The Items the Amazon chooses depend on her playing style. There are several ways to play an Amazon, such as a Bowazon, Javazon, Spearazon or a Tankazon (one-handed Weapon and Shield). It is always best to maximize Fire and Lightning Resistances and build up Life to a decent level (250-500+) so that Amazons can survive hits on Hell Difficulty. Although this page has suggestions about popular items, there is no perfect guide to the best items to wear. Generally, it is best to rate items against each other and select the ones that best help your character. This page mostly lists the Ultimate Items rather than listing all options available.
Basic Magic Ability List
Damage
The higher your damage, then the faster monsters will die. Find weapons that do the most damage possible. Runes or jewels that are "Enhanced Damage" can also improve equipment and socketed items.
Defense
Defense is very important for Spearazons and Javazons, but less important for Bowazons.
% Mana Steal, % Life Steal and Cold Damage
Amazons typically do not raise their energy. Instead, Amazons usually rely on % Mana Steal items to refill their Mana. Items that add to Mana will be sufficient to raise Mana reserves to a high enough level to support skills such as Decoy, Valkyrie and other spells. Mana Steal is also important to recover the cost of casting Valkyries and Decoys. % Life Steal keeps characters at full health and allows them to quickly recover from damage and use few potions. Cold Damage is also very useful because it not only chills monsters, but it also causes some of them to shatter, leaving no corpse for the monsters that are able to raise their fallen friends. One point of Cold Damage is all it takes to chill monsters. Popular items for Cold Damage are the Eye of Etlich and Frostburns. You can also use a Charm, which might be even easier, and allows you to wear an item with better stats than just + cold damage.
Sockets
Use the Socket Quest and Horadric Cube Formula to socket items (even Rare, Crafted, Set, Unique) and enhance them with good jewels and runes.
Resistances
It is best to try to maximize Resistances, especially Lightning, Fire and Cold.
Hit Recovery
Items with Hit Recovery allow you to quickly recover after having been hit. Without Hit Recovery items, when a character is hit, it will be stunned and will simply stand in place until able to move again. If multiple monsters are attacking at once, the character may remain continually stunned until it dies. But, with Hit Recovery items characters can quickly return to battle after being hit. Hit Recovery items stack, so they can be used on several different pieces of equipment (belts, armor, boots or, shields) significantly reducing the length of time a character remains stunned.
Increased Attack Speed
Items that "Increase Attack Speed" enable your characters to swing weapons more rapidly or shoot faster. Here are some examples:
*Magic Jewels with 15% Increased Attack Speed Socketed in body armor, helms, shields or weapons
*Shael Rune with 20% Increased Attack Speed Socketed in weapons
*Weapons with Increased Attack Speed
*Set Diadem: M'avina's True Sight (30%)
*Set Bramble Mitts: Laying of Hands (20%) (Very Powerful and Popular)
*Set Sharkskin Gloves: Magnus' Skin (20%)
*Set Heavy Gloves: Sander's Taboo (20%)
*Unique Battle Gauntlets: Lava Gout (20%)
*Unique Studded Leather: Twitchthroe (20%)
*Unique Amulet: The Cat's Eye(20%)
*Unique Tigulated Mail: Crow Caw (15%)
*Unique Heavy Belt: Goldwrap (10%)
*Unique Normal Gloves: Bloodfist (10%)
Damage Reduced by X%
These items significantly reduce damage. There are several Unique pieces of armor and the Ber Rune, which reduces damage by 8% in armor, helms and shields. Some speculate that there is a 95% Cap on these items.
*Unique Monarch: Stormshield (35%)
*Unique Grim Helm: Vampiregaze (15-20%) (Incredible Helm!)
*Unique Mesh Armor: Shaftstop (30%)
*Unique Demonhide Sash: String of Ears (15%) (Great Melee Belt)
*Unique Field Plate: Rockfleece (10%)
*Unique Sallet: Rockstopper (10%)
Prevent Monster Heal
At higher difficulty levels, monsters regenerate. Find a Prevent Monster Heal item to stop them from healing.
