Knights and Instant Death

[jakeduck]

I have been playing for about 2 months and have a problem with Baal runs and the D or O Knights. Sometimes I drop so fast i didn't even see it. Can some one explain how to combat or do I just run.
Thanks

[redtan]

Oblivion knights cast iron maiden on you, and attacking them with a physical blow will instantly kill you. This is because the damage that you do to them will be returned to you by 300%, so you kill yourself.

Best thing to do is use throwing weapons, berserk (which is magic damage) or stop attacking as soon as you see little red lines swirling over your head.

[PlayWithHonor]

You are being afflicted with the Iron Maiden curse. When you attack while cursed with this all damage you do is returned to you like 200% or something stupid. Pretty much means you will die instantly when you hit something while attack under this curse.

How to avoid? Use a ranged attack when Oblivian Knights are around (they are the ones that cast it). Or, the skill Berserk is a good killing skill as Iron Maiden won't impact you while you use this skill.

[jakeduck]

Thanks for the help. So what do I do once I stop attacking? Or if I use beserk I at least have a chance? I use Botd axes but can switch to light sabre (Azure) and go berserk will that help. Thanks for any help.

[kingdryland]

Just berserk with your main weapon. All your physical damage will become magical, and iron maiden curse won't be affecting you anymore since it only reflects physical damage back. Just make sure you won't run out of mana or get mana burned while under the influence of im because then you'll perfom normal attack and die.

[jakeduck]

Ok next question, how do I know when iron maiden is being used aside from the red lines? If I am not attacking then I shouldn't be affected? Thanks again.

[Delreich]

Aside from the red lines, and possibly sound (not sure if the curses sound different), all you know is that if you are in an area where OKs could spawn, you could be IMed soon.
In many cases both the thin red lines (tihi) and the sound would be to late a notification to be useful. If you for instance are cursed mid-whirl or mid-zeal, you're most likely dead already.

Only physical damage from melee attacks is returned, so if you either do no physical damage or use a ranged attack or spell, you are safe.

[jakeduck]

So if I just stand there I won't be killed? If I go berserk than any weapon turns into magic damage?

I am just confused I appreciate the help.

[Tankmobile]

yes to both questions :smiley:

[PlayWithHonor]

I'll summarize in a very long winded fashion to help you connect the dots. :thumbsup:

Iron Maiden is a curse. Oblivian Knights cast this on you. When you are afflicted with this curse, you'll see little read lines coming out of your head that look like they are going back into yourself.

What does this curse do? Anytime you attack something while under this curse, any physical melee damage you do gets returned back to yourself like 300%. So, if you attack and strike a monster doing 1,000 damage... you will immediately take 3,000 damage back. Most of the time this will just kill you instantly. If you don't attack anything then the only damage you'll take is from the monsters attacking you while you wait out the curse.

There are 3 places that I know of where Oblivian Knights spawn and they are the only ones that cast this curse: Chaos Sanctuary, WSK lvl 3 and Throneroom.

How to avoid death due to Iron Maiden? Couple options are available:

1 - Switch weapons and equip a ranged weapon. Use a bow/crossbow/throwing axes like Gimmershred, etc. Just be sure to not melee attack anything.

2 - Put skill points into and use the skill Berserk. This skill converts all physical damage you do into magic damage. Because you don't do any physical damage with Berserk, Iron Maiden won't harm you at all. But as said already, be careful of mana burn monsters. You have to have mana to use your skills otherwise you'll just do a normal physical attack and kill yourself.

Because you're softcore Iron Maiden is more of a nuisance than anything else tbh. You can try to fight as normal and upon seeing the curse flee back to town to get it removed or you could try one of the two options I presented above. Your merc, however, is probably gonna die evey run at least once assuming you are using an A2 merc. Other than taking his weapon away or giving him a weapon that does no damage, not much you can do about that.

[jakeduck]

Ok. I think the light just came on but I still have 2 questions.
1. My berserk says duration is 1.6 seconds. exactly what does that mean? By adding point will it increase?
2. Can a barb use a crossbow?

Again thanks for the help

[RoyalScion]

Well, if you use Berserk your defense temporarily goes down to 0. That 1.6 second duration is how long you are affected by 0 defense.

And yes, a barb can use a crossbow as long as he meets the requirements.

[AnimeCraze]

There are 3 places that I know of where Oblivian Knights spawn and they are the only ones that cast this curse: Chaos Sanctuary, WSK lvl 3 and Throneroom.Wrong. There is also Furnace of Pain, and 1 of the optional dungeons in act 5. I forgot which one though.

[kingdryland]

I hardly ever visit these places but I think the one that spawns oblivions is the infernal pit ,I don't remember ever seeing them in Abaddon or Acheron.

[AncientsQuest]

leap
leap till the curse fades
and control the mobs at the same time
just about every barb has this skill
and should be using it

[AnimeCraze]

I rather WC->Berserk. Stun is more useful in PvM. About the only place I use leap is against the CE guy.