[1.D9] BIG F***IN' ZON

Original post by Dom on the old forums (forumer).
Most formatting is lost.
-WolfieeifloW


Blow away everything with green balls of pure 50K magic damage plasma pwnage. This is a guide for the oskill presumably inspired by ID soft's doom and quake games. The BFG83K.

This skill is sort of like a dragonforce clone that does exactly 50K magic damage and costs 9000 mana. Due to it's high mana cost the only way to use it is to gear up your character a cretin way and to use mana tide totems. This guide will walk thought all the gear needed to almost spam BFG83K.

Stat Placement

Strength: As little as possible to wear gear.
Dexterity: As little as possible to wear gear.
Vitality: Some if you wish. We have minions and so don't get hit much.
Energy: ALL! BFG demands 9000 mana to use.

To seriously increase the rate you can shoot BFG's you'll need to melt some sets down and eat the sigs and put the points in energy.

Skill Placement

Bloodwitch tree


MAGIC MISSILES (1) - Prerequisite.

BLOODLUST (smax) - We are hevy minion users and so why not?

BACCHANALIA (0-1-max) If you want to be a pure BFG user don't put a point into this. If you want to use other spells alongside BFG then put a couple points. If you want some skills form other trees then don't put a point here. For the record BFG doesn't get any benefits form this passive.

THE REST (0-1-?) Early game you can't play this build due to the req level on most items so just put points into whatever you want and then respec.

(Read the next part after reading the entire guide to get more info on what I'm talking about)
The thing is there's really a couple ways to play this sort of zon. If you want to have a weapon tree on switch you lose your champions of the sun so it would be better to go with the charm shield in that case. The benefits are you could pounce your army everywhere (as well as get benefits from the other skills from the other trees) but you'll have a seriously risk of your mana tite totem dyeing. That's not the worst thing though because you could play with some skills in the bloodwitch tree to fill the gap for when you have no mana.

Defensive tree


DEFENSIVE HARMONY (1-?) Put one or enough to get 50% slow. This is the max slow for bosses and so it makes the most sense. I had a LOT of poinst left over and maxed this.

SUMMON FIRE ELEMENTALS (1-smax) these guys rock and stay alive well when there's +40 of them on screen.

BALANCE (1-20ish) Depends on how you feel. Your fire elements get defence from this skills so why not? My elemets never died with no minion gear so I didn't point points here.

PACT OF BLOOD (1-more) We have a lot of left over skill points so put them here if you wish.

WINGS OF WRATH (1-10) Walk super fast. It's best to put a couple points in here. There's really no appreciable difference after level 10 though.

Ubers tree


CURARE (0) Doesn't help us.

PARAGON (0) If you want to be minionless to protect your mana tide totem all by yourself use this.

SPIRIT OF VENGEANCE (smax) Boots everyone's survivability and damage. Also looks cool and will alow your mana tide totem to live.


LEADERSHIP (smax) cast this on your army ...or don't. Your balls get life from this skills as a sinergy if you're lazy... sink points here for that reson.


WAR SPIRIT (0-1) One if you want. The sfx of spike novas hitting walls is nice to look at... idk.

End-game Gear

Helm

Cambion (Runeword)
Level 78
Kur

+2 to Amazon Skill Levels
15% Faster Run/Walk
-(31 to 50)% to Enemy Fire Resistance
+(13 to 17) to Summon Sinner
+50 to BFG83K
Fire Absorb 10%
Poison Length Reduced by 50%
+(21 to 30) Life after each Kill

This is really the only choice. It has BFG83K. Sinners aren't too bad. They have lagy moves so I don't use them. Make this thing in w/e you can. If it's too heavy unsocket and then try with -req jewels. I like to make it in Einherjar Helms because I like the nothing-on-your-head look. As usual reroll until you get 40-60ed then use the lucky modifier recipe. If it works then cube the helm with 4 jewels. Cube some mystic orbs on and then make the runeword. You know the drill.

Weapon

Durga (Runeword)
Level 100
Lai

+(3 to 4) to Amazon Skill Levels
+(21 to 25)% Bonus Elemental Damage to Bloodlust
40% Faster Cast Rate
+(41 to 50)% to Fire Spell Damage
Enhanced Weapon Damage +5%
Attacker Flees after Striking (11 to 15)%
+(51 to 100) Life after each Kill
(101 to 150)% Bonus to Fire Elemental Damage if Summoned during Pact of Blood

Plus to skills. Cast rate. Bloodlust bonus. Make this thing in w/e you want. As long as it has max sockets. Cube some mystic orbs on and then make the runeword. You know the drill.

