Curse

MercenaryKnight · Aug 21, 2008, 01:15 AM // 01:15

I finally gave in and made an assassin. I also have an elementalist that I can use.

I know before all the nerfs and stuff, that everyone used an e/a with meteor shower, bed of coals and a few other spells to instantly nuke as many nestlings at once and left the boss alive.

Is eles still the fastest for raptor nestlings to gain a lot of event item drops? Or is it more worthwhile to try and use an assassin build.

Also, for the glacial stone farming I know they have a lot of elemental resistance. So would an assassin be better in that area? Maybe using golden phoenix/ death blossom while body blocking them all against a left wall. Throw in radiation field or some form of aoe degen to help aid the killing?

I have searched and asked in the appropriate threads, trying to figure out what is the optimal choices now for quickest farms. But I didn't really get any answer.

As soon as I get some advice this can be quickly closed or deleted.

Jade · Aug 21, 2008, 01:25 AM // 01:25

I use Ele for both, try these out.

[Raptor Ele;OgVDMZycSoCfVlC5i8QoAmARAA]

[Spectral Ele;OgVEMKSJz3I91GfVDwSQrmNWiA]

I use both in HM.

boogerboy72 · Aug 21, 2008, 01:33 AM // 01:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jade

I use Ele for both, try these out.

[Spectral Ele;OgVEMKSJz3I91GfVDwSQrmNWiA]

I use both in HM.

replace arcane with ether nightmare. im getting 4 min runs

uzumaki · Aug 21, 2008, 01:50 AM // 01:50

4 mins is pretty bad, for raptor farming i would go with perma sf, ebon battle standard + sliver & intensity/glyph of ele power. 2 slivers will kill 25+ (including boss) & take 1-2minutes

for spectral vaettirs you could use perma sf ether nightmare + cry of pain at a choke point, you can clear the side with 36 and rezone in ~2 minutes or kill all in 4-5 minutes

hihi

kerpall · Aug 21, 2008, 02:23 AM // 02:23

I found one of the better methods to farming glacial stones was with a basic 55 monk SoJ build, if you have a monk lying around. If you've played for awhile, your bound to have made a monk at one point or another for farming, lol.

Dante the Warlord · Aug 21, 2008, 03:36 AM // 03:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by uzumaki

4 mins is pretty bad, for raptor farming i would go with perma sf, ebon battle standard + sliver & intensity/glyph of ele power. 2 slivers will kill 25+ (including boss) & take 1-2minutes

for spectral vaettirs you could use perma sf ether nightmare + cry of pain at a choke point, you can clear the side with 36 and rezone in ~2 minutes or kill all in 4-5 minutes

hihi

Hes asking for ele main builds, and i don't think there is....

MercenaryKnight · Aug 21, 2008, 07:56 AM // 07:56

I will be able to roll an assassin or elementalist primary. I was just trying to figure out the fastest builds, since I assume it's no longer possible to instagib the nestlings in hm like before with all the nukes now thanks to the 33% reduction in damage.

I figure assassin would probably be easy, I saw a youtube video with golden phoenix strike, death blossom and burning speed that can kill them fairly quickly. Though I would assume that adding radiation field for more aoe degen would speed it up considerably if they do get diseased.

Just wasn't sure if the new/ only way to run raptors was sliver with the ebon ward and a snare for the boss.

Nechtan Thaumaturge · Aug 21, 2008, 08:13 AM // 08:13

These are the fastest builds I could find and/or come up with (all Hard Mode):

[build prof=E/Mo name="Spectral Vaettir" earth=12+3+1 protection=11 fire=6+3 energy=2 desc="330 hp, 15 AL, +20% enchantment duration"][Protective Spirit][Stoneflesh Aura][Glyph of Swiftness][Obsidian Flesh][Crystal Wave][Burning Speed][Spirit Bond][Balthazar's Spirit][/build]
With a favorable spawn and no mistakes, you can clear the Vaettirs in under four minutes with this build. You can aggro without having Obsidian Flesh up, and there are no issues with scattering. My best time is 3:41, from warp in to warp out.

[build prof=E/A name="E/A Raptor" earth=12+3+1 shadow=12 energy=3+1][Shadow Form][Glyph of Elemental Power][Sliver Armor][Ebon Battle Standard of Honor][Crystal Wave][Intensity][Air of Superiority][Dark Escape][/build]
The Earth version of the E/A Raptor build still works, it just takes longer -- something like 90 seconds.

