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Physiologic
03-31-2011, 09:14 AM
In-Depth Guide to Farming Balefort Sewers
by Physiologic

Check out my other Pocket Legends guides:
How Drop Rates Work (Simplified) and the Factor of Luck Elixirs (http://www.spacetimestudios.com/showthread.php?30059-How-Drop-Rates-Work-%28Simplified%29-and-the-Factor-of-Luck-Elixirs)
Post-Global Cooldown (GCD) Video Runs at Balefort Sewers (http://www.spacetimestudios.com/showthread.php?23726-Post-Global-Cooldown-%28GCD%29-Video-Runs-at-Balefort-Sewers)
Comprehensive Archer Skills and Equipment Guide (http://www.spacetimestudios.com/showthread.php?16244-Comprehensive-Archer-Skills-and-Equipment-Guide)
Complete Lv 55 Archer Gear List (http://www.spacetimestudios.com/showthread.php?19819-Complete-Lv-55-Archer-Gear-List)
Pocket Legends Enemy, Boss, and NPC Compendium (http://tinyurl.com/4tmz87x)
How to Craft Lv 55 Gear (http://tinyurl.com/4lcxe23)
How to calculate your attributes using STR, DEX, and INT (http://www.spacetimestudios.com/showthread.php?20606-How-to-calculate-your-attributes-using-STR-DEX-and-INT)
Ring List (http://www.spacetimestudios.com/showthread.php?18941-Ring-List)
Guide to Advanced Mechanics in PL: DPS, Crits, etc. (http://tinyurl.com/4u6bkuj)
Void Set versus Sentinel equips: An Unbiased Analysis (http://tinyurl.com/4g72okf)
In-Depth Guide to Farming Alien Oasis 3: Victory Lap (http://tinyurl.com/4u62hxt)

Check out my other Star Legends guides:
Star Legends General Attributes (STR, DEX, INT) Guide (http://www.spacetimestudios.com/showthread.php?30467-Star-Legends-General-Attributes-%28STR-DEX-INT%29-Guide)
Prefix/Suffix Compendium for Weapons and Armors (http://www.spacetimestudios.com/showthread.php?30417-Prefix-Suffix-Compendium-for-Weapons-and-Armors)
Lv 20-21 Operative Weapons and Equips (http://www.spacetimestudios.com/showthread.php?30545-Lv-20-21-Operative-Weapons-and-Equips)

Table of Contents
I. Introduction
II. Sewer Techniques: Rush Bait, Grate Wait, Round Ups, the Death Train(TM)
III. Bandit Boy Hideout
IV. Bandit Boy Stronghold
V. The Catacombs
VI. Roach Motel
VII. Swill Pitz
VIII. Equipment: What is best to use at the Sewers?
IX. Thx and Revision History

I. Introduction

Greetings fellow farmers! If you are reading this you have already reached lv 50-55, or are at the brink of reaching those levels. This guide is intended to instruct players on how to farm each Balefort Sewer (abbreviated BS) maps as effectively and as expediently as possible. For that reason, this guide is directed primarily towards level 50+ players who already have a handle of how the game should be played.

To players who are reaching level 50+, this guide will educate you on how farming runs should feel like, so you have an idea on what to do when you are at your first Sewer games.

If you are below 50 and still wish to farm here, know that you should still level and have gear sufficient enough to tank hits well at Balefort Sewers as well as damage enemies/bosses effectively. This will be discussed further in the Gear section of the guide. Level and gear are still important, whether or not you consider yourself a good player, because a lv 55 farmer will have much higher damage and armor than you at lv 49, and you may be hindering the party's efforts to conduct fast runs.

To players already levels 50-55, have farmed extensively, and you are getting frustrated with slow public games and wiping out at bosses, you are not alone. Pub games can be atrocious because of its nature to pit random players in one uncoordinated party. Hopefully this guide may help players get a better understanding on how to develop certain Sewer techniques and to handle each boss more efficiently to create less stressful runs. In time, you may be making friends that work well with you and create your own private Sewer games!

II. Sewer Techniques: Rush Bait, Grate Wait, Round Ups, the Death Train(TM)

Aside from successful execution of combos, teamwork, and all that nonsense, there are 4 techniques you should know and/or master to expedite your Sewer runs.

Rush Bait
Rush baiting is having one person run slightly ahead of the party, getting mob aggro (by getting very close or using an AoE skill), and pulling back immediately, allowing your party to move in for the kill. If you want to lead your party and finish a map as fast as possible, you must absolutely master this to prevent unwarranted deaths. As an aggressive-style player, I commonly use this tactic in my own parties. How does this work well?
The rush bait gains aggro from a large amount of mobs and maintains aggro while pulling back to a safe distance.
Because the mob is focused on one character that has retreated to a safe distance, the other members of the party are free to immediately attack the mob.
The other members of the party are temporarily free from any attacks due to the rush bait aggro and can kill or weaken the mob during this time.

Video example of rush bait: (will be added)

Grate Wait
Grates are scattered throughout the Sewers and may one hit kill any character despite how high their armor is. It's always best to simply wait for the grate to explode before proceeding to minimize time lost in reviving and time in which that player could have spent attacking enemies. These are current understandings of grate mechanics:
A grate explosion is exactly 4 seconds from the moment the tinge of fire appears to the actual explosion where damage is incurred.
In-between explosion time actually is variable anywhere from 5 seconds to 7 seconds.
Grates can critically hit you and may be fatal in some cases.
Grates possibly do more damage if more than one person is walking on top of the grate when it explodes.
The exact mechanism of creating a 'premature grate explosion' (attacking it and causing it to explode before 4 seconds) is currently unknown.

