Finally Revealed: Solo Tomb of the Primeval Kings

Witte Was

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Apr 2006

Left GW

Proud Member of : Glob of Ectospasm [GoE]

25 Sep 2006 at 20:07 - 1

Hi there!

After days of changing my build for soloing The Tombs of the Primeval Kings I finally decided to post it. On my first screenshots you should see me as a Me/X. I changed to a Me/Rit to make the build saver. I'm able to solo stage 1 but I advise you guys to take one of the Zaishen Monks for in case you die. Stage 2 is much harder so I still need to tweak the build a bit, maybe some of you can help me out!

Attribute Points:

Skills:

Ether Feast
Empathy
Spirit of Failure
Resilient Weapon
Wielder's Boon
Elemental Resistance
Mantra of Resolve
Signet of Midnight

Note: you should see other skills in some of these screenshots then I gave you above, use the Me/Rit build

Step 1: I advise you guys to take 1 Zaishen Monk hench since you can order her. Let her stand at the place where you spawn and run forward while casting Mantra of Resolve.
Step 2: Stop at the bottem of the bridge and use Spirit of Failure on the Scythe of Chaos which should be on the other side on the bridge. A Grasp of Insanity should come to you. Use Signet of Midnight to blind him, cast empathy and again Spirit of Failure on the Grasp.

Step 3: When the Grasp is down, cast Empathy and Spirit of Failure on each Scythe of Chaos.

Step 4: Continue to the next group while standing under the bridge. Cast Spirit of Failure on one of the Scythe of Chaos. When the Grasp is coming to you, use Signet of Midnight, Empathy and Spirit of Failure

Step 5: Sometimes a group of 3-4 Grasps pop up under/near the bridge. Kill them using the Midnight, Empathy, Failure technice and make sure that only one is attacking you.

Step 6: Lure the Banished Dream Riders which should be on your right with a flatbow. Lure them to your spawnpoint and kill them using Empathy and Spirit of Failure. Make sure Mantra of Resolve is always on!

Step 7: Continue killing the next group with the same tactics I gave you above.

Step 8: Kill all the other groups and save the Terrorweb Dryders for the last.

Step 9: Lure the Terrorweb Dryder's to your spawn point so the two Acolyte's will help you killing them. They don't steal your drops so don't worry about that.
Step 10: Kill the last group with the now famous wall-hiding tactics.

Step 11: Good job! You've know cleared stage one!

I was able to clear a little bit of stage 2 but I need something extra to kill the Terrorwebs. If you guys have any advise, give them

Good luck!

Witte Was / Dave Tawings / Aidan Tawings

Yanman.be

Banned

Join Date: Dec 2005

Belgium

[ROSE]

25 Sep 2006 at 20:10 - 2

TopK isn't really worth it unless you get to the greens I guess?

Nice job though.

SnipiousMax

Perfectly Elocuted

Join Date: Sep 2005

25 Sep 2006 at 20:12 - 3

^ Ecto's drop, too.

Mr IGg

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Nov 2005

BoneHeaded Overloads [BHO]

25 Sep 2006 at 20:16 - 4

Nice to see tyria's top farmer hasn't lost his touch.

Nice work I will be trying this if i ever get my mesmer there :/

Arkantos

The Greatest

Join Date: Feb 2006

25 Sep 2006 at 20:21 - 5

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yanman.be

TopK isn't really worth it unless you get to the greens I guess?

Nice job though. I think it's more of a challenge farm then a profit farm.

Anyways, major congrats on the build. I think this is the first solo build I've seen for ToPK.

Yanman.be

Banned

Join Date: Dec 2005

Belgium

[ROSE]

25 Sep 2006 at 20:25 - 6

Challenge indeed. That's why I try to make all solo builds my ele can do, although I never farm with them really.

Horseman Of War

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jun 2006

The Cult of Doom

25 Sep 2006 at 20:30 - 7

yeah those dryders will mess up your day.

gonna be tough to get past them- that part in the second stage when they are up on the cliffs raining meteor showers on you especially...

being able to clear the first stage completely is no small feat tho, and the potential for 'farming' the first stage is just as good as the rest anyways....

... I mean come on- who needs more victos anyways? the greens at the end are kind of junk around towns... the bulwark is the only one that sells for over 10k.

So, I guess what I mean, is I consider this a success- unless you REALLY want to stock up on Ogre-Slaying Knives, then the purpose has been fufilled, right?

(aside from personal victory of clearing it ALL, i mean)

I dont get into solo-farming, although topk is my favorite place to loot... gives my MM some reason for existing.

