Vloxen Excavations

I searched the forums, as far as I know, thoroughly with information regarding finishing Vloxen Excavations on Hard Mode and did not find a specific thread. The build I'm going to discuss is if you are a monk primary. However, since this is a team build, I wasn't sure if it goes here or in the monk section.

I managed to finish the dungeon using H&H with not much effort last night and wanted to share the set up. The problem I have is that I live in +4 GMT and it's hard because 1) there are few people in the districts leading into the dungeon, and 2) few are willing to do the dungeon.

I will not discuss enemies other than the Stone Summit due to their difficulty. I will try and describe what enemies should be taken out first as well as enemies you should kite.

I'll get on straight to the build I use and it should be straightforward to understand.

Monk/Ranger:

Attributes:
Divine Favour: 11 + 1
Protective Prayers: 11 + 1 + 3
Wilderness Survival: 8

Skills:
[Build prof=Mo/R Divine=11+1 Protection=11+1+3 Wilderness=8][Dismiss Condition][Blessed Signet][Protective Spirit][Frozen Soil][Ebon Battle Standard of Courage][Pain Inverter][Life Barrier][Rebirth][/Build]

The build is pretty simple. Cast and maintain Life Barrier on all other party members. A staff with energy +5 and 20% longer enchantment helps.

Variations I would suggest:
I did not find Pain Inverter very useful in this dungeon and would replace it with a hex removing skill. The only time it was useful was when I cast it on a warder, but it did not do much damage. I was too busy casting Blessed Signet during battles. Other Suggestions would be to replace it with [Guardian] or [Shield of Absorption]


The hero builds are off of Sabway's build, so much credit goes to him. All three heroes have their status set to "Guard".


Master of Whispers; N:

Attributes:
Death Magic: 12 + 1 + 1
Soul Reaping: 12 + 1

Skills:
[Build prof=N Death=12+1+1 Soul=12+1][Discord][Animate Bone Minions][Blood of the Master][Death Nova][Rising Bile][Putrid Bile][Signet of Lost Souls][Verata's Aura][/Build]

Notes:
The Hero AI does an okay job of using Verata's Aura when needed. However, you may need to disable it and micro-manage it yourself. This is especially true when you encounter the first group of the Slaver's version of Stone Summit (the group you encounter after getting the Boss Key on the first floor).

Other than that, the condition for a condition and hex/enchantment should be easily met for Discord (condition is met due to Enfeebling Blood and Weaken Armour).


Olias; N/Rt

Attributes:
Curses: 12 + 1 + 1
Soul Reaping: 8 + 1
Restoration: 10

Skills:
[Build prof=N/Rt Curse=12+1+1 Soul=8+1 Restoration=10][Spiteful Spirit][Enfeebling Blood][Weaken Armor][Barbs][Defile Defenses][Pure Was Li Ming][Signet of Lost Souls][Death Pact Signet][/Build]

Notes:
Not much here. Olias's skills have low recharge times therefore allowing him to almost spam his skills continuously. Barbs can be cast on quite a few numbers of enemies in a battle, so it doubles up a hex needed for Discord. Otherwise, the only time I've seen it shine if minions gank a healer. An option would be to get [Defile Flesh] and micro-manage it to be cast on healers.


Livia; N/Rt:

Attributes:
Soul Reaping: 12 + 1 + 1
Restoration: 12

Skills:
[Build prof=N/Rt Soul=12+1+1 Restoration=12][Icy Veins][Vengeful Weapon][Spirit Light][Mend Body and Soul][Protective Was Kaolai][Life][Signet of Lost Souls][Death Pact Signet][/Build]

Notes:
Icy Veins along with Master of Whisper's Rising Bile and Putird Bile should create a nice bomb now and again. Vengeful Weapon can be susbtituted for another healing spell such as [Soothing Memories].


Henchmen:

Lo Sha:
[Ineptitude] and [Arcane Conundrum] are both very useful.

Cynn:
General AoE damage.

Herta:
General AoE damage as well as wards are very useful.

Mhenlo:
[Dwayna's Kiss] Synergizes well with Life Barrier as well as the two enchantments used by the Cynn and Herta.


Counters you may encounter:

Enhantment Removal
Obviously, this build relies heavily on echanments. Below, I listed the enemies that have some kind of enchantment removals.

Stone Summit Zealot:
[Rending Aura] - No party member is a melee attacker. Minions, however, will lose Death Nova which will render their damage capabilities to near zero. These guys are low priority targets.

Stone Summit Warder:
[Drain Enchantment] - The recharge is long enough that you don't have to worry about it so much. However, do be aware if Life Barrier is removed. Either use Protective Spirit or try and re-bond that AI.

Stone Summit Sage:
[Discharge Enchantment] - This spell is nasty due to the fact that since the majority of your party members are hexed most of the time, the recharge is very fast. In addition, some groups have two Sages in them. Kill them after killing the healer (unless there is a minion master).


Interuptions
This is mostly concerning to the bonder (you). Six enemies have interupting capabilities:

Stone Summit Demolisher:
[Backbreaker] - Do not let them get near you is all I have to say. Make sure you keep your energy high before engagin them and cast/stay in the wards. If you choose to bring Guardian, it will help a lot. Also, do not attack them. They will use [Counter Blow] and knock you down.

Stone Summit Crusher:
[Dwarven Battle Stance] - This should not cause any problems. Once again, know how many there are in a group before engaging and stay away and/or in wards.

Stone Summit Carver:
[Disrupting Chop] - Do NOT get Blessed Signet disrupted. Having Blessed Signet disrupted will, needless to say, screw you.