Round Ups
This technique basically has one player (a tanking bear or a paladin usually) to "round up" mobs in certain areas of the map while other players wait in one area. As soon as the player returns with a massive amount of mobs behind him/her, the party unleashes as much damage as they can before the enemy mob attacks. I am not a big fan of round ups as there is a lot of room for error even in experienced parties, but this technique can still be helpful to those who know what they are doing.

Pros to round ups:
Smart and carefully planned execution of combos can destroy huge enemy mobs quickly and easily.
Allows party to stay as a single unit while attacking, allowing ease of combo execution and healing.
Cons to round ups:
Players must "wait" for single player to round up. Comparing runs with round ups and runs without round ups has shown that there is no significant difference in speed of the run.
Players may inadvertently die while they round up massive amounts of enemy mobs.
If combos are not well-executed, massive enemy mobs may overcome players and cause deaths.
Round ups are ideal when there are bears, birds, and mages in the party. Successfully eliminating enemy mobs may be harder especially if a mage or a bird is missing (Nature Strike combo is very crucial).
Video example of round ups: (will be added)

Death Train(TM)
Stylized as a militaristic group march from the start of the map to the end, your party essentially sticks together and runs without stopping while attacking and killing enemies as fast as possible. Your entire party works as one unit and the most important thing is to KEEP MOVING and never stop to kill. The biggest issue with public games is that most players don't trust each other enough to lead the front of the party, so everyone hesitates and stays back, expecting someone else to take the first hit. When your Death Train is properly executed, everyone gets attacked at the same time as soon as first mob contact occurs, distributing small damage among all team members as opposed to huge damage to one or two team members (and thus effectively killing them). If your party can agree to plow through together, enemies will literally vaporize as you chug along.

Video example of a Death Train finishing Bandit Boy Hideout in 3 minutes and 26 seconds. Note almost no party member hesitates and always attacks while moving:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_qza65CO_A&feature=player_embedded#at=121

III. Bandit Boy Hideout

The Balefort Sewers-1: Bandit Boy Hideout
NPC: Criminal Plan's Chest
Enemies Remaining: 100
Enemies: Sewer Warrior, Sewer Mage, Sewer Archer, Blanky the Safecrack (boss), Catspaw (boss), Gold Fever (boss)
Difficulty: Easy
Good map to use XP elixir? Yes
Good map to use damage elixir? No

Quite possibly the easiest map next to Swill Pitz, this is the first map in the Sewers campaign. You can use an XP elixir here for more experience points, as there are few dangers in this map. Be wary that the Sewer Archer enemies can still do very damaging Blast Shots when bunched together. Do not use a damage elixir as there is currently a glitch with the map's boss that may cause you to instantly die while you are on the damage elixir and the boss is aggroed onto you.

You can choose to ignore the right path in the first fork for time's sake, where Blanky the Safecrack may spawn, as it is unnecessary to clear to spawn Gold Fever. If you are running for experience points as well, you can clear this section out:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v84/d1nonlik/Balefort%20Sewers%20Guide/hideout1.png

The map should be relatively straightforward from then on. Skip the left path that leads to grates, as it only brings you to a portal to the Bank Vault (where you don't want to go).

If red damage orbs are available right before Gold Fever, be sure to grab it especially if you're an archer. Even though they are temporary, your damage output will double, making your run faster:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v84/d1nonlik/Balefort%20Sewers%20Guide/hideout2.png


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v84/d1nonlik/Balefort%20Sewers%20Guide/goldfever.jpg
Gold Fever
Spam attacks at Gold Fever, keeping in mind that the person aggroed gets 'Gold Fever', or becomes a 5 second timebomb that explodes, damaging him/her and players around them and "infecting" affected players with 'Gold Fever' as well. It is highly likely that close proximity and subsequent explosion causes higher damage for both you and the Fevered player. Also during this time, Gold Fever's armor rises dramatically until the chest that is glowing green is destroyed. If you're Fevered, run away as far as you can from your party members and if you're not Fevered, run away from the Fevered player. Be very careful not to get aggro/Fevered while you have your damage elixir on, as it may cause an instant death for you.

Gold Fever pink drops (http://www.spacetimestudios.com/showthread.php?18619-Pinks-with-Stats-and-Pictures-Balefort-Sewers-amp-Crafting):
Raid Roach's Gemstone Leather
Raid Roach's Gemstone Cap
Mega Mage's Gemstone Robes
Mega Mage's Gemstone Cowl
Fury Fighter's Gemstone Plate
Fury Fighter's Gemstone Helm
Sewer King's Gemstone Scarab
Sewer Queen's Gemstone Robes
Royal Sewer Gemstone Plate
Royal Sewer Gem Battle Hammer

Video example:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhWZrz-XO3c

IV. Bandit Boy Stronghold

The Balefort Sewers-2: Bandit Boy Stronghold
NPC: Chest of Notes
Enemies Remaining: 108
Enemies: Sewer Warrior, Sewer Mage, Sewer Archer, Drusila Badelf (boss), Bandit King (boss), Bandit Queen (boss)
Difficulty: Easy
Good map to use XP elixir? Yes
Good map to use damage elixir? Yes

There are two ways you can approach the start of this map. First, you can either circle around counter-clockwise and pick off enemies as you plow through (avoiding the center 3 explosive grates), or you can have a player (bear or paladin) round up all the enemies as the rest of the party waits at the entrance. I also like to pop a damage elixir here to making this map go a bit faster, as it is fairly long and time-consuming. The leftmost path leads to the miniboss Drusila Badelf and about 10-12 enemies and is not necessary to go to unless you want some extra experience:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v84/d1nonlik/Balefort%20Sewers%20Guide/stronghold1.png

You can once again choose to either pick off enemies as you zigzag through this section or round up enemies if you wish. Be careful as there are many enemies and many grates all over this area:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v84/d1nonlik/Balefort%20Sewers%20Guide/stronghold2.png


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v84/d1nonlik/Balefort%20Sewers%20Guide/KQ.jpg
Bandit King and Queen
This can be one of these easiest boss fights in the Sewers, or one of the toughest, depending on how you do things. The easy method: Group up at the entrance before the big boss room and have only one party member run to the following location:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v84/d1nonlik/Balefort%20Sewers%20Guide/stronghold5.png
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v84/d1nonlik/Balefort%20Sewers%20Guide/strongholdKQ.jpg
(Thanks noneo for this helpful tip; read more about it in this thread (http://www.spacetimestudios.com/showthread.php?23407-How-to-Separate-Bandit-King-and-Queen)).

