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Strafe Bowazon Amazon Build for Diablo 2 Resurrected

Strafe Bowazon Amazon Build for Diablo 2 Resurrected

A very powerful Bow build that uses the recently buffed Strafe ability

Strafe Bowazon
Amazon Build

For Diablo 2 Resurrected v2.4
 

Build notes:
February 07, 2022
-Build created 

 

Build Overview

After the Buff received in patch 2.4, Strafe has become the most reliable and, in many areas, the most powerful Physical Arrow Skill. Its main downsides - below average damage and tendency to miss its targets were almost completely removed. It no longer has a starting -25% Damage penalty and now grants +30% baseline and +9% per level Attack Rating. Because of this, it's about time we came up with a Strafe Bowazon Build that would feature this skill's new capabilities. 

The featured version of the Strafe Bowazon is a great alternative to the tried and true Multi-Shot Bowazon. It offers great DPS and can deliver punishment very reliably while keeping a safe distance. In certain areas, it performs better than the Multi-Shot version (for example, when dealing with physical immunities or fighting elite monsters), but falls a bit behind when monster density gets too high (when you get surrounded, you're in trouble). Overall, Strafe Bowazon is a solid but extremely expensive top-tier farming build, capable of clearing end-game content on /Players7 difficulty. 

You can also check our other  Diablo 2 Resurrected Builds

 

 Pros  Cons
 Very high Physical DPS and high clear speeds   One of the most expensive builds in the game 
 Can Deal with Physical Immunities rather well   Rather fragile - you will die easily if you get caught off-guard 
 Very versatile and quite mobile   Not the best choice for high-density areas 

 

Skills

ATTRIBUTES
  1. Strength - All you want, in terms of Strength, is enough of it to equip everything you will want to use on your character. 
  2. Dexterity - For a high-end setup, you should spend all your remaining points on Dexterity. Doing so will maximize your damage output. 
  3. Energy - Adding points to Energy is an extreme waste - don't do it. 
  4. Vitality - If your gear is not of the highest possible quality, you might have to divert some of your attribute points from Dexterity to Vitality in order to boost your survivability a bit. 
BOW AND CROSSBOW SKILLS

This is the core Skill Tree of this Build. It provides you with a freshly-buffed Strafe - a powerful Skill that basically aims itself at your enemies by splitting a single arrow into multiple deadly projectiles that shoot off in the direction of nearby enemies. With it, all you have to do is point your weapon in the general direction of your targets - just don't let them surround you. 

Skills:

  1. Magic Arrow [20/20] - A powerful magical projectile that knocks targets back and deals magic damage. This is your backup offensive skill, use it to deal with enemies that are immune to physical damage. 
  2. Multiple Shot [1/20] - Prerequisite. Fires multiple arrows in a cone in front of you, the number of arrows scales with Skill Level. 
  3. Guided Arrow [1/20] - Prerequisite. An enchanted arrow that will track your target or seek one of its own. 
  4. Strafe [20/20] - Magically splits one arrow into several that target multiple nearby enemies. This is your main offensive ability. It has received a substantial buff in patch 2.4; it no longer starts with a -25% Damage penalty and it now grants you an increased Attack Rating which makes it the most reliable physical arrow skill available. 

PASSIVE AND MAGIC SKILLS

This skill tree offers great utility skills - both passive and active ones. For this build, we focus on the passive power boosts, as they supplement our Strafe very well. Having said that, once you max out everything else, you might want to get the Valkyrie as well (especially if you feel like you need some extra defensive power). 

Skills:

  1. Critical Strike [20/20] - Grants a chance to do double physical damage with your attacks. This passive skill suffers from diminishing returns, but it's still worth the point investment. 
  2. Inner Sight [1/20] - Prerequisite. Illuminates monsters and decreases their ability to defend themselves. 
  3. Dodge [1/20] - Grants a chance to move out of the way of a melee attack while standing still. Dodge is great when you get surrounded by monsters. It suffers from diminishing returns, so spending 1 point on it is enough (on level 4, it grants 34% Dodge; on level 20, it grants only 56%...). 
  4. Avoid [20/20] - Grants a chance to move out of the way of a missile attack while standing still. With this, you will be able to stay still and Strafe without worrying as much about incoming missiles. This is your main passive defensive skill - max it out to minimize the chance of getting hit by enemy projectiles. 
  5. Slow Missiles [1/20] - Prerequisite. Slows the missiles of nearby enemies. 
  6. Penetrate [1/20] - Increases Attack Rating. Unlike the previous passives, Penetrate does not suffer from diminishing returns (it grants 10% to Attack Rating for every skill point, except the first one which gives 35%). If you feel like you're missing too much, adding some extra points here is a good idea but, for the most part, 1 point should be all you need. 
  7. Evade [1/20] - Grants a chance to escape any attack while moving. Same idea as earlier - invest 1 point for a nice passive boost and avoid spending more because of diminishing returns. 
  8. Decoy [1/20] - Prerequisite. Creates a duplicate image to distract enemies. 
  9. Pierce [X/20] - A chance that your missile will continue through its victim. This gives you a solid chance of hitting multiple enemies with a single arrow, which is nice. You should spend enough points here to get your Pierce Chance to 70+%. 
  10. Valkyrie [X/20] - Summons a powerful Valkyrie warrior to fight by your side. If you decide to go for Valkyrie, keep in mind that it gains a lot of strength from additional skill points - spending just 1 point on it is not worth it, generally. Also, Valkyrie has received a buff in patch 2.4 - it no longer has a 6-second Cast delay. 
JAVELIN AND SPEAR SKILLS

This build focuses on Bows and Crossbows, so we skip this entire skill tree. 

Skills:

  1. none 

 

Items

You want to get as much Enhanced Damage as possible to increase the build's overall power level. Deadly Strike is the second most important offensive stat that will massively boost your DPS. Another stat you should be interested in is Increased Attack Speed; stacking it will allow you to dish out more punishment quicker. For defenses, you should rely on Life and Mana Leech to keep you alive and kicking. You shouldn't forget about mobility either - having some Faster Run/Walk will definitely come in handy. 

HELMETS

M'avina's True Sight (Diadem) - This Diadem may not look like much, but the 30% Attack Speed increase it provides will work wonders for your DPS with a Strafe Bowazon. 

M'avina's True Sight 

  • Defense:  200-210 
  • Required Level: 64
  • Required Strength: -
  • Durability: 20
    • +30% Increased Attack Speed 
    • +150 Defense 
    • Replenish Life +10 
    • +25 to Mana 
    • +1 to All Skills (2 Items) 
    • 50% Bonus to Attack Rating (3 Items) 
    • All Resistances +25 (4 Items) 

Andariel's Visage (Demonhead) - Andariel's Visage offers a great mix of Attack Speed, Attributes, Defense, and Life Leech. If you're looking for a Helmet that will make your character better in every important way, this is it. Just keep in mind that its negative Fire Resistance might cause problems in some end-game zones. 

Andariel's Visage

 

  • Defense: 310-387
  • Required Level: 83
  • Required Strength: 102
  • Durability: 20  
    • +100-150% Enhanced Defense 
    • +2 To All Skills 
    • 20% Increased Attack Speed 
    • 8-10% Life Stolen Per Hit 
    • +25-30 To Strength 
    • +10% To Maximum Poison Resist 
    • Fire Resist -30% 
    • Poison Resist +70% 
    • 15% Chance To Cast Level 15 Poison Nova When Struck 
    • Level 3 Venom (20 charges) 

WEAPONS

Faith (Runeword) - An extremely expensive and insanely powerful runeword that will take your Damage output to a completely new level. While its Enhanced Damage, Attack Rating, and Skill bonuses are impressive, the real kicker is the Fanaticism Aura. With it, your Damage and Attack Speed will simply skyrocket. 

Faith

  • Two-Hand Damage: Depends on base Weapon 
  • Required Level: 65 
  • Required Strength: Depends on base Weapon 
  • Required Dexterity: Depends on base Weapon 
  • Durability: Depends on base Weapon 
  • Ohm + Jah + Lem + Eld  
    • Level [12-15] Fanaticism Aura when Equipped (varies) 
    • +[1-2] to All Skills (varies) 
    • +330% Enhanced Damage 
    • Ignore Target's Defense 
    • 300% Bonus to Attack Rating 
    • +75% Damage to Undead 
    • +50 to Attack Rating against Undead 
    • +120 Fire Damage 
    • All Resistances +15 
    • 10% Reanimate As: Returned 
    • 75% Extra Gold from Monsters

Mist (Runeword) - The new kid on the block when it comes to Bowazon Weapons. It directly competes with Faith but falls short of it offensively (but it's still an amazing weapon when it comes to DPS). However, it makes up for it with a range of powerful defensive bonuses (high Resistances, great Vitality boost, and Freezing effect on hit). Also, it has a 100% Piercing attach which will allow you to save up some skill points. 

