I'm just wondering what people usually use. The wiki doesn't give a suggested armor set.
What is your Darkfire Vanaduke set?
Yeah, I've been studying up because I want to do a run. I've even got the shadow key.
Mainly, I want to know exactly what other people like to use for DF Vana so I can emulate their sets. Any suggestions to that end would be very helpful.
I use Chaos Cowl and Volcanic Plate Armor, and the curse sprite perk. But, that's because I have some uvs on my stuff.
before that I used Perfect Mask of Seerus / Chaos Cloak.
I use the same weapons as in FSC: Voltedge, AP, Blitz, EV.
Usually I just go with Snarby and/or Shadowsun with some random Stun UVs (Just because I don't like getting stunned). As said before, you can easily re-curse yourself to re-scramble what weapons are cursed. Just don't walk in with curse vulnerability, because that wont end well (With 1 point of vulnerability, it's ~45 seconds of 3 weapons + 3 vials being cursed).
As for weapons, you can usually just bring your standard FSC loadout. Other than that, sometimes I take a Flourish for when things get hectic. You'll run out of space really fast, and it can be hard to get your Blitz charges off. You'll also want at least one person in your party to have a Polaris. There are a few rooms that have gun puppy equivalents constantly respawning, and you want them dealt with ASAP. Supernova/Wildfire could also work, but Polaris can shock Darkfire Vanaduke.
When fighting Darkfire Vanaduke, the absolute biggest problem is the lack of control. Don't do the usual "you deal with the slags, you focus on the swarm seed, we'll deal with Vana." Have everyone focus down the summons ASAP. Have everyone constantly keeping the swarm seed repressed. Have everyone throw water on the bits of shadow fire that pop up. One person alone will get quickly overwhelmed. Beyond that, you can either try to Blitz spam him down, or spam Polaris. Blitz will obviously do more damage, but the Polaris has the shock benefit, as well as leaving you a bit more mobile. I haven't tried the new Callahan, but I don't think it's worth bringing just for the boss. Practice a few times doing no-shiver normal Vana fights to figure out what works best for you.
Finally, yes, SFSC is harder than FSC, but I'd say it's one of the easiest Shadow Lairs. Why? Because anyone who's ready for a Shadow Lair has probably spent a long time grinding FSC and can do it in their sleep with their toes. It'll be very familiar, and you'll be used to what triggers what, and where enemies spawn. As long as you bring someone who has run SFSC before and can tell you when it throws you a curve ball, it'll be relatively straightforward (For example, when you place the final sprite that makes water spawn, a horde of enemies will spawn around you).
I'm only going to state the important UVs on items
Asi med obsidian carbine
Undead llow AP
Seerus mask
Fire low mercurial mail
Shadow med swiftstrike buckler
I wasn't prepared, to put it lightly
Perfect Mask of Seerus
Vog Cub Coat (fire med)
Crest of Almire
2x Elite Sword Focus Module
Voltedge
Argent Peacemaker
Fang of Vog
Blitz Needle (ctr low)
Seraphynx
Ghostbuster III
Сompleted SFSC 2 times, both in solo.
I use:
- Chaos Cowl (Fire Low)
- Divine Veil (Curse High)
- Crest of Almire/Swiftstrike Buckler
- Combuster (Charge Time Reduction: Medium)
- Blitz Needle (Charge Time Reduction: Medium)
- Various sidearms such as Electron Vortex, Venom Veiler, Argent Peacemaker, Warmaster Rocket Hammer
- Trinkets/perk for health, fire resistance, and weapon ASI
This set is most excellent because I get a positive amount of fire resistance (+3, to be exact; equivalent of a high UV) while I maintain exactly +5 curse resistance (equivalent of a medium+high or max+low), which gives me the wonderful pleasure of only getting one weapon cursed when I get cursed, which allows me to mostly function as normal. I also get CTR Max on my Combuster and Blitz Needle, which is very beneficial for maintaining a good amount of control and damge output, respectively.
One of the weaknesses not found in a lot of other UFSC sets, namely ones which contain Vog Cub gear, is that I have a huge lack of Attack Speed. I either have to compensate for this through my sprite perk or with a Swiftstrike Buckler. The latter puts me at great risk but gives me a greater bonus than using the perk. What's more notable is that I don't get to take the +3 fire resistance perk if I choose the perk.
All in all, I've used this or simmilar sets in UFSC maybe 4-5 times and it's all good. I very seldom use Sparks of Life there, although that relates more to my experience and skill than my gear.
I believe a mix of Divine and Ancient plate would work well together. Even better if you can stack the right UVS on damage and status resists.
Crest of Almire with Stun, Curse, and Shadow Max.
Divine avenger, Voltaic Tempest, Blitz Needle, Iron Slug.
CTR and ASI UVS and correctly placed damage UVS on all pieces.
Seraphynx
Disintegration ray to speed up battles
Iron Heart attack because the other is useless
Seraphic Aura since you have CTR on everything
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The above set is the optimal set for survival and would require a lot of investment to create.
Realistically the run isn't so bad provided you're going on it with people that know how to do it, and plan accordingly.
All you need to succeed easily, at a minimum-
1. When cursed, you need to be able have at least one weapon open
2. Some method of damaging Vanaduke that matches your team member's method of damaging Vanaduke.
3. Some method of quickly killing deadnauts and trojans.
4. A third/fourth weapon to fight with.
Your armor really doesn't matter that much. I mean it helps, but it isn't going to win or lose you the run unless you bring something ridiculous like ancient plate, or black kat with no curse variants breaking the above or introducing a problem via it. Just use whatever gets you the stats that you need, focusing on things that have fire, shadow, elemental and normal defense as well as curse if you don't have that going for you. Your main priority is probably going to be your blitz needle, as it always is. Your shield follows suit.
An example set I have is-
Seerus + divine mantle (Curse, Elemental)
Plague needle (ASI)
Warmaster rocket hammer (ASI)
Hail driver (ASI)
Volcanic plate shield (Normal)
Maskeraith: Piercing; deadly shadow cloak
Sprite perk: Handgun charge time
If I used trinkets: Handgun damage x2
Well, SFSC is basically FSC with curse (and general mayhem). So some curse protection is nice. That said, if your most important weapon is cursed, then you can use the trick of getting cursed again to reset your cursed inventory. So in my (limited experience) you should wear something with fire protection, and don't wear a curse penalty, but don't worry about getting big curse resistance.
You should also know that Darkfire Vanaduke is immune to freeze (and maybe some other tactics, that later posters will point out). But he's not immune to damage.