Sunday, April 26, 2015

The Secret of Moo Manchu




   Hello my friends and welcome to another farming session with Duncan! Today I would like to fill you in a secret I recently discovered. Did you know that there is a way to farm Moo Manchu within a single battle? You didn't? Then this a good reading for you, cause I am going to explain you how is that possible. Just to clarify, we are not talking about Imperial Moo Manchu from Tower of Moo Manchu who is located in Paths of Penance, but about older version of Moo Manchu that you get to fight in Tomb of Kow Cheng.

   Before the last years Advanced Pets and Companion updates this dungeon was doable in only two rounds, now is far more time consuming and harder. If I knew about this secret that I am about share I would farm him this way.

  While questing I found out that Moo Manchu takes residence in one more place in Mooshu, before we get to go in Tomb of Kow Cheng. During a quest that precedes "Emperor Moo" quest, "The Enemy Unmasked", you have goal to eventually go to Sanctum of Moo Manchu and fight bunch of Pig Guardians. When you get in Moo Manchu talks to you, you fight the pigs, you defeat the pigs, he talks some more and you are out. Done. Now, if you get back inside, Moo Manchu will appear, and if you go straight to him you will pull him in battle. Once you do that Pig Guardians will disappear and Helephant Destroyer's will show instead.

   Along with that information I decided to do some testing. Here is the list of things you can and can't do in this fight:

- You can get his drops, the same ones that he is dropping in Tomb of Kow Cheng
- You can't port in friend who already finished "The Enemy Unmasked" quest. If you do port your friend in, Moo will disappear and fight will become buggy and unfinishable.
- You can port in a friend that hasn't finished "The Enemy Unmasked" quest, you can even port ones that haven't even start this quest.
- You can fight Moo Manchu over and over again even if you didn't get out of the cave. I would suggest otherwise, you will need to heal.
- Once you hand over this quest to Quan-Shi you can't face Moo Manchu in Sanctum again. You better get everything you need from him before doing that. 

Tip:

   The fight is not that easy as it seams, my advice is that you leave this quest unfinished, progress a little till you level up and come back here to farm Moo Manchu.

   Now, what makes Moo Manchu so special? His drops of course! Not only that he drops unique items and pets, but his wand is considered as most desirable wand in game for Witchdoctors and Privateers. You already finished this quest with one of those two classes? No problem! Since recently, from most items in the game, the "No Trade" flag has been revoked and that includes Moo Manchu's Wand too. So you can easily farm with with any class and just shift it over to another character through Shared Bank.

   I tried it and look what I got! This very same item, that took me two weeks to get before, took me a day or so to get it now.



   Now lets talk about the loot!

Moo Manchu loot drop table


Drop Description Picture
Moo Manchu's Hat
Gives: +6 Base Magic Resist
Gives: +4 Strength
Gives: Jobu's Embrace

Moo Manchu's Robes
Gives: +35 Base Magic Resist
Gives: +11 Will
Gives: Rally the Clay (Summons Terracotta Warrior to an open square)

Moo Manchu's Boots
Gives: +9 Dodge
Gives: +9 Will
Gives: Wyvern's Call
Moo Manchu's Wand
Bonus From: Will
Base Weapon Power: 135
Weapon Range: 4
Gives: Coward's Bane

Pet

Pet


   I really hope that you find this information useful. Good luck with farming!

   You can also, always, keep track of my current farming seasons and progress with hashtag #FarmingWithDuncan or by visiting THIS link.

   "If you want to farm, farm with Duncan style" - Duncan StormThief
 

Saturday, April 11, 2015

Family Friendly Farming Event

   


   As most of you already know, Pirate101 hosted very interested farming event on April 4th. Being THAT person who spends 80% of his gaming time to farm for various items of interest in the Spiral, I just had to attend. Now imagine my excitement when I got to share all this experience with my, really close ones.

   Last Monday, Pirate101 announced a farming event for National Pillow Fight Day for April 4th. The goal was to fight various creatures and bosses and acquire as many pillows as you can as a drop. Awesome right?! Here is the LINK where you can find more about this event.

  Now being a dedicated farmer in the Spiral I just had to attend, but being a grown up with lots of responsibilities I just couldn't afford to be 24 hours in front of my computer screen. This is where comes the Family part. We all are aware that both KI games are trying hard to make their games kid friendly and a safe place for a any person to be in. And they are doing an awesome job! Really, great job KI! Now, most of you know that me and Katherine De Bouff, or more known as NightSong89 from Twitter, are a couple and that we do everything together in the Spiral. What not many of you know is that we got a third member on our Pirate101 fleet recently, my seven years younger brother Stefan, known as Tireless Talon Thatcher. And that is how we decide to attend this event together as a family, holding each others back.

