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Tools of the Trade:
Recommended Level: 12-14
Quest Given By: Charsi
Location: Rogue Barracks
Difficulty: Normal
Reward: Enchants One Item
Objectives: Retrieve the Horadric Malus
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Preparations:
There’s quite a way to get to the Rogue Barracks. Return to Black Marsh and proceed to find an exit on the far end. This will lead you to Tamoe Highland. Throughout your adventures, you may find an entrance to two dungeons, The Hole and Hell Pit. Both of which are there to supply you with EXP and items. If you haven’t reached level 14, it’s highly suggested that you explore them. There’s nothing inside that you can’t handle, but I managed to find Arctic Furs inside.
Locating the Barracks:
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| Nova is a great new addition for the Sorceress, but only use it instead of Frost Nova once you got 2 skill points on the spell. |
Once that done, your out and on your way towards the Monastery Gate. Tamoe Highland consists of Returned Mages, Death Clan (About the same power as Blood Clan), Devil Kin (Tougher Carvers) and Dark Stalkers. They are all fairly simple, always kill the Mages first, followed by Shamans before anything else. In this fashion proceed towards the opposite side of the Highlands, you’ll reach the monastery Gate.
Storm through the Monastery Gates, your best bet is to either charge in at the mages or use a series of area effect spells. A necromancer can let his minions suck the Bone Magi fire as he stands back with Corpse Explosion and Teeth. After passing the gate, you’ll find yourself in the Outer Cloister.
Devilkin, Thorned Devils, Yetis, Dark Stalkers and more Returned Magi populate the Outer Cloister. Yetis are tough, but slow and hence simple to defeat. Thorned Devils and the Bone Magi are another matter. Make sure you keep moving when engaging them, they have low hit points and therefore should be destroyed first. Find the Waypoint, explore the side chambers and proceed ahead. The door to the Barracks will be in front of you.
Navigating the Barracks:
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| A Necromancer uses his minions to block the doorway so he fight the monsters one at a time. |
The Barracks is a confusing metropolis of corridors and rooms filled with stacks of barrels. A hero Bone Mage and his minions guard the entrance, charging in headfirst could prove fatal. Instead try to lead most of the devilkin into the out Cloister, before engaging with the Mages.
As you navigate through the Barracks, use the stacks of barrels to your advantage. As the primary threat you’ll face are Bone Magi (tougher Returned Mage), you’ll find the cover that the barrels offer to be a blessing. Warriors can hide behind the barrels till the Bone mage walk around the stack, and finish it off in one or two hits. You’ll need to use this tactic when you face two random Bone Mage heroes in the third chamber of the Barracks.
When you stumble into the chamber, you’ll be faced with over a dozen firebolts. Retreat back through the doorway and knock out the Death Clans and Dark Stalkers that follow you. Proceed inside and take cover amongst the barrels. Mages should use hit and run tactics, while warriors can run and kill any Bone Mage stupid enough to wonder into your hiding place. Use doorways and narrow corridors in the same fashion as you explore the barracks.
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| If there wasn’t cover, you’d be fried by now. This sorceress takes refuge behind a stack of barrels and plans her next move. |
There will be other monsters, and we’ve seen Black Rogues, Bone Archers and their various champion forms. Whatever they are, always lead the melee combatants out of the Join and kill them without having to worry about missile cover, then eliminate the archers and mages using the technique above.
Retrieving the Malus:
At one of the corners in the very far end will be the Horadric Malus, Guarded by one angry Smith and a dozen Black Rogues and Bone Magi. As soon as you hear the sound of ‘I’ll make something from your bones…” launch a portal and restock.
Once you’re ready, try your best to the lead the Smiths minions away into another room and kill them first. Mages should try and use area of effect spells to eliminate the weaker enemies. The Smith himself resembles a fast oversized butcher from Diablo I. He’s tough, his mean, and he knows how to use his hammer as an Axe.
The Smith has around 300hp and does around 30-40 damage with each blow, so mages… stay away! If you use missile weapons, your goal is to make sure he never reaches you. Details on killing him are featured in our character tips. Whatever the case, keep potions handy as you fight a hit and run battle through the maze of corridors. Once he’s dead, return to where you found him and retrieve the Malus. (You’ll find it on a stand in he’s room)
Utilizing Your Reward:
Once you return to Charsi and give her the Hammer, she will offer to enchant an item of your choice. The choice you make here could alter the rest of the game, so think carefully! She’ll enchant only non-magical, non socketed, non jewelry items. What she does is simply turn the item of your choice into a rare, imbued with 3-5 random bonuses.
Whatever class you are, don’t choose a piece of Armor as there’ll be a lot of better ones in Act II. Spellcasters should definitely choose the wand or the staff, preferably a yew wand or a long staff. All the spell bonuses it gives will be altered, so don’t worry about what bonus’s the staff gives (Just Buy the cheapest Long Staff and Yew Wand from Akara).
Warriors have more options, so choose whatever item you desperately need a better version of. Whether it’s your boot, weapon or helmet. Quest Completed.
Class Specific Tips:
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The Necromancer has a tough time in this quest, mainly due to the fact that his minions have a tendency to get trapped behind walls and therefore you might be forced to raise skeletons on the spot. Have Bone Armor on at all times and if you have the skill, Bone Magi of your own is a great addition. As other classes, hide behind the barrels and let your minions do the dirty work. Aid them with high level teeth, corpse explosion and amplify damage.
Fighting the Smith will be difficult, as your skeletons are dead in two blows. Your best chance is to attempt to block the Smith with a wall of bone so that your Bone Mage and Teeth do their work. Other options include casting Iron Maiden and let the Smith kill himself as he bashes up one Golem after another.
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| As long as the Angry Smith is cooled down, he won’t be much of a problem. |
Ranged combat in the Barracks will be limited, so it’s best to have Shiver Armor on at all times. Now that you are over level 12, use Nova instead of Frost Nova. The extra damage is necessary against the tougher monsters. When facing the bone mage, simply stay in cover till they bunch up, then rush out and knock them to pieces with Nova. If you’re ever forced to engage Bone Magi in the open, never stand still. Shoot and run like crazy, then shoot again.
Fighting the smith is easier, use Nova 3 times to eliminate any of his minions so you face the face alone. Make sure he never reaches you! Use Ice Blast to slow him down, so that you can proceed to run back and shoot. Repeat till he’s dead.
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Even the Barbarian should avoid charging into a roomful of Bone Magi. Hide behind the barrels till they come for you, and eliminate them one by one. In the open, use howl to send them scattering, so you can give them a nasty shock from behind. When fighting the Smith, send his minions scattering with howl and kill the boss with a combo of bash and stun. Use shout to boost your defence before battle.
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Thanks to Holy fire, this quest is made easy for the Paladin. Just stand back behind the barrels and watch the pyrotechnics fly! In the open, An Aura of Resist Fire will make you highly resistant to Bone Magi attacks and Holy Bolt can kill them one hit a piece. Kill the Smith using either a high level might aura, or Sacrifice.
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Use hit and run tactics against the bone magi, letting loose around 3 arrows before retreating back to shelter. When fighting the smith, avoid melee confrontation. Keep a good stock of mana potions and slow him down with cold arrows. Repeat whenever he’s unfrozen and run back much the same way as the Sorceress.
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