I realize this is a very simple layout for the strategy. I don't have screen shots, simply because it did not occur to me at the time to take them. For images, please refer to Infoceptor's D2 Walkthrough, the second to last quest "The Five Seals." The large map is the one that I make reference to.
I discovered this method on the first run through on normal difficulty on my barbarian game. It worked for my other character classes, as well. Diablo didn't damage me at all, and this can be the case with you and your character if you do it correctly.
It's a very simple method, but involves a lot of patience and some gold.
You know how the Chaos Sanctuary is a set map (i.e. it always has the relatively same layout)?? This strategy takes advantage of that. First, unlock the 2 sets of 2 seals, and kill the monsters at your leisure. Then, go and unlock the seal that releases Lord De Seis. The moment that you unlock the seal - run. Get out of that twisting corridor as fast as you can into where Diablo's pentagram is. Lord De Seis and his minions will follow you, but they get stuck opposite the river of magma. Use a ranged attack of any kind to dispose of them, or isolate them and kill them individually.
Try to kill the minions first, and get Lord De Seis into the larger part of the sanctuary, and out of the corridor before you kill him. You MUST stay near in the northern 'wing' of the Sanctuary. If not, this won't work.
As soon as Lord De Seis hits the ground, open a portal and go home. Switch out your weapons for a bow, and have at least 2 quivers of arrows. Portal back and wait.
Momentarily, you should see Diablo come charging at you. Wait until he is close, and then run to the left until you reach the wall (it should be close). Make sure Diablo is closing on you, and then run straight down, which will trap Diablo behind a portion of the structure, through which you can shoot at him, and his spells, especially his lightning, won't get you. Just shoot at him. It will take forever to kill him, especially if you have a lower attack rating, but it should work. You may have to run to the left periodically just to keep Diablo trapped behind wall, but then you can return back and keep shooting. The only spells of his that might reach you are the fire nova and fire wall thing. The lightning, though, won't breach the wall.
It took me at least 2 quivers per class to kill him. But, I didn't get much more than a few hundred damage points done periodically, which is easily remedied by equipping lots of healing and rejuvenation potions.
Good Luck with this strategy. Email any questions to kwoz1269@yahoo.com, and the subject should
at least contain the word "strategy" in it somewhere, for the filter.
Thanx, and good luck again!
