The Hireling Handbook - A Guide to Mercenaries

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Abaddon666
Pit Knight
106 | 2
Hi! I wonder about the attack speed breakpoints of a shapeshifter with a spetum. How exactly do ias in other items contribute to his fps? Does it work the same way as for a morphed druid or is it actually only ias of the weapon that counts for a shapeshifter?
I'm considering to use
Bogspitter
Bogspitter
Helms

'BerUm'
Runeword Level: 78
20% Chance to cast level 11 Miasma on Melee Attack
+1 to All Skills
Adds 60-179 Poison Damage over 1 seconds
Slows Attacker by (10 to 15)%
+(115 to 143)% Enhanced Defense
Elemental Resists +10%
rw helm for Miasma and
Void
Void
Weapons

'Sur'
Runeword Level: 75
Adds 7-13 Damage
+(58 to 72)% Enhanced Damage
Slow Target 20%
Regenerate Mana +15%
Cold Resist +40%
Physical Damage Reduced by (11 to 15)
+(3 to 5) Mana on Striking
2% Reanimate as: Random Monster
as a weapon to get a lot of slow % on a necrobear.
Siosilvar
Cow Ninja
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Abaddon666 wrote:Hi! I wonder about the attack speed breakpoints of a shapeshifter with a spetum. How exactly do ias in other items contribute to his fps? Does it work the same way as for a morphed druid or is it actually only ias of the weapon that counts for a shapeshifter?
I'm considering to use
Bogspitter
Bogspitter
Helms

'BerUm'
Runeword Level: 78
20% Chance to cast level 11 Miasma on Melee Attack
+1 to All Skills
Adds 60-179 Poison Damage over 1 seconds
Slows Attacker by (10 to 15)%
+(115 to 143)% Enhanced Defense
Elemental Resists +10%
rw helm for Miasma and
Void
Void
Weapons

'Sur'
Runeword Level: 75
Adds 7-13 Damage
+(58 to 72)% Enhanced Damage
Slow Target 20%
Regenerate Mana +15%
Cold Resist +40%
Physical Damage Reduced by (11 to 15)
+(3 to 5) Mana on Striking
2% Reanimate as: Random Monster
as a weapon to get a lot of slow % on a necrobear.


Same as druid but the frames will be different because his AnimationSpeed is lower. The calculator has the right numbers.
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NotCube
Grubber
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Abaddon666 wrote:How exactly do ias in other items contribute to his fps? Does it work the same way as for a morphed druid or is it actually only ias of the weapon that counts for a shapeshifter?

It's not only WIAS that counts, but it influences breakpoints for shapeshifter the most. See the Venom Sting example in section 2.6. The best way to have a feel for it is to just play with the speed calculator and you'll see how little IAS on other slots affect his breakpoints.
Abaddon666 wrote:I'm considering to use
Bogspitter
Bogspitter
Helms

'BerUm'
Runeword Level: 78
20% Chance to cast level 11 Miasma on Melee Attack
+1 to All Skills
Adds 60-179 Poison Damage over 1 seconds
Slows Attacker by (10 to 15)%
+(115 to 143)% Enhanced Defense
Elemental Resists +10%
rw helm for Miasma and
Void
Void
Weapons

'Sur'
Runeword Level: 75
Adds 7-13 Damage
+(58 to 72)% Enhanced Damage
Slow Target 20%
Regenerate Mana +15%
Cold Resist +40%
Physical Damage Reduced by (11 to 15)
+(3 to 5) Mana on Striking
2% Reanimate as: Random Monster
as a weapon to get a lot of slow % on a necrobear.

Thats fine. Just make sure you use 5x 15% ias jewels for
Void
Void
Weapons

'Sur'
Runeword Level: 75
Adds 7-13 Damage
+(58 to 72)% Enhanced Damage
Slow Target 20%
Regenerate Mana +15%
Cold Resist +40%
Physical Damage Reduced by (11 to 15)
+(3 to 5) Mana on Striking
2% Reanimate as: Random Monster
, and 5x IAS MOs on a Spetum (or any spear that's not a paladin spear or a Pike). That will set his atk spd at 12 fpa. You can add more in other slots for 113 total ias for 11 frames. With the same spear, the next breakpoint is 180 total ias for 10 fpa, which is pretty much impossible without completely changing his build.

