Hardcore Builds
Demon Hunter Top 5 Hardcore Guide
1. Natalya's Vengeance with Aughild's and Captain Crimson's (Spike Trap) Level 112+
Natalya's Vengeance was reworked into a Spike Trap build for Season 28 and is now the top Hardcore Demon Hunter build for this season.
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Legendary Gems
Bane of the Trapped
Increase damage against enemies under the effect of crowd controlling effects and gain a 30% slow aura.
Gogok of Swiftness
Increase attack speed and cooldown reduction by 15% and gain dodge for 4 seconds stacking up to 15 times.
Esoteric Alteration
Gain non-physical damage resistance and while below 50% health increase elemental resistances by 75%.
Equipment
Set: Embodiment of the Marauder
(2) Set Bonus:
Companion calls all companions to your side.
(4) Set Bonus:
Sentries attack with your Hatred Spenders including Multishot.
(6) Set Bonus:
Your primary skills, Multishot, and Sentries deal 12,000 increased damage for every active Sentry.
Set: Captain Crimson's Trimmings
(2) Set Bonus:
Regenerates 6000 life per second and reduces cooldowns and resource costs by 20%.
(3) Set Bonus:
Damage dealt is increased by your percentage of cooldown reduction and damage taken is reduced by your percentage of resource cost reduction.
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Weapon: Yang's Recurve
Multishot attacks 50% faster and deals 200% increased damage.
Quiver: Bombadier's Rucksack
Multishot hits enemies below 60% health twice and it's damage is increased by 200%.
Bracer: Wraps of Clarity
Primary skills grant 50% damage reduction for 5 seconds.
Ring: Unity
Splits damage with your follower when they are equipped with a "follower cannot die" relic.
Ring 2: The Compass Rose
Set: While standing still gain up to 100% increased damage and while moving gain up to 50% damage reduction.
Amulet: The Traveler's Pledge
Set: While standing still gain up to 100% increased damage and while moving gain up to 50% damage reduction.
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Potion
Bottomless Potion of the Leech
With a very fast attack rate this life on hit potion will help you survive.
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Helm Socket
Flawless Royal Diamond
A Flawless Royal Diamond is offensive and defensive and will give you more uptime on Vengeance.
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Powers
Weapon: Dead Man's Legacy
Multishot hits enemies below 60% health twice and it's damage is increased by 200%.
Armor: Zoey's Secret
You take 9% less damage for every companion you have active.
Ring/Amulet: Ring of the Royal Grandeur
One less set item to complete sets.
Item Stat Priority
Helm: Dexterity > Socket > Vitality > Critical Strike Chance
Body: Sockets > Dexterity > Vitality > All Resistance
Hands: Critical Strike Chance > Dexterity > Vitality > Critical Strike Damage
Shoulders: Dexterity > Vitality > Cooldown Reduction > Resource Cost Reduction
Legs: Sockets > Dexterity > Vitality > All Resistance
Waist: Dexterity > Vitality > All Resistance > Life %
Bracers: Dexterity > Vitality > Critical Strike Chance > Fire Damage %
Feet: Dexterity > Vitality > Movement Speed > % Damage to Multishot
Amulet: Socket > Critical Strike Damage > Critical Strike Chance > Dexterity
Rings: Socket > Critical Strike Chance > Dexterity > Cooldown Reduction
Embodiment of the Marauders Tips
1. Use your defensive skill Shadow Power when you are fighting on cooldown.
2. Cooldown Reduction and Resource Cost Reduction increase your damage dealt and reduce damage taken with Captain Crimson's Trimmings Set.
Note: The Unhallowed Essence Set Demon Hunter is capable of 108+ without a full offensive setup and before augmenting ancient items.
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4. Unhallowed Essence Set with Captain Crimson's Set (Multishot) Level 104+
The number four spot goes to the Unhallowed Essence Set Multishot Demon Hunter which received a significant damage increase for Season 28.
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Legendary Gems
Simplicity's Strength
Increase the damage of your primary skills and cause them to heal you for 4% of your maximum health.
Taeguk
Gain increased damage for 1.5 seconds when using a channeling skill and 2% armor stacking up to 10 times.
Esoteric Alteration
Gain non-physical damage resistance and while below 50% health increase elemental resistances by 75%.
