How to Conquer an Alien Invasion: A 10-Step Guide – Step 1: Establish a National Powerhouse

Welcome back, Commander! In our previous installment, we laid the groundwork for success in Terra Invicta by assembling a crack team of councilors. Now, it’s time to solidify our position on the global stage. Our next objective: seizing control of a powerful nation to fuel our war against the alien threat.

Evaluating a Nation’s Potential

Before mobilizing our forces, we need to identify a nation ripe for growth. Clicking on any nation on the map reveals its vital statistics in the left-hand pane. Let’s break down this information for optimal decision-making.

Image of Nation Information Pane

• Red Box: Your monthly rewards from controlling this nation.
• Green Box: The factors contributing to your rewards.
• Blue Boxes: How to manipulate these factors for greater gains.

The top blue box displays the nation’s monthly Investment Points (IP). These points are your lifeblood, Commander, used to fuel growth in the fields listed in the bottom blue box. Each point invested contributes to a "tick" in that field, gradually increasing its value (reflected in the green box). Higher IP translates to faster development, making it a critical factor in assessing a nation’s potential.

Consider the starting IP of powerhouses like China (25.8) or the USA (18.7). These nations can leverage their IP for rapid advancement.

Economy: The Engine of Growth

A nation’s GDP determines its IP. Investing in Economy increases GDP per capita, which in turn boosts overall GDP relative to population size. This is where populous nations like China and India truly shine. Their massive populations amplify the impact of each IP invested in Economy, leading to significantly faster growth compared to less populous nations.

While focusing on Economy is crucial, remember that change is gradual. Don’t expect overnight miracles. Consistent investment over time will yield the most dramatic results.

Image comparing India’s GDP in 2022 and 2031

This comparison highlights the long-term benefits of a steady investment in Economy. While it takes time, the payoff is undeniable.

Beyond Economy: While this guide focuses on Economy as a primary driver, remember to explore the impact of other investment fields by hovering over their descriptions in-game.

Key Takeaways: When evaluating a nation, prioritize those with high IP and large populations for maximum growth potential.

The Big Four: Global Powerhouses

Four nations stand out as ideal candidates for establishing your dominance:

1. France/European Union (EU)

Image of the European Union

Advantages:

• Scalability: Begin with France and gradually incorporate other EU nations as your Control Point (CP) cap expands.
• Research Powerhouse: Western European nations boast high starting research values. Controlling the EU grants a significant research advantage.
• Clear Expansion Path: Expand your control throughout the EU, utilizing Public Campaigns to influence and eventually unify target nations.
• Mission Control Efficiency: The EU’s numerous territories allow for extensive Earth-based Mission Control infrastructure.

Disadvantages:

• Unification Cooldown: Unifying nations takes time, leaving them vulnerable to enemy influence.
• Diplomatic Backlash: Annexing EU nations will antagonize other factions, making you a target.
• High Mission Control Investment: Maintaining control over numerous small nations requires significant councilor actions.

2. United States of America (USA)

Image of the United States

Advantages:

• Military Superiority: The USA starts with a formidable military (Miltech 4.5), offering a significant edge in early game conflicts.
• Reduced Councilor Actions: A strong military allows for direct invasion, saving valuable councilor time.
• High Research Output: Benefits from a substantial monthly research income.

Disadvantages:

• High CP Cost: Maintaining control over the USA can strain your early game CP resources.
• Limited Growth Potential: Unifying with other North American nations is a costly and lengthy process.

3. India

Image of India

Advantages:

• Massive Growth Potential: A large population and competitive IP make India a powerhouse in the making.
• High Research Output: Starts with a respectable monthly research income.
• Nuclear Deterrent: Possesses enough nuclear weapons to discourage early aggression from other major nations.
• Unique CP Bonus: India’s third CP grants a significant public opinion bonus, making it incredibly difficult for other factions to usurp control.

Disadvantages:

• Challenging Control Point Acquisition: Requires careful maneuvering and investment to secure control points within India.
• Rivalry with China: Controlling India can hinder your efforts to expand your influence in China.
• Military Weakness: Requires significant investment to bring its military on par with the USA or EU.

4. China

Image of China

Advantages:

• Exceptional Growth: Boasts the highest IP among the Big Four, allowing for rapid development.
• Secure Control: Once you control China, it’s incredibly challenging for other factions to wrestle it away.
• High Research Output: Starts with a strong research base.

Disadvantages:

• Extremely Difficult Initial Control: Securing China early game requires a combination of skill and luck.
• Numerous Rivals: China’s many rivals can hinder future expansion efforts.
• Military Weakness: Like India, China requires significant investment to bolster its military.

Don’t Overlook the Little Guys

While the Big Four offer the most potential, several smaller nations are worth your attention:

• Kazakhstan: Image of Kazakhstan Provides a fantastic early-game boost and is relatively easy to control. Prioritize Boost, Economy, Welfare, and Unity investments.

• Singapore: Image of Singapore Boasts the highest GDP per capita, making it ideal for Spoils. However, its small population limits long-term growth.

• Saudi Arabia: Image of Saudi Arabia Another prime Spoils target, Saudi Arabia also offers mid-game unification potential with the Caliphate, granting extensive claims in the Middle East and Africa.

• Argentina and Chile: Image of Argentina and Chile Solid choices for Spoils, but lack significant unification prospects until later in the game.

Nations to Approach with Caution:

• Russia: Image of Russia While tempting due to its nuclear arsenal, Russia’s weak economy and potential for attracting unwanted attention make it a risky investment.

The Power of Spoils

"Spoils" might sound unethical, but it’s a valuable tool for accelerating your progress. By investing in Spoils in nations like Singapore, you can generate significant income to fuel your other projects. Remember, every faction utilizes this tactic, so don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty!

Mastering Control: Factors and Strategies

The in-game Codex is your best friend, Commander! It provides detailed information on every mission, including Control Nation.

Image of Control Nation Codex Entry

The Codex highlights factors influencing mission success. For example, larger economies are harder to control, while having CP in neighboring nations improves your odds.

Example: Conquering India

Image of Jeevani’s Control Nation Chance in India

Jeevani, our trusty councilor from the previous guide, faces a daunting 5% chance of controlling India directly. However, by strategically securing neighboring nations…

Image of Jeevani’s Improved Control Nation Chance

…and investing Influence Points (INF)…

Image of Jeevani’s Final Control Nation Chance

…we dramatically increase our odds of success.

Tailoring National Priorities

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to managing your nations. While Economy and Knowledge are generally sound long-term investments, adapt your priorities based on your chosen nation and overall strategy.

Image of EU Investment Priorities

Image of Hungary Investment Priorities

Image of Southern Balkan States Investment Priorities

These examples demonstrate how priorities can shift based on a nation’s role within your global strategy.

A Final Word

Remember, Commander, there’s no single "right" way to play Terra Invicta. Experiment, adapt, and most importantly, learn from your experiences. The fate of humanity rests on your shoulders!

How to Conquer an Alien Invasion: A 10-Step Guide

• Step 0 – Set Yourself Up for Success
• Step 1 – Control a Strong Nation
• Step 2 – Get a Group of Dependable Allies
• Step 3 – Research the Right Technologies
• Step 4 – Start a Space Economy
• Step 5 – Defend the Earth by Land
• Step 6 – Don’t Attract Attention
• Step 7 – Attract Attention
• Step 8 – Defend the Earth by Sky
• Step 9 – Take the Fight to the Aliens
• Step 10 – Defeat the Alien Invasion

Layla: A Comprehensive Guide to Cryo Support

Welcome to this in-depth guide on Layla, Genshin Impact’s aspiring scholar and formidable Cryo support. We’ll delve into her abilities, optimal builds, and team compositions to help you master her playstyle.

✦ Quick Infographic ✦

✦ Introduction ✦

Layla is a 4-star Cryo Sword user whose strength lies in her ability to provide consistent off-field Cryo application and a powerful shield. Her kit revolves heavily around maximizing her Max HP, making her a F2P-friendly option. While a damage-focused build is possible, this guide will focus on her optimal role as a Cryo support.

"Huh, glad I saw this. I almost didn’t even notice it."

✦ Talents Overview ✦

✦ Elemental Skill: Nights of Formal Focus ✦

Layla’s Elemental Skill deals AoE Cryo DMG and creates a Cryo Shield known as Curtain of Slumber. This skill is the crux of her off-field Cryo application.

• Cooldown: 12s

Curtain of Slumber (Shield)

• Duration: 12s (100% uptime)
• Absorption: Based on Layla’s Max HP
• Cryo DMG Absorption: 250% effectiveness
• Cryo Application: Briefly applies Cryo to Layla on cast

Night Stars (Off-Field Cryo Application)

• Generation: Every 1.5s, a Night Star is created while the shield is active. Using an Elemental Skill while protected by the shield generates 2 Night Stars (0.3s cooldown).
• Damage: Upon accumulating 4 Night Stars, they will fire at nearby enemies, dealing Cryo DMG.
• Energy Generation: Hitting enemies with Night Stars generates 1 Energy Particle (33% chance for 2) on a 3s cooldown, even when Layla is off-field.

Important Notes:

• Maximum of 4 Night Stars can be active.
• New Night Stars won’t generate until all previous ones have fired.
• Shield breaking or ending prematurely will remove any unfired Night Stars.
• Night Stars have a small AoE on hit.

