Posted December 15, 2022
3rd pocket challenge
Let's be cheap here: start with 3 Pierce Shield in Chain Contignenvy, put up as many defensive spell you can (don't forget Negative Plane Protection) along summonning stuff. Planetar is obvious, but the numbers count here more tbh as you just try to create some obstacle to buy time.
Oh, you'll also need Improved Haste for this. You can't really use energy Blade here, unless you wanto to make your life harder or something.
The main strategy here is, that while the summons provide cover, you pull out time Stop + Improved Alactricity first, just Time Stop the second time. First time I launched Magic Missles and threw MMM on it, the second time I just kept casting Abi Dhalzim. Maybe just using Abi Dhalzim would be evenm ore sure, but this worked out for me, so it's fine.
Note: a bunch of simulacrum all casting Abi Dhalzim while you are running around would likely work just as well.
EDIT: this is impossible scennario. EE only allows you to have 1 Simulacrum and 1 Project Image. Neither S or PI can make more clones, and their summon-limit is of the party, so you can't have more than 1 planetar, or more than 5 summons.
Draconis
I hate this guy with a passion, but seems I managed to build a mostly reliable strategy.
EE seems to have buffed hs human form, as he previously did nothing but try melee, now has a bunch of spells, and some AoE fire damage was running too... Either way, with some common sense, and a planetar, you can eventualy win. Next move: hop into the Pocket Dimension.
In safety sleep, and start casting all kinds of defensive spells. Like a truly serious amount. Stone Skin, Mirror Image, Improved Invisibility, improved Haste, Prot. From Magic Weapons, whatever can carve you time to pull out your next move.
Oh, and you'll need a Chain Contignency filled with 3 Pierce Magic. See, I find all those topics about "what's your favourite Chain Contignency setup" because of this. It's entirely situational.
Now SAVE, and hope the bugger doesn't start to summon Invisible Stalkers like crazy, because those Pierce Magic HAVE TO hit HIM. Then your task is to cast Time Stop. Then Improved Alactricity. Then start unloading right behind the dragon all your Skull Traps (I don't remember, I had maybe 5). Then I cast a Magic Missle, and this seems to be optimal timing, because the Time Stop just stopped with it, but I still could immediately start casting an Abi Dhalzim.
This turned out to be sufficient amount of damage to nuke him into kingdom come.
I'm kinda proud of this.
PS: Oh, Prot. Form Acid seems like "a good idea".
Inside
When entering, cast planetar. 2 Pierce Shield will make you able to hurt the Werewyvern with magic for good.
Cast some invisibility, and swim to the frost salamanders. Either drop a planetar on their head, or shrug and let the bone golems inside hit you. Either way, you can come back in one piece, and as you'll summon a planetar either way against the quo toas... (it can heal you, rmemeber)
In the kuo toaŰ/water elemental prison help the planetar with Sunfire. We did not use that spell since a while.
Turn invisible again to avoid confrontation with the eyes.
As there's no real hardness in getting the mage's quest yourself (so what if it's a beholder, just send on it a planetar), the Stone to Flesh scroll use shall be 100% allowed, because that's mmore fun. Release the dragon from it's gease, enter Abazigail's lair and pick down all the salamanders. Hop into the Pocket Dimension for a good sleep.
Abuse-igal
Ok, I moce to desperate solutions.
One way to solve this obstacle could be to pile up Skull Traps by sleeping. The other is to insert Protection From Electricity somehow.
See, the problem is the dragon form. The human form is easy: 3 Pierce Shield in Chain Contignency, summons, Simulacrum. Wait until the contignency empties out, then unload on the bugger either Magic Missile or Abi Dhalzim.
The dragon form is where I get stuck. One: the planetar like always get stuck INSIDE the dragon form, unable to move or attack. Re-casting it is a pain, even if it manages to un-be.
Then there's the defense of the dragon form. One: it entirely drops off any debuff it had in human form, what is just unjust. Then there are his stupid electric charges, which hurt even out of screen, and even can oneshot you for reasons. That's HILARIOUS.
And even if you pull yourself through all that, it still has Spell Trap I assume, which launches back your spells on you. That's where I give up.
Come to think of it, I could try out Project Image to try to have even more Skull Traps?
Either way, this is just unattainable. Nonsense.