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Equipment
Set: Gears of Dreadlands
(2) Set Bonus:
Gain 4 seconds of Momentum when attacking with a primary skill with a max duration of 20 seconds. Your primary skills deal 10% increased damage per second of Momentum you currently have.
(4) Set Bonus:
Strafing will automatically use your last used primary skill and will also give 60% damage reduction. While strafing gain 8% movement speed per second of Momentum you currently have.
(6) Set Bonus:
Your primary skills deal 27,500% damage.
Weapon: Dawn
Reduces the cooldown of Vengeance by 65%.
Weapon: Valla's Bequest
Strafe projectiles pierce which increases the number of Hungering Arrows shot while strafing.
Belt: Hunter's Wrath
Primary skills attack 30% faster and deal 200% increased damage.
Bracers: Wraps of Clarity
Hatred generators provide 50% damage reduction for 5 seconds.
Ring: Unity
Splits damage with your follower when they are equipped with a "follower cannot die" relic.
Ring 2: The Compass Rose
Set: While standing still gain up to 100% increased damage and while moving gain up to 50% damage reduction.
Amulet: The Traveler's Pledge
Set: While standing still gain up to 100% increased damage and while moving gain up to 50% damage reduction.
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Potion
Bottomless Potion of the Leech
With a very fast attack rate this life on hit potion will help you survive.
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Helm Socket
Flawless Royal Diamond
A Flawless Royal Diamond is offensive and defensive and will give you a higher uptime on Vengeance.
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Powers
Weapon: The Ninth Cirri Satchel
Hungering Arrow gains a 100% chance to pierce and deals 600% increased damage.
Armor: Depth Diggers
100% increased damage to primary skills.
Ring/Amulet: Convention of Elements
Occasional rotating 200% elemental damage increase.
Item Stat Priority
Helm: Dexterity > Socket > Vitality > Critical Strike Chance
Body: Sockets > Dexterity > Vitality > Life %
Hands: Critical Strike Chance > Dexterity > Vitality > Critical Strike Damage
Shoulders: Dexterity > Vitality > Cooldown Reduction > Life %
Legs: Sockets > Dexterity > Vitality > % Damage to Hungering Arrow
Waist: Dexterity > Vitality > % Damage to Hungering Arrow > Life %
Bracers: Dexterity > Vitality > Critical Strike Chance > Cold Damage %
Feet: Dexterity > Vitality > Movement Speed > All Resistance
Amulet: Socket > Critical Strike Damage > Critical Strike Chance > Dexterity
Rings: Socket > Critical Strike Chance > Dexterity > Cooldown Reduction​
Gears of Dreadlands Tips​​
1. Use your defensive skill Shadow Power when you are fighting on cooldown.
2. The Thrill of the Hunt passive will improve slow based damage from the Bane of the Trapped legendary gem and the Cull the Weak passive the second of which provides 20% damage against slowed enemies.
3. Build up to 20 stacks of Momentum (increased damage and movement speed) from the Gears of Dreadlands set bonus by hard casting primary skills and then use Strafe to kill enemies while refreshing Momentum by hard casting a primary skill about every 5 seconds.​
4. Hungering Arrow is considered a projectile skill and some enemies such as Malthael, Sand Dwellers, and Dune Dervishes can reflect projectiles back at you so be very cautious around these enemies on hardcore or your character could die in a few short casts of a projectile skill.
5. The defensive passives Awareness and Perfectionist can be changed to the offensive passives Ambush and Archery for the final push for rankings in Greater Rifts.
Note: The Gears of Dreadlands Set Demon Hunter is capable of 109+ without a full offensive setup and before augmenting ancient items.
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3. Embodiment of the Marauder Set (Multishot) Level 108+
The number three spot goes to the Embodiment of the Marauder Multishot Demon Hunter which was buffed back in Season 25 and is capable of clearing well above 100 Greater Rifts on Hardcore.
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Legendary Gems
Bane of the Trapped
Increase damage against enemies under the effect of crowd controlling effects and gain a 30% slow aura.
Bane of the Powerful
Gain a 20% damage buff after killing an elite and 15% increased damage/reduced damage taken against elites.
Esoteric Alteration
Gain non-physical damage resistance and while below 50% health increase elemental resistances by 75%.
