AGONY

[Baker]

Can someone explain how does agony meter goes up?
I finished archer and swordsman agony IV challenge rather easily, but on those heroes that requier to play on other maps - its rather hard. I couldnt achieve even half of agony zero on the new map.
Is there any knowledge on how exactly to proceed it?

[LazärheaD]

Not happy with this hardcore Agony mode. Very slow to ramp up and yet very hard even at the start with 0 multiplier. The getting XP from chests would've been enough for me to probably get to level 100 with the shieldmaiden. What I was missing.

[towly]

Originally posted by Baker:

Can someone explain how does agony meter goes up?
I finished archer and swordsman agony IV challenge rather easily, but on those heroes that requier to play on other maps - its rather hard. I couldnt achieve even half of agony zero on the new map.
Is there any knowledge on how exactly to proceed it?

because of stupid reasons : all those agony quests for the marks auto completed because i guess i did the lvl 100 allready, well anyway

could you please tell me which maps you need to achieve what lvl of agony on that way i can give you an answer

small *edit*

if it includes reaching agony 4 on map 4 then i call big BS on that unlock, cuz reaching agony 4 on the ice map is round about 50times harder then reaching lvl 100
i dont even know if i ever reach agony 4 on that map at ALL

[Baker]

yeah, its on the ice map

[towly]

that is just simply an unreasonable quest goal

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3028825507

this was a pretty nice run with good rng on the norseboy
i JUST touched agony 3 and only in the last minute or 2

[Dreams of Fury]

A couple archer runs in on a couple different maps and I cant even stay in 3.....the preset pause in the combat happens and suddenly my meter drops and for the entire rest of the run I get maybe 5% into 3 and it starts dropping again though I'm killing enemies so fast theres nothing on screen

[Blowfeld]

This patch is the true agony ...

[shrewdlogarithm]

The patch notes explain how Agony works - here's a quicknotes

Agony goes UP for every enemy you kill and DOWN for every enemy that's alive

The trick, therefore, is STAND STILL - or at least circle around a small area - don't walk away from enemies, that will drop your Agony score faster than you're raising it.

Ideally, enemies spawn around you and you kill them ASAP - thus "number goes up"

My first attempt as a Warrior on the first level I got to Agony 4 comfortably before the Lord appeared - it was MAYHEM and my CPU/eyeballs may never recover - I stacked damage upto Agony 2 and then defences after that because 'no space on screen to avoid being hit' - retaliation skills FTW

GL!

[Horse Glue™]

Once you get half way through agony 4 the game starts to have a heart attack, there's just too many calculations for unity to handle at one time lol

[joshi]

Do elites also lower agony?

Still stuck on 0 because every time an enemy with a life bar shows up, my hard-earned agony meter goes down the drain... feels bad

[UnimaginativeHandle]

Thank you shrewdlogarithm, got a Agony 4.3 with Swordsman first try because of that simple explanation, after getting absolutely hosed trying to do Exterminator runs.
Still seems quite a hard mode, but Swordsman at least didn't feel too bad.
https://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198086542708/screenshot/2035118698023879443/

Originally posted by shrewdlogarithm:

The patch notes explain how Agony works - here's a quicknotes

Agony goes UP for every enemy you kill and DOWN for every enemy that's alive

The trick, therefore, is STAND STILL - or at least circle around a small area - don't walk away from enemies, that will drop your Agony score faster than you're raising it.

Ideally, enemies spawn around you and you kill them ASAP - thus "number goes up"

My first attempt as a Warrior on the first level I got to Agony 4 comfortably before the Lord appeared - it was MAYHEM and my CPU/eyeballs may never recover - I stacked damage upto Agony 2 and then defences after that because 'no space on screen to avoid being hit' - retaliation skills FTW

GL!

[Ulyaoth]

Hi,

So Agony IV in Frozen Depths with Norseman/Beast Huntress is definetly the most troubesome.
On all other stages it is doable with multiple builds for the Character Master Quest,
but Frozen Depths has way to more issues in terms of Agony Scaling.

My last run was pretty close, one Agony Elite was unkillable, since he spawned far out and whenever I tried to go near him, he despawned and respawned elsewhere.
Enemy spawn frequency is way to low and often enemies get stuck on terrain and continously reduce your Agony Meter.