So Prot. From E. is a slvl 5 spell. I have there protection from acid. We keep that. Animate Dead? Detto. Sunfire? Of course. Cloudkill? Sure, it was only used ages ago, but there would be a hugh inconvenience to try to solve those cases without it. But Spell Immunity? When did I actualy use that? I checked my notes, and - never. This is interresting.
More details:
- when Abazigail changes form ALL BUFFS FALL OFF FROM YOU (except Stone Skin). Great. This fight gets more hilarious by the second! Or he just tend to cast some overpowerful dispel. I'm fed up with this world.
- still, it seems you have the time to cast Prot From Electricity. Yes, that's still "advisable". Keep your distance from the lizard, and position your horde of Mordekainen (and planetar) that if they are winged away, don't get swiped at you.
- start casting Dragon Breath. WATCH OUT, the wyrm has a tendency to cast some short-term Miscast Magic on your head. It only lasts like 5 seconds, but that's many spells to be wasted! Then keep casting Dragon Breath. (whoever found out DB bypasses magic resistance, I'm greatful to you),
4th pocket challenge
This one is a joke with this char. Cover with summons, True Sight, and if you feel like that, cover with MMM / Energy Blades, Improved Haste if you feel extra diligent. Seriously, this is formality.
Balthazar
While checking my old notes, found the detail trying to strom the front gate of the citadel. This is not a working solution: the gate will remain closed, and the guards infinitely respawn.
None of the Amkethra-quests are available anymore (monk vs priest, The Major's Daughter, The Soulstone).
I'd be interrested what Beamdog thought when making the Balthazar-encounter.
Btw, I think Trilogy limited the number of Skull Traps to the amount of thief-traps, EE does not, what is perfectly good for me...
But what exactly am I supposed to do to start this fight? Can't even send in a summon, because the trigger in EE is not standing in front of the throne, but walking up on the side-stairs. Yes, even if the thing walking is a summon. No, the summon does not end up at the throne - it stopps when you get teleported up.
then you get stunlocked and mobbed by the horde of monks.
Well, I had 1 more trick in my sleeve.
So yes, summon a bunch of Skull Traps down. Use Simulacrum, or Project Image, or just sleep.
Then cast some defensive spells, just to be sure. Missor Image, Stone Skin will do. Invisibility either would fall off, or I dunno, but Blatthazar could hit me with Magic Missles even if I was under Improved Invisibility. One thing is to see through invisibility, and yet another to ignore it completly. Oh, before I forget: have Improved Haste on you. And preferably Protection from Magic Energy.
When you pop up before Balthazar, it'd be good if he'd be hit by 3 Pierce Shield from Chain Contignency, but... You'll see.
So, as soon as you gain back control TURN INTO THE SLAYER. That solves the problem of stunlock. Neat. Now try luring Balthazar on your skull traps. Prot. From Magic Energy allows you to walk right into that mess.
Now thing was, everyone followed me but Balthazar. I had some summon(s) running, so had time to summon a planetar(?). Then nothing moved, so I saved. Obviously I messed up with the next move, so reloaded, what provided some interrestng experience: when reloading, Blathazar will charge at you. No idea what happened with my previous planetar, maybe it went up to B and got annihilated, maybe got unsummoned with the reload... Still had time to cast planetar, which bought enough time to cast Chain Contignency (3 Pierce Shield) - this was needed as it expired from B, yes, this was why I had to reload - and Protection form Magical Energy (previously I just manuvered around the skull traps, but you know), that's harder).
And that solved this.
PS: why did Balthazar have an Exploding Arrow on him?
The Ravager
Hm. So the summon-limit is 5 + a simulacrum. Ok... But this kills the strategy I found from 4 years ago, in which people claimed to summon way more summons using simulacrum/project image.
I'll go thinking, until then if anyone has any suggestion...
EDIT 1: I came to the realisation, in EE there's absolutely no limit on Skull Traps. And both The Ravager and Amelissan only has 90% Magic Resist. This means with enough casting, they'll be spawn-killed.
This leaves out 2 questions:
one: can you send in a project image or simulacrum into the Ravager's arena, or that's a deathtrap like at Balthazar
two: still have to come up with something for the initial phase of the Final Boss
EDIT 2: Yes, you can send in a simulacrum to the Ravager's arena. Therefor the Ravager can be considered dead. As well as Amelissan for the 2-3-4th times.
EDIT 3: just a sidenote in case anyone wondered about it: no, Slayer Form has zero chance here. It was a nice idea though.
