Well... while the basics of the build are well-known to pretty much anyone... I haven't seen anyone mention it before (strangely enough). I figured I'd try it out to see if it works... and sure enough it does.
Now... before I start for real... I'd like to note that the Warrior and Rit farming builds for Vermin are almost certainly a LOT faster (this farm is slow)... BUT... since I didn't have a Warrior or Rit with easy access to Senji's Corner / Xaquang Skyway and the required builds.... well. Besides, I don't do it for the pure cash so much as the possibility of Celestial Weapons. ^_^
Ok... the build... very simply:~
[skill]Dark Escape[/skill][skill]Dash[/skill][skill]Deadly Paradox[/skill][skill]Arcane Echo[/skill][skill]Shadow Form[/skill][skill]Empathy[/skill][skill]Feigned Neutrality[/skill] ... and one Optional slot.
Attributes:~
Shadow Arts = 16
Domination Magic = 12
Deadly Arts = 3 (or higher if you want)
Equipment:~
Full Radiant Armour and a Superior Shadow Arts rune on a Shadow Arts mask (extra Attunement runes optional, though they may make this easier)
Zealous Daggers of Enchanting (I use Pywatt's Talons personally, and yes, Perfect Enchanting is needed)
A Staff with a perfect Enchanting mod (For extra energy during non-attack time)
METHOD:~
#1. Get familiar with maintaining Shadow Form constantly. It is vital to this build that you learn the precise timing for maintaining permanent Shadow Form, as it is only possible (to the best of my knowledge) with 16 Shadow Arts and 20% longer enchants, and doesn't leave much margin for error. The process is precisely as follows:
--#1a. Activate Deadly Paradox, then Arcane Echo, then Shadow Form.
--#1b. Once the recharge marker on the Shadow Form (original) gets to the bottom-left (South-West) corner PRECISELY... activate the Arcane Echoed SF.
--#1c. Watch the Arcane Echo recharge... and just as it is getting to the top, activate Deadly Paradox to begin the cycle again (Deadly Paradox > Arcane Echo > Shadow Form). AE must be reactivated AS SOON AS IT BECOMES AVAILABLE.
--#1d. It is important to remember the energy values needed for each step. The first step requires 30 energy while the second step requires 10. Always make sure you have at least that much available when activating. There is a little leeway with regen.
#2. Equip your energy staff and run out into Xaquang Skyway in Hard Mode. Activate Dash / Dark Escape / Dash to get over to the general Vermin area if you're impatient like me.
#3. Start the Shadow Form sequence just outside aggro range of a group, then switch to the Zealous Daggers and engage the nearest Vermin in straight C+Space combat (charging energy with Zealous daggers). If inexperienced, take time to get comfortable with maintaining the Shadow Form sequence.
#4. Activate Empathy on the Vermin you're attacking. Make sure you take into account timing for the Shadow Form sequence and energy requirements before doing it. The best time to activate it (provided you have the energy) is right after either step in the sequence. Even if you don't have the energy immediately, charge up to 10 and unleash Empathy before continuing your attack. DO NOT change targets under any circumstances until the target you're hexing is dead.... even if he shadowsteps away.
#5. Repeat until all Vermin on the path from Senji's Corner to Waijun Bazaar are dead. That INCLUDES Shreader Sharptongue... though BEWARE: Killing him recharges your skills and MAY throw your sequence off. If you're not entirely sure, just restart it from scratch (provided you have the energy). Bringing lockpicks to open chests along the way is also a good idea, as they tend to be rather abundant. If you're REALLY lazy / rich you can just Shadow Form your way through the chests and not bother fighting the Vermin at all for a much faster run (though less cash back and less fun IMHO).
#6. A word of warning: If you mess up the timing even once... it is back to the res shrine for you most likely. Admittedly, I DID manage to activate Shadow Form once AFTER the last one had ran out, which left me (after a hit or two from vermin) with precisely 4 health. It was.... precarious. If the same happens to you then switch to the staff (while maintaining the skill sequence), stop attacking and cast Feigned Neutrality.
