Core requirements
The advanced setup is A, and the budget setup is B.
- Hard points
- Level 90 · 101 points
- Cast rate
- A 125% / B 80%
- Hit check
- Attack Rating required
- Main damage
- Physical weapon damage · Crushing Blow does not apply
Attributes
Total attributes with equipment · hard points shown separately
| Strength | A 106 / B 117Hard points A 41 / B 92 · B Equip without counting weapon Strength |
|---|---|
| Dexterity | A 75 / B 93Hard points A 0 / B 48 · B Exclude weapon Dexterity |
| Vitality | A 419 / B 320 hard pointsAll remaining points after Strength and Dexterity |
| Energy | 0 hard pointsA Potions · leech / B Insight |
Attribute calculations and equipment changes
Strength
A has Levitation Mastery at 1 hard points + 10 from gear, Torch and Annihilus = 11 total, reducing weapon requirements by 22%. With Death's Hel rune reduction of 20%, an ethereal Decapitator requires ceil(189×0.58)−10=100 Strength. However, to equip Sandstorm Trek before counting its own 15 Strength, secure base 15 + Mara's 5 + Torch 15 + Annihilus 15 + 41 allocated = 91; equipping the boots brings it to 106. B has 5 total Mastery for -10% requirements, plus Obedience's Hel rune at -20%, so the Thresher needs ceil(152×0.70)=107 Strength. Meet this first with base 15 + 92 allocated; Obedience's 10 Strength then brings it to 117. Skill charms and Battle Command are excluded from this calculation.
Dexterity
A has base 20 + Mara's 5 + Torch/Annihilus 30 + Raven Frost 20 = 75, comfortably exceeding the weapon requirement. B With 5 total Mastery and Hel, the Thresher requires ceil(118×0.70)=83 Dexterity. Equip it first with base 20 + Raven Frost 15 + 48 allocated = 83; Obedience's 10 Dexterity then brings it to 93. B A higher Dexterity roll on the ring allows fewer allocated points.
Vitality
From 460 total attribute points at level 90, subtract A 41 Strength, B 92 Strength and 48 Dexterity. A assumes 15 Strength on Sandstorm Trek, 20 Dexterity on Raven Frost and 15 attributes from Torch/Annihilus. B excludes attribute bonuses on rare gear from the calculation.
Energy
A has a Reaper's Toll mercenary without Meditation; sustain Mana through leech, gear and potions. B recovers Mana with Insight's Meditation. Physical leech effectiveness depends on the enemy's Physical Resistance and whether leech is allowed.
Skills
Level 90 · 101 hard points
Main skills and synergies
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, use 
Cleave, Hexes and the weapons you find, then switch after obtaining a suitable Physical weapon.
Echoing Strike·
Mirrored Blades·
Blade Warp — complete 20 each, then fill 15 Bind Demon, 
Demonic Mastery 5·
Consume 9 and the prerequisites.
Equipment skill bonuses and allocation notes
The default is Physical Echoing Strike, not a burst variant investing in both 20 Hex: Purge and 20 Eldritch Blast.
15 Bind Demon allows only up to Unique demons; +Skills from gear cannot meet the Superunique requirement.
A·B Shared · Level 90, 101 points
Open this allocation in the simulator ↗
Equipment
A / B: compare modifiers and replacement requirements.