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Equipment
Set: Natalya's Vengeance
(2) Set Bonus:
Spike Trap deals 100% increased damage to enemies affected by Caltrops. Spike Traps now instantly refreshes charges, no longer costs resources, and each detonation restores 2 Discipline.
(4) Set Bonus:
Spike Traps now blasts enemies to the nearest set of Caltrops. Laying a Spike Trap grants 75% damage reduction.
(6) Set Bonus:
Spike Trap deals 10,000% increased damage and each explosion will deal 25% more damage than the previous blast.
Set: Captain Crimson's Trimmings
(2) Set Bonus:
Regenerates 6000 life per second and reduces cooldowns and resource costs by 20%.
(3) Set Bonus:
Damage dealt is increased by your percentage of cooldown reduction and damage taken is reduced by your percentage of resource cost reduction.
Set: Aughild's Authority
(2) Set Bonus:
Reduces damage taken by 15% and increases damage dealt by 30%.
(3) Set Bonus:
Reduces damage taken from elites and increases damage dealt to elites by 30%.
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Weapon: Dawn
Reduces the cooldown of Vengeance by 65%.
Weapon: The Demon's Demise
Spike Trap damages all enemies again after 1 second and deals 200% increased damage.
Ring: Natalya's Reflection
Gain the Natalya's Vengeance set bonus.
Ring 2: Unity
Split damage with your follower providing 50% damage reduction.
Amulet: Hellfire Amulet
Gain a free random passive from the character class that creates the amulet.
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Potion
Bottomless Potion of the Leech
With a very fast attack rate this life on hit potion will help you survive.
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Helm Socket
Flawless Royal Diamond
A Flawless Royal Diamond is offensive and defensive and will give you a higher uptime on Vengeance.
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Powers
Weapon: Chanon Bolter
Your Spike Traps lure enemies to them and deal 200% increased damage.
Armor: Trang'Oul Coils
Spike Traps gain the Scatter rune, are deployed twice as fast, and deal 200% increased damage.
Ring/Amulet: Ring of the Royal Grandeur
One less set item to complete sets.
Item Stat Priority
Helm: Dexterity > Socket > Vitality > Critical Strike Chance
Body: Sockets > Dexterity > Vitality > % Spike Trap Damage
Hands: Critical Strike Chance > Dexterity > Vitality > Critical Strike Damage
Shoulders: Dexterity > Vitality > Cooldown Reduction > % Spike Trap Damage
Legs: Sockets > Dexterity > Vitality > All Resistance
Waist: Dexterity > Vitality > All Resistance > Life %
Bracers: Dexterity > Vitality > Critical Strike Chance > Cold Damage %
Feet: Dexterity > Vitality > Movement Speed > All Resistance
Amulet: Socket > Critical Strike Damage > Critical Strike Chance > Dexterity
Rings: Socket > Critical Strike Chance > Dexterity > Cooldown Reduction
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Natalya's Vengeance Tips
1. Use your defensive skill Shadow Power when you are fighting on cooldown.
2. The Perfectionist defensive passive can be changed to The Thrill of the Hunt passive which improves slow based damage from your Spike Traps and the Bane of the Trapped legendary gem.
3. The Hellfire Amulet can be changed to the Eye of Etlich amulet which is easier to obtain and provides an effect similar to a defensive passive.
Note: The Natalya's Vengeance Set Demon Hunter is capable of 112+ without a full offensive setup and before augmenting ancient items.
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2. Gears of Dreadlands Set (Hungering Arrow) Level 109+
This build received a large buff in the new Season 28 and is ranked second on the list for the top builds for Hardcore Demon Hunters.
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Legendary Gems
Bane of the Trapped
Increase damage against enemies under the effect of crowd controlling effects and gain a 30% slow aura.
Gogok of Swiftness
Increase attack speed and cooldown reduction by 15% and gain dodge for 4 seconds stacking up to 15 times.
Esoteric Alteration
Gain non-physical damage resistance and while below 50% health increase elemental resistances by 75%.
Equipment
Set: Shadow's Mantle
(2) Set Bonus:
While equipped with a melee weapon, the damage of your Bolas, Chakram, Fan of Knives, and Impale is increased by 6000%.
