The easiest veteran Maelstrom/solo content Build in the Harrowstorm Patch [Updated]

MellowMagic · March 2020

I didnt read through all the comments so sorry if someone mentioned this but briarheart greatly helps for stamina characters, ever since they removed the cooldown again the heals are crazy good. You pair that with VO or any sort of damage set and vma is a cake walk, although iceheart got nerfed it's actually still useful on stam toons because our extra heals and mitigation combined with a 5k sheild every 6 seconds makes it hard to die, for more experienced players or score runners then obviously a damage monster set would be preferred.

HelixUnited · March 2020

Stevie6 wrote: »

i've used this setup up until the very last round. Came close twice to finishing vma but just can't tank all the damage. The problem is lack of sustain / resources and damage output while spamming shield just to keep alive. With the lag and skills not firing, it makes it extremely difficult to complete. I've been one shotted several times just at the start of the last round. Then if I make it to the upper level, I get immediately knocked off the upper level with a skull and back down I go.

Alcast's video makes it look real easy but it isn't. He makes great suggestions but trying to follow them while engaging in total chaos is real challenging on the end of the very last round. I would really like the return of the old pet sorc...damn I miss it. The magsorc in general just feels like a wet noodle. I'm considering a new build with magden. I've also tried stamdem WW but dies all the time on the Lamia round...too much over lapping poison zones.

best help i got with the top on the last round, always keep the boss in screen and block the skulls dont dodge them and hold block as u see him cast (this is before the skull is thrown) and then hold till after the skull hits and a second or so after hit,
iv found lag can cause the visual to come after the effect if that makes sense, or the other way round, i takes time to learn the visual ques of the boss but once you have it you will clear it.

Stevie6 · March 2020

Yes, I was doing the blocking and destroyed all three crystals. This is where I run into a huge proble. Just before I get knocked off, I have about half health, no shields, no resources, and potion on cool down. Then I’m facing the chrem guard...and chaos...hehe..

xWarbrain · March 2020

Stevie6 wrote: »

Yes, I was doing the blocking and destroyed all three crystals. This is where I run into a huge proble. Just before I get knocked off, I have about half health, no shields, no resources, and potion on cool down. Then I’m facing the chrem guard...and chaos...hehe..

Before you go up for the crystals, grab the speed sigil - it gives resource recovery. It makes the top phase a lot easier and you will have more resources after you get back downstairs + 3 sigils left.

Grab the health sigil, take the crem guard out by standing directly on him and walking in a circle around him, just ahead of his fire. Light attack him the whole time. Grab the gold ghosts, the other two sigils and DPS the boss. You just have to do it before the bone colossus is summoned.

Leave the shield sigil for last.

Agenericname · March 2020

Stevie6 wrote: »

Yes, I was doing the blocking and destroyed all three crystals. This is where I run into a huge proble. Just before I get knocked off, I have about half health, no shields, no resources, and potion on cool down. Then I’m facing the chrem guard...and chaos...hehe..

Take a jump if you need to avoid the damage of the churn up top. Build your resources back up and head back up.

You're better off whittling down each crystal and not completely destroying any if you're going to take a jump. The speed of the wall is determined by how many crystals you've destroyed.

Good luck

HelixUnited · March 2020

Stevie6 wrote: »

Yes, I was doing the blocking and destroyed all three crystals. This is where I run into a huge proble. Just before I get knocked off, I have about half health, no shields, no resources, and potion on cool down. Then I’m facing the chrem guard...and chaos...hehe..

save ur ulti for chrem guard and if you can get the gold ghosts then save till he is in the arena then use to freeze him,
try taking more time with heavy attacks on the crystals to keep at least enough to shield, also use the healing sigal before you go up that will help as you will use less to heal yourself so when you get knocked down you should be able to shield, also i know its not easy as i do it myself but try to not spam skills let them run there time like shield etc, i only shield if my health starts to drop to much (sorc) i dont use it unless i have to when up the top. its just learning and once you do you will know when to shield and when you can get away with holding off for a few extra seconds,

sorc.. the heal twilight is a good heal and crit surge, not really had time to play since new dlc so not sure if these have changed slightly but surge is a good skill to keep active for the heal it gives.