Now compare all that work to a
Fangspear
Fangspear
Spetum (4)

Two-Hand Damage: (15 - 18) to (37 - 48)
Required Level: 7
Required Strength: 42
Required Dexterity: 63
Item Level: 19
Dexterity Damage Bonus: (0.15 per Dexterity)%
200% Bonus to Miasma Haunt Duration
10% Chance to cast level 5 Miasma on Melee Attack
15% Attack Speed
Adds (8 to 10)-(21 to 30) Damage
+75 to Attack Rating
+(30 to 46)% Enhanced Damage
+(0 to 100) to Life
+(11 to 15) Life after each Kill
Socketed (2)
Two-Hand Damage: (33 - 40) to (78 - 92)
Required Level: 25
Required Strength: 70
Required Dexterity: 97
Item Level: 36
Dexterity Damage Bonus: (0.15 per Dexterity)%
200% Bonus to Miasma Haunt Duration
15% Chance to cast level 11 Miasma on Melee Attack
30% Attack Speed
Adds (11 to 15)-(31 to 40) Damage
+100 to Attack Rating
+(64 to 80)% Enhanced Damage
+(0 to 150) to Life
+(21 to 25) Life after each Kill
Socketed (4)
Two-Hand Damage: (63 - 71) to (143 - 161)
Required Level: 44
Required Strength: 144
Required Dexterity: 193
Item Level: 51
Dexterity Damage Bonus: (0.15 per Dexterity)%
200% Bonus to Miasma Haunt Duration
20% Chance to cast level 18 Miasma on Melee Attack
45% Attack Speed
Adds (16 to 20)-(41 to 50) Damage
+125 to Attack Rating
+(98 to 114)% Enhanced Damage
+(0 to 200) to Life
+(31 to 35) Life after each Kill
Socketed (5)
Two-Hand Damage: (83 - 97) to (184 - 203)
Required Level: 53
Required Strength: 288
Required Dexterity: 382
Item Level: 85
Dexterity Damage Bonus: (0.15 per Dexterity)%
200% Bonus to Miasma Haunt Duration
25% Chance to cast level 25 Miasma on Melee Attack
60% Attack Speed
Adds (21 to 30)-(51 to 60) Damage
+150 to Attack Rating
+(115 to 132)% Enhanced Damage
+(0 to 250) to Life
+(36 to 40) Life after each Kill
Socketed (6)
, which can reach 6 fpa just by itself and you'll see how much weight weapon ias has.
Abaddon666
Pit Knight
106 | 2
Thanks for a very helpful answer! And btw., thanks for a great guide! :)

It turns out I didn't really understand how the SpeedCalc works for this merc. But now that I do, I found out that it's possible to get to 9 fpa with Void, by just adding a
Marksman's Eye
Marksman's Eye
Mystic Orb

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5% Attack Speed
+3 to Minimum Damage
10% Bonus to Attack Rating
2% to Dexterity
+10 Required Level
to the weapon (110 wias: 30 MOs, 75 jewels, 5 Marksman's) and adding 37 ias from gear (jewels?). It's still not 6 fpa, but I hope it's worth the added 33% slow. Anyway, I'm curious to test it out :)

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il-vendetta
Invader
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NotCube wrote:
ROGUE - BLENDER

There are many options for the weapon slot. Basically anything that has high raw damage is preferred.

Weapon:
Shockwave

Shockwave
Bows

'IthShael'
Runeword Level: 35
50% Chance to cast level 14 Punishers on Kill
+15% Bonus to Poison Skill Duration
+(11 to 15) to Maximum Damage
+(58 to 72)% Enhanced Damage
+10% to Poison Spell Damage
(3 to 5)% Chance of Crushing Blow
Slow Target (11 to 15)%
+(21 to 40) to Dexterity
+(21 to 40) to Energy
Herald of Skartara
Herald of Skartara
Reflex Bow (4)

Two-Hand Damage: (23 - 29) to (37 - 48)
(Amazon Only)
Required Level: 11
Required Dexterity: 103
Item Level: 29
Dexterity Damage Bonus: (0.15 per Dexterity)%
1% Chance to cast level 3 Phalanx on Kill
1% Chance to cast level 6 Celerity on Kill
15% Attack Speed
Adds (11 to 15)-(21 to 30) Damage
+(35 to 57)% Enhanced Damage
10% Magic Find
Socketed (2)
Two-Hand Damage: (63 - 77) to (93 - 108)
(Amazon Only)
Required Level: 30
Required Dexterity: 150
Item Level: 40
Dexterity Damage Bonus: (0.15 per Dexterity)%
2% Chance to cast level 7 Phalanx on Kill
2% Chance to cast level 10 Celerity on Kill
25% Attack Speed
Adds (25 to 35)-(41 to 50) Damage
+(81 to 103)% Enhanced Damage
20% Magic Find
Socketed (4)
Two-Hand Damage: (124 - 142) to (173 - 204)
(Amazon Only)
Required Level: 48
Required Dexterity: 290
Item Level: 67
Dexterity Damage Bonus: (0.15 per Dexterity)%
3% Chance to cast level 11 Phalanx on Kill
3% Chance to cast level 14 Celerity on Kill
35% Attack Speed
Adds (36 to 45)-(51 to 70) Damage
+(126 to 149)% Enhanced Damage
30% Magic Find
Socketed (5)
Two-Hand Damage: (168 - 187) to (230 - 263)
(Amazon Only)
Required Level: 57
Required Dexterity: 570
Item Level: 85
Dexterity Damage Bonus: (0.15 per Dexterity)%
4% Chance to cast level 13 Phalanx on Kill
4% Chance to cast level 20 Celerity on Kill
40% Attack Speed
Adds (51 to 60)-(71 to 90) Damage
+(149 to 171)% Enhanced Damage
40% Magic Find
Socketed (6)
Ice Breaker (Xis)
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Windforce
Windforce
Long War Bow (Sacred)