✦ Elemental Burst: Dream of the Star-Stream Shaker ✦

Layla’s Elemental Burst summons a celestial field that continuously fires projectiles at enemies, dealing Cryo DMG. Each hit also generates Night Stars on a 0.5s cooldown.

• Energy Cost: 40
• Cooldown: 12s
• Duration: 12s

✦ Normal Attack: Sword of the Radiant Path ✦

This encompasses Layla’s Normal, Charged, and Plunging Attacks. While functional, they are not a priority due to her kit’s focus on HP scaling for shield strength and off-field Cryo application.

Normal Attack (NA)

• Performs up to 3 consecutive Physical DMG strikes.

Charged Attack (CA)

• Consumes 20 Stamina to unleash a two-hit Physical DMG attack.

Plunging Attack

• Standard plunging attack dealing AoE Physical DMG.

✦ Passive Talents ✦

✦ Ascension 1: Like Nascent Light ✦

Each time Layla’s shield gains a Night Star, the shielded character’s Shield Strength increases by 6%, stacking up to 4 times. This effect persists until the shield ends, further bolstering Layla’s defensive capabilities.

✦ Ascension 4: Sweet Slumber Undisturbed ✦

This passive increases the DMG dealt by Night Stars generated from Layla’s Elemental Burst by 1.5% of her Max HP. While this enhances their damage, focusing on Crit and DMG% will yield greater returns.

✦ Utility Passive ✦

Layla has a 10% chance to double the product when crafting Character Talent Materials, a valuable asset for long-term character development.

✦ Talent Priority and Playstyle ✦

Prioritize leveling Layla’s Elemental Skill to enhance both her shield’s durability and the damage of her Night Stars. Her Elemental Burst should also be leveled for its consistent Cryo DMG and 100% uptime. Her Normal Attack talent can be left at level 1.

Layla’s playstyle revolves around deploying her shield and Burst off-field, allowing your DPS characters to benefit from consistent Cryo application and a strong shield.

✦ Artifacts and Stats ✦

Artifact Sets

• 4-Piece Tenacity of the Millelith: This is Layla’s best-in-slot set. It provides a 20% HP bonus and increases the ATK of all party members by 20% and their Shield Strength by 30% for 3 seconds after Layla’s Elemental Skill hits an opponent. This set synergizes perfectly with her kit, offering both offensive and defensive benefits.

• 4-Piece Noblesse Oblige: A strong alternative if you haven’t farmed Tenacity. This set grants a 20% Burst DMG bonus and increases all party members’ ATK by 20% for 12 seconds upon casting Layla’s Elemental Burst.

• 4-Piece Instructor: A viable option for teams that benefit from Elemental Mastery. Upon triggering a reaction, this set grants a 120 EM buff to the entire party for 8 seconds. However, its lower HP stats compared to 5-star artifacts may result in a weaker shield.

• 2-Piece Flex (Tenacity/Emblem/Noblesse): Use a combination of 2-piece sets to optimize specific stats if needed.

• Damage Sets (Blizzard Strayer/Emblem of Severed Fate): While viable for a damage-focused build, Layla’s strengths lie in her support capabilities.

Main/Sub Stats

• Ascension Stat: HP (24%)

• Sands: HP% / ER% (depending on ER needs)

• Goblet: HP% / Cryo DMG Bonus

• Circlet: HP% / Crit Rate (if using Favonius Sword)

Prioritize Energy Recharge until you achieve comfortable Burst uptime, followed by HP%, Crit Rate (if using Favonius Sword), and Crit DMG.

✦ Weapons ✦

• Favonius Sword: The ideal F2P-friendly option. Its high Energy Recharge sub-stat helps fuel Layla’s Burst, while its passive generates additional energy particles. Aim for a decent amount of Crit Rate to activate its effect consistently.

• Freedom-Sworn: While Layla doesn’t benefit directly from its stats, the party-wide ATK buff provided by this sword is incredibly potent. Consider this option if your team composition doesn’t require Layla to build ER and her shield remains consistent.

• Key of Khaj-Nisut: The best 5-star option for maximizing Layla’s shield strength due to its HP% sub-stat. However, its EM-sharing effect is less valuable on her.

• Primordial Jade Cutter: Another 5-star option that provides HP and a significant Crit Rate boost. While the Crit Rate is more beneficial for other characters, this sword can be used for a more offensive Layla build.

• Sacrificial Sword: A decent option for ensuring shield uptime, as its passive can reset the cooldown of Layla’s Elemental Skill. However, the effect only triggers on shield cast or when Layla is on-field.

Other Notable Weapons: Xiphos’ Moonlight, Festering Desire, Skyrider Sword, Skyward Blade, and Harbinger of Dawn (F2P option for damage builds).

✦ Teams ✦

Layla’s team compositions often overlap with Diona’s due to their similar roles. However, Layla lacks healing but offers different buffing and energy generation mechanics.

Freeze Teams

Layla excels in Freeze teams, providing consistent Cryo application for perma-freezing enemies. While she lacks Diona’s healing, Freeze teams often don’t require it with proper execution.

Mono Cryo Teams

Layla synergizes well with Shenhe in Mono Cryo teams, providing a shield and further amplifying Cryo DMG.

Fridge Teams

Layla’s Cryo application can be used in "Fridge" teams, where Cryo and Dendro auras coexist on enemies to generate Blooms for Burgeon or Hyperbloom reactions.

Physical Damage Teams

Layla’s shield and Superconduct application make her a valuable asset for Physical DPS characters like Eula and Razor.

Any Team

Layla’s versatility allows her to slot into various team compositions, especially for newer players who need a reliable shielder and off-field Cryo applicator.

✦ Constellations ✦

Layla is a capable support at C0. Consider pulling for constellations if you are particularly fond of her or if she’s featured on a banner with a desired 5-star character.

• C1: Increases shield absorption by 20% and grants nearby party members without a shield a weaker version of Curtain of Slumber upon casting Layla’s Elemental Skill.

• C2: Restores 1 Energy to Layla each time a Shooting Star from Nights of Formal Focus hits an enemy.

• C3: Increases the Level of Nights of Formal Focus by 3.

• C4: Grants nearby party members the Dawn Star effect when Nights of Formal Focus begins firing Shooting Stars, increasing their Normal and Charged Attack DMG based on Layla’s Max HP.

• C5: Increases the Level of Dream of the Star-Stream Shaker by 3.

• C6: Increases the DMG of Shooting Stars and Starlight Slugs by 40% and decreases the interval between Night Star creation by 20%.

A Newbie’s Bestiary: A Comprehensive Guide to Threats in Dwarf Fortress

Welcome to Dwarf Fortress, where the world is your oyster – an oyster filled with a delightful assortment of creatures eager to crack your fortress wide open! This guide will introduce you to the many dangers awaiting your dwarves, from the mundane to the mythical.

Natural Threats

Ordinary Wildlife

While most wild animals won’t go out of their way to attack your fortress, they can be a nuisance. Predators might stalk your dwarves in the wilderness, and some critters may develop a taste for your hard-earned supplies. The general rule of thumb is: if you don’t bother them, they’ll mostly ignore you.

However, the "agitated" wildlife status (new to the Steam version) can turn even docile animals into threats. The cause of this agitation remains a mystery, so be prepared for anything!

Savage and Evil Biomes

Don’t let the inviting names fool you – biomes like "Joyous Wilds" or "Savage Wilds" are anything but. These, along with "Terrifying", "Sinister", and "Haunted" biomes, are home to creatures far more dangerous than your average wild animal.

Savage biomes feature both animal people and giant versions of common creatures. While giant desert scorpions are a thing of the past, giant predators remain a significant threat. On the bright side, some of these behemoths can be captured, tamed, and trained for your military!

Evil biomes harbor a menagerie of unique threats. Ogres, as dangerous as semi-megabeasts, often roam in packs. Harpies combine aggression with aerial superiority, while grimelings drag unsuspecting dwarves to watery graves. And if that wasn’t enough, even more terrifying creatures lurk within these cursed lands.

Undead Wildlife

Evil biomes are also home to the undead – creatures that are inherently aggressive and much harder to kill. While they won’t launch organized attacks, they pose a constant threat to anything venturing outside your fortress walls.

Remember: undead don’t need internal organs! Severed limbs can reanimate as long as they can grasp. Stick to blunt weapons when dealing with these foes, and avoid butchering or hunting in these areas.

Evil Weather

As if the local fauna wasn’t bad enough, evil biomes are often plagued by supernatural weather. Evil rain can range from annoying (human blood, anyone?) to deadly (think contact poison that induces necrosis).

But the real danger lies in the fog. Any creature caught within these ethereal mists risks contracting a disease that instantly transforms them into a thrall – a superpowered undead abomination. To make matters worse, thralls can spread the fog’s effects. Since the fog can’t penetrate walls or doors, staying indoors is your safest bet.

Civilized Creatures

Kobolds

Don’t let their civilized status fool you – kobolds are pesky creatures that dwell in caves and love stealing shiny things. While weak, primitive, and generally disorganized, they are masters of stealth and can infiltrate your fortress with ease. They can disarm traps, pick locks, and will make off with your valuables given the chance.

Guard dogs can help detect these would-be thieves. Once discovered, kobolds usually flee, posing little threat to an armed dwarf. However, if they manage to steal enough loot, they may grow bolder and launch small raiding parties called "ambushes". While not overly dangerous, these ambushes require a small militia to repel.

