Wolfbarb Uber Issues

[:1]As a long-time single player, recently converted to Battle.net, I completed my first Uber run today using a Wolfbarb and managed to snag a Paladin torch, which was great.

However, I can't say it was smooth sailing.

Being new to the whole Pandemonium Event, I read up on the Ubers beforehand and it seemed the beefed up Mephy should be the biggest cause for concern.

Skirting the outside of Tristram I isolated Meph, hit him with life tap from a wand on switch and went to town with my grief phase blade. Less than a minute later Meph was dead and I was pretty pleased with myself.

I proceeded to wipe out Diablo just as easily.

However, Baal was a much tougher proposition. Once he activated his cold armour I really struggled to make contact with him and whenever I got his life below half his regeneration seemed to almost match my damage.

Before I go in to how I finally knocked him over, I'll list my gear.

For Meph and Diablo I used

Helm; Wolfhowl "Sol"

Amulet: Highlords

Weapon: Grief

Shield: Gerkes "Sol"

Armour: Fortitude Sacred Armour

Gloves: Steelrends

Belt: SOE

Boots: Goreriders

Rings: Ravenfrost/Rare with attack rating and resistance

Charms: Torch, Anni and attack rating/life and resistance.

I had 5.6k life 27k defence and 13-14k attack rating (using enchant from Demon Limb). Only 25% crushing blow.

Budgetly equiped merc used Tal's helm/Hone Sudan/Vipermagi

(Now I know the merc is poorly equiped, but at this stage he hadn't had any troubles).

My charge halted at Baal though as I suddenly struggled to hit him and his clone became a pest and my merc was wiped out.

Heading back to town I swapped out the Highlords/rare for anglics and put on Goblin Toes. Crushing blow up to 35% and attack rating was 21k+.

Slapped an ethereal Reapers Toll on the merc.

Went back in and got Baal down to the last little bit of health but he escaped and regenerated most of his life. From then on I really struggled to hurt him as it became obvious I could only really damage him when decrep was triggered but he liked to wipe out my merc.

I've already typed too much so I'll spare the details of the different things I tried over the next hour plus but this is how I eventually beat him.

Lure him near the tp to Harrogath; go back in and hope merc attacks a summon and triggers decrepify that also hits Baal. I swing like crazy and hope I hit enough to hurt Baal. If merc gets killed or I loose Baal quickly sneak back through the portal to town (since I eventually discovered Baal wont regenerate when you're not in Tristram). Heal/resurect merc and return. Rinse and repeat while yelling at the computer a lot until Baal dies.

After all that, what could I have done better?

What better gear could I use? I feel I need more CB but not sure where to get it.

What should I use as a merc armour, Duress would help I think, no?

I'm working on an Infinity for my Dreamers merc, would the conviction aura be more benificial for knocking down Baal's defence than decrepify?

I've read a few threads here and most seem to recomend a Last Wish phase blade but I don't think I can afford that!

Any help would be much appreciated!|||edit: Nevermind; I was suggesting more open wounds. Maybe try using Draculs instead of steelrends.|||Is the trade off of 10%cb for some OW worth it?

I could also craft a blood belt if so and retain the CB on Steelrends.|||Well not only does it cause open wounds, it also can cast life tap which can allow you to keep on attacking Baal without stopping (and maybe even ever using potions).|||I wish I could remember exactly what my last set-up was, but it was something like Shael'd Azurewrath in main hand, holding beast in shield hand (not actually attacking with it) angellics, gores, duress, string, ravenfrost. Wish I remember what glove, probably bloodfist |||u don�t need more cb, but u do need more ow, as said before

conviction would help a lot with hitting him as it will lower the defense tremendously, but so would battle cry - u�d have to shift though during the fight...|||Quote:








However, Baal was a much tougher proposition. Once he activated his cold armour I really struggled to make contact with him and whenever I got his life below half his regeneration seemed to almost match my damage.




Uber Baal's damage regeneration can only be stopped with poison damage or Open Wounds (Prevent Monster Heal does not apply): with 650,000-660,000 base life he regenerates 634 196/256 - 644 136/256 life per frame, so that's potentially 15,869 36/256 - 16,113 72/256 life per second... and that will increase by 50% with each additional player.

However, Grief's 35% Chance to Cast Level 15 Venom on Striking and -(20-25)% Enemy Poison Resistance would only result in 0.48 second poison length (even if other poison damage items were equipped), and the only source of OW ever equipped was Gore Rider War Boots (10% Chance). Consult the Wiki's Open Wounds page for other sources.


Quote:








I'm working on an Infinity for my Dreamers merc, would the conviction aura be more benificial for knocking down Baal's defence than decrepify?




Decrepify applies -50% Damage, -50 attack rate and velocity, and Damage Resist -50%, but no -% Defence: you may be confusing it with Battle Cry, which like Decrepify applies -% Damage but also applies -% Defence.

Uber Baal casts level 37 Chilling Armour, applying +225% Defence which normally increases his 3,150 base defence to 10,237: Level 12 Conviction Aura When Equipped (-83% Defence) will reduce that to +142%, and 7,623. However, Grief's -25% Target Defence then reduces that to ~6,671 (remembering its effectiveness is halved against him).|||Thanks for the info.

I don't see the life tap from Dracs as a lot of help since Baal can't really hurt me, I just struggle hurting him.

I think I'll definitely craft some blood belts to get additional open wounds.

The short duration of Venom is certainly annoying.

And if I get an Infinity I'll see if that helps more than Reapers did.



Thanks for the gear advice. Does anyone have any tactical advice or is it just line him up and swing away?|||Just a bit of an update on this.



Did my second ubers ruun today and had a lot less problems this time.

Switch gear up a bit, using a blood belt (nothing special 50odd life some lightning resist and the usual fixed stats) and most importantly an Infinity on the merc.

Attack rating with a single angelic run/ammy and ravenfrost was over 22k now along with infinity's -def I had significantly less problems hitting.

Meph proved a bit tougher and actually had to head back to town and return for a second go on him.

Had most problems luring Diablo out and had to fight both him and Baal at once but finished them off before running out of pots.

A lot easier this time.|||Try Beast. You won't need a merc.