Headstriker

[Dsurian]

I'm sure quite a few of you know what I'm about to ask, and i apologize ahead of time for the seemingly 'noob' Q, but i would like to find out:

I've browsed other lesser-forums and got the notion that the headstriker could possibly be one of the best weapons in the game if properly upgraded. Just found one myself (as a lvl 40-ish paly) and the damage amplifiers made me actually giggle...couldnt hardly beleive it...and then, of course, noticed a 17/17 durability and the fact it was Ethernal (a fairly new notion to me since im not new to D2, but new to the expansion...but yes, i do get that you cant repair it...yet). So, I've heard that a certain rune can un-ethernalize it if imbued...so I would need to know what this certain rune is and then, i suppose, use up one of the 'socket' quests found in act 5 to get a socket in headstriker and make it repairable. So the first most-basic question would be is this even possible (all hearsay from my perspective), and if so, what rune would i need?

-Second part would be me wondering if i can upgrade to the point where i can use it as my paly's main weapon for the rest of the game. Heard its great for PvP given its low durability, but I'm honestly not interested in that aspect of D2. So, how can i further upgrade it to best utilize its destructive nature...and I'm curious if its even possible to upgrade the overall durability of it (since im wanting to use it to fight all of hells minions, i'd need a higher durability than 17).

[N V]

I'm sure quite a few of you know what I'm about to ask, and i apologize ahead of time for the seemingly 'noob' Q, but i would like to find out:

Don't worry if you think your question is a "noob" question, you may not know what others do, and by asking you will also learn. However asking without even searching for an answer will get on some peoples nerves ;)


I've browsed other lesser-forums and got the notion that the headstriker could possibly be one of the best weapons in the game if properly upgraded. Just found one myself (as a lvl 40-ish paly) and the damage amplifiers made me actually giggle...couldnt hardly beleive it...and then, of course, noticed a 17/17 durability and the fact it was Ethernal (a fairly new notion to me since im not new to D2, but new to the expansion...but yes, i do get that you cant repair it...yet). So, I've heard that a certain rune can un-ethernalize it if imbued...so I would need to know what this certain rune is and then, i suppose, use up one of the 'socket' quests found in act 5 to get a socket in headstriker and make it repairable. So the first most-basic question would be is this even possible (all hearsay from my perspective), and if so, what rune would i need?

It is indeed possible to do what you say. You don't make it repairable, but you do make it indestructable meaning it won't loose durability. First add a socket by using the quest you get from larzuk, then you socket the weapon with the rune zod. I woulnd't use headstriker though, but instead made a grief. If you can get zod you can most likely also manage to get a grief.


-Second part would be me wondering if i can upgrade to the point where i can use it as my paly's main weapon for the rest of the game. Heard its great for PvP given its low durability, but I'm honestly not interested in that aspect of D2. So, how can i further upgrade it to best utilize its destructive nature...and I'm curious if its even possible to upgrade the overall durability of it (since im wanting to use it to fight all of hells minions, i'd need a higher durability than 17).

If however you want to use that weapon then you can upgrade it you can use this formula found here (http://www.battle.net/diablo2exp/items/cube.shtml):


1 Lum Rune + 1 Pul Rune + 1 Perfect Emerald + Exceptional Unique Weapon = Elite Version of Weapon (Single Player, Ladder Only)
This formula changes the base item type from the exceptional to elite version. For example a Cleaver is turned into a Small Crescent. This does NOT convert the item to the Elite Unique version of the Exceptional Unique Item. Unique item bonuses remain the same; only the item it's based on is upgraded. This can be used to upgrade Ethereal Items also. They will continue to be Ethereal after they are upgraded. You cannot do this formula unless you are using a Ladder Character. Also if the item is socketed, then jewels or runes and their mods will also remain.

I myself would not waste a socket quest and zod rune on that weapon, but I'm not going to tell you how you want to play the game ;)

[Taurean]

You can socket it the way you describe, and you would need a Zod rune to make it Indestructible - Meaning you won`t need to repair it.

I`m just wondering if you could use the socket recipe to upgrade weapons to elite, and get dmg bonus with it the same way you get the "armor bug defense"-upgrade with armors.

In any case, i like the Headstriker too (I`m in the same situasion, have a lvl 40 Zealer using it right now), but my bet is that someone will come here soon and tell you that it isn`t worthwhile upgrading it in any way, and that there are far better swords out there ^^

Maybe Lightsabre or Azurewrath.

