Guide:Amazon Subclasses v1.09, by Celine

Certain Amazon Builds have been around nearly from the day Diablo2 became playable on the realms. Last time I tried to describe them I kind of forgot the old ways and just listed what was more accepted nowadays, many years later. A lot of changes have taken place, skillwise and itemwise. I felt it was time to elaborate the descriptions of the subclasses I listed and discuss the evolution that has taken place. First I will have to explain the main classes and then we'll dive into the subclasses.

One note in advance that whenever I give a list of items, it is only to give some options. They are often unique items or set-items. It is merely a guideline, because people are overall familiar with these items. I will most of the time not list the exact reasons for indicating them either. If you are not familiar with their names, you can check their statistics on Diabloii.net or the Arreat Summit and hopefully see what's so special about them (explaining every little detail of the items will make this guide tenfold in size). There are countless possibilities open, so feel free to experiment. Sometimes experimenting is only allowed within bounds though, but you'll know when you read the subclass themes. So here we go....

Main Classes

First an important explanation of amazon classes. We distinguish amazons in several classes related to the weapons which she actively uses throughout the game. She can be proficient in three weapon types, meaning that she can use certain skills with them to boost damage or to get some sort of special effect. She is non-proficient in all the other weapon types. The weapons amazons can specialise in are:

• Bow or Crossbow
• Spear
• Javelin

From this we have defined four main classes.

Bowazon: The pure Bowazon is an amazon that only uses bow or crossbow-type weapons.

Spearazon: The pure Spearazon is an amazon that only uses spear-type weapons.

Javazon: The pure Javazon is an amazon that only uses javelin-type weapons.

Tankazon: The pure Tankazon is an amazon that does not use weapons in which she can be proficient. This means no spears, no javelins and no bows or crossbows.

The Hybrid: Next to these pure classes we have the mixture class, the Hybrid. A hybrid is a character that actively uses weapons from two different proficiencies or one weapon from a proficiency and one weapon in which she is not proficient. There are 6 hybrid types.

• Bow/Javelin
• Bow/Spear
• Javelin/Spear
• Bow/Weapon, in which amazons can't specialise
• Javelin/ Weapon, in which amazons can't specialise
• Spear/ Weapon, in which amazons can't specialise

If an amazon uses two different weapons in both of which she cannot specialise she will not be a hybrid, but just be a Tankazon. Example: Sword using amazon with an Axe on weapon switch.

Definition of being a pure class

Generally speaking people look at the main amazon classes and think that it's all about skillpoint allocation. People think that Bowazons are amazons that do not allocate any skillpoints in the spear and javelin proficiency tree. Spearazons don't use the bow or javelin tree and Javazons don't use the spear or bow tree.

I'm now going to state that this is not true. All the decisions you have made for your amazon concerning skillpoint allocation have no influence on being a pure amazon or a hybrid. It is the usage of weapons that puts you in a category. When you are leveling up you may not have set your mind yet or you are experimenting with certain skills. And anyone can make a little clicking mistake when assigning skills. You can always change the weapons you use, but you cannot go back on skill choices. Skillpoint allocation therefore should not define the main class you play. Your final decision on which weapons to use (and thus to a degree on which skills you will keep using) will define what class you are in the end.

Note that: Skillpoint allocation often does define the subclass you play.

Take for instance the Javazon. She uses purely javelins to either throw them or use them as a melee weapon and for that she can pick spearskills to aid her in battle. A Javazon does not have to be purely ranged, though she can be. Take a Tankazon using a two-handed axe like Hellslayer. She can easily discard the axe and start to use a spear for the rest of her "life". The switch from axe to spear will make her a Spearazon for the rest of the game even though she has no skillpoints allocated in her specific proficiency tree. The reverse is also possible.

These example show that even a Bowazon can have skillpoints allocated in the spear and javelin tree; that Javazons and Spearazons similarly can have skilpoints allocated in the bow and crossbow tree; and that Tankazons can have points in any tree. The distinction lies that pure classes no matter in which skill tree they invest points, they will not be able to use them all.

Most of the time the choice of the amazon main class is permanent, because once people invest points in either the bow, spear or javelin tree they tend to stick with it, but people are allowed to reconsider.

Definition of being a hybrid

To be a pure class you have to use either two weapons of the same type or have an empty weapon switch. To be a hybrid class you have to use two different weapons. I don't think much more explanations are needed, but there have been a few bends to the rule.

1. You may have read Flux Lightning Fury Javazon guide in which he describes that he uses Buriza on his weapon switch for which he has maxed guided arrow. Well... to his reasoning he stated that the crossbow isn't used that often so technically he would still be a pure Javazon. Given the former explanation this assumption is false. He actively uses this bow to fight act bosses, boss packs, certain kind of immunes, so by his own statements he says he's using two different weapons to great extent. It is important for survival and therefore, the Javazon the way he describes it is a hybrid. Some people will disagree with me, but I feel this is bending the rule just a little bit too much, since you really rely on both weapons.

2. When playing you solely use javelins, but when you face Duriel you decide to use a spear instead. Immediately after Duriel you ditch the spear and keep using javelins solely. Since this really is a one-time occurrence you are not a hybrid, though you have used it actively. This example is very debatable since the usage of the spear is important for survival.

