Zealots and Offensive Auras..?

[Jarl]

Greetings. I have been away from D2 for a long time and am recently starting to play again. I leveled a Sorc up to Blizz so that I could start trying for some magic find runs and $$ and decided it was time I got back to my favorite character. A Zealot.

Only thing is, I have nticed alot has changed and I want to try and make him good the first time around. So I have been reading alot about the changes and current builds. I have noticed a consistant trend among zealot guides (and most everyone elses) to promote using Fanatacism and was wondering why very few people endorse Conviction?

I realize that Fanatacism has very good syneries with Zeal with it's tremendous attack speed increase and damage bonus, but is it truly that much better than Conviction? What about physical immunes?

I was considering a Famined Zerker Axe + Conviction.

Famine has a 30% IAS and adds
+270-320% Enhanced Damage
Adds 180-200 Magic Damage
Adds 50-200 Fire Damage
Adds 51-250 Lightning Damage
Adds 50-200 Cold Damage

That's 331-850 elemental damage that Conviction would insure hits.

Would this be viable and competitive with the common builds or what am I missing?

Thanks for your time and any help you can offer.



(Edit: Yes, have have searched and read The Conviction Zealot Experiment. However, it contains very little detailed information and I am trying to be as thorough as possible. Once again thanks.)

[bigdeath]

If your goin straight zeal id used fanatacism for sure, but vengence does pack quite a punch with a good weapon. I had an avenger that did 10k damage with a botd zerker and andy helm, highlord, valor, and hoz, with one bk ring. Not great gear but he could still lower life on anything pretty fast. That conviction really makes it mean. If you really want to pack a punch get an infinity as a merc wep and use fanatacism as your aura.

[L4E]

the problem with conviction is that it has no ias, so you're very slow

+ u want more physical dmg in pvp
and elemental dmg on weapons never did that much to monsters

a famine, wich has preety high dmg on a zerker might be good if used with conviction and vengance
and btw there is absolutly nothing in the game that can reduce "magic" resist, so count that off conviction

in other words what u want is a auradin that can melee, well newsflash, they can =D
put convict + 2Xdragon + dream + hoj zerker and use vengance

[Bartender]

I don't think you should use 2 Dragon runewords, and 1 Dream, I think you should use 2 Dreams and 1 Dragon as a side aura. I think holy light does more damage

[bigdeath]

It does but more people stack light resist than fire and with 2 dragon hoj your range is unreal. But I like 2 dream myself.

[Lux Aeterna]

Zealot

Build

This is a build that takes the Paladin and makes him Zeal Focused.

Stats

Strength - You want just enough so you can equip your items. 60 should be enough if using the suggest equipment and you put in on in the right order. Dexterity - I Put some extra in here to raise my Attack Rating and Blocking. 130ish should get you by fine..
Vitality - All the points you can use.
Energy - Just enough to effectively use your skills. You could easily get by with 50 in this stat.

Skills - Offensive Auras

Fanaticism - 20 points - This is your main aura. Raises you and your parties damage, AR, and attack speed.

Skills - Defensive Auras

Defiance - 20 points - This is synergy for Holy Shield.Salvation - 3 points - This is a just in case aura to raise resists.

Skills - Combat Skills

Sacrifice - 20 points - This is synergy to ZealZeal - 20 points - Your Bread and Butter Attack.
Holy Shield - 20 points - Raises Defense type things. Well worth the points spent for it and the synergy.

Character Equipment

Guardian Angel Templar Coat

Defense: 770-825 (varies)(Base Defense: 252-274)
Required Level: 45
Required Strength: 118
Durability: 60
+180-200% Enhanced Defense(varies)
+20% Increased Chance Of Blocking
+30% Faster Block Rate
+ (2.5 Per Character Level) 2-247 To Attack Rating Against Demons (Based On Character Level)
+1 To Paladin Skill Levels
+4 To Light Radius
15% To Maximum Poison Resist
15% To Maximum Cold Resist
15% To Maximum Lightning Resist
15% To Maximum Fire Resist
(Only Spawns In Patch 1.09 or later)

This can be upgraded to Elite on Ladder.
I Put an Um Rune in it for resists

Famine Berserker Axe

+30% Increased Attack Speed
+320-370% Enhanced Damage (varies)
Ignore Target's Defense
Adds 180-200 Magic Damage
Adds 50-200 Fire Damage
Adds 51-250 Lightning Damage
Adds 50-200 Cold Damage
12% Life Stolen Per Hit
Prevent Monster Heal
+10 To Strength

Used the runeword Famine in a Berserker Axe.

Herald Of Zakarum Gilded Shield

Defense: 422-507 (varies)(Base Defense: 144-168)
Required Level: 42
Required Strength: 89
Durability: 50
Chance To Block: 82%
Smite Damage: 20 To 28
(Paladin Only)
+150-200% Enhanced Defense (varies)
30% Increased Chance Of Blocking
30% Faster Block Rate
20% Bonus To Attack Rating
+20 To Strength
+20 To Vitality
All Resistances +50
+2 To Paladin Skill Levels
+2 To Combat Skills (Paladin Only)
(Only Spawns In Patch 1.09 or later)

I Put an Um Rune in it for resists.

