09-25-2003, 11:48 AM
I'm going to talk a little bit about my tankazon. Having already completed the game with a traditional spearazon a few months ago, I decided to try something new: an amazon who uses a one-hand weapon and shield, and relies purely on passive and magic skills to survive. This warrior is known as a tankazon.
I have just completed the game at normal difficulty (I'm now Clvl 32, and have yet to do the secret cow level). Based on my experience so far, I can safely say that the tankazon is perhaps the deadliest of all amazon types.
I'm not boasting. (remember that I had a spearazon before,and took her all the way up to 64th level).
Every character class or subclass has her/his weakness.This is a general rule that has no exceptions. The tankazon has her strengths and weaknesses, as do all other classes, but the former far outweigh the latter.
Pros:
1) The tankazon is the most versatile of all warriors. I challenge anyone to prove otherwise. The reason is simple: the skills of the 'passive and magic' tree work with ANY weapon. This means that a tankazon can be anything: axazon, maceazon, poleazon, or, in my case, swordazon. (I have chosen a special long sword as my primary weapon). Swords have a faster attack speed than most spears.
2) The tankazon is the hardest character to hit in melee combat. Especially if you use a shield with a high chance of blocking. The combination of shield + her 'dodge' skill (gained at Clvl 6) makes her nearly impossible to hit. This is because the computer has to make two rolls: the first to get past your shield, and the second to get past your dodge' skill. I became convinced of this fact when fighting Izual in Act 4. Izual has more hit points than Diablo (check monster stats in the Diablo 2 bestiary if you don't believe me) and he can take an obscene number of hits before being killed. A friend of mine was watching the fight, and I made a bet with him that I could kill Izual without drinking a single red potion. I just stood there and used my 'inner sight' skill repeatedly. At the time I had only 6 points in 'dodge' and a shield with a 75% chance of blocking. Izual hit me only 3 times, and took my hp down to 12 .But by that time his life meter was nearly invisible. I killed him without drinking a potion,and my friend couldn't believe his eyes ( I had a paladin hireling from Act 2 helping me)
3) The tankazon is equally hard to hit with missles, wether she's standing or moving. Her ' slow missiles' and 'evade' skills are very usefull, especially against those pesky fetish who blow stones at you in Act 3 or the doom lords of hell (Act 4).
4) The cool thing about 'passive and magic' skills is that most of them do not require mana. This means you do not have to spend too many points on energy (my energy is only 20 at Clvl 32). You can spare those points for Str and Dex instead. Also, you don't have to waste any points for pre-requisite needs. Every skill in the tree is usefull, and nothing is wasted. This gives you full value for your skill points.
5) At any point in the game, you can decide to drop your shield, and use a two-handed weapon if the need arises, giving for even more versatility.
6) The 'Valkyre'is one of the most powerfull minions in the game ( although you have to wait until Clvl 30 to get it).
Cons:
1) The tankazon is a more defensive type of warrior. She does not have as many offensive skills as the traditional javazon or spearazon. She cannot benefit from multiple attacks,because she does not have access to 'jab' or 'fend' skills. (Remember that a true tankazon relies purely and solely on 'passive magic' . If you put points elsewhere, then you are not a true tankazon).This means that the tankazon must rely on two things to deliver the damage: a strong weapon, and her 'critical strike' skill, which gives her a chance to do double damage with each strike.
2) The tankazon does not have any elemental damage skills. Again she must rely on her weapons or other magical items if possible.
3) Too much blocking with your shield can cause the famous 'block- lock'which can be a pain in the ass sometimes.
As for PvsP, I can probably challenge any barbarian or paladin of equal level, and give them one hell of a fight.
_____________________________________________________________
Conclusion : Overall, I'd say that the tankazon is a very successful warrior. She is a joy to play and develop. She is simply a 'Barbarian with B**bs' :D
I hope I will have as much success in Nightmare as I've had in Normal difficulty.
I have just completed the game at normal difficulty (I'm now Clvl 32, and have yet to do the secret cow level). Based on my experience so far, I can safely say that the tankazon is perhaps the deadliest of all amazon types.
I'm not boasting. (remember that I had a spearazon before,and took her all the way up to 64th level).
Every character class or subclass has her/his weakness.This is a general rule that has no exceptions. The tankazon has her strengths and weaknesses, as do all other classes, but the former far outweigh the latter.
Pros:
1) The tankazon is the most versatile of all warriors. I challenge anyone to prove otherwise. The reason is simple: the skills of the 'passive and magic' tree work with ANY weapon. This means that a tankazon can be anything: axazon, maceazon, poleazon, or, in my case, swordazon. (I have chosen a special long sword as my primary weapon). Swords have a faster attack speed than most spears.
2) The tankazon is the hardest character to hit in melee combat. Especially if you use a shield with a high chance of blocking. The combination of shield + her 'dodge' skill (gained at Clvl 6) makes her nearly impossible to hit. This is because the computer has to make two rolls: the first to get past your shield, and the second to get past your dodge' skill. I became convinced of this fact when fighting Izual in Act 4. Izual has more hit points than Diablo (check monster stats in the Diablo 2 bestiary if you don't believe me) and he can take an obscene number of hits before being killed. A friend of mine was watching the fight, and I made a bet with him that I could kill Izual without drinking a single red potion. I just stood there and used my 'inner sight' skill repeatedly. At the time I had only 6 points in 'dodge' and a shield with a 75% chance of blocking. Izual hit me only 3 times, and took my hp down to 12 .But by that time his life meter was nearly invisible. I killed him without drinking a potion,and my friend couldn't believe his eyes ( I had a paladin hireling from Act 2 helping me)
3) The tankazon is equally hard to hit with missles, wether she's standing or moving. Her ' slow missiles' and 'evade' skills are very usefull, especially against those pesky fetish who blow stones at you in Act 3 or the doom lords of hell (Act 4).
4) The cool thing about 'passive and magic' skills is that most of them do not require mana. This means you do not have to spend too many points on energy (my energy is only 20 at Clvl 32). You can spare those points for Str and Dex instead. Also, you don't have to waste any points for pre-requisite needs. Every skill in the tree is usefull, and nothing is wasted. This gives you full value for your skill points.
5) At any point in the game, you can decide to drop your shield, and use a two-handed weapon if the need arises, giving for even more versatility.
6) The 'Valkyre'is one of the most powerfull minions in the game ( although you have to wait until Clvl 30 to get it).
Cons:
1) The tankazon is a more defensive type of warrior. She does not have as many offensive skills as the traditional javazon or spearazon. She cannot benefit from multiple attacks,because she does not have access to 'jab' or 'fend' skills. (Remember that a true tankazon relies purely and solely on 'passive magic' . If you put points elsewhere, then you are not a true tankazon).This means that the tankazon must rely on two things to deliver the damage: a strong weapon, and her 'critical strike' skill, which gives her a chance to do double damage with each strike.
2) The tankazon does not have any elemental damage skills. Again she must rely on her weapons or other magical items if possible.
3) Too much blocking with your shield can cause the famous 'block- lock'which can be a pain in the ass sometimes.
As for PvsP, I can probably challenge any barbarian or paladin of equal level, and give them one hell of a fight.
_____________________________________________________________
Conclusion : Overall, I'd say that the tankazon is a very successful warrior. She is a joy to play and develop. She is simply a 'Barbarian with B**bs' :D
I hope I will have as much success in Nightmare as I've had in Normal difficulty.