Curse

Zeddicus Tam · Jan 20, 2007, 09:19 AM // 09:19

I can also confirm that this build still works fine. The hardest part is definitely killing the graspings in the first room. As others have said, you have to wait for them to use Distracting Blow. Then put AV/SV up and immediately go into your attack chain. Or if you're quick enough, you can put AV/SV up right before the graspings get to you. This can be pretty risky and can result in an extremely embarrassing death.

I recommend pulling just 1 group at a time before trying all 3 groups so you can practice your timing with the reduced AV/SV duration. So far I've had better success by pulling 1 or 2 groups. It makes it a bit slower but also less stressful.

As far as the smites are concerned, they can be killed exactly as they were before.

SkowroN · Jan 20, 2007, 11:20 AM // 11:20

Build works fine, I did 3 runs just after update, wtih no problems at all. I do this like I used to: Stoneflesh->Striker->Mantra->Haste->SV then aggro. Now it gets tricky because of shortened SV, wait till grasps use Distracts then: Snadstorm->Earthquake->Aftershock wait for one grasp to die and then Stoneflesh. Finish remaining Grasps with Aftershock or just wand them to death.
Only one thing changed: You cant run around with grasps on your shoulders coz SV is going to end really quick. Just aggro, run till you shake Ataxes off then stop and go for your dmg combo. This way SV lasts enough to clean them from energy.

AscalonWarrior · Jan 20, 2007, 01:27 PM // 13:27

I find this almost impossible, due to 1 sec casting time of Rend Echantments. I pull Smites, then DN pops up and I'm done.

blakecraw · Jan 20, 2007, 05:40 PM // 17:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by AscalonWarrior

I find this almost impossible, due to 1 sec casting time of Rend Echantments. I pull Smites, then DN pops up and I'm done.

you can just wait for rend, then use storm djinn's haste and run away and regroup

kumiel · Jan 20, 2007, 06:04 PM // 18:04

This build also works great against minotaurs when you dont have favor. Just wait 1-2 sec after casting Sandstorm before casting Earthquake. The trick is the little delay there.

Zeddicus Tam · Jan 20, 2007, 07:30 PM // 19:30

Something I've noticed while doing this is that having half cast on my spells actually throws my timing off and has led to numerous deaths. So instead of using a staff with HCT, I use a custom made staff with a "Hale and Hearty" inscription.

An inscribable staff that can do the trick (and will be useful just about anywhere) can be crafted in Camp Hojanu by Bolereh. I crafted an Ether Staff (requires Energy Storage) so I can use it with any magic type but an Earth Staff will work too.

So all you need is an inscribable Ether/Earth Staff from Bolereh, a perfect Insightful Staff Head (Energy +5), a "Hale and Hearty" inscription (or another non-HCT inscription of your choice), and a perfect Staff Wrapping of Enchanting.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AscalonWarrior

I find this almost impossible, due to 1 sec casting time of Rend Echantments. I pull Smites, then DN pops up and I'm done.

In addition to blakecraw's suggestion (which I second), I suggest trying to get the Dying Nightmares to pop before engaging any group of Smites. If a Nightmare pops while you're being chased by the Smites, use Stoneflesh Aura and Storm Djinn's Haste as soon as you get rended. Then run away from the Nightmare/Smites and recover if you have to. It's usually possible to pull the Smites and the Nightmares separately.

I can usually run away from the Smites/Nightmares and take out the Nightmares without having to run away to recover but this isn't a sure thing. The trick is to get close enough to the Nightmares so you can quickly kill them and getting far enough away from the Smites so you don't get beat to death without Stoneflesh Aura up. Timing your casting of Stoneflesh Aura is vital to your survival in this type of situation. Typically I cast Stoneflesh Aura, wait for it to get halfway recharged (to shorten the window if I get rended), use Storm Djinn's Haste, and run through the Smites to get the Nightmares to pop.

Enko · Jan 20, 2007, 10:39 PM // 22:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeddicus Tam

I can usually run away from the Smites/Nightmares and take out the Nightmares without having to run away to recover but this isn't a sure thing. The trick is to get close enough to the Nightmares so you can quickly kill them and getting far enough away from the Smites so you don't get beat to death without Stoneflesh Aura up. Timing your casting of Stoneflesh Aura is vital to your survival in this type of situation. Typically I cast Stoneflesh Aura, wait for it to get halfway recharged (to shorten the window if I get rended), use Storm Djinn's Haste, and run through the Smites to get the Nightmares to pop.

