Need some help about defeating the Darkness. Hits like a truck

[Tyranius]

So, how exactly do I beat the Darkness? What items should I bring?

I'm using a +9 holy spear but the problem is that when the dark dragon prepares the breath attack, there's no way to dodge. The attack always hits me even if I move down and it does so much damage and kills me instantly.

So how do you do it? Is there a way to dodge the breath attack? If not, how do I tank it?

[I-Mah Mister Dummy]

First, if you are using the dimensional vault, you shouldn't try to take down the darkness at the very beginning of a game, since you will obviously be underleveled and get killed in two hits by its breath attacks.
It is still possible to defeat it early if you have a VERY powerful spear or bow (you'll need to find arrows, though) and several teleport pills. Your awakening ability is also there to help you getting out of the fire breath's range.

If you wait a little bit before trying to take the darkness down, you will eventually meet companions. After gaining some levels, they might have enough health to survive one of the fire breath attacks. To make sure your companion(s) will take the hit, simply turn your back to the darkness (i.e. facing the right side of the screen). Attack from behind will always hit your companions, implying they clearly hit your back (not diagonally, where you have some chance to get hit yourself and take extra damage since attacks from the back or sides deal extra damage). Scrolls of Summoning can help you a lot there.

Armors with a good flame nullification chance can also be helpful, since the only attack the darkness will perform is a fire attack. Most of them have a base +20% or +30% fire nullification chance, but you can increase it by 15% by using a scroll of Armoring (30% if that's the first attribute the armor will have), up to +90% resist chance. It is rather optional, but if you really want the fire resistance attribute, you might want to savescum your game before trying to use your scroll(s) on your armor, and load it if you fail to get the fire resistance stat.
At +90% resist chance, you'll pretty much be safe from harm... but don't rely too much on your luck. You may get hit once out of the three times the breath attack hits, but with real bad luck, all three attacks can hit you.
Note that only scrolls of Armoring will have a chance to grant the fire nullification attribute. Scrolls of the Phalanx will not.

With at least 250HP and a few healing vials, you shouldn't be endangered too much and should survive one fire breath attack. As said earlier, healing items used appropriately coupled with your awakening ability and teleport pills should make the battle against the darkness rather disappointingly easy. Just take your time and prepare yourself well before engaging the darkness in battle. Get some experience levels, like at least one hundred, even if it takes 1.500km to get it done, then find a powerful weapon et voilà.

Oh, and did I mention teleport pills ?

[Ruldra]

You have a number of options to deal with it:
- Use Awakening and move 2 spaces up or down to dodge it
- Jump ability (never tested this but I believe it works)
- Teleport Pill
- Wear armors with high fire nullification %. If you come across an Undine Cloak (80% fire nullification) you're pretty much set.

If all else fails, just grind enough levels to tank it. My lv400 bard could do it just fine on Inhumane Maniac difficulty.

[Slashley]

There's been lots of good points already. What can I add...

Oh yeah, I personally use bows against Darkness. Lances work, but you constantly have to move in order to not be consumed.
Also, if you're doing a REALLY long run and are using a character who gains levels in Mountaineering/Swimming - attack from Mountain/Water tiles. At 9900km, my Bard was able to three-shot the Darkness when on top of a Mountain, but yeah, that's with level 300+ Mountaineering.

Originally posted by Ruldra:

- Jump ability (never tested this but I believe it works)

Yes, it does. The Adventurer has an easy time with Darkness. Funnily enough, getting an Adventurer strong enough to fight the Darkness is still probably the hardest thing to do...

[zooboo]

What's the best strategy to use when playing Force User against the Darkness? I've gotten some pretty strong Staffs from the Holy Temples, but I rarely play Force User.

[Tyranius]

Wow, thanks for the really informative posts. Right now I got myself a holy bow +6, and the 90% fire protection armor, but my holy bow breaks before I can destroy the darkness and then the dark dragon just goes away. I think I'll just try and find another holy bow or farm scrolls of repair.

I'm having a really hard time deciding what to keep and what to throw away. I have about 3 teleport pills with me at all times for when I fight the darkness but I might ditch those since the armor protects basically all the attacks. I think I might ditch all the healing items too, if the vanguards show up I just shoot them, they die before reaching me.

[Tyranius]

Just got it, thanks guys

[Slashley]

Originally posted by Dzumeister:

What's the best strategy to use when playing Force User against the Darkness? I've gotten some pretty strong Staffs from the Holy Temples, but I rarely play Force User.

Force User has it the easiest since the Darkness doesn't actually hurt you until you hurt him. Which means that you can:
Throw a Holy thing at him to unveil him, take as much distances from Darkness as you can (the point where the Darkness starts to accelerate because you're too far away from it, you know, like you're dragging it), then Meditate, Meditate, Meditate, Meditate, Meditate, Meditate, Meditate, Meditate, Meditate, Meditate, Meditate, Meditate, Meditate, Meditate, Meditate, Meditate, Meditate, Meditate, Meditate, Meditate, Meditate, use the two-tile super-force-flare thing or whatever it is called.

Congrats, you just oneshot him. If you didn't, well, he is now breathing fire on you so uh... don't do that a second time. Just stick to couple of Medidates followed by the same spell, he should die soon enough.

Originally posted by Tyranius:

--but my holy bow breaks before I can destroy the darkness and then the dark dragon just goes away.--

Yeah, Force Users have terrible Str so you shouldn't even try to kill him with Physical attacks!

[zooboo]

Originally posted by Slashley:

Also, if you're doing a REALLY long run and are using a character who gains levels in Mountaineering/Swimming - attack from Mountain/Water tiles. At 9900km, my Bard was able to three-shot the Darkness when on top of a Mountain, but yeah, that's with level 300+ Mountaineering.

Does attacking from a Mountain/Water tile have any bonus effects?

[Slashley]

Oh yeah, I'm not sure has it been mentioned... but you don't need a Holy Bow/Spear to damage the Darkness. Anything with 2+ range will do the job.

Originally posted by Dzumeister:

--Does attacking from a Mountain/Water tile have any bonus effects?

IF you have a high - and I mean HIGH level in either, then yes. They have a hidden buff which increases damage done when in their element.
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=285559609
Here is a screenshot of level 144 Mountain Climbing increasing damage done from 4395 to 17416 on the Darkness, only difference was me climbing to a Mountain.

[zooboo]

That's actually super-interesting. Gonna do some more Adventurer/Bard/Pirate playthroughs and try and use the environment strategically.

[Slashley]

Sadly, the bonus is too small to be used "properly" - by the time you gain something like double damage out of it, you already should be smashing everything in one hit. Also, since most things can't follow you into Mountains/Water anyway, you can just bow/spear/throw arrow them to death even WITHOUT the bonus damage.

But good luck, sometimes, just that little bit of extra damage saves you.