Bkobe7

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Jul 2005

Mo/Me

25 Sep 2006 at 20:32 - 8

Sig of midnight, empathy, spirit of failure combo is so awesome. I use it on my warrior to farm all kinds of monsters and bosses. Stick ignorance in there for those warrior bosses that use heal sig. gg

Good job on the build.

Saider maul

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Nov 2005

Baltimore, Maryland

25 Sep 2006 at 20:36 - 9

your using a henchie so say goodbye to the drop rate. But nice build.

chronozon

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Sep 2006

La La Land

[XlX]

25 Sep 2006 at 20:44 - 10

You mentioned in the other post that at some point you were using all 8 skills from Mesmers, what do you use in place of the two Rt skills?

Witte Was

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Apr 2006

Left GW

Proud Member of : Glob of Ectospasm [GoE]

25 Sep 2006 at 20:45 - 11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saider maul

your using a henchie so say goodbye to the drop rate. But nice build. No. I still get the same amount of exp, gold and other drops when I order the hench to stay at the spawn point. I only took the Zaishen Monk to res me in case I die. As you can see, I even get all the experience when I'm in a full party of hench.

Ic Zero

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jul 2006

25 Sep 2006 at 20:47 - 12

gj, dont have mes

Wyrmslayer

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Jul 2005

Denmark

Mo/

25 Sep 2006 at 20:50 - 13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Witte Was

No. I still get the same amount of exp, gold and other drops when I order the hench to stay at the spawn point. I only took the Zaishen Monk to res me in case I die. As you can see, I even get all the experience when I'm in a full party of hench.

Im pretty sure she takes half your gold when you pick it up?

Witte Was

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Apr 2006

Left GW

Proud Member of : Glob of Ectospasm [GoE]

25 Sep 2006 at 20:57 - 14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wyrmslayer

Im pretty sure she takes half your gold when you pick it up?

Quote: Originally Posted by chronozon

You mentioned in the other post that at some point you were using all 8 skills from Mesmers, what do you use in place of the two Rt skills? Probaly Shatter Hex and Inspired Hex I also used Epidemic in stead of Elemental Resistance.

Im Perfect U Aint

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jan 2006

salisbury

W/E

25 Sep 2006 at 20:59 - 15

didnt read all the comments but a way to kill the dryders....aggro them and cast empathy they should try and attack through the wall...idk i havent tried nor will i most liekly....if this was alrdy said my bad....but ill stick to having 2nd account in euro to farm uw whenever i want...im gone cya lata have fun farming topk

Im Perfect U Aint

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jan 2006

salisbury

W/E

25 Sep 2006 at 21:00 - 16

henchies take there share of exp gold and drops

Why_Me

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Apr 2006

New Jersey

Mo/

25 Sep 2006 at 21:11 - 17

Have you gotten farther, I mean I dont want to sound pessimistic, but..
Quote:

Originally Posted by Horseman Of War

being able to clear the first stage completely is no small feat tho, and the potential for 'farming' the first stage is just as good as the rest anyways....

First part, yes, second part, no. It gets a lot harder when you get to stage 3 mainly, and 2 can still be a problem. When they start bringing a group of normal chaos creatures, a seige wurm, a banished dream rider, and a terrorweb, a really doubt this build can handle it, and if you end up in a wide area without a wall, you have 3+ people hammering you with 90 damage melee attacks.

This could be considered farming ToPK, but not clearing ToPK.

Good luck finding a way to kill the darknesses with their 1337 backfire and diversion. (I suggest hex breaker and shatter hex instead of the rt skills, infact, I think the previous epidemic/shatter hex build would be more effective, you can also switch your secondary to necromancer and plague touch your blind and burning to another grasp, allowing 2 to be blinded and burning at once)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Witte Was

Probaly, yes. but the drop rate's is still the same so you still get the same amount of ecto's and other items which are worth more then the gold. I advise you guys to take the Zaishen Monk to train yourself and you can leave her/him behind if you can do it alone Actually they still half item drops too. Its not like it drops saying "This item is reserved for alesia [healer henchmen]" and then she goes and picks it up. It just has a 50% chance of being her drop and it never drops in the first place.

chronozon

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Sep 2006

La La Land

[XlX]

