pointers for first time vMA on Magblade?

pcar944

I've done a few normal runs on my Sorc a while back, I tried a Vet and died on second round and just didn't care to bother with it at all afterwards

I only want to do it to get Winterborn set, I don't really care for anything else

anyone help me out? in dungeons I always played DW/Destro but it wasn't working out on Vet

code65536

First, if all you want is Winterborn, you can keep running it in normal--the drops from normal are CR160, and it's cheap to improve it to purple.

Second, anyone seeking a first clear should consult Joy's guide. It's a wee bit outdated, but the strategies are definitely still relevant.

You don't need any special gear for a magblade. Standard PvE DPS gear will do just fine. My first clear on my main account was done with Julianos+Willpower+Kena/Torug. My first clear on my alt account was with Kagrenac+Destruction Mastery (good if you have low CP or find yourself in need of extra sustain). Recently, I've tried out Julianos+Infallible+Iceheart, and I've also used TBS and Scathing in vMA. The takeaway is that any competent PvE DPS gear setup will work--you don't need anything fancy or special. I would probably recommend Julianos+Willpower+Iceheart or Grothdarr if you have enough CP that health and resource sustain isn't an issue.

As far as bar setup goes, I would recommend the following:

• Front: Fire staff with Funnel, Crippling Grasp, Harness Magicka, Merciless Resolve, Inner Light, Soul Harvest
• Back: Lightning staff (or dual-wield) with Impale, [Flexible], Sap Essence, Siphoning Attacks, Inner Light, Meteor
  
  For the flex-spot, your options are:
  • Blur (particularly for Stage 2, as Major Evasion will mitigate a fair amount of blade damage)
  • Refreshing Path
  • Blockade of Elements
  • Crushing Shock (as a ranged interrupt for Stages 8 and 9; I found this very useful for my first few clears, though once you have more practice, it becomes unnecessary)
  • Agony (for the summoners and healers in Stage 9; I personally don't think this is very useful, but I mention it because there are others who do)

This is a very defensive setup. For beginners, I highly recommend slotting Harness on the main bar. Most of vMA is single-target, which is why SH is on the main bar, purely for the 10-ult-per-kill slot passive.

pcar944

pretty much what I was looking for, thanks

brandonv516

The new destro ultimate is a good replacement for meteor or no?

Stoopid_Nwah

brandonv516 wrote: »

The new destro ultimate is a good replacement for meteor or no?

If you don't have meteor unlocked yes it works fine. I used it when levelling up the skill while farming vma.

code65536

brandonv516 wrote: »

The new destro ultimate is a good replacement for meteor or no?

That or Soul Tether. Or Veil of Blades. All three are fine alternatives.

Lukums1

Here's my load down of the arena. ( In a nut shell )

The entire Round 1. - Deal with it not hard you should be right.

Round 2. Move as little as possible, When you teleport in you have access to power to the left, defensive to the right.
Boss round. Do a full loop 1 to the 2 to the 3. When you've completed your loop stay at the back stack the bosses up normally within a few meters you have access to haste/healing very simple stay on the outside ring step to the right/left as they use their cone attack.

Round 3. Every time a mini boss spawns, grab the defensive sigil most of the adds will kill themselves.
If you want to 100% secure the round with no death - Defensive Sigil then Attack sigil back up to the platform and watch everything die instantly. This is true even for the boss round, when the adds spawn defensive first - power sigil. Stack and burn.

Round 4. The only thing to watch out for is round 3 I believe with 2 of the spheres. I dodge roll between them to grab the defensive sigil. Even with the defensive sigil you can sometimes get smacked superrrrr hard with the malee/smash attack.
The boss is cake, attack sigil and burn. If it phases run to the haste/defensive to finish it off.