Asardes · March 2020

Actually the easiest tactic upstairs in the boss round of vMA is to damage the crystals equally before the first rotating wall phase. On magicka builds you can just shield, and on stamina ones Vigor can outheal the DoT you get so you don't really need to jump down before the crystals are destroyed. Destroy 2/3 during or right after the wall phase, and then leave the 3rd low with a DoT on the 3rd and jump down as it will be destroyed quite fast. That way you avoid the stun from the boss and have time to pick up the shield sigil just before he comes down. With that sigil on you won't have to worry about his channeled attack as it will be reflected back at him and actually add to your DPS. Next just grab the ghosts as they spawn, build up ultimate on the summoner that comes to the center, while keeping DoTs on the boss, then stun him and kill drop ultimate.

OlumoGarbag · March 2020

kmcaj wrote: »

Already have a Necropotence shoe in divines. Would it make any difference if I used that shoe and crafted a Torug's light waist instead? @OlumoGarbag

Obviously not. Just switch in whatever you have. The difference is so small between divine or any other trait, that you would never notice it.

kmcaj · March 2020

Ok thanks. Wasn't sure if interchanging like pieces affects anything.

Vercingetorix · March 2020

This looks great for sorcerers, but I wonder how it would translate well into other classes. Necromancer seems like it might work, but I wonder what would be used in its setup?
- Harness
- Deaden Pain (3% dmg reduction + Major Protection (30%) from dying mobs left and right)
- Spirit Guardian (An extra 10% reduction is nice)
- Blockade of Storms
- ???
For the last slot I'm kinda at a loss. Blastbones' corpses could result in higher uptime on Deaden Pain as well as provide burst, so it sounds like a viable option. Unnerving Graveyard may also work since it provides AoE Breach for higher damage. Thoughts?

Asardes · March 2020

Just did vMA on Mag Necro, and didn't find a place on my bar for Deaden Pain (I actually have the other morph, Necrotic Potency) and I didn't feel the need for it. I have a slightly off-meta build but I quite like it.
https://en.uesp.net/wiki/Special:EsoBuildData?id=209975 - I swap between Grothdarr, Zaan and Ilambris

FrancisCrawford · March 2020

nm

ericshug · March 2020

false god+MS with your skill build works for vMA ?

sekou_trayvond · March 2020

Fwiw, don't sleep on the WW build I saw Alcast put out ( and, again, yes, if someone else created it before he published, then by all means- much props to them- alcast just where I came across it).

You go from a 1 bar build to practically a 1 button build- claws of life. That and light attack. It looks ridiculous, just running around light attacking the world as a wolfie, but damn if it doesn't work.

(And props to OP. That is interesting build I want to try out)

Banana · March 2020

My mDK is going to give it a go.

OlumoGarbag · March 2020

ericshug wrote: »

false god+MS with your skill build works for vMA ?

If your asking this then probably not. You will die alot if you dont know every mechanic.
The linked build is just a normal pve build that requires a tank and healer to soak up mechanics.
Just try out the torugs build on sorc, its literally the easiest build to start vMA with. If your becoming a pro you play any other build you want.

Asardes · March 2020

The incoming damage in vMA is not unlike the incoming damage the DDs may take in a DLC dungeon or trial, even when tanked properly - not all adds can be tanked at the same time, some AoE damage is random, there are even mechanics that target everyone randomly but the tank. So I consider "crutch" type builds, with high HP to actually be detrimental to learning the game. The dying part as being essential to learning not only the particular mechanic, but the build in general: keeping your buffs & healing up, interrupting, sustaining, bursting, prioritizing enemies etc. vMA is designed in such a way that you don't actually need to "soak up" the damage from the mechanics if you do them properly. All that experience help you clear harder group content. From my experience PuG-ing dungeons most people with Stormproof or Flawless title perform much better on average, not necessarily in the DPS, but also doing actual mechanics and dying less. So Maelstrom is an advanced tutorial of sorts for damage dealer role.

kind_hero · March 2020

OlumoGarbag wrote: »

Necro (buyable from guildstores):
boosts your dmg and your shields by alot with a great magicka pool

blue jewlery and non-divine body pieces will also work very well

I think you could also use Crafty Alfiq, because the difference in magicka is very small, but the advantages are that you do not lose the magicka pool if your pets die, and it the set is very easy/cheap to get.

Anyway, I really appreciate this guide! Thank you.

OlumoGarbag · March 2020

Asardes wrote: »

So Maelstrom is an advanced tutorial of sorts for damage dealer role.

