Lets see if we can do anything about this - farming smites on hard mode with...lets say W/Rt. There are few things that come up in my mind:
First - Why Hard Mode? The ecto drop is the same in HM but you get nice (and more) golds and rubies maybe (ive seen those dropping from smites)
Second - The problems!
1. Getting there trought the aatxes. In normal they are very easy to skip but in HM you can't overrun them, and the do pretty decent damage too.
2. Surviving amongst the smites. While you are holding VWK your HP is full and it's all ok, but when you aren't you have to use either dolyak or bonetti's (I use both at the same time). So a sup absorb rune is a must I think.
Build: VWK, Vengeful weapon, Dolyak Signet, Bonetti's, Engraged Charge, Sprint, Signet of Stamina, Heal sig
NOTE: Personally, I find the healing signet a pretty useless skill, at least of normal mode.
Final NOTE: I'd really like to work with the community on this to make that run possible!
Solo Smites in Hard Mode? - generalized
Nerubz
Jacxxmaster
hmm... Don't think it would work. You'd need a way to kill the aatxes, as they have 50% speed boost, and you have 0-25%. The fastest you can get anyway is 33% with a W/Rt (Sprint + Charge), and that isn't fast enough. I'd say go 55 SS. Should work that way.
Jay0
a ranger spirit has a thing that reduces all movement boosts, not sure if HM counts as a boost worth a try though... maybe a r/x hero at the start to make that spirit with a huge range, then just run past the first lot and try and not aggro any of the 2nd lot as ur w/rit?
Slotter
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jay0
a ranger spirit has a thing that reduces all movement boosts, not sure if HM counts as a boost worth a try though... maybe a r/x hero at the start to make that spirit with a huge range, then just run past the first lot and try and not aggro any of the 2nd lot as ur w/rit?
1. The speed boost is inheret.
2. All spirits have the same range to my knowledge.
I might work, I guess....
2. All spirits have the same range to my knowledge.
I might work, I guess....
Nerubz
The spirit that reduces movement speed is muddy terrain and its only -10% i think. I still cant figure out how to get past trought those aatxes >.> Maybe get a hero with you and flag him at the aatxes and while they are killing him you sneak past them ^^
Jay0
monk/mesmer hero
max div favor and smiting
rest in prot/healing
get them to follow u whilst maintaining life bond mending , watchful spirit, succor on you and blessed aura on them for
the next skill ---> have them echo SoJ on u to knockdown aatxes who attack?
or if u cant outrun dying nightmares just let them spam spell breaker and take another hero for soj.... simple
max div favor and smiting
rest in prot/healing
get them to follow u whilst maintaining life bond mending , watchful spirit, succor on you and blessed aura on them for
the next skill ---> have them echo SoJ on u to knockdown aatxes who attack?
or if u cant outrun dying nightmares just let them spam spell breaker and take another hero for soj.... simple
speedy21589
Muddy Terrain does remove the HM speed boost (i've tried it in Stygian Veil). Of course, it means you are also at -10% movement speed.
ArKaiN
Quote:
Originally Posted by speedy21589
Muddy Terrain does remove the HM speed boost (i've tried it in Stygian Veil). Of course, it means you are also at -10% movement speed.
Hmm. So if you use, say, Dodge under Terrain in HM, do foes break aggro like its NM
Mickey
Dash anyone? only run skill that breaks aggro in hard mode, use that, with a shadowform nuker, and gg, haven't tried it yet, but it seems like it might work
Yarrick
Veil of Thorns maybe? on a 55 monk 
ArKaiN
btw rubies drop from anything, anywhere, with a low chance. I've gotten them from random lvl 15 foes in tyria.
DvM
You can farm them with a 55 Hp Spoil victor necro, just bring a hero or two to help with the graspings, and they are ok for rebirth situations
Mickey
Quote:
Originally Posted by DvM
You can farm them with a 55 Hp Spoil victor necro, just bring a hero or two to help with the graspings, and they are ok for rebirth situations
I was thinking about a D/A build, using Dash, and all the normal solo smites skills, except for AV/SV, and put in that wind prayer attrib skills that lets you rend enchants when you hit a foe for that has less health, and run it from there
Koning
caltrops catched my attention while scrolling trough some skills. running skills would be dark escape and maybe dash. so you have 3 skills, 5 more for killing smites and graspings.