Stone Summit Marksman, Stone Summit Ranger:
[Punishing Shot] [Savage Shot] - Rangers are tricky to avoid. Make sure you know how many there are and stay away from them. Always fight groups in equal or lower in elevation than you are.

Stone Summit Sage:
[Power Drain] - Not much of a threat since you will be using Blessed Signet on recharge. Be careful when casting Dismiss Condition, Pain Inverter (or Guardian if you choose to bring it).


Resurrections
Enemies that resurrect are listed below:

Stone Summit Warder, Stone Summit Marksman, Stone Summit Demolisher:
[Resurrection Signet]

Stone Summit Dreamer:
[Resurrection Chant]

Frozen Soil will keep dead enemies down. Make sure the spirit is cast before engaging enemies that resurrect and away from the battle. If the spirit is take down, you may cast it only if you are able to maintain all seven enchantments. Priority, of course, goes to the Stone Summit Dreamer.


How to pull/engage:

Pulling should be almost second nature even as a casual player. However, as a bonder, you are very fragile. Here are some tips to make pulling easier:
- Use a longbow
- Keep you energy near full before pulling
- Used Protective Spirit before pulling

I noticed that enemy casting range is slightly larger in Hard Mode. But that could be due to my internet ping being high (~400). In any case, before pulling, count how many enemies have enchantment removing capabilities.

After pulling, you will need to run right though your henchies while calling the enemy to be taken out first. Press SHIFT+CTRL+SPACE. This will TARGET, not attack. You want to keep running. The minions should be running up at this point creating a wall. In a typical group (not the harder mobs), you will want to go in this order:

- Stone Summit Healer
- Stone Summit Gnasher
- Stone Summit Sage
- Stone Summit Warriors
- Stone Summit Rangers

Again, always be aware of enchantment removal and rebond those necessary. Once engagment is set, run up to henchies and use Ebon Battle Srandard of Courage.


Engaging the harder groups:

Now, this may differ from one situation to another, so all I can do is offer some suggestion which can make the encounters managable.
- Cast Frozen Soil about an agro cicle away from the group you want to engage.
- Flag henchies so that their agro circle is close to enemy group. You need to stay slighty back.
- Target enemy you need to be taken out first.
-- If there is a priest, then take him out first.
-- If there is a guadian, then take him out first.
-- If there is a priest and a guardian, take the priest out first.
- Now, while you're busy taking the priest out the priest, you're gonna be getting hit very hard by the other enemies, most likely a warder if one is there. This is where pain inverter comes in handy if placed correctly.
-- Beat down on priest/defender and cast Pain Inverter on the warder.
- If energy and time permits, and you are under no pressure, refesh Frozen Soil.
- [Important] This may be the time you need to disable Master of Whisper's Verata's Aura. Be aware of where he is just after an engagment and cast Verata's Aura when enemy minions are within HIS area. The first group have minions with them loaded with Death Nova. This part is critcial in the outcome of the battle.
- Once the priest, the defender, and the warder are down, take the summoner out before killing off the rest.

Some Notes:
- If one party member gets killed and frozen soil is up, do not worry so much unless it is Master of Whispers. At this point, is may easier to start the dungeon again to avoid DP accumulation (start from Vlox's Falls).
- If two party members die, and the Stone Summit healers and warder are dead, then you may likely be able to beat them without any more casualty. However, let the two dead not be Mhenlo or Master of Whispers.
- If one team member dies or is close and does not seem like you can beat a group, retreat. Do not allow DP accumulate (unless you have consumables).
- Try and fight harder groups at their 'turning back' points--where they will disengage and run back. When this happens, run back towards them and re-engage.
- The second boss on the second level (the Necromancer boss--forgot his name) and his group can follow you for quite a while if you retreat. However, they seem to get stuck and not bother attacking and will not retreat. Seems like a bug. If it happens to you, take advantage of it.

Once the second level is completed, the last should be fairly easy. Beware of [Expunge Enchantments] used by the Ancient Statue and Minions of Zoldark on the third level. If you need minions after a wipe at the boss, kill the enemies that respawn before engaging the boss. Be careful of their respawn points! Do NOT kill them while they are less than one and a half agro spaces from the boss. There is a rez shrine near the re-spawning group and you can easily get wiped again and again if they are near it.

Best luck to you all!

P.S.: I'm sorry I don't have a build for any other profession. My adivise is to do this with a friend or a guildy who can come play as a bonder.

Maybe instead of life barrier, have life bond and also maintain balthazars spirit on yourself so in battle you would not have to be spamming blessed all the time. It would also free up the elite slot for anotherm you could even keep life barrier in aswell and just put it on tanks or squishys when they come under attack.

Apart from that seems nice and ill have to give it a go ^^

Nice builds i never found that dun even in hard mode particarly hard but its nice to see a walkthrogh

Think i might post my frostmar burrows (Spell check) walkthrogh works like a charm

One of the more comprehensive walkthroughs for this dungeon, 5/5.

it's just so much easier IMO to just run a warrior d-slash SY! spammer with whirlwind attack with tons of nuking, smiter monk hero with smite hex/condition, smite signets, and strength of honor on the warrior, and good healing. I hero'd this with a friend in hard mode, friend i think had a BHA ranger, but could have been splinter barrage. An MM was in the group too but only really helped on the second level. Verata's Gaze was on the MM too, so that probably helped a good deal. A Mesmer with mirror of disenchantment to be used on the minions to remove either jagged bones or death nova before spiking them down works well too.

http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...0325789&page=2