As another mild warning.... as regards staff choice, one with as little chance of Half Spell Recharge as possible actually helps, as a half spell recharge can completely throw off your timing.
And.... there we go.
I'll include screenshots if necessary by request. Making a video I don't have the capability to do at present.
And apologies to anyone who already does this and thinks I'm ripping them off or whatever.... as it really does seem rather obvious if you're a regular Shadow Form user.
[Edit:~ The Norn shout "Dodge This!" makes a good filler for the optional slot, since normal dagger attacks won't do much besides gain Energy and Adrenaline, and it only requires 4 Adrenaline to activate for a little extra damage per hit.]
A/Me ~ Vermin Farm (Hard Mode)
SotiCoto
petrorabbit
The timing is exactly 19 seconds of shadowform.
Tested a while ago, too early or too late = death.
Honestly, too much micromanagement to be efficient IMO.
Tested a while ago, too early or too late = death.
Honestly, too much micromanagement to be efficient IMO.
SotiCoto
Quote:
Originally Posted by petrorabbit
The timing is exactly 19 seconds of shadowform.
Tested a while ago, too early or too late = death.
Honestly, too much micromanagement to be efficient IMO. Efficient?
It is the best I personally have for getting Celestial Weapons. I got a Celestial Sword and Staff in drops yesterday, but the sword was merch-fodder.
Not only that, but the gold from the run pays for the lockpicks for the chests too....
It might take the better part of an hour to do one run, but once you get the hang of sequencing Shadow Form to keep it up permanently, it isn't difficult at all. It might seem like a lot to manage to cast within the second at exactly the right time in each instance... but it gets very easy after a while. I've used it to waltz around Nahpui Quarter (mission area) in Hard Mode without Shadow Form dropping once... and I wasn't even paying that much attention to the skill-bars (it becomes second nature after a while).
Better still... even if you make mistakes, I've noticed that all is not lost. Slip-ups in casting the AE'ed Shadow Form before the skill reverts still give a few seconds of Shadow Form to run out (Dash and Dark Escape) provided no body-block... and slip-ups on the other side of the board still allow for the reactivation of Shadow Form and gradual re-heal. AND... even if you die... it is usually a simple matter to get back into the swing of things and burn off the Death Penalty in no time (I've only died once so far).
I figure that 55 monking has made people complacent since there is so much leeway in recast time...
I do have to admit though... it takes a long time. It takes at least one whole cycle to kill each Vermin, and a cycle takes about... 45 to 46 seconds. It IS immensely satisfying to do though... IMHO. ^_^
I'd imagine if you can find some other similarly single-class mobs and the like it might well be possible to farm them with this build too, provided they don't have one of Shadow Form's major banes (e.g. Chilblains). With a little more care, Backfire can be exchanged in for Empathy or put in the optional slot.
Tested a while ago, too early or too late = death.
Honestly, too much micromanagement to be efficient IMO. Efficient?
It is the best I personally have for getting Celestial Weapons. I got a Celestial Sword and Staff in drops yesterday, but the sword was merch-fodder.
Not only that, but the gold from the run pays for the lockpicks for the chests too....
It might take the better part of an hour to do one run, but once you get the hang of sequencing Shadow Form to keep it up permanently, it isn't difficult at all. It might seem like a lot to manage to cast within the second at exactly the right time in each instance... but it gets very easy after a while. I've used it to waltz around Nahpui Quarter (mission area) in Hard Mode without Shadow Form dropping once... and I wasn't even paying that much attention to the skill-bars (it becomes second nature after a while).
Better still... even if you make mistakes, I've noticed that all is not lost. Slip-ups in casting the AE'ed Shadow Form before the skill reverts still give a few seconds of Shadow Form to run out (Dash and Dark Escape) provided no body-block... and slip-ups on the other side of the board still allow for the reactivation of Shadow Form and gradual re-heal. AND... even if you die... it is usually a simple matter to get back into the swing of things and burn off the Death Penalty in no time (I've only died once so far).
I figure that 55 monking has made people complacent since there is so much leeway in recast time...