Because I love my w/d using rending aura (and like suggested in post above) lets change to dervish primary.
those 5 skills would than be something like: Zealous vow (e), vital boon, rending aura, conviction, victorious sweep. Don't know if it's enough defense, but having more health than enemy+victorious sweep @ about 12 scythe mastery hitting 3 targets heals you for about 180, and cricitals for about 110
) Only 3 enemies are attacking you anyway, so the damage you're taking shouldn't be too much.
Don't know how we can exactly alter the other attribute point, but im gonna try something like this as soon as i have the time to get on gw again.
We can also always use heroes to kill graspings. Luring them out without getting the aatxes attack you would be the hardest part. Putting caltrops on aatxes before graspings are with them would be one of the options if you're solo, maybe we can even sacrifice heroes if we bring em.
Because I love my w/d using rending aura (and like suggested in post above) lets change to dervish primary.
those 5 skills would than be something like: Zealous vow (e), vital boon, rending aura, conviction, victorious sweep. Don't know if it's enough defense, but having more health than enemy+victorious sweep @ about 12 scythe mastery hitting 3 targets heals you for about 180, and cricitals for about 110
) Only 3 enemies are attacking you anyway, so the damage you're taking shouldn't be too much. Don't know how we can exactly alter the other attribute point, but im gonna try something like this as soon as i have the time to get on gw again.
We can also always use heroes to kill graspings. Luring them out without getting the aatxes attack you would be the hardest part. Putting caltrops on aatxes before graspings are with them would be one of the options if you're solo, maybe we can even sacrifice heroes if we bring em.
Jade Zephyr
Normal Stoneflesh tank with Deep Freeze? Take quest, Cast it on Aatxe, Agro Graspings and kill them. Then Deep Freeze again when you run past... I guess you could even take it instead of Stormdjinns...
Lint
On hard mode I've manages to get past the first 3 aatxes by using burning speed. Once I also got to the smites, but I normally die at the graspings if I aggro them when running. I may post the build later
MercenaryKnight
Rit/assassin maybe? Shadow of haste + dark escape. Use the trick runners do in hard mode and run the opposite way with shadow of haste, then dark escape ahead of them.
AscalonWarrior
D0pefish's mesmer build can do smite run in Hard Mode
http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...php?t=10125716
http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...php?t=10125716
Fuzzy Taco
as a 55 necro, i don't have any probs with a smite run. KCP's builds works in HM, you just need to get a little more spammy with your cover hex. Here it is:
16 curses (12+hat+sup rune)
9 heal
9 prot
5 blood magic (for energy from offhand)
rest in soul reaping
(my numbers invlove sup runes of all necro atts)
essence bond
Balth's spirit
mending
Prot spirit
healing breeze
Suffering
Reckless haste (another cover hex, use it as an overpowered guardian)
SS
directions are found at KCP's thread.
search Godlike Satan's Solo Smite Runner and you'll get the old build, but read through it for instructions.
16 curses (12+hat+sup rune)
9 heal
9 prot
5 blood magic (for energy from offhand)
rest in soul reaping
(my numbers invlove sup runes of all necro atts)
essence bond
Balth's spirit
mending
Prot spirit
healing breeze
Suffering
Reckless haste (another cover hex, use it as an overpowered guardian)
SS
directions are found at KCP's thread.
search Godlike Satan's Solo Smite Runner and you'll get the old build, but read through it for instructions.
Koning
Ye I know those 2 (me/e and n/mo) can farm UW in HM, but we are more looking for smite ONLY runners in this thread I think. Not aatxe's + smites, simply because smite only is more profitable and faster.
Mickey
Quote:
Originally Posted by Koning
Ye I know those 2 (me/e and n/mo) can farm UW in HM, but we are more looking for smite ONLY runners in this thread I think. Not aatxe's + smites, simply because smite only is more profitable and faster.