   We are in different time zone, seven hours apart from Central Standard Time, so I will include timings of both time zones.

   Here is a recap of how our day went by and how we experienced this farming event:

  • I was supposed to get up at 12:00 am CST (7:00 am local time)
  • I actually got up at 1:30 am CST (8:30 am local time)
  • After making breakfast and eating I logged in game on all our three characters approximately at 1:45 am CST (8:45 am local time)
  • My brother woke up somewhere around 4:00 am CST (11 am local time)
  • He took over the farming while I went to shower and took out my dog
  • I replaced him for half an hour till he finished with lunch and shower
  • At 7:00 am CST (2:00 pm local time) he took over while I went to Katherine, we had some obligations to attend to before we could join Stefan.
  • Now it is 12:00 pm CST (7:00 pm local time) and me and Katherine manage to finish with all our stuff, we ordered Chinese food and called Stefan over.
  • We took break for 30 minutes so we could eat together.
  • At approximately  12:45 pm CST (7:45 pm local time) we logged on our chars and continue to farm for pillows. This time all of us were included (my favorite part).
  • After hours of farming I started to feel exhausted and only the thought of us going through this together kept me going.
  • Now it is 7:00 pm CST (2:00 am local time), me and Stefan had to go home and continue from there. On the way home we stopped at local market and bought some snacks and soda. Good thing that our home and Katherine's home is 5 minutes apart. We were home really fast.
  • After getting home and taking my dog out again, we continue to farm together. It is 7:30 pm CST (2:30 am Local time) now.
  • 9:45 pm CST (4:45 am local time) HEAD DESK! I bumped really hard too.
  • 9:47 pm CST (4:47 am local time) Another head desk. Grrrr Just a little more.
  • 9:50 pm CST (4:50 am local time) Head desk!!! That's it from me, I am tired and can't go on anymore.
  • Stefan took over. I fell asleep at 10 pm CST (5:00 am local time), and that is the last thing I remember.
   Stefan did manage to stay awake till 12:00 am CST (7:00 am local time), and I am sure there were couple of head desks from himself too.

  After I woke up this was waiting for me in front of my computer screen.



  NightSong89 even made an interesting table of creatures who drop the pillows, during our farming session, based on Wiki Central information.



   Very interesting experience. I am looking forward to more similar farming events! Congrats Two-Faced Anne for winning the 2nd Pillow Event, and congrats to everyone who participated. I hope you all had fun. The result can be found on THIS link.

   Don't forget that you can always keep track of my current farming spots and progress at #FarmingWithDuncan hashtag or on THIS link. 

"If you want to farm, farm with Duncan style" - Duncan StormThief



Saturday, November 1, 2014

100 Nefarious Runs



   I know I haven't been posting anything in past three months, but that's the thing about farming! You have no peace till you reach your goal, weather if that is a piece of gear you are after, or pet, or maybe even a badge. I have been working on two posts these last three months, one dungeon from W101 and one from P101. The P101 dungeon was far more interesting, and time consuming too. Yes I am talking about entirely new Pirate's 60 level gauntlet, The Tower of Moo Manchu. Once this post is published it means that I have done exactly 100 runs! Which is a good thing, I had enough time to experience different battle tactics and strategies, and I have a lot to share with you! Since all battles are more or less the same I will just talk about last three fights - Nefarious 5, Terror-Cotta Warrors and Moo Manchu. 

  Also there is a thing or two you should know for 3rd and 4th floor:
  • Don't break the statues on 3rd floor. If you do so, you will gain new enemy for each broken statue. Each enemy has sneak sneaky (ability to hide after each round)
  • Try to finish 4th floor ASAP, before the flames take over. The flames will block your line of sight (bad news for ranged units) and damage your team after each round.
Powers and Doubloons you should consider using
  • Captain Blood Flames (Power)
  • Frozen Tide (Power)
  • Spell Power (Doubloon)
  • Jackrabbit Juju (Doubloon)
  • Critical Boost (Power/Doubloon)
  • Weapon Power (Power/Doubloon)
  • Health (Doubloons)
  • Glacier Doubloons (Only in absence of above mentioned powers)

The Nefarious Five

   There are two different strategies I used in here. One with Blood Flames/Frozen Tide and the other one with Glacier doubloons.
 