Phantom Flight
Pilum (Sacred)
Throw Damage: (536-590) to (678-738)
One-Hand Damage: (406-442) to (523-562)
Durability: 56
Required Dexterity: 428
Required Level: 100
50% Chance to cast level 29 Hunting Banshee when you Kill an Enemy
5% Chance to cast level 33 Pagan Rites when you Kill an Enemy
+(3 to 5) to Amazon Skill Levels
+(251 to 300)% Enhanced damage
50% Faster Run/Walk
Adds 150-250 damage
+1899 cold damage
-(41 to 50)% to Enemy Cold Resistance
+(51 to 75) to Energy
+(51 to 75) to Dexterity
Socketed: 3

If you can lower the requirements enough why not use this? Yay, more mana.

Pagan's Geis
Grand Scepter (Sacred)
One-Hand Damage: 80 to 87
Durability: 30
Required Dexterity: 449
Required Level: 100
+(101 to 150) Energy Factor to Spell Damage
+(2 to 4) to Amazon Skill Levels
+(2 to 4) Extra Magic Missiles Bolts
50% Faster Cast Rate
+(41 to 50)% to Fire Spell Damage
+(41 to 50)% to Physical/Magic Spell Damage
+(1 to 7) to Blood Fury
(21 to 25)% Bonus to Energy
Drains 2% Life per Second
Socketed: 3

Good caster stuff. More mana.

Shield

Nix (Runeword)
Level 100
Nih

25% Bonus to Buff/Debuff/Cold Skill Duration
+(41 to 50)% to Cold Spell Damage
+(1 to 3) to Charm
+(22 to 29) to Frozen Crown
+(301 to 350)% Enhanced Defense
25% Bonus to Dexterity
10% Reanimate as: Shroom

Charm allows you to cheat a bit tactically wile waiting for your mana to go up. Make this thing in w/e you can. If it's too heavy unsocket and then try with -req jewels. As usual reroll until you get 40-60ed then use the lucky modifier recipe. If it works then cube with jewels. Cube some mystic orbs on and then make the runeword. You know the drill.

Eloi (Runeword)
Level 98
Vith

+(11 to 27) to Champions of the Sun
+(11 to 15)% Bonus to Summoned Minion Damage
+(201 to 250)% Enhanced Defense
-25 to Energy
+25% Increased Healing Rate from Potions
Damage Reduced by 10%
Reduces all Vendor Prices 5%

The one I'd use. The minions on here have a damage reduction aura! Couple this with a void archon fools gold reanimate and their enemy damage reduction plus slow aura and you got a recipe for a good time. The only downside is now every monster on screen is yellow. lol. Make this thing in w/e you can. If it's too heavy unsocket and then try with -req jewels. As usual reroll until you get 40-60ed then use the lucky modifier recipe. If it works then cube it with jewels. Cube some mystic orbs on and then make the runeword. You know the drill.

Armour

Robe of Steel
Full Plate Mail (Sacred)
Defense: (6107-8701)
Durability: 105
Required Strength: 420
Required Level: 100
+(11 to 20)% Bonus to Energy Factor
25% Faster Cast Rate
+(41 to 50)% to Spell Damage
+(201 to 250)% Enhanced Defense
+100 to Strength
+100 to Energy
All Resists +(21 to 30)%
Total Character Defense Plus (31 to 40)%
+250 Life after each Demon Kill
Requirements -33%
Socketed: 6

A lot of good stuff for casters. -to requirements is always good.

Linga Sharira (Runeword)
Level 100
Auhe

10% Chance to cast level 50 Punisher when Struck
+1 to All Skills
50% Faster Hit Recovery
+(301 to 350)% Enhanced Defense
Regenerate Mana +50%
Damage Reduced by 5%
Total Character Defense Plus (11 to 15)%

Massive defence and Damage Reduction is always awesome but we don't really need it because we have minions as a shield. the punisher is nice too. We only deal magic and fire damage so having a small source of poison damage is always nice... If you're lucky enough for the punisher to hit something. MANA REGEN!!! YAY! Make this thing in w/e you can. If it's too heavy unsocket and then try with -req jewels. As usual reroll until you get 40-60ed then use the lucky modifier recipe. If it works then cube with 6 jewels. Cube some mystic orbs on and then make the runeword. You know the drill.

