Requesting a M'avina's Set Strafe-Valkyrie Build

Amazon
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Hello! I’m looking to collect all the class-specific sets (the ones that made you glow in the old game) and make a character build for each, that can go all the way to Baal on hell difficulty and ‘beat’ the game. Also to note, I’m playing hardcore. However, for any class on which I die, I will switch to softcore instead. Trying to see how many classes I can do it on hardcore, though and/or how far I can get with each class on hardcore.

I also understand it’s unlikely/rare that I will actually get the pieces necessary for the build, but I want to at least have my character’s stat points and skill points spent in the hope that I’ll get the right items. In the original D2, completing these sets and glowing with every class was my goal for me to feel like I had ‘completed’ the game, and so it’s my goal here and now. I know they aren’t the ‘best’ sets…which is why it’s hard to find build advice on them.

If someone could do a breakdown for me of how I should allocate my stats and skills as I level, and any particular gear or runewords to use in the other slots (or in any slots where I haven’t gotten the set piece yet), and what merc to get/use (basically a full build and leveling advice using the set and skills I want for that class), I’m willing to send $5 on paypal as a thankyou for designing the build for me. (This also applies to the other classes, $5 for each class, up to a maximum of $35.)

Please note - I am not asking to buy a character or anything, I will play and build the character myself, I’m just looking for build advice, that’s it. Not even looking for a power level; I hate those. I prefer to play at my own pace. Also, I have to pick and use your build for it to get the $5. I’m generous though so as long as what you provide is helpful I may show appreciation. You can contact me on discord at Thortok2000#8253 - I’m hoping that none of this request is against the rules. I think it should be fine but am open to correction if I misunderstood.

As far as skills go, in general, my favorite abilities are ones that don’t need me much. Abilities that pick their own target, or that summon something. I also like passives, so long as they’re worth their skill points. I also like buffs that stay up for a while and can be reapplied. And I like things that increase my speed; I prefer offense over defense.

  • Amazon: Set = M’avina’s Battle Hymn, Skills = Valkyrie, Strafe
  • Assassin: Set = Natalya’s Odium, Skills = Shadow Master, Blade Shield, Burst of Speed (these are the abilities I remember using most back in old D2, but I don’t know if I maxed them). Probably traps as her ‘summon’, I think.
  • Necromancer: Set = Trang-Oul’s Avatar, Skills = As many summons as possible, a skill to put on my left click, Bone Armor, maybe a single right-click skill that isn’t a summon, like a curse
  • Barbarian: Set = Immortal King, Skills = I kinda don’t really care. I think whirlwind is the go-to for the IK set?
  • Paladin: Set = Griswold’s Legacy, Skills = I know hammers are all the rage but honestly I prefer Zeal.
  • Sorceress: Set = Tal Rasha’s Wrappings, Skills = Chain Lightning is by far my favorite skill mechanic. I also would want one of the cold shield buffs. I also like Hydra as her ‘summon.’
  • Druid: Set = Aldur’s Watchtower, Skills = Dire wolves, a vine and spirit, ravens, werewolf, Feral Rage.
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Hi man,

Mavina set fit well with a Frost Maiden-Strafe hybrid build. I’m currently using this setup on D2R and the results are really good, especially for the price of the gear (Mavina isn’t expensive, only the Diamed have some value).
I mean obviously not the best gear for a Frost Maiden (Runewords is always better, sadly), but you can clear every place in the game (because you have PhysicalDmg as secondary source of damage), and the most important thing, this build is really fun to play and give you a really good crowd control.
Valkyrie included!

As you can see, Mavina set give a good overall bonus (str, dex, skills, resistance, fhr, nice defense and even magic find!), so your Amazon become pretty well-rounded from the beginning.

So, let’s start.

PLAYSTYLE / OVERALL

Your main skill is Freezing Arrow. This skill provides an AoE Cold damage on impact, but the cool thing is if the arrow penetrate the mob, the splash damage re-proc another time on the next impact, and again, and again.
So this skill is HUGE when you encounter large packs of monster, because with 1 shot, you proc the Cold AoE damage multiple times against the same group.
This made a PIERCE skill mandatory for this build.

Your secondary source of damage it’s Strafe, that is beautiful with this build not only for cover the Cold Immunity mob, but because cover the downside of Freezing arrow.
In fact, if it’s true that FA is a top tier skill against the groups, lose her shine when you encounter multiple mobs scattered around the map. But here Strafe come in your help.
Not only, FA burn A LOT of mana, and with Strafe (with good Mana Leech on gear) you can recharge a bit.
This is a fundamental for this build, because you must balance the Elemental and Physical damage togheter.

