Looking for advice on which weapon to give my WW barb and merc

Barbarian
1

So I’m level 57 and am just starting Act 3. This is my highest level character so no relying on twink gear. I’m Polearm Mastery (not interested in advice about switching weapon type, this was a deliberate choice) and am currently using an Insight War Scythe, with my Act 2 Prayer mercenary using my old Malice Poleaxe. A shiny new 3-slot War Scythe just dropped and I’m considering putting Crescent in it and either giving it to my mercenary or using it myself and giving my Insight to my mercenary.

I was hoping to get some input on what you guys think I should do?

For context, let me elaborate on what my current gear and build is.

Status:

Strength: 177 (Base Value: 135)
Dexterity: 120 (Base Value: 80)
Vitality: 160 (Base Value: 135)
Energy: 35 (Base Value: 10)
10 points held in reserve.

Fire Resistance: 69% (Bonus: +109%, Difficulty Penalty: -40%)
Cold Resistance: 71% (Bonus: +111%, Difficulty Penalty: -40%)
Lightning Resistance: 75% (Bonus: +119%, Difficulty Penalty: -40%)
Poison Resistance: 66% (Bonus: +106%, Difficulty Penalty: -40%)

ATTACK Damage: 336-637
WHIRLWIND Damage: 399-766

Attack Rating: 3853
WHIRLWIND Attack Rating: 4580
Defense: 1139
Life: 811
Mana: 148

Gear:

"Insight" War Scythe:

  • Two-Hand Damage: 57 to 117
  • Polearm Class: Normal Attack Speed
  • Level 14 Meditation Aura When Equipped
  • +35% Faster Cast Rate
  • +225% Enhanced Damage
  • +9 to Minimum Damage
  • 216% Bonus to Attack Rating
  • Adds 5-30 fire damage
  • +75 poison damage over 5 seconds
  • +4 to Critical Strike
  • +5 to all attributes
  • +2 Mana after each Kill
  • 23% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items

"Lore" Jawbone Visor:

  • Defense: 60
  • +1 to All Skills
  • +2 to Natural Resistance
  • +2 to Battle Orders
  • +10 to Energy
  • Lightning Resist +30%
  • Damage Reduced by 7
  • +2 Mana after each Kill
  • +2 to Light Radius

"Lionheart" Diamond Mail:

  • Defense: 464
  • +20% Enhanced Damage
  • +25 to Strength
  • +15 to Dexterity
  • +20 to Vitality
  • +10 to Energy
  • +50 to Life
  • All Resistances +30
  • Requirements -15%

"M’avina’s Icy Clutch" Battle Gauntlets:

  • Defense: 91
  • Adds 6-18 cold damage
  • +47 Defense
  • +10 to Strength
  • +15 to Dexterity
  • Half Freeze Duration
  • 56% Extra Gold from Monsters

"Ghoul Greaves" Light Plated Boots:

  • Defense: 15
  • +10% Faster Hit Recovery
  • +29% Enhanced Defense
  • +15 Maximum Stamina
  • Poison Resist +8%
  • 25% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items

"Corpse Lock" Plated Belt:

  • Defense: 10
  • 12% Chance to cast level 4 Charged Bolt when struck
  • +2 to Strength
  • +30 to Maximum Stamina
  • Cold Resist +22%
  • Fire Resist +20%

Furious Amulet:

  • +3 to Masteries

"Nagelring" Ring:

  • +74 to Attack Rating
  • Magic Damage Reduced by 3
  • Attacker Takes Damage of 3
  • 19% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items

"Doom Grip" Ring:

  • +68 to Attack Rating
  • 3% Life stolen per hit
  • +5 to Dexterity
  • +17 to Mana
  • +10 Maximum Stamina
  • Level 1 Poison Dagger (22/22 Charges)

Jade Small Charm:

  • Poison Resist +9%

Small Charm of Fortune:

  • 4% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items

Skills:

Howl: 2 (Base: 1)
Shout: 2 (Base: 1)
Battle Orders: 12 (Base: 9)
Battle Command: 2 (Base: 1)

Polearm Mastery: 24 (Base:20)
Increased Stamina: 5 (Base:1)
Increased Speed: 5 (Base: 1)
Iron Skin: 5 (Base 1)
Natural Resistance: 8 (Base: 2)

Bash: 2 (Base:1)
Stun: 2 (Base: 1)
Concentrate: 2 (Base 1)
Leap: 2 (Base: 1)
Leap Attack: 2 (Base: 1)
Whirlwind: 21 (Base: 20)
(I realized this level that I had forgotten to pick up Berserk for Physical Immune enemies. I’ll be fixing that next level.)

Level 57 Desert Mercenary

Status:

Life: 980
Strength: 141 (Base Value: 141)
Dexterity: 118 (Base Value: 112)
Damage: 144-257
Defense: 1,007 *(Base Value: 685)

Fire Resistance: 70% (Bonus: +110%, Difficulty Penalty: -40%)
Cold Resistance: 70% (Bonus: +110%, Difficulty Penalty: -40%)
Lightning Resistance: 70% (Bonus: +110%, Difficulty Penalty: -40%)
Poison Resistance: 75% (Bonus: +140%, Difficulty Penalty: -40%)

Gear:

Glorious Crown of Balance:

  • Defense: 67
  • +10% Faster Hit Recovery
  • +46% Enhanced Defense

"Stealth" Gothic Plate:

  • Defense 226
  • +25% Faster Run/Walk
  • +25% Faster Cast Rate
  • +25% Faster Hit Recovery
  • +11% Enhanced Defense
  • +6 to Dexterity
  • Regenerate Mana 15%
  • +15 Maximum Stamina
  • Poison Resist +30%
  • Magic Damage Reduced by 3
  • Increased Maximum Durability 14%
  • Ethereal (Cannot be Repaired)

"Malice" Poleaxe:

  • Two-Hand Damage: 26 to 66
  • Polearm Class: Slow Attack Speed
  • +47% Enhanced Damage
  • +9 to Maximum Damage
  • -25% Target Defense
  • +51 to Attack Rating
  • 100% Chance of Open Wounds
  • Prevent Monster Heal
  • -100 to Monster Defense Per Hit
  • Drain Life -5

Skills:

  • Jab (Current Skill Level: 19)
  • Prayer (Current Skill Level: 8)
2

Polearms are a good choice. Lots of solid Poley choices out there, both runeword as well as Uniques, and many can be found for cheap (Unqs). That’s if you can find people that even keep them :smiley: since most of them are only good for Barbs and enchant sorcs.

Id focus on finding higher grade Polearms for insight (since it’s a solid damage weapon with mana regen), and see if you can start working up in the runeword quality. RW’s like Obedience can be monster in Poleys and 5 soc polearms are relatively easy to get, and the runes are moderately cheap.

As a matter of fact, I’d say Obedience is your next big upgrade. keep an eye out for 5os Poleys, either exceptional or elite. Stay way from the slower ones if you can, weapon speed matters. Both Scythes are good options since they have faster base speed and moderate requirements.

On the elite end, both Reaper’s toll and Tomb reaver are Great options. Tomb is a fun one, very fast good damage and can summon skellies to fight for you (doesn’t work with WW, but Concentrate works). RT casts decrepify, but similar limitations as Tomb. It’s usually better on your merc.

Start looking for mana leech on gear…you’ll need it to break free from the Insight, which can be addictive, but not beneficial for end game play (great for NM though). Find a pair of Goblin toes and up them if needed for the extra defense. If you don’t like the run speed, throw a few extra points into Barb’s speed passive.

If you don’t mind trading, see if you can find/trade for Gulliam’s face for the tasty melee stats and CB. Arreats Face is also very solid, but more expensive. either is great end game headpiece.

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