Knockback
Bowazons
Knockback keeps the monsters away from you.
Slows Target By %
Bowazons, Spearzons, Javazons
This slows down the monsters.
Magic Find
Magic Find generally comes at a price. For more tips on Magic Find Equipment go here.
Charms
Good Charms to have are Cold Damage, + Life, + Skills, + Maximum Damage, + Elemental Damage, and + Resistances.
Weapons
Bowazons
The most important equipment to the Bowazon is, of course, her bow. When looking for weapons, damage is the main concern. Take Maximum (average) damage over any other magical bonus on the bow. Another important bonus is bow speed. Look for Increased Attack Speed bows or socket your bow with a Shae Rune (20% Increased Attack Speed). It is possible to maximize attack speed so characters can use bows without Increased Attack Speed while still having maximum Attack Speed. Other things that are nice are Elemental Damage (which can be resisted), % Mana/Life Steal, and +1-2 to Amazon Skills or +1-3 to Amazon Skill Tabs. Any other useful stats are a bonus.
Try to find the ultimate weapon of each weapon class. When evaluating weapons, keep the weapon that does the most average damage [(Minimum + Maximum)/ 2], rather than the the most maximum damage.
"Cruel" Magical Weapons, which can offer +201-300% damage, are available from vendors. Keep exiting and re-entering town to "re roll" the vendors until they offer one of these items. You can then socket the items and add other runes or jewels to them.
Use Imbue Quest Reward and Cube Formulas to attempt to create a high damage Rare or Crafted Weapon.
Powerful Bows
Unique Hydra Bow: Windforce (38.5 To (244.625-550.875) damage, 20% Increased Attack Speed, 8% Mana Stolen, +5 To Dexterity, Knockback, more). Windforce is the ultimate bow for any Bowazon. Windforce increases in damage with Character level which makes it continue to improve over time.
Unique Crusader Bow: Eaglehorn (48 To (192-318.72) damage, 45-75 To Attack Rating, 45-75 Lightning Damage, Ignore Target's Defense). An uber bow, Eaglehorn is a great bow for Bowazons.
Set Grand Matron Bow: M'avina's Caster (43-210 damage, 40% Increased Attack Speed, more). This is a great top end bow.
Unique Gothic Bow: Goldstrike Arch (33-178.5 Damage, +100-200% Damage To Demons, +100-200% Damage To Undead, 50% Increased Attack Speed, more)
Rare or Crafted War Pike or Matriarchal Pike
Spearazons
Look for a good Spear. You can save your Imbue for a Spear or try to trade for one.
Unique Ceremonial Pike: Lycander's Flank (132-356 Damage, +2 To Amazon Skill Levels, 30% Increased Attack Speed, 5-9% Life Stolen Per Hit, more)
Silence Runeword Pike/Spear (+200% Enhanced Damage, 20% IAS, +2 All Skill Levels, All Resistances +75%, much more)
Rare Exceptional and Elite Javelins
Javazons
Watch for and collect Exceptional Javelins, Elite Javelins, Ceremonial Javelin, Matriarchal Javelin. Look especially for Javelins that Replenish Quantity.
Unique Ceremonial Javelin: Titan's Revenge (70-212 Throw Damage, 70-155 One-Hand Damage, +2 To Amazon Skill Levels, 5-9% Life Stolen Per Hit, more)
Armor
In addition to the popular choices below, check out the Basic Magic Ability List for suggestions on good magical bonuses for Rare, Crafted, Set and Unique Armor.
Some Powerful Armor
Unique Balrog Skin: Arkaine's Valor (Incredible bonuses such as +1-2 Skills, High Defense, Vitality, more. Very Rare).
