Some Formation Tips to go beyond to 225+275 levels in Dragondown

[OldGamer]

So, I think I need some advice. I tried a lot of different formations but it seems to go worse each free play.



Firstly overview of what I have thus far:

Favour: 9.84e07 // Currently increase 16% - played current run for about 8 hours.

Level :184 farming yet I have got to level 220 last run...

Binwin, completed all stuff except his 3rd variant. This means I have done 175 levels.

Korth completed everything except 225 and his 3rd variant.

Nova, completed everything except her 275 levels and 3rd variant.

You might notice how I play events, I go down the list one by one. Not sure if that is a totally good start or not but I figure getting the champs all first helps and getting all their gear (at least all filled in) helps more. Doing the variants then one by one to get extra gold chests to fill gear out and get more potions (hopefully) etc...


Secondly, manpower, the champs I have:

In brackets (it's the nickname I give to them if I do)


SLOT 1 - Bruenor ("the dwarf")

SLOT 2 - Celeste / Krydle / Korth

SLOT 3 - Nayeli / Spurt / Binwin

SLOT 4 - Jarlaxe (Jax) / Jaheira

SLOT 5 - Quillek (Quill) / Calliope (Calli)

SLOT 6 - Evelyn (Evie) / Asharra (Asha)

SLOT 7 - Minsc / Cattie-Brie

SLOT 8 - Nrakk ("the monk") / Delina / Hitch

SLOT 9 - Aila (hammer) / Makos / Birdsong

SLOT 10 - Tyril

SLOT 11 - Nova / Jamilah / Warden

SLOT 12 - Melf / Arkhan


Thirdly, what I have used:


Nova - Freeplay

I use

Rear - Qillek (Expand) / Jax (Piracy) [UNTIL 150] change to Melf (Absolute) - if caught I switch again to farm with Jax.

3rd - Korth (Group) / Minsc (Beasts)

2nd - Bruenor (Shield) / The Monk (Strike) / Nova (Journaling)

Front - Evie (Prayer) / Aila (Storm) / Tyril (Wild)

I have had Binwin for the first 175 levels before, but Nrakk has since replaced due to the DPS spikes and despikes.


Any tips, advice or anything appreciated.

OG

[Soteria]

1. Swap Catti in for levels that don't have beasts.
2. Have you tried Jaheira dps? I actually haven't, but Nrakk is so bad, maybe she's better.
3. I usually find Empowered Blessing on Qillek to be more beneficial. This would require you moving her closer to the dps.
4. I usually don't put Melf in the back or front row. I don't think his buff is reaching your dps from there, since IIRC his range is only 1 in the back row.
5. Since your dps is in the 2nd column, I would think that Nayelli would provide a better buff than Evelyn, but not 100% sure on that.

Edit:

Longer-term tip, pick up a better DPS. You might not be at the favor levels where Zorbu is practical (since he's 12th slot), but maybe Jim or Krond from a time gate would be helpful.

[Zrazzt]

My tip: Since you're newer, I'd always analyze which one of the variants is "easiest" with the troops you have, and farm it for gold. I personally find a variant requiring one person in the front row much easier than one that requires 3. So for this event, I farmed Korth for more favour.

Next, I'd focus on getting a better DPS, but using what you've got... which isn't horrible, I'd build a gold find group or a dps group, and farm some favour in the Korth variant.

Use the Chugworth's formation guide and modify the ToA one to account for what you've got...Zorbu is the DPS position.

[OldGamer]

so i changed to a DPS Jaheira and Hitch build, got 225 easily. on the way to 240 quite comfortably but time to log off for tomorrow! Hopefully I get close to 275 so tomorrow morning I can push it.

[ptor]

Quillek Empowered it ~4x better than expanded, especially when well positioned (many at distance 2, as few at distance 1, far from tanks if possible)
As Zrazzt points out, Korth formation leaves a wider selection of DPS to choose from (and TBH gives me the best max level). Of those you list I might recommend trying Warden (or Birdsong) as DPS

[Daggers]

Mine sugestion based on your champions: each column of formation starting by top most.

---Korth Runs---

Rear [Quillek-Empowered Blessing]
4th [Catti-brie -In The Zone] [Melf-Bonus Adaption] [Korth-Rapid Training]
3rd [Warden-Eldrith Smite(Your DPS)] [Hitch-Charismatic] [Bruenor-Shield Master]
2nd [Nayeli - Aura of Courage] [Aila-Stormcaller]
Front [Tyril-Wild Shape]

I hope this helps. Try to get Krull or Gromma or both on time portals.

