MotB: Strategies for Dealing with Deathknights (Spoiler?)

XantharTheFlame · Post by **XantharTheFlame** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 5:20 pm

I'm playing a Warlock (19) / Shadow Thief of Amn (3), and have hooked up with Safiya, Gann, and Kaelyn.... none of us are fighters, so we are getting julienned every time we come up against 2 or more deathknights.

I managed to get through 1 encounter using all the summoning spells we had, plus Kaelyn's Undeath to Death spells (3 of them).... but it was still close.

When I tried resting, we got hit with 2 more in a random encounter!!

Any strategies people use that work well? I only had 3 tough fights in the OC (the dragons and the King of Shadows) -- now I am epic level and get trounced by relatively common undead types (at least common in the sense there are a lot of them about!)

Thanks,
XantharTheFlame

Loki[D.d.G] · Post by **Loki[D.d.G]** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 6:17 pm

Use Kaelyn's heal spells to help you out. She should have Mass Heal by now, and that can be useful in both killing the undead and healing your party at the same time. Plus, instead of going for the jugular, use Safiya and Gann to disable the Death Knights. Stun or entangle will work fine. Then pick them off one by one.

Just a point to note, everytime you rest, the window which appears will indicate how safe it is. Take it's advice when it states that the plcae which you are currently in is dangerous and continue moving, as foes would most likely spawn if you try resting.

GoldDragon · Post by **GoldDragon** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 7:54 pm

ONLY rest if the Window says Somewhat dangerous or Less (As in Safe).

The Death God's Vault is NOT an easy place to rest in, anyways.

XantharTheFlame · Post by **XantharTheFlame** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 9:29 pm

Yeah, I knew that... but the point of the thread was to find strategies to deal with deathknights given the lack of fighter / tank power in my party...

Thanks,
XantharTheFlame

GoldDragon · Post by **GoldDragon** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 9:52 pm

The only way to do so is as stated above.

Split them up, and deal with them one at a time.

Another way would be to retreat to the Veil Theatre, Normal Mulsantir, to rest. A lot of Backtracking, certainly. But if you can string them out, you already know how to deal with them four(your party) on one.

One POSSIBLE alternative: Wait and do the Vault until Act 2. The ONLY thing necessary in the Vault during Act I is Kaelyn the Dove. And she's in the opening Hall. I say possible because, in truth, you really can't progress too far until you finish your dealing with Okku, but I never tried this, as I had come prepared to face undead. And the Key is on one of the Death Knights that comes in a THREE-pack. IF you spare Okku, he joins you. And he IS a fighter. A Rather good one.

Another Alternative: Safiya can cast Fireball. She doesn't come with it in the begining of the game, but the spell (and Lightning Bolt, btw) is available at the Market just outside the Veil. There is also a crafting Merchant. Of the three companions you have, Gann is the closest to a Fighter. Enchant him a Spear with Fire Damage, which Most of the Undead don't like. With Safiya having Direct Damage (beyond the two I suggested above) spells, and Gann having a Fire-damaging Weapon, and Kaelyn's Turn Undead powers, you should be able to handle the Vault. On those lines, anything with disruptive properties makes the Undead do will saves. Fail, and they are destroyed OUTRIGHT.

Finally, I can't offer any Warlock Specific strategies. I play Wizards. Spells that do GREAT against Undead: Undeath to Death, any spell with Sun in the name, Undeath's Final Foe, Incendiary Cloud, and believe it or not, Healing Spells. They do Positive Damage, with damage the undead. I personally haven't tried this, but some swear by it.

But whatever you do, DON'T USE ANYTHING that does Negative Damage against the Undead. THis will HEAL them, and make your problem even MORE difficult. Also, don't break the Vases, offering jars, anything like that. These summon up MORE undead..... Which you MIGHT need later....

Loki[D.d.G] · Post by **Loki[D.d.G]** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 11:49 pm

GoldDragon wrote:Finally, I can't offer any Warlock Specific strategies. I play Wizards. Spells that do GREAT against Undead: Undeath to Death, any spell with Sun in the name, Undeath's Final Foe, Incendiary Cloud, and believe it or not, Healing Spells. They do Positive Damage, with damage the undead. I personally haven't tried this, but some swear by it.

But whatever you do, DON'T USE ANYTHING that does Negative Damage against the Undead. THis will HEAL them, and make your problem even MORE difficult. Also, don't break the Vases, offering jars, anything like that. These summon up MORE undead..... Which you MIGHT need later....

Heal does damage undead. I have past experience in that playing a cleric during the OC.

Plus you can't damage an undead with negative damage. In fact spells like inflict wounds wont even work when targeted on undead and similar creatures. The game will just say invalid target.

Mz_Trixter · Post by **Mz_Trixter** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 1:00 am

Along with some of the strategies suggested, in your situation, It would be appropriate to use ANY help you can get. So if you have any summon spells, I'd highly recommend using 'em regaurdless what level they are.

Even a simple beetle summon can just about save you from a death blow if cast at the right time & place.
And since you're dealing with Deathknights, that's pretty often.

So make sure,
All your spells are replenished.
Any prebuffed spells are casted.
Strategically place your PC & companions.
Then if things start looking ugly, let any summons fly.
& finally potions! Buy a bag of holding and fill it with potions.
(Put the bag on your stongest character) or the one more likely to stay alive.
And if you can, try setting up ambushes.

...so from here, G'Luck.

XantharTheFlame · Post by **XantharTheFlame** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 6:01 am

Thanks for the tips -- especially about healing spells damaging undead. I never did that before.

As for the part about buying spells in the market -- can wizards scribe scrolls into their spellbooks in NWN2? I didn't see that as an option in the OC when using Sand....

XantharTheFlame

GoldDragon · Post by **GoldDragon** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 4:37 pm

Yes, Safiya has the ability to Scribe Fireball and Lightning Bolt into her spellbook (recommended, btw) if you purchase the spells for her. And place them in her inventory....

Loki[D.d.G] · Post by **Loki[D.d.G]** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 7:04 pm

GoldDragon wrote:Yes, Safiya has the ability to Scribe Fireball and Lightning Bolt into her spellbook (recommended, btw) if you purchase the spells for her. And place them in her inventory....

Hmm, I thought Red Wizards lost the ability to learn skills from scrolls if they were out of their specialised school?

GoldDragon · Post by **GoldDragon** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 9:25 pm

Well, I got her to memorize Fireball....

Do you have patch 1.11.1153?

potatoe · Post by **potatoe** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 7:22 am

I think it would help to use walk unseen and spawn massiv amounts of that third level insect plague invocation until they are dead. They probably won't be able to detect you. That trick got me through almost every tough fight (I play at DnD hardcore).

If they still detect you use the telthor leg bone or a scroll to give yourself etherealness.