Hey, I might have jumped the gun on requesting some revisions to the mob list for crystal leveling. Anyone have any suggestions for a bishop wanting to level crystals? Because, melee skills are not good and I don't see any undead listed that I can nuke with Might of Heaven. Some suggestions would be welcome, because right now I obviously don't have a clue what I can do about it.
If you were anything but a Bishop, I'd probably have a strategy for you...I'll guess at one, but bear in mind that this one is untested.
I'm assuming you're solo. If you have friends helping you, you'd never have a problem anyway.
Light armor, a solid PAtk weapon (duals or a dagger+shield, probably) and take them one at a time. Self-buff with your 36-and-under buffs, they'll help a lot although it won't do you as much good as any other healer/buffer's would. You can kill things and should never have downtime, so you'll be making some progress...
Seriously consider a Wind Hatchling/Strider if you're going to be doing a lot of solo hunting, want a good kill rate, and aren't overly concerned about the experience you'll gain.
Belo, what are they called? I'd like to look them up to check their level. I'm currently hunting in DV (closer to entrance) and am assuming I'm on the young side. I'm also considering Bekker's melee idea, but that requires having multiple sets of weaps/armor. Not undoable, but a bummer tying up that cash at this point in time. I was assuming that I *could* kill as he suggested, but was hoping to be able to grind at a decent pace at the same time.
I'm also considering Bekker's melee idea, but that requires having multiple sets of weaps/armor.
It's unfortunate, but the optimal "large party" set and the optimal "solo and small party" set consist of different gear. You can solo-kill at a workable rate given good enough gear/armor and the use of consumables, but it's likely you'll find it even more repetitive than most classes.
Maybe Belophan, having played a Bishop, can give a more effective solo strategy than me. As to the one he mentioned, it probably works for levelling crystals (specifically), but I would be concerned that spamming your anti-undead spells will be horrific on your MP and lead to downtime (which other buffers shouldn't have).
Honestly, I haven't played a Bishop, but from the skill list it seems they got shafted in the solo/duo department--most buffers actually come out pretty good, but I think that higher-level Bishops are probably far below the curve.
bets way is to team up in a small group or get a nuker in ur clan to make it and pay a small fee for the work
because its pretty easy for nukers to do it..
When i was trying to get Acumen for my homunkulus, i bought a red level 6 for only 90k, then took an SK friend to Giants Cave to weaken the mobs for me so i could use the SC on them and then finish em off. Lucky me it leveled up before it broke, though it refused to absorb a soul about 50 times before that :p
Back before I had a SpS, when my EE was my main, I went up to DC with my EE and tried to level a soul crystal. I spent about 3 hours there and only got one soul crystal to level 1. Now, on my SpS, I can do about 5 soul crystals to level 7 in that same amount of time. My point is, it's somewhere between extremely difficult and impossible for a healer (Bishop, EE) to level soul crystals by themselves.
It's just not efficient. A Healer's Might of Heaven at level 62 is equal in power to a SpS's Hydro Blast at level 52, but it costs just as much MP as a level 62 SpS's Hydro Blast. In other words, it's gimped - less power, more mp. It would be like taking a level 52 SpS to DC. Add to that the fact that you have no mp regeneration buffs/skills/passive skills and you're looking at a lot of downtime. Plus, Might of Heaven has a very small cast range, and those mobs stun and they are social, so it's dangerous. You have to spend extra time just being careful - pulling one mob out at a time, trying to BSpS root it (even though your last root was at level 35) or nuke, sleep, run away, etc.
I really got depressed when I was trying to level soul crystals on my EE, LOL. It really showed me just how helpless my class was. My advice to you is to find a DD friend who would be willing to go with you to DC and level one. I usually had no problem at all finding a friend who would help me - hey, it's xp! And we were usually able to get several done in under an hour. You could even promise that they could keep any extras.
Yeah, undead nukes are just icky. That's why I was saying to give melee a try. Problem is, I don't know how well that works for Bishops either. Works great for SE or Prophet, but they have more buffs, you'd probably kill around 20% slower than they do...
What server does the OP play? I definitely agree that finding a duo partner would be far more effective than soloing...
Even if I didn't have -7 str already, it would still be ridiculous to try to melee as a bishop anyway. I gave that up around 40 when I had duals, before tatoos, trying to kill windsus. Took tons of ss, and forever to kill each one.
You say you are in DV, what server you on? Trying to level some myself and wouldn't mind partying with someone..don't get many as an OL. Reject class party! :)
Leveled a crystal to all of level 2 last night. Did it by cracking my staff over some timak orc skulls. I had heard the troop leaders were nasty and found out when I accidently aggroed one and he spawned 4 buds. Luckily I was sleeping him at the time and managed to run away...Nasty business. I'll be recruiting my B-grade scavvy buddy to help me the rest of the way. I just think it sucks that bishops can't really solo this quest effectively.
After the holloween and pumpkin events I had 30+ crystals ranging from lvl 5-7. I lvled all but 6(broke) around dev castle. it is easier and cheaper for u to get a nuker friend to lvl it for you. All the doom mobs up at DV can be used to lvl crystals. Doom servants only go to grade 8 then use any of the other doom mobs to get it to 10. I was definatley worth lvling them because they are sellng at normal price now. 1mil + for lvl 10 crystal.
It is possible to level one solo as an EE (probably harder for a Bishop :(). At level 65, soloing for 3 hours I managed to get a stage 9 crystal from Doom Servants/Troopers/Warriors/Knights. This was wearing Blue Wolf Light, and using an Keshanberk. In the end, I died once (chain stun yay!), and lost ~167K adena overall.
Personally I'd never try soloing with Might of Heaven, the downtime is just a killer. I much prefer slower kill rate but no downtime of meleeing.
However I'd have to agree with some of the other posters, find someone to help you. It'll be a lot cheaper, easier and faster.
I used to level lots of crystals up to 9/10 at devastated castle, but it didnt work until i got high enough level on Might of Heaven to 3-shot the doom knights and doom soldiers close to the entrance of Disciples Necro. The only bad thing is the great risk of getting ganked when soloing as a bishop.