Basic Sets and Set Items

In Normal difficulty level and Classic Diablo II, there are three complete and a couple of partial sets of particular interest to the bowazon — the highest level requirement of any of these is 20, well within the reach of any competent player. Because of the close level proximity of these sets, it isn't realistic to expect to switch from one set to the next, as though there were some type progression among these sets. (This may have been the case before the expansion, but with the introduction of partial set bonuses, the bulk of set item dominance is based on their green set bonuses.)

There are three reasons for that basic sets lack hierarchy: the first is that all of the basic sets are equally useful, and a diligent player can expect to reach clvl-30 in any of these sets before having to upgrade to exceptional equipment. The second reason is that, overall, Normal difficulty really isn't that difficult, and if anything, some of these sets are actually overpowered for their level requirement, giving the bowazon an edge she'd never be able to get from unique or rare items. The final reason is that all of these sets have different themes and aims, and no set is automatically "better" than the other.

For more information on sets, please refer to the Horadrim Library and the Set Items section of the Arreat Summit.

Arctic Gear

The set bonuses of Arctic Gear are: +5 strength, +50 life, can't be frozen, adds 6-14 cold damage @ 4 seconds. Arctic Gear is one of the best low-level sets available and highly recommended as the twink set for bowazons; it automatically maxxes out cold resistance and offers 26-44 cold damage, an excellent boost to attack rating, and a relatively high boost to life. Its weaknesses are low physical damage, low resists, and lack of non-elemental damage. However, because of its low level requirements, these shortcomings don't become evident for some time. Arctic Gear offers an open boot, helm and jewelry slots. The rlvl of this set has been raised to clvl-3, but parts of it can be worn as soon as clvl-2.

• Arctic Binding Light Belt (2): 33 defense, cold resist 40%, +30 defense. For its low requirements, the Binding has incredibly high defense and cold resist. With another piece of the set, the Arctic Binding gains a 40% better chance of getting magic items; with the complete set, it gains cold resist 10%.
• Arctic Furs Quilted Armor (2): 22-49 defense, +275-325% enhanced defense, all resistances 10%. The main advantages of the Furs are high defense and prismatic resists; because it can be equipped when defense and resists are at a premium, this is invaluable armor to have. With another piece of the set, Arctic Furs gains +(3/clvl) defense; with the complete set, it gains 15% cold resist. If you intend on making a twink set, I'd suggest socketing the armor with a jewel of envy, as it has no level requirement and adds poison damage.
• Arctic Horn Short War Bow (2): 8-18 damage, +50% enhanced damage, 20% bonus to attack rating. This has good damage for such a low-level bow, as well as a high AR bonus. With another piece of the set, the Arctic Horn gains +(8/clvl) attack rating; with the complete set, it gains 20-30 cold damage. If you intend on making a twink set, I'd suggest a Hel rune to lower its dexterity requirement to 44 or a jewel of envy to add even more poison damage.
• Arctic Mitts Light Gauntlets (3): 9-11 defense, 10% increased attack speed, +20 life. These gloves are a bit heavy for a low-level bowazon, but they have the lowest level requirement for IAS gloves. With the +5 strength bonus offered by any other two lighter pieces of the set, it takes no more than 40 strength to wear these gauntlets. Life bonuses are normally unavailable on gloves. With another piece of the set, Arctic Mitts gains +50 attack rating; with the complete set, it gains +10 dexterity — very high for a rlvl-3 glove.

Vidala's Rig

The set bonuses of Vidala's Rig are: +75 attack rating, adds 15-20 cold damage, piercing attack, freezes target, +15 dexterity, +10 strength. The piercing bonus seems to be around 50-60%. The strengths of this set are its light weight, excellent AR boost, freezing and piercing attack, strong cold and lightning damage and 50% MF; its weaknesses are its low physical damage and the pieces are individually weak. Like the Arctic Furs, this is an excellent early bowazon setup. Vidala's Ring offers an open helm, belt, glove and two ring slots. The rlvl of this set is clvl-14.

• Vidala's Ambush Leather Armor (14): 64-67 defense, +50 defense, +11 dexterity. The dexterity bonus on this armor is incredibly high for its level requirement, so take advantage of it while you can. Recommended sockets include a jewel of carnage for increasing the set's maximum damage or a jewel of envy. With another piece of the set, Vidala's Ambush gains 24% fire resist; with two other items, it gains +(2.5/clvl) defense.
• Vidala's Barb Long Battle Bow (14): 3-18 damage, 1-20 lightning damage. The bow has no damage bonus, but with its AR bonuses, your bowazon will rarely miss. It may be wise to circumvent physical damage altogether in favor of elemental damage in this case. With another piece of the set, Vidala's Barb gains +(8/clvl) attack rating. If you're looking to socket this bow, a rare rusty jewel of ennui (+10-20% enhanced damage, 1-20 lightning damage), scarlet jewel of joyfulness (+2-8 minimum damage), a flawless gem or Ith rune (+9 maximum damage) would be most appropriate for its level.
• Vidala's Fetlock Light Plated Boots (14): 9-11 defense, +150 maximum stamina, 30% faster run/walk. This is an excellent set of boots; the difference between the Fetlock and the comparable Treads of Cthon is a subtle one: Vidala's adds a straight +150 stamina, while Treads essentially doubles stamina. (50% drain = +50% stamina.) For a character with low stamina, Vidala's is better. By mid-to-high-levels, Treads will be more usable. You don't regenerate faster with Treads, but you regenerate more stamina per tick due to a larger stamina pool. With another piece of the set, Vidala's Fetlock gains 8% to all resists.
• Vidala's Snare Amulet (14): cold resist 20%, +15 life. This is a mediocre amulet, most useful for its partial set bonus. With another piece of the set, Vidala's Snare gains a 50% better chance of getting magic items.

