[HELP] Azurewrath and technical questions

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Seikun
Abomination
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altoiddealer wrote:
Seikun wrote: Weapons on swap: need your help.

Berserrker
Berserrker
Backsword (Sacred)

One-Hand Damage: (130 - 144) to (138 - 153)
(Barbarian Only)
Required Level: 100
Required Strength: 526
Item Level: 120
Strength Damage Bonus: (0.16 per Strength)%
1% Chance to cast level 2 Gift of Inner Fire on Striking
+(2 to 3) to All Skills
+(18 to 24)% Bonus Damage to Bloodlust
+(18 to 24)% Bonus Damage to Mark of the Wild
60% Attack Speed
+(171 to 200)% Enhanced Damage
+1 to Bloodlust
+1 to Gift of the Wild
Socketed (3)
Feltongue
Feltongue
Great Sword (Sacred)

One-Hand Damage: 48 to 52
Two-Hand Damage: 79 to 81
Required Level: 100
Required Strength: 670
Item Level: 105
Strength Damage Bonus: (0.16 per Strength)%
Adds 300% of Crushing Blow as Fire and Cold Spell Damage
4% Chance to cast level 20 Pagan Rites on Death Blow
+(5 to 7) to All Skills
20% Movement Speed
-(10 to 20)% to Enemy Fire Resistance
-(10 to 20)% to Enemy Cold Resistance
+(2000 to 4000) Defense
Maximum Fire Resist +1%
Maximum Cold Resist +1%
Socketed (6)
:bounce:

I might try this build out, if my buddy lets me try swinging his Azurewrath around


Feltongue
Feltongue
Great Sword (Sacred)

One-Hand Damage: 48 to 52
Two-Hand Damage: 79 to 81
Required Level: 100
Required Strength: 670
Item Level: 105
Strength Damage Bonus: (0.16 per Strength)%
Adds 300% of Crushing Blow as Fire and Cold Spell Damage
4% Chance to cast level 20 Pagan Rites on Death Blow
+(5 to 7) to All Skills
20% Movement Speed
-(10 to 20)% to Enemy Fire Resistance
-(10 to 20)% to Enemy Cold Resistance
+(2000 to 4000) Defense
Maximum Fire Resist +1%
Maximum Cold Resist +1%
Socketed (6)
with 6x
Atomus
Atomus
Jewel

Required Level: 120
Item Level: 120
Can be Inserted into Socketed Items
+1 to All Skills
+20 to all Attributes
+1% to Experience Gained
:mrotate:
If bloodlust and gift of the wild benefit greatly from +skills, that is. For physical (or conversion from physical) damage build I'd use
Shark (Xis)
and/or
Instinct (Xis)
, possibly on rotation in harder ubers.
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Seikun
Abomination
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Semigloss wrote:Does azure orb deal any respectable damage of its own? If so, could potentially try windform. Plus boarfrost proc too.


I don't know yet if proc deals good damage, but people say it scales with wdm = vitality.
From my experience, Windform is nothing like Whirlwind of vanilla Diablo - it's defensive skill first and foremost: as long as you spin, enemies have hard time hitting you.
Also, proc from helmet scales with cold spell damage, it's not rational to invest in it. I guess it's only good against trash mobs.
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morphed
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Seikun wrote:Sorry for necroposting, but I have an idea.

Azurewrath might be a very potent weapon in hands of barbarian. Obviously, barb would benefit greatly from stacking vita, but what is the best attack skill for Azurewrath?
My assumption is Deathgaze.
Yes, Deathgaze is axe skill. It doesn't matter. Barbarian can dual-wield, and as long as he holds sword and axe, he's free to use skills from both trees.
Yes, dual-wielding leaves barb with no shield and therefore lacking in defense. It doesn't matter either. You won't be stacking dex for max block, anyway. Runemaster will take care of defense needs. Besides, there's another solid reason to use axe as offhand, if the axe is
Dawn (Xis)
RW. 75% to all attributes is massive.

