VMA finally completed thanks to one man (other than myself)

PokeMaule

I want to start by saying a big thanks to @Lukums1 for helping me complete this thing after months of trying.
He didn't give me direct advice although i'm sure he would have as he pops up on loads of these threads offering advice. I can't find the actual thread I read but it was some poor bloke stuck on the last boss crystal phase. I read this thread because I was in the same boat myself. Month after month getting up the top only to chew lava and get fried by the Crem Guard. I was on the verge of actually giving up after about 1000 if not more soul gems and an Ebonheart Chateau worth of repair bills.

Anyway I read this thread feeling his pain and taking on board all the other support from other people on here then read the guide by Luke and one bit stood out more than anything and that was that he wasn't claiming to be gods gift to VMA and actively encouraged sigils and mainly said play the mechanics rather than try the burn we have al watched on you tube, Deltia and G the Rouge etc do. This advice stuck in my head for 3 days as due to RL commitments I couldn't get on to try again. For whatever reason this advice stuck in my head and I just knew it was going to happen.

So the big day comes I died a lot but eventually got there. Getting up top i watched him like a hawk and roled correctly even dropped down myself after 2 crystals down to reset and build some resources and when it clicked it worked like a charm.
I was that please with myself for finally completing it I went straight back in from the start.
The first run I died hundreds of times on every stage bar the 1st but there was something different this time. It was clearly Lukes advice still in my head but I genuinely felt stormproof.
4 and a half actually fun hours later I had completed it again twice in a day after months on one part.
Yeah my score was pathetic a laughable 350 or something lol but I now know it is not impossible.
Today the day after my 2 completes and completed it in 3 hours 15 mins or so with a 130k odd score.

In short (after my ramble)
Thank you very much to @Lukums1 and if you still have it could you link your round by round guide for others to have a look at.
Also to everyone else who is struggling keep at it and at times slow it down and play the mechanics and use the *** out of sigils.
6 months zero clears to 3 clears in 2 days once it clicks it clicks and you will get there too.

Thanks all

Poke

Sigtric

His advise has helped many! (me too)

Danksta

Same. I was stuck on the last boss for months. I died more times on that boss than the entire rest of the arena. Then I ran across the same thread you probably did and beat it on my forth try afterwards. It felt kind of ridiculous, I was approaching it all wrong. Now I'm getting close to getting on the leaderboards and getting flawless, and I rarely use sigils anymore. It's like once you've seen yourself do it, it just becomes so much easier.

Congrats btw

PokeMaule

Yeah I saw that and he pops up on loads of threads.
I'm actually so happy I stumbled upon it as it's completely changed my play and I wouldn't say I was a bad player either as I have done every vet dungeon apart from trials and VDSA on vet as both Tank and DPS and only got the game last Halloween during the Halloween festival so I think I was doing pretty well but VMA was ruining my life haha.

Oh for the curious
1st run Flame stave powered
2nd run two hander Maul powered
3rd run Bow can't remember the trait but the one that gains ultimate but happy with this for now

PokeMaule

Again I agree it is just like i was looking at it all wrong but can't even remember what now haha.
Thats my next aim on my third run I did 4 rounds flawlessly and silly deaths on a few more Frozen blood is my new bain and the one I am dying most on but learning more every go and i'm sure the extra damage from the bow will only help too.

BNOC

Congrats, I watched your clip - It was short so I can't say much about it but if you're trying to farm VMA now I would get involved in trials for VO, at least on normal, this day and age you'd probably get it in 2 runs - It might be harder next patch to get in a trial group and complete the content. Also it's probably going to be really hard for less experienced players to complete VMA without it.

If I was you though, I would never jump down between crystals, that's just adding difficulty, you'd of been better off heavy attacking the crystals than dealing with another Crem Guard /Aoe's /Healers/ Fire.

Good job though, substantially better runs already after only a few completes, and MUCH cleaner than your first Maelstrom Arena Champion Clear (Yer, I watched that too)

GL getting what you want.

Lukums1

You're too kind, tearing up a little!

I try my best to help everyone on any class stam or mag there is always a way!

Not the best ways but I can 100% say that people who follow my instructions will get a clear.

I'm so glad that I helped you and others like you and I really appreciate you making this post!

Good on you, always happy to see these threads!

Original video as requested:

Version 2:

Keep in mind even though this a stam sorc, the guide is based for all classes mag/stam you just have to incorporate it.
I've scored on all classes stam and mag by following these instructions and it will be sure to help those in need!