(4) Set Bonus:
Shadow Power gains the effect of every rune and lasts forever.
(6) Set Bonus:
Impale deals an additional 75,000 weapon damage to the first enemy hit and 25,000 to subsequent enemies.
Set: Captain Crimson's Trimmings
(2) Set Bonus:
Regenerates 6000 life per second and reduces cooldowns and resource costs by 20%.
(3) Set Bonus:
Damage dealt is increased by your percentage of cooldown reduction and damage taken is reduced by your percentage of resource cost reduction.
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Weapon: Karlei's Point
Impale gains cost reduction and deals 375% increased damage.
Quiver: Holy Point Shot
Impale throws two additional knives and does 100% increased damage.
Belt: Hunter's Wrath
Grenades deal 50% more damage per bounce and 800% increased damage on the final bounce.
Bracers: Wraps of Clarity
Hatred generators provide 50% damage reduction for 5 seconds.
Ring: Unity
Splits damage with your follower when they are equipped with a "follower cannot die" relic.
Ring 2: The Compass Rose
Set: While standing still gain up to 100% increased damage and while moving gain up to 50% damage reduction.
Amulet: The Traveler's Pledge
Set: While standing still gain up to 100% increased damage and while moving gain up to 50% damage reduction.
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Potion
Bottomless Potion of the Leech
With a very fast attack rate this life on hit potion will help you survive.
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Helm Socket
Flawless Royal Diamond
A Flawless Royal Diamond is offensive and defensive and will give you a higher uptime on Vengeance.
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Powers
Weapon: Dawn
Reduces the cooldown of Vengeance by 65%.
Armor: Aquila Cuirass
Gain 50% damage reduction above 90% primary resource.
Ring/Amulet: Ring of the Royal Grandeur
One less set item to complete sets.
Item Stat Priority
Helm: Dexterity > Socket > Vitality > Critical Strike Chance
Body: Sockets > Dexterity > Vitality > % Damage to Rain of Vengeance
Hands: Critical Strike Chance > Dexterity > Vitality > Critical Strike Damage
Shoulders: Dexterity > Vitality > Cooldown Reduction > Resource Cost Reduction
Legs: Sockets > Dexterity > Vitality > All Resistance
Waist: Dexterity > Vitality > All Resistance > Life %
Bracers: Dexterity > Vitality > Critical Strike Chance > Lightning Damage %
Feet: Dexterity > Vitality > Movement Speed > % Damage to Impale
Amulet: Socket > Critical Strike Damage > Critical Strike Chance > Dexterity
Rings: Socket > Critical Strike Chance > Dexterity > Cooldown Reduction
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Shadow Mantle Tips
1. Use your defensive skill Shadow Power when you are fighting on cooldown.
2. Cooldown Reduction and Resource Cost Reduction increase your damage dealt and reduce damage taken with Captain Crimson's Trimmings Set.
3. The Thrill of the Hunt passive will improve slow based damage from the Bane of the Trapped legendary gem and the Cull the Weak passive the second of which provides 20% increased damage to slowed enemies.
4. Impale is considered a projectile skill and some enemies such as Malthael, Sand Dwellers, and Dune Dervishes can reflect projectiles back at you so be very cautious around these enemies on Hardcore.
5. The Perfectionist passive which provides resistances can be changed to the Ambush passive which provides 40% increased damage to enemies above 75% health for the final push for rankings.
Note: The Shadow's Mantle Set Demon Hunter is capable of 103+ without a full offensive setup and before augmenting ancient items.
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Honorable Mention: Demon Hunter Legacy of Dreams (Rapid Fire) Level 101+
The Legacy of Dreams Rapid Fire Demon Hunter is almost as strong as the Impale Demon Hunter and comes in as the honorable mention.
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Legendary Gems
Bane of the Trapped
Increase damage against enemies under the effect of crowd controlling effects and gain a 30% slow aura.
Zei's Stone of Vengeance
Damage increased for every 10 yards between you and the enemy hit and gain a 20% chance to stun enemies.
Esoteric Alteration
Gain non-physical damage resistance and while below 50% health increase elemental resistances by 75%.
Equipment
Set: Unhallowed Essence
(2) Set Bonus:
Your generators generate 2 additional Hatred and 1 Discipline.