I'm thinking of this setup:
Weapons:
Azurewrath
Azurewrath
Crystal Sword (Sacred)

Required Level: 100
Required Dexterity:
1020
Item Level: 130
Innate Cold Damage:
(45.0% of Dexterity)
100% of Vitality Added as Cold Damage to Weapon
Max Life gained per point of Vitality reduced by 0.9
You Cannot Deal Fire, Lightning or Poison Damage
40% Chance to cast level 30 Azure Orb on Melee Attack
Adds 160-250 Cold Damage
-100% to Enemy Cold Resistance
+2 to Remorseless Winter
Slow Target 25%
Maximum Cold Resist +10%
Physical Resist 10%
100% Bonus to Defense
Cannot Be Frozen
Requirements +100%
Socketed (6)
and
Dawn (Xis)
(offhand)
Weapons on swap: need your help.
Berserrker
Berserrker
Backsword (Sacred)

One-Hand Damage: (130 - 144) to (138 - 153)
(Barbarian Only)
Required Level: 100
Required Strength: 526
Item Level: 120
Strength Damage Bonus: (0.16 per Strength)%
1% Chance to cast level 2 Gift of Inner Fire on Striking
+(2 to 3) to All Skills
+(18 to 24)% Bonus Damage to Bloodlust
+(18 to 24)% Bonus Damage to Mark of the Wild
60% Attack Speed
+(171 to 200)% Enhanced Damage
+1 to Bloodlust
+1 to Gift of the Wild
Socketed (3)
seems a no-brainer, but what should augment it? Do
Shark (Xis)
and
Instinct (Xis)
only affect physical component of bonus damage? Is
Firequeen
Firequeen
Morning Star (Sacred)

One-Hand Damage: 45 to 53
Required Level: 100
Required Strength:
278
Item Level: 105
Strength Damage Bonus: (0.11 per Strength)%
+2 to Amazon Skill Levels
+(15 to 20)% Bonus Elemental Damage to Bloodlust
20% Cast Speed
+50% Damage to Undead
+(41 to 50)% to Summoned Minion Life
(21 to 25)% to Dexterity
(21 to 25)% to Energy
+2 Life Regenerated per Second (Based on Character Level)
Requirements -40%
Socketed (3)
really an only option?
Head:
Boarfrost
Boarfrost
Assault Helmet (Sacred)

Defense: (2238 - 2561) to (2449 - 2803)
(Barbarian Only)
Required Level: 100
Required Strength: 600
Item Level: 120
25% Chance to cast level 40 Ice Bolt Nova on Melee Attack
20% Attack Speed
Adds 63-125 Cold Damage
+(21 to 25)% to Cold Spell Damage
-50% to Enemy Cold Resistance
+10 to Deathgaze
Weapon Physical Damage +90%
+(87 to 114)% Enhanced Defense
(21 to 25)% to Strength
Socketed (4)
(more flat cold damage, more cold pierce for bosses)
Body:
Arrogance
Arrogance
Gothic Plate (Sacred)

Defense: (8308 - 9198) to (10078 - 11157)
Required Level: 120
Required Strength:
1350
Item Level: 130
Restitution
(Based on Restore Percentage)
+50% Combat Speeds
Physical Resist +15%
Maximum Life +7%
Cube with Trophy Fragment: Restore +4%
25% Movement Speed
Adds 15-25 Damage
+(18 to 32) to Stormlord
5% Deadly Strike
+(171 to 200)% Enhanced Defense
+(40 to 50) to all Attributes
Requirements +100%
Socketed (6)
(awesome restitution bonuses, stormlord gives free flat stats) or
Bilefroth Skin
Bilefroth Skin
Gothic Plate (Sacred)

Defense: 9198 to 11157
Required Level: 100
Required Strength: 675
Item Level: 120
50% Combat Speeds
10% Movement Speed
Adds 100-150 Magic Damage
5% Deadly Strike
+200% Enhanced Defense
+5 Magic Absorb
Socketed (6)