[build prof=E/Me name="E/Me Raptor" earth=12+3+1 energy=9+1 inspiration=9][Glyph of Renewal][Sliver Armor][Ebon Battle Standard of Honor][Crystal Wave]["You Move Like a Dwarf!"][Channeling][Stoneflesh Aura][Mantra of Resolve][/build]
Or, there's the E/Me build, which never got nerfed. You need some sort of armor bonus to make this particular variation work well (I use Blessed Insignias and carry a shield with +10AL vs. Piercing damage), but it allows you to swap out some defensive skills for offensive ones. Make sure to knock down Rekoff with "You Move Like a Dwarf!" as she comes into range of Sliver Armor. This build is only about 10-15 seconds slower than the E/A version, but you're still getting a sub-two minute run.

Lastly, if you just want to kill the Nestlings, you can run the old Sandstorm + Earthquake + Aftershock combination as an E/Me, just stay away from the boss.

Dante the Warlord · Aug 21, 2008, 02:14 PM // 14:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nechtan Thaumaturge

[build prof=E/A name="E/A Raptor" earth=12+3+1 shadow=12 energy=3+1][Shadow Form][Glyph of Elemental Power][Sliver Armor][Ebon Battle Standard of Honor][Crystal Wave][Intensity][Air of Superiority][Dark Escape][/build]
The Earth version of the E/A Raptor build still works, it just takes longer -- something like 90 seconds.

That looks a little strange... would SF run out fast?

Nechtan Thaumaturge · Aug 21, 2008, 03:51 PM // 15:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dante the Warlord

That looks a little strange... would SF run out fast?

Sometimes that's a problem, but not usually. You're essentially betting that you can kill the boss or get a recharge from Air of Superiority before Shadow Form runs out, but it's a pretty safe bet. I'd say it works at least 90% of the time. I generally cast Shadow Form just as I start to aggro, then hit Dark Escape to speed that up. Also, I start laying down the damage spells as soon as I get the message "Defeat Rekoff Broodmother", which saves a few seconds as well. It also helps to have a high rank of Ebon Vanguard, but after the update, you shouldn't need a lot, really.

gerg-nad · Aug 21, 2008, 06:29 PM // 18:29

You should use Air of Superiority with many of these, especially with rapters as you have a good chance of recharging the whole bar and recasting SF With the SF nerf Degen builds work well for Rapters in HM and Sliver is only there for the boss, usually with the Ebon Battle Standard.

Damian979 · Aug 21, 2008, 06:58 PM // 18:58

E/Me [glyph of swiftness][mist form][mental block][channeling][mantra of resolve][ebon battle standard of honor][arcane echo][sliver armor] 20% enchant weapon shield of devotion w/ "fear cuts deeper" inscr

Everytime I try to degen raptors in hm they scatter and heal constantly so I use this. Keeps up Mist Form permanently and it gives enough time to glyph every other sliver so there is very little down time to doing damage.

runs avg 2 min give or take a bad angorodon spawn.

Vaettirs: standard E/Me terra tank with echo crystal/sliver. 3 mins of drawing aggro, one min of killing.

asian i am · Aug 21, 2008, 07:35 PM // 19:35

for the vaettirs u can still use the a/e burning speed just get them all gathered at a choke point takes about a 1 minute or 2

Dzjudz · Aug 22, 2008, 10:41 PM // 22:41

I started farming the raptors yesterday, I'm using the build:

[build prof=E/Me name="E/Me Raptor" earth=12+3+1 energy=9+1 inspiration=9][Stoneflesh Aura][Armor of Earth][Channeling][Mantra of Resolve][Mental Block][Sliver Armor][Intensity][empty][/build]

Start with 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5, run around aggroing all the nestlings, keeping up 1, 2, 3 and 4 (usually only takes a 2nd cast of Stoneflesh Aura). Finally aggro the boss and cast 6 & 7 when he's within sliver ranger. No need for an extra skill. You could probably add something like Ebon Battle Standard of Honor or Glyph of Renewal.
Oh yeah, use a 20% enchanting weapon to keep up Stoneflesh Aura, possibly a 40/20/20 earth staff.

