lemqualdo
(Panic Carefully)
#2811
Mordy is my favorite but with his weak healing skills 1Life sounds hard.
No! I never die – as he dies.
3 Likes
I only do hardcore runs and have successfully completed all missions twice as Brick. I intend to do it a third and final time at some point, but life has gotten in the way the last few times an attempt got underway.
Hardest bosses for hardcore:
#1) Mad Mel. This is basically a case of a boss fight where you can make it either very dangerous or not at all. Your vehicle dies easily and getting run over is an instant death, so doing it “the way you are supposed to” is perilous. That said, there is a glitched rock outcropping from which you cannot be damaged inside the arena. However, I feel like being completely immune to damage that is clearly hitting you is cheating so I do not do it (this is not just a case of poor rocket hit detection, psycho axes mysteriously do no damage despite hitting you as well). There is also the “runner on the ramp” trick where you start the fight on foot, run back to your vehicle carefully positioned on the ramp, and jump up and into it, then get out and fight from the ramp. That one has some risk due to being on foot for a time, and it is very likely you get peppered by a few rockets, but some view it as an exploit given the entering/exiting vehicle system is used to awkwardly shift character location. One fellow hardcore runner does the fight on foot with his vehicle as a meat shield and assumes the risk that comes with it. My preferred method is triggering the fight while driving the vehicle, quickly driving back near the entrance ramp as the enemies are just starting to emerge, jumping out, and using Brick’s knowledge of how explosives work to grenade jump over the ramp and do the fight from there. This is the least risky method unless you fail the jump repeatedly and run out of grenades. If you do fail, then either the rock outcropping can be used, the fellow runner’s method, or engaging in vehicle combat are possible.
#2) Crawmerax. Self-explanatory. There is the glitch spot, but trying to get to it as Brick is more risky than actually killing the bug like a man.
#3) Undead Dr. Ned. His spin attack does a ton of damage and lasts awhile. This is a boss that I do not know how to exploit, so I just stay mobile. Transfusion grenades are a good idea to stay healed.
#4) MINAC. The kamikaze Claptraps are dangerous and smart use of cover is needed. However, he can be fought from where the dumpsters are with near-perfect cover. I am never brave enough to run to that spot and just fight from the rocks.
#5) Bonehead/Chaz. The Bone Shredder wears down shield and health quickly. However, long-distance sniping can be used on Bonehead and Chaz goes down to Bouncing Betties.
2 Likes
My secret place is the little room in the southwest corner of the map, the one with two dumpsters and a red chest. Nothing MINAC or the clappies do can get you in that spot when you tuck in behind the lockers.
Just tedious to shoot a few mags, duck for cover, repeat. Takes forever.
And since I play as Lilith I can phase walk run to that spot without getting run over.
I cheese him from the ramp…
I don’t use the Ledge, mainly because I can’t get on it quickly enough since I’m clumsy. Again, with Lilith it’s pretty straightforward to phase walk and bounce between the two big rock formations and avoid damage.
1 Like
Do you use the runner on the ramp?
Amusingly, you can also be launched on to the ramp by enemy rockets. I have had it happen before when jumping up to get into the vehicle.
Still, grenade jumping is my preferred method of getting on the ramp nowadays.
1 Like
I do. Drop the front wheels over the edge, get out, jump down into the arena, run just past the center until the exit gate just starts to move, turn around, phase run back to the ramp, get in, get out and start blasting.
Funny about the rockets kicking you out to the ramp!
2 Likes
lemqualdo
(Panic Carefully)
#2816
Yep, I’m always grenade jumping. Can’t imagine doing it legit in a 1Life.
I don’t even want to think about it. Huge respect for everyone who can do this hardcore.
I was so worried about Undead Ned and Undead Ned-Trap in my current run when I didn’t have gun yet, but it was surprisingly easy. I kept my distance, used all my rubberized grenades and they were almost dead. They didn’t use the spin attack once.
I feel that. I hate those nasty Kamikaze-Traps.
Thanks for all the replies guys.
2 Likes
It is a pretty easy grenade jump, so it is not a big deal even in a hardcore run. You can get on the ramp even with a rather mediocre attempt.
For what it is worth, I prefer doing this grenade jump with no grenade mod. Some people prefer a Hyperion Longbow for general grenade jumping, but I am better off without it in this circumstance.
