Hello all,
I’m doing a Hell run with my Assassin, my first time doing so in Diablo II: Resurrected and my first time tackling Hell Difficulty since the game’s original release 20 years ago.
I’ve just made it to the Canyon of the Magi and will battle Duriel soon, and I recall him being extremely challenging at this difficulty.
My Assassin is using a Phoenix Strike build similar to this Icy Veins build: ht tps://www.icy-veins.com/d2/ph oenix-strike-assassin-build (remove spaces as I can’t seem to post links).
My Assassin is currently Level 77 and the differences in my build from the link above are:
- I have yet to max Blades of Ice.
- I’m using dual Claw class weapons and Dragon Claw as my finisher which currently has a single point in it. No points in Dragon Tail and Dragon Flight.
- I have one point in Shadow Warrior and Shadow Master (and use Shadow Master), and no points in Mind Blast.
- Due to a weapon bonus, I have access to low level Wake of Fire, but otherwise no Trap Skills.
I’m using a Rogue (Frozen Arrow as my mercenary, and she’s equipped with Edge.
My own gear is no where near what I’d like it to be, as Runes are not dropping well and Socketed claws are not either. I’m currently using:
- Runewords Lore in a Shako and Strength in a Claw.
- Using Skin of the Vipermagi Unique Armour.
- Think I still have my Prismatic Amulet equipped.
I’d love to make Treachery but am missing a single Rune for it, and Pattern but I’m missing a 3 socket Claw weapon.
I recall Duriel’s Freezing Aura being a royal pain, and something that Fade will not properly counter.
Any general tips here would be appreciated.
Why not visit countess some more to make treachery?
My assassin experience is rather poor but I’ll give it a go. I played physical MA Assassin also dual claw. My main was Tiger strike/Dragon tail both max. Using burst of speed 100% of the time with Summon master active. I picked Act 2 merc with prayer and runeword Obedience. My resistance was very low. I would use cobra strike to leech life/mana. Rings, Amulet, Boots, and Gloves are just resistant, frw, +3 MA. Claws are +1 or 2 to assassin. The rest dont remember but nothing fancy.
For Duriel. Just keep respawning summon master. Merc has crushing blow and i just attack and heal. Dont recall any difficulties. Of course Cannot be Frozen equipment will go a long way.
just FYI - “cannot be frozen” has no effect during the fight, because it’s an aura.
Not duriel actually hitting you with cold-laced attacks.
but, feel free to give it a go, even try thaw potions, too.
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I’m always confuse about what works and not. Thanks for the correction.
Hello again Callisto, and thanks again for all the tips you’re giving me 
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I’m missing “Lem” for Treachery. Is it not a Rune that’s too high level to drop from Countess? Whenever I do Countess runs I get lower level Runes from her and the Unique Monsters leading up to her.
Can you define “Summon master?” Do you mean Shadow Master?
Sadly, I lack Ko and Fal for making Obedience.
What does “frw” stand for? Faster Run/Walk?
i can clarify a few of those for you.
Hell countess CAN drop ALL the way up to a Lo (extremely rare, though). So, yes, she most definitely can.
Again, if you’re doing Hell countess (not Nightmare), Ko and Fal shouldn’t take too long to obtain, though you MIGHT have to cube up to them.
And yes, FRW = Faster Run / Walk.
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Like all of what TrashCanMan said is corrected. Just cube up to get what you need.
My mistake. Shadow master. I play too much necro if you can’t tell.
Items don’t come when you need them. They just appear when you don’t. Focus farming 1 item to drop feel like ages. I just go with the flow.
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Thank you both!
@TrashCanMan Thanks for clarifying. I’ve used the Horadric Cube to upgrade low level Runes, but stopped when Gems are required.
I upgrade Gems all the time though, and outside of a Prismatic Amulet, never use them 
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@Callisto Necromancer is one of my fav Classes as well, though I have yet to try him in “Resurrected.” After I’m done with my Assassin I’ll be doing a Paladin and then Necromancer.
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Duriel is a wiener. Often a. Pain in the butt and always aggressive.
I usually carry atleast one row of thaw potions in my belt, and let my hireling keep his attention. Stay far, and when your hireling dies put up a portal far away from him so he doesn’t kill you before you portal back in with another hireling. Sometimes it takes a few runs to town for thaw potions (should you need them) or for your hireling. That’s about the only info I got.
Use a decent shield with increased block rate, and if necessary use items with increased hit recovery or increased chance to dodge.
If you can use treachery for fade proc which will help keep your res full. Each time it proves it last 5 min so you can even go proc before you get to duriel much like a smiter would before doing Uber meph and Baal.
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I managed to beat Duriel in Hell with Act 2 merc. with Blessed Aim. Equipped him with Griswold’s armor with jewels that increased his damage by 95%. gave him “Bonehew”, the Ogre axe. I know it is not the best of the weapons, but it is socket one and I socketed 2 perfect Amethysts to further boost attack rating. Also gave him Guillaume’s Face which gives 35% crushing blow.
Once in, I opened a town portal and had to travel back a couple of times to heal, but my merc. was able to take chunks of his health at a time and finish him off eventually.
Level 82 Sorc. btw, very difficult to fight alone in that congested space and with his high resists.
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