Strafe With Atma's Scarab

This is a demonstration of Atma's Scarab Amplify Damage. If you have a Strafezon, and are hitting the breakpoints the 5% Amplify Damage will proc quickly and often. It completely shreds mobs including physical immunes. As you can see it annihilates the physical immune ghosts in the Arcane, and it works on the physical immune Succubus in Nihlathak's Halls of Vaught and in Worldstone Keep as well.

Nice. Can you post your build somewhere as well?

My mom uses Strafe as mains on her Amazon, and I'm sure she'd like to be able to shred stuff like that.

phantomotap wrote: 3 years ago

Nice. Can you post your build somewhere as well?

My mom uses Strafe as mains on her Amazon, and I'm sure she'd like to be able to shred stuff like that.

I will get back to you a little later with build info. Please note, there are several other Zon builds in the forum that you could also consider. The main point behind Atam's is that you're hitting the breakpoints, which varies by weapons. If I remember correctly a Windforce needs 80% IAS to hit breakpoints. Socketed with Shael rune will give it 40% IAS, Laying of Hands 20%, and Andariel's Visage another 20%, and you're there. That way you're not forced to use an Amulet with IAS.

mhlg wrote: 3 years ago

Please note, there are several other Zon builds in the forum that you could also consider.

I know, but she--my mom that is--gets kind of confused trying to do complicated skill chains so something that can be done on just Strafe and Multiple Shot--as you seem to be relying on--would be great.

mhlg wrote: 3 years ago

The main point behind Atam's is that you're hitting the breakpoints, which varies by weapons.

Okay. I actually already have an Atma's Scarab so I just need to figure out how to hit the IAS break without using an amulet. Thanks.

What is your mother's equipment, such as bow and armor?

I'd actually have to look at her armor proper as I can't recall, and she isn't at home to get on just now, but I do recall bonus skills and resists were the selling point.

I do know she is currently using a 85/69 Kira's Guardian for her Helm--gave it to her this morning--as all three of our "play together" characters--are/were quite squishy in Hell, and she has generic bonus to Amazon skills on rings with a bonus to resist all.

The weapon she has currently equipped is a Buriza Do-Kyanon. I haven't got a Windforce for her yet--despite being able to afford it--because I thought armor would be a better place to upgrade for now. I admit the IAS application I used confuses the crap out of me, but it looks as if Shael plus Laying of Hands would get her to the next big break.

Buriza is a decent weapon but it's not even close to a Windforce for Strafe. I use a Faith on W1 and a Windforce on W2. I usually suggests Windforce because it is the 2nd best bow in the game and it's cheap to obtain. A benefit with Strafe is there is no real difference between a 6% mana leech or and 8% mana leech Windforce except that a 6% is cheaper. Otherwise they're exactly the same. A 6% bow can be bought for an Ist at the bottom and Vex at the top of pricing and that will get you an 8%.

What format are you playing on? PC or console?

I have a pretty good setup but I was unable to use my Atma's Scarab I had obtained because I would lose the faster run/walk with my current amulet. If I used the Atma's then I would have the Amplify Damage but my character would walk so slow. I've just learned to lean on Magic Arrow for random Physical Immune mobs I've encountered & I only put my Physical sunder charm in my inventory when I plan to do Arcane Sanctuary or come across the Physical Immune mobs in Worldstone Chamber. Maybe I could work on trading for FRW small charms

I do have Faith runeword & Chains of Honor so it does help with IAS/damage increase

I use both Atma's and WWS as my main in hands with LOH and it slays in CS.*

* - "slays" only up to P3 Anything after things don't die as quickly

Skaijuice wrote: 3 years ago

I use both Atma's and WWS as my main in hands with LOH and it slays in CS.*

* - "slays" only up to P3 Anything after things don't die as quickly

What's your gear? I have no issue using it even in P8 games. I can't say for certain that Atma's is a factor, but it certainly doesn't seem to hurt. An issue is Stone skin immunes. They die slow with everything except Magic Arrow.

mhlg wrote: 3 years ago

Skaijuice wrote: 3 years ago

I use both Atma's and WWS as my main in hands with LOH and it slays in CS.*

* - "slays" only up to P3 Anything after things don't die as quickly

What's your gear? I have no issue using it even in P8 games. I can't say for certain that Atma's is a factor, but it certainly doesn't seem to hurt. An issue is Stone skin immunes. They die slow with everything except Magic Arrow.