Goblins

Goblins are the bane of dwarven existence. Ruled by despotic demons, these barbaric creatures are driven by an insatiable hatred for all things dwarven. While individual goblins might be amicable, their civilizations are not. Expect them to become your primary military adversary.

The goblin threat manifests in two ways:

• Baby-snatchers: These solitary infiltrators operate like kobold thieves but with a more sinister goal – kidnapping dwarven children. They can be countered with the same methods used against thieves.
• Sieges: Goblin armies will attempt to overrun your fortress with the intent of wiping out your entire population. These sieges consist of:
  • Goblin infantry: Armed with iron weapons and armor, they are a match for equally equipped dwarves. However, your dwarves’ ability to enter martial trances gives them an edge in large-scale combat. Be wary of other races joining their ranks, often the descendants of enslaved children.
  • Goblin cavalry: Riding a variety of creatures like beak dogs, cave crocodiles, and giant bats, they can bypass moats and even walls.
  • War monsters: Trolls, ogres, and cave dragons, while less organized than their goblin counterparts, can wreak havoc on your fortress, smashing through even locked doors.
  • Demonic rulers: If still alive, the goblins’ demonic overlord might join the fray. These beings are comparable to titans, which we’ll cover later.

Remember: goblins are cowardly creatures. Routing their main force will send the survivors fleeing.

Elves

These pointy-eared, tree-hugging cannibals might not be inherently hostile like goblins or kobolds, but they can be a real pain. Elves revere nature and despise those who exploit it. Trading or gifting them products derived from plants or animals (except those created through their own nature magic) will anger them and could spark a war. They might also try to impose treaties limiting your logging activities. Violating such a treaty inevitably leads to conflict.

Elven aggression takes two forms:

• Ambushes: Large parties, often accompanied by war animals, will attempt to take you by surprise.
• Sieges: Elves will openly assault your fortress in large numbers.

Traditionally considered a minor threat due to their reliance on weak wooden weapons, elves have reportedly received a combat boost in the Steam release.

Humans

Humans generally make for good neighbors and trading partners. They are incredibly difficult to offend in trade (short of murdering their merchants, you’re probably good) and relatively easy to get along with. However, they might still declare war on you during world generation.

In warfare, humans are slightly larger than dwarves and wield iron weapons and armor. They don’t bother with subterfuge – when humans go to war, they send a large army to besiege your fortress. Expect both infantry and cavalry to come knocking at your gate. They will encamp outside your fortress for a time before launching their assault.

Dwarves

Unless you actively seek it out, facing your kin in battle is highly unlikely. However, starting a war with another dwarven kingdom is possible. Like humans, dwarves prefer sieges to ambushes. Unlike humans, they wield steel weapons and armor, enter martial trances when outnumbered, and might bring cave creatures as mounts and war animals. Be prepared to face an enemy that utilizes your own tactics.

Even worse is the possibility of conflict with your own kingdom. This triggers a "loyalty cascade" – a devastating event that plunges your fortress into civil war, followed by a chaotic free-for-all. There’s no reliable way to salvage your fortress once this begins. Avoid attacking your own kingdom at all costs.

Bandits

Occasionally, bandit gangs composed of goblins, humans, or kobolds might attempt to besiege your fortress. However, these sieges are significantly weaker than those launched by organized civilizations. Bandit forces are smaller, typically lack cavalry or war animals, and are poorly equipped.

Night Creatures

Ghosts

A dwarf denied a proper burial might return to haunt your fortress as a ghost. The type of ghost depends on the dwarf’s personality in life and the circumstances of their death. They can range from harmless phantoms to vengeful, murderous spirits.

To deal with a ghost, lay the deceased to rest by either burying them in a tomb or, if the body is irretrievable, constructing and engraving a memorial slab. Ensure these graves are well-protected – desecration or destruction will bring back the ghost in its most aggressive form.

Werebeasts

These cursed individuals transform into monstrous beasts once a month. They are rarely found in civilization, often choosing to live as hermits in the wilderness.

Werebeasts will stealthily approach your fortress. Amusingly, they still undergo their transformations even when already inside, leading to descriptions of naked humans in the same tone used for megabeasts. In their civilized form, they pose no greater threat than any other human, dwarf, or elf, and will flee from combat. However, their beast form is far more dangerous, requiring a dedicated militia to defeat.

The greatest threat from werebeasts lies in their curse’s contagious nature. Any dwarf bitten by a werebeast has a chance of becoming one themselves. Quarantine any survivors of a werebeast attack for a month to identify and contain the infection.

Vampires

Cursed with immortality and an unquenchable thirst for blood, vampires can pass for living members of their race. They might infiltrate your fortress disguised as dwarven immigrants, lying about their age to conceal their true nature. Look for inconsistencies in their skills or accomplishments – a young dwarf with expertise beyond their years might be a vampire in disguise.

Vampires don’t require food, drink, or sleep. While they don’t NEED to drink blood, they will indulge their cravings. They feed on sleeping dwarves, draining them of blood and killing them. The game won’t explicitly identify vampires, so you must rely on observation and deduction. Be wary of framing attempts – vampires are cunning and manipulative.

Despite their dangers, vampires can be surprisingly useful. Their lack of basic needs makes them ideal for menial tasks like bookkeeping or lever pulling. As living creatures, they are also immune to attacks from mindless undead.

A word of caution: ingesting vampire blood turns a dwarf into a vampire. Use this knowledge responsibly (or for chaotic fun, your choice).

Necromancers

These immortal wizards command armies of the dead from their secluded towers. Angering a necromancer or settling too close to their domain will provoke their wrath. Expect both ambushes and sieges.

A necromancer’s army consists of:

• Mindless undead: While generally unarmed and unarmored, they are incredibly resilient.
• Intelligent undead: Retaining the skills and equipment they possessed in life, these undead pose a significant threat.
• Necromancers: Capable of reanimating the dead with ease, as long as the corpse can move. Even a severed hand can become a weapon in their hands.

Using blunt weapons against undead armies is highly recommended.

Megabeasts

Semi-Megabeasts

Large and powerful creatures like minotaurs, giants, cyclopes, and ettins, semi-megabeasts are drawn to sufficiently large and prosperous fortresses. They pose a serious threat to civilians and can destroy doors, but a well-prepared military should be able to handle them.

Hydras

These massive, seven-headed serpents are the smallest of the true megabeasts. Each head can attack independently, and the hydra can survive as long as a single head remains. Their multiple heads also provide defense, blocking attacks aimed at the body. While they can’t regrow lost heads, hydras possess a potent healing factor.

When facing a hydra, you have two options:

• Use piercing weapons and aim for vital organs like the lungs or heart.
• Attempt to sever the heads with slashing weapons.

Dragons

These fire-breathing behemoths are the stuff of legends. While their physical prowess is formidable, their true terror lies in their fiery breath – one of the deadliest attacks in the game. Dragonfire burns four times hotter than the sun’s surface, incinerating or melting almost anything in its path.

Dwarves caught in a dragonfire blast are almost certainly doomed. However, shields offer some protection. Dragons themselves are immune to all fire damage.

Dragonfire ignites plants and trees, potentially starting massive wildfires that endanger dwarves far from the initial conflict. Engaging a dragon in a barren or underground environment is advisable. Ranged weapons and shields are your best bet.

Rocs

These colossal birds of prey are a force to be reckoned with. While lacking special attacks, their ability to fly allows them to bypass ground-based defenses. Never assume that unroofed walls will protect your fortress from these airborne threats!

Bronze Colossi

These towering humanoids are made of solid bronze, making them walking tanks. Most weapons will only scratch their metallic hide. To stand a chance, equip your military with steel weapons or utilize environmental hazards like magma to melt them down.

Titans

These gigantic nature spirits are a law unto themselves. Each titan is unique, its abilities dictated by the environment it spawned from. This makes creating a comprehensive guide to titans nearly impossible. However, some traits deserve special attention:

• Rock or metal bodies: These natural defenses make titans incredibly difficult to kill. You’ll need high-quality metal weapons, preferably steel, to stand a chance. If the titan itself is made of steel, consider indirect methods of combat. Note that iron and steel titans are immune to magma.
• Toxic blood, vapor, or gas: These can be deadly depending on the toxin’s potency. Effects range from mild dizziness to rapid flesh decay.
• Web attacks: Titans can shoot webs to ensnare and immobilize your dwarves, leaving them vulnerable to follow-up attacks. Keep your distance and utilize ranged weapons.
• Dust attacks: These blasts of dust particles can knock dwarves down and potentially inflict them with toxins. While titans made of organic or fragile materials might harm themselves with their own dust attacks, it’s best to avoid direct confrontation with these behemoths.

The Underground

General Underground Wildlife

As a rule of thumb, underground creatures are more dangerous and aggressive than their surface counterparts. While many are relatively harmless or pose no unique threat, caution is always advised. Notable threats include blind cave trolls, cave crocodiles, and cave dragons.

Animal People Tribes

These subterranean societies, while considered civilized, don’t adhere to the same rules as other civilizations. Most tribes, even hostile ones, will keep to themselves rather than launch organized attacks. However, their primitive weapons are often coated in deadly poisons.

Magma Dwellers

These creatures are immune to fire and magma, often wielding fire-based attacks. While relatively fragile, they can be a significant threat if they reach your fortress. Keep them away from flammable materials, especially your booze stockpile.