(flames have been discolored with photo editing tool for the purpose of this guide)

   In this picture is shown scenery where Frozen Tide and Blood Flames are used in same round. The Tide will keep enemies immobilized for one round. Blood flames are doing damage (value depends of your spell power stat) when run into, or when they are activated near opponent after each round. As you see flames are put in that order so when they are activated after each round, they will do damage to multiple enemies at once. My flames with spell power 296 are doing 1184 damage each. In this example Privateer, Bucaneer and Witchdoctor will be damaged around 3,5k hp each (if we say that red flames are mine). So in order to maximize damage dealt to enemies, try placing your flames strategically, so that one flame touches as many enemies as possible. When placing flames, right click on the square you are using, to show your teammate where the center of your flames will be. With this strategy I usually finish this battle in about two rounds.

   If Frozen Tide doesn't show, don't hesitate to use flames as obstacles. Put them in the middle of battle board, since Buccaneer and Swashbuckler will rush towards you, they are the first one to die, followed by Musketeer and Witchdoctor.


   No Frozen Tide or Blood Flames? Don't despair, you and your team can have a great use of Glacier doubloons. Even thou we can't choose where will Glacier be placed, it has great chance that will trap one of the enemies. This gives you time to position yourself and take out enemies one by one.

   All 5 Nefarious enemies are equipped with great set of talents. Going after range unit with range unit, or melee unit with melee unit is not very smart move.

   One thing you should also be aware of is that Privateer has Charming Gaze. Meaning that if you get too close to her and try to attack her, she will charm you and convert you to her side. This applies to everyone (players, companions, pets and summons).

   If you want, you can get handy badge in here. All you have to do is drink the potion that is set in the middle of the room, and hope that your team will handle Nefarious 5 and you easily. When you are going after this badge, unequip everything and drink potion in first round. By lowering your stats drastically you won't be a threat to your team. No use of lowering your health or discarding powers in your hand, once you drink the potion both health and power will be returned. By getting and equipping The Nefarious 6th Badge, you will get this great cosmetic feature - the Glowing Eyes.








   Once defeated, you will have a chance at some very rare and unique drops.

The Nefarious Five loot drop table

DropTypeStatsPicture
Baron Samedi's MasqueAccessory
Gives: Soul Harvest +1

Bound Oni's BulwarkWeapon
Bonus From: Will
Base Weapon Power: 205
Gives: +15 Armor
Gives: Hold The Line +1
Gives: Increase Base Aromor +1
Gives: Increase Base Resistance +1

Death's BargainAccessory
Gives: Soul Shroud +1

Dragon-Axe of DoomWeapon
Bonus From: Strength
Base Weapon Power: 235
Gives: Flames of Corruption +1
Gives: Turn The Tide +1

Masque of the LotusAccessory
Gives: Charming Gaze +1

Nefarious KnivesWeapon
Bonus From: Agility
Base Weapon Power: 225
Gives: +30 Armor Penetration
Gives: Flanking +1
Gives: Walk in Darkness

Nefarious NovablasterWeapon
Bonus From: Agility
Base Weapon Power: 210
Weapon Range: 3
Gives: True Grit +1
Gives: Novablast

Nefarious StaffWeapon
Bonus From: Will
Base Weapon Power: 190
Weapon Blast: 3x3
Weapon Range: 4
Gives: Jobu's Ruse +1
Gives:Summon Scorpion Swarm

Turncoat's CapHat
Gives: +9 Magic Resist
Gives: Increase Base Agility +1

Turncoat's UniformRobe
Gives: +9 Magic Resist
Gives: Increase Base Strength +1

Turncoat's BootsBoots
Gives: +16 Dodge
Gives: Increase Base Will +1



   Terror-Cotta Warriors
   
   Terror-Cotta Warriors are not easy at all. In very first round they Vicious Charge at you, dealing great amount of damage and lowering your accuracy to the point when you and your companions become unusable. I am using two types of strategies in here.

(flames have been discolored with photo editing tool for the purpose of this guide)

   First is where I use combination of Frozen Tide and Blood Flames like with Nefarious fight. But unfortunately that is not enough. Once they are immobilized with Frozen Tide, each one of them will use Leviathan's Call, which block 50% of damage to smashy, slashy, stabby and shooty weapons for five rounds. Great way to get past that block is to use Witchdoctor companions (ranged, with Improved Mojo Blast preferably). Since they use Staffy and Spooky attacks, the block doesn't work for them. Move them close to the Warriors, but not to close so they can't reach you, and attack from safe distance.

   Again if you don't have the flames or tide, try using combination of Jackrabbit Juju, Critical Boost and Weapon Power doubloons/powers. Even if they charge at you, because of yours and your companion talents (boosted by Jackrabbit Juju doubloon), they might not ever got a chance to reach you.

Moo Manchu
   
   I played lots of different strategies here. Even if there are many, I will just mention two of them.

(flames have been discolored with photo editing tool for the purpose of this guide)

   First is when your team place three pairs of Blood Flames in same round. You place them as showed in the picture and instantly block the passage towards your team. They will try to come through, but they will only take damage from flames. 