But for those who struggle, it is possible with Flame Strike Only,
although i doubt this was the intended strategy by the devs.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3029042753
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3029042684
Edit: Beast Huntress was very close.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3029079597

You have to unlock both Flame Strike Mastery Quests in order to build this ability to a screen nuke. i did this back when 3mil dmg where requiered with Shieldmaiden Full Tank Flame Strike Only, today there are probably more ways.
I would recommend not to focus on Burn Chance for the Mastery, Attack Speed and raw Damage is requiered, since Burn Damage doesnt count for the quest.

X+X = Memory Potion (minimum 5 requiered)
x2 = Double Potion (3 requiered)

For the actuall build:
Mark of Incineration
Ruby Circlet
Defiant Plate or Blazing Shell
Spellcaster Gloves or Longfinger Gloves
Firewalker Boots or Runner Shoes
Jade Amulet
Ring of Fire + Wooden Ring

Weapon Proficiency - Hellfire I-IV
Proficient Stance - Conflagration I-IV
Dedication - whatever, I would recommend focusing on high movement speed

Flame Strike - Banish Might/Fury asap, when it shows up
I - Deadly
II - Heated Up
III - Flow x2 + Overpowered (+ Deadly OPTIONAL) -> Upgrade Blazing Emberfall
IV - Heated Up
V - Deadly
VI - Flow x2 + Overpowered + Heated Up -> Upgrade Scattered Sparks
VII - Deadly
VIII - Heated Up
IX - Deadly
X - Flow x2 + Overpowered + Heated Up

Pickup Range > Movement Speed > Range + Area > Fire Affinity
Everything else is optional and can be picked as one sees fit.
Since it is only one ability, everything can be maxed out in the end.

After picking VI Flow, Flame Strike might be already possible, to kill everything.
If, not using the main weapon to help clearing and after it becomes calm,
using only Flame Strike again.
At X Flow you probably will never need the MW again.

If someone needs additional help with this, or other builds, fell free to ask.

Good Luck,
Cheers!

[kuli]

Originally posted by Ulyaoth:

Hi,
X+X = Double Potion (x3 requiered)
x2 = Double Potion (minimum 5 requiered)

[...]

III - Flow x2 + Overpowered (+ Deadly OPTIONAL) -> Upgrade Blazing Emberfall

VI - Flow x2 + Overpowered + Heated Up -> Upgrade Scattered Sparks

X - Flow x2 + Overpowered + Heated Up

Could explain what you mean with those potions and how to use them? I guess 'x2' refers to Reverberant Tinkture (apply trait twice) but which potion does 'X+X'?

[Ulyaoth]

Originally posted by kuli:

Originally posted by Ulyaoth:

Hi,
X+X = Double Potion (x3 requiered)
x2 = Double Potion (minimum 5 requiered)

[...]

III - Flow x2 + Overpowered (+ Deadly OPTIONAL) -> Upgrade Blazing Emberfall

VI - Flow x2 + Overpowered + Heated Up -> Upgrade Scattered Sparks

X - Flow x2 + Overpowered + Heated Up

Could explain what you mean with those potions and how to use them? I guess 'x2' refers to Reverberant Tinkture (apply trait twice) but which potion does 'X+X'?

I see, sry.
X+X is Memory Potion, changed the description.
You can for example save Flow III with Memory, pick Overpowered III and after that Flow III.
Normaly you can only pick one trait per Tier.

[Guy22]

Originally posted by kuli:

Originally posted by Ulyaoth:

Hi,
X+X = Double Potion (x3 requiered)
x2 = Double Potion (minimum 5 requiered)

[...]

III - Flow x2 + Overpowered (+ Deadly OPTIONAL) -> Upgrade Blazing Emberfall

VI - Flow x2 + Overpowered + Heated Up -> Upgrade Scattered Sparks

X - Flow x2 + Overpowered + Heated Up

Could explain what you mean with those potions and how to use them? I guess 'x2' refers to Reverberant Tinkture (apply trait twice) but which potion does 'X+X'?

A+B means to use potion of memories on one and wait until you see the other one, so that you could get both upgrades. This is because once you use potion of memories and hold onto an upgrade, it won't disappear even if you take the other aspect (weapon mastery of the same level, for example)

[Nightmyst]

Originally posted by Ulyaoth:

Hi,

So Agony IV in Frozen Depths with Norseman/Beast Huntress is definetly the most troubesome.
On all other stages it is doable with multiple builds for the Character Master Quest,
but Frozen Depths has way to more issues in terms of Agony Scaling.

...

If someone needs additional help with this, or other builds, fell free to ask.

Good Luck,
Cheers!

Could you elaborate on the build you used for these clears? Struggling with the Frozen Depth agony 4 quests