Usually what I do is that once I get into UW, cast Storm Djinn's and run around the inner perimeter of the bowl. That agros all the DNs. Run away from the Aatxes and Earthquake the DNs. Once they're dead, then talk to the Lost Soul and bring out the Graspings.

underboss · Jan 20, 2007, 10:49 PM // 22:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Enko

Usually what I do is that once I get into UW, cast Storm Djinn's and run around the inner perimeter of the bowl. That agros all the DNs. Run away from the Aatxes and Earthquake the DNs. Once they're dead, then talk to the Lost Soul and bring out the Graspings.

That's EXACTLY what I do. Works perfectly everytime and you don't have to worry about anything afterwards. As far as smites, I just make sure that if DN pops up I wait for the Rend, put up SDH and run away. Then I quickly put enchants up, comes back and kill DN while aggroing smites. problem solved.

aB- · Jan 20, 2007, 11:01 PM // 23:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by AscalonWarrior

I find this almost impossible, due to 1 sec casting time of Rend Echantments. I pull Smites, then DN pops up and I'm done.

I haven't had the time to try this with all of the new changes, but if you have stoneflesh aura recharged, you could probably start casting it a second or so after you see the dying nightmare pop up. They would rend off the original stoneflesh and the new one would be up before the smites could get many, if any, hits in. Of course, if stoneflesh isn't recharged this wouldn't work, and you could use haste to run away.

Another idea is to aggro the smites without casting stoneflesh. If a nightmare pops up on your aggro, cast haste and let him rend that off, then cast stoneflesh.

blakecraw · Jan 20, 2007, 11:22 PM // 23:22

Just today I accidentally went in UW with three heroes along, so I decided to send them off to play with the aatxes, one at a time in different directions. They aggro'd the nightmares for me, so I may take heroes on purpose in the future for that reason.

Zeddicus Tam · Jan 21, 2007, 08:58 AM // 08:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Enko

Usually what I do is that once I get into UW, cast Storm Djinn's and run around the inner perimeter of the bowl. That agros all the DNs. Run away from the Aatxes and Earthquake the DNs. Once they're dead, then talk to the Lost Soul and bring out the Graspings.

That's a good idea. I'm not sure why I didn't think of that but it works great. Thanks!

d r e a d375 · Jan 21, 2007, 10:57 AM // 10:57

they do get a part of ur money drops

blakecraw · Jan 21, 2007, 01:34 PM // 13:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by d r e a d375

they do get a part of ur money drops

not when they're dead in the first chamber

but yah, running around w/ sdh on works better for aggroing nightmares anyway, so I won't be taking heroes.. not on purpose at least.

speedy21589 · Jan 21, 2007, 02:42 PM // 14:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by blakecraw

not when they're dead in the first chamber

How come it still says you share gold with your party then? even when you are at smites?

I'm pretty sure gold drops are shared no matter how far the heroes are. Unless the statement is bugged and you actually keep all the gold.

blakecraw · Jan 21, 2007, 03:44 PM // 15:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by speedy21589

How come it still says you share gold with your party then? even when you are at smites?

aah I never noticed, I just thought it said "you pick up xxx gold", but yah you're right. No more heroes for me!

AscalonWarrior · Jan 21, 2007, 05:19 PM // 17:19

You do share money, but not drops. Heroes don't take drops if their names are gray.

lunaticmo1 · Jan 26, 2007, 08:59 AM // 08:59

AWBwwV9huCPoW1AsV/q Templet for this build post on front, =)

Hyprodimus Prime · Jan 28, 2007, 01:01 AM // 01:01

is something wrong? Today I wake up to find i cant smite run! I was doing it just yesterday fine. But today it seems as if my enchantments arent lasting long enough. SD haste cant get me past the aatxes, visage isnt draining the energy and stone striker is ending at such unusual times. Is something im doing wrong?

sLiceR · Jan 28, 2007, 08:38 AM // 08:38

do you guys think it is possible to do this with a Me/E?

Koning · Jan 28, 2007, 08:59 AM // 08:59

first of all, if the new skill changes really will be implemented, av/sv is still the way to go. like others already said, just cast it when you lured the grasping group on you after they wasted their interrupts (to lure those out + to be sure, attack once or twice and if you won't get interrupted, you are safe). luring 2 groups at once is still very easy, but most of getting them in the narrow space next to the stairs is risky.
Also I was able to lure all 3 groups at once and kill them when I used glyph of concentration. But this is very very risky and you need perfect timing for it. I could do it only once out of the 3 tries so i stopped wasting money on it, but it's possible.

About your question hyprodimus, I've quickly tested it on kirins in pongmei (since europe hasn't favor yet

) but nothing has changed, still like in the skill description. I'm going to uw later....