Giant Cave Spiders

These monstrous arachnids are among the deadliest "ordinary" creatures you’ll encounter. They possess a potent fast-acting paralytic venom and can trap victims in their webs. Engaging them from a distance, outside their web range, is crucial. Large war animals like elephants or giant surface predators are less susceptible to the venom due to their size. Always equip your dwarves with helmets, as giant cave spiders tend to aim for the head.

Hidden Fun Stuff

Some things are best left undisturbed in the earth’s depths. If you’re unlucky enough to encounter them, refer to the titan section above, as they share similar characteristics. Good luck, you’ll need it.

Mastering Wilton’s Night: A Crimson Banquet Guide

Wilton’s Night can be a tricky event to master in Love Nikki, especially when it comes to deciphering those challenging themes. But don’t worry, this guide is here to help you navigate the Crimson Banquet like a pro! We’ll break down the most common themes, highlighting what to look for and what to avoid, with visual examples to guide your choices.

Important Note: Achieving 100% accuracy is tough! Sometimes, the options are so random it’s a gamble. This guide aims to boost your success rate to 90%, so don’t be discouraged by the occasional curveball.

Winter Day Fashion

Look for: Nikki in a cozy, casual style. Think tennis shoes or fuzzy boots, layered outfits with hats, scarves, and warm coats. This theme prioritizes the "warm" tag, so when in doubt, choose the more layered Nikki. If both options are simple, favor the one with a scarf or warm hat. Be mindful of overlap with the "Colorful Summer Night" theme.

Avoid: Formal wear like ball gowns and office attire. Steer clear of items from the "City Beauty" and "Star of the Dinner Party" themes. Be cautious with pieces from the "Sentimental Time" theme, like the "Tranquil Time" recolor (see third image below). Remember the overlap with "Colorful Summer Night" and don’t rule out those items.

Image of Winter Day Fashion Example 1

Image of Winter Day Fashion Example 2

Image of Winter Day Fashion Example 3

Colorful Summer Night

Look for: This theme is deceptively simple. Nikki might be sporting scarves due to the "simple" tag. Opt for a plain, cute, and somewhat sporty look. Surprisingly, "warm" items like scarves and hats can appear here – it’s all about the "simple" tag. If unsure, choose the Nikki showing more skin or wearing plainer clothes.

Think of "Colorful Summer Night" as the more casual, playful younger sister of "Winter Day Fashion."

Avoid: Anything overly fancy, sexy, or mature. This includes ball gowns, office attire, and glamorous party dresses.

Image of Colorful Summer Night Example 1

Image of Colorful Summer Night Example 2

Image of Colorful Summer Night Example 3

Sentimental Time

Look for: Nikki in her cutesy, girly element. Think frills, bows, overalls, pink dresses (both short and frilly), and youthful accessories. Prioritize "lively," "cute," and "pure" looks. When unsure, choose the softer-looking Nikki.

Avoid: Ball gowns, even Nikki’s Dance (it’s pink but too formal for this theme). Steer clear of overly fancy shoes, office heels, mature-looking heels, elaborate headdresses, masquerade masks, crows, fancy hats, and the like.

Image of Sentimental Time Example 1

Image of Sentimental Time Example 2

Image of Sentimental Time Example 3

City Beauty

Look for: Nikki channeling her inner "Office Lady." Look for classic office wear like button-up shirts, tailored pants, and items tagged "office lady." Alternatively, she might be in a slightly formal, alluring night-out dress with plain heels. "Cheesecake" shoes are a favorite for this theme.

Pro Tip: In the last image below, notice the "Cheesecake" shoes peeking out from under the cloud-like coat. If facing wildcard Nikkis not in office attire, choose the more mature, sexy, and gorgeous option.

Avoid: While cloud items can be tricky, avoid the two specific kimonos and their recolors (they appear as competitors often). Also, steer clear of overly cutesy, girly pieces with bows – anything belonging to the "Sentimental Time" theme.

Image of City Beauty Example 1

Image of City Beauty Example 2

Image of City Beauty Example 3

Star of the Dinner Party

Look for: Nikki at her most glamorous and mature. She often wears distinctive headdresses like masquerade masks, head beads, butterfly face coverings, "buddy" sunglasses, or the red flowers (see last image below). Ball gowns are common, as are items with "European" and "evening gown" tags.

Think of "Star of the Dinner Party" as the regal, ultra-formal older sister of "City Beauty." Both share similar elements, but "Star of the Dinner Party" takes it up a notch with ball gowns and a focus on the "gorgeous" tag. Occasionally, she might appear in sparkly, sexy clubwear that overlaps with "City Beauty."

Avoid: Anything overly pure, casual, or belonging to the "Sentimental Time" theme. Steer clear of Nikkis who look cute and lively.

Image of Star of the Dinner Party Example 1

Image of Star of the Dinner Party Example 2

Important Note: Avoid the dress in the middle of this image, even though it looks like a ball gown. Its "pure" tag makes it a common trap!

Elite500’s Challenger Vladimir Guide

About the Author

Elite500 is a passionate and dedicated streamer who has been captivating audiences since Season 3 of League of Legends. With extensive experience playing Vladimir since Season 5, reaching a peak rank of Challenger 552 LP in Season 8, Elite500 brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to this comprehensive guide.

Why Choose Vladimir, the Crimson Reaper?

Vladimir, the Crimson Reaper, stands as a formidable force in League of Legends, capable of single-handedly carrying games and decimating opponents. His appeal lies in his unparalleled 1v9 potential, making him a highly effective champion in both low and high elo.

But Vladimir offers more than just raw power. He boasts an impressive array of strengths, including:

• Exceptional 1v9 Carry Potential: Turn the tides of battle and seize victory through sheer dominance.
• Effectiveness Across Skill Levels: Excel in both low and high elo, adapting to various competitive environments.
• Devastating Burst and DPS: Obliterate enemies with a potent combination of burst damage and sustained DPS.
• AoE and Single-Target Prowess: Control the battlefield with area-of-effect spells and focused single-target damage.
• Team Fight and Dueling Dominance: Lead the charge in team fights while maintaining dominance in 1v1 engagements.
• Strong Presence Throughout the Game: Remain a formidable force from early game to late game.
• Unique and Adaptable Build Path: Tailor your build to suit your playstyle and counter your opponents.
• Resource-Less Champion: Focus on maximizing your damage output without the constraint of managing mana.
• High Skill Ceiling and Outplay Potential: Master Vladimir’s intricate mechanics to outmaneuver and overpower your opponents.

Vladimir’s steep mastery curve is a testament to his high skill ceiling. While his win rate starts at 39.9%, it steadily climbs to an impressive 54.7% after 100 games. This guide will equip you with the knowledge and strategies to navigate the early-game challenges and unlock Vladimir’s true potential.

However, even a god has weaknesses:

Vladimir’s overwhelming power is balanced by his limited range, lack of mobility, and vulnerability to ganks. Mastering his positioning and game sense is crucial to mitigating these weaknesses.

Runes: Unleashing Vladimir’s True Potential

Vladimir’s rune setup has evolved significantly, and the current optimal setup maximizes his strengths:

Primary: Sorcery

Phase Rush: This keystone rune is the engine of Vladimir’s mobility. Its synergy with his abilities, particularly his ultimate, allows for rapid repositioning in team fights and swift escapes from ganks.

Transcendence: With 10% CDR at level 10, Transcendence fuels Vladimir’s DPS, sustain, and allows for exceeding the CDR cap.

Nimbus Cloak: Amplify your speed even further with Nimbus Cloak, enhancing Phase Rush procs and enabling aggressive plays.

Gathering Storm: As the game progresses, Gathering Storm provides escalating AP, bolstering Vladimir’s late-game carry potential.

Secondary: Inspiration

Magical Footwear: Free boots at 10 minutes grant valuable early movement speed and a significant power spike.

Cosmic Insight: The 5% CDR across the board is invaluable, reducing the cooldowns of summoner spells, Protobelt, and Zhonya’s Hourglass.

Rune Shards

• Scaling CDR: Further enhance your CDR, amplifying your damage output and spell rotation.
• Adaptive Force: Bolster your early game with bonus AP, increasing your lane pressure.
• Health: Vladimir’s HP-to-AP conversion benefits from additional health, providing both durability and damage.

Summoner Spells: Tools for Domination

Flash

Flash remains an indispensable summoner spell, offering unparalleled kill potential and escape opportunities. Its synergy with Vladimir’s ultimate allows for devastating engages and flawless execution.

Ignite

Ignite complements Vladimir’s aggressive playstyle, providing additional kill pressure, securing early leads, and synergizing with Phase Rush.

Abilities: Mastering the Crimson Arts

Q – Transfusion: The Life Steal

Vladimir’s Q is your primary tool for sustaining in lane and harassing opponents. Utilize its empowered state to zone enemies, secure last hits, and punish aggressive plays.

W – Sanguine Pool: The Untouchable

Sanguine Pool is Vladimir’s trump card for dodging crucial abilities and mitigating damage. Master its timing to avoid ganks, escape unfavorable situations, and create counterplay opportunities.

E – Tides of Blood: The AoE Powerhouse

Tides of Blood is Vladimir’s primary source of AoE damage and wave clear. Use it cautiously in the early game due to its health cost, but unleash its full potential in team fights and skirmishes.

R – Hemoplague: The Game Changer

Hemoplague is a game-changing ultimate that amplifies all damage dealt to affected enemies while healing Vladimir upon detonation. Mastering its placement and timing is crucial for securing kills, turning team fights, and asserting dominance.