Important to note that the old aggro method does not work after the release of v1.7.0.1. (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v84/d1nonlik/Balefort%20Sewers%20Guide/stronghold4.png)

If done correctly, you'll gain aggro from only one of the bosses. If you happen to gain aggro from both bosses, tell your party "run" and have you and your party run past the last grate in that map:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v84/d1nonlik/Balefort%20Sewers%20Guide/stronghold3.png

After you gain aggro from one of the bosses (doesn't matter which), simply defeat the boss ensuring that the boss or your party does NOT find its way back into the big boss room where the other boss awaits. Afterwards, go inside the boss room and finish off the other boss.

If your party faces both bosses together, the King and Queen will unleash its deadly Beckon-Lightning combo which will pretty much ensure death regardless of how skilled your party is.

King and Queen pink drops (http://www.spacetimestudios.com/showthread.php?18619-Pinks-with-Stats-and-Pictures-Balefort-Sewers-amp-Crafting):
Raid Roach's Gemstone Cap
Raid Roach's Gemstone Wing
Mega Mage's Gemstone Cowl
Mega Mage's Gemstone Bracer
Fury Fighter's Gemstone Helm
Fury Fighter's Gemstone Shield
Sewer King's Gemstone Leather
Sewer King's Gemstone Scarab
Sewer Queen's Gemstone Robes
Sewer Queen's Gemstone Staff

Video example:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3M4N4uwwLvs

V. The Catacombs

The Balefort Sewers-3: The Catacombs
NPC: Dead Sewer Slime
Enemies Remaining: 85
Enemies: Sewer Slime Melee, Sewer Slime Mage, Ooze (boss), Oil Slick (boss), Trash Heap (boss)
Difficulty: Medium
Good map to use XP elixir? Yes, but be cautious
Good map to use damage elixir? Yes

Exercise extreme caution when running this map because the Sewer Slime Mages (slimes with orange glowing fists) have a tendency to group up and hit multiple party members at a time with its AoE fireblasts. For that reason, try to target these enemies first. This is also a great map to utilize a rush bait, as long as the player is quick to retreat as soon as he/she gets aggro. Other than that, the map is relatively straight-forward. Right before the bossroom there is a single fork to the right that leads to the miniboss Oil Slick, who does not have to be killed for Trash Heap to spawn:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v84/d1nonlik/Balefort%20Sewers%20Guide/catacomb1.png


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v84/d1nonlik/Balefort%20Sewers%20Guide/trashheap.jpg
Trash Heap
The large grates in the boss room will periodically explode at random intervals and damage your entire party. Previously (prior to patch v1.7.0.1), you could target a grate and destroy it so they no longer explode but this is no longer the case (see here for example (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v84/d1nonlik/Balefort%20Sewers%20Guide/catacomb2.png)).

These grates cannot be destroyed, so they must be avoided throughout the entire fight. There is a hint of green gas that appears for about 4 seconds before the grate explodes, so be sure you're far away from them - they take out about 1/4 to 1/2 of your health. Sometimes, more than one grate explodes as well so careful kiting and avoiding Trash Heap's melee hits are imperative. If the fight goes on long enough, Trash Heap starts glowing green and ALL the grates in the map spews out green gas and they all explode, so its best if you kill Trash Heap as soon as possible without too much delay. There's no way to avoid this explosion (unless you run out of the boss room, but that takes quite some time as well).

Trash Heap pink drops (http://www.spacetimestudios.com/showthread.php?18619-Pinks-with-Stats-and-Pictures-Balefort-Sewers-amp-Crafting):
Raid Roach's Gemstone Auto-Bow
Raid Roach's Gemstone Recurve
Mega Mage's Gem Shard Wand
Mega Mage's Gem Star Wand
Mega Mage's Gemstone Wand
Fury Fighter's Gemstone Sword
Sewer Queen's Gemstone Cowl
Royal Sewer Gemstone Plate
Royal Sewer Gemstone Helm
Royal Sewer Gem Battle Hammer

Video example:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1xJJU_iGT4

VI. Roach Motel

The Balefort Sewers-4: Roach Motel
NPC: n/a
Enemies Remaining: 60
Enemies: Sewer Slime Melee, Sewer Slime Mage, Toxic Archer, Goop (boss), Stench (boss), Cockroach (boss)
Difficulty: Medium
Good map to use XP elixir? No
Good map to use damage elixir? No

Due to the length of the map and the small amount of enemies to face, it is not recommended to use XP or damage elixirs here.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v84/d1nonlik/Balefort%20Sewers%20Guide/roach1.png

