Welcome to the one and only Martial Artist Duel Compilation!
Let me start off by introducing myself a little, as some of you might not know me. I'm a bit quiet on the forums. I'm Divine001, a 220 MA on RK2. I've played for quite a while, and amongst a ton of various alts (some even 220) i haven't had nearly as much fun PvPing on any of those as i do on my MA.
DISCLAIMER: This isn't a guide. This isn't a thread which will tell you how to fight vs every profession so that you will win every time. The tactics i will present in this thread are made to work for me, with my equip.
This thread is just a compilation of how I PvP vs all the professions in duels, and which tactics/equips work best for me. I will present a number of tactics, techniques, keys on timing, equips and hotswaps to use for every profession.
Please also note that i will be writing this from a perspective of duelling, and duels only. Many of these tactics will not work in the Battlestation. Also note that this is aimed for 215+ professions.
This is my equip that i use as default, and in Battlestation :
http://auno.org/ao/equip.php?saveid=100617
Nano Technician
Nano Technicians are a fun duel. To be honest (not to brag, huh) i've yet not lost a single duel vs a 215+ NT. Some of them are going to try to kite you, but i think that for the first duel, most will be cocky and try toe to toe. They will most probably open up with a NBG (Nano Bot Guard), and then carry on trying to nuke you to death. So, how to stop this ?
Here, i try to rely a lot on my alpha power, and how much i can push damage. When the countdown begins, i use the Evasive Stance perk, to get my AAD up in the roof. I also try to have both my GotEC (Grace of the Emperor Crane) and my FotWF (Fists of the Winter Flame) nanos up the second the duels begin. I don't have any weapon on at the start of the duel. I start off by using my QL250 UWOS, which is understandable - i don't want their first 1-3 triples to land at me, unless they get extremely lucky. If they don't kite me, i kick in my alpha. Moonmist should also be up before the duel starts. Flurry up, and go full perk alpha. Also, if they still haven't nuked you (they usually haven't by this time, 6-7 seconds into the duel), i hotswap a bow for some extra damage.
It will be hard to alpha them to death with just perks and AS, but let the crits rain down on them, and use the blind ring when your perk alpha is done.
After the perk alpha, they will probably land a triple on you, because the UWOS NR buff has worn out. Now is where it hurts. This is the time to finish them off.
Try to kill them in their recharge of their first hit triple. Also, use all your healing capability (except for heal nano!) to heal up that first triple.
By now, they don't have more HP left. This is where the finishing blow comes in. I like to shoot off with my BBCS to win me a couple seconds, and use Tear, then hotswap to SoFC and Sneak attack, fast attack and Dimach. If you're extremely unlucky, they will still have a tiny amount of HP left, you WILL kill them off with a final AS. You should have time for this final hotswap, even though they might triple you a second time (you'll be at full HP after the first one), or if you was lucky with your stun timing.
Some smart NTs will refrain from nuking you at the start, and use the nuke that lowers your NR with 1000. This is harsch, as the luck factor will now be in their favor, and they might get a couple extra triples in, which will kill you. In these situations, i am often forced to use my BBCS stun at the start, and 1. rely on my alpha damage power 2. hope that both brawl and tremor hand will stun them.
The kiting NTs won't be much more of a problem, just because their triple have a two second cast time. Just waste a first root graft, then stun, blind, and alpha. If they run blinded after first graft, you might need the second one, but you should be finishing them off by that time.
Shade
Shades ... poor shades. Unless it's a trox shade, it won't be much danger for you. You won't perk a 220 shade when they hit their acro at the start of the duel - but i don't need that with a hotswap alpha. I start off with limber+evasive stance before it starts, and also have both damage nanos running the second it starts. I start off with my bow hotswapped.
As the start, quick AS, unequip bow. Equip SoFC, sneak attack, fast attack, unequip. Here, if you're fast with hotswap, you should have 4-6 seconds until your next AS. In that time, you can use blind ring, UWOS, Tear, and hit up MoR (for additional damage). At your next AS, i also use an Alb Arrow for additional AS damage. At this point, they'll be hitting their shade absorb sleeve like mad. Good. Relax a little, and just hit them with regulars (can also flurry up - you WILL be able to crit some PvP shades). At your next AS, they'll be down to nearly no HP, and it's a perfect situation for a finishing Dimach.
