes (i.e. Beetles, Frenzy Bulls, etc). Areas like the Maggot Lair, Far Oasis, Ice cavern levels, and even WSK are often full of these and it makes them way more manageable.

Been finding Conviction and Holy Shock are almost negligible to the farming efficiency of the build because most of your damage is coming from Holy Bolts.

I think i may swap to this with a 2nd respec. I have maxxed Holy Shock and am working on Conviction. I just did act 2 hell and it took FOREVER to get through maggot lair. Literally could only let my merc kill most stuff. I think fanatacism + Holy Shield would be better.

Not sure if i should swap stuff like harlequen's crest over for a guillame's face or something for more crushing blow.

I also found out that using Smite reduces durability on your weapon not shield...i was using an ethereal Heart of the Oak and now it's at 2 durability

Spectie wrote: 8 months ago

BigD wrote: 8 months ago

Spectie wrote: 8 months ago

I am leveling a fohdin offline right now, at lvl 60. It's been a lot of fun and I am going to do an a5 merc with him.

What options would you pick?
I have sazabi's full set, Treachery, Hustle, Arreat's Face, lightsaber, Lawbringer Phase Blade, a 3 socket Mythical Sword i could make something in.

Eventually i think i'd want Grief + Lawbringer, but I don't want to use a Lo on Grief at the moment.

I just finished maxing out fist of the heaven's and Holy Bolt, trying to decide what to points in next. I may do Fanaticism for the merc, even though guides are telling me to do Conviction or Holy Shock.

I just finished Hell on HC SP FoH smiter hybrid and maxed out Fanaticism, Holy Shield, FoH+ Holy Bolt, and a few points into Smite and I liked it way better than what the max roll guide and other guides FoHdin says, which is to go for Conviction and Holy Shock. Feels way more versatile, especially when it comes to animal lightning immunes (i.e. Beetles, Frenzy Bulls, etc). Areas like the Maggot Lair, Far Oasis, Ice cavern levels, and even WSK are often full of these and it makes them way more manageable.

Been finding Conviction and Holy Shock are almost negligible to the farming efficiency of the build because most of your damage is coming from Holy Bolts.

I think i may swap to this with a 2nd respec. I have maxxed Holy Shock and am working on Conviction. I just did act 2 hell and it took FOREVER to get through maggot lair. Literally could only let my merc kill most stuff. I think fanatacism + Holy Shield would be better.

Not sure if i should swap stuff like harlequen's crest over for a guillame's face or something for more crushing blow.

I also found out that using Smite reduces durability on your weapon not shield...i was using an ethereal Heart of the Oak and now it's at 2 durability

Yikes lol better put that on weapon swap

lucky enough i found 2 Gul's doing LK while i watched some sakamoto days yesterday so easy fix lol