    The second one, and my favorite is strategy - 300. Love the name! What is special about it? You place only two pairs of flames (at places where red ones are positioned), leaving only one free passage for enemies to pass through. If you get yourself armed with Jackrabbit Juju doubloon, overwatch and repeal boarder talents will activate once enemy comes near you, thus taking out one by one before they land a hit.

   Note that you can't defeat Moo Manchu before all of his minions are taken down. Also if player attacks him he will use charm, thus converting him onto his side for a round or two. Only attack with companions! As final boss of this tower, Moo has some really great and unique drops.


Moo Manchu loot drop table

DropTypeStatsPicture
Imperial Hat of Moo ManchuHat
Gives: +14 Will
Gives: +10 Magic Resist
Gives: Infernal Wave

Imperial Robes of Moo ManchuRobe
Gives: +14 Strength
Gives: +49 Magic Resist
Gives: Terror-Cotta Troupe

Imperial Boots of Moo ManchuBoots
Gives: +14 Agility
Gives: +18 Dodge
Gives: Frozen Tide

Staff of Power
(Witchdoctor)
Weapon
Bonus From: Will
Base Weapon Power: 195
Weapon Blast: 3x3
Weapon Range: 4
Gives: Increase Base Will +1
Gives: Mojo Mastery +1

Staff of Power
(Musketeer)
Weapon
Bonus From: Agility
Base Weapon Power: 195
Weapon Range: 4
Gives: Increase Base Agility +1
Gives: Suppression Fire

Staff of Power
(Privateer)
Weapon
Bonus From: Will
Base Weapon Power: 235
Gives: Increase Base Will +1
Gives: Dress the Line

Staff of Power
(Swashbuckler)
Weapon
Bonus From: Agility
Base Weapon Power: 193
Gives: Increase Base Agility +1
Gives: Vengeance Shroud

Staff of Power
(Buccaneer)
Weapon
Bonus From: Strength
Base Weapon Power: 235
Gives: Increase Base Strength +1
Gives: Relentless Riot

Ebon SpectrePet
-

Tawny Sky TurtlePet
-



The Nefarious 5 and Moo Manchu loot drop table

DropTypeStatsPicture
Corrupted Celestial DragonPet
-

Corrupted Imperial LionPet
-

Corrupted Ki-Rin (Permanent)Mount
Normal Speed

 
   You can even get some nice badges from this tower, such as:


(Completing the tower one time)


(Completing the tower 10 times)


(Completing the tower 25 times)


(Completing the tower 50 times)


(Completing the tower 100 times)

   You can also, always, keep track of my current farming seasons and progress with hashtag #FarmingWithDuncan or by visiting THIS link.

   Special thanks to all people who helped me and Katherine to go through these runs, they know who they are. Also I would like to thank to my #twirate fashion models Calamity, Harmony, Johnny, Kyle, Savanaah and Swordroll for allowing me to take pictures of their items. HUGE THANKS to my love Katherine for doing the most of editing job and sleeping through most of our runs (jk).

   I would also like to post here few more helpful articles about this dungeon that I had pleasure reading.

Monday, July 21, 2014

Pegasus Place - All Schools




   Now that fishing has come with wizard101's newest update, energy is what every wizard needs. Till now we used our energy to train pets and do gardening, but now fishing also costs energy. That being said, we can't really enjoy all three aspects of the game without spending crowns now and then to refill our energy globe. Wrong. Yes we can. With my help, you will be able to earn 4-5 (if you re lucky enough, maybe even more) energy elixirs every 24 hours. All you need to do is to log in to Grub Guardian, buy Wysteria Map pack (649 crown, or 7 days of KIFreeGames Trivia) and follow my guides. Note that Energy Elixir drop is not guarantied. 

   Everyone has been asking me to make a guide for Pegasus Place map on Grub Guardian and so I have decided to respond to your requests. Not only that, but I managed to make a guide for each school and as an addition I even managed to make a strategy for one setup without using a single Avalon Guardian.

   Pets I used for my guides are: Mega Life Minotaur (Life), Mega Myth Imp (Myth), Mega Pegasus Pony (Balance), Mega Polar Cat (Ice), Epic Arcane Helpers (Storm), Ancient Vampire (Death) and Ancient Tiki Kahuna (Fire). I hope that you will find the helpful. 

Video Guides



















Pegasus Place loot drop table

Drop Description Picture
Energy Elixir
Moolinda's Green Thumb Pack
Hand of Doom Pack

   Don't forget that you can always keep track of my current farming spots and progress at #FarmingWithDuncan hashtag or on THIS link. Also there is a new catchphrase I wanted to try out, "If you want to farm, farm with Duncan style"