User blog comment:ArgonSlayer/Inferno Difficulty/@comment-12.36.188.166-20120619012445

While I agree that it's worthwhile to pursue primary stats and vitality with respect to gemming, I have to respectfully disagree with the stacking of primary attributes on gear. Hell and moreso Inferno modes are about being able to take hits, mitigate damage and survive an encounter instead of focusing on raw damage output. Stat priority should be as follows for every piece of gear:

All Resistance > Vitality > Primary Damage Stat (int, str, dex, etc) - Boots should have 12% movement.

As you progress through Hell mode I would recommend accumulating approximately 300-350 All Resistance. This isn't difficult or expensive to do if you keep an eye out for bargains. All Resistance is more desirable than stacking one type of resistance (unless you're a monk) since it covers everything from physical to poison damage. As you conclude Hell mode and enter Inferno, I would recommend that you have somewhere between 400-450 All Resistance unbuffed.

At that point, look at any talents that can increase your resistances. As a Wizard, I use Magic Armor > Prismatic Armor which raises my resistances into the 600 range. While resistances aren't a guarantee that you'll surive a three pack waller with extra speed and fire or poison, they will at least give you a fighting chance to handle some of the damage while you prepare to use defensive cooldowns.

As an example, watch your follower's health as they stand in nasty stuff. My Templar has 65K health but he dies like a sack of potatoes because he simply has no defensive resistances. If you pursue a solid resistance number (as mentioned above) factor in vitality when you can and add as much damage through tertiary stats, you'll have a much better chance of dealing with the nasty champion packs. They'll never be easy but at least you'll be able to face with them without being one-shotted.

Finally, look for as many defensive talents as possible. Choosing ones that absorb, knock back, stun and fear are great (as mentioned below). For my Wizard, I prefer to use:

Magic Missle > Seeker: for direct damage - Hydra > Venom Hydra: for AoE and kiting - Diamon Skin > Absorption: mitigates damage - Teleport > Fracture: escape and decoy - Magic Armor > Primsatic Armor: additional resistance - Magic Weapon (with the 15% damage buff) For my additional talents, I prefer Galvanizing Ward, Glass Cannon and the talent that reduces cooldowns by 15%.

Having just entered Inferno mode, I've been eaten once by a champion pack and survived three others with a hefty bit of kiting. My 60 monk, who had minimal resist all, died in one shot to a three pack on his first trip past the gates. The difference between adequate resistances and minimal amounts is staggering.

I hope this helps and keep up the great wiki!