[N V]

I`m just wondering if you could use the socket recipe to upgrade weapons to elite, and get dmg bonus with it the same way you get the "armor bug defense"-upgrade with armors.

From what I have read and tried it does not work, but I may be wrong since I didn't pay much attention when adding sockets to eth items. I'm fairly sure it does not work though.


In any case, i like the Headstriker too (I`m in the same situasion, have a lvl 40 Zealer using it right now), but my bet is that someone will come here soon and tell you that it isn`t worthwhile upgrading it in any way, and that there are far better swords out there ^^

There is better swords out there, but if it's all you got then it's better than nothing ;)


Maybe Lightsabre or Azurewrath.

Those are both ok weapons, but a oath weapon (preferebly eth) will just be far superior imo, not to talk about grief. There are probably plenty of other choices too, but I just can't remember them atm :D

[Taurean]

Now that`s what i meant ^^ I guess Runewords take the cake here as well.

[Dsurian]

...I woulnd't use headstriker though, but instead made a grief. If you can get zod you can most likely also manage to get a grief.

I dunno if its just my late night mind, or my lack of D2 slang, or somethin else...but i honestly didnt understand the above. Would 'greif' be a rune or another common (or not so common) unique thats better than headstriker.

I myself would not waste a socket quest and zod rune on that weapon, but I'm not going to tell you how you want to play the game ;)

Heh...given my lack of complete knowledge of the runes/jewels/and combos, the only possible use of the socket quest in my mind was a 3-4 socketed sheild with 4 perf. diamonds in it for my pally...which probably sounds like wasting the quests to you all, so in light of this new info, I'd probably say that me improving the headstriker may be a bit less 'waste'ful. But aside from the help, I imagine I'll figure out the 'best' ways to use all the quests in the future...

Thanks for the informative (and fairly fast given the early a.m.) reply.

[N V]

Now that`s what i meant ^^ I guess Runewords take the cake here as well.

They usually do, though it comes at a higher price than most uniques.

I dunno if its just my late night mind, or my lack of D2 slang, or somethin else...but i honestly didnt understand the above. Would 'greif' be a rune or another common (or not so common) unique thats better than headstriker.

Grief is a runeword commonly used on smiters, but also on zealers, fury druids and ww barbs.


Grief
5 Socket Swords/Axes
Eth + Tir + Lo + Mal + Ral

35% Chance To Cast Level 15 Venom On Striking
+30-40% Increased Attack Speed (varies)
Damage +340-400 (varies)
Ignore Target's Defense
-25% Target Defense
+(1.875 per character level) 1.875-185.625% Damage To Demons (Based on Character Level)
Adds 5-30 Fire Damage
-20-25% To Enemy Poison Resistance (varies)
20% Deadly Strike
Prevent Monster Heal
+2 To Mana After Each Kill
+10-15 Life After Each Kill (varies)

Or you could use Oath which is cheaper, but not as good as grief. It is still more than viable as end game weapon. In fact my lvl 58 druid could possibly solo many parts of hell when using that weapon, though he got some other ok mid lvl items which helps.

Oath
4 Socket Swords/Axes/Maces
Shael + Pul + Mal + Lum

30% Chance To Cast Level 20 Bone Spirit On Striking
Indestructible
+50% Increased Attack Speed
+210-340% Enhanced Damage (varies)
+75% Damage To Demons
+100 To Attack Rating Against Demons
Prevent Monster Heal
+10 To Energy
+10-15 Magic Absorb (varies)
Level 16 Heart Of Wolverine (20 Charges)
Level 17 Iron Golem (14 Charges)


Note the indestructable mods make this weapon reach its maximum potential in an eth weapon.


Heh...given my lack of complete knowledge of the runes/jewels/and combos, the only possible use of the socket quest in my mind was a 3-4 socketed sheild with 4 perf. diamonds in it for my pally...which probably sounds like wasting the quests to you all, so in light of this new info, I'd probably say that me improving the headstriker may be a bit less 'waste'ful. But aside from the help, I imagine I'll figure out the 'best' ways to use all the quests in the future...

A 4 pdiamond shield is a great way of spending both those gems and a socket quest, and it will most likely give you more than enough resist to survive hell. However I would perhaps use a spirit shield instead. The faster cast rate is useless on a zeal, but the fhr, 2 skills, res and life (22 to vitality) helps a lot, and you get a nice mana boost so you don't run out of mana so fast, and best of all it can be equiped at lvl 27 iirc.


