330hp Rt/Mo Vengeful Spirit Bonder -Quick HM Farming!

This is a build that makes Farming with a Ritualist, faster and more effective for all kinds of Hard Mode farming. Using VwK, Vengeful Weapon, Reversal of Damage, and Retribution for doing high damage to enemies. Can farm just about anything in Hard Mode - Includes a full List of Enemies and Areas to farm.

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Introduction: Using Protective Spirit with 330hp will lower damage to 33, which VwK will negate by stealing 37 health from enemies to keep your health up, and keep you alive. This build uses VwK and Retribution together to do more damage. Combined with Retribution, you will deal 47 (37 Life Steal+10 Dmg) damage to enemies while VwK is active. It can also inflict alot of high damage spikes to single enemies from spamming Vengeful Weapon and RoD. Damage spikes can go from 80 (47+42), 110 (47+63), to 152 (47+63+42) to single enemies. These spikes occur often, as Vengeful Weapon and Reversal of damage have quick recharge and low energy cost, which make them great for spamming extra damage.

Using Spirit Bond will heal you for 80hp when triggered, but you only gain around 47hp, and that is plenty of health to negate all damage and keep you alive. Spirit Bond is mainly mean't to keep you alive when VwK is recharging and not in use. Spirit Bond can also be used when needed, if you are still taking damage while using VwK. It is also very good for countering any amount of health degeneration from conditions and hexes.

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Skill Set/Attributes/Template:

[build prof=rt/mo res=12+3+1 pro=10 smi=8 spa=2+3 name="330hp Vengeful Spirit Bonder" box][Vengeful Was Khanhei][Vengeful Weapon][Protective Spirit][Spirit Bond][Reversal of Damage][Retribution][Essence Bond][Balthazar's Spirit][/build]

Equipment:

Armor:
* Any full set of 15 AL (lowest possible you can buy) in Shing Jea Monastery. You can also use starter armor that is 5 AL for each piece. Lower the AL, the better. One thing about using Starter armor is that the headpiece does not give you +1 towards your Mastery, so you will only end up with 15 Restoration with Superior Restoration Rune. You can get a 15AL head piece from Monastery to use with your starter armor so you can get 16 Restoration.
* A Superior Restoration Rune on Restoration Headwrap, and Superior Spawning Rune on one other armor piece. This will drop your health to 330.
* 5 Radiant Insigneas for each piece of armor, and 3 Attunement Runes for extra 14 energy.

Weapons/Items:
* Any max inscribable staff with 20% HSR, a 10% HSC "Swift" staff head, a +15 energy/-1 "Seize the Day" inscription and a 20% longer enchantments wrap (optional but recommended).
* Or any one-handed weapon with +5 energy and 20% longer enchantments, with any offhand for energy.
* Staff is recommended to get the 20% HSR and 10% HCS, which can speed up farming.
* a Shamanic Restoration Wand with 20% HSR (of Memory) and +15 energy ("Seize The Day"). Paired with an inscribabled Restoration off-hand with 20% HSR ("Forget Me Not") and 10% HCS (Swiftness). This will give you two chances of 20% HRS of your Restoration spells, and possibly double your chances of getting half recharge on VwK. You also will get +27/-1 Energy.

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Alternative Skills: Skill Slot 5 can be optional if you don't have Nightfall... But, Reversal of Damage is recommended for spamming extra damage. Also, If you having problems with Spirit Bond wearing off too quickly, you can use Shield of Absorption instead of Reversal of Damage to reduce all damage for 7 seconds, while VwK is not in use. Shield of Absorption should help to take some pressure off of using Spirit Bond.

Spawning
[Wielder's Remedy]
Restoration
[Resilient Weapon][Weapon of Warding][Mend Body and Soul][soothing memories]
Protection
[Shield of Absorption][Shielding Hands][Mending Touch][Mend Ailment][mend condition][dismiss condition][Purifying veil]
Smiting
[Judge's Intervention][Smite Hex][Smite Condition][Scourge Healing][Symbol of Wrath][Kirin's Wrath][Signet of Mystic Wrath][Castigation Signet][smite][stonesoul strike][spear of light][holy strike]

Pve Skills:

Dwarven:
[Alkar's Alchemical Acid][Drunken Master][Dwarven Stability][Ear Bite][Light of Deldrimor][Snow Storm]

Asuran:
[Pain Inverter][Air of Superiority][Mindbender][Smooth Criminal][Radiation]

Norn:
[I Am Unstoppable][Finish Him][You Move Like a Dwarf][Feel No Pain]

Vanguard:
[Ebon Battle Standard of Wisdom][Ebon Vanguard Sniper Support]

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Counters: (Knockdowns, Interruptions, Enchantment Stripping, Touch Skills and Life Stealing from Enemies)

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Usage: (Note: To get more effectiveness from build, you can get Ritualist and Monk Blessings from Shrines when the World has Favor. This will raise your Ritualist or Monk attributes by 1. You can also get Blessings from Kurzick/Luxon Shrines to gain faction points while farming in territories)

(Only take on 1-8 enemies at a time for Optimal effectiveness of this build. Anymore than 8 enemies can be difficult to deal with when using Spirit Bond. It is very possible to take on alot more, but will take some experience and good timing. Shield of Absorption can be used to help take pressure off of Spirit Bond if you are farming an area with bigger mobs of enemies.)