Your usual amazon gear this is operating as a quick lazy abeit cheap CS clearer when i just let Strafe do it's job.
if i feel a little chilly i switch to razor for FA.

WWS normal attack is a L20 Magic Arrow.

Nightwing
Skullder's Ire
Goldwrap / razor tail
Witchwild String upped with ias ed jwls
War Traveler
Laying of Hands
Raven Frost
dual leech rare

might merc

Then we are looking through completely different windows.

My gear includes:
Weapons
W1. Faith GM Bow, perfect
W2. Windforce bow socketed with Shael

Armor:

Fortitude
Andariel's Visage socketed with 15 Ias 36% damage Jewel
Laying of Hands
T-Gods Belt/ Nosferatu's Coil

Jewelry varies
Dual leach ring with life/AR
Raven Frost ring
Amulets:
Atama's
Highlord's
28 Mara's but don't use much

Boots:

Gore Rider
Natalya's
War Trav

mhlg wrote: 3 years ago

Then we are looking through completely different windows.

My gear includes:
Weapons
W1. Faith GM Bow, perfect
W2. Windforce bow socketed with Shael

Armor:

Fortitude
Andariel's Visage socketed with 15 Ias 36% damage Jewel
Laying of Hands
T-Gods Belt/ Nosferatu's Coil

Jewelry varies
Dual leach ring with life/AR
Raven Frost ring
Amulets:
Atama's
Highlord's
28 Mara's but don't use much

Boots:

Gore Rider
Natalya's
War Trav

I like my view better

Those are typical cookie cutter gear so i'll rather not

mhlg wrote: 3 years ago

What is your mother's equipment, such as bow and armor?

She got home, and her armor proper is just Peace in an average base, and her Belt is Thundergod's Vigor, and she was wearing Valkyrie Wing. Everything else right now is generic skills and/or resist all.

mhlg wrote: 3 years ago

What format are you playing on? PC or console?

Console. Playstation.

Skaijuice wrote: 3 years ago

mhlg wrote: 3 years ago

Then we are looking through completely different windows.

My gear includes:
Weapons
W1. Faith GM Bow, perfect
W2. Windforce bow socketed with Shael

Armor:

Fortitude
Andariel's Visage socketed with 15 Ias 36% damage Jewel
Laying of Hands
T-Gods Belt/ Nosferatu's Coil

Jewelry varies
Dual leach ring with life/AR
Raven Frost ring
Amulets:
Atama's
Highlord's
28 Mara's but don't use much

Boots:

Gore Rider
Natalya's
War Trav

I like my view better

Those are typical cookie cutter gear so i'll rather not

That's one way of looking at it, but it's not how I see it. I didn't add the items I have because it's what's expected, I added them because they made my build better. I simply looked at the numbers and then added them up. Like you, I began with much lesser gear and then farmed and traded my way up to better gear.

I started with whatever I could find to build a Zephyr bow. From there I built an Edge Bow, and then a Harmony bow which is the best low cost bow in the game. My armor was whatever I could build or find such as a Smoke, and Stealth. All the time I was building I had one focus in mind. If could get enough runes I could trade for a Windforce, and that would move me forward, and that moment came. In between I had a number of great unique bows such as Rogue's Bow but I'm a long time player and I knew it was at best a dead end. Of those my favorite is still a Harmony bow. Then I started grinding and cubing runes until I had enough to buy a Windforce, which I got with my first Lo, and from there everything moved forward. For me D2r is an evolution, a progression forward, and if you keep your "eyes on the prize" you will eventually get everything you need to play at the top of the game, and here I am.

There are those in this forum who have much greater Wealth than I do, and I'm okay with that, because there isn't much left for me to want, and I still have some means.

