Perserverance pays off against the skeleton mages!

[Bringoutyerded]

Obviously, feel free to ignore this if you don't like long posts or if it doesn't fit your play ethos.

Not every player is willing to expend effort when there are shortcuts to be had, it's natural for some.

But for those players who come up against challenges that seem insurmountable, no matter the level, there is ALWAYS a legit, shortcut-free path. It may not always be the shortest path, it may take time and effort, but indeed you can make your way through just about anything in this game.

For me the message I'm trying to convey here is the journey and enjoyment that this game offers.

Here's an example of a problem I just overcame - boy, does it feel awesome!

Yes, there are likely other ways I could have done this, faster ways, better ways in your opinions, but this is the way that worked for me. That said, I'm always open to legit suggestions. No shamfleet/pimperhab/fill in the blank OP shortcut suggestions though - it just shows that you haven't/can't read.

So, yes, YMMV.

I'm not a top player, but think my skills are decent.


Note that I've played these same areas/missions many times with other toons in UVHM and at OP8, but never had this much difficulty as now with my first playthrough with Zero.



Here's the scenario:

I'm working on getting my gun-based Zero to OP8 solo. Trying to do so without a launcher or Harold. Saving key gear for OP8, so trying to do this on found/farmed gear only. No Sandhawk, Pimpernel, Ladyfist, etc. Haven't farmed for seraph crystals yet, so haven't gotten a Florentine or Antagonist.

Got to OP1 at the Peak no problem (died against the assassins once). With my sniper/pistol playstyle, decided I could use regenerating grenade mods, preferrably magic missiles (I kept running out of 'nades at the peak!).

So....

1. I started the Tina DLC with the goal of making it to the Seer's Sanctum (Tina DLC) to farm the sorcerers there. Needed to complete the "My Dead Brother" mission to unlock the sanctum.

Struggled MIGHTILY against the skeleton mages there. Have to say, this was one of the tougher missions I can remember doing, with my hours in this game. I obviously wasn't geared correctly. I'm happy with my skill specs for now.

Tried using Turtle shield, Bee shield, another generic shield with high capacity...used my Legendary Hunter mod for its cooldown, along with a shock or corrosive bone to allow me to use deception more often....the skeleton mages were always my downfall.

Even my otherwise trusty slag pistol, a 68 Expeditious Torment, was just too slow to switch from to allow me to slag and then switch to hit with my Hornet/Ravager/Torgue pistol when those buggers would briefly make themselves visible....

Ben Affleck Worst Batman (great handle) yesterday pointed out that if you get close to them (by following their "marker" when invisible), their nearby attack is weaker and you can shell out damage to their heads. This is good advice. I was able to do this when they attacked one at a time, maybe two. But in this mission, they seem to be everywhere. Many are found milling around the burial plot in this second crypt area.

Tried using my 0.0 singularities to group them together when they'd appear so as to Bore them just at the end of deception. This worked to a point, but not well enough. There were just too many of them for me, in addition to the badass Knights, skeleton archers, and other baddies. They'd go invisible and when they'd reappear, they'd regained their health.

I've got a whole mitt full of class mods. Tried mods to boost crit/fire rate, mag size, reload/fire rate...had some success with the last one, especially when used with a 0.0 singularity grenade mod and my Torgue pistol. The massed skeleton mages in this area were still just too much for me. My slag singularity 'nades weren't effective either; it is a homing version with a 1.5 second fuse - too long for me.

I must have died literally 30-35 times over the span of a couple of days. Got close, but that one crypt was always my downfall.

No rage quits, but I did have to take a break or two for research, and to farm the Bunk3r for both cash, eridium, fun, and perhaps a Bit*h. No Bit*ch, but did get a Conference Call.

2. Researched alternative strategies, settled on using the Transformer shield. Had to farm Pimon at the Preserve for it. Figured it would work well with the Thunderball Fists that I've come to love. Made my way there and after having trouble spawning him and Tumbaa, but found a way to do so and eventually got two Transformer drops, in addition to a Deliverance shottie from Tumbaa (bonus! I like the Deliverance - it has its uses) and an Avenger SMG from the legendary loot midgets. I love this gun when playing the Peak, given the ammo regen that it brings to the table, and (as Axton, its grenade-chucking reloads). Also had a Legendary Ninja class mod drop for Zero from a stalker on the way to the Preserve.

3. With the Transformer equipped, I made my way back to the Lair of Infinite Agony. Indeed this shield does greatly increase your survivability against the skeleton mages. I still went down a few times, and had to replenish my ammo using the nearby shrine a few times, but overall, what a difference.

