Curse

Taurucis · Dec 20, 2006, 12:00 AM // 00:00

I have tried 8+ times, 4 with hero/hench, 4 with a PuG. My builds have varied from Broad Head Arrow, barrage/pet, and touch ranger. People say that the mission is possible, however I don't believe them. Everyone says I'm doing it wrong, and then don't say how to do it.

What I notice: Mhenlo, Kihm, Eve, and Gehraz can hold the center as a group. Most PuGs wipe after you cap the first torment rift. This mission is impossible.

There are too many dumb people to be able to PuG - I once came across an assassin who said that our tank doing nothing was better than our tank who was busy killing.

I have been going at this mission for 3 or more hours. What I need is a step-by-step walkthrough on how to do this. I have a ranger, my best heroes are Sousuke, Tahlkora, and Margrid. I can set my char up as interrupt, barrage, beastmaster, trapper, thumper, damage, spiker, B/P, touch ranger, nearly anything that works. If there is no walkthrough on this, then where could I find a runner? I am willing to pay up to 13k.

Sir Mad · Dec 20, 2006, 12:18 AM // 00:18

This mission is obviously not impossible or no one would have beaten the game yet

First, don't join a PUG. This is the kind of mission where you gotta keep moving, where the whole team must switch to the right target at the same time, etc. PUGs are going to mess with blasphemies and make pop a bunch a energy that are going to quickly whipe out the whole team.

Now the build. There's not much to say. Anything that can deal damage is ok. The 2 monk henchies are OK and should be able to keep your team alive if you do it right. AoE damage is nice to quickly get rid of the energies when they pop after you kil a Blasphemy. This is actually one of the few missions I pick Cynn - Lady Firestorm - she uses that on the energies and help kil them fast.

Now the strategy. At the beginning, run to the center. Kill the magonites around - don't rush for monks: the monks of the group standing near the claws may come sometimes to heal the member of the group you're fighting, ignore them or you're going to lure their whole group. Of course, watch your aggro - ranged attacks are nice for that. When you have killed them, rush to one of the 3 cap points: kill the cleric 1st while you distract (as you seem to be a ranger) Torment's Slash of the claw. Kill the claw next, and the other magonites around. Stand there to cap the altar - or whatever they called it.

While you're fighting, check if a blasphemy is trying to cap the central altar. If there is one, let him do until he has capped 2 thirds of the altar. When he has, even if you're fighting another mob, run to kill him. Wait for the energies to pop, and kill them before anything else. Usually, you can cap an altar before you need to run back for a blasphemy.

Once you have capped the altar and eventually gotten rid of the blasphemy, move the 2nd altar, and repeat the same strategy.

The key to beat this mission is to keep cool with Blasphemies: if you go for them as soon as they try to cap the central alter, then you're screwed: more energies than what you can handle will pop. Just let them do, and kill them only when it's about to be too late.

On a side-ote, sometimes blasphemies will run to an altar you've already capped to try to cap it again. In this case, kill them. But it shouldn't happen more than 2 times in a mission (and most of the time it doesn't happen).

Antheus · Dec 20, 2006, 12:24 AM // 00:24

Barrage/Paragon. Barrage, throw dirt, interrupts, whirling (or other defensive stance), GftE, Stand your Ground, LB gaze, rez sig.

Tahikora: Full prot. reversal of fortune, prot spirit, shield of absorption, smite hex, zealous benediction (possibly, not sure if you have it by then), aegis, guardian.

The rest of the team: One straight heal monk, a tank or two, can vary between various dervish options, some heavy dps (SS, SF, meteor storm might work, but it's too slow), possibly some more protection, like watch yourself, some paragon buffs, shouts, anything that works party-wide. As many gazes as possible, even if just rank 2.

Have at least one ele bring ward against melee, perhaps also ward against elements. MM isn't optimal here, although a minion or two can take some pressure, perhaps even animate minions.

On start, wait for everyone to load. Nobody moves. Then charge in, sticking to the left (from the way you enter). You'll agro only 1 group this way, + the 2 dervish and paragon? from other groups.

Kill: priest, sorcerer, seer?, then melee.

Capture first rift.

IGNORE BLASPHEMY

Capture second rift.

Kill blasphemy.

Move to final rift, while ignoring blashpemy.

Kill blasphemy at altar.

You shouldn't kill blasphemy more than 3 times during entire match. Make that clear to everyone. Some people find tremendous joy at killing it, then getting their team killed by the orbs. Kill blasphemy only if it's at 80% of capturing the altar.

**cosyfiep** · Dec 20, 2006, 12:24 AM // 00:24

did it with a pug....as my mesmer and we even got masters.....it was much harder to do with my heros/henchies as they use all their energy up too quickly.
As long as the PUGs have someone calling targets and someone is watching the altar you should be fine.
The way already suggested is best...take one portal at a time--kill monks, claw then rest, check altar, go to next portal rinse repeat.

FalconDance · Dec 20, 2006, 12:44 AM // 00:44

Guess I was just extremely lucky to have clinched it first time out with a PuG...

-^- Pretty much how cosy says.

Ate of DK · Dec 20, 2006, 12:52 AM // 00:52

I completed the mission for my Assassin with Hero/Hench-way to get my Master-Reward. I want to have Protector of Elona

Yes, you see that right. An assassin without DP making Master and without having SF-eles!

Tactic (if you need one):
- My Assassin: Fox's Promise Assassin.
- Zhed: Blinding Surge/Warder
- Morgahn: Damage dealer and Damage-supporter
- Tahlkora: Healer's Boon healer.

