Hardcore CS Hammerdin Guide




Introduction:

This guide is intended for semi-well established D2 players. It is based on a character I built a
few months ago and have been getting positive feedback about on the realms. It is based soley
on safety. In a 1 player game, you would have to be drunk or AFK in monsters to die in any area
in hell difficulty. Plain and simple: If you follow this guide, you will barely ever even have to juv, and
chance of death is very low (no one can account for connection problems and things like that).



Overview:

It's a fact that since 1.10 hit, enigmadins have been as cookie cutter as it comes. I play hardcore
exclusively, and I've seen more then a few hammerdins die in the chaos sanctuary (where the big
boys play). From experienced hardcore players (myself included ) to softcore converts with some
Unit Not allowed, I've seen them die many times. After my first death in CS, I vowed I wouldn't let it happen again
and set out to build a character exclusively to handle the chaos sanctuary with ease. I'm talking 2-3
superuniques all with auras on top of De Suis in an 8 player game and you don't have to juv. It's
that serious.

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1. Leveling:

Since this is not a poor man's guide, I'm not going to give poor man advice on leveling. Either GRush
yourself, pay to be GRushed, or go read another guide on how to level. This is a highly tweaked guide
If you pay for a GRush, you can get a nice discount (from me and my clanmates anyway ) by being
LvL 25 in normal. Then you can be rushed into NM, be NM cowed to 40, and get into and through hell
to be chaosed to 60. Finally, Hell Ancients and start baaling. There's really no faster or convienant way
to go. You will be ready to lay waste to the CS at level 80 (highest req item), and will have all your
synergies maxed shortly after.



2. Skill Distribution:

Offensive Auras Tree -

1 - Might
20 - Concentrate
20 - Blessed Aim

Defensive Auras Tree -

1 - Prayer
1 - Cleansing
1 - Defiance
20 - Vigor
1 - Redemption

Combat Skills Tree -

1 - Smite
1 - Holy Bolt
1 - Charge
20 - Blessed Hammer
20 - Holy Shield


Why?

Obvious. All hammerdin skill allocation is the same. The only thing that could possible differ is what you
want to do with the 3 skills you have left after LvL 96. Salv, Res element auras, Defiance, doesn't really
matter. Personally I just hit LvL 96 recently, so if I ever hit 97, I suppose my skill point would go into
Defiance for the defense bonus to HS. That's just me.



3. Stat Distribution:

Strength - Base
Dexterity - Enough for 75% Block (Plan to have 141 after bonuses @ LvL 96)
Vitality - Just about everything
Energy - Base



4. Items

Nothing is negotiable. This build is dependant on this exact gear. Especially the mercenary. The
goal is to have max (and slightly stacked vs Amp) DR, stacked as much as possible resists
(vs conviction and / or LR), and still have 75% fcr breakpoint. Your merc will be a big part of the
sucess.


Helm: Harlequin Crest Shako

-10% DR, Skills, Life and Mana. Cookie cutter stuff.
-Socket with Ral rune or 30% fire res / 2nd mod jewel (I use Ral).

Armor: Enigma

-8% DR, Skills, Teleport, etc. Cookie cutter stuff.
-I made mine in a Wire Fleece for naked looking str glitch

Weapon: Heart of the Oak

-40% FCR, Skills, Dex. Cookie cutter stuff.
-I made mine in a Scourge, just because.

Shield: Stormshield Monarch

-35% DR, Defense, Resists.
-Socket with Um rune.

Belt: Arachnid Mesh Spiderweb Sash

-20% FCR, Skill, some Mana. Cookie cutter stuff.
-Yep, no surprises here.

Boots: Sandstorm Trek Scarabshell Boots

-FHR, Poison res, Vitality, Str (non-issue, I use 10/15 eth)

Gloves: Magefist Crusader Gauntlets

-20% FCR, double up them for the extra defense.
-You now have 80% FCR (75% Breakpoint)

Rings: Dwarf Star / 20 Dex Ravenfrost

-Your source of CBF + some Dex and absorb (Raven)
-Life and Fire Absorb (Dwarf)

Amulet: Mara's Kaleidoscope

-Skills, Stats, Resists.
-The only substitute would be a rare +2 with all res (extra fire), life, and dex.


53% DR, 80% FCR, 20% FHR, stacked up the butt resists, CBF, absorbs.



5. Mercenary

This is your bread & butter / secret weapon. You will be hiring an Act 5 Merc. It will wear the
following gear:

Weapon: Lawbringer Runeword Broad Sword

-Sanctuary sanctuary sanctuary! You will knock back undead (everything in CS minus Venom Lords)
-Low damage means you'll survive 5-10 IM hits (with other gear below), and regularly decrep bad guys.

Armor: Chains of Honor Runeword Eth Glitched Armor

-Defense, Resists, and most importantly Life Leech (nty IM)

Helm: Tal Rasha's Death Mask

-Life Leech, Life
-Socket with Perfect Ruby


This merc in combination with the DR approach will equal curtains to CS. In Baal runs with good BO, it
will die about once every 15 runs. Same goes for soloing. You can teleport right into De Suis & friends
and not even get hit, while your hammers do the dirtywork. If you do get hit, you will definitely notice the
DR difference from the other 99% of hammerdins if you've ever played one. Ulf will also decrepify
Diablo and other bad guys more often then you'd think.



6. Charms

My charm setup leaves 3 x 4 rows open for picking up stuffs. I use 12x vita small charms, most all with
fire resist or lightning resist 2nd mod. Next, 2 PCombat skillers and an all res / life GC. Lastly is your
Torch / Anni and TP / ID tomes.

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Conclusion:

With 2 PCombat's and Battle Command, you will have 11k Hammer damage. That is more then enough
to handle whatever you need to handle. Your charm priority is to stack fire resist, followed by life. My
hammerdin has 4042 life with self BO and max fire resist after LR / 50 after conviction. Conviction Aura
Infector of Souls is really the only time I have to use juv pots. Sacraficing the skills and stats of HoZ for
the DR is worth having only 2k less hammer damage, although I suggest keeping a HoZ in your stash
for teleporting baal runs (dodge this if possible). Personally I have never been happier with a character
build, and if you know me you know that I am all about safety. This build screams safety. Yes, I realize
it's expensive, but it's worth it. Lastly, if you didn't notice in the title, this is a hardcore build. I do not play
softcore whatsoever. I don't really care how much more damage I could do and die 3 times a game or
drink a full belt of juvs.


Remember, hardcore = safety, patience, and death

-Gary