Bowazons, Spearzons, Javazons
Tal Rasha's Guardianship (40% Cold/Lightning/Fire Resist, 88% Magic Find, High Defense, more)
Bowazons, Spearzons, Javazons
Rune Word: Lionheart 3 Socket Body Armor (All Resistances +30%, +15 To Dexterity, +50 To Life, +25 To Strength, more)
Bowazons, Spearzons, Javazons
Set Kraken Shell: M'avina's Embrace (+2 To Passive And Magic Skills, High Defense, more)
Spearazons, Javazons
This armor is most useful when used with other M'avina's Battle Hymn items.
Other Mid Range Armor
Unique Ghost Armor: The Spirit Shroud (+1 To All Skills, Cannot Be Frozen).
Bowazons, Spearzons, Javazons
Can be Socketed with an Um Rune for an additional All Resistances +15.
Unique Quilted Armor: Greyform (5% Life Stolen, more).
Bowazons, Spearzons, Javazons
This is good early on.
Unique Studded Leather: Twitchthroe (20% Increased Attack Speed, 25% Blocking With a Shield). Bowazons, Spearzons, Javazons
Twitchthroe will combine with a 3-4 Perfect Diamond or Um Rune shield to give you 74% Blocking. 25% more Blocking is MUCH more helpful than a high Defense plate. The only downside to using this armor is that players will sacrifice any bonuses that they might otherwise get, such as Resistances and Life.
Unique Tigulated Mail: Crow Caw
(15% Increased Attack Speed).
Bowazons, Spearzons, Javazons
This armor is great for its Increased Attack Speed.
Unique Ancient Armor: Silks of the Victor (+1 To All Skills, 5% Mana Steal)
Bowazons, Spearzons, Javazons
Low Range Armor
Blinkbat (Fast Run/Walk, 3-6 Fire Damage)
Bowazons, Spearzons, Javazons
Blinkbat stacks with Fastest Run/Walk boots such as Treads of Cthon, so you can create an extremely fast Bowazon with this piece of armor. You'll want to upgrade later but it's fun for the early levels.
Unique Serpentskin Armor: Skin of the Vipermagi (+1 To All Skills, All Resistances +20-35, more)
Bowazons, Spearzons, Javazons
Skin of the Vipermagi is great for its +35% to all Resistances. Skin of the Vipermagi is especially helpful to Bowazons and Spearazons who cannot wear a 3-4 Perfect Diamond shield. Maximizing your Resistances on Hell Difficulty can be hard, but Skin of the Vipermagi will help. This can be Socketed with an Um Rune for an additional All Resistances +15.
Silks of the Victor (Requires: 100 Strength, Defense 436-512.6, +1 to all Skill Levels)
Bowazons, Spearzons, Javazons
Silks of the Victor is useful for both its +Skills and 5% Mana Steal. Silks of the Victor is most useful in Normal and Nightmare Difficulty. Eventually you will probably find Skin of the Vampermagi which is more useful than Silks of the Victor, for an Amazon, for its 35% Resistances.
Shields
Javazons should find a good Shield. Melee Combat Amazons that are not using Spears should also look for a Shield. Shields provide the best defense against physical attacks. Generally, look for a higher % Blocking instead of Defense, and then add sockets, for runes or jewels, to shields for even more benefits.
Suggested Shields
Rhyme Rune Word Shield (All Resistances +25, Regenerate Mana 15%, 20% Increased Chance Of Blocking, 40% Faster Block Rate, 25% Better Chance Of Getting Magic Items, more)
Javazons
Unique Grim Shield: Lidless Wall (Increase Maximum Mana 10%, 20% Faster Cast Rate, +1 To All Skill Levels, +3-5 To Mana After Each Kill, more)
Javazons
Although this shield does not have as much % Blocking as other shields, it does have some of the best magical bonuses available.
