Curse

Medion · Aug 14, 2006, 04:24 PM // 16:24

In this post I'll tell you how to solo the Smite Crawlers in the Ice Wastes as a ranger. The Ice Wastes is the area where 55-monks and SS-necro's normally farm.

First off, equipment;
You'll need a Flatbow for pulling as one set. The other set is an axe or sword with a perfect shelter upgrade and a 45/-2 while in stance shield. If the axe or sword has an inherent +5 energy it's better, but I do it without, so certainly possible without the energy mod.
I use full Druids Armor.

Build:

Famine [E]
Sympathetic Visage (SV)
Ancestor's Visage (AV)
Pysical Resistance
Dodge
Storm Chaser
Troll Unguent
-Free Slot- (Suggestions are welcome)

Attributes:
Expertise 8+1
Wilderness Survival 11+3+1
Inspiration Magic 8
Illusion Magic 9

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Getting to the Ice Wastes

This is probably the hardest part. First, you need to activate the quest, after which Grasping Darknesses spawn in between the Bladed Aatxes. First put up the spirit Famine. After this, you'll have to pull the Grasping Darknesses to the left of you VERY carefully, if any Aatxes come along, use dodge to break aggro with the Aatxes, the Darknesses will still follow you. Make sure it's only one group, and not two, because they mix up at times. After you have pulled them, switch to your axe and shield, to reduce damage (do this all the time if you are tanking) Keep Troll Unguent up as much as you can, and Physical Resistance all the time. It is wise to enchant yourself with SV or AV first. Make sure to rotate SV and AV, so you drain the enemies their energy and adrenaline all the time. After a while they start dropping, as they are hit with 0 energy continuously, making Famine work.
Now that you have done the first group to the left, go up the right stairs and run past the two Aatxes there and run alongside the wall untill you hit the door to the Ice Wastes. Now carefully pull one Grasping Darkness group at a time, and kill it as described above. After you have killed both groups, you can run past all the Aatxes and Grasping Darknesses, to the Ice Wastes.
NOTE: Do NOT attack the Aatxes, as they WILL kill you.

The Ice Wastes

Now you have arrived at the Ice Wastes, it's pretty straight forward. Put Famine up, and pull one group of Smite Crawlers. Keep SV and AV up, and they will kill themselves. If you think you can't make it, break aggro with Dodge, you will get rid of them. I have survived groups of 5 smites, but it's quite hard. Always pay extra attention when taking on bigger groups than 3.
I am up till now, unable to kill the Coldfires, as they have a outheal me with Aura of Restoration when I use Apply Poison. If anyone has a solution to this, feel welcome to post it here or PM me. The Coldfires don't kill you however, so don't panick when you accidentally pull aggro, just try to avoid it to speed up the run.

As I don't have a good mesmer, I haven't tested it if it is also possible as Mesmer/Ranger, but as there are no primary skills used, I think you might be able to do it. I think it will just take a little longer.

In both my succesfull runs there dropped:
Enough money to cover the entrance fee
An Ecto
A gold Item
Lots of Merchant crap.

Video

If you wish to duo with a 55-monk, take a look here

Also, Sir Mad made another nice build which can be found on the second page together with a guide!

Hope you'll enjoy solo'ing the Ice Wastes just as much as me!

Added 15 August 2006: Link to a duo build of d00m1n470r after Sir Mad mentioned it.
Added 21 August 2006: Link to the video and added a 'link' to Sir Mad's post on the second page!

Sacron · Aug 14, 2006, 05:22 PM // 17:22

Wow, this sounds amazing, gonna have to try it.

ryanmoore101 · Aug 14, 2006, 06:11 PM // 18:11

it sounds like a really good idea but ectos are not dropping as much now. it would also be better if u could kill the aatax as dodging them may be quite hard.

Medion · Aug 14, 2006, 06:21 PM // 18:21

Dodging the Aatxes isn't very hard really, they often don't hit you at all if you run past them, and if they hit you, it's only once.
It is hard to pull off getting to the smites, don't expect to arrive there the first run you do. It will take a few runs just to practice getting out of the chamber..

Sacron · Aug 14, 2006, 07:38 PM // 19:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryanmoore101

it would also be better if u could kill the aatax as dodging them may be quite hard.

Thats easy to say. You try coming up with a build that can solo aatxes, it is much easier just to run past them.

And how about putting a skill like whirling defense or lightning reflexes in the unused slot. That would reduce damage and may let you take on more than 5 crawlers. Also, you dont say anything about using Storm Chaser in your guide, but i guess its used for running. Would it be possible to run using just dodge and replace Storm Chaser with whirling defense or lightning reflexes?

Medion · Aug 14, 2006, 07:46 PM // 19:46

The Crawlers have to hit you to get the -3 energy on them, besides, you can't use both Physical Resistance and Whirling.
Besides...I haven't met any groups bigger than 5 crawlers, so it's not necesarry I think.

By the way, if you have already done this one, could you please comment on the difficulty and where you have difficulties?
I have most difficulties versus the Grasping Darknesses to the left of where you spawn, the other two groups are rather easy (as easy as it can be in UW that is).

