Lightning fury: Does it leech?

[Bluesky81]

I have reviewed numerous articles and threads on this site as well as at the Arreat Summit looking for specific language assuring me that lightning fury has mana and life leeching capability.
I believe melee and ranged physical attacks can leech where spells (ranged elemental) can not, and this, I believe with the exception of physical resistant monsters and some undead, ( skeletons , I believe ??)
What I don't know is whether lightning fury is an ' attack with additional spell damage' or ' spell that enhances an attack ' ,.... a distinction set forth in the article " Things You Should Know About Diablo Before You Ask ". This questions seems to be key! ........An attack or spell? ..........The first I would think should leech! ...OR: 1)
Would only the portion of lightning fury's damage deriving from its phycial based javalin offer up life steal benefits,......or, 2) is the entire lightning fury (far casting skill )
considered purely a range elemental weapon with no leeching attribute?
Any enlightenment on this matter would be deeply appreciated since I am in the early stages of building my first javazon.

[The Mob]

you mean the actual lightning bouncing around? then no. you will leech only off the monster you hit with your javelin. not the resulting 30 bolts of lightning. imagine if you could.. ^_^

[Bluesky81]

That does make sense. Since the supply of javelins are being depleted with each throw, then they are actually being physically thrown even though the graphic shows lightning. So it makes sense that I would leech at least off the first hit.
But then, what is the relevant factor : "attack speed or cast rate " ?
A thrown javelin could benefit from IAS , however , lightning fury zons are commonly referred to as 'far casters' which would imply cast rate is at play. I don't think I could use both IAS and FCR at the same time, although nothing would surprise me anymore!

[Dan]

the farcast is a hack/mod, if your not using it you are not farcasting. Its all based on IAS.

and FC is done with CS.

[Bluesky81]

Well, that explains farcasting, but the question of whether lightning fury attacks can leech still remains unexplained. The summary description on the Zon's skill chart says it " changes " a javelin into a bolt of lightning> so, if it no longer is a physically thrown weapon but is changed to a range elemental weapon. then it couldn't possibly leech, right?? I always thought that life and mana steal " per hit" refers to actual physical strikes.
Another curious observation is the double read out on the lightning fury damage line on the character chart, the top line reflecting both weapon damage and backpack damage charms where the bottom line reflects only skill level related damage of the lightning fury skill itself which is of course based on a percentage of the weapons face value damage.
Are both damages imparted in a single lightning fury assault or is the top line merely a reference indicating total normal attack damage per physical throw ,..if it indeed were used with a normal attack throw. Damage charms do not add to fury damge so why is the top read out even presented.

[BrioCloud]

Leech is classified for melee attacks. There are many attacks that are classified as melee even if they look ranged, or looks like a magic attack. Some are obvious. A Sorc's Blizzard is obviously a magic attack. However like the barbarians double throw is melee. The lightning in a Zon's Lightning Fury is only a buffer for the javelin that is being thrown, so it is melee.

Or I may be wrong.

[Ombra]

No, the various bolts from Lightning Fury are considered a Spell.
They aren't Ranged, or you'd leech from them.
They aren't Melee, or you'd commit suicide on Iron Maiden.

[EDIT]
In regard to leeching, it appears to work only on 'meaty' monsters.
Skeletons, Specters, and similar things, have no meat and you can't leech from them.
Mummies, Zombies and company, althouth Undead, do have meat, and leeching works on 'em.

Furthermore, leeching appears to apply to Physical Damage only.
When they are Physical Immunes you can't inflict Physical Damage, and leeching doesn't work.

I ignore if the Life Tap Curse breaks these rules.