Let's be cheap here: start with 3 Pierce Shield in Chain Contignenvy, put up as many defensive spell you can (don't forget Negative Plane Protection) along summonning stuff. Planetar is obvious, but the numbers count here more tbh as you just try to create some obstacle to buy time.
Oh, you'll also need Improved Haste for this. You can't really use energy Blade here, unless you wanto to make your life harder or something.
The main strategy here is, that while the summons provide cover, you pull out time Stop + Improved Alactricity first, just Time Stop the second time. First time I launched Magic Missles and threw MMM on it, the second time I just kept casting Abi Dhalzim. Maybe just using Abi Dhalzim would be evenm ore sure, but this worked out for me, so it's fine.
Note: a bunch of simulacrum all casting Abi Dhalzim while you are running around would likely work just as well.
EDIT: this is impossible scennario. EE only allows you to have 1 Simulacrum and 1 Project Image. Neither S or PI can make more clones, and their summon-limit is of the party, so you can't have more than 1 planetar, or more than 5 summons.
Draconis
I hate this guy with a passion, but seems I managed to build a mostly reliable strategy.
EE seems to have buffed hs human form, as he previously did nothing but try melee, now has a bunch of spells, and some AoE fire damage was running too... Either way, with some common sense, and a planetar, you can eventualy win. Next move: hop into the Pocket Dimension.
In safety sleep, and start casting all kinds of defensive spells. Like a truly serious amount. Stone Skin, Mirror Image, Improved Invisibility, improved Haste, Prot. From Magic Weapons, whatever can carve you time to pull out your next move.
Oh, and you'll need a Chain Contignency filled with 3 Pierce Magic. See, I find all those topics about "what's your favourite Chain Contignency setup" because of this. It's entirely situational.
Now SAVE, and hope the bugger doesn't start to summon Invisible Stalkers like crazy, because those Pierce Magic HAVE TO hit HIM. Then your task is to cast Time Stop. Then Improved Alactricity. Then start unloading right behind the dragon all your Skull Traps (I don't remember, I had maybe 5). Then I cast a Magic Missle, and this seems to be optimal timing, because the Time Stop just stopped with it, but I still could immediately start casting an Abi Dhalzim.
This turned out to be sufficient amount of damage to nuke him into kingdom come.
I'm kinda proud of this.
PS: Oh, Prot. Form Acid seems like "a good idea".
Inside
When entering, cast planetar. 2 Pierce Shield will make you able to hurt the Werewyvern with magic for good.
Cast some invisibility, and swim to the frost salamanders. Either drop a planetar on their head, or shrug and let the bone golems inside hit you. Either way, you can come back in one piece, and as you'll summon a planetar either way against the quo toas... (it can heal you, rmemeber)
In the kuo toaŰ/water elemental prison help the planetar with Sunfire. We did not use that spell since a while.
Turn invisible again to avoid confrontation with the eyes.
As there's no real hardness in getting the mage's quest yourself (so what if it's a beholder, just send on it a planetar), the Stone to Flesh scroll use shall be 100% allowed, because that's mmore fun. Release the dragon from it's gease, enter Abazigail's lair and pick down all the salamanders. Hop into the Pocket Dimension for a good sleep.
Abuse-igal
Ok, I moce to desperate solutions.
One way to solve this obstacle could be to pile up Skull Traps by sleeping. The other is to insert Protection From Electricity somehow.
See, the problem is the dragon form. The human form is easy: 3 Pierce Shield in Chain Contignency, summons, Simulacrum. Wait until the contignency empties out, then unload on the bugger either Magic Missile or Abi Dhalzim.
The dragon form is where I get stuck. One: the planetar like always get stuck INSIDE the dragon form, unable to move or attack. Re-casting it is a pain, even if it manages to un-be.
Then there's the defense of the dragon form. One: it entirely drops off any debuff it had in human form, what is just unjust. Then there are his stupid electric charges, which hurt even out of screen, and even can oneshot you for reasons. That's HILARIOUS.
And even if you pull yourself through all that, it still has Spell Trap I assume, which launches back your spells on you. That's where I give up.
Come to think of it, I could try out Project Image to try to have even more Skull Traps?
Either way, this is just unattainable. Nonsense.
