Curse

dorkxd · Jan 31, 2006, 03:12 PM // 15:12

First things first! Questions can go in-game to: Brood Awakening. I don't visit the forums often enough to answer each and every one.

Streaming Videos: Here
Downloadable Videos: Here

I have created these works in hope to make Mo/W UW farming a little easier. With this you will be armed with knowledge in many areas of the Underworld, and how to solo it efficiently and effectively. You will die alot less, making your investment turn more towards black... and out of the red. I recommend that you read through the document, watching videos as you go along, rather than just watching the videos only. A lot of information must be read before the video will be completely understood. To view videos, click on a "See Video" image. If the video is too small, select the size drop down box under it and pick "original".

ATTRIBUTES:

Mo/W
Healing Prayers: 13
Smiting Prayers: 16
Protection Prayers: 9
Divine Favor: 9

Attributes used: 200/200
Note: These attributes require that both +15 attribute quests are completed.

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EQUIPMENT:

Armor? Most would argue that Ascetic Tattoo patterns are a must for this build, but I've ran it using the collectors armor with no added modifications. Added bonuses to physical or elemental defense will not yield any difference here. Infact, the only modification that will help you is extra energy or extra percents on your enchantments. Energy bonuses are nice, which is why 9/10 monks use the tattoos.

As you can see in the videos, I use Ascetic's for energy an energy boost a +1 smiting scalp design. If you don't want to purchase another armor set for this build, just use your current and you'll do fine.

Weapon + Offhand? I like to use the collectors axe located east of Fort Ranik (which is no longer there anymore :P), Fiery Flame Spitter. This axe gives a +10% skill recharge bonus on all skills and is upgradable by using an enchanting mod, making your enchantments and firepower last up to 20% longer. If you don't have an axe like this, you could use a number of alternatives including the collectors Holy or Smiting Rod, a +5 eng (while enchanted) or (>50% hp) rod, or Wroths and Gordacs work well too!

Your offhand must be none other than the -50hp Grim Cesta from the Ascalon quest "Cities of Ascalon". You get can this quest by visiting Simeon the Scribe in Ascalon City.
Note: Your armor must be included with 5 superior monk runes. I use Healing, Smiting, Protection, and 2 Divine's (their the cheapest).

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SKILL SETUP:

Bonetties Defense
For 5-10 seconds, you have a 75% chance to block incoming melee attacks and arrows. You gain 5 energy for each successful melee attack blocked. Bonetti's Defense ends if you use a skill.

Protective Spirit
For 5-19 seconds, target ally cannot lose more than 10% health due to damage from a single attack or spell.

Healing Breeze
For 10 seconds, target ally gains health regeneration of 3-8.

Shield of Judgment
For 8-20 seconds, anyone striking target ally with an attack is knocked down and suffers 5-50 damage.

Zealots Fire
For 60 seconds, whenever you use a skill on an ally, all foes adjacent to your target are struck for 5-35 fire damage.

Sprint
For 8-13 seconds, you move 25% faster.

Balthazars Spirit
While you maintain this enchantment, target ally gains adrenaline and energy after taking damage. In addition to the initial energy cost, you also lose 1 point of energy regeneration while the enchantment is in effect.

Mending
While you maintain this enchantment, target ally gains health regeneration of +1-3. In addition to the initial energy cost, you also lose 1 point of energy regeneration while the enchantment is in effect.

UPON ENTRANCE:

Instead of rounding up our first group of aatxe, we'll take the time to scan for nightmares. Up next I'll show you just why we brought "Sprint" instead of burning another energy pip with blessed aura. Do not run any enchantments, instead make your way to the upper-right side of the chamber (do not go up the stairs!!). Aggro both groups BEHIND the wall to get any nightmares in the area to spawn (it is also a good idea to use your mini-map here too), then quickly press "x" and sprint away, losing the aggro behind.

The nightmare will not harm you because you didn't enchant, infact he probably wont be able to finish the rend before you've successfully sprinted away. Safely back at the starting point, go ahead and target the nightmare. But stand still! Enchant with baltha spirit and zealots fire. Run close to the nightmare and cast breeze followed by pro spirit.

