PvM Multizon advice

[:1]Hey guys,

Zons are my favorite character, but since I came back to the game after a long break, I couldnt really afford to make a decent bowazon until now.

Ok, this came out rather long, so I'll bold the main questions

A lot of the great guides here are from several years ago, and there have been some changes (like no IM, fixed the Marrowalk bug etc). So I need some advice on which gear to use and which skills to max.

First of all, she's gonna be purely PvM. I dont duel, and wouldnt be able to afford the crazy items anyway.

I'm set on using Multishot, I want her to be a physical damage lawnmower

So I'll need knockback from someplace as well.

Basically I need answers on three issues:

1. Which bow?

Seems like there are four options:

Faith GMB

Faith MB

Windforce

Brand

If windforce requires a Faith merc, I think I'd rather pass. If I need to spend the runes on a Faith, I'd prefer using it myself. Although an act 1 Merc would be a nice change from the A2 guys.

Brand seems really nice on paper, but I've never tried it, and it doesnt have IAS either. But the mods on it are just sick. CS with ITD Knockback huge ar etc..

Basically, is there an alternative to Faith which is good? Or is it hands down the best? If so, then is the extra IAS needed worth it for a GMB?

Also the conc/fana/might combo from a pride merc seems super cool. Btw how does the merc do without ED on his polearm? do the auras make up for it?

2. PI's

I'd like to be as pure multi as possible. But I've seen most guides limit multi to 14 points. Is it worth it to put a point in strafe, for the tight packs around corners etc, and for Bosses?

Also I'll need a backup for the PI's. I'd like to stay away from FA, even though I know its good, cause it need +skills to really shine. Unless I use an Ice bow on switch, but that's getting really expensive

Also Javelins are out, I have a Javazon and I love her, no reason to compete with her

So basically something of the Magical/Guided arrow type? Any input here is welcome.

3. Passive tree

Building my Javazon made me realise how well an Ama can do without most of this tree. No points in D/A/E freed up so many points for other skills, and I hate that damned animation.

I'm not planning on getting hit too often, with Knockback and all, but I'm worried about archer packs. What do you think?

Also, is a Valk required? I do well with Decoy alone, but if I go with a pride merc, maybe the three auras will really buffen her up.

Last, how important is AR? with brand I have ITD, which covers most of the cases, with Faith and the multiple auras, I should have high ar anyway.

Do points in penetrate help this kind of build?

Gear that I was planning on using (more or less):

Mavina's diadem (some IAS jewel) [I dig the no-helm look, if I need less Ias I can opt for kiras]

Fortitude

Raven

Rare Dual leech ring

Razortail (any reason to use Nos coil instead?)

War travs/Gores (I like gores, but need input on this)

Cats eye (how about atmas? how much does it help?)

LoH (Unless no Kb from the bow, and then I need crafted gloves...)

Max/ar charms if I can spare the cash for them

Any kind of input is appreciated, either specifically to what I asked, or links to some up-to-date guides.

No point in suggesting totally different builds, as I'm perfectly aware of the great options that Amazons offer I want to try a Multi one. Although if points in Strafe are recommended I'm not ruling it out.

P.S. Mainly looked at this guide for inspiration

Thanks a bunch!|||Cat's Eye is more of a wonder for a strafer. Multishot has limitations with % cast on strike.

You could give wraith bow a try, good for PIs. It's better for strafe, but works well with plenty of ias gear like treachery. It LUVS a giant skull fixed with ias jewels.

Also, just stick with war travelers. Gores is kinda useless as zons already have critical strike and CB sucks. I would try to always stick with LOH also. That 350% damage to demons is a godsend.|||I like my pure Bowazon with Windforce with might/pride mercenary.

Huge damage And I kill all PI's with Magic arrow. I use a valk too, and since you don't put point into passives, you could up her pretty nicely. Try to get at least a 17 valk (she gets her best weapon).

LOH is a beast for fast chaos cleaning, can't pass on it.

You better use Travs over gores.

I like atma to fasten some damn PI's if I strafe a lot and there's one PI's, instead of cleaning then kill it with Magic Arrow.|||Quote:








Cat's Eye is more of a wonder for a strafer. Multishot has limitations with % cast on strike.

You could give wraith bow a try, good for PIs. It's better for strafe, but works well with plenty of ias gear like treachery. It LUVS a giant skull fixed with ias jewels.

Also, just stick with war travelers. Gores is kinda useless as zons already have critical strike and CB sucks. I would try to always stick with LOH also. That 350% damage to demons is a godsend.




Cat's eye doesnt have any %to cast. maybe you meant Highlords?

Wont the CB on gores help a lot on bosses and PI's?




Quote:








I like my pure Bowazon with Windforce with might/pride mercenary.

Huge damage And I kill all PI's with Magic arrow. I use a valk too, and since you don't put point into passives, you could up her pretty nicely. Try to get at least a 17 valk (she gets her best weapon).

LOH is a beast for fast chaos cleaning, can't pass on it.

You better use Travs over gores.

I like atma to fasten some damn PI's if I strafe a lot and there's one PI's, instead of cleaning then kill it with Magic Arrow.




With a pride merc and a windforce, what IAS bp are you hitting?

Do yo use atma's constantly, or put it on just for PI's?|||WF 20% + sheal 20%

M'avinas 30% + 15% jewel

LOH 20%

105% for 9 frame. (90% required)

And switch Atma if you strafe for 125% (120% required) with cat's eye or Highlord.

But if you don't strafe at all (mine is a strafer, multishot with +skills is fine enough IMO) you could choose something else to socket the helm to stay at 90%.|||148% ias for 8 fpa is also pretty easy to get with wf, and a very cheap setup(andy ias,wf ias/shael,hl,loh,treachery)|||If you dont go with a Faith bow, and choose WF, why not go for Brand? It can be made in a faster bow, making reaching the last bp easier, it has ITD and Knockback among other mods. Is the WF damage significantly higher?

If so, besides the costs, why choose WF over Faith?|||brand cant hit crap for breaks, it has no IAS.


Quote:








148% ias for 8 fpa is also pretty easy to get with wf, and a very cheap setup(andy ias,wf ias/shael,hl,loh,treachery)




pretty easy meaning you need ias on just about every single piece of equipment? |||Sounds like I'm gonna stick with a Faith. I've heard a lot of bad-mouthing on Faith in Mat. bows. Are GMB the obvious better choice, or is this still up to discussion?|||personally, i prefer mat except when using strafe since strafe's breaks are laughable when compared to multi/GA/FA. there's some debate on pvp zons for mat vs GMB, the main crux of the debate being max damage vs flexibility of gear.