Round 5. Round 1/2 do what you can. Normally the use of sigils are are rubbish as it's easy to pick them off slowly slowly especially at range.
Round 3/4 - As the adds spawn grab the defensive sigil ( stack and burn everything kills itself mainly ) - Next wave of adds during 3 run to the healing sigil and repeat the stack and burn. This is true for round 3/4.
Round 5 BOSS - Start haste sigil platform and burn him to 90% or whenever he enraged and breaks the platform. Pick off the adds which remain on the healing platform. Next adds spawn 75% grab the healing sigil and pick them off.
Next platform. IMMEDIATELY grab defensive sigil and power sigil and go for BURN. This is not true however if you're slow on DPS if you're slow wait 5-10 seconds before obtaining the sigils.

Round 6. Nothing really to note on this its more about managing the pillars for example no point stunning all enimies with 1 mob up it's better to let the hoaver go until mini boss is present or kill it NEAR one of the pillars to ensure you get the burn phase you're looking for.

Round 7. Nothing to note until round 3. The lizard and the remaining 2 archers. Grab the defensive sigil and burn lizard.
I normally dot up the 2 archers the remaining damage is reflected for an easy kill. The lizard will dot you hard so grab the healing sigil if you're having issues after the defensive sigil to ensure the round is clear.

Round 7-4, 3 archers grab the defensive sigil to kill themselves - dot them up and laugh.

Round 7-BOSS - When the first lot of adds spawn grab the healing sigil it allows you getting ready for easy placement with adds. Kill one and position yourself close enough (applicable only to malee I suppose).

When the scream phase is over, defensive and power sigil STRAIGHT AWAY if you delay for 5 seconds the defensive sigil will kill the next lot of adds which will force the boss to enrage so you either get it STRAIGHT AWAY OR you don't.

Round 8, Nothing to note until round 4. At the start of round 4 start on the defensive sigil grab that to kill the range easily you still need to interrupt mindmill of death mages but thats cake.
Two, two hander guys will spawn take them to the healing sigil once dead, pop the sigil and roll immediately to avoid grab. Always keep your distance with this mini the pull and debuff and the whip can easily hit upwards of 17k if you're not careful.

Round 9. Nothing to note really at all I find this super easy.

Round 9-3. D-Droth - mini boss - Orge - D-Droth - Order as follows: KILL / Explosion from gold ghosts / Defensive sigil / Healing sigil = no death.

Round 9-4 easy - slow moving adds and rubbish adds with an Orge at the end, when the orge spawns to make life easy. Defensive sigil kill 2 adds then back on Orge.

Round 9-5 - D-droth + add - Roll when add is near may vanish burn stack.
Ash titan - Defensive sigil / power sigil burn, when he pushes you back BACK UP further you can easily side step to avoid the incoming flame waves.

Healing sigil if he remains up when adds spawn watch out for FOCUS AIM from the rangers.

Round 9-BOSS

DPS BOSS - When he teleports grab defensive sigil and DOT HIM. Kill mage - Back on boss push to 70% kill D-Droth with clanfear on the teleport pad should be easily achievable do not obtain and sigils.
Go up top break crystals.
Down.

Whatever sigil you're in front of GRAB reframe from doing so if it's the healing sigil.

Interrupt boss immediately after coming down (if you're in malee range he will do an aoe ) so be careful.

Boss will teleport Grab the power sigil now if you hadn't done so you may need to kill the summoner add at this point if it's a little shakey to ensure you get the kill.

Prepare for D-Droth you should have spectral explosion at this point. Kill D-Droth - Aoe on Boss hopefully if you timed the explosion right. Then go for burn on boss.


NOTE: Wouldn't it be funny if OP knew the entrie strats - I have no doubt this write up will be helpful for others though.

Many thanks,

Lukums1

Luke

ryanborror

brandonv516 wrote: »

The new destro ultimate is a good replacement for meteor or no?

Yeah but if you're going for first clear I would use veil and soul harvest

Nuntjako

I made a magblade build video specifically to players trying to complete vma. Maybe it can help you.
https://youtu.be/LWMEOFykGgE

pcar944

I tried it once or twice again, that's not for me, I cant sit there that long