Nechtan Thaumaturge · Aug 23, 2008, 10:13 PM // 22:13

I rethought the Raptor builds I posted earlier and came up with a couple of improvements:

[build prof=E/A name="E/A Raptor" earth=12+3+1 shadow=12 air=3+1][Shadow Form][Glyph of Elemental Power][Sliver Armor][Ebon Battle Standard of Honor][Crystal Wave]["By Ural's Hammer!"][Air of Superiority][Storm Djinn's Haste][/build]I just changed the running skill here, but it allows you to run the entire time and drops 5-10 seconds off run times.

[build prof=E/Me name="E/Me Raptor" earth=12+3+1 energy=9+1 inspiration=9][Shockwave][Sliver Armor][Ebon Battle Standard of Honor]["By Ural's Hammer!"]["You Move Like a Dwarf!"][Channeling][Stoneflesh Aura][Mantra of Resolve][/build]Considering the recharge you get from the boss and the fact that two Sliver Armors pretty much is all that's required, I ditched Glyph of Renewal for Shockwave, which hits for more than Crystal Wave, and added "By Ural's Hammer!".

Lastly, I'm a little curious about why no one has mentioned Ether Nightmare + Arcane Echo + Cry of Pain for the Vaettirs using an E/Me build. With the maximum Sunspear and the minimum Kurzick/Luxon rank, there's your requisite 600 damage, in three skills and maybe 25 seconds of casting/waiting. Also, there are no scattering worries (unlike A/Me perma-Shadow Form, don't ask me why), and you have one slot open for Storm Djinn's Haste or Sliver Armor, if you don't like the simultaneous kills from the standpoint of drops. I usually run the E/Mo build I posted earlier, but if you're accustomed to E/Me, then this idea sounds pretty good to me. Am I missing something?

EDIT: swapped out Intensity for "By Urals' Hammer!" since it's easier to cast

Dzjudz · Aug 23, 2008, 11:37 PM // 23:37

I've found that GoR is very handy to kill off the remaining nestlings, as it lets you keep up sliver armor 100% of the time.

MercenaryKnight · Aug 29, 2008, 02:14 AM // 02:14

So I am guessing the old instant nuke all the nestlings then grab the loot before shadow form ran out and boss kills you is pretty much gone. Guess I will try to grab a few pve skills on my ele before tomorrow.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JYdJ...eature=related build of the old farm if you were wondering what I was talking about.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGmB53IxzSM guess this is about the fastest I can get, unfortunately have to get air of superiority and the vanguard ward as well as increase some of the ranks heh.

Mr.Kotte · Aug 29, 2008, 07:02 AM // 07:02

For a fast glacial stone farm, I use:
[deadly paradox][arcane echo][shadow form][channeling][ether nightmare][cry of pain][wandering eye][dash]
Note that I use this on my mesmer, however, it should be viable for an assassin too. 12 Shadow arts, 12 Illusion Magic, rest in Inspiration Magic.
I do 3 min runs with this build.

EDIT: use the "AI always scatter left" trick.

cataphract · Aug 29, 2008, 07:20 AM // 07:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Damian979

Everytime I try to degen raptors in hm they scatter and heal constantly so I use this.

I farm them with a 55 monk and use Radiation Field to counter their regen.

Dzjudz · Aug 29, 2008, 10:31 AM // 10:31

Ok, to come back on my build. I've been farming these for a week now (see my previous posts) with my ele. My final build looks like this:

[build prof=E/Me name="E/Me Raptor" earth=12+3+1 energy=9+1 inspiration=9][Stoneflesh Aura][Armor of Earth][Channeling][Mantra of Resolve][Mental Block][Glyph of Renewal][Sliver Armor][Grasping Earth][/build]

Magnetic Aura doesn't work very well, since it has a long recharge and in the downtime you lose a lot of energy due to Mantra of Resolve, possibly even leading to energy management problems, even with 80+ base energy. Mental Block is superior in that regard, you don't even have to recast it. Grasping Earth is very useful, because Rekoff will often try to run away from sliver. Glyph of Renewal is very handy with Sliver Armor. I guess you could use it with Magnetic Aura as well, but that's not very efficient if trying to use GoR on both Magnetic Aura and Sliver Armor.