I don’t think it’s the optimal choice because it’s still a bit slower compared to Thresher/Giant Thresher/Mancatcher, but Stygian Pike should be the easiest one to find a 4os eth so it’s nice for that. Stygian Pike is a nice option now, but mostly because it’s easier to find since it has max 4 sockets but then doesn’t have the high strength requirement that Colossus Voulge (the only other max 4 socket option) has, and it’s a bit faster than Colossus Voulge too. With the 5 and 6 max socket bases you’d be rolling on a 1/6 chance with the cube recipe or hoping for a natural 4os drop. Then the bases that get max 4os (Colossus Voulge, Stygian Pike) will be a bit easier to find because if you get one with no sockets you can Larzuk it to get 4 sockets (or rolling on a 3/6 chance with the cube recipe).

Ogre Axe and Hyperion Spear are automatically out as they can’t get 4 sockets. There’s some consideration with max sockets too. So it’s basically just about picking what speed you want. Higher speed weapons have lower base damage. Within each speed category, the average damage is usually pretty much identical. 10: Thresher, Giant Thresher, Hyperion Spear (max 3os) Hyperion Spear is roughly the same as Tresher/Giant Thresher except Hyperion Spear is max 3os so can’t be an Infinity base.Ġ: Ogre Axe (max 3os), Great Poleaxe, Stygian Pike, Ghost Spear

There’s really nothing new here compared to Great Poleaxe. The dex requirement on Ghost Spear is pretty high, but it’s still usable, it’s not quite as bad as Colossus Voulge - an eth Ghost Spear should be wearable on a level 85 merc (91 for non-eth). Same speed, same average damage, but wider damage range. Stygian Pike and Ghost Spear are roughly the same as Great Poleaxe (and Ogre Axe, but that only has max 3os so can’t be an Infinity base). The other spears have roughly equivalent polearms for speed/average damage, so nothing really changes there other than you having a couple more options depending on what you find. The only spears that really change the equation are War Pike (slower than any of the elite polearms but with the highest base damage) and Mancatcher (faster than any of the elite polearms but with lower base damage).

Diablo 2 best infinity base