My First Maelstrom Clear

Thestephenmcraeub17_ESO

Today, after weeks of failed attempts, countless deaths, and thousands of gold given to Tutorus Repairus (or whatever), I have finally cleared the Veteran Maelstrom Arena. It was awful, easily the worst run in history. But I'm glad it's over, and I'm glad I finally have a Maelstrom Maul (albeit Decisive), just in time for the Maelstrom Weapons nerf. Couldn't be happier.

But on to the discussion, serious question, does it get easier? I cannot imagine farming this for weapons, and I can't imagine doing it with no deaths. In fact, it will probably be months before I ever go back and try again, if ever. After all, I got my trophy and title, and that's really all I wanted. But to those who farm the Maelstrom Arena for weapons, I applaud you, as you are 1,000,000% better at this game than I will ever be, and my question to you is "how do you do it?"

VaranisArano

Congrats!

Ulfgarde

I used to think that I would absolutely never touch that place again, but I did. I kept doing it over and over, and you acclimate to vMA farming territory (which thankfully won't exist much longer) and you basically don't want to touch the game ever again after a modest 1000+ runs.

Really, vMA isn't that hard after the first three runs. It's just memorization and awareness of mechanics afterwards. You don't need to be a masochist to do it, though if you don't, it's totally understandable and actually recommended by your local priest.

RANKK7

That Tutor Riparius guy must be freaking rich, I don't even know how much he took from me, hope he gets robbed shirtless.
Congratulations!

Oakmontowls_ESO

Once you get through a couple runs it gets a lot easier. Vma is all about memorizing mechanics and enemy spawns. Once you get that down you can pretty much auto pilot through.

Zbigb4life

Congrats!

Its_Alexis

Congrats! I have yet to do my first run. Not looking forward to it.

Ihatenightblades

Its pretty easy once you understand every mechanic. Prioritizing certain ads and busting them down asap a little rng and ya just knowing mechanics makes it easier.

Some people get through it barely knowing mechanics and if they knew a little bit more it would probably make the stage ten times easier.

For example on poison stage i didnt know you can basically choose when the final boss does his scream by killing one of the shield people then he does it right after. That saved me a lot if time once i figured that out.

bebynnag

yes it does get easier

because if your anything like me before you get your fisrt clear you have a voice in your head saying... i cant do this

the next time you go in there the voice changes to - come on youve done this before

then you drop BIS weapon for a different toon so you start running it on them and the voice changes to - come on you've done this before & you have BIS this will be a cakewalk

and before you know it the only thing holding you back from the flawless tile is that dumb ass BS 'feature' (on xbox - posibly other platforms) that kicks you from the game going through portals, and because you have the quest active even finishing with maxed vitality will not award the title - yes i am angry and bitter, so what!

SoLooney

Maelstrom is like a drug, once you start, you dont stop. that is until you get all your weapons/titles. even then, people make runs for leaderboards and the thrill

OutLaw_Nynx

Congrats! It’s not easy task starting out.

Olupajmibanan

Congratz bro!!!

SoLooney wrote: »

Maelstrom is like a drug, once you start, you dont stop. that is until you get all your weapons/titles. even then, people make runs for leaderboards and the thrill

I thought that after farming all the needed weapons I will retire. I am still doing it again and again, just like you said - for the thrill.

Actually VMA is the only competitive game mode for solo players in whole ESO.

Cyrodiil was never competitive, who says otherwise don't know what he is talking about. Battlegrounds hold much potential however nothing is being done what makes them just another FF-only mode with no competition implemented. I can't even think of an MMO without ranked mode for instanced PvP outside ESO. I didn't even buy Morrowind just because BGs do not have ranked mode how I expected :-D

Guess I'll have to do some more hundreds of VMA runs until something changes xD

Voxicity

I got flawless on a stamblade with like 600-700 ping when I lived at my parents place

So anyone can get flawless, really

Defilted

Congrats!!

danno8

Thestephenmcraeub17_ESO wrote: »

But to those who farm the Maelstrom Arena for weapons, I applaud you, as you are 1,000,000% better at this game than I will ever be, and my question to you is "how do you do it?"