(4) Set Bonus:
Gain 60% damage reduction and deal 60% additional damage for 8 seconds if no enemy is within 10 yards.
(6) Set Bonus:
Your generators, Multishot, and Vengeance deal 1700% increased damage for every point of Discipline you have.
Set: Captain Crimson's Trimmings
(2) Set Bonus:
Regenerates 6000 life per second and reduces cooldowns and resource costs by 20%.
(3) Set Bonus:
Damage dealt is increased by your percentage of cooldown reduction and damage taken is reduced by your percentage of resource cost reduction.
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Weapon: Yang's Recurve
Multishot attacks 50% faster and deals 200% increased damage.
Quiver: Dead Man's Legacy
Multishot hits enemies below 60% health twice and it's damage is increased by 200%.
Bracer: Wraps of Clarity
Primary skills grant 50% damage reduction for 5 seconds.
Ring: Unity
Splits damage with your follower when they are equipped with a "follower cannot die" relic.
Ring 2: The Compass Rose
Set: While standing still gain up to 100% increased damage and while moving gain up to 50% damage reduction.
Amulet: The Traveler's Pledge
Set: While standing still gain up to 100% increased damage and while moving gain up to 50% damage reduction.
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Potion
Bottomless Potion of the Leech
With a very fast attack rate this life on hit potion will help you survive.
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Helm Socket
Flawless Royal Diamond
A Flawless Royal Diamond is offensive and defensive and will give you more uptime on Vengeance.
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Powers
Weapon: Dawn
Reduces the cooldown of Vengeance by 65%.
Armor: Visage of Gunes
Vengeance gains the Dark Heart rune which will provide 50% damage reduction during Vengeance.
Ring/Amulet: Ring of the Royal Grandeur
One less set item to complete sets.
Item Stat Priority
Helm: Dexterity > Socket > Vitality > Critical Strike Chance
Body: Sockets > Dexterity > Vitality > All Resistance
Hands: Critical Strike Chance > Dexterity > Vitality > Critical Strike Damage
Shoulders: Dexterity > Vitality > Cooldown Reduction > Resource Cost Reduction
Legs: Sockets > Dexterity > Vitality > All Resistance
Waist: Dexterity > Vitality > All Resistance > Life %
Bracers: Dexterity > Vitality > Critical Strike Chance > Fire Damage %
Feet: Dexterity > Vitality > Movement Speed > % Damage to Multishot
Amulet: Socket > Critical Strike Damage > Critical Strike Chance > Dexterity
Rings: Socket > Critical Strike Chance > Dexterity > Cooldown Reduction
Unhallowed Essence Tips
1. Use your defensive skill Shadow Power when you are fighting on cooldown.
2. The Thrill of the Hunt passive will improve slow based damage from the Bane of the Trapped legendary gem and the Cull the Weak passive the second of which provides 20% damage against slowed enemies.
3. Try and get maximum Discipline on your Bow, Quiver, and Cloak and use Preparation with the Invigoration rune for the set bonus damage increase from maximum Discipline.
Note: The Unhallowed Essence Set Demon Hunter is capable of 104+ without a full offensive setup and before augmenting ancient items.
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5. Shadow's Mantle Set with Captain Crimson's Set (Impale) Level 103+
This build is a powerhouse for damage but is somewhat weak defensively and takes the fifth spot on the rankings for Hardcore.
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Legendary Gems
Legacy of Dreams
Legendaries increase damage and reduce damage taken without sets equipped. Double this effect for Ancients.
Bane of the Trapped
Increase damage against enemies under the effect of crowd controlling effects and gain a 30% slow aura.
Esoteric Alteration
Gain non-physical damage resistance and while below 50% health increase elemental resistances by 75%.
Equipment
Weapon: Dawn
Reduces the cooldown of Vengeance by 65%.
Quiver: Sin Seeker
Rapid Fire no longer has a channeling cost and deals 300% increased damage.
Helm: Visage of Gune
Vengeance gains the effect of the Dark Heart rune.
Chest: Aquila Cuirass
While above 90% primary resources your damage taken is reduce by 50%.
Belt: Hunter's Wrath
Primary skills attack 30% faster and deal 200% increased damage.
