******* ******* ***** ***** ***** ***** ####### ######## **#### **###### ## ##### ## ## ## **#### **##* ## ## ## ## ## ## ## *##**## **##* ## ## ## ## ## ## ## *##**## **###### ## ## ## ## ## ## ######## **##* ## ## ## ## ## ## ## ##*** ## **##* ## ## ## ## ####### ######## ##**** ##**###### ####### ##### ***** ***** ***** ***** ******* ******* # ## ## ## ## ### ## ### ## ### ## # # ## ### ### ## # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # ## # # # # ## # # # # ## # # ## ## # ## # # # # # # # #### # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # ## ### ## # # ## ## # ## ### ## # # # ## ## # ### ## # # S Y N E R G Y G U I D E b y Billy Lee Version 1 11/29/3 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!IMPORTANT NOTICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Synergies are a feature of Diablo 2 from patch v1.10 on. They do not apply to earlier versions of the game. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ***************************************************************************** Disclaimer This document (c)2001-2003 Billy Lee. This FAQ may not be used or distributed for commercial use. Diablo II is (c)2000 Blizzard Entertainment, Diablo II: Lord of Destruction is (c)2001 Blizzard Entertainment. This guide must be displayed in its entirety. No pieces of it may be removed and/or copied to another location for public display. ***************************************************************************** UPDATES: Version 1: Initial Release. ======================== Table of Contents ------------------------ 1. Q&A 2. Synergies 2-A. Amazon 2-B. Assassin 2-C. Barbarian 2-D. Druid 2-E. Necromancer 2-F. Paladin 2-G. Sorceress ------------------------ 3. Acknowledgements ======================== ============================================================================= 1. Q&A Q What is a synergy? A According to dictionary.com, a synergy is the interaction of two or more agents or forces so that their combined effect is greater than the sum of their individual effects. Q Great. So what does that have to do with Diablo 2? A Starting in version 1.10, many skills will interact with each other in a way they had not in previous versions. These interactions are called synergies. Basically what it means is that by putting points into a skill, you're no longer just improving that skill alone, you're improving other skills that will benefit from it. Q So, what does that mean for all of my current builds where I have "x" maxed but ignored all the other skills that now help it? A It means that the skill you now have will continue to work similarly to the way they have in previous versions and will not have as much additional power as a skill that has been enhanced by the synergy effects of other skills. Q Ok, so do all of my skills effect every other one? A No. Each skill is affected usually by up to three other skills. Some only by one or two other skills. Some by other skills. Q How come when I look in game at skills like Summon Dire Wolf and such, they have synergies listed, but you didn't list them in here? A That's simple. It's because those bonuses already existed in the game before patch 1.10. Granted they are still more or less synergies, but not the ones that came with v1.10 which is what this guide is for. ============================================================================= 2. Synergies To make referencing easier, I'm gonna do 3 simple things. 1 - All skills will be listed alphabetically under their appropriate skill tree. 2 - If a skill does not have synergy skills (meaning nothing gives it bonuses) it will not be listed. 3 - All skill listings will follow the same basic pattern of: [Skill] [Synergy Bonus 1] [Synergy Bonus 2] etc.. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2-A. Amazon ---------------------------- Bow and Crossbow Skills Cold Arrow Ice Arrow: +12% Cold Damage per level ------------------ Exploding Arrow Fire Arrow: +12% Fire Damage per level ------------------ Fire Arrow Exploding Arrow: +12% Fire Damage per level ------------------ Freezing Arrow Cold Arrow: +12% Cold Damage per level Ice Arrow: +5% freeze time per level ------------------ Ice Arrow Cold Arrow: +8% Cold Damage per level Freezing Arrow: +5% freeze time per level ------------------ Immolation Arrow Fire Arrow: +5% Average Fire Damage per second per level Exploding Arrow: +10% Fire Damage per level ---------------------------- Javelin and Spear Skills Charged Strike Power Strike: +10% Lightning Damage per level Lightning Bolt: +10% Lightning Damage per level Lightning Strike: +10% Lightning Damage per level Lightning Fury: +10% Lightning Damage per level ------------------ Lightning Bolt Power Strike: +3% Lightning Damage per level Charged Strike: +3% Lightning Damage per level Lightning Strike: +3% Lightning Damage per level Lightning Fury: +3% Lightning Damage per level ------------------ Lightning Fury Power Strike: +1% Lightning Damage per level Lightning Bolt: +1% Lightning Damage per level Charged Strike: +1% Lightning Damage per level Lightning Strike: +1% Lightning Damage per level ------------------ Lightning Strike Power Strike: +8% Lightning Damage per level Lightning Bolt: +8% Lightning Damage per level Charged Strike: +8% Lightning Damage per level Lightning Fury: +8% Lightning Damage per level ------------------ Plague Javelin Poison Javelin: +10% Poison Damage per level ------------------ Poison Javelin Plague Javelin: +12% Poison Damage per level ------------------ Power Strike Lightning Bolt: +10% Lightning Damage per level Charged Strike: +10% Lightning Damage per level Lightning Strike: +10% Lightning Damage per level Lightning Fury: +10% Lightning Damage per level ---------------------------- Passive and Magic Skills Valkyrie Decoy: +20% Life bonus per level Penetrate: +40 to Attack Rating per level Critical Strike: Gains listed skill bonus Dodge: Gains listed skill bonus Evade: Gains listed skill bonus Avoid: Gains listed skill bonus ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2-B. Assassin ---------------------------- Martial Arts Skills Blades of Ice Phoenix Strike: +8% Cold Damage per level ------------------ Claws of Thunder Phoenix Strike: +8% Lightning Damage per level ------------------ Fists of Fire Phoenix Strike: +12% Fire Damage per level ------------------ Phoenix Strike Fists of Fire: +10% Fire Damage per level Fists of Fire: +6% Fire Damage per second per level Claws of Thunder: +13% Lightning Damage per level Blades of Ice: +10% Cold Damage per level ---------------------------- Trap Skills Charged Bolt Sentry Fire Blast: +1 Bolt per 3 levels Lightning Sentry: +1 Shot per 4 levels Shock Web: +6% Lightning Damage per level Lightning Sentry: +6% Lightning Damage per level Death Sentry: +6% Lightning Damage per level ------------------ Death Sentry Fire Blast: +1 Shot per 3 levels Lightning Sentry: +12% Lightning Damage per level ------------------ Fire Blast Shock Web: +9% Fire Damage per level Charged Bolt Sentry: +9% Fire Damage per level Wake of Fire: +9% Fire Damage per level Lightning Sentry: +9% Fire Damage per level Wake of Inferno: +9% Fire Damage per level Death Sentry: +9% Fire Damage per level ------------------ Lightning Sentry Shock Web: +12% Lightning Damage per level Charged Bolt Sentry: +12% Lightning Damage per level Death Sentry: +12% Lightning Damage per level ------------------ Shock Web Fire Blast: +1 Missile per 3 levels Charged Bolt: +11% Lightning Damage per level Lightning: +11% Lightning Damage per level Death: +11% Lightning Damage per level ------------------ Wake of Fire Fire Blast: +8% Fire Damage per level Wake of Inferno: +8% Fire Damage per level ------------------ Wake of Inferno Wake of Fire: +.5 Yards per level Fire Blast: +10% Fire Damage per level Wake of Fire: +7% Fire Damage per level Death Sentry: +10% Fire Damage per level ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2-C. Barbarian ---------------------------- Combat Skills Bash Stun: +5% Damage per level Concentrate: +5% Attack Rating per level ------------------ Berserk Howl: +10% Damage per level Shout: +10% Damage per level ------------------ Concentrate Bash: +5% Damage per level Battle Orders: +10% Damage per level Berserk: +1% Magic Damage per level ------------------ Double Swing Bash: +10% Damage per level ------------------ Double Throw Double Swing: +8% Damage per level ------------------ Frenzy Double Swing: +8% Damage per level Taunt: +8% Damage per level Berserk: +1% Magic Damage per level ------------------ Leap Attack Leap: +10% Damage per level ------------------ Stun Bash: +8% Damage per level Concentrate: +5% Attack Rating per level War Cry: +5% Duration per