Edit: It occurred to me you might have meant doing it legit as in doing the fight “the way it is supposed to be done”. The best solution in that case is using the fellow runner’s method of using the runner as a meat shield while you take shots at the enemy with your best corrosive or explosive weapon. Still, I view this fight like the Sledge fight. You can either stay in the room and fight Sledge “like you are supposed to”, or keep opening and closing the doors leading to him to make it easier. Grenade jumping or getting blown on to the ramp by an enemy rocket is just using the tools available to you to get the job done.
1 Like
lemqualdo
(Panic Carefully)
#2818
Yes, that’s what I meant.
I always keep a low level longbow for the complete playthrough. Even at level 69 this grenade is probably equipped 90% of the time. And I think I never tried grenade jumping without a grenade mod. Now I’m curious.
And regarding the Sledge fight: I agree, the doors are there, so why not use them? From my current playthrough
1 Like
Experiences like yours are why I find doing fights “the way you are supposed to” to be bizarre as it just assumes you fall into every enemy trap in some braindead fashion and fight on their terms. Another fight that comes to mind is the Krom fight. You can do the really intense and dangerous cover-to-cover approach to work your way up to him… or you can hit him from across the map with a Sniper Rifle.
By the way, I thought you finding those control panels in the Knoxx-Trap fight to be ingenious. I did not know they existed, and that is the kind of creative solution made possible by good games. Of course, there is always the crowd that feels creative solutions are exploits.
1 Like
I knew about them but don’t use 'em since I found the “exploit” in that map.
As soon as you enter turn hard left and run (again, Lilith’s phase walk is best, though I’ve done it with Mordy) like the dickens into the corner.
If you get there fast enough Knox never moves, and no clappies spawn, and you can shoot him at your leisure without being subject to any attacks at all. Having a good sniper rifle or a SMG/AR with a powerful scope is best. Though now that I think about it I did it with Mordy on his revolvers-only run, so I probably used a Justice that time.
And yeah, “exploit”. But if the game mechanics allow it without mods to the game I feel it’s fair use.
Edit: And to be clear, this is the 2nd Knox arena during the final run through all the bosses in R.R., not the first arena.
1 Like
And in run news…
PT2, got to the Headlands at lvl 40, R.R. is lvl 42 so figured on picking up a level and going in at 41.
But there were plenty of badmutha skithids around, gave me lots of XP and got to lvl 42. Also, interestingly, the Eridians in the cave didn’t all spawn at the same time, the badass was first, solo, and after I killed that the other two spawned, which made it a piece of cake.
R.R. was fine, though I did go into FFYL once by charging into a mob headlong. Fortunately it was a mob, so revived in half a second.
Nothing much interesting otherwise. Ended at lvl 46 (as usual) which means the main game will be easy for a while.
Oh, and I got a sweet lvl 47 symmetrical (tough guy) shield, 1076 value with 60 (sixty!) percent health boost, my favorite! BTW I put tough guy in parenthesis there because the title on the card is simply “TRG-500BS Symmetrical”, the tough guy got left off…
EDIT: Ha, second run through the gift shop and upgraded that shield already! 1235 with 60% and double the recharge rate! “Awesome TRG-55005 Harmonious Muscleman”
Another edit: Just glanced at my mission list and I forgot to turn in the Skagzilla kill AGAIN!!! Sheesh, every time. I’ll do like I always do, and turn it in after the 3 Kings mission in Old Haven.
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I agree with you that using game mechanics is fair use. Control panels, opening doors, and entering and exiting vehicles are all mechanics put into the game. The fact explosions (like those from barrels and grenades) propel the character whether used by enemies or yourself makes it a consistent mechanic in the game, so grenade jumping is fine.
My only exception to that is glitched terrain that makes you immune to incoming damage. Taking no damage from enemy attacks that appear to be hitting you is not a consistent mechanic in the game.
Note that this is different than Crawmerax launching you up on to a ledge from which it cannot hit you.
Also, that TRG-550OS with 60% Health is a holy grail shield. Some might prefer AWE or XC over OS depending on the character, but that is, in fact, a perfect shield in terms of both performance and rarity. Fantastic find for your Lilith.
