Guide:Multiplayer Parties v1.10, by Ed from Russia

Diablo II Strategy Guide Info:

[edit]

• Patch: v1.10
• Gametype: PvE/PvM
• Class: Amazon, Assassin, Barbarian, Druid, Necromancer, Paladin, Sorceress
• Author: Ed from Russia, wiki editors etc

Multiplayer Parties

While most players design their characters to succeed playing solo, or to fit into any random group of other characters, some character build combinations work better than others. This strategy article lists some of the best matches in v1.10+, and discusses why they work together so well.

In all cases these are characters who are designed to play together in a party. That means cooperating and working on the same screen against the same monsters; not just being in the same game and rushing off their separate ways. Most of these suggestions are for two characters, though a few list larger party options.

One-way Boosters

One-way boosters are more parasitic than symbiotic. One character is basically a support remora, using curses or auras to help the other character to kill at a fantastic rate. The support character gets nothing in return in terms of killing power boost. They just watch things die and share the experience and item finds.

Elemental damage boosters

• Providers:
  • Paladin with Conviction, e.g. Avenger
  • Necromancer with Lower Resist, e.g. Poisonmancer or Mage Lord

• Combine with:
  • Any Sorceress
  • Lightning Javazon
  • Lightning Trapper
  • Fireclaws Werebear

• The following can be combined only with Necromancer / Lower Resist:
  • Poisonmancer
  • Rabies Werewolf
  • Venom Assassin
  • Poison Javazon

Physical Damage boosters

• Providers:
  • Paladin with Fanaticism, e.g. Zealot
  • Druid using Heart of Wolverine, e.g. Fury Werewolf, Werebear Mauler, Hunter
  • Necromancer using Amp Damage, e.g. Skellymancer
• Combine with:
  • Barbarian with physical damage (e.g. WW, Frenzy), Zealot Paladin, Smiter, Fury Werewolf, Werebear Mauler, Strafe / Multi Bowazon, Tiger Strike Assassin
  • Skellymancer or Druid Summoner – minions will benefit from booster

Life / defense / Resistance / Life replenish boosters

• Providers:
  • Barbarian with Battle Orders, e.g. WW, Frenzy
  • Druid with Oak Sage, e.g. Wind Druid, Fireclaws Bear
  • Paladin with Salvation
  • Necromancer with Life Tap

• Combine with:
  • Any character
  • Druid Summoner / Necromancer – minions will benefit from booster
  • Combine Necromancer/Life Tap with melee characters only.

Other types of boosters

• Paladin with Redemption (e.g. Hammerdin) with any type of heavy mana user (e.g. Sorceress)
• Barbarian with Battle Command gives +1 to skills to other characters

Two-way Boosters

The combinations of characters are symbiotic; each benefits the other with their skills, potentially making the party much stronger than the sum of its parts.

Physical Damage two-way boosters

Note: Be sure you've got a way to deal with physical immunes!

Combine 2 of the following:

• Paladin using Fanaticism (e.g. Zealot)
• Druid using Heart of Wolverine (Fury Wolf, Maul Werebear)
• Necromancer using Amp Damage (e.g. Skellymancer)

Life / defense / resistances / life replenish two-way boosters

Combine 2 of the following:

• Barbarian with Battle Orders, e.g. WW, Frenzy
• Druid with Oak Sage, e.g. Wind Druid, Fireclaws Bear
• Paladin with Salvation

Two Paladins

Get two Paladins with different Auras and both will benefit. Lots of possible variations. E.g. create 2 Zealots; one with Fanaticism and one with Concetration, and get a Might Merc to have even more fun.

Different types of damage

By focusing each character on a specific type of damage, you have a way to deal with immunities while each build can invest all skill points in one area. The list below lists builds for each type of damage – take one from each to combine. Since the characters don’t directly benefit from each other’s skills this type of combo may not be as effective as the ones described earlier.

