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Joy's now updated (Morrowind) guide to beating Maelstrom Arena

  • Lord_Wrath
    Lord_Wrath
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    Wow, that bone colossus on the final stage spawned even though I had killed the summoners. Even healing ward fired off a few times after I had respawned. This game is screwed up, id have beaten this long ago if ZoS would actually fix issues.
    1300+ CP | Lørd Wrath | - Sorcerer - Palatine - Grand Master Crafter - 30000 Achievement Points
    Launch Player - PC - NA - EP
  • alexkdd99
    alexkdd99
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    Had to come drop by and offer my thanks for your guide. After many many tries I finally beat VMA! But sadly now I must become much much more proficient at it.
    Thanks alot for the guide.

    Edit: just did a second time. All this time people were saying it got much easier after first clear were correct. Honestly thought everyone was full of it but now I see what everyone was saying.

    Is nirnhoned battle axe any good?
    Edited by alexkdd99 on September 25, 2016 7:04AM
  • AJTC5000
    AJTC5000
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    I play on a Mac, and play on the NA server whilst living in the UK . . .

    If I didn't have to deal with constant ~500 ping and shite FPS, I probably would have done it by now
    • PC/NA - @AJTC5000
      DC - Alena-Draco - Dunmer Magicka Templar

      PvE Achievements
      Trials
      • vHRC HM
      • vAA HM
      • vSO HM
      • vMoL HM (Dro-m'Athra Destroyer)
      • vHoF HM (Tick-Tock Tormentor/The Dynamo)
      • vAS HM (Saintly Saviour/Immortal Redeemer)
      • vCR HM
      • vSS HM
      • vRG (Oax HM)
      • vDSR (Reef Guardian HM)


      Arenas
      • vMA Flawless
      • vBRP
      • vVA Flawless (Spirit Slayer)


      Dungeons
      • vFL HM (Leave No Bone Unbroken)
      • vSCP HM (Mountain God)
      • vMHK HM (Pure Lunacy)
      • vMoS HM (Apex Predator)
      • vFV HM (Relentless Raider)
      • vDoM HM (Depths Defier)
      • vLoM HM (Nature's Wrath)
      • vMGF HM (Defanged the Devourer)
      • vIcereach HM (No Rest for the Wicked/Storm Foe)
      • vUG HM (In Defiance of Death/Bonecaller's Bane)
      • vSG HM
      • vCT HM (Bane of Thorns)
      • vBDV HM (Ardent Bibliophile)
      • vCauldron HM (Subterranean Smasher)
      • vRPB HM (Bastion Breaker/of the Silver Rose)
      • vDC HM (Battlespire's Best/The Dreaded)
      • vCA HM
      • vSR HM
      • vERE HM (Invaders' Bane)
      • vGD HM (Fist of Tava)
      • vSH HM (Magnastylus in the Making/Curator's Champion)
      • vBS HM (Temporal Tempest)
  • Mutagem
    Mutagem
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    Thanks alot for the guide and videos. On last stage now :)
    Mutagem - AD Stamina Nightblade - Prefect
    Mutagentleman - AD Magicka Templar - Palatine
    Mutageneticist - AD Magicka Sorcerer - Corporal
  • Ivalice
    Ivalice
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    Beat it last week and now can clear it in an hour and a half tops, thank you for the helpful tips and videos :)
    Elderblade GM
    AD
    50 High Elf Sorc DPS Ivalice
    50 Orc DK Tank Norkuk'tuk
    50 Khajiit NB Dps Farinre
  • Dubhliam
    Dubhliam
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    Thank you for the Guide. but i have no interest in playing a DPS metric , specifcally a DK caster. Just like everything that was designed in the first two years of ESO's development its Caster scrolls on line. Excellent guide though and thank you for it. Its very sad they fired Sage and left the direction to Fior

    Despite what other people might tell you (even in this thread), Heavy Armor builds are very viable in the Arena, if you have a good understanding of how the game mechanics work.
    I regularly beat vMA with my HA mag DK build.

    There are many different HA vMA builds out there, just google it.

    The key thing you have to realize is: you are alone in there. There is nobody to help you.
    There is nobody to kill stuff for you.
    There is nobody to heal you.
    >>>Detailed Justice System Concept thread<<<
  • Joy_Division
    Joy_Division
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    Finally got around to updating this for the Morrowind release.

    On the whole, while I will say vMA is more difficult now than it was during homestead, I still think vMA is easier than it was say than the Thieve's Guild Patch so don't be discouraged not to run it if that's a goal of yours.