Gloves

Lorekeeper
Light Gauntlets (Sacred)
Defense: (963-1311)
Durability: 46
Required Strength: 272
Required Level: 100
5% Chance to cast level 9 Elemental when you Take Damage
15% Faster Cast Rate
+(31 to 40)% to Spell Damage
+(151 to 200)% Enhanced Defense
(21 to 25)% Bonus to Energy
All Resists +(41 to 50)%
Requirements -50%
Socketed: 4

These are the best caster gloves. I have an eth pair (more deff WOOT) if anyone wants to trade. They have good caster stuff and ress.

Elemental Spirit
Leather Gloves (Sacred)
Defense: (677-855)
Durability: 25
Required Strength: 227
Required Level: 100
+(31 to 40) Energy Factor to Spell Damage
10% Faster Run/Walk
+(11 to 20)% to Lightning Spell Damage
+(101 to 150)% Enhanced Defense
+(31 to 40) to Strength
+(31 to 40) to Vitality
Increase Maximum Mana (21 to 40)%
Socketed: 4
Requirements -50%

These gloves are pretty good. You lose some of the caster stuff and when using these over the above gloves. These don't have resistance but that doesn't really matter due to the champions' aura that gives ress.

Belt

Ashaera's Armor
Belt (Sacred)
Defense: (1351-1403)
Durability: 43
Required Strength: 529
Required Level: 100
+(21 to 25) Energy Factor to Spell Damage
+(21 to 30)% to Spell Damage
(11 to 15)% Bonus to Energy
+500 Defense
All Resists +(21 to 30)%
Damage Reduced by 10%
Socketed: 2

Good caster stuff.

Truce (Runeword)
Level 98
Vith

-5% Decreased Attack Speed
-5% Slower Cast Rate
Stun Attack
+(301 to 350)% Enhanced Defense
Damage Reduced by 10%
Slows Attacker by 5%

Massive defence and damage reduction is always awesome but we don't really need it because we have minions as a shield. Make this thing in w/e you can. If it's too heavy unsocket and then try with -req jewels.As usual reroll until you get 40-60ed then use the lucky modifier recipe. If it works then cube with 2 jewels. Cube some mystic orbs on and then make the runeword. You know the drill.

Ahriman
Level 100
Ghal

+1 to All Skills
Adds 200-600 fire damage
Adds 200-600 lightning damage
Adds 200-600 cold damage
+(301 to 350)% Enhanced Defense
+(31 to 50) to all Attributes
All Resists +(31 to 40)%
Requirements +10%

This is better for as then the last belt. Attributes, ress and lots of deff, what more could you ask? The only thing we don't benefit from is the added damages. Make this thing in w/e you can. If it's too heavy unsocket and then try with -req jewels. As usual reroll until you get 40-60ed then use the lucky modifier recipe. If it works then cube with 2 jewels. Cube some mystic orbs on and then make the runeword. You know the drill.

Boots

Megalith (Runeword)
Level 90
Ath

+1 to All Skills
25% Faster Cast Rate
15% Faster Hit Recovery
+(201 to 250)% Enhanced Defense
+(41 to 50) to Strength
Regenerate Mana +50%
Damage Reduced by 5%
Level 8 Mana Tide Totem (15 Charges)

This is really the only choice. We need mana tide totem. Well actually I guess you can use other attacks wail waiting for your mana to fill up. Make this thing in w/e you can. If it's too heavy unsocket and then try with -req jewels. Try somewhere between sacred boots to sacred greaves. As usual reroll until you get 40-60ed then use the lucky modifier recipe. If it works then cube the boots with 4 jewels. Cube some mystic orbs on and then make the runeword. You know the drill.

Rings

Empyrean Band
Ring
Required Level: 40
1% Chance to cast level 7 Singularity when you Kill an Enemy
(3 to 5)% Bonus to All Attributes
Increase Maximum Life and Mana (11 to 15)%
(51 to 100)% Extra Gold from Monsters

We need as much mana as we can get. Everything else is good for casters. Required level is 40 so you can cube a lot of mystic orbs on this.

Seal of the Nephalem Kings
Ring
Required Level: 120
+2 to All Skills
(11 to 15)% Bonus to Strength
(11 to 15)% Bonus to Vitality
Total Character Defense Plus (11 to 15)%
(101 to 150)% Extra Gold from Monsters

2 plus to all skills. Good defensive boost. The only downside is everyone uses this ring.

