Best base stats on gear & how to tell if an item is hacked

[darlingm]

I'm saving up to purchase some really nice pieces, but don't want to be cheating, purchasing hacked items.

I made a post the other day about whether I should upgrade my items or purchase new ones. The consensus seemed to be to buy new ones.

I've been going through shops for days now, and am not finding anything in between the gear I have and the ones that look too good to be true to me. I've literally spent hours just checking shops, keeping track of those I've been in.

Should I be able to find gear that's better than mine with base stats, or at this point is it just about getting a piece that can be upgraded 200+?

I'm guessing this is hacked: (I don't have this, I saw it in a shop)
http://i39.tinypic.com/a4766p.jpg

My gear obviously isn't:

http://i42.tinypic.com/qs2sfr.jpg

[Finally]

Can a gear even start at 19% because the bonus shouldn't apply to it if you have chain and that's pristine?

[blizt]

I dont think they can start with 19% resist I just check my entire shop and I dont even have a single 19% piece of armor the max i got is 18% without bonus. Stats are fine I have a few pieces like it with no negatives stats and at least one 300+ stat but they are rare so unlikely alot of people will sell the kind of gear.

[darlingm]

Can a gear even start at 19% because the bonus shouldn't apply to it if you have chain and that's pristine?

I haven't seen something like that before. I don't own that piece, I found it on the floor.

I'm hoping there's a formula or set of rules I can find to easily know.

[Gilgehmesh]

Too convenient... to have hero HP and attack & skills 1 & 2 be very high and rest not as high but still very positive. Fishy. And I have never seen base resist at 19% without set bonus either.

[Alhanalem]

Please visit the hacked item info thread in PC Patch notes to ask about hacked items. Thanks.