Guild Wars 2

I recently completed Fractal Scale 59 (Cliffside) and it was a doozy. Combine the Mistlock Instability “Last Laugh” (enemies explode on death) and the new mechanic at the arm seals and it creates some headaches. I attempted this one 3 different times, and each time the whole group left but me and then refilled with new players, sometimes just to have everyone bail again due to sheer frustration. Nobody could agree on a strategy that would work, and NOBODY wanted to change gear/traits and try something different.

After spending almost as much time doing research online as I spent failing at the level, I decided that I was going to find any guides (I know it’s still early since the update). I finally found a group of pugs that was willing to experiment, and we figured something out!

This probably isn’t the best strategy, but it worked for us.

-We started by sending our whole team onto the right platform (the one closest to the exit) and we stayed there killing the mobs as soon as possible. When someone got a hammer charge they would hit right side and drop hammer.

-We proceeded to clear the right side exclusively. A new player picked up the hammer, got a charge, and rushed to left side. I went along with them (on thief) and they used their sustain abilities (aegis, endure pain, etc) to get a hit on the left seal. As soon as they hit the seal I would stealth them to drop aggro, and together we headed back to the right side.

-We allowed left side to heal while focusing entirely on keeping right side from healing. By killing the mobs asap it was never too crowded or dangerous, and by stealthing away from left side we avoided drawing all the mobs into the hallway. We focused right side until it was broken, then it was a simple task to head back to left side and focus it.

-Again, we did all of our fighting on the porch. Fighting in the hallway doesn’t leave enough room to avoid the explosions, and it kept both sides of mobs from aggroing at the same time.

This worked for us, and after so many fails and angered pugs I felt that it was worth my time to explain how we were able to do it.

TL;DR
Pick a side and focus it by fighting on the porch and not in the hallway. Use stealth to break aggro when attacking far side.

and this is why I skip any fractal that isn’t aquatic, urban battleground, uncategorized, swampland or molten facility boss and move to the next applicable fractal.

Xbon.9086:

and this is why I skip any fractal that isn’t aquatic, urban battleground, uncategorized, swampland or molten facility boss and move to the next applicable fractal.

Gl getting to 100 then.

So basically you did like it was already being done for the past year?

While also not abusing your capabilities as a Thief with Shadow Trap and Shadowstep?

And blame other pugs for not adapting?

Lendruil.9061:

Xbon.9086:

and this is why I skip any fractal that isn’t aquatic, urban battleground, uncategorized, swampland or molten facility boss and move to the next applicable fractal.

Gl getting to 100 then.

You just need to get taxied by someone to a higher level. Elite Fractal Veteran still isn’t happening, though.

Quickfoot Katana.8642:

So basically you did like it was already being done for the past year?

While also not abusing your capabilities as a Thief with Shadow Trap and Shadowstep?

And blame other pugs for not adapting?

Thanks for the constructive criticism!

edit: removed some unnecessarily obnoxious comments that I made. I was just hoping to share something that worked for me. If there are better ways, please share them here!

My group did it on the first try. Didn’t seem so bad.

The Last laugh tier was a pretty big PITA (although it made some of the fights much more interesting). I honestly think they put at 50-60 as a way of blocking off people from full progression who had to rely on the old patterns.

Edit: Of the ones I’ve done (currently waiting on some friends to work out some agony issues so we can progress as a group) 59 cliff was probably the trickiest though (on the flipside we were 4man, which probably didn’t help).

From my pug experience (i.e. 40min of pugs crying and bailing) it’s best to do it like you did it before. Keep pulling Chanters, but try to blow them up before they get into your corner so you have some space to dodge in case they don’t die simultaneously. Also, stability and prot are quite strong.
Main issue is that 9/10 pugs can’t dodge though.

What you need is a solid anchor like cleric guard or Druid:D you’ll blow through most of the stages with ease.

Dietere.3476:

Quickfoot Katana.8642:

So basically you did like it was already being done for the past year?

While also not abusing your capabilities as a Thief with Shadow Trap and Shadowstep?

And blame other pugs for not adapting?

Thanks for the constructive criticism!

edit: removed some unnecessarily obnoxious comments that I made. I was just hoping to share something that worked for me. If there are better ways, please share them here!

I just pointed out to you better ways to carry pugs in my comment

After experiencing the horror of that Fractal and Instability combo, came back to it the next day with everything I could get together that was either tanky or had healing power. Waited at the side you start on for them to kill the other vet, and ended up having to tank for a couple minutes, so all the mobs I had agroed on me wouldn’t heal the seal while everyone else worked on a seal; thankyou for Druid’s sustainability, lol. It will be a sad day when the fractal Daily asks for level 59 v_v