25 Sep 2006 at 21:33 - 18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Why_Me

Actually they still half item drops too. Its not like it drops saying "This item is reserved for alesia [healer henchmen]" and then she goes and picks it up. It just has a 50% chance of being her drop and it never drops in the first place. I'm not too sure about that, the henchman would only take half of your droppings IF he/she is with you at the time items are dropped. Now with the update in one of the recent patches the leader of a group can sorta "tell" the henchman to stay at one spot using the flag key right below the radar, and the OP said he had the monk standing by the entrance of the area and goes in by himself so when he's fighting the henchman should be nowhere near him, thus when items drop they will all be assigned to him and none to the henchman, sorta like when someone is AFK during a mission and the rest of the party goes off the map, one would never see any items get assigned to the guy that's afk? Gold is another story, henchman always takes half of what you pick up regardless where he/she is standing I believe.

spun ducky

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Nov 2005

WTB: q8 bows

R/N

25 Sep 2006 at 21:58 - 19

I came up with the same build except one skill in the original thread being i was using vengeful weapon instead of weirders boon. I will have to try your version.

xtc_blitz

Academy Page

Join Date: Jul 2006

Chillin' in the Guild Hall

The Incredible Three Stooges [TITS]

Mo/Me

25 Sep 2006 at 22:53 - 20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Im Perfect U Aint

henchies take there share of exp gold and drops I don't know about gold, cuz i don't really care about meager 100g wooooo, but i know that when party members are well outside your area of influence (grayed out on the party window), then you get the experience and drops, and they get nothing. If you haven't noticed this by now, try power leveling someone at the Troll Caves, and have them wait by Droks.. they will get nothing.

This is a great build, and when Nightfall gets released so you can control henchies again, leaving Monk Henchmen behind like that will be a common thing i will be doing for solo'ng. Good thinking.

Arkantos

The Greatest

Join Date: Feb 2006

26 Sep 2006 at 05:08 - 21

Can a Rt/Me do this, or do you need fast casting? I'm guessing that since your FC is at 4, it's not really needed.

Xaero Gouki Kriegor

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Dec 2005

Leather Rebels, (LR)

26 Sep 2006 at 06:20 - 22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arkantos

Can a Rt/Me do this, or do you need fast casting? I'm guessing that since your FC is at 4, it's not really needed. i think it would depend on the way he achieved his attributes, like if he had to have a superior or major to get somewhere close, to those attributes then probaly, no. but if he had all minors or maybe 1 major, then i think it could be done with mesmer

jimmyhats

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jul 2005

boston o.o

Pros At Inactivity [bleh]

26 Sep 2006 at 09:10 - 23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xaero Gouki Kriegor

i think it would depend on the way he achieved his attributes, like if he had to have a superior or major to get somewhere close, to those attributes then probaly, no. but if he had all minors or maybe 1 major, then i think it could be done with mesmer well, hes got 521 hp at max, which means hes running all minors and a major viggy

legacyofkain85

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Sep 2006

Lady Ainowa

26 Sep 2006 at 10:50 - 24

man this is awesome nice build i always knew mesmers were good for someting

xiaotsu

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Feb 2006

Doomlore Shrine

Just Us Gamers [JUGs]

26 Sep 2006 at 11:13 - 25

Quote:

Originally Posted by legacyofkain85

man this is awesome nice build i always knew mesmers were good for someting They're good for everything...

Witte Was

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Apr 2006

Left GW

Proud Member of : Glob of Ectospasm [GoE]

26 Sep 2006 at 11:39 - 26

Quote:

Originally Posted by xtc_blitz

I don't know about gold, cuz i don't really care about meager 100g wooooo, but i know that when party members are well outside your area of influence (grayed out on the party window), then you get the experience and drops, and they get nothing. If you haven't noticed this by now, try power leveling someone at the Troll Caves, and have them wait by Droks.. they will get nothing.

This is a great build, and when Nightfall gets released so you can control henchies again, leaving Monk Henchmen behind like that will be a common thing i will be doing for solo'ng. Good thinking. You're 100% right. When the henchie's name turned grey in the party window and you don't see him on your map, you will get the same amount of experience and drops. I've done this many times and I'm 100% sure that I get the same drops while soloing. Again, you can leave the hench behind but it's just saver in case you die

Arkantos

The Greatest

Join Date: Feb 2006

26 Sep 2006 at 12:48 - 27

Quote:

Originally Posted by legacyofkain85

man this is awesome nice build i always knew mesmers were good for someting There good for way more then this.

Legendary Shiz

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Apr 2006

26 Sep 2006 at 14:25 - 28

Very impressive mate.

A friend of mine is going to try and find a duo build for ToPK...or at least a bit of it.

Keep on farmin baby.

Why_Me

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Apr 2006

New Jersey

Mo/

28 Sep 2006 at 19:53 - 29

Anyone kill the darknesses with this yet?
I suppose you can use the monk hench to help with the hexes, but there goes half your greens.

