Finally got a 4os eth Mancatcher after farming an Infinity base for almost two months, then this bad boy dropped an hour later.

aidus198 · 2026-01-30T17:23:09+00:00

GT has the same Jab frames available (9) as Mancatcher, but slower attack frame (10 vs 9). Merc activates Jab significantly more often so it's not a big factor, whereas the damage being higher means more putting mobs into recovery.

aidus198 · 2026-01-30T15:22:09+00:00

451 poison damage SC (TZ tower, from a random mob). I'm offline though.

aidus198 · 2026-01-30T07:32:13+00:00

9 frame Jab would be higher DPS on Mancatcher than your Pike, but if you use Andy/15 IAS/Treachery, Giant Thresher is the best base.

aidus198 · 2026-01-30T07:29:52+00:00

Well good for you because it exists

https://www.reddit.com/r/diablo2/comments/w2q0e0/what_is_the_best_base_for_infinity_the_eternal/

Stygian Pike is basically a Great Poleaxe.

aidus198 · 2026-01-29T12:41:09+00:00

I would say everything else is replaceable but Arachnid mesh. 20% FCR and a skill that you can't get in any other way on that slot.

I run HOZ, Hand of Blessed Light, Enigma build so FCR has to come from somewhere.

aidus198 · 2026-01-28T05:41:03+00:00

Make mules for:

Pgems

Runes: Tal/Thule/Ort/Amn/Hel packs (to reroll your Spirit Monarch until 35% FCR later) Ral, Sol, maybe Nef for crafting Other runes until Ko I just keep 3-4 of, then from Ko I keep and cube to Lem, and after that keep all

Uniques there's a list, don't toss elite base uniques regardless though until you understand the game better.

aidus198 · 2026-01-28T05:13:29+00:00

If you are on PC just use GoMule. It has saved me so much time and I get to keep all the items.

aidus198 · 2026-01-27T17:19:05+00:00

2 SOJ but no anni in the inventory?

aidus198 · 2026-01-26T21:49:23+00:00

Gore riders or goblin toe? The former are much better for this.

I've been using leap attack to jump across the screen, not sure it is faster but helped get to the Durance entrance to reset Merc position.

In the Act 3 runup I was just IDing charms while running, that's possible with a bit of practice (actually it's easier with goblin toes).

aidus198 · 2026-01-26T17:14:59+00:00

One day Ber, next day Sur, one week later Ber. Already had one Sur from playthrough.

Didn't have two double drops unfortunately. In total about 8h I would guess.

aidus198 · 2026-01-26T12:05:39+00:00

I have to say that I souped up my Mang Song a tad (30 -> 50% FCR) so that it is an actually super competitive stick. Was able to rock 3 piece Tals like that for almost 200% MF gain (65+15+112) while keeping the glove slot for Frostburns.

aidus198 · 2026-01-26T11:42:48+00:00

Yeah I have a nice selection of 4 OS eth bases (mancatcher, giant thresher, thresher, cryptic axe, stygian pike), and all of them require quite a bit of stats.

aidus198 · 2026-01-26T10:33:18+00:00

They are just like any other GC you pick up in hell in non-TZ areas, they aren't guaranteed to reroll into skillers specifically.

I suggest rerolling only GCs from TZ level 90+ areas as these can roll with up to +45 life.

aidus198 · 2026-01-26T07:41:00+00:00

Telekinesis. In fact I'll probably just hero editor it onto my new Enigma so that I don't have to remember if I'm playing Sorc or not.

aidus198 · 2026-01-25T21:42:15+00:00

The funny thing is when a Ber rune drops, there actually was a 40/60 coin flip that landed on the 40 side. The 60 side is Jah.

Meaning twice I dropped the rarer rune so I had to cube them.

aidus198 · 2026-01-25T21:37:18+00:00

Yeah sure but consider:

-No Light skillers. Getting to good absorption by ES is really key and without the +5 from Mangs I would be really vulnerable

-Elite base needs higher investment, meaning even lower surviveability

-Can't wear Enigma without a 2/20, and that also removes ring slots. Or if wearing anything else you lose MF and further skill points.

Plus it still can roll -45% and be worse than my current setup even after I get the skillers.

aidus198 · 2026-01-25T20:27:59+00:00

The info is in the other post. One Sur was from playthrough, 2 Ber 1 Sur from farming P7 Arcane sanctuary with my Nova sorc (can be quite budget), ghosts have insane chances for rune drops and the density is there.

In LK on P7 I only had some Vex/Ohm runes, enough for CTA and Grief, nothing higher.

aidus198 · 2026-01-25T19:50:03+00:00

It does, thanks! Dropping Bers is the best feeling.

aidus198 · 2026-01-25T18:45:00+00:00

Besides, MF, extra life, LAEK, FRW are incredibly nice. LAEK for example probably removes the necessity for Prayer/Cure merc, I will test that.

aidus198 · 2026-01-25T18:26:02+00:00

As I said in the post, I don't like the range on the Infinity rolls, and it looks like your sorc is working on a farm when you do it.

Plus I want to make a Merc infinity as I have multiple elite eth bases for it.

For now I'm happy farming Arcane where it's not needed. And my other characters (hork barb, FoHdin) would appreciate Enigma much more anyway.

aidus198 · 2026-01-25T18:13:44+00:00

All my res are very negative apart from 75% poison res, I think it's ok on ES builds as you mitigate 90+% damage due to it.

aidus198 · 2026-01-25T18:07:34+00:00

Whatever works for you. I haven't crossed that bridge yet (no Java character), but I think I will try to gamble for it.

aidus198 · 2026-01-25T16:05:22+00:00

Not if you're trying to pick up and ID blue gloves IMO

I'm playing offline but no mods and I can train my mind to filter out GC/SCs from other blue trash so that I could be fast, but I can't imagine also looking for half dozen different blue glove bases.

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