Wait at start for first group to go in. Kill em all.
Go left side first. Kill all.
Then middle again and kill all.
The right side, kill all.
Kill the first Blasphemy.
Go north and kill all.
Kill second Blasphemy
GG.

Cacheelma · Dec 20, 2006, 01:22 AM // 01:22

Well, consider the fact that this mission's bonus goal is time-based, how much IMPOSSIBLE can it be?

I used heroes+hench on my 2 characters (have only played 2 of them through Nightfall), and it was a breeze, although I didn't get master rewards.

sau970982 · Dec 20, 2006, 01:27 AM // 01:27

I think the Mission Walkthrough posted at GW Wiki is already a very good one for those who would like to get through the mission with Hero+Hench

http://gw.gamewikis.org/wiki/Grand_C..._%28Mission%29

Try to follow the suggested team setup and strategy under the "Tips and Strategy" section.

capitalist · Dec 20, 2006, 01:32 AM // 01:32

This is a hard mission. I failed 10-sqrt(100) times before I beat it with hench.

gl

Take your time. Hit monks then sorc. Finish the rest.

Enko · Dec 20, 2006, 01:36 AM // 01:36

Mission wasn't too difficult with henchies and heroes. the notes on wiki have some good advice so follow that if you can't figure it out on your own.

Taurucis · Dec 20, 2006, 01:43 AM // 01:43

Edit: I have just completed the mission. Standart Reward, 12 minutes something. Thank you for all your help.

Antheus · Dec 20, 2006, 02:04 AM // 02:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taurucis

As now: I think I will keep bashing against it. If I fail 99% of the time, then eventually I'll catch that 1% chance.

I'll restrain myself from letting you know, that the content that follows that mission is much harder.

Not all of it, but a large portion of it.

So learn the lessons there and don't rely on luck.

Wolydarg · Dec 20, 2006, 02:17 AM // 02:17

Out of curiosity, when I got masters on it with a guildy we flagged our henchies towards the center with recall on them and just shadowstepped to them, killed a bunch of crap, and managed to get masters easily, that's been fixed, right?

sau970982 · Dec 20, 2006, 03:44 AM // 03:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wolydarg

Out of curiosity, when I got masters on it with a guildy we flagged our henchies towards the center with recall on them and just shadowstepped to them, killed a bunch of crap, and managed to get masters easily, that's been fixed, right?

Yes, that's been fixed.

Thallandor · Dec 20, 2006, 04:15 AM // 04:15

Its not impossible, its definetly Herohenchable as well.

This mission basically prepares you for the RoT envirnoment which will allow you to understand the essence of play in Nightfall: overwhleming offense and Spike killing which you will come to appreciate in RoT areas.

There isnt a correct build for this since actually many things can work as long you keep a few points in mind;

1) Rifts keep spawning new Margos as long as the Rfit is opened.
2) Torment claws are anti melee with adjcent AoE splash damage. Never charge them directly, always try if possible to kill them with range or DoTs.
3)As mentioned, Spike team builds are key to victory so is speed. The longer you take to kill the margos the more likely you wont make it.

see the links on description of mission on wiki on the above post for the detail walkthrough.
link: http://gw.gamewikis.org/wiki/Grand_C..._%28Mission%29

TechnoSword · Dec 20, 2006, 04:37 AM // 04:37

Also its pug able too you just have to get one rule down and make sure everyone knows it. Make sure that they ignore the blasphemy while you guys capture rifts and then kill blasphemy and recapture middle let blasphemny chage in middle while you cap another. And make someone have Inspired hex for multiple quick hex removals of Hex of torment or whatever. I got masters of elona and by far was this the hardest mission.

AW Lore · Dec 20, 2006, 04:51 AM // 04:51

Quote:

1) Rifts keep spawning new Margos as long as the Rfit is opened.

i hope its not a bug but, there is a definite number of margo's spawns, top 3, maybe 4 pairs of margos from each rift, after that, only the blasphemy spawns.

tried it a few days ago with my mesmers, after trying to find a build to endure the first onslaught.

Cebe · Dec 20, 2006, 08:50 AM // 08:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Antheus

the content that follows that mission is much harder.

Not all of it, but a large portion of it.

O.o

O.o

o.O

It is?

Anyways, not sure if it's been mentioned before but my "Masters" attempt (which worked on the 4th try) was to stay stood at the start so that the Margonites didn't all run to the middle...then send the Henchmen to each portal and let them deal with the crap. Did it is a little under 6 mins I think.

sage tank · Dec 20, 2006, 02:11 PM // 14:11

the mission is a breeze unless some dumbass see the blasphemy capping the alter and says "Oh NO!! we going to lose cuz alter will be capped!" then goes to kill blasphemy(who is suprisingly fragile, you can wand him to death in 5 seconsds) So then, while the group you are in is already in a fight with a group with margonite, begins to get raped because the constant +50 damage and insane damage on the backline with the energyball. After people start dying, the PuG will blame it on the monk, and start blabbering their sh8 out and making the monk angry and leave. As a result the mission fails.

....................Typical player ignorance.

Durge Ironbreak · Dec 20, 2006, 02:30 PM // 14:30

It never fails to amaze me how many times I hear that this or that mission is supposedly impossible and yet many others including myself seem to have no problem getting masters with just heroes and henchies.

C'mon people this isn't rocket science. Take the middle, hold til clear, take a portal, retake middle, wash, rinse, repeat !!

No special build needed, no point making it all complex, just keep it simple.