Curse

Asrial · Dec 29, 2006, 06:49 AM // 06:49

I was debating about whether to post this or not. It's not an issue of trying to make it a secret build, but of whether people would find it useful. It's not like there's no shortage of PvE builds out there that can flat out destroy the enemy. However, after my run through Vizunah Square, I decided to share the experience.

After much trial, error and frustration, I finally came up with a build that suited my preferred playstyle: lazy button mashing.

About the only 'awareness' I need is to target healers first.

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ME (W/*): Watch Yourself, Hundred Blades [E], Seeking Blade, Galrath Slash, Distracting Blow, Healing Signet (never used in Vizunah (in fact, never even needed it yet)), Sprint, Resurrection Signet (same as the Healing Signet)

STRENGTH: 10 + 1
SWORDSMANSHIP: 10 + 1 + 1
TACTICS: 10 + 1

GEAR: Major Vigor, Superior Absorption, Zealous Sword of Fortitude (+15% Damage; -5 Energy; customized; +22 health), Exalted Aegis (-5 Damage (20%); +30 health), Duelist's Helm, Gladiator's Cuirass, Knight's Gauntlets, Gladiator's Leggings, Gladiator's Boots

**As you can see, not exactly picture perfect, which makes this even more beautiful**

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ZENMAI (A/R; aggressive): Barrage [E], Distracting Shot, Savage Shot, Critical Eye, Sharpen Daggers, Shadow Refuge, Favorable Winds, Resurrection Signet

MARKSMANSHIP: 12
SHADOW ARTS: 8 + 1
CRITICAL STRIKES: 10

GEAR: Poisonous Nevermore Flatbow

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TAHLKORA (Mo/Me; guard): Blessed Light [E], Healing Whisper, Healing Touch, Gift of Health, Vigorous Spirit, Leech Signet, Power Drain, Restore Life (hasn't been used yet)

INSPIRATION: 8
HEALING PRAYERS: 12
DIVINE FAVOR: 10 + 1

GEAR: Insightful Spiritbinder

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OLIAS (N/E; aggressive): Glyph of Energy [E], Animate Bone Fiend, Glyph of Lesser Energy, Signet of Lost Souls, Barbs [this slot is for Olias to contribute damage more than just the minions; Barbs is great for a boss but too slow for regular creatures], Blood of the Master, Taste of Death, Resurrection Signet

DEATH MAGIC: 12 + 3 + 1
SOUL REAPING: 9 + 1
CURSES: 9 + 1

GEAR: Minor Vigor, Insightful Soul Shrieker

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HENCHMEN: Warrior (I prefer Devona), Assassin (I prefer Emi), Monk, Ritualist

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ALOT of room for improvement with regards to stats and gear, which is great, because you're not going to be breaking the bank to outfit them.

I first created this incarnation when I was about to do the Arborstone mission. I had created it just prior and was watching it like a hawk. Boy was I surprised when I absolutely DESTROYED the mission (Arborstone; 20 minutes) on the first try with NO DEATHS.

Next, I went into Boreas Seabed. 11 minutes, no deaths. I was worried that the kraken would crush me because I only had one interupt that I could easily control (I hate having to control heroes). Hell, I was worried about the fight with Argos!

Next was the trip from Maatu Keep to Sunjiang District. The first clump of afflicted outside Maatu ALWAYS give me problems because of the damn stairs they're behind. ALWAYS someone will die unless I get very lucky.

Well, the hits keep on coming because I smacked them down like they weren't even there. The Assassin henchman DID die on the run to Sunjiang District, but that was.. so far.. the only death under this build. I even stayed to smack down the extra afflicted.

When you get to Sunjiang the first time, the guard sends you to Raisu and then Kisu sends you back to Sunjiang (this time with guards). The second time around, not a single death.. not even a guard.. and I even wiped out the horde of afflicted that bum rush you at the end.

So.. let's get on to Vizunah..

I was SERIOUSLY impressed by this point and wanted to see how this build did under the mass hysteria known as Vizunah Square.

END RESULT: 1 player, 3 heroes, 12 henchmen = 24 minutes with only 1 death (unsure about the other team but only the, again, Assassin henchman died on my side).

I have NEVER gotten Master's on Vizunah, until now, with an all henchman party.

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So.. finally.. how do you use this build?

You target the nearest creature and mash keys 1-4 (with an occasional 5 or 7). Repeat.

Okay.. yeah.. really long post.. but I'm really excited about this build!

[EDIT: Sunjiang District.. 14 minutes..]

Hand of Ruin · Dec 29, 2006, 06:55 AM // 06:55

this should probably be in AI forum, but not bad. I'd replace talkora with a SF hero though.