    I will try to make it prettier in the future :smile:
  • Demolitionary
    Demolitionary
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    I don't usually post or comment on anything and also didn't want to necro a thread but considering the time and effort you put in this guide I have to post (gives it a little bump too)


    I am new to ESO and I am still working out the main mechanics of the game, I will definitely favorite this guide for when I do decide to take on the MA.

    Many thanks!
  • Waffennacht
    Waffennacht
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    This was my guide for my first finish. Ty Joy
    Gamer tag: DasPanzerKat NA Xbox One
    1300+ CP
    Battleground PvP'er

    Waffennacht' Builds
  • Reverb
    Reverb
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    I have no idea how I managed to miss this thread until today. This is great! Thank you Joy, for putting this together and keeping it updated.

    Every person who post about not being able to finish vMA should be directed here. Everyone who complains that vMA is "too hard" should be directed here.
    Hell, I should've been directed here in the months between my rage quitting vMA and finally going back to finish.
    Battle not with monsters, lest ye become a monster, and if you gaze into the abyss, the abyss gazes also into you. ~Friedrich Nietzsche
  • Oreyn_Bearclaw
    Oreyn_Bearclaw
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    Finally got around to updating this for the Morrowind release.

    On the whole, while I will say vMA is more difficult now than it was during homestead, I still think vMA is easier than it was say than the Thieve's Guild Patch so don't be discouraged not to run it if that's a goal of yours.

    I will try to make it prettier in the future :smile:

    LMAO. I am reading what I wrote about VMA in Jan of 2016 in this thread. Things sure do change. Haha
  • Trashs1
    Trashs1
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    thank you so much! @Joy_Division

    i beat vma the first time last week with this guide and a video for help. i needet 287 deats and about 35k gold for rep but i beat it :)

    now after 1 week i get through vma with 25 deaths only and i can farm it in 2 hours^^


    Dolche des Königs (DDK); EuPC, DC, Sotha Sil,
  • AAbrigo
    AAbrigo
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    Was my first try at VMA today and stopped after stage 5 round 3, but will try again and use this guide :wink:
  • MissBizz
    MissBizz
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    Just posting to let you know this guide is still awesome and I always come back to it. After ragequitting VMA on the Morrowind PTS, I decided to try it on my magplar who has never tried before. At round 8 now!
    Lone Wolf HelpFor the solo players who know, sometimes you just need a hand.PC | NA | AD-DC-EP | Discord
  • EttinTheBreton
    EttinTheBreton
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    MissBizz wrote: »
    Just posting to let you know this guide is still awesome and I always come back to it. After ragequitting VMA on the Morrowind PTS, I decided to try it on my magplar who has never tried before. At round 8 now!

    Awesome! I've had this guide bookmarked for long time, and I can't wait to try vMA out. I'm a magplar too, so hopefully I can make it all the way. Go go go!
    Best,
    Ettin
  • MissBizz
    MissBizz
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    MissBizz wrote: »
    Just posting to let you know this guide is still awesome and I always come back to it. After ragequitting VMA on the Morrowind PTS, I decided to try it on my magplar who has never tried before. At round 8 now!

    Awesome! I've had this guide bookmarked for long time, and I can't wait to try vMA out. I'm a magplar too, so hopefully I can make it all the way. Go go go!

    @EttinTheBreton Pre-Morrowind I was completing it on my Sorc, pretty reliably too. If you have a a mag sorc, highly recommend learning the arena with it. I think I'm doing alright on my magplar just because I already know the arena and mechanics. Getting to know the mechanics and what's going to happen is the biggest hurdle, so pay attention! Good luck!
    Lone Wolf HelpFor the solo players who know, sometimes you just need a hand.PC | NA | AD-DC-EP | Discord
  • Earrindo
    Earrindo
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    I have read this wonderful guide through repeatedly, but I have been having a lot of trouble on my stam-warden. I dont have access nor time to farm trial gear, so I am stuck with overland/guild trader/crafted gear. Any suggestions for completing vMA?
    I am currently a bit stuck on the icebergs round, which is frustrating because I KNOW the really hard rounds are yet to come and if I am struggling there, then I will definitely struggle later.
  • pkuronen
    pkuronen
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    The last boss was a real pain. Must have taken around 200 attempts before I could learn every twitch by heart. It is very unforgiving but to my surprise the fire breathing daedra or whatever it is who comes with timer turned out to be very manageable without any of the buffs. Just have quick feet and nuke him when he takes breather and he melts away fast.