3. When doing magic find runs you have the option to equip your mercenary with additional magic find and let him do the killing while you switch to weapons that contain more magic find. For instance, you are a Bowazon and just before you get the final blow on an act boss, you switch to an Ali Baba sword and a "Rhyme" shield and let your mercenary kill the boss. In this case you are not "actively" using the sword. Just switching weapons to see how impressing an amazon looks with a sword or just for the sake of gaining more magic find does not make you a hybrid or stray you from your class.

In this case you don't use the sword or shield and hence you are not a hybrid, but a Bowazon.

Conclusion: The definition of your amazon class is dependant on how actively you use weapons of a certain type.

I hope you understand the concepts of the main classes by now. If you're still clueless then it's probably my way of explaining things. You may disagree and on that I can only say: "To each their own, but this is the generally accepted rule".

Every main amazon class can be played in many different ways. Over the years we have clearly defined several of these classes and labeled them as a "Subclass". Every subclass uses her skills, weapons or gear in a special and unique way, which separates her from the rest of the amazons.

Some subclasses may look a bit alike. Depending on the weapon used, some subclasses can be built for more than just one of the main classes. There are also a few themes that are/can be used for many of the subclasses and certain subclasses are known to be available or extracted from other character classes (in this case I mean extracted from a subclass belonging to the necromancer, paladin, barbarian, sorceress, druid or assassin).

Overall Passive Skill tips

I will describe the bow and crossbow skills, and the spear and javelin skills for every subclass, but the overall tips for passive skills I will list here before I dive into subclass area. Sometimes I do elaborate on their use. Also note that I sometimes give an overview of recommended skills, but do not list the required prequisite skills among them, or list over a total of the maximum 110 skills. This means you will have to decide for yourself which skills to sacrifice and which ones to build up.

Inner Sight lowers the defense by a set number. Later in Hell monsters will have defense of in the hundreds and maxed Inner Sight will only lower the defense by 73. It's not extremely helpful later on, but early on it is very nice to use. In dark areas it illuminates the creatures in range, which is always 13.3 yards. I wouldn't put more than 1 point in it though.

Critical Strike adds a chance of doing double physical damage. This is very helpful to increase the amount of life or mana leeched. When your amazon does good physical damage this mod will become more meaningful. When your amazon does low physical damage it will not help that much. For Magazons for instance, it's often not a skill to play with. Overall a value of 50% (level 8) is profitable enough, though some will prefer a higher chance. Be wary of diminishing returns at higher skilllevels.

There is also a special mod called Deadly Strike, which does the same thing as Critical Strike. Observing people will then think that both effects can be put to work, quadrupling the damage, however this cannot be done. Whenever you have both Deadly Strike and Critical Strike the game code will not add both effects at the same time. It will either do Deadly Strike or Critical Strike or none of the two.

Slow Missiles slows the projectiles of ranged attackers by 33%. This includes arrows, elemental missiles and even the charged bolts released by lightning enchanted creatures. A very handy skill to have and it's range is as for Inner Sight a steady 13.3 yards. It also illuminates the creatures and is a good replacement for Inner Sight. The higher the skilllevel, the longer it lasts. Normally it doesn't take long to kill creatures so it's enough to keep it at level 1. However a few additional points won't hurt. Level 5 gives 32 seconds, which is probably enough for you.

Penetrate increases the attack rating of your character. This works for all attacks, melee and ranged. Some skills don't require attack rating and if those are your main attack skills, don't bother putting many points in this one. You can check which skills require attack rating quite easily. Simply look at your character screen and check the box where attack rating is normally displayed. If it shows a number, the skill needs attack rating to hit monsters. If it doesn't show a value, the skill will automatically hit (auto-hit) and don't require any attack rating.

You can balance your attack rating value with increasing dexterity and increasing the penetrate skill. Dexterity gives damage bonus for amazon specific spears, bows and javelins. It also gives bonus to blocking for shields. It's therefore best to boost dexterity to a good height and then allocate some skillpoints in penetrate to increase attack rating. At least put 1 point in it.

Decoy is a skill that creates a copy of yourself which you can use to draw enemies out of hiding places or distract their attention from you. A Decoy has the same amount of life as you and can thus take as many hits as you. A level 1 Decoy may vaporise because the skill duration has ended, but it could have taken a lot more hits. Thus, when your life is low (<600) stick with level 1 Decoy, but when your life is higher (>1000) consider putting at least 5 points in it so that the duration lasts longer. A life value in between of course deserves 1-5 points. Cast your Decoy far in front of you to lure out creatures or cast it to the sides so that you won't be surprised by flanking attackers.

Valkyrie creates a Heavenly shining spearfighter to aid you in battle. Well... aid is a big word, since she does pitiful damage. She can take quite a few hits at higher levels and is handy to use together with Decoy. Send your Decoy to one side and cast your Valkyrie to the other side. Overall she is costly in mana at higher levels and because she does little damage people prefer to keep her at low levels. The idea is to find a balance between recastability (level 1) or duration (level 20) and overall the better balance is a skilllevel of 5 to 8.

Pierce will only help for ranged attacking. The arrow shoots straight through an enemy to hit whatever creature is behind it. It can pierce multiple targets and is incredibly helpful with many of the bow and javelin skills. Overall a value of 65% (level8) is enough, but more is always handy. Diminishing returns are worth it. Some items give a piercing bonus. This bonus is cumulative with the skill and therefore be careful with allocating too many points in this skill. Extensive testing has shown that 100% pierce still has a chance to not pierce. This may indicate that the mod from item and skill do not stack, but more research has given the indication that pierce may more likely be capped to 95% (as are many things in the game... chance to hit, maximum resistance, etc...)