So Prot. From E. is a slvl 5 spell. I have there protection from acid. We keep that. Animate Dead? Detto. Sunfire? Of course. Cloudkill? Sure, it was only used ages ago, but there would be a hugh inconvenience to try to solve those cases without it. But Spell Immunity? When did I actualy use that? I checked my notes, and - never. This is interresting.
More details:
- when Abazigail changes form ALL BUFFS FALL OFF FROM YOU (except Stone Skin). Great. This fight gets more hilarious by the second! Or he just tend to cast some overpowerful dispel. I'm fed up with this world.
- still, it seems you have the time to cast Prot From Electricity. Yes, that's still "advisable". Keep your distance from the lizard, and position your horde of Mordekainen (and planetar) that if they are winged away, don't get swiped at you.
- start casting Dragon Breath. WATCH OUT, the wyrm has a tendency to cast some short-term Miscast Magic on your head. It only lasts like 5 seconds, but that's many spells to be wasted! Then keep casting Dragon Breath. (whoever found out DB bypasses magic resistance, I'm greatful to you),
4th pocket challenge
This one is a joke with this char. Cover with summons, True Sight, and if you feel like that, cover with MMM / Energy Blades, Improved Haste if you feel extra diligent. Seriously, this is formality.
Balthazar
While checking my old notes, found the detail trying to strom the front gate of the citadel. This is not a working solution: the gate will remain closed, and the guards infinitely respawn.
None of the Amkethra-quests are available anymore (monk vs priest, The Major's Daughter, The Soulstone).
I'd be interrested what Beamdog thought when making the Balthazar-encounter.
Btw, I think Trilogy limited the number of Skull Traps to the amount of thief-traps, EE does not, what is perfectly good for me...
But what exactly am I supposed to do to start this fight? Can't even send in a summon, because the trigger in EE is not standing in front of the throne, but walking up on the side-stairs. Yes, even if the thing walking is a summon. No, the summon does not end up at the throne - it stopps when you get teleported up.
then you get stunlocked and mobbed by the horde of monks.
Well, I had 1 more trick in my sleeve.
So yes, summon a bunch of Skull Traps down. Use Simulacrum, or Project Image, or just sleep.
Then cast some defensive spells, just to be sure. Missor Image, Stone Skin will do. Invisibility either would fall off, or I dunno, but Blatthazar could hit me with Magic Missles even if I was under Improved Invisibility. One thing is to see through invisibility, and yet another to ignore it completly. Oh, before I forget: have Improved Haste on you. And preferably Protection from Magic Energy.
When you pop up before Balthazar, it'd be good if he'd be hit by 3 Pierce Shield from Chain Contignency, but... You'll see.
So, as soon as you gain back control TURN INTO THE SLAYER. That solves the problem of stunlock. Neat. Now try luring Balthazar on your skull traps. Prot. From Magic Energy allows you to walk right into that mess.
Now thing was, everyone followed me but Balthazar. I had some summon(s) running, so had time to summon a planetar(?). Then nothing moved, so I saved. Obviously I messed up with the next move, so reloaded, what provided some interrestng experience: when reloading, Blathazar will charge at you. No idea what happened with my previous planetar, maybe it went up to B and got annihilated, maybe got unsummoned with the reload... Still had time to cast planetar, which bought enough time to cast Chain Contignency (3 Pierce Shield) - this was needed as it expired from B, yes, this was why I had to reload - and Protection form Magical Energy (previously I just manuvered around the skull traps, but you know), that's harder).
And that solved this.
PS: why did Balthazar have an Exploding Arrow on him?
The Ravager
Hm. So the summon-limit is 5 + a simulacrum. Ok... But this kills the strategy I found from 4 years ago, in which people claimed to summon way more summons using simulacrum/project image.
I'll go thinking, until then if anyone has any suggestion...
EDIT 1: I came to the realisation, in EE there's absolutely no limit on Skull Traps. And both The Ravager and Amelissan only has 90% Magic Resist. This means with enough casting, they'll be spawn-killed.
This leaves out 2 questions:
one: can you send in a project image or simulacrum into the Ravager's arena, or that's a deathtrap like at Balthazar
two: still have to come up with something for the initial phase of the Final Boss
EDIT 2: Yes, you can send in a simulacrum to the Ravager's arena. Therefor the Ravager can be considered dead. As well as Amelissan for the 2-3-4th times.
EDIT 3: just a sidenote in case anyone wondered about it: no, Slayer Form has zero chance here. It was a nice idea though.
Post edited December 18, 2022 by twillight