[GUIDE] - How to build a character to survive Champion Runs

[muntahunta]

Muntas Champion Character Guide​

ok, im making a few assumptions here... the first is that you have read, downloaded and successfully installed all the necessary plugins, profiles and loot rules. there are a few guides on how to do this already so I wont be touching that (apart from this... Escape Desecratorl This plugin took my DPH from 4 to 0. USE IT!)

the second assumption is that you have some spare time to search the Auction House. this is key to being able to find usable gear for cheap.

I am going to update this guide slowly adding each class as I go, First up... Barb.

Barbarian​

First up, the kick ass Barb. probably the easiest class to do champion running and a great starting point for act 1.

The Build

now this is pure suggestion, it is working great for me and it is also quite fun when playing by hand.
Barbarian - Game Guide - Diablo III

basically, everything there is to survive... if you think your character can change a skill or two to increase dps and still survive, TRY IT! its all dependant on gear when using a bot... speaking of which...

THE GEAR!​

This is the hardest part of getting a bot capable character. depending on the money you have to spare, how much of it youd like to invest and wether or not you want to progress to harder acts... it may take some time.
The best part about this is that most of the time, if you buy some decent gear with the stats i mention, you will be able to re-sell it when you want to improve. its not a case of wasting money.

so lets have a look at the most important item first shall we... the weapon.

My current weapon cost 200k, so I bought 2 similar ones for a similar price and I thought I was tough.
The stats were :
150+ Vitality
900+ LoH
and only 500-600DPS.

the higher dps you have, obviously things are gonna die faster... which is a bonus. but at the moment, if you die, you have to restart the profile... which sucks so survivability is key!

at first I had 2 of these weapons for a total of 2200 LoH... which is awesome. but I have lately been able to afford a high end shield which has upped my survivability amazingly but not really done much to my DPS.
I attack slower, giving me less LoH procs but with a high tier shield you dont need as much LoH.

My Shields stats are:
77 Vit
4% life
Regenerate 300+ Life

but one of the most important stats are not the magic stats, but the block.

It has 28% Block chance for 3700-4700 damage
which is fairly awesome. it did cost me 700k gold, but i see it as worth it.

The OTHER gear

Life on Hit > All Resist > Attack Speed % > Life% > Vitality > Strength

all this, brilliant if not, dont worry too much.

There is a great ring, but VERY expensive Justice Lantern
this thing adds to block... 11%... i dont have this but i want it!

the belt is simple... string-of-ears

any helm with a socket so you can add a nice +Life% gem

look out for legendary's with + block and damage reduction against elites... the main thing that kills are the stupid elite special moves.

finally, here are my stats that i have been running over 24 hours with no deaths.

Stats​

Str 860
Dex 313
Int 247
Vit 1251

Armor 8870
Damage 6199
------------------
attacks per second 1.3
crit hit change 10
crit damage 100%
-----
block amount 3700-4700
block change 36%
dodge chance 15%
damage reduction 74.73%
resistances (vary from) 522 - 648
missile damage reduction 3%
melee damage reduction 19%
thorns 1168
---------------
Max Life 53k
life per second 559
life per hit 1292

hope this helped people relise what stats are needed for a flawless run.

 

[Fereh]

Are you planning on posting more classes? Since the thread name says "How to build a character" and not a barbarian.
I'd love one for Monk aswell, but nonetheless a really nice thread and it is just going to become more important as the new DB patch is coming closer (Randomized dungeon).

 

[muntahunta]

Are you planning on posting more classes? Since the thread name says "How to build a character" and not a barbarian.
I'd love one for Monk aswell, but nonetheless a really nice thread and it is just going to become more important as the new DB patch is coming closer (Randomized dungeon).

yup im planning on adding more classes. I think DH is next but possibly monk, depending what i feel like gearing next

 

[Momentusa]

Flawless runs are good and all, but speed matters as well.
with 6k damage it must take a mightly long time to kill elites even with earthquake and WotB.
I still die from certain affix combo's (mainly nightmare+invul mixed with arcanes and plague), but that is only when they come up.
I think my item drop rate would be faster than urs since i have 3x the DPS. And i make enough gold back for repairs plus some extra.

Just my opinion, nice thought making a guide though, I might make one once i start getting a better idea of how to survive those affix combos without crazy expensive gear.

 

[Pham]

Nice idea with a guide - but I think it's Radonic who already wrote a similar guide.