..... Or I may be wrong (my turn now).
[/EDIT]


[EDIT #2]

Well, that explains farcasting, but the question of whether lightning fury attacks can leech still remains unexplained. The summary description on the Zon's skill chart says it " changes " a javelin into a bolt of lightning> so, if it no longer is a physically thrown weapon but is changed to a range elemental weapon. then it couldn't possibly leech, right?? I always thought that life and mana steal " per hit" refers to actual physical strikes.
Another curious observation is the double read out on the lightning fury damage line on the character chart, the top line reflecting both weapon damage and backpack damage charms where the bottom line reflects only skill level related damage of the lightning fury skill itself which is of course based on a percentage of the weapons face value damage.
Are both damages imparted in a single lightning fury assault or is the top line merely a reference indicating total normal attack damage per physical throw ,..if it indeed were used with a normal attack throw. Damage charms do not add to fury damge so why is the top read out even presented.

The change from 'Thrown Javelin' to 'Lightning Fury' happens *after* the Javelin reaches the target you shoot at.
Up to that moment, it's still a Javelin with no added (Lightning Fury) damage, just like if you throw the Javelin using the Throw Skill.
The damage this javelin inflicts is the 'top line' damage you see listed in the Character Screen and follows the same rules of any normally thrown javelin.
Once the Javelin becomes Lightning Fury (that is, once the target is reached, whether you score a hit or not), the other damage type is applied, and it's pure Lightning Damage coming from the Lightning Fury skill.
This damage is applied to each and every bolt you see departing from the target.
Number of bolts = Number of targets in view, OR, maximum number of bolts that your Lightning Fury supports (whichever is less).
[/EDIT #2]

Ciao ciao : )

[Bluesky81]

That appears to be the concensus from my further readings. That lightning fury is both a physical attack (on first hit only) and an enhancing spell upon both initial and subsequent splitting impacts.
One particular article written and posted 6/23/04 by Adeyke at the Amazon Basin site supports this view where he conducted extensive testing of a lightning fury Zons attack rating, chance to hit and leech capabilities and concluded the same thing Ombra just said.
I would post a link to that article but my website navigation skills are not that sophisticated.

[Crimson_Brilliance010]

You know, for a "simple" matter as this, you are reporting comprehensive information and in depth findings from your research.

If you continue in this way, there's no doubt that you'll find us proud to have you as a member of BZS. Keep up the good work, and keep thinking!

[The Mob]

^_^ holy cow
well anyhow i was going to try to explain it this way. the javelin is being thrown at the monster. except the javelin has lightning around it. so when the javelin hits the monster, it is physical, and then the electricity transfers from the javelin to the monster, and then bounces around. that would be my explanation of why you can only leech off of that one monster. hehehe

now onto why you can only leech or of demons/monsters and not skeles etc etc. the way i picture it is that the skeles and stuff dont have any blood for you to leech off of. when you hit most monsters, blood can be found dropping out of them. thats my simple explanation.

but then the problem of open wounds come up. it seems that it also works on skeles. even though they dont have any blood to lose.

[BrioCloud]

^_^ holy cow
well anyhow i was going to try to explain it this way. the javelin is being thrown at the monster. except the javelin has lightning around it. so when the javelin hits the monster, it is physical, and then the electricity transfers from the javelin to the monster, and then bounces around. that would be my explanation of why you can only leech off of that one monster. hehehe

now onto why you can only leech or of demons/monsters and not skeles etc etc. the way i picture it is that the skeles and stuff dont have any blood for you to leech off of. when you hit most monsters, blood can be found dropping out of them. thats my simple explanation.

but then the problem of open wounds come up. it seems that it also works on skeles. even though they dont have any blood to lose.

Thats what I basically said.

[Ombra]

[...] but then the problem of open wounds come up. it seems that it also works on skeles. even though they dont have any blood to lose.

Frozen Horrors (from Act 5) can bleed as well.
One would think that they feature flesh & bones ('meat' I said in earlier post... gotta improve my vocabulary...), instead they're made of ice completely.
Leeching doesn't work on them, and they always shatter upon death.

Ciao ciao : )

[The Mob]

well, those are just weird. LOL
can you leech off of blood lords?

