What is your technique for soloing?

[Ilavatar]

<p>What technique do you use for soloing? What spells do you cast in what order, etc?</p><p>It seems most people here charm a caster mob then root/nuke?</p><p>Do people also charm a tank and use it to hold aggro for much of the fight?</p><p>I'm still level 22 - does soloing get easier later on? When? <img src="http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" width="15" height="15" /></p>

[Taharn]

Caster mobs are your best bet. There isn't really such a thing as a tank pet. Mobs in this game have no mitigation, so what you think of as a 'tank' mob gets hit just as hard as a caster. They might have tank skills (like guardian's Pin etc) but they're pretty worthless. If you want a tank pet go with a priest mob, who can nuke decently to keep aggro, and heal when they get orange.

[Oriax]

<p>This is the strategy I use for soloing mage or priest type named mobs. Using the following technique will keep your target pacified, rooted and unable to cast any ranged spells or heals. Now you got the named your after targeted.<b> TIP: </b>I use the Ratonga illusion on my pet as it is easier to see when it is casting a spell.</p><ol><li>Cast your single target mezz.</li><li>Cast your mitigation debuff spell and use Chaos Imbued Hex Doll if you have one.</li><li>Root your target.</li><li>Set your mage pet to attack at range using the /pet ranged command. This can be made as a macro and put on your hotbar.</li><li>Now here is where things will change a bit compared to soloing melee types. Ask your pet to attack. Now as you see that your pet is in the process of casting a spell you should start casting your single target mezz. If root is broken then promptly re-root.</li><li>As you see your pet casting another spell your should start casting your encounter mezz spell. If root is broken then promptly re-root.</li><li>As you see your pet casting the third spell you should start casting your single target mezz and ask pet to back-off as soon as the spell damage is dealt. If root is broken then promptly re-root.</li><li>Now wait until your mezz spells recharge. During this time I like to refresh my root if it had not been previoulsy broken and to recast any debuffs that might have worn off.</li><li>Now repeat steps 5, 6, 7, and 8 until your target is dead. If all went well with no resists you should have a dead named without you or your pet taking a single point in damage!</li></ol><p>This strategy can also be used for melee type named mobs. I slight variation being that I may not mezz between every spell that my pet casts.</p>

[Ilavatar]

<p>Thanks for the great replies.</p><p>I didn't know these pets didn't have mit.</p><p>I notice you use only root and mez. I have been using stuns and only use mez when things get bad but I like your strategy.</p><p>Do you ever use stuns?</p>

[chily]

i stun em a lot tbh. root is a bit to unstable since it can break if you spamm some spells. and coercer can stun stun quit good tbh <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[Bayler_x]

I gather that  Strossus' method  is for taking on heroic mobs,  where you need to be especially careful.  For everyday questing/soloing of solo mobs, I prefer a good old tank pet.I try to pick a no-arrow or 1-up  yellow-con mob.  My favorites are berserkers, since they do a better job of taunting multiple enemies.  They often have a buff up when they're standing around, so they're easy to identify.  But other mobs work too.  Ones with knockdown attacks are great for getting agro fast.The basic approach is to send your pet in and let him take a couple swings, then start adding your mental debuff, dots, and Sybillant and Despotic Mind.  (At 22 you don't have Sybillant yet, but it adds a ton to your solo dps.)  If the mob comes after me, I root it.  If my pet is taking too much damage, I add in stuns and Silence.If there's more than one mob, I'll mez the others, unless they're very weak.  If it's a group of 4 2-down mobs or something, I usually just send my pet in, assist him, and start nuking his target.  They don't last long enough for DoTs.  For heroic groups of no-arrow mobs, I'll start off without  a pet.  Open by charming one of the encounter, mez the next few, and let my pet beat on one of them.  I'll help my pet out with damage spells, too.  If he dies, I take another one as pet.  I try to arrange it so that my pet has only a sliver of health left when the last one dies.  Then I break charm and root & nuke.

