Skin of the Vipermagi is a unique Serpentskin Armor, and one of the more popular options for Sorcs and Necros. Looking at the stats, it's no wonder:
The Stats:
Defense: 279 (Base Defense: 111-126)
Required Level: 29
Required Strength: 43
Durability: 24
+120% Enhanced Defense
+1 To All Skills
30% Faster Cast Rate
Magic Damage Reduced By 9-13 (varies)
All Resistances +20-35 (varies)
Required Level: 29
Required Strength: 43
One good thing right off the bat: low strength requirement. With only 43 Strength points needed, you can focus your precious stat points elsewhere.
+1 To All Skills
Icing on the cake for casters.
30% Faster Cast Rate
This is the reason why Skin of the Vipermagi is such an attractive bonus for casters. The only armor with both +1 to all Skills and %FCR is Que-Hegan's Wisdom, and then it only has 20% compared to Vipermagi's 30%. Que-Hegan's, while offering more Defense, lacks any boosts to Resistance, compared to Vipermagi's excellent boosts (see below).
Magic Damage Reduced By 9-13 (varies)
Of little use especially once you reach higher levels when the damage from monsters can reach the thousands.
All Resistances +20-35 (varies)
All Resistance + is a very attractive boost, due to Resistances being very important for long-term survival in Hell Mode. Vipermagis that spawn with a high All Resistance + (32-35) (often called a near-perfect or perfect Vipermagi) are sought after in the trading channels. If you need more resistance, socking an UM rune in an almost perfect Vipermagi is always a good option.
Summary:
This is an incredible armor for casters.
Best of all, a Vipermagi is not that hard to come across. You can come across it pretty early, and equip it then and there (required level only 29). It is a very, very decent placeholder armor, and until you can come across something better, you'll get a lot out of mileage out of it.
Other armors might provide more Defense (the aforementioned Que-Hegan's Wisdom, for example), but who needs Defense when you're raining orbs, lighting and spirits from afar? Leave the boring hack and slashing to the Barbarian, the Paladin or the Druid...you'll be dealing death from the very back of the lines!
The only drawback the Vipermagi might have, and it's a rather frivolous one at that: if you're a fashion-conscious player, a blue leather jerkin probably isn't going to make your character look very heroic.
Dan has been playing Diablo II for 7 years. Every time he restarts it takes him just one week to bring his character's level to 80 with all the right gear. He has worked the process down to a science in his Gheeds DII Guide: http://www.gheedsd2guide.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dan_Massicotte |
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