Could someone help me understand the massive damage that these guys are dishing out to players. My combat log shows them dealing in excess of 15k damage randomly (once hit for 42k). Is there some time of animation to show players when they are about to drop a nuke?
Those thugs drop their version of Battle Standard; I’ve been hit pretty hard by level 84 Elite Thugs’ Battle Standards. A lot of times you’ll see dead players near or directly under those battle standards, or maybe they didn’t see his wind-up attack that flattens anyone in front of him.
Also, yes, you can look for their animation to avoid it. When they’re about to hit you with that interrupt/flatten hammer strike they hold their hammer behind them for a few seconds (might be 4-5 seconds). Their Battle Standard move (that’s the heavy hitting one) they hold one hand up towards the sky (basically like any warrior would do when they activate their Battle Standard Elite skill) which takes, I’m guessing around, 3 seconds.
They’re really easy to avoid on your own, but if you’re in a zerg it’ll be 10x more difficult to see coming since so much is going on on your screen.
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Thanks for the reply and information! I’m sure you’re right that there’s so much animation going on it’s just hard to see. Which brings up another discussion entirely
Those battle standard attacks are nuts. I have good toughness and was hit by 34,000 twice as two walloped them down and killed absolutely everyone in sight.
…and considering my toughness level, that would have hit most people for double that.
i actually never see the animations, but i “hear” it. I’m used to run aether path daily and the enemies inside drop that banners as well. You can clearly hear when they are doing it so you can dodge away. The sound is quite specific for that attack.
Actually it’s so specificic that i was in Lions Arch attack for the first time a few days ago and i didn’t know there was aetherblades in there, i didn’t pay attention at what i was killing and i was just zerging with 10-15 more players. Then i suddenly heard that sound… and my instincts made me Dodge. 4-5 players died and i was surprised at how i was able to avoid that hit just because i’m used to the sound.
It’s a touching moment for me, a sound that made a bound with me, the difference between dead or alive.
I must start playing with headphones, as trying to pick out that sound from all the other battle noises (never mind the constant electric crackle from strikers and taskmasters) is virtually impossible.
I must start playing with headphones, as trying to pick out that sound from all the other battle noises (never mind the constant electric crackle from strikers and taskmasters) is virtually impossible.
Well, apparently it’s not. Also, how would headphones help with that? You would still hear the very same sounds; just closer to your ears.
The Thugs also stack Might on themselves. They are very, VERY dangerous foes. If facing one alone, I always have to use kite and shoot tactics rather than facing them head-on.
I recently decided to play my thief again, I found Death Blossom to be a godsend. My main is a ranger, and I can say that range is the best way to go if you can’t evade like crazy.