Quote:

it sounds like a really good idea but ectos are not dropping as much now.

Had 3 Ecto drop on my last run

Sacron · Aug 14, 2006, 07:49 PM // 19:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Medion

The Crawlers have to hit you to get the -3 energy on them, besides, you can't use both Physical Resistance and Whirling.
Besides...I haven't met any groups bigger than 5 crawlers, so it's not necesarry I think.

Ah good point, i hadnt thought of that, i was thinking off the top of my head. And no, i havent actually done the run, and i doubt i will get to do it today, i still need to find a weapon/upgrade with +7 phy armor. I have everything else though.

Timmy Shinobi · Aug 14, 2006, 07:50 PM // 19:50

Great guide!

Very nice indeed another solo build that doesnt require you to be a monk or necro to solo UW. Can't wait to try it out.

ColaManiac · Aug 14, 2006, 07:58 PM // 19:58

hmm... how long does it take to complete 1 run?...

Phrozenflame · Aug 14, 2006, 11:17 PM // 23:17

and you dont have to worry about the nightmares popping up! This is a v. nice build

kh1ndjal · Aug 15, 2006, 01:58 AM // 01:58

conjure phantasm to kill the coldfires?

LiQuId StEeL · Aug 15, 2006, 02:52 AM // 02:52

I wish my ranger had skill points

Can't wait to see a vid!

Sir Mad · Aug 15, 2006, 01:05 PM // 13:05

I was about to say great build etc, when I notice someone had bumped this build: http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...php?t=10016212 posted 12 days ago. Erm, are you the same person? Otherwise, mentioning this thread would have been fair...

Back on topic: I'm going to try that - however you mention a shelter upgrade. Smite are monks - do they deal physical damages? Otherwise a defense mod would be better...

Medion · Aug 15, 2006, 02:26 PM // 14:26

Sir Mad, I hadn't seen that thread, I'll add a link to it in a minute so people can read how they are able to duo the whole UW.

I assumed it was physical damage, but I wouldn't know how to test it really...any ideas to get confirmation?

ColaManiac, I'm not sure about how long one run takes, to be honest, I have done it only 3 times so far. So I didn't put my watch next to my computer yet :P . Estimation: ~45 minutes, though could be faster when I figure out a faster way for Grasping Darknesses.

kh1ndjal, I first used Apply Poison, but wasn't able to kill the Coldfires, I doubt one pip will matter...

Sacron, a defensive mod may be enough as well, 2 armour doesn't matter very much when you allready have above 130

.

Sir Mad · Aug 15, 2006, 02:58 PM // 14:58

Quote:

Sir Mad, I hadn't seen that thread, I'll add a link to it in a minute so people can read how they are able to duo the whole UW.

Well I hadn't seen the thread myself when it was published. I just found strange to have 2 threads posted with a simillar build. Apparently I was wrong - sorry about that.

Quote:

I assumed it was physical damage, but I wouldn't know how to test it really...any ideas to get confirmation?

Well the attack frame of the smites is simillar to the attack frame of divine favor staves, which made me think it could be light damage. There is a simple way to check that: use stormchaser when they hit you and check if you gain energy. If you do, that's elemental damage (lightning most likely).

In this case you may not wana have Physical Resistance on when they hit you (as it would lower your armor). Your free slot may be either Mantra of Lightning or Elemental Resistance then. Mantra of Lightning gives you energy whenever they strike but it won't help against coldfires - I haven't tested the run yet so I don't know if having to tank both smites and coldfires happens often and justofy the use of Elemental Resistance over Mantra of Lightning.

Well, again, it's only if they actually deals lightning damage.

Jade Zephyr · Aug 15, 2006, 03:03 PM // 15:03

I thought the smites did holy dmg therefor ignored the physical resistance..

Sir Mad · Aug 15, 2006, 03:33 PM // 15:33

No weapon deals holy damage. Divine favor monks wands deal lightning damage. I doubt any monster deals holy damage either.

Medion · Aug 15, 2006, 04:41 PM // 16:41

Ok, the smites don't deal elemental damage. I think they deal physical anyway, as putting up Physical Resistance helps a lot.

Just did a run in little bit more than 30 minutes by the way.

SnipiousMax · Aug 15, 2006, 04:45 PM // 16:45

^Have you gotten to where you can complete a run everytime? Or is there a certain amount of luck involved? Running past Aataxes is tricky...

Medion · Aug 15, 2006, 06:07 PM // 18:07

Quote:

^Have you gotten to where you can complete a run everytime? Or is there a certain amount of luck involved? Running past Aataxes is tricky...

Not yet I think, the place I die is right at the start, lurring the Darknesses and surviving. They sometimes interupt my SV or AV, using Fear Me to drain me, and I die...but I've put Mantra of Concentration into the free slot for one run, and it went easy (it was the 30 minute run).
Tomorrow I have more time, and I'll do some runs if I'm able to do the complete run everytime.