Once again you face the dreaded Sewer Slime Mages, so try to use a rush bait and clear the room from SE to NW, as there is a clear path in the middle in-between the two grates [thanks drewcapu for the fix]. Make sure you clear out the Sewer Slimes to the left of the huge room to ensure Cockroach spawns later (otherwise he probably won't). Skip the right path and move forward. You'll notice a new enemy in this map - green birds suspiciously bashing away at a toxic waste canister by themselves. Just avoid these birds altogether and if you get aggro, keep running away from them and they'll stop chasing you. They don't do too much damage but they have extraordinarily high health and are general nuisances while you fight Sewer Slimes. Make sure you don't touch their toxic waste canisters as well (you'll die if you do):
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v84/d1nonlik/Balefort%20Sewers%20Guide/roach2.png


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v84/d1nonlik/Balefort%20Sewers%20Guide/cockroach.jpg
The Cockroach
As you enter the boss room you are greeted with a bunch of Garbage Bins around the room and the Cockroach near the center. Make sure all your members go in at the same time. Systematically destroy all these bins as quickly as possible and then direct all your attacks at the Cockroach. The Garbage Bins when destroyed replenishes the Cockroach's health, so you're better off destroying them all first and then concentrating on the Cockroach, since the Cockroach starts off at full health anyway:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v84/d1nonlik/Balefort%20Sewers%20Guide/roach3.png

Your other alternative is to attack only him and avoid the Garbage Bins, but that will prove much more difficult since your chaotic AoE attacks and combos may inadvertently destroy a single Garbage Bin, replenishing his health.

Also note that the Cockroach buffs up (saying 'Cockroach Powaaa!') and becomes stronger and stronger as the match progresses. You'll need to defeat him as fast as possible before he is strong enough to one-hit kill any party member. In addition, the Garbage Bins will respawn after some time (I believe it is a 30 second interval). Make sure archers stay far away from the Cockroach at all times, because the Cockroach can easily one-hit kill them easily.

The Cockroach pink drops (http://www.spacetimestudios.com/showthread.php?18619-Pinks-with-Stats-and-Pictures-Balefort-Sewers-amp-Crafting):
Raid Roach's Gemstone Dagger
Mega Mage's Gem Blast Staff
Mega Mage's Gemstone Staff
Fury Fighter's Gemstone Battle Axe
Sewer King's Gemstone Leather
Sewer King's Gemstone Cap
Raid Roach's Gemstone Cap
Sewer King's Gemstone Scarab
Notes: RR Cap added by KaotiicxDream; SK Scarab added by MayhemMonkey

Video example:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgoAVzn9pa4

VII. Swill Pitz

The Balefort Sewers-5: Swill Pitz
NPC: n/a
Enemies Remaining: 59
Enemies: Goblin Swordsman w/ Shield, Goblin Mage, Noodles (boss), Goblin King (boss)
Difficulty: Easy
Good map to use XP elixir? No
Good map to use damage elixir? No

Due to the length of the map and the small amount of enemies to face, it is not recommended to use XP or damage elixirs here.

As the final map in Balefort Sewers, Swill Pitz is surprisingly easy and short compared to Catacombs and Roach Motel. The hardest part of this map may be Cinco's Gauntlet near the beginning of the map, which is composed of 5 grates in a row, but you should be good at grate waiting by now:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v84/d1nonlik/Balefort%20Sewers%20Guide/swill1.png

In this section, run straight through in this direction, as all the enemies do not need to be killed for the Goblin King to spawn (and avoid all the little rooms containing those totems that spawn more goblins):
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v84/d1nonlik/Balefort%20Sewers%20Guide/swill2.png


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v84/d1nonlik/Balefort%20Sewers%20Guide/goblinking.jpg
The Goblin King
With enough firepower, this boss is a pushover but he can still rip apart half an archer's health in one melee hit. He should fall before he yells "Totem heal me!" or "This heals me, you see?" If he yells those phrases out, the giant totem besides him will start glowing green and after enough time passes it will replenish all his health. If your party is slow to defeat him and the totem starts to glow green, you can either try to finish him off as fast as possible BEFORE the totem heals him (roughly 7-8 seconds to finish him off) or you can direct all your party members to attack the totem to prevent it from healing him. In most cases, you'll be able to kill him before the totem heals - if not, just try again.

The Goblin King pink drops (http://www.spacetimestudios.com/showthread.php?18619-Pinks-with-Stats-and-Pictures-Balefort-Sewers-amp-Crafting):
Raid Roach's Gem Talon
Mega Mage's Gem Blast Staff
Fury Fighter's Gem Battle Sword
Fury Fighter's Gemstone Mace
Sewer King's Gemstone Scarab
Sewer Queen's Gemstone Staff
Sewer Queen's Gemstone Robes
Notes: SQ Robes added by AnotherAzi

Video example:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_j3wizG4Goc

VIII. Equipment: What is best to use at the Sewers?

This is a commonly asked question by many new AND veteran players. Prior to BS's release, the AO3 sets and the Shadow Caves sets were considered the end-game gear at the time. Due to the dynamic nature of MMOs, gear will always be outdated by newer, better gear. Also prior to BS's release, orange, green and purple drops were considered 'trash loot' only worth liquidating, and many players wished for higher functionality from these poor pieces of equips.

Well, it's time to squelch the misconception that orange/green/purple drops are "only worth liquidating."

Cinco, head designer of Spacetime Studios, answered these prayers by releasing Sewer non-pink loots that actually DO work really well as equips. Whether you regard Cinco as a Savior or the supposed Angel of Death does not matter - the fact is that these non-pink Sewer drops are incredibly useful, as evidenced by my own use and many other players' use. You may think of them as a "poor man's" set of equips, but some combinations can still be as effective and as powerful as the pinks themselves.

Does that mean that lv 50 equips are useless? Absolutely not. Lv 50 equips can still be used in sewers and you don't necessarily have to switch immediately from your precious Void/Cosmos/Rift/Sentinel/Shadows/Hate sets to the Sewer loots. You may use your lv 50 equips to level up in Sewers while you save up for Sewer pinks. But keep in mind that a good party equipped with Sewer gear can still do runs slightly faster than a good party equipped with Lv 50 gear.

