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1. Introduction
garbad_the_weak made a post a long while back about a low level tournament. The idea never went off the ground, but in my mind remains like a viable option. At lower levels, dueling becomes much more about skill and rare items instead of how many SoJs you have. A constant complaint I hear (and agree with) is how dueling has become all about your equipment, and not so much about skill, and this is what low level dueling plans to fix.
I’ve dueled a lot of people at low levels. I’ve also dueled and seen many high level duels, and I can honestly say my most intense duel cam at level 20, not at 96. The basic rule is to be at level 29 or lower and to duel people near your level. You’ll always be able to take on someone at a higher level than you, and usually you’ll win. Even level 30+ will have troubles taking you on if you’re a good dueler. This whole build is basically built upon how to make the most out of the few precious skill points you have.
First off, here are some abbreviations you’ll see here:
DR: Damage reduction
ED: Enhanced damage
FHR: Faster hit recovery
FPA: Frames per attack
FRW: Faster run/walk
HoW: Heart of Wolverine
IAS: Increased attack speed
OIAS: Amount of IAS on equipment other than your weapon
OS: Oak Sage
WB: Werebear
WIAS: Amount of IAS on your weapon
WW: Werewolf
2. Equipment
At such low levels you won’t find many uniques that will make an impact on your duels. The best equipment you could have are really good rares, save a few really needed Uniques. This is probably my favorite part of low level dueling, you really need to do some serious item runs to get the best equipment. On general though, he’s what you’re looking to find. If you’re lazy (aren’t we all?), I also listed a few uniques you might want to look at if you don’t want to find rares.
- Weapon – Ahh, the soul of the dueler. To reach the fastest, reasonable speed possible with a normal attack a low level, you need 80 WIAS to reach 8 FPS. This is quite realistically reached with four Shael runes, but then we’ll have very little damage. Looking at the top two most damaging one-handed swords and the six-socketed Dimensional Blade, here’s how it breaks down:
NOTE: There’s a lot of math involved here. If you just want the Squishee, scroll down past the numbers.
NOTE: I won’t put in every single possible way to socket these swords, only the top 3 damage per frame setups.
NOTE: A 20/15 Jewel is a 20% ed/15% IAS Jewel.
NOTE: These calculations may be off by a hundredth, because I rounded everything to the nearest tenth. It shouldn’t make much of a difference though.
Superior Dimensional Blade
15 - 40 (13 – 35 base damage)
-0 speed (-0 base speed)
Four 20/15 Jewels, a +9 to minimum damage/15 IAS Jewel and a +9 to maximum damage/15 IAS Jewel: 90 WIAS, 8 FPS
5.4 – 11 damage per frame
Six 20/15 Jewels: 90 WIAS, 8 FPA
4.1 – 11 damage per frame
Two Shaels and four 20/15 Jewels: 100 WIAS, 7 FPA
3.9 – 10.3 damage per frame
Merciless Rune Sword of Swiftness
20 - 84 (10 - 42 base damage)
-40 speed (-10 base weapon speed)
Three 20/15 Jewels: 85 WIAS, 8 FPA
4 - 16.8 damage per frame
One Shael and two 20/15 Jewels: 90 WIAS, 8 FPA
3.5 - 14.7 damage per frame
Two Shaels and one 20/15 Jewels: 95 WIAS, 8 FPA
3 - 12.6 damage per frame
Merciless Ancient Sword of Swiftness
36 - 86 damage (18 - 43 base damage)
-30 speed (-0 base weapon speed)
1-2 sockets
Three 20/15 Jewels: 75 WIAS, 9 FPA
6.4 - 15.3 damage per frame
One Shael and two 20/15 Jewels: 80 WIAS, 8 FPA
6.3 - 15.05 damage per frame
Two Shaels and one 20/15 Jewels: 85 WIAS, 8 FPA
5.4 - 12.9 damage per frame
NOTE: End of the math part.
This sparks a war between the top two swords. For stable damage, the Merciless Ancient Sword of Swiftness with three 20/15 Jewels is the best choice. For the most possible damage per frame, the Merciless Rune Sword of Swiftness with three 20/15 Jewels in it is better. Frankly, I think the Ancient Sword is better, but that’s my opinion. I’m certain that many people would disagree and go with the Rune Sword. It’s your choice.
The Dimensional Blade is arguable. To use it well, you’ll need a %ed armor and many max damage charms. You can also put a +9 to minimum and maximum damage Jewel in your armor and helm, making a very powerful weapon, but this will cost you some FHR. Assuming you +27 to minimum and +27 to maximum damage on the Dimensional Blade (+9 to min/max on weapon, +18/+9 on triple socketed helm and +9 on armor), the Blade would deal 9.5 – 15.1 damage per frame. Since this will cost you other possible stats, I don’t suggest this. You can end up dealing a huge amount of damage though.
