Hymn.'s Guide to Making a Hammerdin

[FrogMan]

Ixle's Hammerdin
Version 1.3

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History
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1.0-
Began Guide
-History
-Intro
1.1-
Edited grammar
Edited Equiptment Mistakes
Edited Build Mistakes
~ Thanks to link_4_ever
1.2-
Mercenary updated
1.3-
FCR Breakpoints added

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Table Of Contents
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1. Introduction
2. Skills
- What to max first
- Offensive Skills
- Defensive Skills
- Combat Skills
3. Stats
- Strength
- Dexterity
- Vitality
- Energy
4. Equiptment
- Weapon
- Armor
- Sheild
- Helm
- Boots
- Gloves
- Belt
- Rings
- Ammy
5. Mercenary
- Overview
- Items
6. Breakpoints
- Faster Cast Rate
- Faster Block Rate
- Faster Hit Recovery

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1. Introduction
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There have been a lot of variations to building a hammerdin, and i thought i should share my version with the world.This guide is strictly PvM My build isnt very different than other builds but is just a combo of different hints and tips. Out of every hammerdin build i've seen, there is always one with a certain item or tip/hint better than the one i am reading and i hope to be able to bring those together into one build. Tips i have gotten from sites will be mentioned, but my main source of info is from three great friends. Chris, Clark, Dan, this builds thanks to you.

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2. Skills
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The main part of every build, the skills. The skills define a character. Whether it be a smiter or fire sorceress.


Order of Skills to be maxed-

Blessed Hammer
Concentration
Vigor
Blessed Aim
Holy Sheild
1 into Redemption
1 into Prerequisits
Rest into Defiance for HSheild bonus




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3. Stats
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Strength- Leave as base, you want as much Health as possible.
Dexterity- As little as possible to get max block with HS and all equiptment. I got 72 with anni and Hellfire.
Vitality- Rest into here.
Energy- Base. Self Explainitory.


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4. Equipment
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Weapon- HoTo, as best as you can possibly get it.
Wizardspike is a good alternitive to this.
Armor- Enigma Mage Plate, for the use of this without any points into strength, you need this to be a Hammerdin.
Sheild- HoZ is best choice, but if you don't have one, Spirit can be used.
Helm- Um'd Shako
Boots- I like Sandstorm Trek's but Marrow's, Silkweaves, and pretty much all boots work here.
Gloves- Magefists, these arn't that hard to get
Belt- Arach's
Rings- An SoJ and an all res ring with fcr if your lucky enough to find one. Nagel's will work for mf if you don't have those first two.
Ammy- Mara's is prefferable, but seraph's works too.


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5. Mercenary
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I like having an act 2 Defiance mercenary, make sure you get your mercs from the lowest level possible, so they have the most health and damage. The defiance merc boosts your defense by amazing marks.

Armor- Archon Plate Fort prefferably, but stone works very well too.
Weapon- Eth Collosus Voulge Insight, amazing stats for you and your merc.
Helm- CoA is a good helm, but i use Gillueme's Face for its crushing blow and other good stats.

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6. Breakpoints
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The following is from Ragnarod on Diablo II Strategy Compendium

The Fast Cast Rate breakpoints are the following:

0% fcr - 15 frames
9% fcr - 14 frames
18% fcr - 13 frames
30% fcr - 12 frames
48% fcr - 11 frames
75% fcr - 10 frames
125% fcr - 9 frames
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Regarding Fast Block Rate:

Without Holy Shield:

0% fbr - 5 frames
13% fbr - 4 frames
32% fbr - 3 frames
86% fbr - 2 frames
600% fbr - 1 frame

With Holy Shield

0% fbr - 2 frames
86% fbr - 1 frame
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Fast Hit Recovery:

0% fhr - 9 frames
7% fhr - 8 frames
15% fhr - 7 frames
27% fhr - 6 frames
48% fhr - 5 frames
86% fhr - 4 frames
200% fhr - 3 frames
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Block % Calculations

Total Blocking = (Blocking * (Dexterity - 15)) / (Character Level * 2)

[Loits]

I would definately recommend making a 125 fcr hammer meaning that you need fcr rings and ammy or circlet and ammy.

I would also recommend butting a ber in zaka and zhako.

Quite often it's a good idea to use spirit because of it's high fhr.

If using a fcr ammy then get one with str allowing you to use a dusk eni.

[Etnies]

I have looked around at afew guides and this one seems the best so decieded to use it, but I dont get if you dont put any stats in strenth in how your wearing them items you dont mention strenth charms, and even with torch you wouldnt have enough strenth to wear them, could someone explain it to me please?

[Loits]

Base str is 20 + torch + anni = 60 base strenght, simple enough for you? With that you can equip mage eni ez.

edit: typos -.-

[FraterPerdurabo]

75%FCR = unstickied.

Rewrite please.

[Ratsu]

I would definately recommend making a 125 fcr hammer meaning that you need fcr rings and ammy or circlet and ammy.

I would also recommend butting a ber in zaka and zhako.

Quite often it's a good idea to use spirit because of it's high fhr.

If using a fcr ammy then get one with str allowing you to use a dusk eni.

Good point there...

But for 125 you could just swap HoZ for a high res 35 FCR spirit maybe? smartass2

[Loits]

In pvp zaka ber > spirit, but that's a much more expencive option.