Beholders and Feeblemind

[squishwizzy]

Beholders are really the most difficult for me to fight. They feeblemind me before I can even hit them (even around corners), which reduces your average spellcaster to throwing rocks.

I'm a PM so neg levels and whatnot aren't a huge issue. The biggest thing I have to worry about - with the exception of the feeblemind - is disintigrates. Yeah, taking them out from a distance is a decent plan solo, but I usually PUG, and PUGs usually don't take their time with handling these guys. So I end up being in the thick of battle, feebleminded, and not really able to do much.

I have the Ioun stone that absorbs charges, but it appears that this does not absorb feebleminds. I haven't experimented enough to tell for sure.

I'd appreciate any pointers about dealing with beholders as it comes to spellcasting. Is there any way to avoid the feeblemind, or is hitting them first from a distance my only real option?

[rimble]

I'd appreciate any pointers about dealing with beholders as it comes to spellcasting. Is there any way to avoid the feeblemind, or is hitting them first from a distance my only real option?

Well, for what it's worth, mnemonic potions of any level will remove Feeblemind. It's good to keep a stack of the lower level ones around for stuff like this. Aside from overwhelming offense to kill them before you get it, I don't know what else you can do, except make your save.

[squishwizzy]

Well, for what it's worth, mnemonic potions of any level will remove Feeblemind. It's good to keep a stack of the lower level ones around for stuff like this. Aside from overwhelming offense to kill them before you get it, I don't know what else you can do.

Figures. The one thing that I avoid using, is the solution to my problem. LOL.

[tfangel]

If you are a pale master, you should have at least one pet, iv'e found using them to get attention works best for me. The disintegrate gets me at times, but using pets as distractions can be a life saver. They even sometimes get them to face away from me so i can kill them pretty quickly.

[Spoonwelder]

Feeblemind - yes mnem pots....but I don't think beholders do feeble mind (see wiki http://ddowiki.com/page/Beholder_race I think you may mean the anti-magic cone which is the more prevalent issue for casters so you maybe confusing the two.

For the anti-magic cone you can use your SLA's still in a cone so you could always necrotic bolt/blast em to death. Maybe fire one long range ray or two first then as the beholder charges you use your SLA's to finish em. If you are solo - the best bet is to sneak up and finger/PK or some other instakill since their fort saves are usually pretty low. Won't work on a red named like in VoN3 but other than that you should be fine...oh and remember to sneak or come at them from behind as they can see invis.

In groups - just let them PUGs wade in - hope one of em turns the beholder so he is facing away then blast em with your highest DPS - Polar Ray or Frost Lance or something like that or even an insta-kill if it's not a red named.

[Jaid314]

if you can catch them from far away, you can use ray of enfeeblement to disable most beholders fairly easily.

[Syllph]

An alternative is to charm them (assuming not red named). Allow your group to surround them, drop an Ice storm, then uncharm it. This gives the group easy access to whacking it quickly.

Never underestimate the power of bluff on a caster. This will cause the beholder's antimagic cone to face away from you long enough to land at least one spell (usually more). While it's turned cast otto's (ir)resistible dance and everything except for the antimagic cone stops firing.

[HastyPudding]

Also note that anti-magic cone is only in the front of a beholder (their main eye). If you can sneak up behind them and instakill or kill them with a strong polar ray/disintegrate you should be fine. Bring deathblock when doing this, as the beholder's finger of death is cast from one of their back eyes.

[Talon_Moonshadow]

You are confusing their anti-magic ray/cone with feeblemind.
Probably because of the dm text you get when you try to cast... which mentions feeblemind.

Your PM necro spell like abilities will still work.

But understanding agro will work better.

The antimagic gets cast in front of them, as soon as they are agroed.

You can cast spells before they see you.

You can let someone else agro them, while you stay off to the side..... then cast spells.

If you get hit it... use terrain to vlock their other attacks... watch for the antimagic to wear off.... then cast.

cast you necro bolts... they will still work.

Lots of ideas. Of course not always as easy at it sounds... I know.

Just try to remember all of these things and do what you can.