Aggro the nightmare and when it fully rends press "x" again and run away. This will pop the nightmare. Rinse and repeat on the left-hand side. See video:

AATXE:

When the nightmares are clear from both sides, you'll be up against some of the beastious creatures in GW. Start by making your way (slowly!!) up the right-hand set of stairs. I like to enchant when I'm at full energy giving me no worries of running out. Start by raising mending, then baltha spirit, then zealots. When the aatxe make their way towards you, cast protective spirit.

Just after you see them burn off and waste their savage slash (interrupts) is a good time to bring healing breeze up. It's not necessary to even use breeze while fighting only 2 aatxe, but be sure to conserve your protective spirit so you can get that extra divine favor healing bonus when needed. Before you use an important skill like breeze or shield of judgment, it is a good idea to use bonetties defense first. This gives you a 75% change to block the baddies attacks to successfully raise the enchantment. Chances are they won't interrupt if you do this, and you shouldn't worry too much about this beings their wasting savage slash anyway.

Another good tip is to use a buffer skill such as zealots fire before SoJ. It's a good chance he'll slash zealots leaving SoJ safe for use. Once SoJ is up, TAKE ADVANTAGE of them being knocked down. This is your time to safely use skills without the worries of interrupt. From here, it's normal 55hp tanking tactics. Keeping breeze, pro spirit, and zealots fire up as they start to blink and run out. Be sure not to overuse them as you'll trigger area of effect damage causing the aatxe to flee (and possibly set off more nightmares!!). In the event a nightmare does spawn this way, quickly press "x" and sprint away to the inner part of the chamber.

Our normal tactic would be to run up and pop the nightmare with zealots fire damage but chances are it will catch us off guard and will be too late. It's essential to already be moving and have the nightmare targeted before you run up against him and zap. If your not sure what I mean by "popping" the nightmare, see video 3!

"POPPING" THE NIGHTMARE:

Although this build makes a nightmares chances of spawning pretty low, it's not nightmare-free. My next tactics will teach you how to deal with not only one, but the dreaded "double nightmare spawn" as well. If you have used my methods correctly during the first group of aatxe, you should be able to traverse rather quickly with NO nightmare spawns. You will get a spawn going up the right set of steps, up towards the last few aatxe. It is very important that you keep a fresh zealots fire up while travelling up these stairs. When you have to recast pro spirit, stand still for a few seconds to let the skill fully charge, then make your way to the nightmare spawn.

He will spawn before you get to him, but KEEP running until your standing in AOE range. Quickly cast protective spirit again "popping" him with zealots damage. Same goes for when 2 nightmares spawn, except you'll pop one and quickly press "x" and sprint away to let the other one rend your enchantments. If he rends you and aatxe are on your tail, try to get protective spirit up ASAP. The next video explains my method exactly.

GRASPING DARKNESSES:

After the chamber and upper-right stairs are cleared, head back to the Lost Soul and take the quest. BE SURE to retarget yourself so you won't enchant the NPC. Have a fresh zealots ready and take the groups one at a time (or the two left groups, then the right group). Your strategy would be the same as the aatxe. Watching their attacks and finding the right time to cast spells. Bonetties should be used before SoJ, but once up your home free. Watch their arms and when they've all swung and are knocked down, refresh breeze and prot spirit. Another tactic I find useful is right when you first start fighting a group of them, take a few steps back to get their attacks in rythm with one another. If you have one attacking slow, he could be your ticket to death by interrupt.

TO THE SMITES:

While making your way to the smites, be sure to examine the graspings patrol. You can make it safely by without disturbing this group (which most of the time contains a nightmare). When you've cleared out the 4 aatxe, make your way up the stairs and gather one or two groups. You should be able to safely tank and kill 8-10 smites. Your tactics are simple. Stick with normal 55hp tanking tactics and you should be okay.

If you need a breather simply cast breeze, then protective spirit right after to trigger AOE. They take a bit to wear down beings their buddies are using reversal to negate some of the damage your dealing. Work with your timing, using zealots damage a few seconds after they use reversal. You should be able to make your way to ALL the smites without disturbing any nearby coldfire patrols. Examine the coldfires beforehand and approach only when you know it's safe.

