[Mentalist]

Traveller, on 26 April 2019 - 02:40 PM, said:

I found an amazing exp farm by accident. I went back to the hidden valley area to farm some villagers and ogres, and in one area, when I killed the last one, 4 nightjar types materialised out of the air. I stealth ran to the back of that area; and they all stood looking the other way.

If I do them in the right order, they don't notice me backstabbing their companions, except the last one, who I still get if I jump behind him immediately after the 3rd. They give 600 exp points each! And if I rest and come back, clear the area, they all pop back up again. So I now have 7 skill points to use somewhere.

I really need some gold though, somehow I've run out of emblems and I want to take on the ape boss next.

Senpou opener + misu balloon = $$$

(Monks drop around 70 Sen each? You can farm almost a k before you get to the next idol)

This post has been edited by Mentalist: 26 April 2019 - 05:23 PM

[Mentalist]

Briar King, on 26 April 2019 - 08:05 PM, said:

Maark Abbott, on 26 April 2019 - 07:43 AM, said:

Reading this thread it seems to me shadows die more often than twice tbh

Just me. I suck

Nah, it's a trial and error thing. It'd take someone very good at rhythm games to not die in this game.

[Traveller]

Ha I can swim underwater! Found a chest with a bead in almost immediately.

This puppeteer skill is so entertaining. It seems to work on everyone. Got a gunner last night and watched him shooting everyone else in range. Then got a bell ogre and watched him pounding acolytes into the dirt.

[Mentalist]

Dang, there's a mini-boss in the dojo? Then why did I waste an hour yesterday to kill snake eyes?

Ok, phase 1 Geni mastered. Need to figure out phase 2.

Really wish I had some more wax and magnetite to upgrade my shuriken into butterfly kunai. But instead I'll have to make do with the upgraded Sabimaru.

Edit: HOLY FUCK, the lightning counter does a FUCKTON of posture damage to him.

Spoilering how I managed to kill him here

Spoiler

so basically phase 1 is pretty standard-it's all about parrying and timing. When he does the overhead jump attack, it's followed by a lunge- so a Mikiri counter can do ton of posture damage. When he's done doing a long (6+ hits) combo, using Ichimonji (or a double) is great way to recover posture quick and do some damage to his posture as well.

Once he's down on dot 1, it's a good time to hit him with a poison combo- while he's getting up- the poison effect will soften him up, making it easier to damage his posture for the 2nd deathblow.

In Phase 2, he tends to start with an unblockable lunge, often followed by a grab attack- it's best to dodge and then jump away from those. Engage when he comes at you swinging and parry to build up his posture damage.

When he does the lighting discharge- JUMP! This is key to avoiding shock damage. While in the air, hold block to absorb lightning, and once you land- hit strike to shock him!. This does MASSIVE posture damage and leaves his stunned for a bit, giving you a chance to get more hits in and hopefully get him to the deathblow. Ichimonji might work while he's stunned- otherwise I wouldn't recommend it in the lightning phase.

Can't believe it, but he's dead. There's some proper story now, and I guess it's back to farming monks for some more XP now (and my 3rd resurrect! Yay) now I'm considering trying the Headless or the priest/firebug miniboss. Might try exploring more of the dungeons as well.

Since I expected this fight to take better part of the long weekend, I'm a bit lost as to what to do now, lol

This post has been edited by Mentalist: 27 April 2019 - 07:15 PM

[Traveller]

I've still got my monkey to deal with. But good job on Genichiro! I always used mikiri for that first lunge - that fight taught me how to use it effectively.

And I never learned the lightning counter as I didn't give him a moment to use it. After first two phases his posture is easy to wreck without his armor.

Such a cool fight though. Need some strategy for ape now, his terror scream can instakill. I read that the umbrella can block it though so might try that next.

[Mentalist]

Traveller, on 27 April 2019 - 09:20 AM, said:

I've still got my monkey to deal with. But good job on Genichiro! I always used mikiri for that first lunge - that fight taught me how to use it effectively.