[nibel]

If you can see them from afar, Ray of Enfeeblement or Disintegrate is your primary choice of spell. They can be cast before their antimagic field can reach you, and beholders usually have bottom low fortitude saves and Strength scores.

If you was already caught on their antimagic field, draw out a weakening of enfleebing falchion (crafted ML 9, don't bother to master touch it) and swing it. In 3-5 hits it will be disabled.

oh and remember to sneak or come at them from behind as they can see invis.

Doing it from behond helps you from being antimagic-ed, but not with stealth. Beholders have 360° vision and will catch you if your stealth skills are not good enough (or if you get too close). Luckily, Wraith form gives +20 to move silently, and this is usually enough to stealth by a beholder.

[Kinerd]

With free Enlarge on all rays, any beholder that perches is easily dispatched. Consider that one beholder stuck on a mushroom in VoN 3.

Anti-magic cone has exactly the same range as Finger of Death, so if you are very careful you can land that, too. It helps that beholders like to roar on aggro rather than do something useful. I usually FoD the first two beholders in VoN 3, for instance.

When all else fails (generally red names), dodging behind something and spamming AoEs like Ice Storm will get the job done. SLAs work, but make you eligible for Disintegration, which is Not Good.

[t0r012]

Beholder as 1 instance when DDO is Pay to Win.
If you have a graphics card strong enough to turn your draw distance all the way up it helps a ton.

Beholders actually are much less of a problem for my casters that I thought they would be. With a long draw distance they are usually dispatched pretty easily. Heck even my gimpy bard deals with them pretty effectively( so long as they aren't rednames) a quick repeater volley from distance followed by a sonic blast holds then up backup and repeat.
If they get close give then the tunes.

It's my melee (well non monks) that tend to have beholder issues.

[Malison]

I have the Ioun stone that absorbs charges, but it appears that this does not absorb feebleminds. I haven't experimented enough to tell for sure.

A beholder's antimagic field procs every 3 seconds, has a 3-second duration, and only affects players in front of it. If you're fast, you can run behind it while it's looking at one of your allies and go back to fighting as normal.

The dispelling effect of an antimagic field is blocked by an ioun stone, but it still prevents casting.

[sireric]

If you get feebleminded, mnen pots fix it as does a restoration, which are now in potion form. I am not sure but i think lesser resto's work as well.

Also, one thing to consider when you are in a beholder's anti-magic field this prevents you from casting spell, but DOES NOT stop you from using wands, scrolls, or spell like abilities, such as past life feat spells, or pale master/ arch mage cheap or free spells.

My main spell caster is capped so I can use my sorc/wiz past life spells, and also use my epic winter's wrath or epic brimstone verge to handle beholder's.

My suggestion to you, get yourself some high level wands like level 11 scorching ray, or frost lance just in case you can't get them from far enough away.

[squishwizzy]

You are confusing their anti-magic ray/cone with feeblemind.
Probably because of the dm text you get when you try to cast... which mentions feeblemind.

Yeah, that's probably it.

And yeah, I know about the necro abilities, and SLAs (along with a past-life Magic Missile that I took). Problem is I want them *dead* - I don't want to have to hammer them down. Using those abilities is gonna invite a Disintigrate, which is the thing I want to avoid.

If you get hit it... use terrain to vlock their other attacks... watch for the antimagic to wear off.... then cast.

Waiting for the antimagic to wear off is reasonable. Using terrain to block attacks? I've found that this is dicy at best. frankly speaking the physics engine in DDO now really, really SUCKS since they "upgraded" it. So I get nailed, often when WAY around a corner, out of sight, unable to target the stupid beholder...yet they can target me.

I'll never forget that one time in Invaders I was on the other side of a doorway, and around a corner. They managed to Disinitigrate me without my even being able to target them - no kidding or exaggeration. I mean, I basucally had two walls between us, and they *still* managed to hit me.

I'll try a pet or summon to distract them. The funny thing is though, when when the melees rush in, I'm anti-magiced by default. I do nothing, and I'm basically left throwing stones.

Will the Menm. Pots remove anti-magic?

[squishwizzy]

if you can catch them from far away, you can use ray of enfeeblement to disable most beholders fairly easily.