Thanks for the informative (and fairly fast given the early a.m.) reply.

Your welcome. Though I might live in a different timezone than you since its 10.22 am here and that isn't exactly early imo ;)

[Dsurian]

Grief is a runeword commonly used on smiters, but also on zealers, fury druids and ww barbs.


Yeah...funny thing...used this sites item list to look up some runes...and found (for the first time) runewords after i posted my reply...kinda blows my mind after reading some of the possibilities.


Your welcome. Though I might live in a different timezone than you since its 10.22 am here and that isn't exactly early imo ;)

Yeah...guess i didnt take into account D2's obvious popularity throughout the world. Definatley rockin 4-5a.m. on the east coast of the U.S. during all this posting.


There is better swords out there, but if it's all you got then it's better than nothing ;)


Yet another funny thing; It's either that or civerbs cudgel (sp?). Though the Runewords are so very tempting, I may have to blow a socket quest on my new find...

[N V]

Yeah...funny thing...used this sites item list to look up some runes...and found (for the first time) runewords after i posted my reply...kinda blows my mind after reading some of the possibilities.

Most of the runewords are very expensive though, and unless you trade you have to be very very lucky to afford some of them.


Yeah...guess i didnt take into account D2's obvious popularity throughout the world. Definatley rockin 4-5a.m. on the east coast of the U.S. during all this posting.

That is early :p


Yet another funny thing; It's either that or civerbs cudgel (sp?). Though the Runewords are so very tempting, I may have to blow a socket quest on my new find...

I would use headstriker then I think. I didn't look up the speed of the weapons, but neither got any increased attack speed on them, and the spelling is correct. Well if you are really going to want it right it's Civerb's Cudgel :p

From the sound if it you just started out playing?
If so my best advice is forget everything about reading guides and looking at equipment, and just play the game. I still remember playing the game back in the days when I didn't know a thing. Man what a blast I had just slaughtering demons and undead :D

[Dsurian]

From the sound if it you just started out playing?
If so my best advice is forget everything about reading guides and looking at equipment, and just play the game. I still remember playing the game back in the days when I didn't know a thing. Man what a blast I had just slaughtering demons and undead :D

I started with Diablo (of course) and later Diablo 2 a LOT but i got pretty sick of it a while after the expansion came out (probably somethin to do with all that repetitive slaughtering) and i had never bought the expansion so im guessing i probably stopped playin around '02/'03. So, the game itself isnt that new to me, but everything that the expansion added is extremely new (got back into it about a week ago expansion included)...so here i am wanting to explore it, and its not like I'm gonna experiment randomly with rare runes socketing into other random items to create phrases that a few hours ago i didnt even know existed and/or would add special powers to the said item...But then again im not gonna memorize the rune phrases...I'll probably just tryin to hang around some median in between; able to grasp a impossible phrase or two every once in a while, but no straight reading outa the walkthrough.

P.S. Zod rune req. lvl 69?....so my lvl 40-ish pally is still screwed with the cudgel, isnt he...?

[N V]

I started with Diablo (of course) and later Diablo 2 a LOT but i got pretty sick of it a while after the expansion came out (probably somethin to do with all that repetitive slaughtering) and i had never bought the expansion so im guessing i probably stopped playin around '02/'03. So, the game itself isnt that new to me, but everything that the expansion added is extremely new (got back into it about a week ago expansion included)...so here i am wanting to explore it, and its not like I'm gonna experiment randomly with rare runes socketing into other random items to create phrases that a few hours ago i didnt even know existed and/or would add special powers to the said item...But then again im not gonna memorize the rune phrases...I'll probably just tryin to hang around some median in between; able to grasp a impossible phrase or two every once in a while, but no straight reading outa the walkthrough.

Never experiment with runes, all runewords that exist is found at arreat, so experimenting is just a waste. Just play the game the way you want, and when you want to make a better/stronger char, start with a mf (magic find) char to get some items to trade with, and slowly builld up your wealth.


P.S. Zod rune req. lvl 69?....so my lvl 40-ish pally is still screwed with the cudgel, isnt he...?

Yea he is, and a zod doesn't drop every day either, so you would have to trade or find a different weapon to use. if you don't have anything better stick with the cudgel until you find something better ;)