level ---------------------------- War Cries Battle Command Shout: +5 Seconds per level Battle Orders: +5 Seconds per level ------------------ Battle Orders Shout: +5 Seconds per level Battle Command: +5 Seconds per level ------------------ Shout Battle Orders: +5 Seconds per level Battle Command: +5 Seconds per level ------------------ War Cry Howl: +6% Damage per level Taunt: +6% Damage per level Battle Cry: +6% Damage per level ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2-D. Druid ---------------------------- Elemental Skills Arctic Blast Hurricane: +15% Cold Damage per level Cyclone Armor: +15% Cold Damage per level ------------------ Armageddon Fissure: +2 Second Duration per level Firestorm: +14% Fire Damage per level Molten Boulder: +14% Fire Damage per level Volcano: +14% Fire Damage per level ------------------ Cyclone Armor Twister: +7% Damage per level Tornado: +7% Damage per level Hurricane: +7% Damage per level ------------------ Firestorm Molten Boulder: +23% Fire Damage per level Fissure: +23% Fire Damage per level ------------------ Fissure Firestorm: +12% Fire Damage per level Volcano: +12% Fire Damage per level ------------------ Hurricane Cyclone Armor: +1 Second Duration per level Twister: +7% Damage per level Tornado: +7% Damage per level ------------------ Molten Boulder Volcano: +10% Damage per level Firestorm: +8% Fire Damage per level ------------------ Tornado Twister: +9% Damage per level Hurricane: +9% Damage per level ------------------ Twister Hurricane: +10% Damage per level Tornado: +10% Damage per level ------------------ Volcano Molten Boulder: +12% Damage per level Fissure: +12% Fire Damage per level Armageddon: +12% Fire Damage per level ---------------------------- Shape-Shifting Skills Fire Claws Firestorm: +22% Fire Damage per level Moulten Boulder: +22% Fire Damage per level Fissure: +22% Fire Damage per level Volcano: +22% Fire Damage per level ------------------ Rabies Poison Creeper: +18% Poison Damage per level ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2-E. Necromancer ---------------------------- Poison and Bone Spells Bone Armor Bone Wall: +15% Damage Absorbed per level Bone Prison: +15% Damage Absorbed per level ------------------ Bone Prison Bone Armor: +8% Life per level Bone Wall: +8% Life per level ------------------ Bone Spear Teeth: +7% Magic Damage per level Bone Wall: +7% Magic Damage per level Bone Prison: +7% Magic Damage per level Bone Spirit: +7% Magic Damage per level ------------------ Bone Spirit Teeth: +6% Magic Damage per level Bone Wall: +6% Magic Damage per level Bone Spear: +6% Magic Damage per level Bone Prison: +6% Magic Damage per level ------------------ Bone Wall Bone Armor: +10% Life per level Bone Prison: +10% Life per level ------------------ Poison Dagger Poison Explosion: +20% Poison Damage per level Poison Nova: +20% Poison Damage per level ------------------ Poison Explosion Poison Dagger: +15% Poison Damage per level Poison Nova: +15% Poison Damage per level ------------------ Poison Nova Poison Dagger: +10% Poison Damage per level Poison Explosion: +10% Poison Damage per level ------------------ Teeth Bone Wall: +15% Magic Damage per level Bone Spear: +15% Magic Damage per level Bone Prison: +15% Magic Damage per level Bone Spirit: +15% Magic Damage per level ---------------------------- Summoning Spells Blood Golem Clay Golem: +20 Attack Rating per level Iron Golem: +35% Defense per level Fire Golem: +6% Damage per level ------------------ Clay Golem Blood Golem: +5% Life per level Iron Golem: +35% Defense per level Fire Golem: +6% Damage per level ------------------ Fire Golem Clay Golem: +20 Attack Rating per level Blood Golem: +5% Life per level Iron Golem: +35% Defense per level ------------------ Iron Golem Clay Golem: +20 Attack Rating per level Blood Golem: +5% Life per level Fire Golem: +6% Damage per level ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2-F. Paladin ---------------------------- Combat Skills Blessed Hammer Blessed Aim: +14% Magic Damage per level Vigor: +14% Magic Damage per level ------------------ Charge Vigor: +20% Damage per level Might: +20% Damage per level ------------------ Fist of the Heavens Holy Bolt: +15% Holy Bolt Damage per level Holy Shock: +7% Lightning Damage per level ------------------ Holy Bolt Blessed Hammer: +50% Magic Damage