Actually, for the most part, I've discovered that you can finger the lil' buggers before they spot you. So, as long as I have a PUG that is patient, taking out a beholder isn't all that big of a deal.

It's when you're in a PUG that isn't patient (which is about 95% of them). Then it gets ugly.

The big problem I'm really having is that I'm in the back, I haven't done anything yet, yet I'm anti-magiced from the outset. So Ray of Enfeeblement at that point is sorta out of the question.


Edit: I think, maybe, I need to start looking to diplo to simply shed aggro, wait for the anti-magic effect to wear off, and then use FoD.

[kelly171717]

Hi. First off im a sorcerer so i have some inherent abilities due to past life and air savant line so even in the thick of battle my past life

ten random elemental rays that are inherent and cannot be stopped by anti magic cone or whatever it is. Also my air savant

enhancement allows me to cast electric loop inherent (second tier air savant btw) as per level 17 one more and full air savant which

also gives lightning bolt inanely. Just a suggestion as idk how much time you have or what your endgame ideas are, such as are you

going to tr , if you are take a look at the savant lines and the past life feat of the sorcerer maximize and enlarge as well at no cost

extra (no sp cost i believe at all). The only drawback is the long cooldown on the actual spell so if you can get the drop on it up close

use your inate abilities in quick progression and that should definitely open up your options as to what to do next. ( meaning its dead

stunned able to cc or whatever the case may be. Also mantle of the worldshaper takes 5 hits of any spells if you have it equipped and

fully charged( unfortunately shrining does not fully charge if its absorption has been depleted to anything under 4 charges , it will only

go up one charge per shrine.)



Preparation is key so if you know you got a beholder coming in a quest step in a tavern fully charge it up dont equip

until you know its coming, slip it on and use whatever inate abilities you have in the quickest order that you can. Hope this helps if

you have the time to do some of the things i suggest or look at your own inate abilities

[squishwizzy]

Hi. First off im a sorcerer so i have some inherent abilities due to past life and air savant line so even in the thick of battle my past life

ten random elemental rays that are inherent and cannot be stopped by anti magic cone or whatever it is. Also my air savant

enhancement allows me to cast electric loop inherent (second tier air savant btw) as per level 17 one more and full air savant which

also gives lightning bolt inanely. Just a suggestion as idk how much time you have or what your endgame ideas are, such as are you

going to tr , if you are take a look at the savant lines and the past life feat of the sorcerer maximize and enlarge as well at no cost

extra (no sp cost i believe at all). The only drawback is the long cooldown on the actual spell so if you can get the drop on it up close

use your inate abilities in quick progression and that should definitely open up your options as to what to do next. ( meaning its dead

stunned able to cc or whatever the case may be. Also mantle of the worldshaper takes 5 hits of any spells if you have it equipped and

fully charged( unfortunately shrining does not fully charge if its absorption has been depleted to anything under 4 charges , it will only

go up one charge per shrine.)



Preparation is key so if you know you got a beholder coming in a quest step in a tavern fully charge it up dont equip

until you know its coming, slip it on and use whatever inate abilities you have in the quickest order that you can. Hope this helps if

you have the time to do some of the things i suggest or look at your own inate abilities

I'm a wizzy with one past life, and no sorc lives. And I'd like to avoid dependencies on specific past-life feats while I try to figure out a good strategy. Past life feats of other toons don't help me with new toons or with recent TRs.

Secondly, I believe Mantle of the World Shaper has the same issue with the anti-magic cone as the spell-absorbtion Ioun stone. Plus the Ioun stone has 50 charges to the Mantle's 5. A single shrine rest, I believe, will give you 30 charges restored on the stone.

I got the stone and not the mantle.

[Gkar]

I'm a wizzy with one past life, and no sorc lives

Wizard PL? If so, the force missiles you get from the PL feat work fine in an anti-magic field. Your Wizard SLAs should also work fine.

[squishwizzy]

Wizard PL? If so, the force missiles you get from the PL feat work fine in an anti-magic field. Your Wizard SLAs should also work fine.

They do.

However, if you stand there too long ranging the beholder, you're gonna get disintigrated. That's annoyance #2.