All Hail the Sliver Armor

Terakhan

Terakhan

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Jul 2006

Gnothis Se Afton

W/R

As you could guess, my new favorite skill for farming is Sliver Armor.
Using the following build:

16 earth magic
12 energy storage

stone daggers
magnetic aura
sliver armor
ether renewal
kinetic armor
armor of earth
earth attunement
aura of restoration

Galigord's stone staff or equivalent and any armor you want

I have tested and succeeded on the following monsters/areas:
Witman's Folly Grawl (all but the necro boss)
Arborstone Explorable area Wardens
Droknar's cave Mountain Trolls
Black Curtain Forest Minotaurs
Elona Reach Minotaurs
Haiju Lagoon (all of it, even Captured Son and Tin Dao Kaineng)

So, lets see just how much more this one skill/build can devastate, or find better builds to further exploit it.

Amok Affinity

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Aug 2006

[XoO]

E/

sliver is kinda ofn.

sliver-kinetic-e.renewal-daggers-attune-aor.

... leavin' you with room to pick between more enchants, some damage, a.echo,a ward, and so on. fairly versatile but meh it's nothing spectacular imo. very touchy build.

White_Chaos

White_Chaos

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jan 2006

Evrope

Hail Sliver Armor!!

Vladmir Mironov

Academy Page

Join Date: Sep 2006

The Almighty

Everyone's used the spell.
This build isn't anything new.
Looks like the general Mountain Troll farmer with Sliver Armor thrown in there.

Nechtan Thaumaturge

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jul 2006

E/

Being mostly concerned with Elementalist farming builds, I'm a big fan of Sliver Armor as well. Every half-decent farming build I've come up with since Factions came out, except one, has had Sliver Armor in it. Some of the things I like about it:It protects you against both ranged and melee attacks. It works whether or not you get hit or take damage, so it stacks nicely with blocking/evading stances and blindness. It's a non-elite skill, which allows you to use things like Ether Renewal, Shield of Judgment, and Shadow Form alongside it. It's in the Earth Magic line, which conveniently has some of the best skills for solo farming available to an Elementalist (Kinetic Armor, Armor of Earth, etc.). It concentrates damage onto a single foe making it possible to achieve some very fast kills. Of course, on the other hand:The recharge is a bit on the long side; you would have to use something like Glyph of Renewal + Serpent's Quickness + a weapon of Enchanting to keep it up for longer than about 13 seconds. It's almost impossible to predict or control which creature will actually get damaged. Also, the selection can change when new creatures come into nearby range. It becomes significantly less powerful against groups of one or two creatures. Incidentally, one of the tactics I like to use (against melee mobs at least) is to throw down a couple of PBAoE spells before activating Sliver Armor. That way, with the creatures already around half health, you'll get more mileage out of Sliver Armor as opposed to doing it the other way around.

legacyofkain85

legacyofkain85

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Sep 2006

Lady Ainowa

i did used silver armor with mi 55 monk did farm ghial until it droped the staff its awesome ,couldnt farm orosen though.

Terakhan

Terakhan

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Jul 2006

Gnothis Se Afton

W/R

Quote:
Originally Posted by Vladmir Mironov
Everyone's used the spell.
This build isn't anything new.
Looks like the general Mountain Troll farmer with Sliver Armor thrown in there. Perhaps, but last time I checked, that generic troll farming build you are talking about couldn't finish the cave. This build can take ALL the trolls, both bosses, and any tengu in the way to even get to the cave.

It also takes down the bosses in Witman's Folly, with the exception of Karobo Dimdim. But he can be dropped if you are brave and swap Obsidian Flame in for Magnetic Aura.

One thing I have noticed, on that last note, is that Sliver Armor does seem drawn to targetting bosses. I have rushed a boss to with warriors right behind me within its range, and it usually shifts to the boss. Then all their little archer and warrior buddies drive them into the ground.

byteme!

byteme!

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jan 2006

On Earth

W/P

Quote:
Originally Posted by Terakhan
Perhaps, but last time I checked, that generic troll farming build you are talking about couldn't finish the cave. This build can take ALL the trolls, both bosses, and any tengu in the way to even get to the cave. I'll repeat with someone else said. Besides the fact that this is an Ele primary build, there are already builds that exist that can clear everything you've stated. So what else is new?

Terakhan

Terakhan

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Jul 2006

Gnothis Se Afton

W/R

So no one is allowed to post a build if it handles an area that another build can? Better tell those folks posting all the ritualist farming builds then. God forbid we should have builds for all classes to be able to farm the same things.