[BrioCloud]

Oh hey guys, speaking of Zons and their cheating lightning lol. Does Charged Strike and Lightning Fury benefit from facets? I need to know if I need to stack my resist or not.

[dylanwaters]

Just like all attacks, it leeches off the base physical damage it does, which is the thrown damage. The lightning fury just adds some lightning damage. You only leech off the first thrown javelin. You should see your throwing damage below the lightning damage on character screen.

Lightning facets do apply to all the lightning attacks the zon has, yes.

[BrioCloud]

Just like all attacks, it leeches off the base physical damage it does, which is the thrown damage. The lightning fury just adds some lightning damage. You only leech off the first thrown javelin. You should see your throwing damage below the lightning damage on character screen.

Lightning facets do apply to all the lightning attacks the zon has, yes.

Darn. About how many Facets does the usual Zon use? I need to know how many percent they take off of my resist.

[dylanwaters]

Griffons+thunderstroke+facet ss (average ladder player, non godly gear) = ~40-45

Godly players Griffons+thunderstroke+4xfacet shield+4xfacet armor (probably have str glitch [on ladder]) = ~60-80

80 will be the max -light resistance any zon will have.

[Ombra]

@ KazeCloud:
CS Zons are power plants when it comes down to lightning, but don't forget that in PvP their damage is reduced to 1/6 (or was it 1/10? ... I've been out of the racket for too much, damn).

Well, raise your life, have max Lgt res, some Lgt absorb, a couple potions (or 3... or 4), and you can stand a few hits.

Add to the picture the fact that not all her Charged Bolts will always hit you. Most of the times some of them will go past your body. This depends on your own position relatively to that of the Zon (it's been ages since my last fight, I don't remember too much).
Distance also plays a role. If you are 'too close' or 'too far' (for her javelin), then her attack will not be 100% effective. Sounds crazy? Try to believe ; )

Anyway, old school Zon PvP'ers know what angle is best to attack you from.
If you fight one, observe from what direction he comes most of the times, and stay the hell out of that way (otherwise he's probably an overpowered noob ownable with some brain).

If you have a CS Zon yourself, make practice on monsters. It's the same thing.
Boost 'em with the /player command, and hit them from different angles. See what angles work best.
And size does matter, so fight humanoids of your size.



@ The Mob:
Now, I always confuse names. Blood Lords are those dual-Axe brutes from Act 5?
Yes you can leech from them, but more often than not they'll feature high Physical resistance (or even Immunity), thus limiting your leeching.
And if you have a lot of life you may not notice the healing, and confuse it with the effects of "Replenish Life").
Also, their Cyclone Armor seem to contributes to further reduce ALL the damage they take (although it should only reduce Elemental damage, and not Physical... but for some reason Physical seem to be recuded as well. Maybe it's not exactly the Cyclone Armor of a Druid what they use? -like the Firestorm on a Torch, which is exactly the Firestorm that Diablo throws at you, and not the Firestorm a Druid can use-)

Ciao ciao : )

[The Mob]

ya, them. they go by moon lord, blood lord, etc
no, its not cyclone armour. i believe it is frenzy.
even though it does not specifically state what they are immune too, they are pretty much bad mofos. they can take fire, light and cold. and physical. lol

[Ombra]

Oh... Frenzy?? Crap, it's a Barbarian Skill, correct?

Forgive my mistake, I must admit I'm totally klutz when it's about the Barbie.
You see, is the one class I haven't played with, yet (saving it for new fun when I'll get bored with the others).

Anyway you can leech off of Blood Lords and their variations (provided they aren't Phy-Immune).
Personally I dislike them much. They run fast, hit pretty hard, have the bad habit to swarm you, feature lot of life, usually high resistances or some immunities, and when the game makes minibosses out of them they tend to be Bad Clients to deal with.

Yeah, they're as nice as an angry cat attached to your testicles (Oww....)
In my personal top-ten of the most irritating LOD monsters, they rival with those Tele-Hopping little cans I'd kick from one end to the other of the Foothills.

Ciao ciao : )