How do you solo skillup?

[SephYuyX]

Trying to figure out a somewhat effortless way to skill up combat on WAR solo. Getting to 200 is np as I can just sub /BST and go to kuftal hours on end. But past that it requires charming EP+ mobs which can get hairy without making a CHR charm macro, and then swapping back.

So idealy looking for some suggestions. Ive heard NPC mentioned, but I cant see that being too realiable, my DNC is 37, but ive never tried subbing it, so not sure how well thatll go.

Aside from methods, how about locations to skill? Just good ol BTree is what ive always used.

[Cream Soda]

Sub DNC, get signet bonus, wear evasion. Fight lv appropriate mobs as compared to your skill (If your gax is 220 look at what lv war gax caps closest to 220 for, then fight mobs EM-T to that level). Don't go over EM (bye bye signet bonus). Drain Samba II should really keep you alive alone.

[Valyana]

WAR/DNC with gaxe works great. Just keep Retaliation and Defender up and you should have no trouble with most mobs.

[SephYuyX]

GA is fine, looking at Sword, GS, Dagger, Spear and Club. But im sure the same principles apply. Guess ill give /DNC a shot then.

[The Stig]

If you're worried about death, the Cloister Zone in the tree offers a very good way to escape, and crabs are just seconds away from the tunnel.

[Zosi]

What Cream Soda said, except I wouldn't really worry about evasion, just don't wear "hardcore DD I don't care about the damage I take" gear. WARs are bricks, you're going to evade like a brick whether you wear evasion or not. Edit: I'm aware that a full evasion build probably DOES make you evade, but it's counterproductive to take off haste and acc to enable that. Keep in mind that you're skilling up, your goal isn't to kill the mob quick, it's to swing as often as possible and survive. Wear haste and acc primarily, preferably gear with acceptable def, and maybe throw on evasion and HP if it's convenient.

Get signet, sub DNC, keep Defender, Retaliation and Drain Samba II up, don't WS. Don't use steps or flourishes unless you have a glut of TP, because they don't really help you stay alive. Take out DC Steelshells or slightly lower mobs, if you can do Steelshells, they'll last a long-ass time so you won't have to pull often. NPC can help a bit, but if they're low level, watch out for AOEs or you'll spend more TP and time curing them than you gain by having them around.

[Fogo]

Basically what the others have said. I've capped all my weapons on war doing this. Sub dnc, I got a boxers mantle, wore evasion torque, wore a couple other pieces of evasion gear where I didn't have haste already. That little bit makes just enough difference to let you effectively solo the EM's. You can cap anything on the EM steelshells with signet, avoid the T's like has been said, cause they'll kick your butt, and then just go at it.

[Vxsote]

If /dnc isn't an option, use bloody bolts to get HP back. I used to like wootzshells at Mt.Z as an intermediate "doesn't hit as hard as a steelshell" crab for skilling, but that was before signet gave def and evasion bonus.

[Max™]

>.>

I solo T Goobs, laugh at T steels, kill 2 EM-DC Steels simultaneously.

Retaliation + /Dnc is seriously fucking hax, unlimited TP based curing wut?

I can't remember, but I'm pretty sure you can skillup off retaliates too, also handy having a shield for 1hed skilling, as you can retaliate off shield blocks (and skill off them) too.

[SephYuyX]

Fidill/Tatami go!

[Fogo]

Yeah but max you're a superwar >.>

I'm sure it's doable with the right gear (and maybe some luck), and maybe it's easier to take on those bigger things with higher parry skill, even after capping all my weapon skills my parry is still a hearty 166 <sigh>, and my shield skill is a whopping 124.

yes, retaliation + /dnc = <3, and yeah you can get skillups off a retaliation, which is also <3.

[friedfunk]

skilled staff using Earth Staff from 100-190 in Kuftal with WAR/DNC by pulling 4 Robber crabs and keeping them all in front of me for Retaliation procs. Used Curing Waltz 2 every time the timer was up, Defender + a taco. Retaliation kicks ass.

[Max™]

Acheron!

10 Shield skill (but I'm trying to cap shield too while I cap other weapons) and 27 Def.

It's seriously a bitchin shield, I'd jerk off all over it if Pld could use.

The only difference between a naked War 75/Dnc 37 with no merits and me, is that I kill slightly faster, parry slightly more, and get slightly more efficient TP use on waltzes (whoopy do 174 Hp waltzes T.T)... War/Dnc + Retaliation is borked.

[SephYuyX]

I tossed on my TP gear and nothing else. T crabs destory me, EM I close to die. Used CWII, DSII, Defender and Retaliation. I forgot signet though :E Oh well, maybe ill try another time being a bit more prepared.

[Devolver]

but I'm pretty sure you can skillup off retaliates too,

Yes, you can.

/Dnc with full DA merits skilling up h2h is a thing of beauty (fucking level sync pts)

[Fogo]

You know I always forget about taco's, that there is a great piece of advice, use em. The one time I did remember them was when I was killing a bunch of apkallu in mount z for feathers, those things are all DC, and no signet, and with the taco and retaliation they were a joke, even after they started getting beefed up with communal hate.

Don't forget the taco!

[Burnsy]

Signet will make a huge damage trixi, especially on EMs.


When I was trying to cap katana recently I could go /dnc and literally never need to blink. If you want ill help.

[SephYuyX]

Tacos and Signet, rightright.
Any other places aside from boya crabs recommended?

[Valyana]

Vunkerl crabs?

[Max™]

Vunk are EM at 57 I think.

EM melee type yagudo with Sigil aren't hard.

This is the key thing: DON'T FORGET SIGIL/SIGNET.

I've gotten killed by EM crabs when I was fighting one, started fighting another and Signet wore and it just ate my ass, where drain samba II almost keeps me topped off with Signet up.