Hellraiser7492 wrote: 3 years ago

I have a pretty good setup but I was unable to use my Atma's Scarab I had obtained because I would lose the faster run/walk with my current amulet. If I used the Atma's then I would have the Amplify Damage but my character would walk so slow. I've just learned to lean on Magic Arrow for random Physical Immune mobs I've encountered & I only put my Physical sunder charm in my inventory when I plan to do Arcane Sanctuary or come across the Physical Immune mobs in Worldstone Chamber. Maybe I could work on trading for FRW small charms

I do have Faith runeword & Chains of Honor so it does help with IAS/damage increase

Let's explore your options further. I'm not as obsessed with FRW as others are in that I need only what I use. I'm more interested in standing my Ground and bulldozing forward. I have a ladder build but once I achieved my ladder ends and collected a dozen Sunders I quit. There's too much hard cash influencing Ladder that makes the experience pointless. For Boots in ladder I use Natalyas.

mhlg wrote: 3 years ago

Skaijuice wrote: 3 years ago

mhlg wrote: 3 years ago

Then we are looking through completely different windows.

My gear includes:
Weapons
W1. Faith GM Bow, perfect
W2. Windforce bow socketed with Shael

Armor:

Fortitude
Andariel's Visage socketed with 15 Ias 36% damage Jewel
Laying of Hands
T-Gods Belt/ Nosferatu's Coil

Jewelry varies
Dual leach ring with life/AR
Raven Frost ring
Amulets:
Atama's
Highlord's
28 Mara's but don't use much

Boots:

Gore Rider
Natalya's
War Trav

I like my view better

Those are typical cookie cutter gear so i'll rather not

That's one way of looking at it, but it's not how I see it. I didn't add the items I have because it's what's expected, I added them because they made my build better. I simply looked at the numbers and then added them up. Like you, I began with much lesser gear and then farmed and traded my way up to better gear.

I started with whatever I could find to build a Zephyr bow. From there I built an Edge Bow, and then a Harmony bow which is the best low cost bow in the game. My armor was whatever I could build or find such as a Smoke, and Stealth. All the time I was building I had one focus in mind. If could get enough runes I could trade for a Windforce, and that would move me forward, and that moment came. In between I had a number of great unique bows such as Rogue's Bow but I'm a long time player and I knew it was at best a dead end. Of those my favorite is still a Harmony bow. Then I started grinding and cubing runes until I had enough to buy a Windforce, which I got with my first Lo, and from there everything moved forward. For me D2r is an evolution, a progression forward, and if you keep your "eyes on the prize" you will eventually get everything you need to play at the top of the game, and here I am.

There are those in this forum who have much greater Wealth than I do, and I'm okay with that, because there isn't much left for me to want, and I still have some means.

sure. you can do you. Since amp dmg is mentioned i thought i'll chip in for those that are curious.

WWS is such an underrated bow and with Strafe with it's speed and inherent resists the procs are pretty often. Supplemented by atmas scarab of course.

sure. you can do you. Since amp dmg is mentioned i thought i'll chip in for those that are curious.

WWS is such an underrated bow and with Strafe with it's speed and inherent resists the procs are pretty often. Supplemented by atmas scarab of course.

There are a lot of great unique bows that 20 years ago was enough for the time. Remember when Windforce was the top bow in the game? My first top bow after rune-words became available was a 6os Buriza BOTD. If I remember correctly the Buriza Crossbow was the only 6 socket bow available in the game. Now we can build a Breath of the Dying with a 6os Hydra Bow and my choice a 6os superior Crusader Bow.

Atama's works great with any fast attack speed bow, but that alone is not enough. The bow still has to deliver decent damage on its own. In my view that means at least a top tear bow like a Windforce. There are other transitional bows that will also work well such as the Goldstrike Arch which I found in nightmare before I acquired my Windforce.

mhlg wrote: 3 years ago

Remember when Windforce was the top bow in the game?

I remember paying through the Teeth for one.

phantomotap wrote: 3 years ago

mhlg wrote: 3 years ago

Remember when Windforce was the top bow in the game?

I remember paying through the Teeth for one.

How long ago was that? They rarely go for more than a Lo, and you should be able to get one for a Vex. What I find hilarious is the notion of a "Perfect Windforce." The only difference between a low and a perfect Windforce is 6% mana leech vs 8%, which in practice means nothing. A Strafezon doesn't really need more than 6% to keep their mana ball filled. Your biggest difficulty will be locating one for a Playstation. The best way to get one is look at how much you can afford. Then make a game in Lobby with a title of Lo4 or Vex4 Windforce. If you offer a Lo you could get one in a matter of minutes.

There are members here in the forum who play across several formats. You could try querying them to see if they have one for trade. I've purchased on PC for a Vex.