Jetdoc

Hell's Protector

Join Date: Jul 2005

The Eyes of Texas [BEVO]

D/A

28 Sep 2006 at 20:24 - 30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Witte Was

Attribute Points:

Skills:

Ether Feast
Empathy
Spirit of Failure
Resilient Weapon
Wielder's Boon
Elemental Resistance
Mantra of Resolve
Signet of Midnight A quick suggestion - replace Ether Feast with Mend Body and Soul. MB&S only heals for 90 compared to the 105 of Ether Feast based on your attributes, but its cast and recharge is much better (i.e. 0.75 seconds versus 2 second cast; 3 second recharge versus 8 second recherage).

Witte Was

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Apr 2006

Left GW

Proud Member of : Glob of Ectospasm [GoE]

28 Sep 2006 at 21:41 - 31

That sounds indeed as a better idea! But if I face the Darknesses (not yet but you never know

) I'll need shatter hex and remove hex so then Ether Feast is the only healing skill but for now Mend Body and Soul sounds better.
Thanks!

Bloodied Blade

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jan 2006

28 Sep 2006 at 21:47 - 32

I saw your skill setup and almost fell out of my chair laughing. I used a very similar build in RA (centered around Sig of Midnight, Spirit/Price of Failure, etc) recently and had been thinking about this.

Grats on finding even more things mesmers can do in PvE.

-Blasty-

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Dec 2005

honr

A/Me

13 Oct 2006 at 10:33 - 33

is there anyway you could make a video plz

Xiaxhou of Trinity

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Dec 2005

Scythes of Chaos [SoC], [PNOY] alliance guild forums: http://socguild.cjb.net

18 Dec 2006 at 06:43 - 34

How do you make it so only on grasping is attacking you? If it's just aggroing and running away until you get just one, i'm screwed =/

Witte Was

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Apr 2006

Left GW

Proud Member of : Glob of Ectospasm [GoE]

18 Dec 2006 at 16:21 - 35

You've to search for a spot where one grasping will block the others 'till he dies. I don't know if that's still possible since the new update..should try it out sometime

Marverick

Forge Runner

Join Date: Aug 2006

18 Dec 2006 at 22:30 - 36

Hmm... would using Ebon Dust Aura from a Derv to blind an area at once work better than SoM? Earth also offers some defense skills and healing.

Witte Was

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Apr 2006

Left GW

Proud Member of : Glob of Ectospasm [GoE]

19 Dec 2006 at 06:32 - 37

I just capped Ebon Dust Aura yesterday with my warrior. Although my mesmer is still in Cantha..Should I try it with my warrior?

Killer Force Ninja

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Sep 2006

19 Dec 2006 at 07:40 - 38

yes try but i think they remove ench.

drumer1029

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Feb 2006

Dark Vigalanties

E/D

19 Dec 2006 at 08:25 - 39

Fingers of Chaos-
Stance. (monster only) For 5 seconds, your attacks: cannot miss Rangers; remove enchantments from Monks; cause conditions on Warriors; interrupt Elementalists; and lose a hex when attacking Necromancers.

* This skill affects the character's primary profession as well their secondary profession. For example, a Monk Elementalist casting a spell would lose an enchantment and be interrupted when hit by a monster using this stance.
* Mesmers, Assassins, Ritualists, Dervishes, and Paragons are not directly affected by this skill. Therefore, if you don't rely on skills of your secondary profession, consider changing it to one of the above.
* Warriors sometimes bring Wild Blow to break the target's stances. However, it might be just as effective to wait five seconds for the stance to expire before cleansing the conditions from the warrior using Restore Condition, Draw Conditions, Purge Signet or Martyr.
* This skill currently only inflicts the crippled and blindness conditions on warriors.
* This skill only ignores evasion effects on rangers. A ranger can still block the attack and blind works as normal.
* Fingers of Chaos has an energy cost of 5 and a recharge time of 15 seconds.

They won't remove enchants because he is niether monk primary or secondary, but they will cause cripple/blind with their Fingers of Chaos.

Figure out a way to get around the blindness, and I think you can do it...come on, you are Witte after all.

EDIT: forgot that they will be blind as well...so yeah. Should only have to deal with blind for a short amount of time.

Sir Vengence VI

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Nov 2006

South Africa

Resign or We [CrY]

Rt/

19 Dec 2006 at 14:22 - 40

Why not look at Tombs from another angle?
Use a full party of heroes + henchies to get all the way to the end bosses and then make a build to solo them and take all the greens