How to kill PW:
Set-Up:
The best set-up (people/effort ratio) is to use a PLD and a BRD. It's possible to win with only a PLD/DNC but many things can go wrong and it is much slower. More DD's are welcome but you must be aware of the hate mechanisms (that I will describe). Instead of explaining how to do this by telling you "what can go right" about this fight (it's easy etc), I will explain to you
what can go wrong because I think that the foundation in the development of strategy depends on making mistakes. As the person that I believe has made the most mistakes on this NM, I will describe and list everything that can go wrong with PW.
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Hate Mechanism:
PW moves from "Illusion form" and "Real Form" many times. Hate resets every time it changes form (Treasure Hunter is also reset every time).
The links have hate based on the person who has hate on the previous form. As a result, DPS do not need to attack the intermittent Demon forms when it does Hellsnap etc. This also means, as long as the PLD always vokes the "real form" between illusion forms, the DD's can always go out DPS and never worry about hate from the links
except for the last of the beast kings (cerb, khim, hydra). This is because, the moment you kill the last beast king, the final PW form of PW will pop with links that will attack the last person with hate. The links can still kill non Aegis players easily during AF. If your DPS had hate on the last beast king when it dies, he will have hate on PW and all the links. They will likely not survive the onslaught.
Summary: Make sure your PLD vokes the demon form. Make sure DPS does not have hate on the last beast king form when it dies. This strategy must utilize an Aegis PLD.
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NM Analysis:
1. Chariots (4x)
2. Beastman Kings (3x)
3. Beast Kings (3x)
Chariots: First question is: how do you tell the difference? They pop in random order. As a refresher for players who may not be familar:
1. Discoid: 2 Flat Missiles Turrets
2. Homing: 2 Round Missile Turrets
3. Brainjack: Mechanical Arms
4. Mortal Revolution: Big Armor Plates
Summary: You need to worry about Discoid and Brainjack. They will only use these moves under 50%. Deal with Discoid by holding WS off under 50% and be on "Shield Bash" duty (I've only seen it do it once). Deal with Brainjack by Fealty before 50%. All the rest are unremarkable.
Beastman Kings:
1. Gulfurfur - Headsnatch is the only thing you need to worry about. Just be fast with cures if it happens.
2. Medusa- EES can still hurt if you use berserk.
3. Lizard Dude- Mijin at 3% is only an issue for your healers.
Summary: I usually Sentinel at 50% for Medusa but it's superfluous.
Beast Kings:
1. Cerberus - Unremarkable. GoH is crap and Udulation is only annoying.
2. Khimaeria - Stun Fulmination with Shield Bash. It only does it after Tourbillion.
3. Hydra - Only annoyance is Nerve Gas.
Summary: Stun Fulmination. It will only use it once and it will ruin your day. Make sure that your DPS does not have hate on the last one that pops-- make sure PLD with aegis has hate!
Demon Form: Last Form
It will Astral flow after it goes under 75%, 50%, 25% but they can "fizzle" if you kill it fast. The only fear for the PLD is Necrobane/Necropurge which will reduce your PLD HP to <1000. Combined with MDEF, MEva down, many links attacking and an astral flow, 1000 HP makes it extremely risky. This is also considering that Diablos's Astral flow seems to ignore MDT/MEVA/MDB (I think it's true damage.) Luckily, it will only do Necrobane/Purge <50% or even <25%. You can easily counter with Fealty, which should be back up now. If you bring a SAM to help, Yaegesumi will make the SAM invincible to all the astral flows for 45 seconds. /shameless SAM promotion.
My advice to you is to make sure your backliners are well geared in MDT+MDB and be ready with stoneskin. Doing so will give them near 100% survivability. If you're paranoid, we started off these mages with Carbonara as well (+150 HP). Kill time 12 minutes with 1 DPS, 1 PLD, 1 BRD. Kill time with PLD+BRD only, ~20 minutes. PLD/DNC only, 20min+.