Ultimately, there is no 'best' gear to use, it is all in the matter of preference. Some people may prefer damage, some may prefer more armor for survivability. Some may like equips with h/s and m/s to reduce potion spending.

Here are gear lists for each class for your reference. Note that although this is just the lv 55 gear list, lv 51/53 gear is similar to level 55 ones but has slightly less damage (-2-5 damage or so). Also, only the lv 55 pinks create a set bonus and only in certain combinations.

Complete Lv 55 Archer Gear List (http://www.spacetimestudios.com/showthread.php?19819-Complete-Lv-55-Archer-Gear-List)
Complete Lv 55 Enchantress Gear List (by Mysticaldream) (http://www.spacetimestudios.com/showthread.php?20454-Level-55-Enchantress-Gear-List)
Complete Lv 55 Warrior Gear List (by Ellyidol) (http://www.spacetimestudios.com/showthread.php?20759-Level-55-Warrior-Gear-List)

Archer Gear Setup

What I used from 50-53:
Sentinel Talon/Wing set: Superb survivability and well-balanced, lacking in damage compared to certain Sewer combos
Sentinel Shotgun set: Well-balanced, lacking in damage compared to certain Sewer combos
Void/Cyber/Sunblessed sets: Can be used as well, but the Sentinel sets provide more damage and armor coverage.
Acrobat's Fine Golden Band Req: Lv20, 67 Dex; 2% Dodge, 8 Armor OR
Champion's Fine Platinum Band Lv20, 67 Dex; 2% Crit, 10 Damage

What I used from 53-55:
Bagman's Gemstone Cap
Bagman's Gemstone Recurve or Auto-Bow
Bagman's Gemstone Leather
Acrobat's Fine Golden Band Req: Lv20, 67 Dex; 2% Dodge, 8 Armor OR
Champion's Fine Platinum Band Lv20, 67 Dex; 2% Crit, 10 Damage
Notes: Bagman's set is extremely powerful and nearly comparable to the Raid Roach set.

What I use at 56:
Customized Crown of Persistence
Bagman's Gemstone Recurve or Auto-Bow
Bagman's Gemstone Leather
Acrobat's Fine Golden Band Req: Lv20, 67 Dex; 2% Dodge, 8 Armor OR
Champion's Fine Platinum Band Lv20, 67 Dex; 2% Crit, 10 Damage

These sets should last you up until you are able to afford Raid Roach or Sewer King. The Raid Roach set has the best damage/crit combination possible and the Sewer King set sacrifices crit for h/s and m/s for a more balanced character.

If survivability is an issue, i.e. you always seem to die, you may choose to use a combination of Drainer's and Henchman's:

Drainer's Gemstone Cap
Henchman's Gemstone Auto-Bow
Drainer's Gemstone Leather
Acrobat's Fine Golden Band Req: Lv20, 67 Dex; 2% Dodge, 8 Armor OR
Champion's Fine Platinum Band Lv20, 67 Dex; 2% Crit, 10 Damage

Version 1.7.0.1 update: The Customized Recurve Set has received a huge set bonus boost, so it may actually be better to use than the Raid Roach set. However, the set itself is extremely expensive as it is currently very sought after.

Enchantress Gear Setup

This setup was provided by noneo (pure INT enchantress).

From lv 50-53:
Keeper's Shadows set (Glow Stick/Creepy Doll): Best survivability and best overall, but expensive.
Mystery set: Nearly inexpensive to obtain but lacks in armor and crit.
Champion’s Fine Silver Ring: 2% Crit, 4 Armor, 20 Mana OR
Fine Crystal Ring of Bravery: 1% Crit, 2 M/S, 5 DMG
Notes: Replace these sets with level 51/53 Sewer gear as you level (see below).

From lv 53-55:
Mega Mage's Gemstone Cowl
Sewer Queen's Gemstone Robes
Lowman's Gemstone Wand
Lowman's Gemstone Bracer
Champion’s Fine Silver Ring: 2% Crit, 4 Armor, 20 Mana OR
Fine Crystal Ring of Bravery: 1% Crit, 2 M/S, 5 DMG
Notes: Offers comparable stats to full Mega Mage set. Sewer Queen's Gemstone Robes can be replaced with Adept's Gemstone Robes but will be as equally effective at lower cost and at lower armor.

At lv 55-56:
Mega Mage set (Wand/Bracer): This has by far the best armor, and overall performance. Many mages preach that M/S is critical, and honestly, this set goes overboard with M/S. I personally have 45 Mana regen. I can sit there and spam all of my spells, and not see my mana bar flinch. When the Global Cool Down (GCD) Comes into effect, the high M/S of this set will be a semi-waste. But the great armor and damage trumps that.

Alternative lv 55-56 build:
Mega Mage's Gemstone Cowl
Sewer Queen's Gemstone Robes
Lowman's Gemstone Wand
Lowman's Gemstone Bracer
Champion’s Fine Silver Ring: 2% Crit, 4 Armor, 20 Mana OR
Fine Crystal Ring of Bravery: 1% Crit, 2 M/S, 5 DMG
Notes: Best alternative gear to Mega Mage, and at a lower cost. Lowman's Gemstone Wand can be replaced with Scrubber's Gemstone Wand for more crit and hit% at the expense of less armor and regen.

Warrior Gear Setup

Ellyidol was kind enough to provide his past and current setups for gear.

