http://files.filefront.com/UW_Solo_P.../fileinfo.html
Part II
http://files.filefront.com/Solo_Part.../fileinfo.html
Part III
http://files.filefront.com/UW_Solo_P.../fileinfo.html
Aatxe with commentary:
http://files.filefront.com/UWSoloWit.../fileinfo.html
Although I told myself not to reveal this, there hasn't been one other person who was capable of even getting to the smites. Figure I might as well post it here and see if anyone else can complete this great tanking task. Plus the PMs about my spider build have dwindled as of late.
Gladiator's Defense {E}
Riposte
Deadly Riposte
Watch Yourself
Enfeeble
Bonetti's Defense
Healing Signet
Dolyak Signet
Curses: 8
Strength: 10 + 1
Tactics: 12 + 4
Optimal warrior equipment is a must, Superior Absorption and Vigor are not needed but they help against the smites because of how often their Zealot's Fire is triggered along with their normal attacks. That being said, a +5 armour hilt is needed to combat the smites as well. You will need a wand, any wand will work on one of your weapon sets. Optimal shield would be +30 health, and +10 vs. fire again because of the Zealot's Fire. If you can't get that, then +health and -damage in stance.
Immediately when you enter, run down to where the Lost Soul is and take a few steps to the left aggroing the lone aatxe patrol before it gets too close to the stationary group of two. This may spawn a Dying Nightmare or two, no worries. This is where you will learn to sheath your sword and stand before the level 29 enemy and strike it down with your wand.
Sword out. As it approaches you, Deadly Riposte and Enfeeble. Once the attack is blocked, switch to the wand and turn on Gladiator's Defense. Attack until Gladiator's Defense starts to flash. At this point, I press s as my wand attack comes to halt and switch to my sword/shield setup. This will cancel your attack so you won't trigger the Bladed Aaxte's Riposte and Deadly Riposte. Deadly Riposte and Enfeeble again. Follow this with a Riposte. Turn on Dolyak Signet and switch back to the wand it until Bonetti's Defense fills and turn it on. You may be hit by a Sever Artery during this time. It sucks, but don't worry. Continue to attack with the wand while Bonetti's Defense is on. Once it starts to flash, again press s (or however you've assigned your keyboard to step back) and switch to the sword/shield combo. Once Bonetti's wears off, Enfeeble Deadly Riposte again. Healing Signet, trigger Riposte. Once the attack is blocked, turn on Gladiator's Defense and switch back to the wand.
If you are bleeding, wand the aatxe until all of your adrenaline skills are filled. Use Watch Yourself, and use Healing Signet again. Wand it once more so Bonetti's Defense is filled again, switch weapon sets and stop attacking. Routine Deadly Riposte and Enfeeble, followed by a Riposte. Dolyak Signet, switch to the wand, attack once and turn on Bonetti's Defense. Repeat the pattern.
Lot of text to take down a single enemy. Really, it's just timing and nothing more. Provided luck is on your side and you don't get gashed too often (which you can still live through) you should be fine.
Now, while you still have adrenaline built up aggro the stationary group at the top of the stairs and fire with your wand. If there are any Dying Nightmares around, pull them back and kill them. In either situation, heal up first before you move on and let Gladiator's Defense refill.
Run to the safe haven of the side of the stairs, the aatxe are too large so only one can fit in at a time. Use the above process to bring it down. However, this time there will be no waiting so you need to make sure your timing is good. You'll need to kill the first aatxe sometime during Gladiator's Defense so that Enfeeble and one of your blocking sword skills are filled. However, stay calm, attack the next one with your wand until Gladiator's Defense is also done. Then when it ends, go into a similar attack pattern as before.
The middle group however cannot be defeated using this tactic. As such, refer to the screenshot I posted to get the generally idea of where to stand to make them block each other of. Just watch them as they approach, hug the ledge and make sure one is in front of the other AND they're close together.
I'm not posting the strategy for fighting Grasping Darkness. You have Gladiator's Defense, Watch Yourself, and Dolyak Signet. If you can't figure out how to beat them... you need to go back to the academy my friend.
Once the door opens, run to it and wait for the group of two aatxe to come to the door. At this point, lure them back to the stairs the lead up as opposed to the ones that lead down to the Lost Soul. Go on the stairs, and hug the wall closest to you. This will cause the aatxe to yet again block themselves off. Once this group is dispatched, run in and grab the patrol of three grasping darkness.
The next group of aatxe are the trickest to get to block each other off. However, they will chase back to the staircase sometimes. Othertimes, they block each other off and you can just run right past. In any case, wait for the patrol to run over closer to the smites. Then, when they're running back, aggro them at the small... uh, tunnel like area. Hug the left wall, and watch them on the radar to make sure they're blocking each other off. This one is really tricky to pull off, so if it isn't working turn on Gladiator's Defense and run. If you can't get this group, simply let the run past and make your way to the smites.
Groups of 3 and 4 smites are a breeze, 5 can sometimes be troubling. You just need to be more defensive and not attack as much. Typical strategy is to spike with both Riposte and Deadly Riposte at once to ensure one attack is always bypassing Reversal of Fortune. At all times, Dolyak Signet and Watch Yourself. You will need to heal often, and make sure you have Dolyak Signet in effect when you do. There will be a 3 second gap when you won't have it on, and Watch Yourself is easy to maintain provided you can find a target that doesn't have Shield of Judgement in effect.
Shield of Judgement hits me for 48 damage in stance. Often because I'm impatient, I will cycle through the targets trying to find one that doesn't have it up. *I Do Not Recommend This Strategy. Once one has Shield of Judgement in effect, the rest usually do. Once you strike one under Shield of Judgement, immediately take mental note where Gladiator's Defense is and Dolyak Signet. Once Dolyak Signet recycles to where it was when you first hit a Shield of Judgement it should be safe to attack again. Do not use Gladiator's Defense until Dolyak Signet is back up. You need your pathetic 5 damage attacks to trigger Reversal Fortune as opposed to the 30s, 50s, and 60s from your other skills. Use Bonetti's Defense if you encounter a snag. By that I mean when you need to heal and only have Dolyak Signet in effect. Or, Dolyak Signet is ending and you need to heal. You'll figure it out when you get down there.
At no time do you attack when Gladiator's Defense is down. Optimal situations to use Riposte and Deadly Riposte is when they are both filled. Or, time your physical attack to trigger a Reversal of Fortune to make its next attack hit your Riposte since they'll fill more often than Deadly Riposte when you are attacking.
Against groups of 5, patience is a must. You may be standing there for a long time healing, and possibly not attacking during Gladiator's Defense. There have been countless times where I've been in the double digits, and single digits gets the old ticker going.
I've also provided screenshots of various places where it is safe to stop, and the path to take to ensure you do not fight any coldfire groups. Simply put, you can't kill them. It's not too difficult to figure out, just watch their paths and you can figure out when to move to the next spot. I recommend also bringing a bow to pull groups of smites deep in a Coldfire patrol.
I will say this now, this is very difficult and if you have troubles soloing the spiders in FoW then this is not for you... yet. This is much harder, you're simply not looking for a way to offset poison damage. This is making it so aatxe hit you for less than an invincimonk with Protective Spirit on (I've been hit for 0 before
) and tanking smites with no nukes knocking them down or a healing monk watching your back.Good luck, and I hope someone can do it.