Wall of the Eyeless (+5 Mana After Each Kill, Faster Cast Rate)
Javazons
This is an option, although most prefer the +1 to Skills and higher % Blocking of Sigon's Guard, or a 3 Perfect Diamond Shield.
Sigon's Guard (+1 to All Skills, 69% Blocking)
Javazons
This Shield is great for Amazons because it adds 1 to all skills (those skills with at least a point already in them), and it also offers high blocking against physical attacks. Amazons will find this Shield saves them from a lot of damage.
The addition of Perfect Diamonds creates a high Resistance Shield.
Socketed Tower Shield/Pavise/Aegis/Monarch with 3-4 Perfect Diamonds or Um Runes
Javazons
As characters move to Act IV and higher difficulty levels, Resistances become very important. A 3-4 Perfect Diamond Shield will offer about 57-76% Resistances, which can offset the -40 and -100 to Resistances on Nightmare and Hell difficulty. Um Runes can be used instead of Perfect Diamonds; however, they are very rare. Added Resistances are much more helpful than the +1 to skills on the Sigon's Guard.
Gloves
Check out the Basic Magic Ability List for a more comprehensive look at the desired magical bonuses. Generally, most Amazon players look for Rare, Set, Crafted or Unique gloves that Increase Attack Speed or add to Magic Find.
Ultimate Gloves
Set Bramble Mitts: Laying of Hands (20% Increased Attack Speed, +350% Damage To Demons, Fire Resist +50%).
Bowazons, Spearazons, Javazons
These gloves are very powerful due to their Damage vs. Demons, as many monsters are Demons. This damage will not display on the character screen.
Mid Range Gloves
Rare or Crafted Gloves with Increased Attack Speed and +3 To a Skill Tab. Bowazons, Spearzons, Javazons
Set Chain Gloves: Cleglaw's Pincer (Slows Target by 25%, Knockback) Bowazons
These gloves are Great for the Slow and Knockback and are very popular in Duels.
Normal Hit Power Gloves (Knockback, then try to roll IAS)
Set Heavy Gloves: Sander's Taboo (20% Increased Attack Speed) Bowazons, Spearzons, Javazons
Set Gauntlets: Sigon's Gage (30% Increased Attack Speed, 10% Life Steal) Bowazons, Spearzons, Javazons
With another Sigon's Item such as Sigon's Guard, characters receive a 30% Increased Attack Speed bonus on the Gloves as well as a 10% Life Steal Partial Set Bonus.
Unique Leather Gloves: The Hand of Broc (3% Life Stolen, 3% Mana Stolen, +20 to Mana)
Bowazons, Spearzons, Javazons
These gloves are great at early levels and when available Life or Mana Steal is low.
Bloodfist (10% Increased Attack Speed, 30% Faster Hit Recovery, +40 to Life, +5 To Minimum Damage)
Bowazons, Spearzons, Javazons
Players might find these gloves useful very early in game play.
Magefist (+1 to Fire Skills, 25% Mana Regeneration)
Bowazons, Spearzons, Javazons
Magefist will give +1 to Fire Arrow, Explosive Arrow, and Immolation Arrow. Increased Mana Regeneration is also helpful.
Belts
Below are some examples of belts that are popular. Check out the Basic Magic Ability List for a list of things to look for on belts.
Good Options
Unique Demonhide Sash: String of Ears
Spearzons, Javazons
(Damage Reduced By 15%) Great Melee Belt
Unique Mesh Belt: Gloom's Trap (5% Mana Steal, Increase Maximum Mana 15%)
Increasing weapon speed can be very helpful if using a skill that depends on weapon speed. The downside of using this belt is the missed opportunity to gain other magical stats from a belt such as Life and Resistances.