| Slot | Advanced A | Budget B | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weapon | A Runeword Death | B Runeword Obedience | Prioritize weapon damage and Indestructible |
Weapon choice and replacement detailsA · Setup requirements5-socket ethereal Decapitator High weapon damage · Indestructible B · Setup requirements5-socket non-ethereal Thresher Weapon damage · resistances · Hel requirement reduction · +10 Strength/Dexterity (excluded before equipping) Selection rationale and replacementsDeath's Crushing Blow and triggered spells are not the main reason to use it for Echoing Strike. Choose it for weapon damage and Indestructible. B uses a non-ethereal base so Mirrored Blades can also be used. | |||
| Grimoire / off-hand | A Ars Dul'Mephistos | B Runeword Splendor | A 30 FCR · Attack Rating · damage bonus |
Grimoire / off-hand choices and swapsA · Setup requirements30% FCR required · damage · Attack Rating B · Setup requirements2-socket grimoire requiring no more than 60 Strength +1 skills · 10% Faster Cast Rate Selection rationale and replacementsWhen wielding a two-handed weapon in one hand, the other hand must hold a grimoire. B uses a grimoire base for Splendor instead of a regular shield. | |||
| Helm | A Hellwarden's Will | B Runeword Lore | A 20% Faster Cast Rate / B +1 skills |
Helm choice and replacement detailsA · Setup requirements20% FCR · +1 to Skills B · Setup requirements2-socket light helm +1 skills · lightning resistance Selection rationale and replacementsChoose skills and resistance reduction for your actual main damage source: Magic, Fire or summons. | |||
| Armor | A Runeword Fortitude | B Skin of the Vipermagi | A 300% Physical damage · 25% FCR |
Armor choice and replacement detailsA · Setup requirements4-socket Dusk Shroud 300% damage · 25% FCR · resistances B · Setup requirements30% Faster Cast Rate · all resistances Selection rationale and replacementsUse Enigma to move both yourself and your summons together. B does not assume the same Teleport convenience. | |||
| Gloves | A Magefist | BMagefist | This attack uses 20% FCR instead of IAS |
Glove choice and replacement detailsA · Setup requirements20% Faster Cast Rate · mana regeneration B · Setup requirements20% Faster Cast Rate · mana regeneration Selection rationale and replacements20% FCR improves responsiveness when summoning, casting Sigils and moving. | |||
| Belt | A Arachnid Mesh | BCaster crafted belt | A 20% Faster Cast Rate / B 10% Faster Cast Rate |
Belt choice and replacement detailsA · Setup requirements20% Faster Cast Rate · +1 to All Skills Selection rationale and replacementsB has grimoire 10 + armor 30 + gloves 20 + belt 10 + ring 10 = 80%. | |||
| Boots | A Sandstorm Trek | BFaster Run/Walk and resistance boots | Improve Poison Resistance, recovery and movement |
Boot choice and replacement detailsA · Setup requirements15 Strength required for this allocation · Poison Resistance · Hit Recovery Selection rationale and replacementsFirst secure movement speed and resistances to escape packs. | |||
| Amulet | A Mara's Kaleidoscope | BWarlock skill amulet | Skills · resistances · attributes for weapon swap |
Amulet choice and replacement detailsA · Setup requirementsSkills · attributes · resistances Selection rationale and replacementsObtain both skills and resistances while keeping the FCR specified in the table. | |||
| Ring 1 | A Raven Frost | BRaven Frost | Attack Rating · Dexterity · Cannot Be Frozen |
Ring 1: choice and replacement detailsA · Setup requirementsAssumes 20 Dexterity · Attack Rating · Cannot Be Frozen B · Setup requirementsAt least 15 Dexterity · Attack Rating · Cannot Be Frozen Selection rationale and replacementsCurrent Echoing Strike does not automatically hit; retain Attack Rating bonuses from the ring and Hex. | |||
| Ring 2 | AFCR, leech and resistance ring | BCast rate/mana ring | A·B 10% FCR and Mana support |
Ring 2: choice and replacement detailsSelection rationale and replacementsRemoving this 10% can drop you below the target breakpoint. | |||
Mercenary and weapon swap
| Slot | Advanced A | Budget B | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mercenary | A Act 2 Might  The Reaper's TollRuneword Fortitude Andariel's Visage | B Act 2 Might Runeword InsightRuneword Treachery Tal Rasha's Horadric Crest | Decrepify against Physical Resistance |
Mercenary detailsOperating requirementsA uses Decrepify to lower Physical Resistance. B uses Insight for Mana sustain, not as an answer to Physical immunity; avoid dangerous immune enemies. | |||
| Bound demon / swap | A Unique demon providing Concentration or Fanaticism Runeword Call to Arms / grimoire swap | B Start with Normal or Champion demons | 15 hard points in Bind Demon · no Superuniques |
Bound demon / swap detailsOperating requirementsA also cannot capture Superunique Lister. A bound demon 1 + a consumed Goatman 1 use the maximum 2 slots. Do not accidentally Consume the strong bound demon. | |||
Upgrade order
- B Use Obedience, Splendor and Skin of the Vipermagi to establish a Physical weapon and 80% FCR.