Physical damage

• Barb with Physical damage (e.g. WW, Frenzy)
• Paladin with Physical damage (e.g. Zealot)
• Strafe / Multi Bowazon
• Maul Werebear, Fury Wolf, Druid Summoner (Hunter), Wind Druid
• Tiger Strike Assassin, Kicker
• Skellymancer

Fire damage

• Fire Sorceress
• Fireclaws Bear, Fire Elemental Druid
• Fire Trapsin

Cold Damage

• Cold Sorceress
• Frozen Arrow Bowazon
• Icemaiden Assassin
• Frost Zealot

Lightning

• Lightning Trapsin, Claws of Thunder Assassin
• Lightning Javazon
• Tesladin

Magical

• Bonemancer
• Hammerdin
• Berserker Barbarian

Tank and ranged attacker

A logical combination is to have one character that can tank monsters while the other finishes them off from a distance. Select a tank and ranged attacker from the list below.

Tanks

• Any Barbarian (WW, Frenzy, Titan, Vitabarb)
• Any Melee Paladin (Zealot, Avenger)
• Werewolf / Werebear
• Skellymancer (minions as tanks)
• Druid Summoner (minions as tanks)

Ranged attackers

• Bowazon, Javazon
• Any Sorceress
• Wind / Fire Druid
• Lightning / Fire Trapsin, Blade Fury (+Venom) Assassin
• Hammerdin
• Bonemancer

More of the same / themed builds

It can be fun for both players to make the same build, or to base it on a certain theme. This may or may not improve the build’s effectiveness, but it does normally make it visually appealing.

Examples

• 2 Skellymancers: an even larger army
• 2 Druid Summoners: lots of wolves and ravens
• 3 Sorceresses: one for each damage type
• 3 Barbs – recreate the Ancients, and beat them
• Werewolf and Werebear
• Tesla Girls or Electric Ladyland (depending on your musical preference): Lightning Amazon, Lightning Trapsin and Lightning Sorceress
• 2 Bowazons with 2 Act I Hirelings
• 2 MA Assassins with 2 Shadow Masters
• Slow-effect builds: e.g. Cold Bowazon with Necromancer using Decrepify + Clay Golem
• Thorns Paladin and Iron Maiden Necromancer

Builds that don’t work alone

Some builds do not work (well) by themselves, but can be quite enjoyable. In multiplayer they can be combined with others.

Examples

• Mojomancer: Necromancer that focuses on Curses. Curses such as Dim Vision and Attract are a great combination with ranged attackers
• Auramancer: Great in large parties, but also useful in smaller ones
• Singer Barbarian: another supporting build for large parties.
• Undead Hunter (Paladin): focuses on skills and equipment that kills undead. Too specialized for single-player, but fine if your party members can take care of other monsters
• Jailkeeper Necromancer: Based on Bone Prison and Bone Wall. Nice in combination with for example Trapsin or Bowazon
• Passive Amazon (with maximum-strength Valkyrie): useless on its own but possibly fun in a party
• Leap Attack Barbarian: if monsters are held in place (e.g. by minions), the Barb can jump from monster to monster to finish them off.

Tips and Hints

Hirelings

Hirelings can add another benefit to your party. For example, the Act II Might Mercenary is great for a physical-damage combo. Act II or V hirelings are great tanks if party members prefer ranged attacker builds. Consider using other Hireling than normally for a change. Act I Rogues can be quite effective if you already have a character or minion capable of tanking.

Equipment

Some equipment (runewords) provide auras that can strengthen your combos. In multiplayer these are even more effective than in single-player.

Item Finds

In particular if you play similar builds, you may find items that several players want to have. Agree how to solve this before starting to play.

What is the best combo?

There is no "best," since different players prioritize different results, but these are a few of the fastest killing combinations.

• Skellymancer (+Amp) and Zealot (+Fanaticism)
• Avenger (+Conviction) and Blizzard Sorceress
• Lightning Sorc and Blizzard Sorc

Which combo is most fun?

This one is really unanswerable. For players who are tired of making the same old "cookie cutter" powerful builds, it can be a lot of fun to play a different type of character, knowing your partner can cover your deficiencies and enhance your strengths.

Credit

Thanks to Ed from Russia for the source document this wiki article was based on.