Set Mithril Coil: Credendum (All Resistances +15, +10 To Dexterity, +10 To Strength) Bowazons, Spearzons, Javazons
Set War Belt: Immortal King's Detail (Lightning Resist +31%, Fire Resist +28%, +25 To Strength)
Bowazons, Spearzons, Javazons
Set Sharkskin Belt: M'avina's Tenet (5% Mana Stolen, 20% Faster Run/Walk)
Bowazons, Spearzons, Javazons
Set Battle Belt: Wilhelm's Pride (5% Life/Mana Stolen) Bowazons, Spearzons, Javazons
Set Mesh Belt: Tal Rasha's Fine-Spun Cloth (15% Magic Find, +20 Dexterity, more) Bowazons, Spearzons, Javazons
Set Troll Belt: Trang-Oul's Girth (+66 To life, +25-50 Mana, Cannot Be Frozen, Replenish Life)
Bowazons, Spearzons, Javazons
Boots
Check out the Basic Magic Ability List for a list of magical bonuses to look for. Look for Boots that offer Defense and useful magical bonuses such as Faster Run/Walk, Fastest Hit Recovery, Resistances or additional Life/Mana (if needed). Boots that give a Faster Run/Walk Speed, and faster Stamina Regeneration can really help characters avoid danger and reach their destination much quicker.
Initially, look for boots that reduce Stamina drain or offer additional Stamina. Boots that Heal Stamina 50% will heal Stamina faster when characters stop. Vidala's Fetlock will give 150 additional Stamina. Treads of Cthon will take 50% less Stamina when characters run and walk. Which means, in essence, that it doubles Stamina. If Stamina doubled is greater than Stamina +150, then Treads of Cthon will allow a character to run longer than Vidala's.
As Characters accrue more vitality, they can eventually run as often as needed (within reason) and not run out of Stamina. At that point, Stamina reducing boots are no longer needed and should be replaced with "Fastest Run/Walk." This will free up Magical Prefix/Suffixes on your boots.
Set Battle Boots: Aldur's Advance (40% Faster Run/Walk, +180 Maximum Stamina, 10% Damage Taken Goes To Mana, more)
Bowazons, Spearzons, Javazons
Set Light Plated Boots: Vidala's Fetlock (30% Faster Run/Walk, +150 to Maximum Stamina)
Bowazons, Spearzons, Javazons
While other boots can offer Faster Run/Walk, only Vidala's Fetlock offers such a huge increase to Stamina. This combination means running is almost unlimited. The only drawback of Vidala's Fetlock is the lost opportunity to wear a Rare pair of boots with Resistances and other useful stats. Once you have enough Stamina, look for better Rare boots.
Unique Chain Boots: Treads of Cthon (30% Faster Run/Walk, 50% Stamina, +50 Defense vs Missile)
Bowazons, Spearzons, Javazons
Requires 50% less Stamina to run or walk. Treads of Cthon are especially helpful until you can build up enough Stamina to use normal Fastest Run/Walk on boots that don't have additional Stamina or Stamina reduction, but have other useful stats.
While Tearhaunch is slower than Treads of Cthon and Vidala's Fetlock and does not offer any help to Stamina, the +10 to Resistances is pretty handy.
Unique Light Plated Boots: Goblin Toe (25% Chance of a Crushing Blow)
Spearzons, Javazons
Those willing to give up Fast running boots can get some extra damage from Crushing Blow by using Goblin Toe.
A Javazon in single player games can do fine without Goblin Toe boots, but to defeat monsters in larger games, Goblin Toe boots will be very important. Crushing blow is a great way to compensate for the low damage of a Javelin.
Unique War Boots: Gore Rider (30% Faster Run/Walk, 15% Deadly Strike, +10 To Maximum Damage)
Spearzons, Javazons
Jewelry
At the start any Jewelry is better than no Jewelry at all. After you have your basic Jewelry look for:
Rare or Crafted Rings
Bowazons, Spearzons, Javazons
Look for rings that Steal % Mana, and/or Steal % Life. Typically, look for rings that steal as much as possible, but any Life/Mana steal ring will do if the Life and Mana are returned. Other things to look for on the ring are: Resistances (Fire and Lightning especially) and Life. Before Patch 1.08 Dual Mana and Life Steal Rings spawned. Trading with other players is a good method for obtaining one of these rings.