From 50-55:
Rift set: Start with this at level 50.
Bodyguard set: Eventually replaces rift set as you level from 50 to 55
Fury Fighter set: If affordable

Lv 56 tanking build:
Royal Sewer Gemstone Helm
Royal Sewer Gemstone Plate
Rooter's Gemstone Sword
Cleaner's Gemstone Shield

Alternative lv 56 tanking build (rich man's build):
Royal Sewer Gemstone Helm
Royal Sewer Gemstone Plate
Fury Fighter's Gemstone Sword
Fury Fighter's Gemstone Shield

Alternative lv 56 tanking build (poor man's build but can be as effective as other builds):
Plunger's Gemstone Helm
Plunger's Gemstone Plate
Rooter's Gemstone Sword
Cleaner's Gemstone Shield

At lv 56 (dex bear loadout (http://www.spacetimestudios.com/showthread.php?22198-Bow-Bear-Guide)):
Customized Crown of Persistence: Received from his lv 56 bird; can be replaced with another dex helm.
Sewer King's Gemstone Leather
Bagman's Gemstone Auto-Bow/Recurve
Notes: Allows for enough regen and damage.

IX. Thx and Revision History
Feel free to make any necessary corrections or provide any type of criticism. Hope your Sewer runs are speedy and bountiful in pinks.

3/30/11: Guide created
4/5/11: Added some drops, revised some Cockroach strategies
4/14/11: Changed K/Q aggro strategy to reflect v1.7.0.1
4/15/11: Changed Trash Heap strategy to reflect 1.7.0.1

Major
03-31-2011, 09:17 AM
Wow physio good job buddy, this is very impressive, I'd say I feel a shield coming your way but I think you already have one lol.

Ayrilana
03-31-2011, 09:18 AM
Awesome guide!

JaytB
03-31-2011, 09:26 AM
Really useful this!
Now I only hope that enough people read this, so I don't need to yell something like 'NO AOE!' anymore :)

drewcapu
03-31-2011, 09:34 AM
I think you misspelled Clusterstorm Train.

:)

Echelong
03-31-2011, 09:45 AM
Great guide Phys.

drewcapu
03-31-2011, 09:49 AM
Your usage of death train is basically just a rush (full rush, as opposed to rush bait). I've seen death train more to describe a round up (as the mobs train behind the lurer).
With that said, I kinda like the differentiation between the two. But I do think people will understand rush a bit easier.

FluffNStuff
03-31-2011, 09:51 AM
I think you misspelled Clusterstorm Train.

:)

I think the correct spelling should be:
Four Birds and Escort Train :)

Moogerfooger
03-31-2011, 09:52 AM
I think you misspelled Clusterstorm Train.

:)

Nope...we have been using the term 'Death Train' for a long time, lol. Not to mention we all stay together when we do it, not have one person leading way out in front baiting or rounding up.

FluffNStuff
03-31-2011, 09:53 AM
Your usage of death train is basically just a rush (full rush, as opposed to rush bait). I've seen death train more to describe a round up (as the mobs train behind the lurer).
With that said, I kinda like the differentiation between the two. But I do think people will understand rush a bit easier.

I think it is more of a Crush, as in what everyone does in Crush the Keeper. The basic formula for it is have a team that puts out enough damage that you can tear through mobs without looking back.

Moogerfooger
03-31-2011, 09:54 AM
I think it is more of a Crush, as in what everyone does in Crush the Keeper. The basic formula for it is have a team that puts out enough damage that you can tear through mobs without looking back.

^^^ what he said.

drewcapu
03-31-2011, 09:59 AM
In Roach, if you're gonna skip the toxic birds, you don't have to do a ccw circle in that room. Just go diagonally from SE to NW.

drewcapu
03-31-2011, 10:02 AM
Nope...we have been using the term 'Death Train' for a long time, lol. Not to mention we all stay together when we do it, not have one person leading way out in front baiting or rounding up.

I'm not saying either is more correct. Just saying I've seen it used in multiple ways.

drewcapu
03-31-2011, 10:09 AM
In Pitz, clear the first few goblins. Then wait until the second grate explodes, then rush down the center without attacking anything on your way to the end of the hall. It works over 90% of the time ;)

Sorry about the 10% :D

Physiologic
03-31-2011, 10:09 AM
Haha I've just labeled it as that when Sewers was only a week old, before anyone had begun rounding up. Mooger, mitsuisun, and Royce were all there when we coined the term and if someone coincidentally coined it as well then my apologies. As long as the methodology is understood for new farmers.

Ellyidol
03-31-2011, 10:19 AM
Just to make my cost-efficient set even cheaper, you can replace the Royal Pinks with Plungers pieces instead. Not as good, but if you're looking to stay cheap, definitely best option.

Moogerfooger
03-31-2011, 11:21 AM
In Pitz, clear the first few goblins. Then wait until the second grate explodes, then rush down the center without attacking anything on your way to the end of the hall. It works over 90% of the time ;)

Sorry about the 10% :D

Haha....yeah took me a while to figure out the timing on that 5-Grates-Of-Death section, but this is pretty accurate.

Moogerfooger
03-31-2011, 11:23 AM
By the way, awesome post, P-dawg. Hopefully it gets awarded a Sticky of Justice.

Physiologic
03-31-2011, 11:28 AM
In Roach, if you're gonna skip the toxic birds, you don't have to do a ccw circle in that room. Just go diagonally from SE to NW.

Yeah I completely forgot a middle grate exists in Roach (was thinking about Stronghold), will fix that :)


By the way, awesome post, P-dawg. Hopefully it gets awarded a Sticky of Justice.

Thanks Moogs! Don't really care for stickys, as long as info gets around like cheap beer on pint nights. My tl;dr paragraphs may also scare off a lot of people...