1 Like
lemqualdo
(Panic Carefully)
#2823
Good to know. From my experience Knoxx stops attacking you if you run straight to the exit of the arena and the distance to him is large enough. From there I just use a sniper/revolver. And, at least in the Original, you can grenade jump out of the arena and skip the fight completely. Don’t know if they patched it in the Remaster - I couldn’t do it this run.
I think it’s funny that technically all 3 Knoxx fights in the game are not required for completing their respective missions.
Yes, this was one of the most rewarding moments I’ve had in this game. Always feels good to discover something new.
For my playthrough I didn’t do much: just from Mad Mel to the first visit of Tannis.
For Mad Mel I equipped 3 Eridian Lightnings and cycled through them while shooting from the ramp. I gave the Eridian Cannon another try and @VaultHunter101 was completely right: for enemies that run in a straight line towards you it’s useful. Used it for the midgets on my way to Tetanus Warren.
Usually I grenade jump up to the red chest on my way to Tannis but this time I went through the spiderants. Ugh, they were tough. Slowly it’s getting clearer what will work in this run. Running in gunzerker style towards your enemies doesn’t work so well if you have basically just 10 shots with your 4 equipped guns before they need to recharge. So I guess I will maximize phasewalking, exit with a melee attack, cycle through my weapons and use all the shots and then back to phasewalk. So this will basically be a Zer0 playthrough, lol. @VaultHunter101 was right again with the suggestion of the eternal phasewalker. Thank you.
And I need a strategy for shock enemies as my best weapons are all shock too. Outside of Tannis’ place where you park your car was a Badass Shock Spiderant and I thought no problem - but it killed me. That never happens.
3 Likes
Yeah, at lvl 47 with the Diva buff it puts her at 1605 shield and 1264 health. Which means nothing gets through the shield, and with Girl Power buffed to 7 by the merc comm the shield never goes away.
Of course with being over leveled by doing R.R. she’s 3 levels over story mission, which makes it a bit, well, a lot, overpowered, a mere touch with her SMG (proficiency at 38) and everything dies.
So I just did the bottles of booze (BTW, beer is not booze, booze typically refers to alcoholic drinks over 50 proof, always bugs me. They should patch that 
) at Treachers with a Law just for variety. Still one-shots everything o a critical…
1 Like
VaultHunter101
(So long, and thanks for all the fish)
#2825
Yeah, but then you’d have to collect 99 of the things…
2 Likes
Geomason
( - He who dares wins!)
#2827
Started my new Torgue loyalty run with Lil.
First gun
1 Like
lemqualdo
(Panic Carefully)
#2828
Have fun with it. I have an unfinished Torgue only Brick and after a level 2 pistol the next Torgue weapon I found was level 10. That’s when I noticed how rare Torgue actually is.
1 Like
And done with this hardcore run.
Did finally get a hellfire from the gift shop, that ate up all the various lance. Also did my favorite thing and killed all the Eridians in the Crimson Fastness before the lance could, like that XP.
I did cheese the ending, when the Find Steele mission came up after turning to comm stations back on I quit/reloaded and the fast travel in the Vault was active, so I skipped the descent and Eridian Promentory, I have nothing to prove to myself doing those again, particularly since every enemy was dying to 2-3 SMG shots.
Puts the Destroyer 3-4 (depending) levels above you so the fight took 43 seconds instead of an on-level 20 seconds :).
All for BL1 for a bit, until I get the itch again, think I’ll go back to my no death, no phase lock run in BL2…
2 Likes
lemqualdo
(Panic Carefully)
#2830
Just a quick thought: I completed the “Lots of shots” challenge (shoot 2000 times) at level 25 yesterday. I got my guns at level 20, so just 5 levels until completion.
But how far can you play a new game with just 2000 shots? It would be a run with the focus on max crit damage or high elemental damage. I guess Mordecai or Lilith would be the best characters. This would add a strategic component to the game where you need to find the balance between killing for levelling or just wasting your shots. A lot of farming for good gear would be necessary, but I don’t mind that. And no melee, no grenades, no turrets, no cars.
I’m still thinking about the rules for such a run (easy XP and money from DLC or not), but I might give my Eridian Lilith a little break after playthrough 1 and see how far I can get.
1 Like