Back to business, here is the list for the build thus far:
Chkkr Thousand Tail
Arrahhsh Mountainclub
Chehbaba Roottripper
Tomton Spiriteater
Sakalo Yawpyawl
Ipillo Wupwup
Alana Pekpek
Salani Pippip

Mountain Trolls (out of Droknar's Forge)
Grawl (Witman's Folly and Icebreaker farming)
Forest Minotaurs (south of Temple of Ages)
Desert Minotaurs (Crystal Desert)
Gypsie Ettins (very time consuming due to their small groups)
Wardens (Echovald Forest, easiest in Arborstone Explorable due to numbers)

Subbing Mantra of Resolve in the place of Magnetic Aura:
Lian, Dragon Petal

And finally, while using Sliver Armor but not the build above:
Ghial (thanks to legacyofkain85)

Tainek

Tainek

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Dec 2005

[Rage]

Sliver is nice, but the lowered damage vs 1-2 foes means its a compliment to anouther damage dealing skill

strcpy

strcpy

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jul 2005

One of Many [ONE]

Thanks. While I can not be sure what your motivation to post is, I found it to be useful. Even given the hate involved a few being informed may be what you look for. I've used Silver Armor in the past, in fact it's been a feature of a few of my builds, yet I have never even bothered with some of the areas you list. Maybe I suck - at the very least I read other builds and learn from them.

Ele farming has always seemed very fast but very centralized. That is, the build either dominates or is unworkable. This gives me at least one more place for crop rotation and a decent amount of gold. I wouldn't worry about the amount of complaints - do what you enjoy and post it if you wish. I bet most don't really want their farming builds released than anything.

Terakhan

Terakhan

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Jul 2006

Gnothis Se Afton

W/R

Motivation? For me, its the challenge. Whether finding a build that can handle a diverse range of farming without the use of a secondary, finding ways to farm new things, or finding new tricks to farm with, its the challenge of it. If there is no challenge, it becomes boring, and many people have resorted to bots out of that boredom. When Nightfall comes out and I get a feel for those skills, I may post an update to this, seeing if the build works better that way.

Terakhan

Terakhan

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Jul 2006

Gnothis Se Afton

W/R

Time for an update:

16 earth magic
12 energy storage

Stone Daggers
Eruption
Sliver Armor
Stoneflesh Aura
Armor of Earth
Elemental Attunement
Earth Attunement
Aura of Restoration

With the new chapter and new skills, I bring new victims for the pure elementalist goodness that geomancy can bring:

Lunto Sharpfoot
Chidehkir, Light of The Blind
Chor The Bladed
The bugs just inside Arkjok Ward, from Yohlon Haven

The bosses are tricky, since it seems that Sliver Armor has a tendency to pull toward bosses, and you need to remove the Veldt Beetle Queens to be successful at killing the bosses. Also be sure to avoid the wandering plant patrols. Those killed me twice while I was working out the 'bugs' of farming Lunto.

I haven't gotten myself deep enough into Elona to find if there are other such victims waiting to be slaughtered.

SalamandraTheNinja

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Mar 2006

Infact, as long as you don't encounter a stance removing monster, this seems like a superior energy management to Elemental/Earth attunement:

Stone Striker
Mantra of Earth

It's just... a lot of energy. Identical in energy gain to both Balthazar's Spirit and Essence Bond, except without the upkeep enchantments, and the need for a monk secondary.

-LiamB

-LiamB

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Apr 2006

When I tried this in the Troll Cave the Trolls ran away from me when they got to around 60% HP. Don't tell me this is counted as an AoE spell too o_O

Francis Crawford

Forge Runner

Join Date: Dec 2005

Is there anyway to predict or affect the targeting of Sliver Armor when there are no bosses involved?

This would matter a lot in fighting groups that include healers (e.g., Jade Armor).

Curar Partida

Banned

Join Date: Oct 2006

Halfway To Hell

Mo/

No Sliver Armor targets a random enemy. Though if u target a boss it will hit him nearly everytime, though i have found it to switch enemies in midst battle. And yes its an aoe. E/A frming ftw.

Francis Crawford

Forge Runner

Join Date: Dec 2005

Quote:
Originally Posted by Curar Partida
No Sliver Armor targets a random enemy. Though if u target a boss it will hit him nearly everytime, Interesting contradiction.

But not inconsistent with my own experience.

Actually, in one respect it is. Often the enemy who dies first when I'm using it is neither a boss nor somebody I'm targeting with Stone Daggers. So I imagine it's common that one enemy takes most of the slivers ...

Terakhan

Terakhan

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Jul 2006

Gnothis Se Afton

W/R

My observation on it, while farming Lunto outside of Nundu Bay:
If Lunto is within range, Sliver Armor switches to him. If he isn't it does seem to be random. As far as targeting, I always keep the Veldt Beetle Queens targeted, so its not based on your targetting.

When I head north to Chor, the same thing happens, I focus on the VBQ and Chor pulls all the sliver armor damage.

