Core requirements
The advanced setup is A, and the budget setup is B.
- Core
- Dream 15 + Dream 15 = Holy Shock 30
- Conviction
- Hard points 20 + gear 5 = 25
- Attack speed
- A at least 72% · B 105%
- Block
- 75% after Holy Shield
Attributes
Total attributes with equipment · hard points shown separately
| Strength | A103 · B94Meet requirements, including bonuses |
|---|---|
| Dexterity | 75% blockAfter casting Holy Shield |
| Vitality | All remaining pointsAfter equipment and block requirements |
| Energy | 0 hard pointsPhysical mana steal · B Insight |
Attribute calculations and equipment changes
Strength
Both Dreams use a Crown requiring 55 Strength and Sacred Targe requiring 86. A Meet 103 for Fortitude Archon Plate; B meets 94 for Gore Rider. Make swap Spirit in a Sacred Targe too, avoiding Monarch's 156 investment.
Dexterity
Both setups first meet Phase Blade's 136 Dexterity, then activate Holy Shield and add Dexterity until 75% block. Dream's block differs from Herald of Zakarum; do not copy another build's Dexterity.
Vitality
A and B puts all remaining points into life. B has fewer gear bonuses and needs more hard Strength/Dexterity points; respeccing after switching to A can recover Vitality.
Energy
Mana steal applies only to Zeal's physical damage. B has low physical damage with Crescent Moon and depends more on potions. Keep the Insight mercenary and invest no Energy.
Skills
Level 90 · 101 hard points
Main skills and synergies
Supporting investment
Prerequisite · support 1 point each
Includes 12 quest points; equipment skill bonuses are excluded. Unlisted skills have 0 points. A and B use the same allocation.
Investment order
Early on, level with 
Holy Fire·
Zeal or Hammer for leveling. Do not respec to this tree until both Dream helm and shield are ready.
- After switching,
Resist Lightning20·
Salvation20 
Conviction20- Zeal20
Holy Shield11. 
Sacrifice and all prerequisites each receive 1 point; 
Holy Shock itself receives no hard points.
Equipment skill bonuses and allocation notes
The table and image show 101 hard points. Equipment +skills are added separately and do not replace hard points for ordinary synergies.
A and B use the same base allocation. Changing equipment alone does not change the tree.
Conviction 25 uses permanent gear bonuses, excluding Battle Command's temporary +1. The equipped level 30 aura is unaffected by these +skills.
A·B Shared · Level 90 complete allocation
Open this allocation in the simulator ↗
Equipment
A / B: compare modifiers and replacement requirements.
| Slot | Advanced A | Budget B | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weapon | A Runeword Grief | BRuneword Crescent Moon | A 32 + gloves 20 + amulet 20 = 72 · B 20+45+20+20=105 |
Weapon choice and replacement detailsA · Setup requirementsPhase Blade with 5 sockets At least 32% IAS required · Damage +340–400 B · Setup requirementsPhase Blade with 3 sockets 20% IAS · -35% Enemy Lightning Resistance · Static Field | |||
| Shield | A Runeword Dream | BRuneword Dream | Shared core · replacing Dream shield with Spirit creates a different build |
Shield choice and replacement detailsA · Setup requirements3-socket Sacred Targe Level 15 Holy Shock when equipped · at least 40 base All Resistances B · Setup requirements3-socket Sacred Targe Same base · same level 15 aura | |||
| Helm | A Runeword Dream | BRuneword Dream | Shared core · the same character wears both Dreams |
Helm choice and replacement detailsA · Setup requirements3-socket Crown Level 15 Holy Shock when equipped · All Resistances 5–20 B · Setup requirements3-socket Crown Same level 15 aura · low rolls are acceptable | |||
| Armor | A Runeword Fortitude | BRuneword Treachery | B's lower physical damage is partly offset by Crescent Moon's lightning resistance reduction |
Armor choice and replacement detailsA · Setup requirementsArchon Plate with 4 sockets +300% Physical Damage · All Resistances B · Setup requirementsMage Plate with 3 sockets 45% IAS · Fade | |||
| Gloves | A Laying of Hands | BLaying of Hands | Shared · A falls short of the 72% target if this IAS is removed |
Glove choice and replacement detailsA · Setup requirements20% IAS · Fire Resist 50 · Damage to Demons B · Setup requirementsKeep 20% IAS | |||
| Belt | A String of Ears | BString of Ears | Lightning damage does not provide ordinary leech |
Belt choice and replacement detailsA · Setup requirementsLife steal · physical damage reduction B · Setup requirementsPrioritize life steal | |||
| Boots | A Gore Rider | BGore Rider | Shared · B finishes bosses more slowly with physical damage |
Boot choice and replacement detailsA · Setup requirements15% Crushing Blow · Open Wounds · Deadly Strike B · Setup requirementsKeep 15% Crushing Blow | |||
| Amulet | A Highlord's Wrath | BHighlord's Wrath | Shared · included in Conviction 25 calculation |
Amulet choice and replacement detailsA · Setup requirements20% IAS · +1 All Skills · Lightning Resist 35 B · Setup requirements+1 All Skills required | |||