* Upon entering farming area, cast enchants one by one and let energy gain full before casting next.
* Cast Protective Spirit when approacing enemies and keep on at all times.
* Before you take any hits cast Spirit Bond, then use VwK and begin spamming Vengeful Weapon and RoD.
* Always use Spirit Bond to keep you alive while VwK is recharging and not in use. Use VwK soon as it is recharged.
* Use Spirit Bond if you are still taking damage while VwK is active. This usually occurs when dealing with enemy caster's spells which don't trigger the life stealing. Also, use Spirit Bond if enemies are stealing life while VwK is in use to help keep your health up from enemy hits.
* Repeat until enemies are dead.

Learning the timing of Spirit Bond is critical to keeping you alive while VwK is not in use. Using Spirit Bond can be kind of difficult at first, mainly if you never used it before with a solo farming build. Once you get a hang of using Spirit Bond, it can be quite easy, so don't give up or you'll miss out

Spirit Bond -Bug Note: No longer a Spirit Bond Bug, it has been fixed. The 10 hits counter will reset everytime the enchant is renewed. Without the bug, using Spirit Bond just got easier.

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Videos:

330hp Rt/Mo Farming Luxon Sins

330hp Rt/Mo Farming Minister Cho's Estate

330hp Rt/Mo All In One - Farming Different Places

330hp Rt/Mo - Farming IWAY Warriors (Zaishen Challenge)

330hp Rt/Mo Farming Stonewolves Cave

330hp Rt/Mo Farming Chilling Wisp in Battledepths

330hp Rt/Mo - Farming Enchanted Swords/Axes

New Videos:

330hp Rt/Mo - Misc HM Farming - Part 2 (New)

330hp Rt/Mo - Farming Darkness at Kaitan (Naga) :

There is a little story behind this special farm. Go to my post for more details. Be sure to check it out: The story of how it all began...


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List of Areas/Enemies to Farm in HM (Not everything is listed. Most are easy, some can be difficult)

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Eye of the North (Far Shiverpeaks)

Ice Cliff Chasms(Area Map 1.jpg)
*Chilling Wisp
*Stonewolves
*Frozen Elementals

Bjora Marches(Area Map 2.jpg)
*Stonewolves

Battledepths
*Chilling Wisp

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Nightfall (Elona)

Plains of Jarin
*Insects
*Skale
*Plants

Zehlon Reach
*Corsair
*Insects
*Plants
*Skale

Cliffs of Dohjok
*Corsair
*Insects
*Plants
*Skale
*Insects

Issnur's Isles
*Corsair
*Insects
*Plants
*Skale

Mehtani Keys
*Corsair
*Plants
*Skale

Fahranur, The First City
*Skale
*Plants
*Undead

Arkjok Ward
*Tusked

Bahdok Caverns
*Djinn
*Heket
*Tusked

Moddok Crevice (Mission)
*Corsair

The Hidden City of Ahdashim
*Djinn

Mirror of Lyss
*Beetles
*Behemoth
*Djinn

Vehjin Mines
*Behemoth
*Hunting Minotaur

Holdings of Chokhin
*Beetles
*Hunting Minotaur
*Skree

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Factions (Cantha)

Sunqua Vale
*Naga
*Kappa
*Sensali
*Yeti

Panjiang Peninsula
*Naga
*Kappa

Kinya Province
*Naga
*Kappa

Jaya Bluffs
*Sensali
*Yeti

Minister Cho's Estate (Explorable)
*Sickened
*Afflicted

Minister Cho's Estate (Mission)
*Sickened

Wajjun Bazaar
*Am Fah
*Jade Brotherhood (Knights/Mage)
*Am Fah Assassins (Street Justice Quest)

Nahpui Quarter (Mission)
*Star Blades
*Star Senstinel

Boreas Seabed
*Luxon Assassins (The Halcyon Job Quest)
*Naga (beware of interrupts)

Mount Qinkai
*Rot Wallow
*Yeti

Pongmei Valley
*Am Fah
*Jade Brotherhood
*Kirin
*Dragon Moss
*Undergrowth
*Yeti

The Eternal Grove (Explorable)
*Dragon Moss
*Undergrowth
*Kirin

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Prophecies (Tyria)

