Spiral Knights - Trojan tactic as a 2-2 Apprentice, no Sprite

Trojan tactic as a 2-2 Apprentice, no Sprite

6 replies [Last post]

Fri, 04/04/2014 - 18:23

Forbush-Girl

*cough*
ok, so I was brave ... i took on a level 4 arena because I was doing so well getting through the 3rd arena on level 2.

I killed everything except the last monster ... a Trojan that was using his shield to block any gunfire I sent at him. I tried fire and stun vials and a shock defense. The only time I scored any 'hits' was when I was stupid enough to rush him with my Proto Sword. That's right, I'm only wearing Recruit default armor, haven't bought a thing, just trying to be patient and save my crowns.

So, is there a particular tactic that a player equipped like a recruit with no sprite could use to actually defeat one of these?

Patient student awaits great wisdom.

Fri, 04/04/2014 - 18:44

Newbyboy

Tactic

Previously when it was no sprites, usually you would stand around the shields of the trojan, get it to maul the ground and sneak behind his back and attack. If you have a gun like a needle/ a toothpick, you would hold your charge, lure it to attack you and quickly unload into his back.

Fri, 04/04/2014 - 20:07

Bopp

right

The key to Spiral Knights is to know the monster's AIs. Basically, you wait for a monster to attack. Then it enters a "recovery" period, during which it cannot attack you again. So you attack it then.

The trojan has two main attacks (and one or two others). If you are standing within the trojan's range, then it will wind up and smash you with its sword, with a short recovery time afterward. If you are standing farther away, then it will charge at you and smash you with its sword, with a long recovery time afterward. So you wait for it to attack, and then attack during its recovery time. Of course, you can only damage a trojan in its back.

The other crucial aspect of the trojan AI is that it rotates to keep you in its sights, and it doesn't attack while its rotating. So, as long as you circle the trojan, it doesn't attack. Use this time to finish off the smaller, weaker, faster enemies in the room. I almost always kill the trojans last.

So, in short: Keep moving, kill the other enemies first, charge your weapon, wait for the trojan to charge you, and then unleash your charge in its back.

Fri, 04/04/2014 - 20:37

Forbush-Girl

Thanks for the replies so

Thanks for the replies so far.
@Bopp, I did manage to keep moving (I tend to clear Arenas by constantly circling - usually to try to get the healers in the back - while I wear down the mobs). The Trojan was the only enemy on the field in the end.

I did observe the two attack types. In general I would stand still long enough for him to target me where I was standing then I would quickly move aside as he charged and try to hit him in the back. I got him to about half health that way. A couple of times just rushing him and getting him to clobber me close (I treated him like a super-charged Lumberer) and then get around the back of him.

I did not 'charge' my sword before executing the attacks, and that probably would have gave it enough of a boost to completely kill him.

I've taken the approach to the game of seeing how far I can get with starter gear. I think/hope it improves my timing and attack skills. I'm certainly learning when a gun works and when one is better off slicing everyone with the sword. I'm still having some problems with the exploding fire jellies when they mob me too, since whacking them just puts them in a stationary countdown to explode... with me stuck next to immovable bombs.

I've started to do the sprite missions just to get a feel for which to choose. I know there is lots of advice out there in the forums already. So far, at starting level, I'm not exactly excited about them, since they appear to still need *me* to push a button before they actually attack anything. Perhaps that is something that comes later on as they are upgraded.

Although I'm saving all the red/yellow/purple gems I can, I'm hesitant to enter into the 'gotta play to feed the pet' spiral before I have a small warehouse full of mats/food. Looks like I could use more level 2+ materials for the alchemy of the food as well.

But I digress, lol.

Thanks for the help folks. I'll try to do the lvl 6 arena again soon.

Fri, 04/04/2014 - 21:19

Cinoa

Well...

About the sprites. I have a drakon, but for me it isn't very useful at all. The kitty has an ability that lets you be invincible I do believe, I think it comes later on. Maskeraith can make you invisible to enemies but not invincible. Best to look at the wiki about it.

Sat, 04/05/2014 - 06:14

Halandin

Sprites only attack if you

Sprites only attack if you press a buttton (you will eventually have 3 different attacks it can use), they will never auto attack. It's actually a good thing, many place in SK require careful taking of aggro of specific monsters, which would not work with a pet attacking random monsters. As Cinoa said, it's best to look at the forums to see how sprites work and which one you would want to get--I would suggest maskeraith, or a seraphynx as a close second. Invisibility or a defensive shield can be quite useful.

Even if you don't use the attacks often, the passive perks are very useful. It's like having the choice of any type of trinket, and more since you can also choose defensive damage type or status reduction, a monster family bonus, or even walking speed increase (once you level up the sprite enough to get them).

Sat, 04/05/2014 - 06:25

Bopp

sprite not needed

Sprites are not at all essential to the game. They didn't even exist before 2013-07-30. But you should get one, even if you don't want to use their skills, just for the perks. Perks are passive bonuses (like sword damage +2, gun charge time reduction +2, etc.) that you can choose. A perk is like a free trinket slot with a wide range of trinkets that you can put in the slot for free. It gives you more options for customizing your knight.

Building your skill using weak equipment is a fine idea. But I think that you should do it at the 2-star level, not the 0-star level. You can train just as well, but you'll be earning far more crowns and materials while you do it. Continue to do the missions, and you will soon be rewarded with 2-star equipment, such as Calibur and Cobalt armor. Don't upgrade those items. They're not anywhere near the best in the game. But they are much more practical than your 0- and 1-star items.

Once you have 2-star items, you can practice Tier 2. Try to do the Royal Jelly Palace without taking any damage in the first two levels. That's the kind of skill you're going for, I think.

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Trojan tactic as a 2-2 Apprentice, no Sprite