per level Fist of the Heavens: +50% Magic Damage per level Prayer: +15% Life Healed per level ------------------ Holy Shield Defiance: +15% Defense per level ------------------ Sacrifice Redemption: +15% Damage per level Fanaticism: +5% Damage per level ------------------ Vengeance Resist Fire: +10% Elemental Damages per level Resist Cold: +10% Elemental Damages per level Resist Lightning: +10% Elemental Damages per level Salvation: +2% Elemental Damages per level ------------------ Zeal Sacrifice: +12% Damage per level ---------------------------- Defensive Auras Cleansing Prayer: +X* Life Healed every 2 seconds ------------------ Meditation Prayer: +X* Life Healed every 2 seconds * X is the amount of life Prayer heals. Basically these auras will now give you a bonus Prayer aura. ---------------------------- Offensive Auras ------------------ Holy Fire Might: +18% Fire Damage per level Salvation: +6% Fire Damage per level ------------------ Holy Freeze Resist Cold: +15% Cold Damage per level Salvation: +7% Cold Damage per level ------------------ Holy Shock Resist Fire: +12% Lightning Damage per level Salvation: +4% Lightning Damage per level ------------------ Sanctuary Cleansing: +7% Magic Damage per level ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2-G. Sorceress ---------------------------- Cold Spells Blizzard Ice Bolt: +5% Cold Damage per level Ice Blast: +5% Cold Damage per level Glacial Spike: +5% Cold Damage per level ------------------ Chilling Armor Shiver Armor: +10 Seconds per level Shiver Armor: +7% Cold Damage per level Frozen Armor: +10 Seconds per level Frozen Armor: +7% Cold Damage per level ------------------ Frost Nova Blizzard: +10% Cold Damage per level Frozen Orb: +10% Cold Damage per level ------------------ Frozen Armor Shiver Armor: +10 Seconds per level Shiver Armor: +5% Freeze Length per level Chilling Armor: +10 Seconds per level Chilling Armor: +5% Freeze Length per level ------------------ Frozen Orb Ice Bolt: +2% Cold Damage per level ------------------ Glacial Spike Ice Bolt: +5% Cold Damage per level Ice Blast: +5% Cold Damage per level Blizzard: +3% Freeze Length per level Frozen Orb: +5% Cold Damage per level ------------------ Ice Blast Ice Bolt: +8% Cold Damage per level Glacial Spike: +10% Freeze Length per level Blizzard: +8% Cold Damage per level Frozen Orb: +8% Cold Damage per level ------------------ Ice Bolt Frost Nova: +15% Cold Damage per level Ice Blast: +15% Cold Damage per level Glacial Spike: +15% Cold Damage per level Blizzard: +15% Cold Damage per level Frozen Orb: +15% Cold Damage per level ------------------ Shiver Armor Frozen Armor: +10 Seconds per level Frozen Armor: +9% Cold Damage per level Chilling Armor: +10 Seconds per level Chilling Armor: +9% Cold Damage per level ---------------------------- Fire Spells Enchant Warmth: +9% Fire Damage per level ------------------ Fire Bolt Fire Ball: +16% Fire Damage per level Meteor: +16% Fire Damage per level ------------------ Fireball Fire Bolt: +14% Fire Damage per level Meteor: +14% Fire Damage per level ------------------ Hydra Fire Bolt: +3% Fire Damage per level Fire Ball: +3% Fire Damage per level ------------------ Inferno Warmth: +13% Fire Damage per level ------------------ Meteor Fire Bolt: +5% Fire Damage per level Fire Ball: +5% Fire Damage per level Inferno: +3% Average Fire Damage per second per level ---------------------------- Lightning Spells Chain Lightning Charged Bolt: +4% Lightning Damage per level Nova: +4% Lightning Damage per level Lightning: +4% Lightning Damage per level ------------------ Charged Bolt Lightning: +6% Lightning Damage per level ------------------ Lightning Charged Bolt: +8% Lightning Damage per level Nova: +8% Lightning Damage per level Chain Lightning: +8% Lightning Damage per level ============================================================================= 3. Acknowledgements Most recent version of this guide is always available at www.gamefaqs.com If you need to contact me for some reason about this guide, my email address is leeroy3825@hotmail.com. Be forwarned though, I have a very bad habit of checking my email once every few weeks and not responding. Sorry. Chances are, I will read it though. Eventually. Mike, my best friend... aww... Blizzard, still releasing major gameplay patches several years after a game's release.