Curse

Sora267 · Dec 07, 2008, 07:35 PM // 19:35

The Raptor Farming Compendium

Table of Contents

I. Introduction
II. General outline/info
III. Builds
IV. Credits

Introduction

Well, considering that Wintersday is coming up, and that Raptor farming is amazing for holiday drops, I figured that a lot of people might want to start farming who haven't before for holiday drops. Also considering that there's around 30-50 threads on Raptor farming scattered on Guru and another 10-ish builds on PvX, finding a good build might get a little overwhelming for some. As such, I've decided to create a thread with Raptor farming builds in both NM and HM for every profession.

This thread will contain various builds, whether it be links to PvXwiki, GWG posts, or quotes from sections of GWG posts. Now, obviously, there's going to be some professions for which I don't have builds for. This is where you, the knowledgeable inhabitants of the Farming board [/suckup] come in! I ask of you to post any build which may either A) be an improvement over a current build, or B) be of a profession of which I don't have listed. Also, as I don't have time to test every single build in NM and HM, I'd appreciate it if you would tell me if an HM build works in NM, and vice versa.

General outline/info

Raptor farming is farming the Raptor Nestlings in a small cave outside of Rata Sum in Eye of the North.

They are located in the cave with the Assassin symbol on it.

In this cave, there are 33 Raptor Nestlings and an Assassin boss. The Raptor Nestlings are split up into three groups: One towards the far side of the cave, one in the middle, and one in a group with the boss. The Nestlings themselves aren’t much of a problem; In NM, they’re level 15, their only attack skill, [Disrupting Stab], is blockable, and they only have about ~200 health. In HM, they’re a little higher level, have more health, and attack faster, but they’re still not much of a threat. Most, if not all, professions can farm these effectively.

The boss, Rekoff Broodmother, is a little more difficult to farm. She has a skill called [[Twisting Jaws], which is a touch skill which steals 120 health (This is life stealing, so it’s hard to get around) and inflicts Bleeding and a Deep Wound. She also uses [Wild Strike], which removes any stances you are in. Despite this, with many builds, she is still a pushover.

Raptor farming became popular shortly after the release of EotN. The Raptor nestlings drop Elemental Swords, and chests in the cave can reward [www.wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Saurian Scythe]Saurian Scythes[/url], both of which were worth well over 100 platinum at that time. As a result of mass farming, both of these items are worth less than 15 platinum at this point in time.
However, Raptor farming still remains popular because of the fact that one can kill around 30 foes in a minute and a half, give or take 15 seconds, in Hard Mode. It is mainly farmed in HM for gold drops. During special event drop weekends, people farm here in Normal Mode. It is much faster in NM than HM, but the amount of event item drops remains constant throughout both modes. As a result, one can farm more event drops in NM than in HM.

Builds

Note: If you have any questions on individual builds, click the link and read around the thread/wiki discussion page (if on PvX) first. If it’s not up there, you can ask and hopefully someone will answer your question.

[i]Note: Most of the HM builds also work in NM.[/url]

If you have any additions, feel free to post!

Any Profession

Any/W - [any/ Raptor farmer;OAESI5KT4F0F8FKF7gBAAAAAA] (Source) (Unsure)
Any/E – Mist Form (Casters only) (HM)

Warrior

W/Rt - VWK Farmer(HM)
W/D – Sand shards/Whirlwind Attack(HM)
W/E – Defy Pain/Sliver Armor(HM)

Assassin

A/E – Perma SF Raptor farmer
A/E – Perma Sliver Form (HM) Highly popular build, can farm most other places as well.

Elementalist

E/Me – Elite-less Raptor Farmer (HM)
E/Me – Mist Form Raptor Farmer (HM)
E/Me –

Quote:

Originally Posted by Voodoo Rage

or for NM event item farming, you can REALLY knock em dead with this build:

[build=OgVEMWyryG4uJoGB7KrqrA]

1 at entrance, 2-3-4-5-6-7-8 at broodmother's group (should knock all nestlings dead instantly).

Mesmer

Me/E - Elite-less Raptor Farmer Scroll down to the appropriate section of the first post. (HM)
Me/E – SOI/Sliver (HM)

Dervish

D/W – AoB/Sand Shards (HM)
D/A - [D/A Raptor Farmer;Ogej8xrDLTHY8I6MbbjX0XulBMA]

Ranger

R/E -

Quote:

Originally Posted by Voodoo Rage

Mist Farmer is WAY better (that's my baby). If you've captured the Asuran Skill Mindbender (and have a decent Asuran rank), you can replace the first two skills entirely, opening up an optional slot (I added throw dirt for the heck of it to reduce interrupts even further). Mindbender is nice because it reduces casting times (and therefore interruptions!). BTW, the Whirling Defense is there purely for interrupt prevention. It does not damage since you are not getting hit by projectiles. This build is superior because it is more predictable, you very rarely get interrupted compared to the older build (about 1 in 10).