True but this build is all about how to make vMA the EASIEST and you are making is very very hard for beginners. Try clear it with 300 cp on your build and then tell me again how you dont need to soak up dmg in vMA

kind_hero wrote: »

OlumoGarbag wrote: »

Necro (buyable from guildstores):
boosts your dmg and your shields by alot with a great magicka pool

blue jewlery and non-divine body pieces will also work very well

I think you could also use Crafty Alfiq, because the difference in magicka is very small, but the advantages are that you do not lose the magicka pool if your pets die, and it the set is very easy/cheap to get.

Anyway, I really appreciate this guide! Thank you.

Your pets will never die (except on the ice stage maybe). Pets are almost immortal now

kind_hero · March 2020

OlumoGarbag wrote: »

Your pets will never die (except on the ice stage maybe). Pets are almost immortal now

Thanks for the quick reply!

I have an infused lightning maelstrom staff (no inferno though), which I got on my magsorc.

But my main char is a magblade... how would you change the build to fit my magblade? Should I use the vma staff? I am not very experienced with vMA... I did 2 full runs and am at the last boss a third time (lucky, I know)

but worked really hard to finish the 1st run.

A 2nd question, what do you think of the Vengeance Leech set in vMA? You get a lot of resources back.

Thank you.

Danouk · March 2020

Stevie6 wrote: »

i've used this setup up until the very last round. Came close twice to finishing vma but just can't tank all the damage. The problem is lack of sustain / resources and damage output while spamming shield just to keep alive. With the lag and skills not firing, it makes it extremely difficult to complete. I've been one shotted several times just at the start of the last round. Then if I make it to the upper level, I get immediately knocked off the upper level with a skull and back down I go.

Alcast's video makes it look real easy but it isn't. He makes great suggestions but trying to follow them while engaging in total chaos is real challenging on the end of the very last round. I would really like the return of the old pet sorc...damn I miss it. The magsorc in general just feels like a wet noodle. I'm considering a new build with magden. I've also tried stamdem WW but dies all the time on the Lamia round...too much over lapping poison zones.

Did you check xenodegaming? He made a video and explains every round including the last one. One other thing someone told me. Watch a video over and over again to see where everything spawns so you are ready when it does even before it spawns.

Danouk · March 2020

Stevie6 wrote: »

Yes, I was doing the blocking and destroyed all three crystals. This is where I run into a huge proble. Just before I get knocked off, I have about half health, no shields, no resources, and potion on cool down. Then I’m facing the chrem guard...and chaos...hehe..

I always heavy attack with this build. This way my resources is never a problem.

OlumoGarbag · March 2020

kind_hero wrote: »

OlumoGarbag wrote: »

Your pets will never die (except on the ice stage maybe). Pets are almost immortal now

Thanks for the quick reply!

I have an infused lightning maelstrom staff (no inferno though), which I got on my magsorc.

But my main char is a magblade... how would you change the build to fit my magblade? Should I use the vma staff? I am not very experienced with vMA... I did 2 full runs and am at the last boss a third time (lucky, I know) but worked really hard to finish the 1st run.

A 2nd question, what do you think of the Vengeance Leech set in vMA? You get a lot of resources back.

Thank you.

You dont need sustain espacially not on nightblade.
I think nightblade is actually the second best class to do this build on.
https://en.m.uesp.net/wiki/Special:EsoBuildData?id=218670
I would play it like this. You get 19 ult from every kill and 2 loads of assasins will per heavy attack. So you can oneshot almost every second mob with with a ult+ assasins will combo. Also your extremly tanky with lots of heal over times. Sounds like fun

HelixUnited · March 2020

ericshug wrote: »

false god+MS with your skill build works for vMA ?

the reason people do these vma builds is to help people who struggle, if the build says a armor set and skill set its because people who can clear it in there sleep have spent time looking and testing at what works well, if false god and mothers was a easy vma set then thats what would be wrote,
as i said if you need help with gear there is plenty of nice people in this game that will help you just ask in zone chats/guild chats or if you are eu pc or xbox i know plenty that will help with gear.
the op posted a easy vma build that many have said they have used and got there clear with if you want to use false gods and mothers then use it but you most likely wont get the desired result you want but thats your choice no one can or should tell you how to play this game.