    Actually i forgot to use any of the buffs.

    About the 3rd stage: I could not just nuke the boss fast enough in the 3rd stage and had to kill the summoner, catch gold ghosts, run circles around boss dodging red circles and the fire breathing beast while spamming them both spells and ultimates. Cannot describe the feeling of relief when he fell down!
  • Joy_Division
    Joy_Division
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    Earrindo wrote: »
    I have read this wonderful guide through repeatedly, but I have been having a lot of trouble on my stam-warden. I dont have access nor time to farm trial gear, so I am stuck with overland/guild trader/crafted gear. Any suggestions for completing vMA?
    I am currently a bit stuck on the icebergs round, which is frustrating because I KNOW the really hard rounds are yet to come and if I am struggling there, then I will definitely struggle later.

    @Earrindo I really wish I could offer more relevant advice, but it's been a real long time since I've run stamina.

    That being said, I would say the following:
    • I think people overrate gear by quite a bit. Sure Trial gear may be "BiS," but there are times when I forget to change my PvE healer gear for PvP and only notice like after an hour or so of playing. Hunding's rage + Nightmother's Gaze + Agility is a strong DPS setup (you'll need some source of stam recovery though). I think the dubious Camlorn Drink is something really good for people learning vMA, try to pair this up with a DPS set like Hunding's and have enough health so you're at around 18K; you can use your Mundas, another set, and jewelry enchants to ensure you have the right balance between damage and recovery.
    • The Iceberg stage is I believe the hardest stage until the last. Lot of people get stuck there.
    • As a stam Warden, you really want to use the Mushroom heal as a burst and Vigor as a HoT.
    • The Subterranean Assault skill should be used on cooldown.
    • Bow is your back bar; volley is always down and poison inject everything that needs to die.
    • Use the defensive sigil at the right time. Learn when there are multiple ranged adds in a wave and be sure to grab it then.
    • If you move all the way to the back on an island, you can entice the ranged adds to move onto the island, which can help a melee oriented build.
  • Lukums1
    Lukums1
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    @Joy_Division

    A lot of useful information but for me.

    Please please add suppression field in your notes for sorcs stam and mag. Please.

    xD
    PS4 Yellow Scum Dominion
    1600+ vMA runs and counting
    Magicka Sorc - Flawless - 544k Score
    Stam Sorc - Flawless - 559k Score
    Stam DK - FLAWLESS 512k Score
    Stam NB - 492k Score - Work in progress
    Magicka Temp - 482k Score

    The Ozmeric Dominion (Oceanic) Australian Based Guild

    vMA "guru" - VHRC - vSO - vSOHM - vDSA - vAA - vMOL
    The Maelstrom BIBLE for beginners/Flawless Achieve Below
    https://www.twitch.tv/lukumms/v/111730700
    https://www.twitch.tv/videos/181142505

    You have vMA questions? Want a guide? Helping hand? PM me!

    Returns after 6 months back to back flawless
    https://go.twitch.tv/videos/180384648


  • Vapirko
    Vapirko
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    @Earrindo I’m no expert on vma but I think stamwarden isn’t a great class for it. They just lack when it comes to overall dps and solid dps is really necessary to avoid certain mechanics are extending the time you need to stay alive. I think you’re gonna have a hard time using a warden for the first time through. I think stam sorc might be one of the easier stam classes to complete vma with.
  • jkloza
    jkloza
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    What class would be the “easiest” to learn the arena on out of mag warden/Templar/nightblade? As others have said I’ve got decent gear (non raid) epics & yellow weapons, and most decent magicka monster sets. I’m just looking for some motivation from folks who have completed it before!
  • Joy_Division
    Joy_Division
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    jkloza wrote: »
    What class would be the “easiest” to learn the arena on out of mag warden/Templar/nightblade? As others have said I’ve got decent gear (non raid) epics & yellow weapons, and most decent magicka monster sets. I’m just looking for some motivation from folks who have completed it before!

    Magicka NB followed by magplar followed by mag warden.
  • jkloza
    jkloza
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    Thanks joy! I started practicing on my magicka NB last night, trying different gear sets. Any recommendations on optimal setups for a beginner in VMA? I’ve tried 5 Juli, 3 willpower, 2 ilambris, with just a random set of gloves. I’ve also thought about trying spinners/Juli with one monster set. I’ve also looked through alcasts recommendations from a few months back, and I think the recommendation was Juli/seducers.