If you can’t find one of these swords, don’t worry. They’re the hardest part of your equipment to find. Three chipped gems and a sword in the Cube
will transform into a new sword of the same type with 3 sockets, and a suffix
and/or prefix. Repeat this process with
your low level dueler until you get Merciless and of Swiftness affixes. This can take a very long time, and if you
can’t afford 300 or so chipped gems, get the closest thing possible. Since the Dimensional Blade doesn’t benefit
from being cubed, it is much easier to make than the others. But don’t expect to find that many 20/15
Jewels.
- Shield – Whitstan’s Guard is the best shield you could have, mainly for the 40% faster blocking and high defense. You have a few things you can socket this with. If you really fear getting into a block lock, a Shael rune would up your faster block rate to 60%. Since it’s unknown what the faster block rate breakpoints are, I don’t suggest Shael. Instead, try Ith. In your duels you’ll need some mana steal, regenerate or % damage goes to mana to survive the longer duels. I strongly suggest this, because you don’t want to have to resort to Manald Heal or a mana leech Ring.
- Armor – Rockfleece. This is one of the two ways you can get any
DR at low levels. Socket this with a
Shael rune to reach the first FHR breakpoint.
% ed Jewels and + to damage Jewels are nice for extra damage, if you are
willing to use a few FHR charms.
- Helm – There aren’t any good unique helms you could have, but you can easily find a triple socketed Grand Crown in Hell. These helms have very good defense, and should be socketed with Rare Jewels with + to maximum/minimum damage. Preferably though, find a Rare Alpha Helm or Imbue one with the Horadric Malus. With luck, you can find some incredible mods. Socket this one with a %ed Jewel or a + to minimum damage if you’re using a Rune Sword.
- Gloves – Crafted blood gloves will be your best bet, with IAS and good life leech. Bloodfist will do otherwise, and with a Shaeled Rockfleece, you’ve already reached your desired FHR.
- Boots – 40% FRW is what you’re looking at here, with any sort of strength and dexterity bonuses you may find. If you can’t get your hands on a good pair of rare boots, Treads of
Cthon will do for the 30% FRW and extra defense.
- Belt – 8/15/x String of Ears. It’s really necessary for the DR. Coupled with Rockfleece, that’s 25% DR at level 29. It will really help out in your duels.
- Amulet – The Eye of Etlich. No questions asked, the life steal and + to skills is very hard to get on any other rare or magic amulet.
- Ring 1 – If you fear losing mana too quickly and don’t want to use Ith in your shield, use Manald Heal. Otherwise craft a good blood Ring.
- Ring 2 –A crafted blood Ring with good life leech and strength and life bonuses.
So low level dueling still is item intensive.
But at least it isn’t the same stuff over and over again, and there are
hundreds of way to combine sockets and items.
3. Skills
At level 29, you lose the chance to get your level 30 skill. But then again, so do your opponents. No more Fists of Heaven or Whirlwind or Fury, you’re limited to using ample but moderately powerful skills. I’ve got to tell you, at such low levels you’ll need to get a full rush. 30-33 skill points isn’t enough to make a good dueler. With a full rush you’ll get
+60 to life,
+30 to all resistances
+12 extra skills
+15 extra stat points
That means you have 41skill points to fiddle around with, which should be enough to get some nice things going. You have to keep in mind you don’t have any skills to waste, so make every one count. There’s really no use for high level Wolves of any kind except to act as rubble for Ranged attacks to hit.
Lycanthropy – 10
Werewolf – 10
Feral Rage – 5
Raven – 5
Heart of Wolverine – 8
Summon Dire Wolf – 1
Summon Spirit Wolf – 1
Oak Sage – 1
That’s 41 skill points. Keep in my mind that we don’t have a lot of Damage Reduction available at level 29, so we’ll have to rely on very high life and prey on those who have very little. This time it isn’t a matter of opinion on which Spirit to choose. Oak Sage does what can be done very easily with charms and equipment. You’re not going to have any 40/15 Jewels or 160/60 armor to help you out with damage at level 29.
This setup gives:
165% maximum life
134% enhanced damage
184% attack rating
97% faster run/walk
Very very nice bonuses for such a low level, which allows you to distribute your stat points almost any way you want.