[build=OgYTk4FfHatU4gdAVA1AukHKXEA]

R/E - [HM Raptor Escape-Farmer;OgYSk4LTbV3lAHoCoGwl8Q5iA] (HM)

Ritualist

Rt/Me – VWK farmer (HM)

Paragon

Suggestions needed!

Monk

Mo/Me – 55/105 HP Monk (HM)

Necromancer

N/A – Shadow Form NM farmer
N/A – Shadow Form HM Farmer (HM)

Credits:

The folks over at PVXwiki and every single poster on Guru who I’ve linked to/quoted, as well as those who have helped them improve their builds! Without any of you, this thread would not be possible!

Piercing Them · Dec 07, 2008, 10:46 PM // 22:46

What a great idea my man!!!....
oh and thank you for the necro HM build....
I don't understand the rock thing though can someone show me a video or the plac ei need to be in a screenshot???

the savage nornbear · Dec 07, 2008, 11:35 PM // 23:35

The any/Ele one does not work. [[Glyph of Concentration] only works on one spell now, making this build rely heavily on luck and chance.

Eragon Zarroc · Dec 07, 2008, 11:39 PM // 23:39

wow very nice. never knew that thee were so many different builds spread out among so many pproffesions

The New Bp · Dec 07, 2008, 11:50 PM // 23:50

Boss agro is ok i use a fire nuke build so there dead after the first Twisting Fangs so u have time to pick up drops then /resign when u appear in Rata press x then r rinse and repeat

Cast SF on the 2 x's make sure u run aroun the rock in one motion or ull get stuck (rock on top not Broadmothers rock). check the time on the screen as well 1 min :P

BTW u can use the modded Perma/sliver as well i think this is faster

Hope this helps Happy Hunting

EDIT: This build is For NM only They Break Aggro In HM Very fast They no likey the AoE

Also To better expand how it works cast all skills in order as u can... They should all be dead after your last cast

go cubs · Dec 07, 2008, 11:51 PM // 23:51

u could add the derv build too....i dont got it but....i use it lol

Sora267 · Dec 08, 2008, 12:14 AM // 00:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by the savage nornbear

The any/Ele one does not work. [[Glyph of Concentration] only works on one spell now, making this build rely heavily on luck and chance.

IIRC, the build wars made after that particular nerf, so as far as I know, it still works.

Piercing Them · Dec 08, 2008, 04:47 AM // 04:47

still the same build or what??? Did it changed...because yeah i noticed that you have to be lucky to survive!

Mr.Kotte · Dec 08, 2008, 11:16 AM // 11:16

[P/Mo Raptors ?;OQOjYanM6SpbyknYxlpYsYqYyDA]
This could probably work...
Not my build.. Got it off youtube..

Voodoo Rage · Dec 08, 2008, 04:56 PM // 16:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by the savage nornbear

The any/Ele one does not work. [[Glyph of Concentration] only works on one spell now, making this build rely heavily on luck and chance.

It does, but it's a bit of a touchy build. The description is flawed. You want to precast Magnetic Aura also at the cave entrance (it should last long enough for you to aggro). Also be sure that you let the raptors tag you now and then to keep up Mental Block (if your profession has another blocking skill like Ranger's Whirling Defense, try that instead). The key to the non-Mes (which would use the anti-interruption skill Mantra of Resolve) mist form builds is to not get sliver interrupted. All raptors will lead with disrupting stab. Before I switched to the elementalist (by far the superior raptor farmer if you can get one up to Rata) I did a ton of farming with the Ranger build. What I found is to let the raptors completely mob you (and waste their disrupting stab spell) and THEN cast the sliver. Once you get the timing down, interrupts are not a big issue. Use Glyph of Sacrifice instead of Concentration. Also don't forget that you will cast Mist Form somewhere in the middle of your aggro (as the Glyph of Sacrifice begins to blink).

Again, however you design the build you want all your blocking skills up and running by the time you cast sliver armor.

Sora267 · Dec 09, 2008, 12:20 AM // 00:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr.Kotte

[P/Mo Raptors ?;OQOjYanM6SpbyknYxlpYsYqYyDA]
This could probably work...
Not my build.. Got it off youtube..

Thanks! Is that for NM or HM? And could you also post the URL of the video?

Fuzzy Taco · Dec 09, 2008, 12:37 AM // 00:37

baaaaaaaaad memories in that post.

also, the necro HM raptor farmer you've got there is nerfed with the damage nerf to SF - i'll edit this post with a new template later.