Item Build: Forging the Path to Victory

Vladimir’s item build is adaptable, but the following core items provide a strong foundation:

Starting Items

• Doran’s Ring: Standard starting item for mana regeneration and ability power.
• Health Potion: Sustain through early game trades and harass.

Core Items

• Protobelt: A must-have item that grants AP, health, CDR, and a valuable active for mobility and engaging.
• Sorcerer’s Shoes: Magic penetration amplifies your damage against squishy targets.
• Fiendish Codex: Provides an early CDR spike and builds into more powerful items later.

Situational Items

• Mejai’s Soulstealer: High-risk, high-reward item that provides massive AP if stacked successfully.
• Rabadon’s Deathcap: The ultimate AP item, significantly increasing your damage output.
• Void Staff: Essential against teams with magic resist, allowing you to penetrate through their defenses.
• Zhonya’s Hourglass: Provides armor and an active that grants invulnerability, ideal for surviving burst damage.
• Morellonomicon: Reduces healing on enemy champions and provides grievous wounds, countering sustain-heavy compositions.
• Liandry’s Anguish: Excellent against tanky teams, dealing bonus damage based on the target’s maximum health.

Gameplay: From Lane to Late Game Dominance

Early Game

• Play Safe: Vladimir is vulnerable in the early game. Focus on farming, scaling, and avoiding unnecessary trades.
• Utilize Q for Sustain: Transfusion’s healing allows you to stay in lane longer and sustain through harass.
• Respect Enemy Jungler: Vladimir’s lack of mobility makes him susceptible to ganks. Ward strategically and track the enemy jungler’s movements.

Mid Game

• Look for Roaming Opportunities: Once you have Protobelt, you gain increased mobility and kill pressure. Look for opportunities to impact other lanes.
• Group for Objectives: Vladimir’s team fight presence becomes more potent in the mid game. Group with your team to secure objectives and control the map.

Late Game

• Team Fight Positioning: Position yourself carefully in team fights, aiming to land your ultimate on as many enemies as possible.
• Prioritize High-Value Targets: Focus on eliminating or severely damaging the enemy’s carries and high-damage threats.
• Utilize Your Full Kit: Master the timing and synergy of your abilities to maximize your damage output and survivability.

General Tips: Refining Your Crimson Skills

• You can cast E – Tides of Blood while in W – Sanguine Pool.
• Both the initial cast and the damage portion of R – Hemoplague count as procs for Phase Rush.
• You can extend the duration of your empowered Q – Transfusion by using W – Sanguine Pool, charging E – Tides of Blood, or activating Zhonya’s Hourglass.
• W – Sanguine Pool has a long cooldown. Be mindful of its availability and avoid taking unnecessary risks when it’s down.
• Vladimir’s range is limited. Utilize Phase Rush and other movement speed enhancements to close the gap and avoid being kited.

Conclusion

Vladimir, the Crimson Reaper, is a complex and rewarding champion capable of achieving extraordinary feats on the Rift. By mastering his abilities, understanding his strengths and weaknesses, and implementing the strategies outlined in this guide, you’ll be well on your way to dominating your opponents and ascending the ranks.

Beginner’s Guide to Epic Seven

Welcome to Epic Seven! This guide will provide you with all the information you need to get started on your journey in this exciting gacha RPG.

1. Starting Team and Rerolling

After you start the game and complete the tutorial, you will receive 30 Covenant Bookmarks, which can be used for 10 summons each. You are guaranteed to get at least one 5-star Hero within these first 30 summons. Many players choose to reroll their initial summons until they obtain a powerful combination of starting Heroes.

Heroes to Aim For

Here are some of the top-tier Heroes you should aim for when rerolling:

5-Stars

• Sez: An excellent DPS and farming unit with heal block. He is also a strong pick for PvP Cleave teams.
• Vildred: Another great DPS and farming unit who excels in PvP Cleave teams.
• Aramintha: A versatile unit who combines heal block, burn damage, and attack buffing.
• Destina: One of the best healers in the game, capable of cleansing debuffs.
• Ravi: A slow but extremely durable offensive tank.

4-Stars

• Angelica: A top-tier healer who provides immunity and barriers.
• Achates: A strong healer who can grant invincibility.
• Schuri: A powerful unit who can manipulate Combat Readiness (turn order).
• Armin: A tanky healer who can inflict blind and poison.
• Clarissa: A strong DPS and farming unit with debuffing capabilities.
• Lots: A healer who can manipulate Combat Readiness.
• Karin: A single-target nuker with defense break.
• Silk: A speedy unit who can both buff and debuff speed.
• Cidd: A single-target nuker with defense break.
• Surin: A powerful debuffer who can inflict bleed and extend debuffs.

3-Stars

• Hazel: Provides attack buff, healing, and heal block.
• Kiris: Excels at taking down bosses due to her poison.
• Taranor Guard: Offers defense break and Combat Readiness manipulation.
• Jecht: A healer who provides speed buff and cleanse.
• Carmainrose: A DPS unit who can strip buffs and self-buff.
• Mistychain: A sub-healer with heal block and attack break.
• Kluri: A self-sustaining tank who shines after her specialty change.

Ideal Starting Team:

A strong starting team should include one DPS unit, one healer, one buffer, and one debuffer. Sez and Angelica make an excellent core for any starting team.

Important Note: Healers in Epic Seven typically scale their healing based on their own HP. Therefore, it’s generally recommended to build them tanky and use them as your frontline tank.

2. Progression After 1-10

Once you’ve assembled a solid team, here’s what you should focus on:

• Progress through the Story: Focus on building one strong team to efficiently clear the story mode.
• Abyss Tower: This challenging tower offers amazing rewards. Don’t be afraid to use the "purification" option to spend gold for a chance to obtain helpful buffs.
• Daily Missions: Complete these for free Skystones (premium currency).
• PvP Arena: Participate in the Arena to earn weekly Skystone rewards based on your rank.
• Awaken Your Heroes: Use your limited Molagora (skill upgrade materials) wisely. Prioritize upgrading your healer and support units first.
• Join a Guild: Contribute to your guild and request elemental runes to earn Guild Points.

3. Building Your First 6-Star Heroes

• Priority 1: DPS/Farmer: 6-starring your primary damage dealer or farming unit will significantly speed up your progression.
• Priority 2: Frontline/Healer: Increasing the survivability of your frontline unit or healer will make your team much more stable.

4. Unlocking Endgame Content

After clearing 10-10 on normal difficulty, you’ll unlock:

• Moonlight Summons: Use your Galaxy Bookmarks to summon powerful Moonlight Heroes.
• World Mode: Explore a vast world with various challenges and rewards.
• Specialty Change Quests: Complete these quests to unlock powerful upgrades for certain Heroes.
• Hunt Challenges: Assemble teams to farm essential gear materials.
• Rank Up to 50: Unlocks the highest grade gear from the shop.
• Raid Content: Team up with others to take down challenging bosses.

5. Hunt Teambuilding and Mechanics

Hunts are challenging battles that reward you with valuable gear crafting materials. Here’s a breakdown of the first three Hunts:

Wyvern (Fire Element)

Mechanics:

• The Wyvern gains an extra turn if there are fewer than two debuffs on it.
• Upon using its ultimate, it cleanses all debuffs and buffs, gains a shield, and its speed is reduced.
• If the shield isn’t broken before its next turn, it unleashes a devastating AoE attack.
• Standard attacks have a chance to inflict poison.

Team Building:

• Bruiser Teams: Focus on high HP and defense, with one or two healers, a defense buffer, a defense breaker, and a DPS.
• Debuff Teams: Utilize multiple debuffers (like Surin) to prevent the Wyvern from taking extra turns. A fast Combat Readiness manipulator like Schuri is crucial for this strategy.

Golem (Earth Element)

Mechanics:

• Accompanied by two units: a small healer and a crystal that buffs the Golem’s attack and defense.
• Every direct attack (including Guardian attacks) charges the Golem’s "Revenge" ultimate.
• The Golem’s attacks can stun and defense break.
• Damage output increases the longer the fight goes on.

Team Building:

• Heal Block Teams: Utilize Heroes like Hazel, Haste, Aramintha, Baal & Sezan, and Wanderer Silk to prevent the Golem from being healed.
• Poison Teams: Focus on inflicting poison with Heroes like Kiris to bypass the Golem’s mechanics.

Banshee (Water Element)

Mechanics:

• At 66% and 33% HP, the Banshee cleanses and silences your team, then splits into four smaller Banshees.
• You must kill the smaller Banshees quickly, leaving the Light element Banshee for last.
• If the smaller Banshees aren’t killed quickly enough, the main Banshee will resummon and unleash a powerful AoE attack.

Team Building:

• "Skip" Teams: Utilize a defense breaker, attack buffer, and a strong single-target DPS to kill the Banshee before it can split.
• "Normal" Teams: Focus on AoE damage with Heroes like Vildred and Bellona to quickly dispatch the smaller Banshees.

6. Raid Content

Raids are challenging endgame content that requires careful planning and coordination. Here’s a brief overview of each Raid boss:

Devourer Arahakan (West-North-West)

Normal Mode:

• Starts with two Spiky adds and gains strength over time.
• Has a 90% damage reduction shield that disappears when the adds are defeated or when Arahakan uses its ultimate.
• The ultimate blocks new buffs, has a chance to inflict slow, and summons two weaker adds.