Aatxe's drop more ectos than smites
Fuzzy Taco
agree with mickey, ectos have about a 4% chance of dropping from aatxes, less than 2% for smites. about the smite only runners, i see your point, but unless we can find a reliable way to outrun aatxes, smite only runners are outta luck in HM.
Bloodied Blade
The math has already been done...many, many, many times. Smite run > Aataxe + smites b/c a smite run is more than 2x faster. Faster run = more profit.
Use the search function and you'll likely find a thread about it...it's been discussion ad nauseam.
Use the search function and you'll likely find a thread about it...it's been discussion ad nauseam.
Fuzzy Taco
never said a smite run was less profitable, just agreed that aatxes drop more ectos than smites. sorry if i worded it wrong.
teotuf
did you also factor in the 1k entry fee for soloing the UW? the faster you finish a run the faster ur 1ks goes away. as for profit, i'd say they are about equal with everything factored in.
lets do some calculations:
5 smite only runs: cost = 5k, junk drops = 2k, 4-5 ectos (closer to 5)
2 aatxes+smite runs: cost = 2k, junk drops = 2k, 4-5 ectos (closer to 4)
hmmmmmm
lets do some calculations:
5 smite only runs: cost = 5k, junk drops = 2k, 4-5 ectos (closer to 5)
2 aatxes+smite runs: cost = 2k, junk drops = 2k, 4-5 ectos (closer to 4)
hmmmmmm
Threll
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fuzzy Taco
Reckless haste (another cover hex, use it as an overpowered guardian)
I think Witte has had more luck with Insidious Parasite than Reckless Haste, since HM mobs already have +50% to their attack speed.
Fuzzy Taco
Quote:
Originally Posted by Threll
I think Witte has had more luck with Insidious Parasite than Reckless Haste, since HM mobs already have +50% to their attack speed.
I know, that's why i said what i said. i know it won't increase their atk speed further, but they will miss over 50% of the time, and it's a great blanket hex for smites. usually i'l just bring spirit bond in case HB gets interrupted to make the run easier... and IP would get smited off faster than you can say oops. 
btw i can give demos of any necro farm if you need it, my IGN is Noodle Bury Pie.
btw i can give demos of any necro farm if you need it, my IGN is Noodle Bury Pie.
Ole Man Bourbon
I guess the question is "how do the non-ecto Aatxe drops compare to the Smite drops in HM?" 5 - 1? 3 - 1? 1 - 1? 1/0? :snort:
And do the annoying Graspings drop anything worthwhile now in HM? Or still total and utter crap?
And do the annoying Graspings drop anything worthwhile now in HM? Or still total and utter crap?
Fuzzy Taco
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ole Man Bourbon
I guess the question is "how do the non-ecto Aatxe drops compare to the Smite drops in HM?" 5 - 1? 3 - 1? 1 - 1? 1/0? :snort:
And do the annoying Graspings drop anything worthwhile now in HM? Or still total and utter crap? from my experiences, Aatxe drops (non-ecto) have been pretty good. a few gold and purple swords, plenty of gp drops. lotsa demonic remains though.
Smites haven't been dropping much good stuff besides the ectos. plenty of white eternal shields and ghostly staffs.
And do the annoying Graspings drop anything worthwhile now in HM? Or still total and utter crap? from my experiences, Aatxe drops (non-ecto) have been pretty good. a few gold and purple swords, plenty of gp drops. lotsa demonic remains though.
Smites haven't been dropping much good stuff besides the ectos. plenty of white eternal shields and ghostly staffs.
Holz
*bump*
Can't you solo UW on HM with Denzel's good old Rt/Me VwK build? That would suck
. I never tried HM, I think I'll give it a shot tomorrow. I'll give my Necro SS and try it with him too, 55 Necro is faster anyways...
Can't you solo UW on HM with Denzel's good old Rt/Me VwK build? That would suck
. I never tried HM, I think I'll give it a shot tomorrow. I'll give my Necro SS and try it with him too, 55 Necro is faster anyways...