I do have to admit though... it takes a long time. It takes at least one whole cycle to kill each Vermin, and a cycle takes about... 45 to 46 seconds. It IS immensely satisfying to do though... IMHO. ^_^
I'd imagine if you can find some other similarly single-class mobs and the like it might well be possible to farm them with this build too, provided they don't have one of Shadow Form's major banes (e.g. Chilblains). With a little more care, Backfire can be exchanged in for Empathy or put in the optional slot.
nekopowa
Too slow, there are more efficient ways to farm vermin.
SotiCoto
Quote:
Originally Posted by nekopowa
Too slow, there are more efficient ways to farm vermin.
With an Assassin?
Including the boss and all mobs?
Gimme a break here.
The build works and I'm just trying to share it with people.
Including the boss and all mobs?
Gimme a break here.
The build works and I'm just trying to share it with people.
petrorabbit
That's nice you're trying to share your build, but spending around an hour to do this run is just not worth it.
Honestly, why should I take this build on an assassin if it takes an hour to do 1 run? I can do at least 4 to 8 more runs in a hour with a ritualist, elementalist, or even a warrior.
Even if I dont' have those characters made already, I can get one to Senji's Corner, ready to farm this area, in the same time it takes you to do 3 runs with this build. If you want to farm them with an assassin, that's fine, but please don't say this method is good for farming when there are clearly much faster and efficient ways to do this farm.
Honestly, why should I take this build on an assassin if it takes an hour to do 1 run? I can do at least 4 to 8 more runs in a hour with a ritualist, elementalist, or even a warrior.
Even if I dont' have those characters made already, I can get one to Senji's Corner, ready to farm this area, in the same time it takes you to do 3 runs with this build. If you want to farm them with an assassin, that's fine, but please don't say this method is good for farming when there are clearly much faster and efficient ways to do this farm.
onerabbit
i use simular build.
OwVk0lezHPmDPaJoziegMyMCzJA
Conditions + epidemic FTW
Works in LOADS of places in HM =]
OwVk0lezHPmDPaJoziegMyMCzJA
Conditions + epidemic FTW
Works in LOADS of places in HM =]
Zodiak
I enjoy
[skill]shadow of haste[/skill][skill]shadow form[/skill][skill]glyph of elemental power[/skill][skill]sliver armor[/skill][skill]teinai's crystals[/skill][skill]crystal wave[/skill] or [skill]stone daggers[/skill][skill]feigned neutrality[/skill][skill]dash[/skill]
Safe and easy
I dont believe in bashing other people for showing builds they like using, everyone likes using something different and just because someone doesnt use the same as you do doesnt mean it still doesnt work for that person.
[skill]shadow of haste[/skill][skill]shadow form[/skill][skill]glyph of elemental power[/skill][skill]sliver armor[/skill][skill]teinai's crystals[/skill][skill]crystal wave[/skill] or [skill]stone daggers[/skill][skill]feigned neutrality[/skill][skill]dash[/skill]
Safe and easy
I dont believe in bashing other people for showing builds they like using, everyone likes using something different and just because someone doesnt use the same as you do doesnt mean it still doesnt work for that person.
Nemo the Capitalist
tru that brother :"D
SotiCoto
Well.... having now tried the Echo-VwK build to farm Vermin.... and failed miserably about 10 times.... I have determined that my Assassin build is MUCH safer, if a little bit slower.
Ok.... a lot slower... but given that I couldn't kill more than one group with the Echo-VwK without dying (Hard Mode, naturally).... I'll stick with what works.
[Edit]: A-NET YOU TOTAL AND UTTER UNFORGIVABLE BASTARDS! DAMN YOU TO THE DARKEST DEPTHS OF TARTARUS! ....
*coughs* ..... Doesn't work any more.
/Lock Request.
-_-;
Ok.... a lot slower... but given that I couldn't kill more than one group with the Echo-VwK without dying (Hard Mode, naturally).... I'll stick with what works.
[Edit]: A-NET YOU TOTAL AND UTTER UNFORGIVABLE BASTARDS! DAMN YOU TO THE DARKEST DEPTHS OF TARTARUS! ....
*coughs* ..... Doesn't work any more.
/Lock Request.
-_-;