Old Ascalon
*Hulking Stone Elementals
*Grawl

Anvil Rock
*Minotaur
*Centaur

Nebo Terrace
*Undead
*Tengu

Cursed Lands
*Undead

Tascas Demise
*Dwarven

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Great Temple of Balthazar

Zaishen Challenge
*IWAY Warriors

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UnderWorld Farming (For experienced UW farmers)

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Video (UW):

330hp Rt/Mo Vengeful Spirit Bonder - UW HM Solo

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Farming Underworld (HM) You can farm all Bladed Aatxes, Graspings, Smites, Coldfires, and anything else possible in Hard Mode. Hard Mode is recommended to get the effectiveness out of the build. Hard Mode is alot faster for farming UW, and Spirit Bond gets triggered by Graspings. Normal Mode is alot slower, and more risky when dealing with the Graspings. Of course all enemies attack twice as fast in Hard Mode, which leads to quicker kills, and more energy gain. More energy gain is definately helpful when taking on 1-3 Bladed Aatxes. A Longbow or Flatbow may be needed for Bladed Aatxes.

Dying Nightmares: Always scan the safe spots for Dying Nightmares before pulling a group of Bladed Aatxes. There are NPC spirits in the starting chamber that you can stand safely behind, incase you get your enchanments stripped. Nightmares can pop up while pulling one of the two groups of Bladed Aatxes on top of both stairs. Before pulling a group of Bladed Aatxes, cast Protective Spirit, let recharge, then run in and pull them. If Nightmare pops up while pulling, turn around and run towards NPC's. When your enchantments get stripped, renew Protective Spirit immediately, and keep running towards the NPC's until Bladed Aatxes turn around, unless you body blocked them by using NPC. Body blocking using the NPC's is alot more difficult since a recent change in an update. Once you are safe from Bladed Aatxes, use VwK to kill off the Dying Nightmare. Once the Dying Nightmare is dead, you should be safe to recast all your enchants, and move on to killing Bladed Aatxes. If a Dying Nightmare pops up when you are in the area of the Smites, just renew Protective Spirit and Vwk, then run away from Smites to a safe area.

Bladed Aatxes: Use a Longbow or Flat Bow to pull Bladed to help avoid Dying Nightmare pop ups. Cast Protective Spirit, pull a group to the center of the chamber where it is safe from other enemies. Usually pull a group towards the NPC spirits, incase you need them to body block. Cast VwK just before they hit you to avoid interruption. Spam Vengeful Weapon or Reversal of Damage, but not too much to avoid draining your own energy. Half way through Protective Spirit's duration, refresh the enchantment incase of a possible interruption. This makes sure that you have a second chance to renew Protective Spirit, if it does get interrupted. Renewing half way through Protective Spirit's duration will ensure that it will be ready and recharged to use again before the previous cast wears off. Always cast Spirit Bond a second or two before VwK ends incase of interruption, which also gives you a second chance to renew the enchantment. Try to hit your Spells at the same time they are about to hit you to help avoid interruptions. Repeat usage until they are dead. Timing will take some time to learn. Also, your energy might be low after killing off a group Bladed Aatxes, just remove off your enchants and let your energy gain full. Then re-apply enchanments one-by-one and move on until Chamber is clear of the Bladed Aatxes.

Grasping Darkness: After clearing the main chamber of Bladed Aatxes, grab the "Clear The Chamber" quest from NPC. Make sure to only pull one group at a time, as they drain alot of your energy. With one group you shouldn't have much energy problems. Stay in Hard Mode so the Graspings trigger Spirit Bond with every hit. Purifying Veil is a good alternative for removing deadly conditions such as Dazed. You can replace RoD if needed. This skill will increase your chances of surviving Dazed as it has no casting time, and can simply double click the maintained enchantment to remove a condition. Mindbender can also be a great choice for replacing RoD. Mindbender gives you half casting times of all you spells, which can help alot with avoiding interruptions. Not to mention, it also can be used as a running spell.

Approach a group, cast Protective Spirit, then aggro, and hit VwK soon as they start moving toward you to avoid interruption. Or you could wait until they all use their Distracting Blow, then safely recast enchants and use VwK. Try to cast your enchants just as soon as they are about to hit you to better your chances of avoiding being Dazed or interrupted. Try not to spam any spells unless really needed. Spamming can lead to a higher chance of being Dazed and interrupted. Can also cause energy shortage, and then possibly lead to death. Clear the Chamber of Graspings and move on to the Smites. Graspings can be difficult to deal with, so it does require to take some time to learn how to deal with them.

