Which Weapon

I am playing a Hardcore FrostZelot and need a little advice as to which weapon to build for. I am currently using the Plague Bearer Rune Sword as it is the highest damage fastest weapon I have found. I am also using Sigons gloves and belt to get the additional 30% IAS. In my inventory is the Razor's Edge Tomahawk.

Should I build toward using the tomahawk as my endgame weapon or stick with the sword? Also, should I seek to increase the IAS with a Shael or IAS jewel in the weapon? I know that Nord's or something else like Heaven's Light would be better but I do not own those and trading on this website is getting next to impossible so I gotta play with what I got.

I appreciate your replies.|||I'll be honest with you it appears that you are not using all your available resources properly. Let's look at your weapon:

Plague Bearer

One-Hand Damage: 35 To 150 (92.5 Avg)

Required Level: 41

Required Strength: 103

Required Dexterity: 79

Durability: 44

Base Weapon Speed: [-10]

150% Enhanced Damage

Adds 10-45 Damage

+300 Poison Damage Over 8 Seconds

5% Chance To Cast Level 4 Poison Nova On Striking

Poison Resist +45%

+5 To Rabies (Druid Only)

The base speed (-10) gives a Zealot a 7 frame attack. You add in the 30% IAS from 2 Sigon items and you wind up at 6 frame attack. Add a Shael and you get a 5 frame attack. You get 300 poison damage and a small chance of low damage Nova.

Baranar's Star

One-Hand Damage: 129 To 159 (144 Avg)

Required Level: 65

Required Strength: 153

Required Dexterity: 44

Durability: 172

Base Weapon Speed: [10]

+200% Enhanced Damage

+50% Damage To Undead

Adds 1-200 Fire Damage

Adds 1-200 Lightning Damage

Adds 1-200 Cold Damage, Duration 0-7 sec.

50% Increased Attack Speed

200% Bonus To Attack Rating

+15 To Dexterity

+15 To Strength

The base speed (10) plus IAS (50%) gives a Zealot a 6 frame attack. Add a Shael and you get a 5 frame attack. This frees up the 2 Sigon slots that are probably holding you back. Not only do you get 50% more average physical damage; you also get 3 - 600 tri-elemental damage and it doubles your Attack Rating. Almost nothing in the game is fully immune to it's damage.

Baranar's Star let's you hit harder, faster, with more elements, and connect more often and is clearly FAR superior to what you are using. Ironically, it is available dirt cheap on Battlenet and here on the boards. I'd be shocked if it cost more than Pul. In the grand scheme of things it is generally considered such a low level item that most people Charsi it or never pick it up. The same is true of Duriel's Shell armor, take a look at it and see if it beats what you're currently wearing.

Now quit making it hard on yourself and start trading. The Arreat Summit lists all uniques and runewords, it will open your eyes as to what's out there. The game is alot more fun when you use all your available resources.|||Frostadin, I would have no problems picking a weapon if I had the Baranor's Star. I do not and hardcore trading is very iffy. What are your thoughts about the tomahawk? As for Duriels Shell, I do not have that in inventory. I do have the runes to make Lionheart and am considering that for an endgame armor. I also have the Set Mace with 3 open sockets if that can be viable.|||First off, that tomahawk and Lionheart are not endgame gear. In fact, they're not even decent mid-game gear to be honest. The mace you're talking about (I'm assuming it's Aldur's) would work if you put 1 or 3 shaels in it. 1 will get you to a 6 frame attack and 3 will get you to 5 frames. If you are wearing the gloves for 30 IAS then 2 Shael will get you to 5 frames.

However, if you have the runes for Lionheart (Hel + Lum + Fal) then you are very close to making:

Voice Of Reason

Lem + Ko + El + Eld

4 Socket Swords/Maces

15% Chance To Cast Level 13 Frozen Orb On Striking

18% Chance To Cast Level 20 Ice Blast On Striking

+50 To Attack Rating

+220-350% Damage To Demons

+355-375% Damage To Undead (varies)

+50 To Attack Rating Against Undead

Adds 100-220 Cold Damage

-24% To Enemy Cold Resistance

+10 To Dexterity

Cannot Be Frozen

75% Extra Gold From Monsters

+1 To Light Radius

This is a low "endgame" weapon.

In my experience trading in hardcore isn't iffy, just never leave the center of town. Once you try it you will realize you can actually make more strides trading than playing. However, if you're still dead set on no trading, then you will simply need to grind for gear.

Grinding in hardcore means you need to find the highest level area where you can safely kill creatures for drops, over and over. You don't mention what level/difficulty you are in but in hell mode Frostys do really well in the Mausoleum and the champions and uniques in there can drop almost anything. Seriously though, I would highly suggest trading for better gear.