Andariel's Visage Demonhead

Defense: 310-387 (varies)(Base Defense: 101-154)
Required Level: 83
Required Strength: 102
Durability: 20
+100-150% Enhanced Defense (varies)
+2 To All Skills
20% Increased Attack Speed
8-10% Life Stolen Per Hit (varies)
+25-30 To Strength (varies)
+10% To Maximum Poison Resist
Fire Resist -30%
Poison Resist +70%
15% Chance To Cast Level 15 Poison Nova When Struck
Level 3 Venom (20 charges)
(Ladder Only)
(Only Spawns In Patch 1.10 or later)

I Put An Um Rune in it for resists.

Nosferatu's Coil Vampirefang Belt

Defense: 56-63 (varies)
Required Level: 51
Required Strength: 50
Durability: 14
16 Boxes
Slows Target By 10%
+2 To Mana After Each Kill
5-7% Life Stolen Per Hit (varies)
+15 To Strength
10% Increased Attack Speed
-3 To Light Radius
(Only Spawns In Patch 1.10 or later)

Dracul's Grasp Vampirebone Gloves

Defense: 125-145 (Base Defense: 56-65)
Required Level: 76
Required Strength: 50
+90-120% Enhanced Defense (varies)
+10-15 To Strength (varies)
+5-10 Life After Each Kill (varies)
25% Chance of Open Wounds
7-10% Life Stolen Per Hit (varies)
5% Chance To Cast Level 10 Life Tap On Striking
(Only Spawns In Patch 1.10 or later)

Gore Rider War Boots

Defense: 140-162 (varies)(Base Defense: 43-53)
Required Level: 47
Required Strength: 94
Durability: 34
Assassin Kick Damage: 39-80
+160-200% Enhanced Defense (varies)
30% Faster Run/Walk
10% Chance Of Open Wounds
15% Chance Of Crushing Blow
15% Deadly Strike
Requirements -25%
+20 Maximum Stamina
These can be upgraded to elite on ladder.

2 Carrion Wind Ring

Required Level: 60
10% Chance To Cast Level 10 Poison Nova When Struck
8% Chance To Cast Level 13 Twister On Striking
6-9% Life Stolen Per Hit (varies)
+100-160 Defense Vs. Missile (varies)
Poison Resist +55%
10% Damage Taken Goes To Mana
Level 21 Poison Creeper (15 Charges)
(Only Spawns In Patch 1.10 or later)

Highlord's Wrath Amulet
Required Level: 65
+1 To All Skill Levels
20% Increased Attack Speed
+ (0.375 Per Character Level) 0-37 % Deadly Strike (Based On Character Level)
Lightning Resist +35%
Adds 1-30 Lightning Damage
Attacker Takes Lightning Damage Of 15
(Only Spawns In Patch 1.09 or later)

Annihilus Small Charm

Required Level: 70
+1 To All Skills
+10-20 To All Attributes (varies)
All Resistances +10-20 (varies)
+5-10% To Experience Gained (varies)
(Only Spawns In Patch 1.10 or later)

Mercenary Information

Act Two Normal Defensive Merc

Gives Defiance Aura

With proper equipment it can also give level 12 Holy Freeze and level 21 Thorns.

Vampire Gaze Grim Helm
Defense: 252 (Base Defense: 60-125)
Required Level: 41
Required Strength: 58
Durability: 40
+100% Enhanced Defense
Adds 6-22 Cold Damage - 4 Second Duration
15% Slower Stamina Drain
6-8% Life Stolen Per Hit (varies)
6-8% Mana Stolen Per Hit (varies)
Damage Reduced By 15-20% (varies)
Magic Damage Reduced By 10-15 (varies)
(Only Spawns In Patch 1.09 or later)
This can be upgrade to an elite item if you are on ladder.
Bramble
Level 15-21 Thorns Aura When Equipped (varies)
+50% Faster Hit Recovery
+25-50% To Poison Skill Damage (varies)
+300 Defense
Increase Maximum Mana 5%
Regenerate Mana 15%
+5% To Maximum Cold Resist
Fire Resist +30%
Poison Resist +100%
+13 Life After Each Kill
Level 13 Spirit of Barbs (33 Charges)
I put Bramble ( Ral Ohm Sur Eth ) into a 4 socket Boneweave. If you can get it Ethereal that is even better.
Doom
5% Chance To Cast Level 18 Volcano On Striking
Level 12 Holy Freeze Aura When Equipped
+2 To All Skills
+45% Increased Attack Speed
+330-370% Enhanced Damage (varies)
-(40-60)% To Enemy Cold Resistance (varies)
20% Deadly Strike
25% Chance of Open Wounds
Prevent Monster Heal
Freezes Target +3
Requirements -20%
I put Doom (Hel Ohm Um Lo Cham) into a 5 socket cryptic axe. If you can get it Ethereal that is even better.

Player Stats After Recommended Equipment

With the above equipment I have to say this is the best build I have ever played in Diablo 2. You should be able to tank any monster(s) in the game no trouble. I tanked Lister And all the other minions on a Hell game and Lister was physical/fire immune and lightning enchanted. My Health did not budge. The great thing about this build is that you hit shit so much you steal back your life faster then you lose it. Dracul's Grasp only adds to it with it's chance for casting level 10 life tap. Instead of going with the more traditional rings, I went with Carrion because the Twister and Poison Nova effects. This is just gravy damage added on to your mad whacking paladin already.

Dont know how to make it clearer.

I DO NOT TAKE FULL CREDIT FOR THIS , SOMETHINGS HAVE BEEN EDITED IN MY OWN OPINION