dime's hardcore level 84 sweep marauder

This build is a dream to play, but leveling it up felt very risky. This is a very gear dependent build, if you are not geared up properly you will be at constant risk. This is a tough build to work out because you will be in constant danger, but the end-game payoff is enormous.

I went with sweep because all my other builds were ground slam. I really like it a lot better, because you don't have to aim it, rather you leap slam into the middle of a room and sweep away in any direction. Compared to ground slam's stun duration, sweep has a chance to knockback, keeping mobs at range. The range with sweep can get pretty huge depending on tree/gems/gear. The cool part is you can hit mobs behind you with it, and positioning yourself between mobs is a lot easier than lining them up (like you'd have to do with ground slam).

LEVELING: take the 2 fire resists straight from diamond skin and head downward toward life leech, armour master, and the duelist's golem's blood life regen.

BLOOD MAGIC: take this after you get the bottom life+regen nodes. Think sometime around level 50-60. Don't be afraid to take it earlier if you can support it.

SUPPORT GEMS: start with added fire, melee physical, faster attacks... try adding in weapon elemental damage... once you get links try adding in increased radius + concentrated effect (will require a very high dmg weapon + amplify node by templar)... probably wouldn't bother without a 5-link

SKILLS: leap slam and sweep, then I like to use heavy strike seeing as its knockback can be used as a utility skill to move certain mobs. For auras I used Determination until I got Iron Reflexes/Blood Magic, then I used Grace + Anger afterward.

FLASKS: 3 instant pots + 2 granites w/ increased armor/resists

DANGERS: getting shocked by lightning; party play is preferable

GEAR: in general just stack life, you will need very high damage weapons to be viable
gloves - life on hit + attack speed

BANDITS: help oak for life, kill all in cruel, help oak in merciless for endurance charge

TREE SELECTION: life > regen > armor > resists > life on hit > attack speed > resolute technique > unwavering stance > iron reflexes > blood magic > catalyze > amplify -- Take the damage nodes last, and once your gear is perfected you can remove the 8% life nodes and put them toward more damage. Don't be afraid to dump points into the 15% resists by marauder start and then respec out of them later, at one point I had every single one of those 6 nodes taken.

I'm using a very similiar build, but I can't seem to survive at all in maps..

Might be just very very gear depandant, but I feel like I got decent gear..

kongor disagrees

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Volch0k wrote:

I'm using a very similiar build, but I can't seem to survive at all in maps..

Might be just very very gear depandant, but I feel like I got decent gear..

Here's my gear, it's all pretty crappy. Keep endurance charges up and granite often, nothing will touch you.

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paul123porter wrote:

kongor disagrees

get out of my thread, filthy ground slam scum

My question is how much have you traded and how much farmed for your gear? (looks amasing to me :P ). I really hate trading:/, and im using same build as you but i solo and my gear is really bad so im having huge issues , even tried ground slam and not much difference
(act 1 merciless atm with 1,6k hp, 500dps, 40% phys reduction and around 60% resistances)
I tried using public parties to maybe improve my drop chances but ninjas rule them all...
Any advice please? Do i really need to go into trading?
Cheers.

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Sherkkan wrote:

My question is how much have you traded and how much farmed for your gear? (looks amasing to me :P ). I really hate trading:/, and im using same build as you but i solo and my gear is really bad so im having huge issues , even tried ground slam and not much difference
(act 1 merciless atm with 1,6k hp, 500dps, 40% phys reduction and around 60% resistances)
I tried using public parties to maybe improve my drop chances but ninjas rule them all...
Any advice please? Do i really need to go into trading?
Cheers.

No trading aside from some inter-party exchanges. Check vendors for four-link items. If you hop on the public mumble server some people there may be able to hook you up. Save your currencies until the very end-game gear, or unless you have no choice but to use them.

I was in a similar situation in that in the beginning of merciless I felt pretty worthless. Just farm a doable zone until you are geared up enough to advance. It wasn't until about level 75 that I felt this build really opened up. Again, take damage nodes last.

first you say the build is very gear dependent, and then you call all your gear crappy (which it clearly isn't). anyway, cool build. do you solo maps or is it mostly group play?

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davep1 wrote:

first you say the build is very gear dependent, and then you call all your gear crappy (which it clearly isn't). anyway, cool build. do you solo maps or is it mostly group play?

The gear is crap for maps. It's good for a level 60-65 player, not 84. As mentioned in the post, this build ismost viable for party play, because you won't be doing much damage until the end, once you get the damage nodes.

I'm doing maps and I still have two blue pieces. Almost anything works with a group if ranged are carrying melee. I don't mean to come off harsh, I actually like watching your stream in the past and I think you're a really good dude. Obviously you know what's up getting to your level and kudos vying for top of the ladder.

Peace.