I'd equip my Bee while kiting and fighting the non-mage baddies, but then used the Transformer when I'd need to make the next assault in the center of the crypt where the mages were congregating. Lots of kiting, using cover, deception, singularities, and my Torgue pistol, and eventually I got through them. Excellent!

4. This unlocked the Seers Sanctum, where I farmed for magic missiles and chain lightning. Two runs in, I had drops from the BA sorcerers of the Fireball Storm, magic missiles, and chain lightning. Awesome!

5. Each time I'd clear the sanctum I'd use two dice on the red chest there. I've never had this happen before, but on both occasions 20s were rolled:

Slagga (yah!!! My favourite slagging tool, now I should be good to OP8).

Babymaker (that'll be useful at the Peak!)

Got to the bottom? Thanks for reading.


How on earth can people be bored in this game?

[Cactoos]

Great story -- I also had some troubles fighting those cloaking mages as well.

I was around the high 60s simply playing all the dlcs with a friend who is fairly new to everything BL2 has to offer (Played Xbox BL2 on and off ever since 2012, and started a new toon here to enjoy with friends who don't have Xbox). Anywho, we are at Tina DLC on UVHM and these mages simply kept cloaking and regening hp too much to the point where battles against a small group of them would take maybe 1 - 2 minutes. This is also not counting the couple of times we were downed by them.

However, I found out that these types of skeletons were not resistant of fire damage, so I slapped on the fireworks grenade obtained from the beginning of the game. A single grenade could take out or severely damage skeleton mages with additional DOT. Another option for me was to use Bee + Shotgun Ravager or Bad Touch with Gaige's Interspersed Outburst for slag (Never farmed for weapons yet -- still use level 22 legendary class mod).

To answer your quick question -- I believe it is due to people easily able to gib levels or ask for strongest builds/weps really early on without at least getting more familiar with everything the game offers. EDIT: Especially the learning curve at UVHM.

[RONC1692]

The skeletal mages can make you pull-your hair-♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ crazy on some builds,

[HiTmAn]

just have fastball they dont have much hp...on op8 they can be preblem if not killed fast

[cola.beans]

I just used an execute or melee strike to stumble them so that they couldn't teleport, then follow up with spamming tediore reloads in their face.

[PatchAdams]

I think it was I who suggested the Transformer to you, glad you got one and it worked.

[Starbug]

Nice! Now you're ready for Murderlins! Turn the volume up to cover your loud swear words and sounds of nearby items being hurled off walls as a ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ SKELETON MAGE causes you to fall into a spike pit! HAPPY DAYS :D

[Bringoutyerded]

Originally posted by RONC1692:

The skeletal mages can make you pull-your hair-♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ crazy on some builds,:bandit:

That's what I've found!

Originally posted by HiTmAn:

just have fastball they dont have much hp...on op8 they can be preblem if not killed fast

I typically haven't farmed Boll for them until OP8 (or unless I can get a drop elsewhere at an earlier level).

Good suggestion, as long as your timing and aim are good. I'll keep it in mind for OP8. I've never been a big fastball user (I know that they are fun at times though).

In my case it would still be a Catch-22 situation. My aim would be poor at times, I'd waste and run out of grenades, and still need to get past the mages so that I can finish the quest to open the Seer's Sanctum...to get a regenerating grenade mod....

Originally posted by cola:

I just used an execute or melee strike to stumble them so that they couldn't teleport, then follow up with spamming tediore reloads in their face.

I'm not really spec'd deeply into the Bloodshed tree, although I do have Execute, and enjoy the benefits of Follow Through. Perhaps I should try Be Like Water and change my mod to the Ninja I found as it would look to somewhat boost my otherwise weak melee skills for this area.

Thanks.

Originally posted by PatchAdams:

I think it was I who suggested the Transformer to you, glad you got one and it worked.

Yes, you did reference it in another poster's thread - thanks for doing so. I'd considered farming one before given my rediscovery of the TB Fists, but hadn't known about the benefits against the mages. Thank you!

Originally posted by Starbug:

Nice! Now you're ready for Murderlins! Turn the volume up to cover your loud swear words and sounds of nearby items being hurled off walls as a ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ SKELETON MAGE causes you to fall into a spike pit! HAPPY DAYS :D

Oh, why did you have to bring that up? Just as I was celebrating my little "win"? :)

Thanks for the laugh.