Right now I have "nb_Swinging", a lv.20 barbarian who just got his first point in Iron Skin. Now, he has +3 skills, using the Angelic set. But he's not using just one Angelic sword.. for the time being he's using two!

I must say that this setup is pretty lethal early-stage in my view dependant on the setup I currently have. He's about 70-80 shy of 1k life. He can basically mow down anything in his path, but what I am worried about is his defense: 660.

What can I do right now besides more Iron Skin to boost his def?

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Go and terminate with extreme prejudice
Most people just take steps. I take dubsteps.

I find Emerald craft weapons are really nice for a low level defence boost, as is saphire crafted armor

Perhaps, with no knowledge myself of the efficiency, a few diamonds in socketed armor or helm to fill spare slots could work. I use diamonds and flawless diamonds regulary on some of my melee chars, such as paladins, often socketed in stuff like milebrega helm, sigon helm, holy crafted helm(gives defiance aura) or what other gear I can benefit most from at the level considering equipment and build.

They add a good chunk of survivability with defense and pdam/mdam reduce at this early level(20-40), especially if you can get some set bonuses or a nice 4 sock defiance helm.

Good luck.

I haven't gotten that far in the game yet. Chiastics is AWOL... I can't seem to gather the 600k or the patience to cube a few flawless gems for crafting at that moment. But I'm getting close whatsoever.

The only other option I found out (as someone pointed out) was using diamonds. Well, I don't have any socketed helms that provide any good boost at the moment to elemental defense (and I don't want to waste my X sockets yet).

I do have a Milabrega's helm but that's lv.29 and it's for my paladin.

_________________
Go and terminate with extreme prejudice
Most people just take steps. I take dubsteps.

if you just buy a 3-socket armor and hat from Charsi, and fill them with diamonds, you'll be fine running around with zero res.

Consider this setup (twinks for the low budget):
2x Nagle (or cathan)
6x normal diamonds
1 tancred ammy (if you can, but Eye of Etlich is just as good since you leach)
Gamble death sash/glove

You end up with about 28 to 40 dr/mdr, which negates most damage. You'll easily leach back what little they do. You might need some potions for undead and bosses.

That gear should hold you to A4 without much trouble.

use "quad sockets" on crafted armor and helm then socket them with diamonds.

It will take some time cubing up diamonds and single/dual/triple sockets, but it's always worth it in the end.

note:
"Holy" craft (diamond) helm gives defiance aura, which really helps at improving defense.

crafted item + 2x quad socket = 4 sockets in the crafted item

I probably have a mess of triple sockets I need to ship over to my socket carrier so I can cube them up. She's got my two X-sockets as well.

I can buy diamonds now, I'm in act 3. But I have to eventually let go of the Angelic set. What weapons should I use, besides crafts?

_________________
Go and terminate with extreme prejudice
Most people just take steps. I take dubsteps.

I found two swords that will take place of the Angelic swords he's using. Of course, I will miss the huge damage to undead benefit, but these two seem to be pretty good: Blacktongue and Culwen's Point.

Not the best of swords but may be suitable for what he is.

_________________
Go and terminate with extreme prejudice
Most people just take steps. I take dubsteps.