[shogun007]

<cite>Vicante@Nagafen wrote:</cite><blockquote>Caster mobs are your best bet. There isn't really such a thing as a tank pet. Mobs in this game have no mitigation, so what you think of as a 'tank' mob gets hit just as hard as a caster. They might have tank skills (like guardian's Pin etc) but they're pretty worthless. If you want a tank pet go with a priest mob, who can nuke decently to keep aggro, and heal when they get orange.</blockquote>What do u mean by no mitigation? Have u possesed the mob ? It has mitigation . Brigands dispatching mobs, dispatch mitigation. There are bunch of spells that debuff either physical or magical mitigation, are they all useless?

[shogun007]

For soloing just root the mob send your caster pet after it. Do /pet ranged before it.  Put mindbend on the mob (level 52 spell) in case it breaks off it will stun mob for 4 secs when it attacks giving u time to reroot it and back off. If mob is caster , stifle it , then when stile duration ends stun it , then stun it again then stifle . Reroot mob from time to time dont use dots. Its basically root/nuke with some CC on top . U will die few times , but then u ll be fine soloing any triple up couple levels above . Ghmmm wait we had 2 nerfes already , scrap that , we cant solo those mobs they are unsoloable and your best bet is to stay away from them. -)

[CtrlF]

<p>I generally charm a melee mob (I know this goes against most) and immediately cast my Hate Gain buff on it.</p><p>(All spells below are referred to with their "first" version)</p><p>I initiate combat by attacking with my pet. I then cast all my reactives on it (4 .. Mindbend, Sibyllant, Despotic Mind, and Spell Lash) followed by my DoT's (2 .. Cerebral Shock and Gloom). After that I usually nap until the mob is dead.</p><p>An imporant tip is to keep your pet targetted after you initiate combat. You can cast through the pet (assisting) and if charm breaks you can quickly mez your ex-pet and then root the mob so you have time to re-charm.</p><p>I have a few caster mobs I like to charm (Yua-Lei Mindbenders are a personal favorite), but I find that things go fairly quickly with a tank pet.</p>

[Grol]

I use my Word of Force on the initial mob, and immediately after hitting 3 (My WoF key) I send in my pet (ctrl+=). While he takes the attaack I use shard of ice, WoF, aqueos stalkers.. all of my combat spells really. If I pull aggro I root. If I pull aggro from other encounter mobs, I dont do anything but send my pet directly after them to pull them off of me, then continue

[Ilavatar]

<p>How can I tell if a pet is a beserker or scout, etc. just by looking? </p><p>Casters usually are more clearly named but not the others.</p><p>Thanks for all the great tips! You've got me inspired to take him out for another spin.</p>

[Bayler_x]

<cite>Ilavatar wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>How can I tell if a pet is a beserker or scout, etc. just by looking? </p><p>Casters usually are more clearly named but not the others.</p><p>Thanks for all the great tips! You've got me inspired to take him out for another spin.</p></blockquote>When you target a mob or another player (at least, using the default UI), you can see a bunch of icons below their name in the target window.  These are the buffs the mob has on it.  Of course, as you and your groupmates cast spells on the mob, you'll see those icons there too.  Berserker mobs frequently have some particular berserker buff up; I can't really describe it.  Guardian mobs often have a shield icon.  If you hover your mouse over the icon, you can read a description of it.  Of course, the vast majority of mobs don't have any buffs up.If you happen to be an Erudite, your racial vision lets you see which mobs are mages or priests.  I think it's a blue aura for mages and green for priests, or something.Other than that, it just takes trial and error, or asking other coercers.  <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[shogun007]

I strongly suggest rerolling and getting erudite . Aura Vision is a Must Have for coercer. Lots of mobs dont have icons , lots of mobs look like one type and appear to be another etc .etc. If u dont like the look of erudites u will have 2 illusions available to u , Ratonga and Troll at higher levels. Other then that u can only guess or look for icon if mob has one. Druids have their thorncoat buff, zerkers have berserk buff , sk type has their caress buff etc etc.