4. Stat points
Max blocking is so important in dueling it’s one of the few reasons people with max blocking win over those without. Skill isn’t important in this regard; someone who blocks 75% of the time will trump someone who blocks 5% of the time. The formula for the amount of dexterity you need to reach max blocking (assuming you’re at level 29) is:
DEX = 4,350 / (shield blocking %) + 15
There are basically two shield’s you’ll want to use
throughout your low level dueling career: Sigon’s Guard or Whitstan's Guard (part of Orphan’s Call
set). Both these shields have high
blocking %, and each has their own appeal.
Sigon’s has the + 1 to all skills, and Whistan’s has 40% faster blocking
and very high defense. Frankly,
Whitstan’s is better because you are in dire need of blocking fast. Otherwise a Stun lock could mean the death
of you.
At level 29, using
Whitstan’s guard would require 80 Dexterity for max blocking. This 80 dexterity can easily be reached with
Charms and other equipment.
See how much strength
you need for the equipment you’re wearing, counting in bonuses from charms and
other equipment. Don’t put any more
points into strength than that number, because you’ll be low on life without
Oak Sage and you’ll need to pump Vitality.
The most strength you’ll need is probably 127 to wield the Ancient
Sword. The Rune Sword only requires 103
strength, so make your decision now before you start putting points in.
The rest of your
points should go into Vitality to ensure you won’t die too quick. Any points into Energy are wasted points.
5. Charms
You want as many FHR
Charms as necessary to reach 48% FHR including your equipment. Rockfleece already has 30%, and if you don’t
have Bloodfist, use a 12% FHR Grand Charm and a 6% FHR Large Charm. Have as many charms necessary to reach
whatever strength and dexterity requirements you may have, and fill up the rest
with Small Charms of Subsidence (+11-15 to life) and FRW charms. So yes, you do need an inventory filled with
Charms. If you don’t have a lot of life
naturally, skimp on the FRW. There
won’t need to be much of a need to chase Zons or Sorcs, so no more than 60% FRW
is needed.
6. Mercenaries
Mercenaries are
considered to be poor play by many duelers, because they let opponents charge
up skills or life leech of them. Very
few mercenaries are even worth bringing with you in battle, and even then they
won’t be of much use. I suggest never
hiring a merc to duel with you, but whatever tickles your fancy…
Holy Freeze Mercs:
Remember, these people don’t have access to many Cannot Be Frozen equipment, so
to a poorly prepared dueler, cold can be devastating. Especially useful against Assassins, letting you catch up with
their very fast speed.
Defiance Mercs: I
really don’t think you’ll need one of these.
All your + to life charms and DR will ensure you’ll stay alive for quite
a long time, but if you need one, they increase your defense by a decent
amount.
Might Mercs: Very
useful to increase your damage to huge amounts. Really, if your opponent doesn’t kill this Merc within the first
few seconds of battle, you might as well have cast Amplify Damage on them.
All of these guys are
melee characters, allowing your opponent to hit them without much trouble. If you want them to stay alive, give them
high defense armor with plenty of Perfect Rubies and a very powerful weapon.
7. Dueling
The actual dueling
can be quite complicated at times, but it’s still fun. Low levels have the most balanced dueling
environment, so there won’t be any two hit kills or spammed Guided Arrows and
Hydras. I’ve ranked the other people
you’ll be facing from most dangerous to least dangerous.
·
Assassins: Your
only problem will be catching them.
They don’t deal enough damage with their claws at low levels and their
Mind Blast will have nothing on your FHR.
Some FRW charms can come in handy here.
If all they do is run away from you and set traps, sooner or later the
Ravens will have pecked half her life away or she’s out of Stamina.
o Trap Assassins: They ain’t got nothing on you,
but avoid Mind Blast anyway. Wolves can
come in really helpful here to attract traps.
o Martial Arts Assassin: A double claw-wielding
Assassin will not win any duel over you.
A good sword/claw Assassin will give you problems. They’ll not only be faster than you, but
they’ll block just as much and even set traps if they’ve invested lightly into
them. You need help from your minions
on this one. 9 versus 2 isn’t pretty.
·
Necros: If these
appeared more often, they’d probably be better than Druids. I haven’t dueled many, so I can’t give you
any types or tips on how to beat them.
I’ve only heard that they can be devastating with their Amplify Damage and
Iron Maiden and Bone Prisons and Iron Golems and whatnot. Seek tips from other duelers, I haven’t
dueled enough Necros to give you any.
·
Barbarians:
Without Whirlwind, you’ve got Throwing Barbs and them Frenzy Barbs. I dueled some Frenzy Barbs before; I killed
them before I realized what skills they were using. Either they weren’t skilled, or non-WW Barbs suck.
o Frenzybarbs: Usually these Barbs are slow, and
you can hit them before they unleash some serious ass-whooping on you. If not, just treat them normally. Attack like there’s no tomorrow.
o Throwing Barbs: These are really cool classes,
but unfortunately not powerful enough.