Mist

  • Two-Hand Damage: Depends on base Weapon 
  • Required Level: 67 
  • Required Strength: Depends on base Weapon 
  • Required Dexterity: Depends on base Weapon 
  • Durability: Depends on base Weapon 
  • Cham + Shael + Gul + Thul + Ith   
    • Level 8-12 Concentration Aura When Equipped (varies) 
    • +3 To All Skills 
    • 20% Increased Attack Speed 
    • +100% Piercing Attack 
    • +325-375% Enhanced Damage (varies) 
    • +9 To Maximum Damage 
    • 20% Bonus to Attack Rating 
    • Adds 3-14 Cold Damage 
    • Freeze Target +3 
    • +24 Vitality 
    • All Resistances +40 

Buriza-Do Kyanon (Ballista) - One of the best Ranged Weapons in the game. This incredibly powerful Crossbow offers an extremely high Damage increase, great attack speed, 100% chance to pierce (which is great for saving up skill points), and 35 Dexterity. Its main downside is that it's extremely heavy. 

Buriza-Do Kyanon

  • Two-Hand Damage: (135-180) to (224-298)-(469-543) ((179.5-302)-(239-361.5) Avg)(Base Damage: 45-74)
  • Required Level: 41 
  • Required Strength: 110 
  • Required Dexterity: 80 
  • Base Weapon Speed: [10] 
    • +200-300% Enhanced Damage (varies) 
    • + (2.5 Per Character Level) 2-247 To Maximum Damage (Based On Character Level)  
    • Adds 32-196 Cold Damage - 8 Second Duration 
    • 100% Piercing Attack 
    • Freezes Target +3 
    • +75-150 Defense (varies)  
    • +35 to Dexterity 
    • 80% Increased Attack Speed 
WEAPON SWAP

Call to Arms (Rune Word) - This powerful Runeword will allow you to pre-buff yourself up with Warcries (buffs persist through weapon swap). 

Call to Arms

  • Defense: Depends on base Weapon 
  • Required Level: 57
  • Required Strength: Depends on base Weapon ​​​​​
  • Durability: Depends on base Weapon 
  • Amn • Ral • Mal • Ist
    • +1 to All Skills 
    • +40% Increased Attack Speed 
    • +250-290% Enhanced Damage 
    • Adds 5-30 Fire Damage 
    • 7% Life Stolen Per Hit 
    • +2-6 To Battle Command 
    • +1-6 To Battle Orders 
    • +1-4 To Battle Cry 
    • Prevent Monster Heal 
    • Replenish Life +12 
    • 30% Better Chance Of Getting Magic Items 

Lidless Wall (Grim Shield) - A very powerful Shield that grants bonuses to all skills and FCR. If you are using CTA on weapon swap to boost your stats with Warcries, it's good to equip this shield to maximize the effect. 

Lidless Wall 

Note: Spirit Shield is also a viable option here, but it has a much higher Strength requirement which makes it less desirable. 

  • Defense: 271 - 347
  • Required Level: 41
  • Required Strength: 58
  • Durability: 70
    • +80-130% Enhanced Defense (varies) 
    • +1 to All Skills
    • Increase Maximum Mana 10% 
    • 20% Faster Cast Rate 
    • +3-5 to Mana After Each Kill (varies) 
    • +10 to Energy 
    • +1 to Light Radius 

AMULETS

The Cat's Eye - This amazing Amulet will boost your DPS, survivability, and mobility by a large margin. There's no better option for the build. 

The Cat's Eye

  • Required Level: 50
    • +30% Faster Run/Walk
    • +20% Increased Attack Speed
    • +100 Defense vs. Missiles
    • +100 Defense
    • +25 To Dexterity

Highlord's Wrath - Highlord's will give you a solid Attack Speed boost coupled with a level-scaling chance for a Deadly Strike. It won't affect your mobility, however. 

Highlord's Wrath

  • Required Level: 65
    • +1 to All Skills 
    • 20% Increased Attack Speed 
    • +0-37% Deadly Strike (+0.375 per Character Level) 
    • Lightning Resist +35% 
    • Adds 1-30 Lightning Damage 
    • Attacker Takes Lightning Damage of 15

ARMORS

Fortitude (Runeword) - If maximizing Damage is what you're after, there's no better option for this slot than Fortitude. It offers a whopping +300% Enhanced Damage without compromising your defense (actually, it's also one of the best armors defense-wise). 

