Alright folks, settle in. Wanted to talk demons today – those pesky Diablo ones. Specifically, what kinda gear setup really holds up when you’re wading knee-deep through the nastiness of Act 3 and 4. Ain’t no expert, just like trying stuff out and seein’ what sticks.
So, started out my usual way, just throwin’ on whatever decent plate mail and heavy shield I had in the stash. Looked the part, felt tough, you know? Figured a big ol’ sword would do the job nicely.
First run, Act 3: Jumped straight into those fiery zones. Bam! Got swarmed quick. Those little fireball-chuckin’ guys and the sneaky bastards poppin’ up outta nowhere? Brutal.
- That heavy shield? Felt like luggin’ a damn boulder. Turned too slow, couldn’t block half the junk flyin’ at me.
- The big sword? Hits hard when it lands, sure. But swingin’ that log? Felt like eternity between swings. Got caught constantly mid-swing. Dead before the blade finished movin’.
Not good. Not good at all. Died more times than I care to admit, just feelin’ clumsy and slow. Needed a rethink.
Time for Plan B – Ditchin’ the Tank Stuff
Looked at that pile of rebar – the tough, twisted metal stuff folks sometimes use for armor in a pinch. Remembered I had some pieces tucked away, lighter than the plate. Thought, “Hell, worth a shot?”
- Stripped off the heavy plate and shield. Felt weirdly naked, honestly.
- Pulled out some decently strong rebar sections. Not the fancy ancient stuff, just good solid salvaged scrap.
- Started craftin’ some basic armor plates: chest piece, shoulder guards, shin guards. Kept it simple, focused on covering the vitals without weighin’ me down.
- Slapped ’em on over some tough leather padding. Leather for flex, rebar for the big hits.
- Swapped that giant sword for two quicker blades – axes this time. Something that felt faster in the hand.
Felt lighter immediately. Less protected, maybe, but quicker. Okay, back into the fire.
Back into the Fray
Act 3 felt different. Way different.
- Could move! Ducking those fireballs? Much easier. Side-stepping those crawlers popping up? No problem.
- The axes – smaller, yeah, but could swing ’em way faster. Got hits in between theirs, kept ’em staggered. Less fancy smansy sword moves, more hack-hack-hack!
Still tough, mind you. The rebar took some serious dents! Those big ugly goat-men with the hammers? They hit HARD. Felt the impact through the scrap, but it held. Didn’t crumple.
Pressed on to Act 4, the scary spooky place. Less fire, more creepy magic and shadows.
- The speed paid off big time. Dodging purple death blobs? Crucial. Getting jumped by ghostly knights? Whipped around faster, got a few good hits in before they could recover.
- Double axes let me keep pressure on those damn caster things trying to ruin my day from afar. Get in close, swing fast, interrupt their nasty spells.
- The rebar plate? Got scratched to hell, some deep gouges. Definitely didn’t stop everything. Took more little cuts, bruises. But it stopped the big kill-shot. Didn’t get shattered or pierced clean through like thinner stuff might’ve.
Finished the run bloodied, bruised, rebar armor lookin’ like it lost a fight with a sand demon… but upright. Actually finished it!
What Stuck? The Verdict
After all that smashin’ and dodgin’, here’s the takeaway:
- Movement is KING: Forget standin’ there like a tin can statue trying to tank everything in Acts 3 & 4. You gotta be able to dance. Rebar over heavy plate = win for mobility.
- Speed > Pure Power (Sometimes): That massive, slow sword? Impressive on the practice dummy. A death trap against swarms and sneaky attackers. Quicker dual weapons, axes for me this time, gave way more room to react and punish openings.
- Rebar ain’t Perfect Armor: Don’t expect it to turn you invincible. It got battered, hard. You will feel hits. But it’s solid enough for the big stuff, lets you move fast, and frankly, easier to patch up than fine mail or magic plate you might not have. Good, practical defense for the scrap heap warrior.
- Leather Padding Non-Negotiable: Saved my skin (literally) from all the shrapnel and smaller hits the rebar didn’t cover. Felt the impacts less too.
So yeah. This old clunky rebar gear, looked kinda silly honestly, but man… it worked. Kept me alive, kept me moving. Might not be the flashiest setup out there, but it punched way above its weight where it counted. Good enough for me to get the job done without spendin’ years huntin’ down some legendary pieces. Keep it quick, keep it solid, keep it moving. Well, there ya have it. Go hack up some demons.