8 hours and 500 deaths later...

N0TPLAYER2 · April 2016

Let me start this by saying I realize being a kajiit Templar wearing light armor is not the proper race for the class.

This week I have went to maelstrom arena and learned the mechanics. I would usually spend 1-2 hours per stage (except 2-4-8) learning mechanics and understanding the patterns for each stage.

Today I literally spent 7-8 hours on stage 9, final boss. I died about 250 times tonight alone. This combined with stage 5 would say I've died well over 400-500 times total.

I have the mechanics and pattern down totally for this round. I always get to the second part, and when I'm breaking the stones upstairs, I usually get knocked down (I understand why, it's just hard to avoid)

Only twice have I gotten to the third stage (of the final boss) with the gold ghosts.

Here's the part that I need help with. When I do get knocked down, I get totally overwhelmed by the adds. I can handle the healer and the guards, but when I'm knocked down and they're both there and the clanfear is also there, I die in milliseconds.

I also want to say I die in split seconds (like less that one second, one simple mistake) throughout the whole arena.

I have close to 500 champ points, all gold gear (julianos and Magnus 4/3) all gold willpower with spell damage, as well as another full set that's magic recovery.

I've made it this far. I know I can beat it. Can anyone make any champion point suggestions for this stage? I've messed with them a dozen times and that's pretty pricey.

Any tips/advice/encouragement is welcome. I know I can do it!! I am less than half a round away. Please tell me what I need to do to survive stage 2-3 of the final boss on round 9.

Thanks guys. This has been a nice mountain to climb, even if it has cost me a ton for soul gems, repairs, potions etc. I would say I'm 100k In at this point.

My high elf sorc will feel like a cake walk after this. My main is my kajiit so I'm going for all achievements on him. Down to this and emp pretty much, so thanks again for any tips!

code65536 · April 2016

http://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/233356/joys-updated-guide-to-beating-maelstrom-arena-now-with-videos

I'd suggest not using your ultimate up top and saving it for when you are knocked down. Also, make sure you kill the healer before going up top for the first time. It will make life much easier for the final phase and for the times you're forced down.

player_klaus · April 2016

with the movement speed bug, a templar/dk will have a harder time than a nb or sorc.

Pepper8Jack · April 2016

Its hard to give you good advice without knowing your current (complete) setup, but basically CPs aren't going to make or break you as long as you have them decently invested. There are plenty of guides to CP setup out there, just make sure you've got at least 30 in hardy and elemental defender. In your case you may want more than that in there since you're having issues with survivability.

Make sure your gear is at V16. Running heavy chest, shoulders, or legs would give you better resistances and help your survivability.

Are you using healing ward? Absorb magicka? Either of those would help your survivability, the latter particularly in the last round.

You might want to enchant some of your pieces with health and get yourself at least above 21-22k. Hopefully that'll at least give you a chance to react when the damage flies in.

Are you using the shield power up? It gives you a ton of resistance and reflects most projectiles (specifically excludes the final bosses skull attack).

When you say "getting knocked down" I assume you meant the skull attack. The only advice I can give is keep your camera on the boss so that you know when its coming and can roll out of the way. If your out of stamina, throw up a ward and hope fr the best.

Check out Joy's Guide for MSA here on the forums, it is incredibly helpful with specific breakdowns of each round in each arena and how you can beat it.

Other than that, it roughly comes down to just beating your skull against it until you memorize the little details enough that you know what's coming before it comes. I personally cumulatively spent about 10-15 hours and 100 or so lives just getting past 1-4, and each attempt I got faster at clearing the early arenas. I then spent about 14 hours in one day (this was before you could save progress) and 200 lives getting to the last boss. After 2 hours and 150 more lives I gave up and decided it was impossible. The next time I tried, I made it to the last boss in 2 hours and only used 30 lives, about 150 lives and 4 hours later I cleared it. Now I can clear the entire arena in about an hour and 5 or so deaths and wonder what used to be so hard about it. It really is just an unforgiving learning curve, but doing things that make you live just a little longer gives you a better chance of learning something from each death.

Protip: Don't use soul gems, revive at the wayshrine. Those extra 15 seconds per life will save you tons of gold while your learning.

Usara · April 2016

Hmmm I don't really know what to say that could help you, besides I understand and wish you my best

I had a really tough time with my templar the first time too.

Following advises from other templars who finished it, I use 3 Willpower, 5 Julianos and 2 Guardian Engine (it makes it really easier for resources management)
I don't have an extra set of Willpower, but a friend of mine have a Healthy Willpower set for VMA. Me, my Engine Guardian is taken from the gear of another tank character, so it's enchanted in health.
I think I have around 18.5k Health and 39k Magicka when running VMA (501 CP)

Personnaly, I start the fight with the sigil of damage, a spell potion, proxy det, and burn down the boss asap so it phases quickly. My first time, I used the charge to break his aoe cast. I don't roll dodge the skull, I just block it.
When he phases, I kill the healer and Daedroth while moving toward the blue plaque, so the clanfear when reaching me will be close to it, and I kill it there.

I cast proxy det before I use the portal, so it will detonate when I'm dpsing the first crystal. Meteor is usually back at this moment of the fight, I keep it for a full life crystal when I'm moving behind the bone wall, and finish the first with jesus beam if wasn't fast enough to dps it.

If I was sent back down (usually it happens when I run out of stam and could not block the skull), I immediately stack shields (resto staff and harness magicka) so I won't get killed while dealing with the adds and returning upstairs.

For the third phase, I run asap to the boss because he casts his AoE when returning downstairs 95% of the time. If Defense sigil is on the way, I take it. You usually have three gold ghosts power ups when the Daedroth spawn. I keep the Spectral synergy for this moment, and burn down the boss while ignoring everything else.

Not sure it will help you, but I hope you finish it. Don't give up, you're almost there