And I never learned the lightning counter as I didn't give him a moment to use it. After first two phases his posture is easy to wreck without his armor.

Such a cool fight though. Need some strategy for ape now, his terror scream can instakill. I read that the umbrella can block it though so might try that next.

Umbrella has an anti-terror upgrade, iirc.

I feel like I need to explore the dungeon + the Sunken valley some more right now, cuz I need crafting materials, and there's nothing left in Senpou. Isshin told me I need

to find a

Spoiler

magic sword to kill the infested

in Senpou.

But the only place I haven't looked yet was the room with the firebug miniboss. Hmmm.


I also have 1 bead (thanks, samurai miniboss!) And I know locations of 3 more minis (Headless, firebug in lower Senpou and BK's terror mage), so I should probably farm some more purple candy in Ashina castle and then go fight a few of those...

And yeah, his posture goes up quick in the lightning phase, but I was still surprised. I had him at less than a quarter posture meter with most of his life bar intact (more than half). Then after the counter he was stunlocked, and it took only another 5-6 hits to get the deathblow. Obviously From intended that to be the killer move- that's why they put it on the wall for me to find, anyway.

This post has been edited by Mentalist: 27 April 2019 - 04:55 PM

[Mentalist]

Briar King, on 27 April 2019 - 04:59 AM, said:

Annnd just like I thought yesterday ...waited for my Ambien to kick to loosen my hands up against Seven Spears and sure enough I was actually doing some flowing with him. Unfortunately I fucking flowed my ass right off the mountain we dancing on.

Important thing to remember is that even though MOST of his attacks look like side-swipes (which are supposed to be unblockable), unless there's the actual sign, you're best off trying to parry- it makes his posture go up super-quick, and it tosses him off-balance, letting you get a quick slash in.

Also, careful when doing a mikiri- because he's so big, it actually leaves YOU wobbly and vulnerable for a hit, so be ready for a follow-up that has to be blocked or dodged (still does good posture damage to him though)

[Traveller]

Ment you have to get the key for the locked door in the Gunfort. I think I got it after beating Genichiro, either in the room or from talking to Kuro. Possibly in a box in the room.

This post has been edited by Traveller: 27 April 2019 - 07:18 PM

[Mentalist]

Traveller, on 27 April 2019 - 07:17 PM, said:

Ment you have to get the key for the locked door in the Gunfort. I think I got it after beating Genichiro, either in the room or from talking to Kuro. Possibly in a box in the room.

Got it. Kuro gave it to me.

So Gunfort is next story beat? K. Still gonna do some exploring/levelling first.

[Mentalist]

Goddamn it. Headless in Ashina Outskirts doesn't drop a bead And I picked up 4 dragonrot statuettes while fighting that fucker.

Killed another Snake Eyes in Ashina Depths. I'm not attacking the ghost warrior w/o that terror shield upgrade. and that requires me to first upgrade a prosthetic I don't have yet. Grrr.

Gonna kill the firebug boss (it's possible to stealth one dot off him), then ionno. I can try fighting the 3 monkeys, or go into Gunfort. I'm still gonna need another bead for my 5th necklace, sigh. maybe there's one in the forest? I tried going there, but I got ambushed by chickens.

I got inpatient and burned the 5 skill points I collected on 2nd gourd effect upgrade. oops.

[Traveller]

Did you get the one sitting up on the statue next to second snake eyes?

I didn't get one for defeating corrupted monk - but then I found one sitting in the rafters of the priests house.

This post has been edited by Traveller: 28 April 2019 - 07:30 AM

[Mentalist]

Traveller, on 28 April 2019 - 07:05 AM, said:

Did you get the one sitting up on the statue next to second snake eyes?

I didn't get one for defeating corrupted monk - but then I found one sitting in the rafters of the priests house.

There's a really tall statue I couldn't figure out how to get on. May look into that again.

[Traveller]

Go into the tunnel after snake eyes and do a left grapple up.

[Mentalist]

Traveller, on 28 April 2019 - 01:21 PM, said:

Go into the tunnel after snake eyes and do a left grapple up.