| Ring 1 | A Raven Frost | BRaven Frost | Shared requirement |
Ring 1: choice and replacement detailsA · Setup requirementsCannot Be Frozen · Dexterity/Attack Rating B · Setup requirementsCannot Be Frozen | |||
| Ring 2 | ARare life-leech ring | BRare life-leech ring | Mana steal · resistances · Attack Rating |
Mercenary and weapon swap
| Slot | Advanced A | Budget B | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mercenary | A Act 2 Might  The Reaper's TollRuneword Fortitude Andariel's Visage(Ral) | B Act 2 Might  Runeword InsightRuneword Treachery Tal Rasha's Horadric Crest | Maintain aura range and mercenary survival |
Mercenary detailsDeveloping an Insight mercenaryUpgrade the Insight mercenary to an ethereal elite polearm to improve first-kill damage. Use Ral in Andariel's Visage to offset its -30 fire resistance; Tal Rasha's Horadric Crest can be equipped from level 66. A: when switching to another weapon, prioritize retaining its aura or enemy resistance reduction. | |||
| Weapon swap | ARuneword Call to ArmsCrystal SwordRuneword SpiritSacred Targe | B Staff with Teleport charges | A Shield requires 86 Strength · B Lower block/resistances while holding the staff |
Swap detailsCombat preparationCast Battle Command and Battle Orders, return to primary gear and activate Holy Shield. Save Teleport charges for repositioning. | |||
Upgrade order
- Obtain Dream helm and shield together
- Crescent Moon, Treachery, IAS gloves and Highlord's Wrath for 105%
- Complete final Conviction 25 with a Paladin Hellfire Torch and Annihilus
- Add at least 32% IAS Grief and Fortitude for physical damage/leech
- Optimize Call to Arms, Sunder Charm, resistances and damage/life charms
Playstyle
- Preparing to farm
Equip both Dreams, Highlord's Wrath, Paladin Hellfire Torch and Annihilus; check final Conviction 25. Maintain Conviction after warcries and Holy Shield.
- Ordinary packs
After Conviction applies, attack directly with Zeal. Approach from one side and deliver lightning-bearing weapon hits instead of waiting for aura pulses alone.
- Bosses
Maintain Conviction and Zeal; finish with Crushing Blow and weapon damage. Fanaticism would turn off player Conviction, so the base setup does not use it.
- Handling immunes
A uses a lightning Sunder Charm, level 25 Conviction and Grief's physical damage. B uses Crescent Moon's -35% Enemy Lightning Resistance against lightning immunes broken by Conviction. Handle unbroken enemies with physical damage, the mercenary or bypass them.
- B Farming areas
After completing both Dreams, start in places such as the Hell Pit and Act bosses where physical/lightning attacks can connect together. Avoid lightning/physical dual immunes and dangerous unleechable packs.
- Transition requirements
Respec when both Dreams, Cannot Be Frozen, a Phase Blade and sufficient resistances are ready. B does not omit one Dream: farm more funds with an ordinary Zeal setup first.
Mechanics and notes
Meaning of level 30 equipped aura
On the same character, Dream helm's level 15 and shield's level 15 Holy Shock combine into level 30. +All Skills on gear does not raise this equipped aura level further.
Invest hard points in synergies
Resist Lightning 20 and Salvation 20 synergize the equipped Holy Shock. Putting 20 hard points into Holy Shock itself does not combine with Dream 30 into level 50.
The player activates Conviction
Conviction 20 + Highlord's Wrath 1 + Paladin Hellfire Torch 3 + Annihilus 1 = 25. Conviction reduces elemental resistance and defense; it does not simply add to the mercenary Infinity's lower Conviction. Obtain at least 72% IAS for fast Phase Blade Zeal follow-up hits without Fanaticism.
Resistance after immunity breaks
Sundered lightning immunes start at 95%; Conviction works at 1/5 effectiveness. B Crescent Moon's enemy lightning resistance reduction applies to your attacks but cannot break immunity itself.
Strengths, limitations and farming style
Strengths
Combines Zeal physical damage and Holy Shock lightning damage.
Player Conviction supports hit chance and elemental resistance reduction.
Limitations
B still requires 2 Dreams, making entry expensive.
Without Fanaticism, weapon base and IAS conditions need separate attention.
Additional variants
Fanaticism + Infinity mercenary
To use mercenary Infinity and player Fanaticism, recover 24 points from Conviction 20, Sanctuary 1, Thorns 1, Holy Freeze 1 and Holy Fire 1. Invest in Fanaticism 20, Blessed Aim 1, Concentration 1 and 2 additional Holy Shield points (13 total). Mercenary level 12 Conviction replaces player level 25, weakening lightning resistance reduction while improving physical damage and attack speed. This is a separate tree from the base 101-point image.
Enigma mobility variant
Replacing Fortitude with Enigma gains Teleport but loses physical damage and resistances. A retains 72% IAS, but low FCR needs separate improvement. B loses 45% IAS too if Treachery is replaced directly.