Hell Mode:

• Features two Spider adds that steal buffs, grant enemies Combat Readiness, and heal Arahakan when their HP is higher than his.

Recommended Strategy:

• Focus on killing the adds while using AoE attacks and Guardian attacks to slowly chip away at Arahakan’s health.
• Once Arahakan’s health is low enough, switch to single-target attacks to finish him off before the Spiders can heal him.

Executioner Karkanis (East-North-East)

• Enters stealth mode at 66% and 33% HP. Use an AoE attack to bring him out of stealth.
• Counterattacks if the attacker has a debuff applied.
• Adds are highly durable and best used as distractions.

Secretary Vera (South-West)

• A DPS check encounter.
• At 50% HP, Vera transforms into a cocoon and spawns eggs.
• Destroy the cocoon quickly to prevent Vera from becoming stronger.

Juleeve Council (South-East)

• A survival-focused encounter.
• Gains buffs for each debuff applied to him.
• Inflicts poison and strips buffs.
• Splits into three swarms at 66% and 33% HP, dealing damage and stripping buffs each turn.

Queen (North)

• Starts with four eggs, two of which hatch into Arahakan adds when attacked.
• Attacking the Arahakan adds damages the Queen.
• At 50% HP, two more eggs hatch, releasing Bee adds that can counterattack.
• The Queen grows stronger over time and can inflict buff strip and cooldown increase.

This guide provides a solid foundation for your Epic Seven journey. Remember to focus on building a strong team, completing daily tasks, and progressing through the game’s content at your own pace. Good luck, and may your summons be legendary!

Compilation of Useful Links

• Epic Seven Reddit
• Epic Seven Wiki

Elite500’s Challenger Guide to Vladimir

About Me

Hello! I’m Elite500, a streamer and multi-season League of Legends veteran. I’ve been playing since Season 3, and Vladimir has been my go-to champion since Season 5. I peaked at Challenger 552 LP in Season 8, and now I’m excited to share my knowledge with you in my first-ever guide. I welcome any constructive criticism!

Why You Should Play the Crimson Reaper

I started maining Vladimir around Season 6 when I realized I could carry games and 1v9 much more effectively than with any other champion I played at the time (sorry, Zed and Yasuo!). This was even before his rework, which only made him stronger.

So, why should you play Vladimir?

• 1v9 Potential: Vladimir is insanely effective at taking over games. I’ve won countless matches by single-handedly dominating the enemy team.
• Fun Factor: There’s nothing quite like the feeling of absolutely CRUSHING and DEMOLISHING your opponents in mere seconds.
• Effectiveness Across Ranks: He’s a strong pick in both low and high elo.
• Versatile Kit: Vladimir boasts insane burst damage and DPS, AoE and single-target spells, team fighting and 1v1 dominance. He’s a menace in the early, mid, and late game.
• Unique Build Path: You have flexibility in your itemization to adapt to different team compositions and matchups.
• Resource-less: No mana to worry about, just pure, unadulterated power.
• High Skill Ceiling: Mastering Vladimir takes time and dedication, but the rewards are immense. He has one of the steepest mastery curves in the game, with a winrate that scales incredibly well with mastery. According to statistics, his winrate climbs from 39.9% to a whopping 54.7% after 100 games. This guide will help you navigate the early learning curve and reach that juicy 55% winrate (or even higher!).

Here’s a prime example of Vladimir’s 1v9 potential. We were losing 6-15 at one point with a disconnected top laner, but I managed to turn the tides and secure the victory.

Tl;dr: Play Vlad. Make enemy HP go poof.

But Elite, if he’s so strong, why doesn’t everyone play him?

Well, he does have some weaknesses:

• Short Range: Vladimir’s biggest weakness is his limited range.
• Immobile: He has zero mobility spells, making him vulnerable to ganks and kiting.
• No Waveclear: Farming can be slow and tedious, especially early on.
• Punishing if Behind: Falling behind on Vladimir can make it extremely difficult to impact the game.
• Difficult to Master: As mentioned earlier, Vladimir has a steep learning curve. Mastering his kit and reaching his full potential requires time and effort.

Runes

Vladimir’s optimal rune setup has evolved significantly over recent patches. Here’s the current build I recommend:

Primary: Sorcery

• Phase Rush: This keystone is crucial for overcoming Vladimir’s lack of mobility. It allows you to escape ganks, chase down fleeing enemies, and even dive the backline in team fights. The beauty of Phase Rush is that the initial ult cast (not the damage portion) counts as an attack, making it incredibly easy to proc.
• Transcendence: 10% CDR at level 10 means more DPS, more sustain, and the possibility of exceeding the CDR cap.
• Nimbus Cloak: More speed! Nimbus Cloak synergizes perfectly with Phase Rush, giving you an extra boost after casting your ultimate.
• Gathering Storm: This rune provides valuable scaling AP, allowing you to become an unstoppable late-game monster.

Secondary: Inspiration

• Magical Footwear: Free boots? More AP? Yes, please! This rune gives you even more early-game power.
• Cosmic Insight: The 5% CDR on everything is incredibly valuable on Vladimir. It affects your items (Protobelt, Zhonya’s), summoner spells, and even your abilities, allowing you to reach that crucial 40%+ CDR spike even earlier.

Mini Runes

• Ability Haste: More casts, more damage, more fun!
• Adaptive Force: Provides a nice damage boost in the early game.
• Health: Vladimir’s passive converts bonus health into AP, making this a great choice for extra damage and survivability.

Summoner Spells

• Flash: Essential for making aggressive plays and escaping sticky situations. Flash + Protobelt + Sanguine Pool is a deadly combination that gives your opponents zero counterplay.
• Ignite: Provides extra kill pressure, helps secure early leads, and synergizes well with Phase Rush. Plus, it just makes you look like a true Chad.

Abilities and Early Usage

Q – Transfusion

Your bread-and-butter ability. In the early game, focus on using Transfusion to harass your opponent and sustain your health. Try to weave in empowered Qs whenever possible, as they deal significant damage and heal you for a surprising amount. Don’t be afraid to take bad trades early on, as your sustain will allow you to come out on top.

W – Sanguine Pool

Your get-out-of-jail-free card. Sanguine Pool is a powerful defensive tool that makes you untargetable and grants a brief movement speed boost. However, it has a long cooldown and costs a significant portion of your health, so use it wisely. In the early game, consider using it to dodge key abilities or escape ganks.

E – Tides of Blood

Your primary damage-dealing ability. Tides of Blood deals AoE damage and can be charged up for increased damage and healing. However, it also costs a percentage of your current health, so be mindful of your HP when using it. In the early game, try to land E only when you’re guaranteed to hit your opponent, as the health cost can be punishing.

R – Hemoplague

Your game-changing ultimate. Hemoplague deals AoE damage, amplifies all damage taken by affected enemies, and heals you for a percentage of the damage dealt. In team fights, your goal is to land Hemoplague on as many enemies as possible, prioritizing squishy targets.

Items

Vladimir’s build path can be flexible, but here’s the core build I recommend:

1. Protobelt: This item is core on Vladimir, providing everything he needs: AP, health, CDR, a movement ability, and even an attack to proc Phase Rush.
2. Sorcerer’s Shoes: Magic penetration is crucial for maximizing your damage output.
3. Fiendish Codex: Building this early will grant you a significant CDR spike, allowing you to spam your abilities more frequently.
4. Mejai’s Soulstealer: If you’re confident in your ability to snowball a lead, Mejai’s is a must-buy. The extra AP will make you an unstoppable force.
5. Rabadon’s Deathcap: The ultimate AP item. Deathcap will significantly amplify your damage output, allowing you to melt through even the tankiest of opponents.
6. Void Staff: Essential for dealing with enemies who stack magic resistance.

Final Item Options:

• Zhonya’s Hourglass: Provides valuable armor and stasis, allowing you to survive burst damage and make clutch plays.
• Morellonomicon: Inflicts Grievous Wounds, reducing enemy healing and regeneration.
• Liandry’s Torment: Excellent against tanks and enemies with high health regeneration.

Gameplay

Early Game

Vladimir is relatively weak in the early game, but don’t let that discourage you. Focus on farming safely, harassing your opponent with Transfusion, and scaling up for the mid-game. Avoid unnecessary trades and roams, and prioritize staying alive.

Mid Game

Once you have Protobelt and a few levels under your belt, you’ll start to feel Vladimir’s power. Look for opportunities to roam and impact other lanes, or continue farming and scaling if your team is ahead.

Late Game

In the late game, Vladimir truly shines. With a full build, you become an unstoppable force capable of 1v5ing team fights. Your goal is to land Hemoplague on as many enemies as possible, then unleash your full combo for devastating results.

Combos

• Basic Combo: E – Q – (Empowered Q)
• All-In Combo: R – Flash – Protobelt – Ignite – E – W – Q
• Extended Trade Combo: E – W – (Charge E during pool) – Q – (Empowered Q)

General Tips

• You can cast Tides of Blood (E) while in Sanguine Pool (W).
• Both the initial cast and the damage portion of Hemoplague (R) count as an attack for Phase Rush.
• You can extend the duration of your empowered Q by casting Sanguine Pool (W), charging Tides of Blood (E), or activating Zhonya’s Hourglass.
• Sanguine Pool has a long cooldown, so be mindful of your positioning and avoid wasting it.
• Vladimir has short range, so be aware of your positioning and avoid getting kited.
• Ban Kassadin. He’s a difficult matchup for Vladimir at all stages of the game.

