Zakum

You can get your Willpower to 5 or maybe 10 to get a small +100/200 HP boost.

Isn't the required hp for zak 2012 without HB? Has that changed over the years? HURRY! GET THE EMERGENCY TUBES AND PIG HEADBANDS!

In the pre-big bang days the hardest hit was 2800-2900 probably 2800 since someone else said that from zak (and then the 1/1 of course). I'm not sure if it's changed now (but if it has it's gone lower which is only good for you). But I recommend trying to get as much more hp as possible. It should be easy with all the rings and belts and things that we can make now. And the hp scrolls give great results now. So scroll cape, gloves, shield, hat, top, and bottom for hp. Equip some rings (the evolving rings give 150 hp, the zombi rings give 100 and are cheep, the adventure rings give 180 hp if you have one of those). Also the emergency rescue tube is great, and there are other hp weapons as well. And you should be able to get 900 more hp without difficulty.

Dark sight does not protect you from magic attacks, only physical attacks (like if you wanted to stand on zakum). But if you get a magic attack while you are in dark sight then you cannot pot and are in danger of death.

I don't recommend unagi as your hp pot because the damage can be higher than the unagi will heal (so a 1/1 followed by falling fire pillars will kill you). Select a pot that heals more than 2800 hp (cheese was really popular back in the day, but now you can probably make something more precise with alchemy).

If the 2800 before defense is right [because I can't be assed to check] then you'd want
1) HB or else you're not going to survive, you're a thief and they're not made of defense
2) Pots that heal most of your HP - if you can jack elixers/power elixers off someone, or just buy a handful of ales you should be fine with those and unagis to cover what the % pot misses. I like the idea of the rope, although I've never had a problem watching the ground for where the stun attack hits and moving accordingly if I can.
So yeah just don't hug him and you should be kosher, good luck on your helm. :3

You could also buy one wheel, with ur hp you can probally survive arms/most of 1st body then u will die and dont res until zak is dead.

You can use potions in dark sight now.