Iratha's Finery

The set bonuses of Iratha's Finery are: +50 defense, 20% faster run/walk, +15 dexterity, +10% to all maximum resistances, all resistances 20%. This set offers the highest resists of any set in the game. Personally, I love this set: incredible resists, great defense for its level, IAS, and a decent damage and dexterity bonus. For those who like to twink, this set can be successfully combined with the Cow King's Hide and Hooves for more resists, more dexterity, and speed. Iratha's Finery offers an open bow, boot, armor and two ring slots. The rlvl of this set is clvl-15.

A further write-up can be found at the Horadrim Library.

• Iratha's Coil Crown (15): 25-45 defense, fire resist 30%, lightning resist 30%. By itself, the Coil offers excellent resists for the bowazon. Socketing suggestions include low-level resist jewels or runes. With another piece of the set, Iratha's Coil gains +(2/clvl) defense.
• Iratha's Collar Amulet (15): poison length reduced by 75%, poison resist 30%. If you don't mind not using an Eye of Etlich, this is a great poison resist amulet for its level. With another piece of the set, Iratha's Collar gains 15% to all resists.
• Iratha's Cord Heavy Belt (15): 31 defense, +25 defense, +5 minimum damage5. At any level, +5 minimum damage is an generous addition to the bowazon's damage. With another piece of the set, Iratha's Cord gains +10 dexterity, abnormally high for a belt with its level requirement.
• Iratha's Cuff Light Gauntlets (15): 9-11 defense, half freeze duration, cold resist 30%. These are excellent cold resist gloves for the level they're available. The Cuff and Coil are the best parts of this set for the bowazon as these two pieces give the most benefit — high resists and IAS — for the least amount of slots. With another piece of the set, Iratha's Cuff gains 20% increased attack speed.

Partial Set Bonuses

There are certain combinations of set items that could prove very beneficial to the bowazon; while certain pieces can prove somewhat useful (or of no use at all) on their own, it's only when they are combined with certain other pieces of their sets do they truly begin to shine.

Sigon's Complete Steel

The partial bonus for this basic set is: 10% life stolen per hit, +100 defense. Like Death's set, but much better. This set can't be worn as soon as the clvl-6 requirement, but the bonuses it offers — IAS, %MF, life leech and scaling AR — are worth waiting for. Note that the 30% IAS and 10% life leech from Sigon's Gage and Sabot is unique: it's practically 10% IAS on boots.

• Sigon's Gage Gauntlets (6): 12-15 defense, +20 attack rating, +10 strength. Like all the pieces in this set, it's so-so by itself, but shines when its partial bonuses are taken into consideration. With another piece of the set, Sigon's Gage gains 30% increased attack speed.
• Sigon's Sabot Greaves (6): 12-15 defense, 20% faster run/walk, cold resist 40%. These boots have extremely high cold resist. With another piece of the set, Sigon's Sabots gains +50 attack rating; with two pieces, it gains a 50% better chance to find magic items. This is the only piece of the set to have more than one partial set bonus.
• Sigon's Visor Great Helm (6): 55-60 defense, +25 defense, +30 mana. With another piece of the set, Sigon's Visor gains +(8/clvl) attack rating.

Sigon's Shelter gothic plate can be added to this set, but it's really not necessary for anything but completion's sake.

Lesser Partial Set Bonuses

Lesser set bonuses (but by no means less important) that are useful to everyone include:

• Angelic Raiment: Angelic Halo Ring + Angelic Wings Amulet (12): +(12/clvl) attack rating, +10 dexterity, +3 light radius, +95 life, 20% damage taken goes to mana, replenish life +6. Usable at clvl-12, this setup gives a bowazon one of the best AR/clvl bonuses in the game, and an always useful dexterity and life bonus. Another advantage to this set is that it can be worn with just about anything.
• Death's Disguise: Death's Guard Sash + Death's Hand Leather Gloves (6): +20 defense, 30% increased attack speed, 8% life stolen per hit, can't be frozen, cold resist 15%, fire resist 15%, lightning resist 15%, poison resist 65%, poison length reduced by 75%. For a low-level set with no strength requirements, the benefits this set combination offers are excellent. The 30% IAS and 8% life leech from this combo can be easily duplicated by some glove/belt combinations, but not at clvl-6.
• Hsaru's Defense: Hsaru's Iron Stay Belt + Hsaru's Iron Heel Chain Boots (3): +(10/clvl) attack rating, +(2.5/clvl) defense rating, +20 life, 20% faster run/walk, attacker takes damage of 5, cold resist 20%, fire resist 25%. This rlvl-3 set is a little hefty for a low-level bowazon, but as soon as she gets the 30 strength needed to wear the chain boots, this is a wonderful combination: a high scaling AR bonus, decent resists and a good (for its level) bonus to life. Wearing this is the aforementioned Angelic Raiment combination would add +(22/clvl) AR.
• Tancred's Battlegear: Tancred's Hobnails Boots + Tancred's Weird Amulet (20): +10 dexterity, +15 lightning damage, 78% better chance of getting magic items, 30% faster run/walk, damage reduced by 2, heal stamina +25%, magic damage reduced by 1. While the bonuses aren't anything special, this combination offers a decent amount of dexterity and one of the highest %MF scores you can possibly get out of the amulet and boot slots combined for the level they can be used (clvl-20). If you add another piece of the set (like the bone helm), you'll gain 5% life leech.