Also, you should work out layout, the guide is quite boring, tough to read - just friendly tips

 

[muntahunta]

Flawless runs are good and all, but speed matters as well.
with 6k damage it must take a mightly long time to kill elites even with earthquake and WotB.
I still die from certain affix combo's (mainly nightmare+invul mixed with arcanes and plague), but that is only when they come up.
I think my item drop rate would be faster than urs since i have 3x the DPS. And i make enough gold back for repairs plus some extra.

Just my opinion, nice thought making a guide though, I might make one once i start getting a better idea of how to survive those affix combos without crazy expensive gear.

I agree, 6k damage is quite low and the speed of runs are quite long. but since writing this I have upped my DPS to 11k just by buying a new weapon with higher dps and the same amount of life on hit. it all depends on how much you are willing to spend, this is an introductory guide into act 1 so far and the purpose is to survive since i see alot of people saying they just cant do it.

the gear I have noted on here is to give people an idea how to get starting gear to farm act 1 without restarting the profile before getting 5 stacks. its what i would consider the minimum and using the same rules and maybe sacrificing some of the stats for strength, damage or crit would be a good idea but it all depends on what your stats are. this is what worked for me when I first managed to do flawless runs... from here I will upgrade my character and this guide as i progress through to acts 2 and 3... its not finished

 

[Radonic]

Good guide Glad to see more of these...
But just so you know, block isnt that good :S
Doesnt help against those tough combos because it cant mitigate
dmg on the ground or arcane beams.

and add some mf

Glhf, nice done!

 

[dottzor]

You must be very very brave to go out and farm champions with those stats.

But just so you know, block isnt that good :S
Doesnt help against those tough combos because it cant mitigate
dmg on the ground or arcane beams.

You are wrong mister - you can block EVERYTHING. Including arcane beams and AE on ze ground (like plague/desecreation)

 

[scott123]

What I have been doing with bot characters is piecing together with gear I find that does not sell for millions. I already have probably nearly 3 full sets of gear that I can use to build more bots.

I believe my barb has something like 800 lph with a 14% sheild and like 35-40k life and does not die that often. Also managed to get 130 base mf. I will add the avoid desc plugin you posted and see if my death rate drops to 0. One other thing I would add is something had posted an edited barb.cs for combat which will only proc WOTB on champ packs which should also be a huge boost to me not dieing.

I think I paid 2 mil though total plus stuff I already had lieing around to gear my barb that runs this successfully.

 

[dottzor]

for combat which will only proc WOTB on champ packs which should also be a huge boost to me not dieing.

Yes, I edited my barb.cs like that as well. It is kinda a no-brainer and a must.

 

[muntahunta]

What I have been doing with bot characters is piecing together with gear I find that does not sell for millions. I already have probably nearly 3 full sets of gear that I can use to build more bots.

I believe my barb has something like 800 lph with a 14% sheild and like 35-40k life and does not die that often. Also managed to get 130 base mf. I will add the avoid desc plugin you posted and see if my death rate drops to 0. One other thing I would add is something had posted an edited barb.cs for combat which will only proc WOTB on champ packs which should also be a huge boost to me not dieing.

I think I paid 2 mil though total plus stuff I already had lieing around to gear my barb that runs this successfully.

hmmm i have not done this... i may have to try this, if it works ill update the first post

and yes, block is amazing as a tank, especially if you can get over 30% on a shield.

 

[Balanced]

how do you modify the .cs to make the bot only use wotb on champs?


thanks

 

[secarter2k3]

My barb is fitted as such:

1533 STR
256 DEX
180 INT
1333 VIT

Armor: 8705
DMG: 17669.35
Att/s: 1.29
Crit Chance: 16.5%
Crit Hit DMG: 124%
Life: 52563

Unbuffed Resists: 374-454 (need to balance this out more)
Block: 2794-4704
Block Chance: 23%
Dodge: 13.9%
Damage Reduc: 74.37%

LPS: 320
LoH: 1016
Health Globe bonus: 269
Pickup Radius 11

He rocks Act 2 like nobody's business with the spec you provided in the OP. I am sorry to necro this post, but it's worth it. Really changed what I do for farming. I am using a 759 dps 1h mace with str/vit/LoH of 945.

This guide may be limited to barbs, but I would be happy to see an update for other classes. This was quite informative.

 

[muntahunta]

well I was planning to do more but it seems Diablo 3 farming is pretty much dead. gold on EU is down to 40p per million... might just pay my electricity bill for running the computer if i get lucky with drops lol.