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That's about it, hope everyone enjoyed. Remember, questions go in-game to: Brood Awakening
Happy farming!

UPDATES:
- 1/31: Added information on how to dispose of the grasping darknesses
- 3/25: Uploaded videos so they are downloadable as well as streamable

sno · Jan 31, 2006, 06:10 PM // 18:10

Nice guide. Though I still much prefer 2man runs, this guide definitely shows that solo is still very doable and profitable for those who don't like having a necro counterpart. Very organized and thought out, theres nothing about it I would change.

One thing you failed to mention though are the graspings. How easy are the 3 groups of graspings in the chamber to dispatch? Having never tried it I'm not sure if SoJ knocks them down (since they're not really standing to begin with, but floating.) Energy from Fear me! shouldn't be a problem with bonettis, but how bad are the interupts, and how often do you get dazed?

dorkxd · Jan 31, 2006, 06:20 PM // 18:20

Thanks much. Seems your right, I skipped over the graspings. Your strategy would be the same as the aatxe. Watching their attacks and finding the right time to cast spells. Bonetties should be used before SoJ, but once up your home free. Watch their arms and when they've all swung and are knocked down, refresh breeze and prot spirit. Another tactic I find useful is right when you first start fighting a group of them, take a few steps back to get their attacks in rythm with one another. If you have one attacking slow, he could be your ticket to death by interrupt.

I will edit my post a little later with this and more information on graspings. Thanks again for looking.

Evolve · Feb 02, 2006, 12:00 PM // 12:00

Why not just replace Blessed Signet with Sprint from the usual 55monk build and keep Blessed Aura in?
Wouldnt it be more beneficial to have a longer SoJ?
But since i havent tried it yet nor ever gotten to the Smiters solo (damn nightmares) could it be that you're using ZF to boost the dmg vs smiters?

dorkxd · Feb 02, 2006, 01:08 PM // 13:08

A) I'm not using blessed signet, therefore I can't switch anything it it's place. Please look at the skill list again.

If your recommending that I add blessed signet, then 75% of this build will no longer work. My methods of killing nightmares upon entering and just before the smites require sprint is used. Have you read?

B) Blessed Aura, IMO is not needed for the solo UW'er beings it's going to take 3 SoJ's to kill them anyway. It is needed for duo runs so spellbreaker will last longer on those double nightmare spawns. If your using the flame spitter with an enchanting mod, you'll yield almost the same thing anyway.

C) In essence, zealots is the actual killer vs the smites. When your wearing them down with zealots, this burns their reversal of fortune, enabling the 53 dmg from SoJ to hit just about every time. I've found out that RoF doesn't actually last 8 seconds, it only lasts until the smites are hit a few times.

Evolve · Feb 02, 2006, 01:37 PM // 13:37

.. I'm well aware of your skill listing and yes i Read your post.. Maybe i didnt make myself clear enough..
An usual 55hp build looks something like PS, HB, SoJ, Bonetti, Blessed Sig, Blessed Aura, Balth Spirit and Mending.
So what i meant was, why not just replace Blessed Sig (FROM THE USUAL 55hp build) and keep Blessed Aura in.
But yes i could see ZF help vs the constant RoF's.
I'll just have to wait until we get Favor to give it a try.

Doctor Death · Feb 02, 2006, 02:36 PM // 14:36

I like your Guide Dorkxd its well presented and neatly done supported by good video links that dont take an age to see.
More importantly it works and im sure that less experienced 55 monks will appreciate the attention to detail given to Nightmares and how to avoid/kill them.
Nice tips also such as stepping back to sync their attacks.

All in all yes it can be slow but thats what soloing the UW has been reduced to. It is the challenge more than anything for most ppl.

defe007 · Feb 02, 2006, 03:14 PM // 15:14

This guide is great. I made a 55 monk recently and would have never attempted UW solo without this guide. Thanks!

xxreaper008 · Feb 03, 2006, 12:04 PM // 12:04

I love it. Sure im still getting used of how long it takes to kill, but this morning i was doing it, the first to Aaxtes drops ectos! then later while fighting, i forgot to lore the aates away from the nightmares, my enchnts got stript.