Good luck!

And thanks again @PokeMaule

Lukums1

Not sure why they didn't link:

https://twitch.tv/videos/122369772
https://twitch.tv/videos/111730700

Thanks!

PokeMaule

Thanks guys @Lukums1 for the links as always a legend and anyone looking a clear should take a look at these.
@BNOC thanks also and yeah I really should change the vid length on my XBox. It was a very feeble heavy attack finish haha but am already getting better and VO will help so much with sustain I agree totally. I have done three trials a few times on normal both as DPS and Tank not MOL (Yet).
I have managed to get 2 VO and 2 twice fanged rings and a Divines VO chest so far. Issue is at the min I work nights so when my guild are on I'm sleeping and game late now but I want to get back into trials again though.

EDIT - Yeah my third clear I stayed up top the dropping down part was Lukums advice as an alternative to getting knocked down as CG nukes you lol and it does help but staying up is def the easier and better option. I have stopped staring at the crystals now and concentrate on skull attack and where the wall is or will be when needed. No more tunnel vision lol.

Chiefpoppasquat

Congrats man after 1st si much easier. Took me a while to get in there and finish it but now I'm doing it once a day trying to get weapons before patch

PokeMaule

Thanks @Chiefpoppasquat it is I'm finding it easier still nowhere near a flawless yet but i'm giving my all. Farming the weapons myself too and had the RNG gods smile on me the other day and dropped the axe and dagger both sharpened I near had a heart attack lol. Currently also farming up gold for supplies so I can attempt it with my DK and Mage Blade.

BNOC

PokeMaule wrote: »

EDIT - Yeah my third clear I stayed up top the dropping down part was Lukums advice as an alternative to getting knocked down as CG nukes you lol and it does help but staying up is def the easier and better option. I have stopped staring at the crystals now and concentrate on skull attack and where the wall is or will be when needed. No more tunnel vision lol.

Yeah, I used to drop down at first ( / get knocked off ) because I was getting 3 walls and couldn't keep up with the last one on a Templar.
That's awesome that you're not dropping down now though because I think it actually makes it harder.
It's one of the easier fights, as you're probably starting to tell so keep up the progress and extend it to the other rounds!

GrigorijMalahevich

With all the guides and public knowledge - I don't think you can consider VMA a challenge anymore.

Still, grats.

Tempah

Valera Progib wrote: »

With all the guides and public knowledge - I don't think you can consider VMA a challenge anymore.

Still, grats.

Since homestead vma has become really easy.
I now get 550k scores without focus on a magsorc thanks to pets

still grats to op.
first clear is always a pain.

PokeMaule

@BNOC learning the spawn points now so finding most of the rounds easier I have done all rounds with no deaths at some point apart from the last but I was so close until a massive lag spike destroyed my day. Also the rink of frozen blood is the round I struggle on the most at the min I just cant seem to get the spawn points into my head for the damn archers.

BNOC

PokeMaule wrote: »

@BNOC learning the spawn points now so finding most of the rounds easier I have done all rounds with no deaths at some point apart from the last but I was so close until a massive lag spike destroyed my day. Also the rink of frozen blood is the round I struggle on the most at the min I just cant seem to get the spawn points into my head for the damn archers.

Honestly, R5 is the only round I ever think 'oh shi*' on now, but that's usually due to me getting 2 sets of adds out at a time.
When I was first completing that I was nuking the boss Plat 1 and 2, dealing with the adds that spawned once I'd moved to a safe platform. The second he got enraged on Plat 2, I'd pick up Defence sigil and then it's literally, target the boss, ignore all adds and you win.

If you leave the defence and attack sigil platform until the end it's a faceroll fight.
You lose score for taking one or both of them, but for flawless it's so easy, not to mention if you would have died, taking a sigil is less of a hit to score.

There's a post somewhere, I think Gilliam or someone made it with spawn patterns - I'll have a look for it and link it.

Edit: It was @Asayre and it's here https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/233764/veteran-maelstrom-arena-spawn-points

PokeMaule

@BNOC that's brilliant i'll get a look at that hopefully will help although practice is definitely helping. I made it past R5 with lives left for the 1st time today ol so I do seem to be getting it. Completed it in an hour and half so 3 hours + off my original clear haha. That is casually playing though breaks between rounds etc. once I start getting flawless rounds more than not then I'm going for the time and hopefully a decent score.