Fortitude

  • Defense: Depends on base Armor 
  • Required Level: 59 
  • Required Strength: Depends on base Armor 
  • Durability: Depends on base Armor 
  • El + Sol + Dol + Lo   
    • 20% Chance To Cast Level 15 Chilling Armor when Struck 
    • +25% Faster Cast Rate 
    • +300% Enhanced Damage 
    • +200% Enhanced Defense 
    • +15 Defense 
    • +[1-148] To Life (Based on Character Level, [1-1.5] per Level) 
    • Replenish Life +7 
    • +5% To Maximum Lightning Resist 
    • All Resistances +[25-30] (varies) 
    • Physical Damage Taken Reduced by 7 
    • 12% Damage Taken Gained as Mana when Hit 
    • +1 To Light Radius 

RINGS

A "Dual Leech" Rare Ring -  This is a top choice for the Ring slot as Life and Mana leech effects are extremely valuable for the build. 

"Dual Leech" Rare Ring

  • Required Level: varies. 
  • In Rare Rings, look for:
    • Life/Mana Stolen on Hit 
    • Life 
    • Resistances 
    • Attributes 

Bul-Kathos Wedding Band - A great ring for this build. It grants a bonus to all skills, Life Steal, and maximum Life - all exceptionally valuable affixes. If you don't need extra Mana Leech, pick this over a Dual Leech Rare Ring. 

Bul-Kathos Wedding Band

  • Required Level: 58
    • +1 To All Skills 
    • + (0.5 Per Character Level) 0-49 To Life) 
    • 3-5% Life Stolen Per Hit (varies) 
    • +50 Maximum Stamina 

Raven Frost - An amazing ring that provides Freeze Immunity which is extremely important to have on every build. If you get frozen, you're pretty much dead, so this is a must-have. 

Raven Frost

  • Required Level: 76
    • +150-250 Attack Rating (varies) 
    • 15-45 Cold Damage 
    • +15-20 Dexterity (varies) 
    • +40 Mana 
    • Cold Absorb 20% (varies) 
    • Cannot be Frozen 

GLOVES

Laying of Hands (Bramble Mitts) - These gloves offer an amazing Damage boost against Demons, which will help you farm in areas like Chaos Sanctuary. Moreover, they take care of your IAS needs very well. 

Laying of Hands

  • Defense: 79-87
  • Required Level: 63
    • +25 Defense
    • 20% Increased Attack Speed
    • +350% Damage To Demons
    • 10% Chance To Cast Level 3 Holy Bolt On Attack
    • +50% Fire Resist

Dracul's Grasp (Vampirebone Gloves) - A good all-around choice that increases your attack speed and gives you some extra survivability. These also give a high strength bonus which is very convenient for choosing equipment for other gear slots. 

Dracul's Grasp

 

  • Defense: 125 - 145
  • Required Level: 76
  • Required Strength: - 50
  • Durability: 14
    • +90-120% Enhanced Defense (varies) 
    • +10-15 to Strength (varies) 
    • +5-10 Life After Each Kill (varies) 
    • 25% Chance of Open Wounds 
    • 7-10% Life Stolen Per Hit (varies) 
    • 5% Chance to Cast Level 10 Life Tap on Striking
    • 20% Increased Attack Speed 

Soul Drainer (Vambraces) - These gloves are a nice source of Dual Leech. If you're on a bit of a budget, they might help you increase your Bowazon's overall survivability. 

Soul Drainer

  • Defense: 129 - 149
  • Required Level: 74
  • Required Strength: 106
  • Durability: 16
    • +90-120% Enhanced Defense (varies) 
    • 4-7% Mana Stolen Per Hit (varies) 
    • 4-7% Life Stolen Per Hit (varies) 
    • -50 to Monster Defense per Hit 
    • 8% Chance to Cast Level 3 Weaken on Striking 

BOOTS

War Traveler (Battle Boots) - These boots are extremely powerful on a physical damage-based build because of their Added Damage bonus (that bonus scales very well with all other damage increases from gear/skills). Also, they make you move faster, prevent you from tiring, give you some nice attributes, and improve your MF. 

War Traveler

  • Defense: 120-139 
  • Required Level: 42
  • Required Strength: 95
  • Kick Damage: 37-64 
  • Durability: 48
    • +150-190% Enhanced Defense 
    • 25% Faster Run/Walk 
    • +10 to Vitality 
    • +10 to Strength 
    • Adds 15-25 Damage 
    • +40% Slower Stamina Drain 
    • Attacker Takes Damage Of 5-10 
    • 30-50% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items 

Gore Rider (War Boots) - These boots will give you a nice mix of deadly on-hit effects (you're mainly interested in Deadly Strike) and a solid boost to Faster Run/Walk. They are a solid alternative to War Traveler but are a bit weaker for general use. 