Hmm, I'll have to check it again. I think I was too preoccupied with the gigantic bloodstains the first time.

EDIT: got it. Thanks.

Quote

I got impatient and burned the 5 skill points I collected on 2nd gourd effect upgrade. oops.

In hindsight this feels like a REALLY bad decision, considering what I need to get the 4th skill tree

doing a full run of Senpou from start to main hall idol nets about 8k EXP (dunno if the infested priests will add to that and whether those are a one-shot deal) and takes about 25 min. so to get ANOTHER 5 skill points , given I currently need 15k for the next one... yeah, that might take a bit of grind.

Checked the wiki for the Monk skills, Devotion looks really useful since I pop candy all the damn time.

going out for Easter dinner, but later on and tomorrow I'll focus on the firebug, and then once I got the 4th bead, the Monkeys.

This post has been edited by Mentalist: 28 April 2019 - 08:25 PM

[Mentalist]

Hmmm. Not sure if I play better when tipsy, but that firebug died on first try. Let's see how the monkeys go. I have 6.6k Sen to lose, this'll be interesting.

Edit: ok, that went well. Time to kick some bug ass.

This post has been edited by Mentalist: 29 April 2019 - 05:24 AM

[Traveller]

I'm still getting beaten by a dumb angry primate.

There are different ways of taking his first phase down - I can do that without losing too many emblems. Without using firecracker though it takes a while. As I haven't got his second phase moves comfortably yet, to have any chance I have to redo first phase, which uses up more emblems and time. And then I run out of emblems.

Which means leaving the area to farm coins, but as emblems cost 30 sen now, instead of fighting Ape and progressing I'm being forced to farm which tbh I don't really want to be spending my time on.

Got to decide a strategy and stick to it. Firecrackers, flame vent, loaded spear and umbrella are all useful at different points, and mortal blade does a good whack of damage, but all need emblems.

I'll have another go later.

[Mentalist]

This game needs a respec option. I'm really regretting some of my skill choices, lol.

[Traveller]

Ha me too. I've been cautious, but I got the improved stealth early on and I'm not sure how effective that is, and it cost 5.

I have 8 skill points now from farming, but I don't know where to put them. Just got Leaping kicks which is like the counter for sweeps - but there are a few top end skills I want, in addition to prosthetic skills which I've mostly neglected.

[Mentalist]

Hmmm. Yeah, that ape sure is nasty. Got it to phase 2 once and calling it quits for tonight.

What the hell is the last missing prosthetic tool? I need that to upgrade the goddamn umbrella.(Edit: looked it up on the wiki. It's not available until later in the story, so the Umbrella can't be used to block that sort of damage. Hmm. /edit)


Also, I need more beads. I have 5 necklaces and 1 bead now. Not sure where else I can get any. There's a temple with someone nasty in the hidden forest, but I coulldn't figure out how to get in... and I ran into another Headless out there, which was my cue to nope the F outta there.

The Terror mage probably drops one, but I'm not trying him until I have the purple umbrella. This leaves me not a whole lot of options.

And yeah, Gun Fort is an amazing place to farm XP. 1200 in less than 5 min. I might make grinding out a single skill point at the beginning of each session a ritual. I need that lvl 3 monk skill to prolong candy effect, dammit.

This post has been edited by Mentalist: 30 April 2019 - 04:35 AM

[Traveller]

If you sneak through the hidden forest, there are 4 monkeys and another drunk guy who spits poison.

Think you get a bead from him. Then follow the ledge round to get on top of that hut. Fall in and kill Mist Noble - and the mist clears across the area and the ghosts disappear. There's a hut up the path you can get into through a secret door underneath - theres another bead in the roof.

Also you could take out the corrupted monk, but I don't think you get a bead.

Btw try using the normal umbrella against terror, mine works. I've just usually run out of emblems at that stage.

You're going to overtake me at this rate unless I can beat this monkey. Did you pick up the mortal blade yet?

This post has been edited by Traveller: 30 April 2019 - 07:12 AM