    Or is it not really a gear thing as much as a learn the pitfalls thing?
  • GrigorijMalahevich
    GrigorijMalahevich
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    jkloza wrote: »
    Thanks joy! I started practicing on my magicka NB last night, trying different gear sets. Any recommendations on optimal setups for a beginner in VMA? I’ve tried 5 Juli, 3 willpower, 2 ilambris, with just a random set of gloves. I’ve also thought about trying spinners/Juli with one monster set. I’ve also looked through alcasts recommendations from a few months back, and I think the recommendation was Juli/seducers.

    Or is it not really a gear thing as much as a learn the pitfalls thing?

    Yes it is all about learning. Juli with willpower and illambris is much better than juli and seducer and you can't equip two crafted sets without jewellery :smiley:
    Edited by GrigorijMalahevich on October 28, 2017 12:52PM
    PC/EU 800 CP.
    PvP MagSorc.
    Pedro Gonzales - Mag Sorc EP vMA Flawless Conqueror clear http://imgur.com/a/CB6j6
    Valera Progib - Stam Sorc DC vMA Flawless Conqueror clear https://i.imgur.com/eYgpXG2.png
    Valera Pozhar - Mag DK EP vMA Flawless Conqueror clear http://imgur.com/a/jrsuK
    Valera Podlechi - Mag Templar AD vMA Flawless Conqueror clear http://imgur.com/a/N0BYq
  • Joy_Division
    Joy_Division
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    jkloza wrote: »
    Thanks joy! I started practicing on my magicka NB last night, trying different gear sets. Any recommendations on optimal setups for a beginner in VMA? I’ve tried 5 Juli, 3 willpower, 2 ilambris, with just a random set of gloves. I’ve also thought about trying spinners/Juli with one monster set. I’ve also looked through alcasts recommendations from a few months back, and I think the recommendation was Juli/seducers.

    Or is it not really a gear thing as much as a learn the pitfalls thing?

    Yep, it's all about just getting used to vMA.

    Julianos + Willpower + Monster is about as solid non-trial gear as it's going to get.

    I like Grothdar or Valkyn better than Illambris. Illambris means you are using two destros, which means you aren't using a restoration staff. I can do vMA without a resto staff. Someone asking for advice shouldn't and probably can't.

    Besides, Valkyn gives health which means you can use witchmother's brew without worrying about your health being too low.
  • jkloza
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    Understood, I’ll have to revisit the guides. Most guides I’ve read are for double destro, and not resto staff. I assumed I could use harness magicka and night blades passive heals (funnel/swallow soul/aoe heal which the name escapes me) to keep health / shields up.

    I don’t have 2 valkyn but I do have well trained grothdar.
    Edited by jkloza on October 28, 2017 2:51PM
  • Joy_Division
    Joy_Division
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    jkloza wrote: »
    Understood, I’ll have to revisit the guides. Most guides I’ve read are for double destro, and not resto staff. I assumed I could use harness magicka and night blades passive heals (funnel/swallow soul/aoe heal which the name escapes me) to keep health / shields up.

    I don’t have 2 valkyn but I do have well trained grothdar.

    Double destro is the most optimal setup and it's going to get the fastest time and highest score. Harness + Hots is more than enough to carry a NB through. It's just that without have spawn memorized, trying to learn mechanics, etc., means more healing is typically needed.
  • Morgul667
    Morgul667
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    Very nice guide

    Thanks
  • jkloza
    jkloza
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    Joy,

    Thanks so much for the replies a few posts back! I just finished VMA for the first time tonight. I completed on my mag warden (without optimal gear, 4 Juli, 5 Necro, 2 Grothdaar).

    I think the most frustrating stage is 5, but 6 is nothing to laugh at either, there's a bunch of mechanics going on you really need to pay attention to. The last boss seems very RNG to me. If everything went perfectly, I could burn the boss down prior to the CG spawning, but I found it easier to actually just grab the healing or defense sigil and go to town with AOE on the boss/mage/CG. The crystals, once learned, were a cakewalk. I could get them down in 2 rounds, just being safe jumping down and killing a CG, and resetting the DoT.

    The last phase, again, isn't too terrible. I don't have the DPS to burn the boss down (25kish), so I grabbed 3 ghosts, stunned as the CG spawned, and it was smooth sailing. All in all it probably took me 100 tries and a ton of repairs, but it was fun learning the instance.

    For the first time, the drop wasn't too shabby either (resto staff / precise)... Not too bad.

    Thanks again for the guide, I'm sure you've made this dungeon better for so many folks out there.. Without this guide, I'd have never attempted it.
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