3lite · Feb 05, 2006, 04:43 AM // 04:43

very nice guide...very detailed and backed up with videos for all the new solo'rs to see...but as for me i prefer 2man because its faster and especailly when u got tight guild members who let u get all the ecto

(u rock pyro!) haha

X-Bomb · Feb 05, 2006, 05:53 PM // 17:53

v nice guide

dorkxd · Feb 07, 2006, 12:13 PM // 12:13

Evolve, I finally understand you. You were suggesting I remove zealots and place blessed aura in for longer duration on enchantments. But as you mentioned, it's great to have so those smites don't take forever to kill.

Wanted to utilize this time to thank all the viewers of this guide and my putfile videos! Keep them coming.

I haven't gotten many questions or concerns in-game. Don't be shy, contact me if your having trouble in a particular area. If we both have the time and favor, I'll bring you down to UW (American Server) and show you first hand how I do it! Hopefully you could pay atleast half the cost, but that's not necessary.

Thanks again!

Carboplatin · Feb 08, 2006, 03:57 PM // 15:57

first off great post. However, i have a question.

Why not use a storm bow and pull the aataxes from their location, dispose of them, then face each nighmare, which you can wand to death before they even rend?

That would eliminate the need for sprint, therefore allowing you to bring another skill of choice, guardian perhaps.

I have done the storm bow pulling with the necro, it works, but it takes a long time to kill the aataxes.

Elurian · Feb 10, 2006, 06:23 PM // 18:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by dorkxd

I like to use the collectors axe located east of Fort Ranik (which is no longer there anymore :P), Fiery Flame Spitter.

I was able to trade him 3 scortched load stones for a FFS two days ago... guildwiki.org says you have to approach his location alone for him to appear also heard that your server has to have favor. Then again I've also heard that he appears randomly according to what color shirt you're wearing -.-

All that aside FFS of Enchanting FTW!!

EDIT: oh yeah and wonderful guide thanks and /clap :P

xxreaper008 · Feb 15, 2006, 01:19 AM // 01:19

Very nice guild but as Sno said, id rather take a ss necro ith me and decrease the time dramaticly. I am still bewildered on how long it would actually take.

dorkxd · Feb 15, 2006, 10:57 AM // 10:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by xxreaper008

I am still bewildered on how long it would actually take.

Strictly using this reference will cut down your run time from about 50 minutes, to 40 or <.

I've never been able to complete a 55+SS duo in under 30 minutes. So 10 minutes longer for a run that will yield 100% drops to yourself... including all GP (4k or so), rare drops, and ecto (usually 2-3 per run) is not a bad offset. Honestly, I've cleared 100's more ecto using this boring, bland, but effective way of farming UW.

Edit: @ Elurian: Thank you ever so greatly for overviewing the guide and submitting your comments! As far as the axe goes, I'll give it a few more tries using the stipulations you provided.

xxreaper008 · Feb 15, 2006, 12:19 PM // 12:19

I was able to Clear all smiters + the chamber in 20 min.

Mustache Mayhem · Feb 15, 2006, 09:16 PM // 21:16

ah this is pretty much same as my build.. only I don't use sprint- blessed aura =]

hellknight17 · Feb 16, 2006, 12:01 AM // 00:01

Hello, Just want to say very nice guide.

I used it last night and got 2 ectos right away on my first run. It is slow but still i guess im greedy and want all the stuff for me.

The only problem i am having is that when i get to the smites. I manage to kill all of them but one seems to keep using reversal of fortune and healing him self. I cast zealots and SoJ over and over but the little bugger wont die.

I end up either sprinting away or draging him to another group. Then maybe he dies then i pick up another that wont die. What can i do to kill the last one? Does any one else have this problem? thx in advance

Mayh3m · Feb 17, 2006, 10:51 AM // 10:51

nice guide and nice vid man!