You can easily catch up with them and use Wolves to take some hits from
you. If they’re using a shield (and I
don’t know why they would) your Ravens will slow him down for you. Easy battle.
·
Sorceresses: No
level 40 TS to save you now. The worse
they can send to you is Firewall and then teleport away. Find out their teleporting pattern and click
on them and never let go. You’ll catch
up with them soon enough, and if you don’t, your Ravens will put her into a
block lock sooner or later. Pushovers
at low levels.
·
Amazons: … Without enough mana or a Buriza to spam
Guided Arrows, I guess they’ll have to resort to Immolatinon Arrow and Kuko
Shakaku. And even then I don’t think
they stand a chance. The worst they can
do is use Ice Arrow and Immolate you.
8. Getting a duel
Let’s be reasonable,
you and I are probably the only people with a low level dueler (except that
level 9 PvP Assassin. Kudos to
you). Most of your matches will be a
cinch. I’ve gone against many people
over level 30, and let me tell you something; they’re not on their toes because
they think you’re a noob. Zons forget
to run from you, Sorcs can’t keep up with your speed, Whirlwind Barbs Whirlwind
at empty space, and so on and so forth.
A higher level WW or Paladin will be the only characters that can pose
problems without trying to. Without
Fury, you can’t keep up with their multiple attacks.
So be careful when you select your duelers.
Most of the time they’ll be pushovers, but every now and then you’ll get
someone who respects you and who puts up a good fight.
A very annoying thing
is that you can’t look at Normal games as a Patriarch. You’ll need someone else to do that for you,
or hope to find low levels in Nightmare and Hell games. When you find someone around level 30, enter
the game and ask the NICELY to duel you.
If they say no, ask some more and don’t give up. Some times you’ll get an ass who starts
laughing at you and calling you a noob.
That’s who your first target will be.
Ask him that if he
thinks you’re such a noob, why won’t he duel you. And after you win, make fun of them and call them a noob. Usually they’ll get very pissed and bring
out their 99 Burizazon. That’s your cue
to exit.
9. Setting up a
Tournament
There are some rules you have to keep in mind when setting up a low level tournament. These are my rules, but you can tweak them around a bit.
Rules:
“All characters must be level 29 or lower.
No slowing items
No poison damage over 50
No using Shrines, Potions, or charging off monsters before the duel
No v.1.08 dupes
No ITH weapons
Anyone who is caught using a Shrine or Well will be awarded an immediate loss. No one is allowed to charge up their skills before on monsters before the tournament begins.
The two duelers (or teams) will report to the ref and show him their equipment via the trade window, to make sure no one is using hacks or dupes. After that the dueler/s show the referee their charms. After all the equipment has been checked, the two duelers/teams go to any spot they choose outside the Blood Moor. If dueler A is very close to dueler B, dueler A has the priority to tell dueler B to move to a different location further away from him.
When both duelers/teams are in position, they say they’re ready, and the referee calls the tournament to a start. When someone dies, they must remain inside Town for the remainder of the tournament and are not allowed to speak. Anyone still remaining is allowed to talk with their teammates at their own risk.
Anyone who flames or makes rude or otherwise inappropriate comments to another player will be awarded a loss. In a team duel, that player has to report to town or he is disqualified from the tournament and a new player will be recruited within ten minutes for the next match. During this time, no dueler is allowed to heal with potions and all life/mana regeneration gear is to be dropped on the ground.
Most tournaments are best 3 out of 5, and the winning team is presented with a prize. It’s sometimes a good idea to have an entry fee of 1000 gold, with the winner receiving the pot.
The referee is not allowed to go hostile towards anyone or to summon any sort of minion that would otherwise interfere with the duel.”
Most of those rules are obvious, but many people are confused about the poison
damage. Yes, usually the maximum you’re
allowed to have is 200, but most of the low levels don’t have much more than
300 life. 50 poison damage is enough to
balance out the field.
10. Thank you
Thank you all for
reading my guide, and I hope you have as much fun dueling as I do. If you need to talk to me or you wanna duel,
e-mail me at – danmaftei@yahoo.com
whisper me at –
DanMaftei
IM me at –
illbeleavinnow47
Thanks to everyone
who helped on this, I appreciate it, and thank you to all of those who have
dueled me, you’ve made my insight on the dueling world a lot brighter.
See y’all on the playing field,
Sophe.