Asrial · Dec 29, 2006, 06:58 AM // 06:58

I dunno how this build works outside of Cantha, at the moment. I bet it'd destroy Tyria but not sure how it'll do in Elona.

I disagree about adding a SF, in the sense of my offense already being powerful as is.

I DO agree with the best defense being an outstanding offense. Perhaps when I get out of areas with afflicted I can afford to do events that would cause a mass explosion spike

Also, I don't have an Elementalist hero yet

daraaksii · Dec 29, 2006, 10:23 AM // 10:23

Interesting. I need master's on this mission, so will give it a try.

Alleji · Dec 29, 2006, 01:57 PM // 13:57

Dual R/P barragers with "Go for the eyes" > Critical barrager(s).

Your energy management on Olias is way over the top - if you're dropping stuff quickly (and this build should) soul reaping will keep him full. Only glyph LE should be enough. That frees up your elite slot. Also, rotting flesh = broken in PvE. Most of the monsters aren't humans (Jade Brotherhood and Am Fah apparently aren't :/) and don't transmit disease back to you.

Strength is a waste of points if you've got no linked skills. 12/10/8 with minors still leaves you with enough strength to meet a req for str shield.

So yeah... you discovered that raw damage output owns 95% of PvE...

Asrial · Dec 29, 2006, 05:39 PM // 17:39

Alleji's post is exactly why I had second thoughts about even posting this in the first place

strcpy · Jan 04, 2007, 08:23 AM // 08:23

Not a bad build.

You may want to try w/p instead of w/* and a r/p barrager to spam "Go for the eye!" on both - with a good minion party that can add quite a bit of damage. At 9 command the next attack has a 57% chance of being a critical - with a full minion army much better than the single critical barrage assassin in my opinion. Also fits the "mash button build" requirement - anytime the adrenal skill charges - cast it.

Personally I would also drop the healer hero, or at least change her - the hench do a pretty good job at that. I prefer to either bring a prot monk (the hench prot do not do nearly as good a job as an RC prot monk if you have the skills unlocked) or add in another damager. A Searing Flames elementalist hero does a pretty good job and should drop enemies even faster.

One of the things I'm really enjoying with heroes is playing with builds like this - could never do that before. Can not expect PUGS to change that much and couldn't control the hench. I just wish we could have more than three heroes.

carbajac · Jan 04, 2007, 10:19 AM // 10:19

The ideas behind the build seem fine...

but Tahlkora uses Gift of Health along with four other Healing Prayers skills. Every time she uses GoH, she's disabling over half her bar. Also, Heal Touch is one of the reasons the hench monks in Prophecies were so hated; the AI is just not smart enough to use it correctly.

I also agree that your e-management for Olias is a bit extreme, especially for an MM; at least change his elite.

Sophitia Leafblade · Jan 04, 2007, 10:20 AM // 10:20

I got the masters with Olias, Jin and Margid plus Jamei, Cynn, Chiyo amd Aiden.

Skills were:
Olias: Flesh Golem, Bone Fiends, Blood of the Master, Deathly Swarm, Res Signet, Death Nova, Signet of Lost Souls, Consume Corpse

Jin: Barrage [E], Favourable winds, Res Signet, Troll Unguent, Serpents Quickness, Distracting Shot, Charm animal, Comfort Animal

Margid: Barrage [E], Res Signet, Winnowing, Troll Unguent, Serpents Quickness, Distracting Shot, Charm animal, Comfort Animal

Me: Barrage [E], Sunspear Rebirth Signet, Troll Unguent, Serpents Quickness, Charm animal, Comfort Animal, Edge of Extinction, Distracting Shot,

Im pretty sure theres lots of high damage builds that can be used to master this mission this is but 1 of them.

Menzoberranzan · Jan 04, 2007, 10:53 AM // 10:53

I was a Quivering Blade warrior with 2 SF ele heroes and 1 Icy veins MM necro.

Added in Talon to provide another warrior, the two healer henchies and 1 ritualist henchie.

Totally steam rolled the mission with the other team being completely henchmen. Only things that made it slightly longer was Togo and Mhenlo lagging behind wasting time on some Afflicted that later popped up and once when they got stuck behind a building wayyyy behind.

Arutima · Jan 04, 2007, 04:54 PM // 16:54

i got the masters with my ranger using my

ranger squad of rangery death, aka melandru shot spike

Me, margrid, jin with

Melandru shot, crossfire, hunter's shot, read the wind, lighting reflexe, whirling defense, rez (i have fav wind)

Command Morgahn with

"they are in fire!" "stand your ground" "find their weakness" "go for the eyes" "incoming" rez

then healer hench, warrior hench etc.

The other party was a Dervish with quivering blade koss and the two monk heroes.

got the masters with 3 minutes over