spoiler Defeating Branka and Golems

[Anduniel]

SPOILER

 

I'm not sure if this is the right place to ask for gameplay help but it's closest I could find.

 

I'm playing a Mage trying desperately to defeat Branka and Golems in "A Paragon of Her Kind" and "Anvil of the Void" quests. I've tried several strategies, the last of which got very close but still failed, would really appreciate some help, thanks.

 

I don't have Shale. I'm a Mage Arcane Warrior, with Primal magic, also Mind Blast and Drain Life. So far I've tried the following parties (along with me and the mandetory Oghren): Alistair & Leliana (failed miserably, she's not very useful in Boss fights); Alistair & Morrigan (somehow got killed even when she was in Swarm); Zevran and Wynne (nearly won with them, letting Oghren and Zev do the attacking and Wynne and me healing and magic attacks). For some reason they kept chasing ME all the time, even though I read somewhere that enemies go after the party member who is strongest armored, and I've got Mage robes.

 

The last combination was the closest. Golems down, and Branka down to about 25%, but then she split into 4(!!) Brankas!!! I was last alive, all other three dead, and she clobbered me. Would really help if I knew what she's weak against but can't seem to find the answer online.

 

All this on EASY setting! We're getting slaughtered every time, and I really want to move on and get this campaign over with! Please, need some solid advice fast, thanks very much.

 

~Desparate Elven Mage player

[mcgoy]

If you do not want to read spoilers exit this discussion topic. Scroll down to read my response if spoilers don't bother you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My strategy? Toss the ones out of the party who don't deal damage. Use the health potions to keep everyone up to full strength. I'd probably use Alistair, Zevran, and Oghren. Maybe Sten in the party depending on how everyone is equipped. Your mage needs to focus on doing damage rather than keeping party members healed.

 

As soon as the attack starts, I take the entire party and run as far from the fight as possible. IF through some strange event, none of the golems follow, I hit them with some ranged attacks until they do. The strategy is divide and conquer so focus on one golem at a time.

 

When Branka comes over, keep her distracted with one of your party members who is a tank. Don't expect to do much damage just keep her busy and that party member as healed as you have potions for. You want as many of the golems defeated as possible when the last 'good' golem is defeated. When all of the 'good' golems are defeated, the rest of the 'bad' golems will come attack, continue the 'divide and conquer' strategy.

 

When no one else is left, gang attack Branka. You may only have two party members left, but they can both focus on her. Branka doesn't seem to pull out her really nasty attacks until you have done some damage to her. Killing off the golems first means that you don't have to deal with one of Branka's really savage attacks while fighting golems at the same time. If you are lucky, you can get 2 or 3 golems killed before Branka joins the fight.

 

That is how I win that battle. I usually micromanage so that some fool (aka Zevran or Leliana) doesn't go running back to the main fight or they don't all end up attacking Branka.

 

This might work without 'running away' from the main fight, but I find that it keeps the 'bad golems' from ganging up on my party members. Having 1 party member fighting Branka and three fighting 1 or two golems works. Having 1 party member fighting Branka and 3 golems gang up on one party member.... that didn't work so well

[Anduniel]

I really need Wynne. I find her group healing absolutely essential and it was because of her that I got even close this last time I tried; if someone falls I have one chance to zip into her and revive them then back to my character. I don't have ANY health potions going into the fight, and my micromanage ability pretty well sucks. I tweaked the tactics of each one some. This really seems like an impossible fight to me, even on "easy" I shudder to think what regular difficulty is like!

I might try it the other way around and see if fighting Caridin is any easier, then decide to destroy the anvil myself....

 

Edit: I did that, sided with Branka instead, then tried to convince her to destroy it, failed. That fight was MUCH less difficult, I beat it first try. Now I can finally move on with the story. Thanks for trying to help me.

Edited January 18, 2014 by Anduniel

[Thandal]

<snip>

I don't have ANY health potions going into the fight, and my micromanage ability pretty well sucks...

 

Well, there's your problem right there Lady! :laugh:

 

This is one of the toughest fights in the game. After all, it is the Boss Fight for one of the three Major Quest storylines. Going into it without any health potions presents serious tactical problems, as you've learned.

 

Since you indicate that you are willing to fight your way through the entire Anvil of the Void stretch again, (having done so multiple times with different Parties) just go back to Orzammar (Figor's Imports) and load-up on the potions before heading in!

 

(Or if you're comfortable using the Command Console, there's always "runscript healplayer", or "runscript killallhostiles". :cool: )

[mcgoy]

LOL You're basically trying to use two healers to heal party members faster than Branka et al can do damage. If you prefer that strategy then I sure won't stop you. :laugh:

 

I gave you my my solution for Nightmare setting and I've done it that way many times. So my suggestion is that you get some health potions and fill your party with those who can do some decent damage. And if you didn't save "Figor's Imports' from the Carta Thugs, then go the the Dalish encampment for elf root and make your own. If you don't have gold, to buy these things.... maybe Branka needs to be your last quest so that you are better prepared. I would say that this is the hardest battle before the Final Battle with the Archdemon.

[Anduniel]

Health potions get used up really fast, and there's hardly opportunity to make/find more in between the fight with the rotating heads and the "anvil" One thing I realized is I still had the tactics on the party members on "defensive" for the rotating heads battle, and forgot to change back to default for the anvil battle. That WAS my final quest in the main story, I already had the Dalish and the Chantry.

But like I say in Edit above, I tried the other way, siding with Branka, and beat it first try, MUCH less difficult. Personally I found the dwarven campaign to be absolutely -miserably- long and exhausting, but that's just me. I enjoyed the Dalish campaign immensely.

Edited January 18, 2014 by Anduniel

[patdc]

If you just want to win at any price try this
Skip Fight Mod

[mcgoy]

For the rotating heads, stand back, hit the dwarf ghosts with ranged attacks - focus on ONE dwarf, as soon as that one is dead, dash forward and hit the anvil (if I recall correctly). It takes a while, but can be done without any potions.

[Anduniel]

Yes, I'm fine with the rotating heads battle (did it 3x, as it's right before the Anvil battle). How do you open the console? Is it the "~" key like in Skyrim? I'll do that next time I have a killer annoying fight, lol.

[Thandal]

LOL. The developers thought that "The Nature of the Beast" was the hardest of the three, and recommended that it be done last.

 

Yes, the "~" is the default console key. You have to "enable" it when you start the game. How you do that depends on your specific install mechanism (retail disc, Steam, etc.) Easiest with the EA/Origin install. Just let us know if you want instructions.