- Secure hit chance and mercenary survivability, then prepare a Death weapon.
- Use Fortitude, a 30-FCR grimoire, Hellwarden's Will and Arachnid Mesh to reach 30+20+25+20+20+10=125%.
- Add Reaper's Toll, a bound aura and charms to improve immunity handling and hit chance.
Playstyle
- Buffs
Maintain a consumed Goatman, Hex: Bane and Psychic Ward.
Buff details
Details
The default Hex has 1 support point; do not also count Purge burst-build damage.
- Firing line
Line up in corridors so the returning projectile passes through multiple enemies.
Firing-line details
Details
Positioning differs from a build that continuously uses basic melee attacks.
- Accuracy
Check whether attacks actually hit, and maintain Raven Frost and Bane.
Hit-chance details
Details
Since 3.2, hits are no longer automatic; character level, Attack Rating and enemy Defense affect them.
- Physical immunes
Wait for Decrepify or handle another target with your mercenary first.
Physical immunity details
Details
Do not expect the small Magic damage from 1 Hex: Bane to perform like a complete Magic build.
- Movement
Use Blade Warp after checking the collision point and a safe landing.
Movement details
Details
A The default armor is Fortitude, so Enigma's Teleport is unavailable.
- Bosses and durability
A With an Indestructible weapon, Mirrored Blades can be used as a separate attack.
Boss and durability details
Details
B repairs its non-ethereal Obedience when needed. Do not treat Echoing Strike and Mirrored Blades as sharing the same Crushing Blow and durability rules.
- Leveling transition
B starts in the Hell Pit and Mausoleum, bypassing Physical-immune Unique enemies.
Leveling transition details
Details
The Pit has no Physical-immune ordinary monsters, but volleys from archer packs are dangerous; split their lines of fire at the entrance. B An Insight mercenary has no Decrepify, so do not force fights against Unique enemies made Physical-immune by Stone Skin or similar modifiers. Prioritize weapon damage and at least 75% FCR over IAS.
Mechanics and notes
An attack governed by casting speed
Echoing Strike's speed is determined by FCR. IAS does not reduce its casting frames.
Modifiers that do not apply
Echoing Strike does not rely on Crushing Blow, Open Wounds, Grief's flat added damage or on-attack/on-striking effects for its main damage. Look for high base weapon damage, Enhanced Damage and Attack Rating.
Hit behavior since 3.2
The automatic-hit bug and incorrect multiplication of Enhanced Damage were fixed. Do not mix in early-release damage stacking or durability changes proposed on the PTR and later withdrawn.
Distinguish the skills
20 Mirrored Blades and 20 Blade Warp are direct damage synergies for Echoing Strike. Do not copy the attack speed or additional effects of separately used Mirrored Blades onto Echoing Strike.
Strengths, limitations and farming style
Strengths
It delivers high Physical weapon damage to multiple enemies.
A distinctive play style combining caster gear with Eldritch skills.
Limitations
Manage Attack Rating, Physical immunities and weapon selection together.
Many otherwise useful melee modifiers do not apply to this attack.
Additional variants
Purge burst variant · exchange 101 points
Reclaim 24 points from Bind Demon 15→0 and Consume 9→0. Put them into 20 Hex: Purge and Eldritch Blast 1→5. Keep prerequisite support points for 101 total; this is a separate Magic burst variant that loses capture and Consume functionality.
Enigma mobility variant
Replacing Fortitude with Enigma loses 25% FCR and Enhanced Physical Damage. The current A total of 125% becomes 100%; unless you add at least 25% from an amulet, rings or other gear, you fall to the 75% breakpoint.