Curse

beserk · Nov 06, 2008, 04:17 AM // 04:17

Tried the W/RT verison, and besides a few scatters is alot better than the W/D imo. I had no problems with it like i had with this build (though this is primarly made for D/W).

Paultjuh45 · Feb 13, 2009, 05:30 PM // 17:30

Hey, i've been trying this build now for almost a day (

woow!), and i don't find any difficulty in NM, but in HM mode i get myself killed alot because is till receive around 17-21 dmg from the raptors. I do have my insigna's, AoB and AoS running but i still receive to much dmg to be able to farm them. I could use wary stance earlier so that i won't be hit as many as normal, but then i have to use whirwind attack earlier and i find the raptors still alive, on like 50%, and before they scatter they trow a DS so i can't use mystic sandstorm because i'll get killed in an instant without my enchants... So what am i doing wrong? Is it the timing or is it just badluck or smt?
I'm trying to put a build together which should make the farming in HM a little bit easier it will be based on this build, I still have to test it though.

...So if any1 has some advise to kill those damn ass's, I would appreciate it

Edit; here is the build:

Ok, i think i'm done with the proto-type of the build.. it sounds lik this:

Tactics: 11
Scythe Mastery: 10
Earth Prayers: 10+3+1
(you can also het a rune for Scythe Mastery, so you will lower your scythe mastery and get ur EP higher, or you can have a higher scythe mastery for higher damage)

The Skills(in casting order):
1. Sand Shards
2. Veil of Thorns
3. Armor of Sanctity
4. Vow of Strength
5. "I Am Unstoppable"
6. "By Ural's Hammer!"
7. Wary Stance
8. Chilling Victory

You will have a higher armor rating than the official build, because you have 5 armor more for each armor part, because of your windwalker's insigna's and you have 4 enchantments now, besides you get an armor boost from over 20 from "I Am Unstoppable". Vow of Strenght stacks with "By Ural's Hammer", so you will have more damage. In hard mode the health of raptor nestlings is 380, make sure you're health is higher and you will strike each raptor with something like 45 holy dmg, which will make a spike of 60-70 dmg ea. Because of the higher spikes, the build still works if you aggro'd a lower amount of raptor nestlings.
The counter is that you don't have a speed buff, so you have to shorten the run, which will allow you to turn left right in the beginning of the cavem you can lure the two big spawns plus something like 5-8 more raptors i think.
What's giving me a hard time is that you still receive around 20dmg from the raptors in hard mode, i think you might be able to regain health with a vampiric scythe, as soon as a sand shard triggers you wil regain a major amount of health (and steal another 5 from them for every attack), although I haven't tested that yet so you will hear more about that soon.
Therefore I would recommend for now Stygian Scythe or Scythe of the Kinslayer, they are vampiric and have +20 enchant.

New edit:
I'm pretty noobish, i didn't realise VoS only worked on foes without a condition, so I still have a change the build, i'll be working on it. I've seen one way to make this build work, and that is to swap armor of sanctity for "Save Yourselves!", a suggestion for veil of thorns would be mystic regen or mystic vigor, then you wouldn't even need a vampiric scythe. I'm trying to get "Save Yourselves!" right now, and see if it works.

**Marty Silverblade** · Feb 14, 2009, 12:47 AM // 00:47

Read the SY description again.

It doesn't affect you.

Nechtan Thaumaturge · Feb 14, 2009, 01:22 AM // 01:22

@Paultjuh45: Regarding you troubles with the original build, it sounds like you might not be putting Veil of Thorns up at the right time. Without Veil of Thorns, Armor of Sanctity doesn't trigger and you take an extra 21 damage from the Nestlings. Make sure Veil of Thorns is the last thing you cast (just after Sand Shards) before you start your aggro. Also, make sure you cast it at the mouth of the cave, not at the beginning of the run.

The other possibility is that you're taking too long to aggro and Veil of Thorns simply runs out. You have about 25 seconds of duration on it, which is usually plenty, just be quick and don't make any lengthy detours to aggro stray Nestlings.

Just to recap, Avatar of Balthazar + Veil of Thorns + Armor of Sanctity is the combo that keeps you alive. You also need 15-16 Earth Prayers, 70 AL armor and Windwalker insignias. Lacking any of these things will generally cause problems. Feel free to whisper me in game, ign Nechtan Thaumaturge, if you need additional help.

Paultjuh45 · Feb 14, 2009, 07:59 AM // 07:59

Ok, thanks. I think it's just the timing, but my run doesn't last as long as on the video so i don't think that's the problem. When you start the run you can take the first to the left, so left before the big rock, in that way you will aggro most of the raptor nestlings and you will only have like 4 raptors less, but it's only a run of like 8 seconds.
I'll keep trying and i might contact you on GW for some more advise