Unique Ring: Bul-Kathos' Wedding Band (+1 To All Skills, 4% Life Stolen, more)
Bowazons, Spearzons, Javazons
Set Ring: Cathan's Seal (6% Life Stolen, Required Level 11).
Bowazons, Spearzons, Javazons
This Ring is good for newbie characters and for players that do not have high-powered Life Steal rings that existed before Patch 1.08
There are quite a few useful Amulets offered early in the game. Look for Amulets that Steal Mana and/or Life and that give Resistances. Most players look for +1 or +2 to All Skills. +1-3 to Skill Tabs are also something that can be useful.
When searching for a +1 to +2 All Skills Amulet, useful magical bonuses to have are % Mana Steal, % Life Steal, Magic Damage Reduced by 1-4, Life, Resistances, or Mana (if needed).
Good Amulets
Unique Amulet: The Eye of Etlich (+1 to Skills, 3-7% Life Steal, Cold Damage)
Bowazons, Spearzons, Javazons
This Amulet is popular for the additional skill point, Cold Damage and Life Steal.
Unique Amulet: Highlord's Wrath (+1 To All Skills, Deadly Strike, 20% Increased Attack Speed, Lightning Resist +35%, more)
Bowazons, Spearzons, Javazons
Unique Amulet: Mara's Kaleidoscope (+2 To All Skills, All Resistances +20-30, more)
Bowazons, Spearzons, Javazons
Unique Amulet: Atma's Scarab (5% Chance To Cast Level 2 Amplify Damage On Attack)
Spearzons, Javazons
Unique Amulet: Saracen's Chance (10% Chance To Cast Level 2 Iron Maiden, All Resistances +15-25, +12 Dexterity/Strength, more)
Spearzons, Javazons
Unique Amulet: Crescent Moon (3-6% Life Stolen, 11-15% Mana Stolen, more).
Bowazons, Spearzons, Javazons
Not only does this helm offer 25% Damage Reduction, it also has dual Mana/Life Steal, High Defense and other good bonuses.
Unique Shako: Harlequin Crest (+1.5-148.5 To Life, 50% Magic Find, +1.5-1.48.5 To Mana, +2 All Skills)
Bowazons, Spearzons, Javazons
Set Death Mask: Tal Rasha's Horadric Crest (10% Life/Mana Steal, All Resistances +15, more)
Bowazons, Spearzons, Javazons
A very nice helm for Melee Characters.
Other Helms
Circlets: Find a Good Mana or Life Steal Circlet.
Unique Death Mask: Blackhorn's Face (Prevent Monster Heal, Slows Target By 20%, more)
Bowazons, Spearzons, Javazons
Although much higher Resistances can be available, this Crown can boost your Lightning and Fires Resistances until you can find a better Rare Helm.
Undead Crown (4% Life Stolen)
Bowazons, Spearzons, Javazons
Those Amazons who need more Life Stolen might want to try this out.
Duskdeep (+8 To Maximum Damage)
Bowazons, Spearzons, Javazons
Players might find this useful for an additional 8 to Maximum Damage.
Wormskull (5% Life Stolen, +10 to Mana)
Bowazons, Spearzons, Javazons
Those Amazons who need more Life Stolen might want to try this out. Wormskull on an Amazon will definitely turn heads. Although, you could just trade this for a nice Rare Helm. =)
Tarnhelm (+1 to All Skill Levels, 25-50% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items, 75% Extra Gold From Monsters)
Bowazons, Spearzons, Javazons
Some mainly choose to use this Helm for the +1 to skill points. Also, the extra gold and magic items gained from wearing this hat also certainly doesn't hurt. This isn't the "end all" helm however, and others choose to go for a Rare Helm instead.