FYI, the Any/E HM build works - you just need to use Glyph>Mist>Mag Aura>Glyph>Sliver.

sentex · Dec 09, 2008, 09:58 AM // 09:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by go cubs

u could add the derv build too....i dont got it but....i use it lol

I think you're talking about this:

[D/A Raptor Farmer;Ogej8xrDLTHY8I6MbbjX0XulBMA]

It's the one that i use, and it works very well

**Marty Silverblade** · Dec 09, 2008, 11:03 AM // 11:03

I'd say he/she is talking about the D/W one. I've never seen that D/A one before, at least not that I remember anyway.

Mr.Kotte · Dec 09, 2008, 11:49 AM // 11:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sora of the Divine

Thanks! Is that for NM or HM? And could you also post the URL of the video?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqwoft73p_U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mr-7c3msmdQ
(None for raptors, hence the "?" on the build)
My best guess would be NM, as HM causes scatter..

monolito · Dec 09, 2008, 12:49 PM // 12:49

Before I started farmin HM raptors with my R/E I used the E/Me build wich looks like this:
http://www.pvxwiki.com/wiki/Build:E/Me_Raptor_Farm
Switch Ward Against Foes to Glyph of Renewal if You want to be sure You can kill ALL raptors and their mommy.
A few tips on using this build:
-when You gather aggro always let the raptors attack Your back side

Don't ask me!I've noticed if You let them come at ya' head on they will gather all around You but when You turn ur back on em they gather in one spot and don't tend to gather roun...maybe cos they really liked my female ele's bum bum XD
-another useful thing-when You aggro Rekoff's group and she is running to u hit:
Magnetic Aura->Glyph of Renewal.Wait till she comes near ya and uses her Twisting Jaws.Immidiately use Sliver and then Ether Feast.
The reason why You r using GoR before Sliver is u cannot always get Sliver to target her and sometimes it targets her too late.Magnetic Aura has a nice duration but Sliver aint and when Sliver runs out ur basically doomed coz MA won't keep You alive for too long(probably coz Rekoff might use her Wild Strike->Mantra gets pwned and u r not able to cast ANYTHING at all).If Sliver runs out before Rekoff dies You can cast it again because u recharged it with Renewal,remeber?OF course use Ether Feast as often as possible when Rekoff is alive.If You don't understand what I'm saying then it's not a ptoblem-JUST DO WHAT I SAY IF U DON'T WANNA DIE!I can only say I was able to survive Rekoff's full rage(Unsuspecting Strike hit me and after that Twisting Jaws) using the above combo.The GoR variant is able to clear the whole cave without a problem.
The run itself takes around 2.30.Feel free to ask any questions.
BTW
If you accidentaly aggro the grown up raptors you will most likely die.

Voodoo Rage · Dec 09, 2008, 08:09 PM // 20:09

Does anyone actually know how sliver is coded to decide who to target? It generally seems to prefer the broodmother first but occasionally will ignore her for a very long time (I've taken down 20+ nestlings without the broodmother ever getting targeted on my initial cast).

Here's what I am currently using:

[build=OgVEMWyryGFBYCgKsWyOkLyDhDC]

1-2-3-4, run through cave quickly before the running skill blinks out, 5-6-7-8 and repeat once after broodmother goes down. Very quick (like 70-80 second runs) depending on your Sunspear and Vanguard ranks. If you don't have max asuran, substitute Armor of Mist for Mindbender (MB won't last long enough). You also have to be somewhat skilled at avoiding the nestlings as you WILL take damage before you cast your mist form obviously. +20% enchanting mod is a must.

BrettM · Dec 09, 2008, 08:51 PM // 20:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Voodoo Rage

Here's what I am currently using:

[build=OgVEMWyryGFBYCgKsWyOkLyDhDC]

1-2-3-4, run through cave quickly before the running skill blinks out, 5-6-7-8 and repeat once after broodmother goes down.

Shouldn't you be casting Intensity before casting Sliver Armor?

Voodoo Rage · Dec 09, 2008, 09:30 PM // 21:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrettM

Shouldn't you be casting Intensity before casting Sliver Armor?

It doesn't really matter either way. They both last 10 seconds (+20% from enchanting mod), so one will always run out within a second of the other.

Coney · Dec 09, 2008, 10:19 PM // 22:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by the savage nornbear

The any/Ele one does not work. [[Glyph of Concentration] only works on one spell now, making this build rely heavily on luck and chance.

Really? I was using it during Halloween on my ranger (so substituted the EotN 50% block skill with Ranger 75% one), and it seemed to work fine. Took me about an hour to really master how it worked (activate certain skill[s] while moving and raptors outside melee), but once I did, I'd only die about 1 every 10-20 runs...
[build=OgYTk4FfHydQZgdAVQ4AukHKXEA]