Solo Hydras for XP... from lvl 18-20 in one run

Hey everybody, I just had one of the best nights of soloing in a good while. Initially I was tagging along for runs around the Desert (why not, it's super cheap and serves as a good reminder as to where everything spawns) and realised that even at level 17-18 I could fairly easily solo Minos, Griffons, and Hydras with a Riposte/Deadly Riposte build.

Once the runner was done and I did some of the easier quests (like killing 10 Minos for 1000 xp and 2 skills, running to the cliff for 1000 xp and more skills, etc.) I decided to put some real effort into soloing these baddies.

So at about level 18.5 I walk outside of Augury Rock, throw up some enchants and start hunting. Here's what I was using:

Savage Slash / Riposte / Deadly Riposte / Watch Yourself / Dolyak Signet / Healing Signet / Mending / Balthazar's Spirit

8 Healing
2 Smiting (spillover)
8 + 1 Strength
8 + 1 Swords
7 + 1 + 1 Tactics

For gear, simply 80AL Glad's, Ascalon Helm, 12AL -2 +45 enchanted collector shield, and a clean IDS (I found it was doing more dmg than Sundering Fellblade of Fortitude I got out of a chest in Shiverpeaks). Major Vigor and Major Absorption as well. I'm cheap Nothing special at all, but it got the job done.

So I run around, and quickly find out not to get more than 3 Hydras aggro'ed yet. Dolyak is down for too long to safely heal up. Level up really quickly, and put the points into Strength. Way better now, every second with Dolyak is another second you can safely heal. 5 is a bit dicey but I never died after level 19.

I ran around and killed every last Hydra, collecting 3 keys along the way and finding a couple nice gold/purple items as a result. Total of 7 purple and 4 golds by the time I got to the Arid Sea on my way to the 15 attribute quest. 2 gold max def shields, and the best was +39 when enchanted Oh well couple hundred each at trader.

Best find of the run, Barbed Scimitar of Fortitude... 12% enchanted and +28HP. Not bad for an XP run

So after maybe 2 hours tops, I got like 2 full levels, the extra 15 attributes, a couple plat from merchants and a keeper weapon. Most importantly I have a new favorite spot for bringing characters to hit level 20 without having to party up with Guildies in the Soul Furnace or similar

horrible, hydras hit 80+ on me, and im lvl 18...

If you have Watch Yourself and Dolyak signet on, their spells only work for about 30-40 dmg tops. Which you heal really quickly with Mending or you can interrupt them easily with Savage Slash because they all have long casting times. If you take on 3 or 4 at that level you can interrupt just fine.

Just be sure to Heal when Dolyak and Watch Yourself are both active... nothing worse than being smacked with a high dmg spell when you're at -40 def. Or, worse, interrupted by Meteor!

Just curious, what armor, shield, etc. are you using at level 18?

i did almost the same thing. I farmed mountain trolls outside of droks from lvl 15 - 20 in about 2 hours. Just brought along a scroll each runa nd made maddd exp. Skills i used (no glads defence at this point) -

Dolyak Signet
Watch yourself
Bonetti's
Cyclone axe
Mending
Live vicariously
healing breeze / Vigourous spirit
Sprint

I needed sprint to get past the avicra ont he way to the way to the cave. Easiest 4 levels ever. For armor i used Full platemail and knights gloves. Had a shield -2 while enchanted and +5 armor on my axe. And finally major vigor and absorb.