Valkyrie it’s your best friend. She tank really well if you invest in her, and DECOY helps a LOT for split the mob’s damage and lure their attention meanwhile you shots them with your machine gun!

STATS

STR - Enough for Mavina Armor
DEX - The rest of your points.
VIT - 200 BASE (plus gear/charms) can be enough, but you can add more if needed.
ENE - You can consider put some points here, but I prefer stack Mana with gear and charms instead.

You must balance DEX and VIT.

You are a BowA, so dont need to heavely go in VIT, but a decent life pool help a lot. Don’t like glass cannon builds even if I play Softcore. Die and lose exp always sucks.
And remember that Mavina Set provide you a robust +100 All Res (with other pieces of gear and charm you can reach 75% resist in Hell).

The points in DEX don’t affect your FA damage, but they serve for Strafe.

SKILLs

Bow/Crossbow Skills

20 Cold Arrow (synergy with FA)
1 Ice Arrow
20 Freezing Arrow
1 Magic Arrow
1 Multishot
1 Guided arrow
20 Strafe

Passive & Magic

Put 1 points in all skills of this tab, and then:

PIERCE - Unfortunately with mavina set you can’t use Razortail belt (33% pierce added), so put here enough point for reaching 80% (with your plus skills in gear obviously)

VALKYRIE - She has some “hidden breakpoints”, more leveled valk = better gear she have. At level 27 she has really good gear. Aim at this number.

PENETRATE - Need for Strafe to be much effective. Put here the spare points.

CRITICAL STRIKE - With your plus skills you already have a good %. But feel free to put a couple of points if you like.

DECOY - This skill rocks. But 1 point is enough. Maybe put 1 or 2 max if you want a more tanky Valkyrie (synergie with her), but better puts those points in penetrate if you ask me.

GEAR

Well, like I said, Mavina set provide you a well-rounded Amazon and IMHO fits perfect with this build because:

  • The bow is a Grand Matron Bow, that have more raw damage than Matriarcal bow, this helps with your Strafe backup damage and Mana Leech (you can’t leech from elemental damage, only from Physical)

  • +20% Cold skills damage on gloves

  • 5% Mana Leech on belt

  • Tons of +Skills, that are fundamental because your main damage depends from your FA Skill Level.

For Rings, Amulet, Boots…

RING 1: Raven frost

RING 2: Dual leech ring with Mana bonus.
RING 2 Alternative: SoJ (good mana bonus and +1 skill)

AMULET: Highlord wrath or Cat’s Eye. You need that +20% IAS. HL maybe is best choice because a +1 skill.

BOOTS: Silkwave helps a lot with your mana consume.

As a GM Bow user, you need a +89% IAS to reach the 9 frames breakpoint (20% Bow, 20% Gloves, 30% Helm, 20% Amulet).

Sockets

As the IAS breakpoint it’s already reached, you can socketed your Helm and Armor with a Rainbow Cold Facet (+5% Cold skills damage / -5% enemy cold resistance) that’s the cherry on top.
Plus, when your die or level up (depends which jewel you insert) a freaking Blizzard storm appear XD

INVENTORY

  • Torch (obviously)
  • Anni (proibitive now in D2r, but when the time comes…)
  • Bow skiller

The secondary bonus on the Skiller charms and others it’s up to you. More Mana is always welcome with this build, but Life / Res / Magicfind / Faster run walk (<- Love this), Raw damage it’s all good. Your choice.

MERCENARY

A2 Nightmare offensive aura is probably the best.
You can gear this guy with INSIGHT. That solve your mana problems, but when you have the possibility, INFINITY provides you a huge damage boost.
So, Insight for early game, Infinity for endgame is my advice.

Andariel visage + Treachery it’s a good combo (fast attack more life leech). Tal Rasha mask instead of Andy it’s the poor man option here. Works well.

Don’t forget, with your FA you help your mercenary’s survability, because a frozen enemies don’t attack :smiley:

FINAL

PRO

  • Very fun to play.

  • 2 types of damage, you don’t run like a baby in front of cold immune monsters. And because of that, you can play in all game areas.

CONS

  • Burn a lot of mana (but as I said, Strafe with mana leech helps, unlike the pure FrostMaiden build)

That’s all. If you have some doubt tell me, I can add more info.

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