Two-Hand Damage: (154 - 182) to (173 - 205)
Required Level: 100
Required Dexterity:
1950
Item Level: 120
Dexterity Damage Bonus: (0.13 per Dexterity)%
Knockback Enemies If You Have at Least 1000 Strength
10% Chance to cast level 10 Claw Tornado on Striking
30% Movement Speed
+3.75 to Maximum Damage (Based on Character Level)
10% Mana stolen per Hit
+(120 to 160)% Enhanced Damage
50% Slower Stamina Drain
Requirements +200%
Socketed (6)
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Fleshstinger
Fleshstinger
Short War Bow (Sacred)

Two-Hand Damage: (203 - 265) to (324 - 415)
Required Level: 100
Required Dexterity: 590
Item Level: 105
Dexterity Damage Bonus: (0.13 per Dexterity)%
4% Chance to cast level 20 Heartseeker on Kill
+(1 to 4) to Barbarian Skill Levels
+(1 to 4) to Sorceress Skill Levels
+(1 to 4) to Paladin Skill Levels
Adds (40 to 75)-(140 to 200) Damage
(50 to 200)% Bonus to Attack Rating
+100% Damage to Demons
+(140 to 180)% Enhanced Damage
+(15 to 30) to Split Arrow
4% Reanimate as: Random Monster
Socketed (6)
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Shark (Xis)
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Askarbydd
Askarbydd
Reflex Bow (Sacred)

Two-Hand Damage: (230 - 311) to (330 - 455)
(Amazon Only)
Required Level: 100
Required Dexterity:
1020
Item Level: 105
Dexterity Damage Bonus: (0.15 per Dexterity)%
50% Attack Speed
Adds (70 to 110)-(150 to 230) Damage
15% Life stolen per Hit
+(140 to 200)% Enhanced Damage
+(1 to 10) to Rapid Wyrmshot
Maximum Poison Resist +2%
Poison Length Reduced by 25%
Requirements +50%
Socketed (6)


So, a crafted Reflex Bow with 200 ED/300 Max Dmg. Don't you think it should be the first choice?

By the way, congratulations on this incredible guide!
tempmail
Cog
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Hits twice with each attack (yes you read that right)


So does that mean that if I have 50 life on attack on a ring, my barb is going to get 100 life per attack?
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Jampula
Amazon Warrior
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il-vendetta wrote:So, a crafted Reflex Bow with 200 ED/300 Max Dmg. Don't you think it should be the first choice?!

If you roll such a mahcine with on striking proc you might as well play amazon.



tempmail wrote:
Hits twice with each attack (yes you read that right)


So does that mean that if I have 50 life on attack on a ring, my barb is going to get 100 life per attack?

Yes but it's irrelevant, as barbs regenerate so fast anyway, it's those hard-hitting mobs that gets them.
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NotCube
Grubber
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il-vendetta wrote:So, a crafted Reflex Bow with 200 ED/300 Max Dmg. Don't you think it should be the first choice?


If you can craft such a bow yeah. It's great. However, It'll cost you hundreds of shrines on average. Usually by the time you farmed/traded enough shrines to craft that, you already found SUs/SSUs. Even better if you trade online because some of these uniques frequently go for 10-50tg, which is a lot more affordable than buying shrines.

I'm also lazy so... my suggestions may reflect that. But yes crafted bow is nice if you can manage.
Jovoman
Cog
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thoughts about super endgame pure dps merc? im playing summon barb atm using full dmg a1 priestess with near perfect roll eth xis ice breaker, rebel xis, royal circlet, beads ammy, hammerfist, endless loop, epicenter boots,

im curious if an a3 abjurer pure light dmg with 135 light pierce is doing more dmg for me in endgam farming? ( no labs )
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marco311
Grubber
341 | 5
Eth bow?