Henchmen Trophies
(Legendary Set)
(nothing spectacular on its own, but shines with other items from same set) or
Natalya's Deception
Natalya's Deception
Quilted Armor (Sacred)

Defense: 2263 to 2331
Required Level: 80
Required Strength: 500
Item Level: 120
Orb Effects Applied to this Item are Quadrupled
Socketed (6)
(for juicy UMOs)
Gloves:
Stareye's Claws
Stareye's Claws
Gauntlets (Sacred)

Defense: 1674 to 1959
Required Level: 100
Required Strength: 625
Item Level: 120
Adds 100-150 Cold Damage
+25% to Cold Spell Damage
-15% to Enemy Cold Resistance
+200% Enhanced Defense
+50 to Dexterity
15% to Dexterity
Maximum Cold Resist +2%
+5 Cold Absorb
Socketed (4)

Henchmen Trophies
(Legendary Set)
(some more cold pierce, set bonuses)
Boots:
Shrill Sacrament
Shrill Sacrament
Chain Boots (Sacred)

Defense: (1625 - 1995) to (1762 - 2162)
Required Level: 100
Required Strength: 575
Item Level: 105
Exorcism: +50% Total Damage
10% Chance to cast level 20 Nightmare on Melee Attack
(10 to 40)% Movement Speed
+(10 to 30)% to Physical/Magic Spell Damage
+(9 to 13) to Exorcism
+(120 to 170)% Enhanced Defense
(15 to 25)% to Vitality
+(40 to 100) Life after each Demon Kill
Socketed (4)
(up to 25% vita, good defensive proc)
Belt:
Doomcloud Spine
Doomcloud Spine
Plated Belt (Sacred)

Defense: 4089 to 4479
Required Level: 100
Required Strength: 675
Item Level: 120
Adds 100-150 Lightning Damage
+25% to Lightning Spell Damage
-15% to Enemy Lightning Resistance
+200% Enhanced Defense
+50 to Vitality
15% to Vitality
Maximum Lightning Resist +2%
+5 Lightning Absorb
Socketed (2)

Henchmen Trophies
(Legendary Set)
(flat and % vita, another piece of amazing set) or
Dementia
Dementia
Belt (Sacred)

Defense: (3111 - 3348) to (3272 - 3524)
Required Level: 100
Required Strength:
690
Item Level: 120
-(15 to 20)% to Enemy Elemental Resistances
+(15 to 25) to Fowl Fight
Slow Target 5%
+(120 to 140)% Enhanced Defense
+500 Defense
Maximum Life +2%
Maximum Elemental Resists +1%
Physical Resist 5%
Requirements +20%
Socketed (2)
(defensive stats, pierce might be redundant by now)
Amulet:
Locket of Dreams
Locket of Dreams
Amulet

Required Level: 100
Item Level: 105
+(2 to 3) to All Skills
+100 to Vitality
+(150 to 200) Life when Struck by an Enemy
25% Gold Find
+10 to Light Radius
(flat vita, flat physical (?) damage absorb) or
Dyers Eve
Dyers Eve
Amulet

Required Level: 100
Item Level: 120
5% Chance to cast level 5 Time Strike on Striking
+2 to All Skills
Adds 15-20 Damage
5% Life stolen per Hit
Elemental Resists +10%
Physical Resist (1 to 10)%
(with good phys res roll) or, if you're extra badass or rich,
Celestial Sigil
Celestial Sigil
Celestial Sigil
Amulet
Required Level: 125
Item Level: 110
Level 20 Warp Field Aura
1% Chance to cast level 50 Bloodlust on Death Blow
+(2 to 4) to All Skills
+20% to Spell Damage
5% Chance of Crushing Blow
5% Deadly Strike
Lightning Resist -100%
(warp field aura is a massive debuff to all enemies, bloodlust proc)
Rings:
Ouroboros
Ouroboros
Ring

