Uniques that were nerfed

I know that several uniques were previously much more powerful. Example Arkaine's Valor.

Does anyone have a rough idea of when in the timeline of D2 those nerfs were conducted? I have to assume this was before the introduction of runewords otherwise I can't really reconcile it in my brain. Then again, I don't recall if these uniques were actually 'game-breaking OP' or not. Anyone know this particular history?

Most of those nerfs/adjustments happened with 1.09 or 1.10, along with the addition of most of the now end-game runewords.

The gg uniques, like Valkryie Wing, Arkaine's Valor, Shako, Wizardspike were all nerfed with the release of 1.09 (August 2001) which was the patch that introduced the first rune words.

Some old stats according to an old d2 lod guide i got here:

Vampire Gaze
15% Slower Stamina Drain
8% Life stolen per Hit
8% Mana Stolen per Hit
+100% Enhanced Defense
Damage reduced by 25% (Fixed!)
Magic Damage reduced by 15

Harlequin Crest
Indestructible
+2 to all Skill Levels
+100% Enhanced Defense
Increase Maximum Life 40%
50% better Chance of getting Magic Items

Arkaine's Valor
Indestructible
+# to Vitality (based on character level)
+# to Life (based on character level)
Faster Hit Recovery (Think it was 20%)
+2 to All Skill Levels
+200% Enhanced Defense
Fire Resist 50%

String of Ears
8% Life Stolen per Hit
+170% Enhanced Defense
Damage Reduced by 15% (Fixed!)
Magic Damage Reduced by 15 (Fixed!)

Wizardspike
+# to Mana (based on character level)
Fastest Cast Rate (Think it was 50%)
Increase Maximum Mana 15%
Regenerate Mana 15%
All Resistances +95


...have to add that items havn't only been nerfed since 1.09 release: Occulus got stuff like an extra skill point and mf, Vipermagi got +1 skills, Gavel of Pain got AD Charges, Gull got +50% mf, ... for example

ghostpos wrote: 2 years ago

Then again, I don't recall if these uniques were actually 'game-breaking OP' or not. Anyone know this particular history?

Yes, they were "game-breaking" back then, at least stuff like Shako and Gaze, in my opinion. I play bnet d2 since late classic and just compare them to current classic "best in slot" rares to get an impression of their power. Considering the power creep d2 has taken since then, they would be ok and playable nowadays.

The OG AV was gosu af..missed it.

Blubbalutsch wrote: 2 years ago

Some old stats according to an old d2 lod guide i got here:

Vampire Gaze
15% Slower Stamina Drain
8% Life stolen per Hit
8% Mana Stolen per Hit
+100% Enhanced Defense
Damage reduced by 25% (Fixed!)
Magic Damage reduced by 15

Harlequin Crest
Indestructible
+2 to all Skill Levels
+100% Enhanced Defense
Increase Maximum Life 40%
50% better Chance of getting Magic Items

Arkaine's Valor
Indestructible
+# to Vitality (based on character level)
+# to Life (based on character level)
Faster Hit Recovery (Think it was 20%)
+2 to All Skill Levels
+200% Enhanced Defense
Fire Resist 50%

String of Ears
8% Life Stolen per Hit
+170% Enhanced Defense
Damage Reduced by 15% (Fixed!)
Magic Damage Reduced by 15 (Fixed!)

Wizardspike
+# to Mana (based on character level)
Fastest Cast Rate (Think it was 50%)
Increase Maximum Mana 15%
Regenerate Mana 15%
All Resistances +95


...have to add that items havn't only been nerfed since 1.09 release: Occulus got stuff like an extra skill point and mf, Vipermagi got +1 skills, Gavel of Pain got AD Charges, Gull got +50% mf, ... for example

ghostpos wrote: 2 years ago

Then again, I don't recall if these uniques were actually 'game-breaking OP' or not. Anyone know this particular history?

Yes, they were "game-breaking" back then, at least stuff like Shako and Gaze, in my opinion. I play bnet d2 since late classic and just compare them to current classic "best in slot" rares to get an impression of their power. Considering the power creep d2 has taken since then, they would be ok and playable nowadays.

And Valkyrie Wing:
30% Faster Run Walk
30% IAS
30% FHR
30% FCR

That's and AV are the ones I miss the most.

Skaijuice wrote: 2 years ago

The OG AV was gosu af..missed it.

Weird how monsters couldn't drop it. Could only be found from Balrog Skin racks.

Wow really @Knappogue? That's so strange.

I feel like some uniques, especially ultra rare like Mang Song's Lesson ought to be buffed. Interesting that Harlequin Crest was even more BiS back in the day!

Shako: Increase Maximum Life 40% that's beautiful honestly.

ghostpos wrote: 2 years ago

Wow really @Knappogue? That's so strange.

I feel like some uniques, especially ultra rare like Mang Song's Lesson ought to be buffed. Interesting that Harlequin Crest was even more BiS back in the day!

Yup, and if you played in offline (which was everyone up until 1.06) you could reset your game until you found a map with reliable Balrog Skin rack (just like how people still do today with Lower Kurast) and just farm it over and over again. Lots of folks didn't know that though so it stayed fairly rare.