Gore Raider

  • Defense: 140-162
  • Required Level: 47
  • Required Strength: 94
  • Durability: 34
  • Kick Damage: 39-80  
    • +160-200% Enhanced Defense
    • 30% Faster Run/Walk
    • 10% Chance Of Open Wounds
    • 15% Chance Of Crushing Blow
    • 15% Deadly Strike
    • Requirements -25%
    • +20 Maximum Stamina 

BELTS

Razortail (Sharkskin Belt) - We all know that Pierce is one of the most powerful effects you can have on a Bowazon, and this belt gives you 33% of it! If you're after BiS equipment, there's no real alternative for this slot, unless your Weapon already gives you Piercing Attack. 

Razortail

  • Defense: 96-107
  • Required Level: 32
  • Required Strength: 20
  • Durability: 14
  • 16 Potion Boxes
    • +120-150% Enhanced Defense
    • +15 Defense
    • +10 To Maximum Damage
    • Piercing Attack (33)
    • +15 To Dexterity
    • Attacker Takes Damage of 1-99(1 Per Character Level)

Goldwrap (Heavy Belt) - This belt offers an interesting mix of offensive power and the ability to farm more magic items. If you'd like to improve your MF stat without sacrificing too much DPS, Goldwrap is a solid option. 

Goldwrap

  • Defense: 34-36 
  • Potion Slots: 12 
  • Required Level: 27
  • Required Strength: 45
  • Durability: 18
    • +40-60% Enhanced Defense (varies) 
    • +25 Defense 
    • 10% Increased Attack Speed
    • 30% Better Chance Of Getting Magic Items
    • 50-80% Extra Gold From Monsters (varies) 
    • +2 To Light Radius  

String of Ears (Demonhide Dash) - If you're after some extra defenses, this belt might be what you need. It should keep you alive with its damage reduction effects and high Life Leech. 

String of Ears

  • Defense: 102-113 
  • Required Level: 29
  • Required Strength: 20
  • Durability: 22
  • 16 Potion Boxes
    • +150-180% Enhanced Defense
    • +15 Defense
    • 6-8% Life Stolen Per Hit
    • Damage Reduced By 10-15%
    • Magic Damage Reduced 10-15

CHARMS

  1. Annihilus - This fabled Charm boosts your Skills, Stats, and Resistances. It's the best Unique Small Charm, and it's limited to just 1 in your equipment. 
  2. Gheed's Fortune - The secret to Gheed's wealth and prosperity. Pretty much a must-have if you're after the best available charms. It adds 80-160% extra gold from monsters, reduces vendor prices by up to 15%, and gives up to 40% better magic find. 
  3. Hellfire Torch - The BiS Unique Large Charm that increases your Vitality, Skills, and more. You should, of course, go for one that gives +1 to Amazon Skills. 
  4. Grand Charms - +Faster Run/Walk Speed, Maximum Damage, Attack Rating, and Life is what you're looking for in Grand Charms. Yes, you don't want Skill Levels. 
  5. Small Charms -  With these, you should get Maximum Damage and Attack Rating. If you can afford ones that give Life as well, that would be ideal.  
  6. Large Charms - Try to avoid using these as they generally provide sub-par bonuses for this particular build. 

MERCENARY

We recommend picking up Act 2 Defiance Mercenary for extra damage mitigation bonuses. He should be equipped with: 

  1. Pride Runeword - This offers the best DPS bonus. Pride not only boosts your Merc's Damage but also gives him a high-level Concentration Aura that will boost the Damage and Attack Rating of both of you. 
    • If you're on a budget, you can switch this up for Insight Runeword. 
  2. Fortitude Rune Word in Armor - This Runeword gives solid defenses that are necessary to keep your merc alive. 
  3. Vampire Gaze - An extremely solid and versatile headgear that will make your merc much more durable. 

 

ENDNOTE

This is our premiere Diablo 2 Resurrected build where we tried to include all of the important information on how to set up this character while keeping the guide as compact as possible. If we've missed something of importance, please let us know! 

If you have any Build requests, please post them in the Comments section below. We will be happy to cover your most requested builds in the future! Also, we hope that you have found this guide useful and informative. Also, we will be happy to receive constructive criticism that will help us improve our future work, so don't hesitate to give us your feedback. 

Pictures used in this article are the intellectual property of Blizzard Entertainment