The Run: The run is just after you complete the "Clear the Chamber" quest. Everything should be out of your way until you get to the narrow passage way to the Smites. Wait, at the entrance of the passage way and wait until the two Blade Aatxes to patrol in out of the way of the patrolling Grasp. Take out the two Blade Aatxes. Wait for the Grasp to patrol in, then out to that little hill. Then you can safely run on by without dealing with needing to kill them, since they might have a Dying Nightmare with them. Run on by them, and take out the next two Blade Aatxes. Then you have made your way to the Icy Waste, which Smite Crawlers are located.

Smite Crawlers: When you get to Smites, take off Retribution and don't use Reversal of Damage. Any Physical damage will trigger their Reversal of Fortune, and will keep them well healed and take alot longer to kill. Life Stealing is the best way to kill off Smites. Smites will do some damage to you from Zealot's Fire even with VwK active, so use Spirit Bond at all times or when needed. They also inflict attack fast, so Spirit Bond will run out quickly... so be sure to spam it as much as possible when VwK is not in use. Pull only one small group of Smites to a safe area. Pulling anymore than one group of smites will take considerably longer, so stick to pulling one group at all times unless it can't be avoided.

Cast Protective Spirit as they are approaching, and use Spirit Bond just before they are about to hit you, and keep it on at all times. When the whole group is attacking, use VwK and spam Vengeful Weapon as often as possible. Rinse and Repeat until all dead. The Smites are also alot harder and take alot longer kill in Hard Mode...

Coldfire Nights: It's good to avoid these at all times as they have a good Interruption spell and don't drop any ecto's, so they can be someone what a waste of time to farm. You can easily avoid these by watching and knowing their patrol paths, then run on by safely. If there is a situation where they are not patrolling or moving, you might have to kill them off. They can be fairly easy to kill if you know how to avoid their Maelstrom spell, otherwise you will die by interruptions. All you have to do is, as soon as they cast Maelstrom on you, simply move out of its AoE range as quick as possible and you will be safe to cast your spells. Only kill if you accidently aggro'd a group, or if they are in your way and not patrolling like they should. You can also use Retribution and Reversal of Damage to kill these off alot faster.

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Dual Farming
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600hp Rt/Mo Vengeful Tanker - Dual HM Farming with SB Monk : I had just added a new thread for the dual farming guide for using 600hp Rt/Mo Vengeful Spirit Bond tanker. It can be used to dual farm just about anywheres possible. I been using them to farm dungeons, such as Cathedral of Flames (Temple of the Damned quest).

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Dual UW Ritualist (Hard Mode) - 330hp Rt/Mo Tanker & Spirit Bomber : Here is the thread I made for Dualing UW with two Ritualists. It is kind of an old thread, but I updated a bit.

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Monk Alternative
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Mo/Rt 600hp Vengeful Spirit Bonder : This is a Monk alternative to my 330hp Rt/Mo build. It don't work quite as well as a Ritualist of course, but still good enough to use for farming. It uses 600hp instead of 330hp, so you can get more damage from Retribution on top of VwK (29+18=47). Using 600hp will require you to use Spirit Bond all the time to keep health up. It can also be used for Dualing Farming with another monk.

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See Also (My Other Rit Farming Builds)
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Rt/Mo 105hp VwK - Farming HM Builds (Old) : This was my very first build that I had posted with a Guide. It is basically like any 55/105hp Invinci build, but uses VwK of course. It is an old build, but it will still work. It is really easy to use, and has alot of variants. I have several skill templates for different farming situations. This is the build I had used since the start of Hard Mode, and used it until I had created 330hp.

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Rt/W UW Smite Solo (Using VwK) : This is a link to a build/guide for using Rt/W with VwK to farm Smites for ectos. Similar to W/Rt, but faster and little more difficult to get hang of... but pretty easy if you ask me. I still use this for farming ectos.

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Ritualist Spirit Bomber - Green Farming! : This is a Ritualist build that uses alot of different damage dealing spirits to kill just about any boss for Greens and Elite Tomes. Uses Henches to clear mobs, and then flag them away for solo.

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Ritualist Farming Rajazan's Fervor : An easy build for farming Rajazan's Fervor caster green sword.

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Money/Profit Tip: I know this ain't much of a tip, but if you ID WHITE items along with everything else, you will gain a bit more profit when you sell them to merchants... Basically just ID'n those junk WHITE items that you usually don't bother to ID, will lead to double profit from them. But yeah, just alittle something to help people out a bit more... incase someone didn't know.

Also, if you farm more items than you can hold, try salvaging some stuff for materials to make room for more items. That way nothing gets left behind, and you will also get plenty of materials to save up or sell.

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Have fun and Good luck farming! Peace out!

IGN: "Nativ Spirit Lord" or "ReZ DoGG" (feel free to pm me in game, if you need help or have any questions)