If you want a real challenge, hit the Skale bosses along the coast in Marga Coast. It is a lot harder with the degen getting tossed on you (darn armor-ignoring conditions), but they are still beatable. Meaning one build, one map, five bosses soloed by it.

Guildmaster Cain

Guildmaster Cain

Desert Nomad

Join Date: May 2006

Guildmistress Eve [Me], Guildmistress Azura [N], Guildmistress Azumi [A], Guildmistress Jaina [D]

Guildmaster Aeron [Rt], Arthas Ironfist [W], Guild: The Tyrian Templars [TTT]

I think its a mix between highest lvl and closest enemy, making melee and bosses the most common target. I usually run up and meleeattack bosses to get close enough to them and then trigger Sliver Armor.

SalamandraTheNinja

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Mar 2006

It certainly doesn't seem random. When I'm farming the bugs outside Yohlon Haven, it always, without fail (as long as all are within range of Silver Armor, which they always are) goes in this order:

Veldt Beetle Lance or Veldt Beetle Queen
Bladed Veldt Termite

This is even regardless of any formation. So I believe the targetting is entirely based on level, since both the Lance and the Queen are level 20, while the Termite is level 16.

Francis Crawford

Forge Runner

Join Date: Dec 2005

Hmm. That's an interesting theory -- always to the highest-level opponent(s), and random among them if there's more than one at the highest level?

If many opponents are the same level, how focused does the fire stay on one particular victim?

HolyHawk

HolyHawk

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jul 2006

lf guild~

Me/A

You could be half dervish for mystic regeneration and mirage cloak maybe?

Bloodied Blade

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jan 2006

R/

A previous poster hinted at this, but for those who don't know: You can go E/A with Shadow Form to farm Kaolin items (though their prices have gone down a bit).

rista blodorn

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Aug 2006

Aura of Shadows

E/R

Just curious if anyone has attempted to use this build or a modification of it to farm Korshek the Immolated outside Tihark Orchard in NF.

The run to him is not that long but you will bump into melee's (harpy warriors, dervs, sapphire djinns), interrupters (harpy trackers), mesmers (roaring ethers) and of course the boss who will hit you with some pretty powerful spells including the now popular searing flames.

kess

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Sep 2006

E/A

Quote:
Originally Posted by rista blodorn
Just curious if anyone has attempted to use this build or a modification of it to farm Korshek the Immolated outside Tihark Orchard in NF.

The run to him is not that long but you will bump into melee's (harpy warriors, dervs, sapphire djinns), interrupters (harpy trackers), mesmers (roaring ethers) and of course the boss who will hit you with some pretty powerful spells including the now popular searing flames. Yes E/A build can be used to farm Korr, Korchek and Kormab, even Hajkor can be done too. Exuro can be farm using this build too only if you aggro another mob. But better to go with e/mo with silver armor.

buzzerman

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Apr 2006

Quote:
Just curious if anyone has attempted to use this build or a modification of it to farm Korshek the Immolated outside Tihark Orchard in NF Yes, I can also confirm that E/A works nicely on that boss. Just use Shadow Form w/ a running stance to run past the other mobs on the way, then find a safe spot (the nearby Rez Shrine will do) to do your hit-and-run assassin work cleanly.. (I always use Death Charge on the target right after Shadow Form and before activating Sliver Armor).

You can even take down Commander Sadi-Belai (very nice staff!) who is very close there.. but that's a bit tricky, the only way that worked for me was by luring the harpies nearby into Sadi-Belai's mob so Sliver Armor can have enough damage output..

Queto

Queto

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jun 2005

Belgium

Dynasty Warriors [DW]

A/W

I deleted my ele a long long time ago and already regret it. But I think that Mystic Regeneration would be really useeful in this build.

Nero_Fayth

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Dec 2005

A very large, cozy virtual world.

I've been running a build similar to these with my ele for quite some time now...

Ice Imps:

Obsidian Flesh
GLyph of Concentration
Mantra of Frost
Stoneflesh Aura
Sliver Armor
Arcane Echo
Armor of Earth
Aura of restoration or utility

I also have a few other builds I run to farm a variety of things.... One which I use to solo mobs of stone summit outside mineral springs:

Restful Breeze
Obs Flesh
Armor of Earth
Balth Spirit or Glyph Of Concentration
Esscence bond
Sliver Armor
Stoneflesh Aura
Aura of Restoration

Disrupting chops aren't really a problem when you spam balth and essence, but if you're bad at doing so, try running glyph of concentration.

~Nero <3

Francis Crawford

Forge Runner

Join Date: Dec 2005

Here's a thought: I was just farming in a zone where there were charmable pets.

It occurred to me to wand the poor beasties and have them join in the fun.

However, since I was running Aftershock, I can't say I really tested the idea ...