[Coo Coo Pigeon]

I take the assumption levels on event champions are low compared to evergreen champions.
I'd say:
SLOT 1 - Bruenor (Battle Master)
SLOT 2 - Celeste (War Domain)
SLOT 4 - Jarlaxe (Gold Find)
SLOT 5 - Calliope (Valor)
SLOT 6 - Asharra (Elves)
SLOT 8 - Hitch (Charismatic)
SLOT 9 - Makos (Dark Blessing)
SLOT 10 - Tyril (Bear)
SLOT 11 - Nova (Discovery)
SLOT 12 - Melf (Support)

Toss in Minsc where needed as dps


Guess something like formation positional below should work to get max dps (Nova FP):
front to back, top to down:

1) Nova - Tyril - Jarl
2) Hitch - Melf - Celeste
3) Asharra - Bruenor
4) Makos - Calliope

Might not be better, easy to see if it is.

[ptor]

Originally posted by Daggers:

Mine sugestion based on your champions: each column of formation starting by top most.

---Korth Runs---

Rear [Quillek-Empowered Blessing]
4th [Catti-brie -In The Zone] [Melf-Bonus Adaption] [Korth-Rapid Training]
3rd [Warden-Eldrith Smite(Your DPS)] [Hitch-Charismatic] [Bruenor-Shield Master]
2nd [Nayeli - Aura of Courage] [Aila-Stormcaller]
Front [Tyril-Wild Shape]

I hope this helps. Try to get Krull or Gromma or both on time portals.

Quillek in the rear boosts only Melf and Korth: swap him with Catti-brie, or reshuffle so Korth is at the back and Quillek in the bottom of 3rd column, just below Warden.
Agreed on Krull ASAP!
As an aside, the most used formation description is front to back, top to bottom

[OldGamer]

thanks for the help, I did it this morning with a few of your suggestions mixed in!

I see on Krull, is he unlocked via time gate? so basically it may take awhile as I gather thats random.

[Coo Coo Pigeon]

Yea, or you can use 6 time gate pieces and choose to do Krull. That way u'r sure you got him.
He's my wall and armored unit pushing hero and a good goldfarm champion as well.

[OldGamer]

Originally posted by Coo Coo Pigeon:

Yea, or you can use 6 time gate pieces and choose to do Krull. That way u'r sure you got him.
He's my wall and armored unit pushing hero and a good goldfarm champion as well.

that would come in handy for my plan to get azaka as well.

I have loads of time gate pieces, around 20 I think.

[Coo Coo Pigeon]

I'm sorry to tell you, but you don't get Azaka from time gates/events.
(She's evergreen from the Tomb of Annihilation campaign the 12th mission.)

[OldGamer]

Originally posted by Coo Coo Pigeon:

I'm sorry to tell you, but you don't get Azaka from time gates/events.
(She's evergreen from the Tomb of Annihilation campaign the 12th mission.)

Sorry, I knew that, what I meant was I am going for her at the moment. I am up to ToA, not near the variants though.

[Naesala]

If you wish to have some recommendation, I managed to more or less beat the last stage in koth by using the following. Starting from front, first name mentioned is the one on top, then going descending to bottom. I got 22 million Waukeen's favor and got both basic double damage blessings from the first 2 starting areas.

Evelyn
Makos, korth
Nayeli, walnut, Quilek
Tyril, Bruenor, Jaheira, Minsc

I do this because I want 2 dps characters, but if you want even more damage on your main dps, then I would recommend switching position of Quilek to the back and put Jaheira in his place on his former place. so the last row becomes the following

Tyril, bruenor, minsc, quilek

I obviously take all damage related upgrades, and as for koth, I take the Rapid training upgrade, which lowers the attack speed cd of champions not adjacent to him, attacking marked targets and increases rapid strike chance by another 25%.

Wave 150 can be challenging and rng heavy, if you don't manage it in one go, I recommend farming some at 145 or so for a good while, using ultimates can become necessary to beat 150 in the last stage, don't spend them in the early stages, as it will only get tougher. As for success difference, having equipment on your champions is always a plus, otherwise it may become more challenging than you would like.