Just to make my cost-efficient set even cheaper, you can replace the Royal Pinks with Plungers pieces instead. Not as good, but if you're looking to stay cheap, definitely best option.

I'll add that in, thanks Elly!


Your usage of death train is basically just a rush (full rush, as opposed to rush bait). I've seen death train more to describe a round up (as the mobs train behind the lurer).
With that said, I kinda like the differentiation between the two. But I do think people will understand rush a bit easier.

I don't like using the word 'rush' when it comes to Sewer games because it is notoriously synonymous with "rushing past all enemies to get to the boss," as it was commonly used before the Alien Oasis nerf :p

noneo
03-31-2011, 11:30 AM
Great Guide. Also, feel free to use any of my build comparisons with the enchantress gear.

My Poor Man's guide
http://www.spacetimestudios.com/showthread.php?22063-Level-55-Enchantress-Build-Poor-Man-s-Version

Or any of my other build/item comparisons I've posted in the past

Physiologic
03-31-2011, 11:47 AM
Great Guide. Also, feel free to use any of my build comparisons with the enchantress gear.

My Poor Man's guide
http://www.spacetimestudios.com/showthread.php?22063-Level-55-Enchantress-Build-Poor-Man-s-Version

Or any of my other build/item comparisons I've posted in the past

Sent you a PM!

neko
03-31-2011, 03:11 PM
Another awesome guide, Phys! Thanks!

I can definitely attest to the warning about using a damage elixir against GF. While wearing a Fury set, my bear suffered a one-hit death while potted. In addition, my bear and pally have both suffered a two-punch-KO from GF (happend again last night during a run with Mooger) even when I wasn't potted up. I wonder if it's really a glitch or rather a rare critical hit?

Did you end up getting that Raid set so you can lose the Bagman Recurve and record your videos now complete with sparkles? :)

neko
03-31-2011, 03:23 PM
Minor correction on your edit to drewcapu's suggestion: You are actually going from SE to NW (not SW to NE)

StompArtist
03-31-2011, 03:23 PM
Minor correction on your edit to drewcapu's suggestion: You are actually going from SE to NW (not SW to NE)

Mmmm. Wouldn't that depend on the orientation of the couch?

Physiologic
03-31-2011, 03:25 PM
I actually just merched that Raid set and went back to beautiful Bagman's :) I'm certain the damage pot + Fever causes some glitch that frequently causes instant deaths (but not all the time). As for the 2hko hit from GF, it may happen from two unlucky crits, however low percentage of that happening really is...

And thanks for the correction (again)! Was hard making edits at work earlier..

neko
03-31-2011, 03:32 PM
As for the 2hko hit from GF, it may happen from two unlucky crits, however low percentage of that happening really is...

I must be a magnet for the improbable!

Yvonnel
03-31-2011, 03:32 PM
Awesome work as always. Really useful information here for some of the newer initiates to the sewers.

Moogerfooger
03-31-2011, 03:52 PM
I must be a magnet for the improbable!

Well, you and your pink horseshoe did pull off that double pink/recipe drop, so I agree :p

Echelong
03-31-2011, 04:22 PM
I must be a magnet for the improbable!

haha and lol at your horseshoe

MITSUISUN
04-01-2011, 02:03 AM
Haha I've just labeled it as that when Sewers was only a week old, before anyone had begun rounding up. Mooger, mitsuisun, and Royce were all there when we coined the term and if someone coincidentally coined it as well then my apologies. As long as the methodology is understood for new farmers.

If I may call myself as part of the Death Train crew, I am flattered and feel fortunate lol Phys.

I always thought about hmmm when is your BS guide coming. After all, I never learned how "try" to play bird until I read every one of you guide when I was like lv48.

It's really the players that I have met like you (and the rest, you know who u are since this is Phy's thread :p) that kept this game fun heh

Awesome awesome guide and I know for sure, new PL players will be like "who is this bird god?" We the players who have ran with you will be like "man, i actually know Phys heh"

I will have to read the guide (no i have not read it :p) and provide a section with pics/video about "this is what you shouldn't do, or you die like a Mits"

Finally, I want a video do-over. I didn't know that was the video recording you were gonna use and I had big love on lol and I am still waiting to see our cyber/mystery/AO2 gear video run ~~

Death Train choo choo~~~

Slush
04-01-2011, 03:01 AM
best guide yet, well done

Redbridge
04-01-2011, 05:34 AM
added to my list of really useful guides..... thanks again Physiologic

KaotiicxDream
04-04-2011, 02:19 PM
Nice guide :-)

Little note for u Physiologic: The cockroach drops Raid Roach cap.. That were my first pink BS drop ever ;-)

MoarPewPew
04-04-2011, 02:44 PM
Amazing guide and I want a sticky.

Physiologic
04-04-2011, 02:51 PM
Thanks for the support! Hope this reaches out to the random pubbers so they can master Sewer runs faster.


Nice guide :-)

Little note for u Physiologic: The cockroach drops Raid Roach cap.. That were my first pink BS drop ever ;-)

Is there a ss of this? I took all loot info from Yanis' threads directly.

MayhemMonkey
04-05-2011, 04:28 AM
Great guide!
I would like to add that Cockroach also drops Sewer King's Gemstone Scarab.
"Papa Roach" has been very kind to me tonight and gave me 3 pinks. :D

AnotherAzi
04-05-2011, 09:29 AM
No ss but Goblin King dropped Sewer Queen Robes on me - I remember distinctly because it was my first sewers pink after a month of nothing. This was a few patches ago and may have changed since then.

Physiologic
04-05-2011, 01:36 PM
Thanks! It would be great if you guys reported your findings here (http://www.spacetimestudios.com/showthread.php?18619-Pinks-with-Stats-and-Pictures-Balefort-Sewers-amp-Crafting) as well. I shamelessly copied drop info from that thread. There's suspicion that the Sewer sets drop from all bosses.

