Best combat item under 1k gold?

[Genuine]

Ok, so I'm thinking about just grabbing a healing belt - it just stays useful for so long (really, it's good to have until I can afford a belt of battle or a monk's belt).

Any other thoughts for a single item that costs less than 1,000gp? It's intended for a melee combat character.

[sirpercival]

What sort of melee?

[Genuine]

I'm going to run a crusader with a reach weapon. We start out level 1.

[sirpercival]

And what gear do you already have?  Healing belt is good... are custom items allowed?

[TSS]

Healing Belt. Most of the other good and cheap items are a little higher than 1,000. There's very little competition in that price range, and the few other cheap items don't provide nearly the same utility value. Closest is Brute Gauntlets but that's more a thing for when 500 gold becomes insignificant, but you have nothing better to put there yet. That means after the Healing Belt and after a few other minor items.

[StreamOfTheSky]

Brute Gauntlets and Chronocharm of the Horizon Walker are both nice 500 gp items.  Boots of Agile Leaping are 600 and let you stand from prone as a swift w/o provoking.  Some weapon or armor crystals might also be worth looking at.  All in the MIC.  If you have UMD, the wand chambers from Dungeonscape are quite helpful.

[muktidata]

Similar thread.

[phaedrusxy]

Steadfast Boots are quite fun. I can't remember if they're under 1k, but they're close if not. They treat you as always having readied against anyone who charges you, and you get double damage as long as you're wielding a 2-handed weapon.