Required Level: 110
Item Level: 120
+1 to All Skills
(-15 to 25)% to Strength
(-15 to 25)% to Dexterity
(-15 to 25)% to Vitality
(-15 to 25)% to Energy
(max rolls obviously),
Seal of the Nephalem Kings
Seal of the Nephalem Kings
Ring

Required Level: 100
Item Level: 120
+(1 to 2) to All Skills
(10 to 15)% to Strength
(10 to 15)% to Vitality
(10 to 15)% Bonus to Defense
(10 to 20)% Gold Find
or
Empyrean Glory
Empyrean Glory
Ring

Required Level: 50
Item Level: 120
1% Chance to cast level 40 Singularity on Kill
(6 to 10)% to All Attributes
Maximum Life +5%
Maximum Mana +15%
15% Gold Find
will do

It's all theorycraft; I'm still not sure what would be the best socketables for Azurewrath. Ohm runes? Rainbow stones? Co elemental runes?

Also, just what is Remorseless Winter?

Use arkaine for armor , max bear stance , anc blood , mk , focus on getting as much vit on all items , put life spark enchant in helm + gloves you will heal alot with over 70k hp , you need AR in azure , mystic orbs+ jewels , since your hp is ultra high you dont care about other defensive stats , and i would use stormblast in lab , gaze sucks when theres a crowded area and against minibosses, necrobots etc, switch buffs are useless , i would use a sam staff to buff some more regen .
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Seikun
Abomination
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morphed wrote:Use arkaine for armor , max bear stance , anc blood , mk , focus on getting as much vit on all items , put life spark enchant in helm + gloves you will heal alot with over 70k hp , you need AR in azure , mystic orbs+ jewels , since your hp is ultra high you dont care about other defensive stats , and i would use stormblast in lab , gaze sucks when theres a crowded area and against minibosses, necrobots etc, switch buffs are useless , i would use a sam staff to buff some more regen .


1) Arkaine gives vita for TCD. But does bear stance give TCD? Skill description says it's "bonus defense".
2) Barb has great source of flat attack rating in form of Daedalus. Which also gives large chunk of flat HP, shame that lightning damage is wasted on azure. Alas, I don't think attack rating will be a problem. Azurewrath itself has very high dex requirement, remember?
3) Doesn't mountain king have diminishing returns, and isn't it the reason everyone puts exactly one point in it?
4) What exactly life spark does, and why you suggest it over hellfire aura helm enchant? (as if I can get either in single player...)
5) Does it suck? I'd never think deathgaze damage drops. I can see why you advise against it in dlab - stormblast gives better control on whom you need to kill first, and I guess it outdamages deathgaze on hard targets. Maybe there's no point in touching axe tree at all.
6) Okay, let's try void staff... when I get one.

Thank for your input.
Semigloss
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Seikun wrote:
Semigloss wrote:Does azure orb deal any respectable damage of its own? If so, could potentially try windform. Plus boarfrost proc too.


I don't know yet if proc deals good damage, but people say it scales with wdm = vitality.
From my experience, Windform is nothing like Whirlwind of vanilla Diablo - it's defensive skill first and foremost: as long as you spin, enemies have hard time hitting you.
Also, proc from helmet scales with cold spell damage, it's not rational to invest in it. I guess it's only good against trash mobs.

I was thinking windform specifically for the melee attack procs, since you can hit 4fpa rather easily with crystal swords. And you would not scale vit but instead scale cold spell damage and spell factor. It would be a bit of a niche build. Though the cold spell damage would also scale your direct melee hits so there's that...
Semigloss
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Semigloss wrote:
Seikun wrote:
Semigloss wrote:Does azure orb deal any respectable damage of its own? If so, could potentially try windform. Plus boarfrost proc too.


I don't know yet if proc deals good damage, but people say it scales with wdm = vitality.
From my experience, Windform is nothing like Whirlwind of vanilla Diablo - it's defensive skill first and foremost: as long as you spin, enemies have hard time hitting you.
Also, proc from helmet scales with cold spell damage, it's not rational to invest in it. I guess it's only good against trash mobs.