KaotiicxDream
04-05-2011, 01:56 PM
Is there a ss of this? I took all loot info from Yanis' threads directly.

Unfortunately not :-( but I promise to u that this is true ;-)

superglut2
04-05-2011, 02:46 PM
Great guide, it rly helped me. :)

shmoo
04-05-2011, 09:34 PM
Another extremely useful guide! I would recommend to advertise this in-game as well so we could have great public parties out there! :D

I would like to add that if the group is using the round up method, it seems better to equip a Talon + Wing gear rather that bow. In my experience after I have unloaded all my skills, the stragglers tend to hit me and in round-up scenarios they tend to be a lot stragglers, I die almost quickly when I am using the level 53 raid roach set (low dodge). The upside of using the bow is that hopefully you and your party has been able to wipeout the rounded-up mobs before the can retaliate.

Another note, for those who are very stingy potters (like myself), I found I save a lot more money using a talon + wing set that has mana and heal regen (used cyber before but now building up sentinel set) than using the raid roach recurve set (level 53 only, 0 mana regen).

Great guide!

karmakali
04-05-2011, 10:23 PM
Very nicely done!

lilbyrdie
04-09-2011, 02:54 PM
Great post. Very useful.

Also, I like the term "Rush Bait" -- I've been doing something like that, but now have a name for it and a better understanding of why it works so well.

As a fast walking mage, I find myself out front a lot. So, I started moving out front, nuking mobs away from me (fireblast) and walking back through the party so they'd get to them faster (slow pokes! ;) ).

Turns out, I was both protecting myself (getting away from the mobs) by taking all aggro and protecting the party who could clean up, free of attacks. I had starting doing it because it helped funnel mobs closer and kept my out of range of mob archers. What I'd missed -- though obvious -- was that since I had aggro, no one else was taking damage. It's actually a pretty slick play style and can be done without the rest of the party even realizing what's going on (and might even work better if they're just blindly nuking).

I'll be using the term rush bait now. Thanks! :)

Physiologic
04-14-2011, 10:21 PM
Great post. Very useful.

Also, I like the term "Rush Bait" -- I've been doing something like that, but now have a name for it and a better understanding of why it works so well.

As a fast walking mage, I find myself out front a lot. So, I started moving out front, nuking mobs away from me (fireblast) and walking back through the party so they'd get to them faster (slow pokes! ;) ).

Turns out, I was both protecting myself (getting away from the mobs) by taking all aggro and protecting the party who could clean up, free of attacks. I had starting doing it because it helped funnel mobs closer and kept my out of range of mob archers. What I'd missed -- though obvious -- was that since I had aggro, no one else was taking damage. It's actually a pretty slick play style and can be done without the rest of the party even realizing what's going on (and might even work better if they're just blindly nuking).

I'll be using the term rush bait now. Thanks! :)

I was inadvertently doing this for quite some time as well :D

I'll probably be revising this guide a lot to help PUGers get through the GCD. But it probably won't be too difficult to adjust to since the cooldown time has been reduced from 0.5 to 0.25, or whatever it currently stands at.

K/Q aggro point has been revised to noneo's tips (http://www.spacetimestudios.com/showthread.php?23407-How-to-Separate-Bandit-King-and-Queen).

shmoo
04-15-2011, 07:46 AM
Is it true that.. there is a way to pull the king and queen individually post-GCD?

I got into a pug with a war bird and the way our pug beat the two is that the war bird tanked the queen in the room while I pulled the king away and just kited and healthpotted. Once he was down, we went for the queen.

EDIT: Ah I re-read the thread and noticed it has been updated! Thanks Physiologic!

Physiologic
04-15-2011, 01:43 PM
Most likely they'll patch up the K/Q aggro again since they did mention it was an exploit. But you can use the other strategies in noneo's thread as they can be as effective.

Trash Heap strategy has also been changed and guide has been updated to reflect it:

These grates cannot be destroyed, so they must be avoided throughout the entire fight. There is a hint of green gas that appears for about 4 seconds before the grate explodes, so be sure you're far away from them. Sometimes, more than one grate explodes as well so careful kiting and avoiding Trash Heap's melee hits are imperative. If the fight goes on long enough, Trash Heap starts glowing green and ALL the grates in the map spews out green gas and they all explode, so its best if you kill Trash Heap as soon as possible without too much delay.

Echelong
04-15-2011, 01:49 PM
Phys if you are on tonight and want to do the correct strategy with K&Q we could do it. Having at least 1 archer is a key element in the strategy we used since he can separate the King with repulse and the queen will follow whoever got aggro first.

Jaaziki
04-21-2011, 02:05 PM
thks for all this info in one place!

Valsacar
06-10-2011, 11:46 AM
Found out the hardway, in a PUG, that single bird death train is a quick way to die... all was going well, until THEY ALL turned back to finish off ONE guy, leaving me with a pile of bandits... grumble.

xero
06-27-2011, 05:25 PM
OMFG! Amazing guide physio! Just hit 50 and been meaning to farm bs but had no clue about effective ways to do it. You sir are the data compiler of the ages :) keep up the good work!

Mcpastry
07-11-2011, 04:41 PM
I love this guide! Turn to it whenever I need some cash to look at the drops.
Recently the Bandit King dropped a Sewer Queen's Cowl and that isn't listed in the drops.
Thanks for the great guide.

Physiologic
07-11-2011, 05:02 PM
Thank you for your kind words...hope farming is fun (and effective) for ya!

WoundedEagle
07-11-2011, 10:50 PM
Good Job Buddy :)