How to balance damage and Armour/HP?
So right now, I have a "Lightning Crusader". All damage and attacks are based around the ability to deal lightning damage, generally in an AoE pattern. Admittedly, it's not overly optimized, but it does well enough.
I'm running around on Torment IX, and I am quite capable of dealing damage to kill almost everything in a decent time frame, my primary crutch is taking damage. Any arcane beams wipe me out instantly, even the Succubi and Herald of Pestilence's attacks can KO me in one or two hits.
Hero Link
- Strength: 8,525
- Dexterity: 77
- Intelligence: 77
- Vitality: 4,231
- Damage: 354,748
- Toughness: 12,317,400
- Recovery: 1,375,210
I have been primarily focusing on Armor, Life per Hit, and recovery with my paragon levels (currently at 332 with this character), but at this point I am still getting wrecked.
What levels should I be at in Torment IX?
Nowadays it is really not about levels, it is about gear. Only gear. You can already kill T XVI if your gear/build is good.
For the build you chose, you need a few more defensive items.
Items you miss:
Belt: Sacred Harness - enemies deal 40% less damage after casting "Falling Sword"
Necklace: The Traveler's Pledge - used with ring - up to 50% damage reduction while moving
Ring: The Compass Rose - used with necklace - up to 50% damage reduction while moving
Alone with these items your survivability should skyrocket already. Then there are also skills that provide even more survivability.
In a build I found the skills for survivability are:
Provoke with the "Too Scared to Run" rune
Iron Skin
Akarat's Champion with the "Prophet" rune
Finery - strength = armor
Regarding your paragon points, generally the first 50 points in the defensive tree go into "Resist All", then 50 into "Armor" and afterwards 50 into "Life". In the utility tree, it doesn't really matter, but some builds profit more from "Area Damage" or "Resource Cost Reduction" and life on hit is mostly at the 3rd place.
I will not go into the playstyle of the build or which stats you should roll on each item piece as that is not the scope of the question. If you are interested in these, check the links below. If you follow this build guide, you will quickly be in T XVI
https://www.icy-veins.com/d3/blessed-hammer-crusader-bis-gear-gems-paragon-points
https://www.icy-veins.com/d3/crusader-hammerdin-build-with-blessed-hammer-and-seeker-of-the-light-set
https://www.icy-veins.com/d3/blessed-hammer-crusader-skills-and-runes