I was thinking windform specifically for the melee attack procs, since you can hit 4fpa rather easily with crystal swords. And you would not scale vit but instead scale cold spell damage and spell factor. It would be a bit of a niche build. Though the cold spell damage would also scale your direct melee hits so there's that...


Mountain king does not have diminishing returns. It's 1.5% per level. But I would argue there are probably better spots to spend points, the bonus isn't THAT big. 20 points for 30% attributes? :?
mortimer_85
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Seikun wrote:
morphed wrote:Use arkaine for armor , max bear stance , anc blood , mk , focus on getting as much vit on all items , put life spark enchant in helm + gloves you will heal alot with over 70k hp , you need AR in azure , mystic orbs+ jewels , since your hp is ultra high you dont care about other defensive stats , and i would use stormblast in lab , gaze sucks when theres a crowded area and against minibosses, necrobots etc, switch buffs are useless , i would use a sam staff to buff some more regen .


1) Arkaine gives vita for TCD. But does bear stance give TCD? Skill description says it's "bonus defense".
2) Barb has great source of flat attack rating in form of Daedalus. Which also gives large chunk of flat HP, shame that lightning damage is wasted on azure. Alas, I don't think attack rating will be a problem. Azurewrath itself has very high dex requirement, remember?
3) Doesn't mountain king have diminishing returns, and isn't it the reason everyone puts exactly one point in it?
4) What exactly life spark does, and why you suggest it over hellfire aura helm enchant? (as if I can get either in single player...)
5) Does it suck? I'd never think deathgaze damage drops. I can see why you advise against it in dlab - stormblast gives better control on whom you need to kill first, and I guess it outdamages deathgaze on hard targets. Maybe there's no point in touching axe tree at all.
6) Okay, let's try void staff... when I get one.

Thank for your input.

1) yeah Bearstance gives TCD - wording can be confusing sometimes. It even scales linear with slvl so you can use prebuff gear to squeeze out more flat vit.

2) flat AR + increasing returns HP from Daedelus is wasted when you get 1,5% aa per base lvl from MK. only the slvl scaling has high dim returns but basepoints are valuable. WIth smaxd MK and EMP GLorie(s) you might not even need to put points into dex and thus your innate flat AR even when hitting the 1.1 k won't be high enough to simply let it be as it is.
3) see 2)
4) it insta heals the slvl % of max HP.
5) try for yourself and then decide

one more point: even if Azure has already 100 pierce - it is worth pushing it to 180 plus for real high content - so you might even consider sacrifice some vit for pierce on gear/charms
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Seikun
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Semigloss wrote:I was thinking windform specifically for the melee attack procs, since you can hit 4fpa rather easily with crystal swords. And you would not scale vit but instead scale cold spell damage and spell factor. It would be a bit of a niche build. Though the cold spell damage would also scale your direct melee hits so there's that...

Since when spell damage affects elemental weapon attacks?
Siosilvar
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Seikun wrote:Since when spell damage affects elemental weapon attacks?


Since vanilla. It's why Trang's double-dips on Venom damage.

Spell damage works on direct melee hits, which includes Windform, normal attack, and technically the initial swing of basically every other melee skill. But most of the melee skills fire WDM novas or projectiles and those don't get anything from spell damage, so it works out to be negligible.

That said, someone on page 1 said Azure Orb is WDM so if that's true, you still want to stack vit because it won't actually get spell damage.
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Siosilvar wrote:
Seikun wrote:Since when spell damage affects elemental weapon attacks?


Since vanilla. It's why Trang's double-dips on Venom damage.

Spell damage works on direct melee hits, which includes Windform, normal attack, and technically the initial swing of basically every other melee skill. But most of the melee skills fire WDM novas or projectiles and those don't get anything from spell damage, so it works out to be negligible.

That said, someone on page 1 said Azure Orb is WDM so if that's true, you still want to stack vit because it won't actually get spell damage.


I expect this interaction to be fixed in 2.0, since its actually a bug, not a feature :D