Shoulders: Mantle of Channeling
While channeling you deal 25% increased damage and take 25% reduced damage.
Legs: Blackthorne Jousting Mail
Elemental 20% damage increase.
Bracers: Lacuni Prowlers
Guaranteed attack speed and movement speed modifiers.
Hands: Stone Gauntlets
Getting hit increases your armor by 50% stacking up to 5 times. Negative effects are negated by Ice Climbers.
Belt: Hellcat Waistguard
Grenades deal 50% more damage per bounce and 800% increased damage on the final bounce.
Boots: Ice Climbers
Immune to Freeze and Immobilize effects.
Ring: Unity
Splits damage with your follower when they are equipped with a "follower cannot die" relic.
Ring 2: Convention of Elements
Occasional 200% elemental damage increase.
Amulet: Hellfire Amulet
Gain a free random passive from the character class that creates the amulet.
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Potion
Bottomless Potion of the Leech
With a very fast attack rate this life on hit potion will help you survive.
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Helm Socket
Flawless Royal Diamond
A Flawless Royal Diamond is offensive and defensive and will give you a higher uptime on Vengeance.
Powers
Weapon: Wojahnni Assaulter
Rapid Fire increasingly deals 100% increased damage stacking up to 30 times.
Armor: Magefist
Gain 20% fire elemental damage.
Ring/Amulet: Obsidian Ring of the Zodiac
Reduces the cooldown of one of your skills by 1 second when hitting with a resource spending attack.
Item Stat Priority
Helm: Dexterity > Socket > Vitality > Critical Strike Chance
Body: Sockets > Dexterity > Vitality > All Resistance
Hands: Critical Strike Chance > Dexterity > Vitality > Critical Strike Damage
Shoulders: Dexterity > Vitality > Area Damage > All Resistance
Legs: Sockets > Dexterity > Vitality > All Resistance
Waist: Dexterity > Vitality > All Resistance > Life %
Bracers: Dexterity > Vitality > Critical Strike Chance > Fire Damage %
Feet: Dexterity > Vitality > Movement Speed > % Damage to Rapid Fire
Amulet: Socket > Critical Strike Damage > Critical Strike Chance > Dexterity
Rings: Socket > Critical Strike Chance > Dexterity > Critical Strike Damage
Legacy of Dreams Rapid Fire Tips​
1. Use your defensive skill Shadow Power when you are fighting on cooldown.
2. The Ice Climbers boots negate all of the negative effects on the Stone Gauntlets.
3. The Hellfire Amulet can be changed to the Eye of Etlich amulet which is easier to obtain and provides an effect similar to a defensive passive.
4. The Awareness passive which provides a cheat death can be changed to the Ambush passive which provides 40% additional damage to enemies above 75% health on the final push for rankings.
Note: The Legacy of Dreams Demon Hunter is capable of 101+ without a full offensive setup and before augmenting ancient items.
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Recommended Mercenary
Templar
Weapon: Thunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Windseeker
Slows enemies attacks and movement speed.
Templar Relic: Enchanting Favor
Follower cannot die.
Shield: Freeze of Deflection
Blocks have a chance of a 1.5 second Freeze.
Helm: Blind Faith
Chance of Blinding enemies on hit.
Shoulders: Homing Pads (Emanates)
Town portal is uninterruptable and while casting town portal you gain a protective shield.
Gloves: Gloves of Worship (Emanates)
Shrine effects last 10 minutes.
Bracers: Nemesis Bracers (Emanates)
Pylons spawn an enemy champion.
Waist: Cord of the Sherma
Chance to blind and slow enemies for 4 seconds.
Boots: Ice Climbers
Immune to freeze and Immobilize effects.
Ring 1: Unity
Splits damage with the wearer of this ring.
Ring 2: Wyrmward
Lightning damage has a 35% chance to stun.
Amulet: The Flavor of Time (Emanates)
Pylon effects last twice as long.
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Feel free to check out the other sections of the site for more on Diablo III Hardcore:
Diablo III Advanced Tips and Tricks
Barbarian Top 5 Hardcore Guide
Necromancer Top 5 Hardcore Guide
Witch Doctor Top 5 Hardcore Guide
And that's all for the Demon Hunter Top 5 Hardcore Guide. Better items await you in Greater Rifts!
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