You just need to take breaks in between the finger nail pulling and back flaying so you can do more and more vMSA. Eventually it doesn't hurt so much anymore.

DocFrost72

Grats! And yes, I'd say maelstrom gets a little easier every time you run it. If you're like me, you'll have an accidental flawless after getting to round 8 without a death, then shaking like a leaf the entire 10 minute round 9 fight!

kylewwefan

I also just recently completed Maelstrom. But still need that bow. Started over again and breezed up to the 5th round ice. Guess this is where it starts getting difficult again.

Asardes

Depends a lot on the class. On some it's really easy, on others it's absolutely horrible. I had my first clear on magicka Sorcerer, and cleared it shortly after that on my stamina DK without a hassle. Next was magicka Templar, which was really hard, then stamina NB which was horrible the first time, but became easier each run as I learned to burst faster. The latter may turn into my top performer and it's certainly fun to play, opposed to magicka Sorcerer which is boring.

Templar doesn't seem to improve though, despite my best efforts. The clears are always horrible, mainly due to the sustain. It has been a really unpleasant surprise for me, having previously heard Templar is easy and having plenty of friends who have gotten flawless on it. I work with about 1.5K magicka recovery, weave properly but still resource management is difficult, the rotation clunky and the DPS is mediocre compared to other classes although the stats are good - 40K magicka, 3.2K spell damage and about 11K penetration (most things in vMA are at about 12K). So I will probably stop running the class in the future since it feels like a waste of time even though if you clear it in one go you will land on the leaderboards. In fact the sparsely populated leaderboard for this class should have been a warning sign. I'd rather put my effort improving on other classes than banging my head against the Templar wall

Asardes

kylewwefan wrote: »

I also just recently completed Maelstrom. But still need that bow. Started over again and breezed up to the 5th round ice. Guess this is where it starts getting difficult again.

The only difficult arenas are the 5th (ice) and 7th (poison) and maybe the final boss fight until you get the hang of it. 4th, 6th and 9th are medium difficulty, while the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 8th are probably the easiest.

Beardimus

We'll done, and yes it 100% gets easier. Rd9 feels so easy 2nd time!! 5 & 7 still suck.

I went from 20+hrs first pass to 3 second run then 2 @nd soon down to 1.5hr and single digit deaths

Have a little break then get back while mechs are fresh

Jaimeh

Thestephenmcraeub17_ESO wrote: »

But on to the discussion, serious question, does it get easier? I cannot imagine farming this for weapons, and I can't imagine doing it with no deaths. In fact, it will probably be months before I ever go back and try again, if ever. After all, I got my trophy and title, and that's really all I wanted. But to those who farm the Maelstrom Arena for weapons, I applaud you, as you are 1,000,000% better at this game than I will ever be, and my question to you is "how do you do it?"

Congratulations on your first clear!

It does get a lot easier, I didn't believe it when people told me, and I thought the prospect of farming it was akin to masochism, but it's absolutely true. For some reason the first clear, is like a slow climb to the top of a hump, but when you pass it, you will find yourself wheezing through the stages.

Thestephenmcraeub17_ESO wrote: »

Today, after weeks of failed attempts, countless deaths, and thousands of gold given to Tutorus Repairus (or whatever)

Hehe, I always thought that 'Riparius' came from RIP, but Repairius is very fitting as well

Glaiceana

Congratulations! Yes it really does get better! Try to get back in there as soon as possible, its amazing how much the lack of pressure of wanting to complete it for the first time, will now free you up to relax and not panic. There will still be moments where it feels completely unfair and random, but it will be much easier!

LioraValkyrie

Congrats on your first clear!

My first attempt - 1000 deaths, 50k gold to Mr. Reparius, no score
My 30th attempt - 0 deaths, shaking in my boots
My 50th attempt - 554k no-death, chilled

It get easier, I promise! It's just a matter of practice and determination. You have the determination, so if you choose to carry on practising, you will get there too.

Lord_Eomer

With new changew VMA weapons are going to lose their charm.

Although i enjoyed using them!

# RIP VMA!

Inarre

First, major congrats!

Second, yes. I had the same experience as you (died 300-400 times, took me two weeks on first run) but second run was done in under two hours lol.

Give it a go and good luck