[Ilavatar]

<p>Is there any gear that gives something like Aura Vision?</p>

[Taharn]

<cite>shogun007 wrote:</cite><blockquote>What do u mean by no mitigation? Have u possesed the mob ? It has mitigation . Brigands dispatching mobs, dispatch mitigation. There are bunch of spells that debuff either physical or magical mitigation, are they all useless? </blockquote> No, they aren't useless. Basically, they took mitigation away from mobs and increased their hp pools because it is supposedly easier to balance that way. What mitigation debuffs do is put mobs into the negative, which increases the damage done to them.

[shogun007]

<cite>Vicante@Nagafen wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>shogun007 wrote:</cite><blockquote>What do u mean by no mitigation? Have u possesed the mob ? It has mitigation . Brigands dispatching mobs, dispatch mitigation. There are bunch of spells that debuff either physical or magical mitigation, are they all useless? </blockquote> No, they aren't useless. Basically, they took mitigation away from mobs and increased their hp pools because it is supposedly easier to balance that way. What mitigation debuffs do is put mobs into the negative, which increases the damage done to them.</blockquote>Interesting . When we posses or debuff the mob we can clearly see they have mit. So they made mobs get hit for more with mit debuffs , and we still see mit with our Poss , and our debuffs still mitigation oriented . Weird. Doesnt sound right . Why they couldnt change so- called mitigation to percentage? For instance - If u use Tashiana ,mental  spells will do 50% more damage to the mob. Dispatch - all damage done to mob increases by 70-80% for certain duration? Soe plz get your [I cannot control my vocabulary] together. I heard same thing on dirge forums. If ppl repeatedly state that mobs have no mit based on your responces then fix our godamn spells so we dont get confused sigh.

[shogun007]

<cite>Ilavatar wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>Is there any gear that gives something like Aura Vision?</p></blockquote>No but when u get to level 65 u will get awesome class defining spell called Possesion. It will tel u directly type of the mob. At level 80 u will discover even greater spell called Puppetmaster. Every coercer since level 1 strives to get this spell . Its an enormous damage buff that multiplies our damage by 3.(0 X 3 = 0) Anyway seriously though, unless race Realllllly matters to u , i suggest picking Erudite. I cannot express how useful is Aura Vision. And those 2 spells i mention are included in "Fun " spell category along with ratonga and troll illusions ( i do use illusions more often -) Good luck its not an easy path , but rewarding , in T8 we are needed-)

[Depheni]

I am certain there is a pair of goggles with aura vision. I think they are tinkered. (cant remember the name - will look next time I am home)I have them, though I have never used them. With just a bit of trial and error you can make a determination of what each mob is. In many cases the names alone are enough to point you to the right direction.

[Oriax]

yes the name of the goggles are <b>Thaumatoscopic Goggles</b> which grant Aura Vision when equipped. Unfortunately that is all i know, not sure if its tinkered, crafted or looted somewhere.

[Jesdyr]

<cite></cite>There is no one prefect technique. It is all situational based on what potential pets are around and what you are killing. Some methods are faster than others and some are higher risk. The class is great because there is many ways to play it. Anything you can root and stun you should be able to kill given enough time.Melee or priest pets work fine against normal or single up mobs. ^^^ or Named mobs and you either need a good caster or a healthy supply of other mobs to send to thier death. Or you can ping pong a melee pet while rooting and stunning but that takes a long time.

