Cyrodiil Honor Guards, Improved Fire Torrent

SeaGtGruff · December 8

I enjoy soloing resources in Cyrodiil, and don't usually have much trouble unless an enemy player comes along and attacks me. But every so often I run into some honor guards who really kick my tail with a nonstop heavy-duty fire attack. When that happens, I'm lucky to live long enough to take them all out and capture the resource.

It happened tonight, and the worst part was that my skills-- especially my self-healing skill-- would not seem to fire when needed. I died twice and rode back to try again, and after dying a third time I decided to look at the death recap (something I seldom bother with) to see what was killing me. "Improved Fire Torrent." Improved? I went to the UESP wiki and searched for it, but it wasn't mentioned anywhere-- Fire Torrent, yes, but not "Improved" Fire Torrent.

Can anyone enlighten me as to when or why the honor guards sometimes use "Improved Fire Torrent" instead of plain, everyday "Fire Torrent"?

moosegod · December 9

When held long enough, the resource nodes provide buffs to the elements of the keep. Holding the mine strengthens the HP of keep walls for example, the lumbermill improves the keep doors.

Holding the farm buffs the guards over time. So if the farm has been held long enough then the guards become stronger. They become more tanky at level 1 and do more damage at level 2. This is probably what you were running into. This is generally found on the back keeps because they aren't contested as often so they have time to level up completely.

Check this link for info.

Necrotech_Master · December 9

buffed guards hit a lot harder

a lot of the guards attacks also debuff you too, they apply something called "major wound" which im not sure if it increases dmg taken or reduces healing

theres a couple ways you can usually deal with the guards, 1 is just go in and ulti dump and heal to try to nuke the honor guards and healers quickly

the other option is to just sit back and use fire ballista siege on them

as noted having control of the farm will buff the guards, so if your attacking resources its best to do the farm first to debuff the other guards at other resources of the keep

SeaGtGruff · December 9

Thank you! I have been going to Cyrodiil for years, but obviously still have a lot to learn.

NordSwordnBoard · December 10

Kill the tower mage up close and the 2-3 that follow after you run into the tower. Less incoming damage there than at the flag. This also may reduce the number of negates you get while on the flag. If ranged you can plink away or lower the flag guards health before dumping an ultimate and wiping them. Beware aggro of extra guards who patrol, they are weaker but slow the flag flip.

I felt this damage you speak of last campaign lol, stayed #1 (never emped) for a few weeks mostly playing solo and capping resources during low pop. My dilemma was dumping an ult on the guards to speed things up vs. saving it for players that show up if its my 2nd or 3rd resource. Improved fire hits me sometimes as a wake up call and I go check to see if I'm a vamp/what stage lol.