Asardes · March 2020

What is the damage output of those high HP builds? I see that virtually all of them are missing Major Breach (Elemental Drain), which is a 10-12% DPS loss at least on bosses from my experience, and also have pretty low spell damage values, just a bit over 2K, resulting in only about 7.5-8K spell power.

I have typically 11.2-12.5K spell power on my builds: >3K spell damage, much higher spell critical, about the same magicka pool. Also Mag NB w/o execute, when the range execute is one of the best things about the class?

HelixUnited · March 2020

Asardes wrote: »

What is the damage output of those high HP builds? I see that virtually all of them are missing Major Breach (Elemental Drain), which is a 10-12% DPS loss at least on bosses from my experience, and also have pretty low spell damage values, just a bit over 2K, resulting in only about 7.5-8K spell power.

I have typically 11.2-12.5K spell power on my builds: >3K spell damage, much higher spell critical, about the same magicka pool. Also Mag NB w/o execute, when the range execute is one of the best things about the class?

the damage output aint the best because you are losing a damage set for a survive set but iv many times forgot to change my gear and skills back and still cleared vet contents without being classed as a carry lol
but iv never dps tested it to see exactly how much dps you do lose

Asardes · March 2020

HelixUnited wrote: »

Asardes wrote: »

What is the damage output of those high HP builds? I see that virtually all of them are missing Major Breach (Elemental Drain), which is a 10-12% DPS loss at least on bosses from my experience, and also have pretty low spell damage values, just a bit over 2K, resulting in only about 7.5-8K spell power.

I have typically 11.2-12.5K spell power on my builds: >3K spell damage, much higher spell critical, about the same magicka pool. Also Mag NB w/o execute, when the range execute is one of the best things about the class?

the damage output aint the best because you are losing a damage set for a survive set but iv many times forgot to change my gear and skills back and still cleared vet contents without being classed as a carry lol
but iv never dps tested it to see exactly how much dps you do lose

More HP doesn't necessarily equate better survival. HP only matters for mechanics that do a lot of burst damage and you can't avoid by other means. I'm hard pressed to think about anything in vMA that hits for 25k+, besides failing some mechanics ex. getting hit by enraged Behemoth if you interrupted him instead of doing the shields (Stage 7). Most of the damage is actually cumulative, ex If you can't kill adds fast, you'll get way more incoming damage from them, but in 5-7k hits. The best example are the archers and casters in the Ice arena (Stage 5). If you can't down them in 2 hits that stage will be a nightmare. Also base game veteran dungeons are considerably easier than vMA, and you can blast trough them with 40-50k group DPS.

ericshug · March 2020

DO you have CP Build?now I'm CP350

krachall · March 2020

Great thread and very informative even though I only play a stamblade. I have one character dedicated just to running vMA -- it took me 2 years to clear it my first time and now I've got it down to the two-hour range (yesterday's 3h45m run not withstanding. Lag spikes were brutal).

With only 10 completions under my belt, I'm not consistent enough to know what I can do to speed things up because I tend to die to different times every run. Stages 1-4 have gotten fairly routine and I usually make it to 5 with 0 or 1 death. I've gotten very good at Stage 5 and can sometimes complete it without a death. Stages 6 has been my nemesis for a while and I once died 16 times there before completing it. Last night I died 10+ times in Stage 8...I'm blaming lag spikes as I've never died there before, let alone 10+ times.

But the last round of Stage 9 is still difficult. I use a different tactic (again, playing a stamblade) but maybe I should slow it down.

I take 2-3 trips upstairs to destroy the crystals. I die up there more than anywhere else but if I remember to focus first on avoiding the knockdowns and THEN on DPS, I do better.

But once I break the third crystal, I try to out-DPS the mechanics. Sometimes it works. Once I get knocked off the platform, I grab the shield sigil and let the boss DPS himself. I try to grab the Axe as well but sometimes forget. I move to the boss and set AOEs and go ham. If I did a good job conserving stam up top, I can usually win after 2-3 boss teleports.

But this is a high risk high reward scenario. I don’t have the healing, shields, health, or skill to survive long enough to do the mechanics

Asardes · March 2020

If you have high latency and you wanna complete easily on stamina you can switch to 2H/Bow and use Brawler in your rotation. Even if you lag for 1-2s that shield will prevent a lot of damage. I would use something like this: https://en.uesp.net/wiki/Special:EsoBuildEditor?id=52123