[Trepan]

I take a look at how badly my pet is getting beaten by its current target.  If it's getting it's heiny handed to it, I've found my new volunteer and shift charm to the new mob.   By doing this I don't interrupt my kill flow, and I upgrade my pet as I go.I've found it can sometimes take a while to even get to the good pets solo, so this is a way to clear a path to the pet and maybe find one thats "good enough" and save myself 30 minutes of clearing through the crowd to get to my original target.Shogun, Possession is not "class defining", nor does Puppetmaster x3 our damage.  Possession is quirky cool, but thats about it.  Puppetmaster is good as an additional, easily dispelled DoT spell, but thats about it.   Neither are things to write home about.But that kind of discussion isn't what this thread is about <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[shogun007]

<cite>Trepan wrote:</cite><blockquote>I take a look at how badly my pet is getting beaten by its current target.  If it's getting it's heiny handed to it, I've found my new volunteer and shift charm to the new mob.   By doing this I don't interrupt my kill flow, and I upgrade my pet as I go.I've found it can sometimes take a while to even get to the good pets solo, so this is a way to clear a path to the pet and maybe find one thats "good enough" and save myself 30 minutes of clearing through the crowd to get to my original target.Shogun, Possession is not "class defining", nor does Puppetmaster x3 our damage.  Possession is quirky cool, but thats about it.  Puppetmaster is good as an additional, easily dispelled DoT spell, but thats about it.   Neither are things to write home about.But that kind of discussion isn't what this thread is about <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY<img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />" /></blockquote>LOL u really think i was being serious?

[shogun007]

I was being realy sarcastic about those 2 spells , i am sorry if it didnt show. I even pointed out damage multiplier where u multiply zero by 3 and get  zero . U have to be high level tinkerer for those googles i believe.

[Asmara]

<cite>Strossus@Runnyeye wrote:</cite><blockquote>yes the name of the goggles are <b>Thaumatoscopic Goggles</b> which grant Aura Vision when equipped. Unfortunately that is all i know, not sure if its tinkered, crafted or looted somewhere.</blockquote>You have to be a high level tinkerer to make them, but anyone can use them. BUT...... it's like lv60 something to equip... I didn't check that when I bought it for my baby coercer... Too bad really, my warlock is an erudite already, and I don't think I can stand playing 2 baldies (yes you can use illusions, but you can't alter the face/look of your illusion.... so its moot)

[shogun007]

Ok this is the only example where race matters. However u can get to 60-65 and wear those googles afterwards. To me u will be blindfolded , but ive seen many non erudite coercers so i guess its perfectly fine.

[chily]

<p>For solo mobs there is a other funny tactic. Pull with hostage followed my spell curse and debuffs and keep chain casting. If you have a pet it's cool then the aoe hit the pet to. <img src="/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />  I make that allways when i wait outside of vaults for the rest of the group. /giggleOn the 1up mob i use mindbend but no other stun unless i'm close to like 20% and the mob has still more rofl.</p>

[ChodeNode1]

Am I the only one that didn't choose an Erudite? I hate the way they look. I chose Arisai because it seemed to have racial bonuses I prefered. I didn't really know about the Aura Vision thing. <img src="/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[Bayler_x]

I went with human because it fit my character concept.  I'm a roleplayer.

[Rijacki]

My raid coercer is an arasai.  I had an erudite dirge before her, so I did know about the aura vision and knew the help it would be for charm since I had used it a lot soloing as a dirge for the year before.  My newest coercer (just a baby on Venekor) is a ratonga.  In all three cases, my race decisions were based on RP reasons and not on racial bonuses.. I never was a min/maxer in -that- sense.Soloing.... for my raid coercer, most of my leveling was done solo.  Find something handy if it's a quick fight or three I need in that location.. travel a bit and find a nice wizard I've used before if I want to have an extended time of soloing.  Sometimes I take the amusing pet over the absolute best stats-wise.  It's fun to rampage with an elephant or rhino or a sand giant to go stomp on green green crocs in the cave.  If it enhances the fun of game play then it's just as important, to me, as the damage output. It's also great fun in a... umm.. chaotic way.. to charm something and send it against others like it.