Matchup Sheet

Here’s a link to my slightly outdated matchup sheet. It’s based on the old Electrocute rune, but I’ll update it for Phase Rush soon!

Skin Tier List (Very Important!)

• Marquis Vladimir: For the stylish player.
• Blood Lord Vladimir: For flexing on your enemies with bonus armor.
• Dark Waters Vladimir: For an almost pay-to-win invisible ultimate.

Closing Words

Thank you for taking the time to read my guide! I hope you found it informative and entertaining. I’m excited to see you dominate the Rift as the Crimson Reaper!

Be sure to follow me on Twitch for more Vladimir gameplay and entertainment: https://www.twitch.tv/elite500/

Honkai: Star Rail Trailblaze Power Efficiency Guide

Reaching the endgame in Honkai: Star Rail (HSR) can feel daunting, especially when managing your precious Trailblaze Power (TB). This guide provides efficient strategies for allocating TB power, saving you both time and resources. While focused on TB efficiency, these tips will also help you save millions of credits.

This guide is geared towards players at or approaching endgame (Trailblaze Level 60+). Whether you’re a free-to-play player or light spender, these principles apply.

Character Ascension, Levels, and Traces

Prioritize Ascensions for Key Traces:

• Ascend most characters to level 70/80 to unlock their Ascension 6 (A6) Trace. A6 Traces often provide significant benefits.
• If a character’s A6 Trace isn’t impactful, leaving them at 70/70 is acceptable.

Support Character Considerations:

• Supports generally don’t need Light Cones (LCs) leveled past 70 unless survivability is an issue.
• If a support scales with ATK/DEF/HP, maxing those stats can be beneficial long-term.
• Prioritize HP and defensive stats over offensive stats for supports. A support that stays alive is more valuable than slightly increased damage. Aim for around 3.5k HP or higher for Memory of Chaos (MoC) 10.

Carry Character Considerations:

• Only prioritize leveling your main damage dealers (carries) to level 80. The cost from 70 to 80 is significant.
• Level your carries’ LCs to 80.

Trace Optimization:

• Prioritize significant Traces on supports to 8/10. Going past 8/10 offers less value, especially early on. 9/10 is a good long-term goal.
• Avoid investing in Traces for basic attacks, supports’ offensive nodes (e.g., Bronya’s wind damage), or support skills that scale damage without utility (e.g., Gepard’s skill, Pela’s skill).
• Stat-boosting Traces are situational. For example, Pela benefits from Effect Hit Rate Traces, but her Ice Damage Traces are less useful.

Relic Farming and Enhancement

Relic Focus:

• After leveling, ascending, and optimizing Traces, focus your farming efforts on Relics.
• Prioritize main stat upgrades on 5-star Relics.

Understanding Relic Substats:

• 5-star Relics can have 3 or 4 initial substats.
• 4-substat Relics (4-liners) are rarer and can be upgraded 5 times (+3/6/9/12/15).
• 3-substat Relics (3-liners) gain their 4th substat at +3 and have one less upgrade opportunity.

Upgrading Relics:

• Upgrade promising 3-liners to +3 to check the 4th substat. This only costs 4 blue and 4 green upgrade materials.
• Consider upgrading Relics with good substats to +9. This is relatively cheap (35 blue materials from +0) and gives you a better idea of its potential.
• Most supports’ Relics can be left at +12 (approximately 75 blue materials from +0).
• Only upgrade Relics to +15 if the main stat provides significant value, such as Energy Recharge Link Ropes or pieces with stats your support scales with (e.g., Crit Damage chest for Bronya).
• Prioritize +15 upgrades for your carry’s Relics. However, don’t neglect your other characters’ gear.
• Remember, you can feed leveled Relics into others, retaining 80% of the invested XP. This allows you to replace Relics as you find better ones.

General Tips and Conclusion

• These are general guidelines. Always research a character’s kit and understand their stat priorities.
• Don’t be afraid to invest in characters you enjoy, even if they aren’t considered "meta."
• This guide aims to ease the resource grind, not dictate your playstyle. Enjoy the journey!

A Comprehensive Elden Ring Beginner’s Guide

Elden Ring, with its expansive world and intricate mechanics, can feel overwhelming for newcomers. While countless guides and tips exist, they often lack cohesion and focus. This guide aims to consolidate the most crucial information, offering a roadmap for new Tarnished to navigate the Lands Between.

This guide primarily uses console controls for clarity, but PC players can find a quick guide to keyboard and mouse keybindings here.

Just Getting Started

• Character Creation: Don’t overthink your initial character selection. You can respec your stats after defeating Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon, and alter your appearance at Fia’s mirror in the Roundtable Hold much earlier.
• Don’t Skip the Tutorial: After your initial death and awakening in the Cave of Knowledge, descend the hole next to the seated spirit for a valuable tutorial on basic mechanics.
• Embrace Exploration, Consult Resources Strategically: Elden Ring rewards exploration, but some aspects, like NPC questlines, can be incredibly opaque. Don’t hesitate to consult resources like the Elden Ring Wiki or communities like Reddit for guidance, but prioritize discovering the world organically.

General Tips for Survival

• Level Up Strategically: Always have a build in mind when allocating stat points. Prioritize Vigor for survivability and your primary damage stat (Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, Faith, or Arcane). Familiarize yourself with soft caps to maximize your stat investment.
• Armor Matters: While not as crucial as Vigor, armor significantly impacts survivability. Endurance increases your equip load, allowing you to wear heavier armor. Aim for medium equip load to avoid hindering your stamina regeneration and movement speed.
• Retreat and Return Stronger: Don’t be afraid to leave challenging areas or bosses and return later. Exploration often yields upgrades, new skills, and valuable resources to bolster your power.
• Adapt Your Strategies: Different enemies and bosses are vulnerable to specific strategies and damage types. Experiment with your approach, including utilizing Spirit Summons, which can be acquired from Ranni at the Church of Elleh after obtaining Torrent.
• Master the Art of Consumables: Cookbooks and crafting materials are plentiful throughout the Lands Between. Experiment with crafting to discover consumables that provide tactical advantages and enhance your build.
• Practice Makes Perfect: When facing challenging bosses, dedicate time to learning their movesets and practicing your dodge timings. Avoid getting greedy with attacks, especially during a boss’s final moments, as they often unleash more aggressive attacks.
• Optimize Your Actions: Many actions, like using flasks or casting certain spells, can be performed more quickly by pressing the input again immediately after the initial action.
• Utilize Target Lock: In areas with low visibility, use target lock (R3) to pinpoint enemies. Be wary of ambushes, as enemies often lurk around corners.
• Respect the Non-Combatants: Not everyone in the Lands Between is hostile. If an individual doesn’t trigger target lock, they are likely a friendly NPC. Attacking them can have consequences, although the Turtle Pope in Liurnia offers absolution for accidental transgressions.

Navigating the Menus and UI

• Master Menu Navigation: Important information is spread across various submenus. Use X/Square, Y/Triangle, and R3 to cycle through them efficiently. Hiding the right menu screen with R3 prevents the menu from closing when using an item.
• Pausing, Elden Ring Style: While the game lacks a traditional pause function, you can achieve a similar effect by navigating to Menu > Equipment > Help > Menu Explanation or Map > Help > Menu Explanation. Note that this doesn’t pause multiplayer functionality.
• Optimize Your Inventory:
  • Use LB/L1 and RB/R1 to switch between equipment screens without backing out.
  • Use LT/L2 and RT/R2 to navigate menus quickly.
  • From the map menu, press Y/Triangle to return to your last visited Site of Grace or Y>X>A to travel directly to the Roundtable Hold.
  • Customize your pouch and item slots with frequently used items.
  • Sort your inventory using L3 for easier management.
  • Sell excess equipment and store unused items in your Grace chest to reduce clutter.
• Customize Your Settings: Adjust settings to your preference. Consider disabling camera auto-rotation and auto wall recovery. Increase voice volume for clarity and adjust sound and music levels accordingly. Experiment with control remapping to find what suits you best.
• Dismiss Message Prompts: Certain prompts, like "Stonesword key was lost with use," require dismissal with the interact button (Y/Triangle by default) before you can perform most actions.