A rare ring with plus to all skills and some other good mana and caster properties is also a good choice. You can also cube mystic orbs on to it.

Amulets

Witchmoon
Amulet
Required Level: 100
+(11 to 15) Energy Factor to Spell Damage
4% Chance to cast level 17 Frog Prince on Attack
+(1 to 2) to All Skills
+(16 to 20)% to Spell Damage
Increase Maximum Mana 40%
(11 to 15)% Damage Taken Goes To Mana

We need as much mana as we can get. Try to get one with 2 plus to all skills. Required level is 100 so you can cube a couple of mystic orbs on this.

Teganze Pendant
Amulet
Required Level: 60
+1 to All Skills
+(16 to 20)% to Fire Spell Damage
+(16 to 20)% to Lightning Spell Damage
+(16 to 20)% to Cold Spell Damage
Increase Maximum Life (11 to 15)%
Increase Maximum Mana (21 to 30)%
All Resists +10%
+100 Mana after each Kill

MANA MANA MANA! Resists is always good. Plus to all skills is always good. Required level is 60 so you can cube a lot of mystic orbs on this.

A rare amulet with plus to all skills and some other good mana and caster properties is also a good choice. You can also cube mystic orbs on to it.

For all amulets use the lucky modifier recipe to get an extra +1 to all skill.


Stuff to socket gear with

We're going to need to spend lots of points into energy. So much so that to get the minimum 9000 mana to use BFG83K we're going to need lots of plus to attributes, % attributes, and most importantly minus to requirements jewels.

Lem craft and try and get or in other words keep the ones you're lucky enough to get with -10 req. If you're lucky you can get -req, plus and % to all attributes. Over all the minions you have will live long and deal a fair amount of damage with no minion gear but for more tanker minions try and get some plus to minion AR, damage, life, and ress. Ever little bit helps.

Heavenstone
Jewel
Required Level: 100
+(101 to 150) Defense
+(3 to 15) to all Attributes

Not too bad. Has ok attributes.

Don't forget to try the lucky modifier recipe on all jewels to get an extra plus to attributes.

Alternatives: Auhes in weapons for 15% mana regeneration. Perfect onyx/amber/bloodstone/turquoise for plus to max resistance. (not very recommended) Xar for max life and mana. Um for mana %. Perfect topaz's for % to energy, nih runes add buff duration, good for bloodlust, pact of blood and leadership.

Notes:

Everytime I said to cube mystic orbs on an item. Make sure you use ones helpful for this build. For example mana regeneration, energy ones, enhanced defence, and anything along theses lines and anything else you may need. Buff duration is important to us. It really helps with bloodlust, pact of blood and leadership.
Feel free to also use unique mystic orbs if you see fit.

Gameplay

Just summon everyone and buff everyone before hand and then go. (you'll need some corpses for mana tide totem and sov) Play like a necro who has a completely magic damage dragon force that's less spamable.

MORE DETAILS ON UBERS COMING SOON!

Screenshots


The amount of minions that survived a complete Kurast 3000 BA run. All but the sinners.


Some BFG spamming.


This is how your army will look.


The amount of mana I had after gearing up almost 100%. (I had crappie rings on and not what was indicated in this guide and geared up a bit more lazily. Also I used quite a bit of attribute sigs. You should expect to get around this range of mana)

Videos

I uploaded a video of the bf*z in action. I did a Kurast 3000 BA run. I wasn't rushing or anything, just taking my time and killing the totems and necros in the order I always do.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLp8nQFHXxc&fmt=18

Optional Mercenary

Act 1 Priestess is probably the best for this guide. She has blood tide totems so every minion gets lots of free life. Her Defensive Harmony sort of doesn't mix well with our maxed one but w/e. What's the chance she'll be targeted over 100 minions and us?

Second best: The act 5 barbs are good too. They have gift of the wild and that's awesome for every minion as well.

Mercenary Gear Quickly

Damage doesn't matter for mercs. A dead merc does no damage so here' s the best survival gear:

Witchhunter's Hood. It's a sin set item. Socket with +to max ress gems.
Hratli's Craft or Candlewake. Socket with +to max ress gems.
Hand of Karcheus. ICE NOVAS! Socket with leach jewels or ED stuff.

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Note: this guide was made with site info from 1.A9 so the only thing that needs to be changed is the base stats of items and info on the inclusion of secret items.

If anyone has any info or would like to give feedback on better items and alike plz post. It would really help me out and improve this guide.