Combat Essentials

• Avoid Panic Rolling: Master the timing of your dodge rolls to utilize i-frames effectively. Rolling into projectile attacks often proves more effective than rolling away.
• Magic 101: Equip spells at a Site of Grace under the "Memorize Spell" menu. You’ll need a staff (for sorceries) or a seal (for incantations) to cast them. Experiment with different catalysts, as they offer bonuses to specific spell types.
• Unleash the Power Stance: Equipping two of the same weapon type in each hand grants access to a unique "Power Stance" moveset, allowing for devastating attacks.
• Master Your Armaments: Experiment with different weapons and learn their movesets. Utilize crouch-pokes, backstep attacks, jump attacks, and sprinting attacks to diversify your offensive capabilities.
• Two-Handing for Advantage: Two-handing a weapon increases your effective Strength by 50%, reduces knockback, and often alters the moveset.
• Understanding Damage Calculation: Weapon damage is determined by upgrade level, stat scaling, and base damage. Utilize online resources like this weapon AR calculator to optimize your weapon choices for your build.
• Stagger for Critical Hits: Heavy attacks and specific abilities can stagger enemies, leaving them vulnerable to critical hits. Approach a staggered enemy and press R1/RB to execute a critical attack.
• Shields Up: Prioritize shields with high physical damage negation. Be mindful of your stamina when blocking, as running out leaves you vulnerable. Master guard counters for effective counterattacks.
• Ranged Combat Tips: Fire bows and crossbows in mid-air or after a roll for increased firing speed. Use L1/LB to aim manually for greater precision.
• Embrace the Shadows: Utilize stealth to your advantage. Crouch, use cover, and consider talismans, spells, or armor that enhance stealth. Distract enemies with sound to isolate and eliminate them strategically.
• Torrent, Your Loyal Steed:
  • Hold the strong attack button while mounted to drag your weapon along the ground for a powerful sweeping attack.
  • Jump while charging heavy attacks for devastating aerial assaults.
  • Equip Rowa berries to replenish Torrent’s health and avoid dismounts.
  • Mount Torrent while moving to maintain momentum.
  • Change direction when dismounting by pushing the left stick in the desired direction.
  • Utilize double jumps to maneuver in tight spaces.
  • Spirit Springs provide fall damage protection, allowing for safe descents from great heights.
• Hidden Mechanics to Master:
  • Chain light attacks for increased damage with each consecutive hit.
  • Spears gain a damage bonus when striking enemies winding up an attack.
  • Curved swords and thrusting swords can cancel charged strong attacks with a quick attack and backstep.
  • Thrusting swords and spears can perform light attacks while blocking with a shield.

Exploration and Discovery

• Prioritize Map Fragments: Seek out obelisks in unexplored regions to locate map fragments, revealing the area’s topography.
• Decipher Map Icons: Familiarize yourself with map icons to identify points of interest, including mines, dungeons, graveyards, and more.
• Unveiling Illusions: Roll into suspicious walls to uncover hidden paths and secrets. Utilize Margit’s Shackle or Mohg’s Shackle to reveal illusory walls and activate pillars within a large radius.
• Rainbow Stones: More Than Meets the Eye:
  • Throw rainbow stones off ledges to gauge fall damage. A shattered stone indicates a fatal drop.
  • Use rainbow stones to mark your path through looping dungeons.
• Platforming Techniques:
  • Execute a sprint jump by jumping, holding sprint in mid-air, and jumping again upon landing.
  • Opt for walking jumps or rolls for more controlled platforming.
  • Utilize i-frames when mounting or dismounting Torrent to avoid damage.

Multiplayer: Co-operation and Competition

• Summoning Allies: Activate summoning pools outside boss arenas and use a Furlcalling Finger Remedy to reveal summon signs from other players. Recent updates allow you to broadcast your summon sign to all discovered summoning pools, making it easier to find assistance.
• Understanding Summon Signs: Yellow signs represent friendly summons, while red signs indicate hostile summons or duelists.
• The Importance of Etiquette:
  • When summoned for a duel, engage in a gesture of respect before fighting.
  • Refrain from using Rune Arcs or healing flasks during duels, as it is considered unsporting.
• Leaving Your Mark: You can leave up to 10 messages for other players. Helpful and entertaining messages often earn appraisals, rewarding you with a significant health boost.
• Severing Connections: Use the Finger Severer to dismiss unwanted summons, including NPCs, spirits, and players.

Bonus Tips and Tricks

• Flask of Wondrous Physic: Obtain this invaluable flask from the Third Church of Marika in Limgrave. Experiment with Crystal Tears to customize its effects.
• Light Your Way: Purchase a torch from Kale early on and upgrade to a lantern as soon as possible. Consider using torches with special properties, like the Beast-Repellant Torch or the Steel-Wire Torch.
• Exploit Enemy Weaknesses: Research enemy weaknesses to gain an advantage in combat. For example, Royal Revenants are vulnerable to area-of-effect healing spells.
• Turn the Tide with the Environment: Use enemies and the environment to your advantage. Lure enemies into traps or pit them against each other.
• Escape Grabs: Rapidly press face buttons or triggers to break free from multi-hit grab attacks.
• Cleansing Status Ailments: Rolling in poison or rot inflicts the status effect even after leaving the area. Use soap to halt the buildup and boluses to remove existing buildup.
• Break Through: Roll or jump through breakable objects. Jumping from a distance allows you to land on top of some objects.
• Weather Matters: Rain amplifies lightning damage and weakens fire damage. Lightning attacks also create shockwaves when striking water.

Most Importantly: Enjoy the Journey

Elden Ring is a game best experienced through personal discovery. Don’t be afraid to experiment, make mistakes, and forge your own path through the Lands Between. Your Tarnished, your story.

Dismantling the Giant Fisherman: A Pekka Bridgespam Guide

Facing off against the mighty Giant Fisherman deck can be daunting for a Pekka Bridgespam player. This guide, based on extensive experience battling this formidable archetype, will equip you with the knowledge and strategies to emerge victorious.

Understanding the Giant’s Strength

The recent rise of Beatdown decks, particularly Giant Beatdown spearheaded by the Fisherman, presents a unique challenge. This guide focuses on dismantling the popular Giant Fisherman variant, providing a strategic edge in this matchup.

General Tips for Success

• Play the Patience Game: Especially in single elixir, a passive approach allows for calculated reactions to your opponent’s moves.
• The Little Prince’s Defense: Always aim to have the Little Prince ready to counter a Giant at the bridge. If caught off guard, the Electro Wizard can substitute, but expect significant tower damage.
• Track the Bomber: Keep a close eye on your opponent’s cycle to anticipate the Evo Bomber’s arrival.
• Counterpush is Key: Your primary path to victory lies in well-timed counterpushes. Capitalize on opponent overcommits by punishing with a calculated push, considering their available cards. For instance, a Bandit placed in front of a Battle Ram becomes a serious threat if the opponent lacks a Knight.

Gameplan Breakdown

Starting Strong

The initial phase involves cycling through cards like Bandit, Ghost, Zap, Battle Ram, and Arrows (unless facing an Evo Bomber). Allow your opponent to make the first move, revealing their strategy.

• Identifying the Archetype: Early Phoenix or Fisherman deployments often signal a Giant or Royal Giant deck.
• Strategic Cycling: Direct your card cycle towards the opposite lane of your opponent’s troops. For example, counter a Bomber played in the back with a Ghost in the opposite lane, forcing out a Knight. This clears the path for a Bandit to dash onto the Bomber and damage the tower.

Mastering Defense

Giant players typically deploy their namesake at the bridge against Pekka. If they don’t, exploit their misplay with a counter Pekka.

• Patience with the Pekka: Place the Little Prince in the anti-Void spot beside your tower and observe your opponent’s response.
• Countering Support Troops: Utilize the Little Prince’s ability to deflect Phoenix attacks. An Electro Wizard in the same spot effectively neutralizes Bats, paving the way for a Pekka attack on the weakened Night Witch.
• Timing the Pekka Deployment: Two scenarios dictate Pekka placement:
  • Fisherman Presence: Wait for the Fisherman to cross the bridge before deploying Pekka directly on top. A well-placed Zap ensures a one-hit knockout, allowing the Pekka to target the Giant and remaining support troops. Stay vigilant for the Evo Bomber.
  • Delayed Support: If the opponent hesitates after playing the Giant, anticipate a Lightning or Arrows spell targeting the Little Prince. Position Pekka on top of the Giant near your tower, preventing a Fisherman pull.
• Minimizing Damage: Accepting minor tower damage from a Giant is often preferable to a wasted Pekka.

Counterpushing for Victory

Effective counterpushes hinge on eliminating the Evo Bomber and Little Prince. Ideally, have Evo Zap and Arrows ready.

• Neutralizing Threats: Snipe the Little Prince with a Bandit, utilizing Zap for a swift takedown. The Electro Wizard excels on offense, effectively eliminating a Phoenix near the bridge.
• Unleashing the Bridgespam: With the threats neutralized, deploy your Battle Ram, Ghost, and Little Prince (using his ability) to overwhelm the opponent’s fragile support troops.
• Spell Support: Utilize spells to maximize your push’s effectiveness.

Spell Strategies

While this guide focuses on Giant Fisherman, these spell strategies apply to any deck lacking swarm units or reset triggers.

• Beyond Swarm Control: Zap and Arrows are not limited to countering swarms. They excel at eliminating fragile support units, allowing your bridgespam cards to deal damage quickly.

Key Spell Interactions

Understanding spell interactions is crucial for maximizing damage output and card effectiveness.

• Bandit:
  • Zap + Bandit: One dash and a hit to eliminate Musketeer, Wizard, Electro Wizard, Ice Wizard, Little Prince.
  • Arrows + Bandit: One dash to eliminate the same troops as above, plus Magic Archer, Mother Witch, and Barb Barrel.
• Ghost:
  • Zap + Ghost: Two hits to eliminate Ice Wizard, Electro Wizard (except at max level), Magic Archer, Mother Witch, Barb Barrel, and Little Prince.
• Pekka:
  • Zap + Pekka: Two hits to eliminate a Knight (instead of three).
  • Zap + Pekka: One hit to eliminate Bandit, Night Witch, Fisherman, Witch, Hunter, and Archer Queen (instead of two).

Conclusion

Mastering the art of countering the Giant Fisherman requires patience, strategic card deployment, and a deep understanding of spell interactions. By implementing the strategies outlined in this guide, you’ll be well-equipped to dismantle this formidable opponent and claim victory on the battlefield.