The most important part vs evade profession like Shade is that you do NOT use your heal nano, because you are relying 90% on your hotswap alpha to kill the shade.
The atrox shades will be a little more frightening. Against these, i might even think about going ES+Limber+DoF at the very beginning of the duel, just to be 100% sure they won't perk me even with MR.
This gives you almost 40 seconds to finish them off. Purely hotswap alpha that is 3 AS, 1 SA (two if you're lucky on timing) and 1 Dimach. This is between alot of other things such as Tears, Alb arrows, and the eventual regular hit (perhaps even a crit). Once again - just don't use your heal nano.
Martial Artist
Many people i've talked to say that they hate MA vs MA duels, but to be honest, i'm quite fond of those. Basically, it works the same as duels vs Shade. Once again, you won't perk your opponent (and if you're pvping a gimp that you can perk, you shouldn't need any of my help on killing him). This means that you will, once again, be dependant on your hotswap alpha. And, once very again, do NOT use your heal nano for healing, as that renders you just standing there, trying to hit him regularly, and healing up every 12 seconds after his 11sec AS. I start off the duel with having ES and Limber up, and my GotEC running. Once again, i use bow at start - AS, Unequip, equip SoFC, SA, FA, unequip. Here i have 4-5 seconds until my next AS to hit some toys like blind ring, UWOS, MoR. At the next AS, i also try to use an Alb Arrow (prolly won't land it if he fired of ES though).
The opposite MA, if he's any good, will start off the same as you do. This means that you'll be the victim of a strong hotswap alpha at the start of the duel, bumping you down to 20-40% HP. Do NOT panic, and do NOT use your heal nano. Just use heal perks, heal stim, and maybe even a battle prepared, if you feel you have a second for it.
Against MAs, i have a trick that i like to use, and which i'll share with you. This probably won't work against the better MAs, and be careful when using it - it's an all-in move, which will pretty much lose you the duel if you fail it. Here is how it goes - at the very start of the duel, use the FULL hotswap alpha. That means - AS, Alb Arrow, SA, FA, Tear, Dimach. Yes, even Dimach. Unless you are extremely lucky, it will NOT kill your opponent. However, many MAs literally **** their pants when they get down to 5-10% HP after the first 3 seconds of the duel, so they semi-panic and use their heal nano ! This gives you an excellent advantage, as all the can do now is to TRY to push damage with just fists, without any hotswap. From this moment, just be careful and don't let them hit you too low, as they still have their dimach ready. Keep those ASes raining down on them, and they are stuck in the heal recharge. If you're hotswapping correctly, and keeping your HP up without using heal nano, it should just be a matter of time before one of your ASes kills them off.
Please keep in mind though - if the MA doesn't panic after this move, and just uses his best heal perks and all other stuff to heal up without the nano, you ill be in a tough position - not having your dimach to finish him off.
When not using that tactic - try to time your dimach with your second Sneak Attack (if it's a good MA and outheals the first hotswap alpha correctly).
Doctor
Doctor duels are pretty interesting in the sense that they give you alot of time to think and to work on your alpha timing. Doctors don't have any scary alpha that should force you to heal. Start off without a bow, and use UWOS as fast as the duel begins, so that they won't land their first UBT.
They key to alphaing doctors is to time your alpha when they start DoTing you. That's all i can say really. I usually fit in the BBCS stun right after Tremor Hand kicks in, unless the TH perk stuns them (not 100%). While the rest of your perk alpha is kicking, i hotswap for SoFC for a finishing SA+Dimach. Before the alpha, prepare for as much damage as you can. Use both damage nanos, flurry up, perk moonmist. I'll be sincere with you - it is HARD to alpha the good docs, and luck is a little factor here. Also, if you fail your initial alpha, it'll be very hard to come back from it.
Here are some tips - right after the doc stops spamming UBT on you (whether it landed or the doc just gave up), use both UBT perks (that's what i call them - Red Dusk and Incapacitate). This will slow their DoT casting just a little, but even a half second is alot when you're doing your alpha and trying to keep them stunned. At the start of the duel, i use the AS hotswap mostly just to annoy them and keep them healing. If the doc focuses 100% on outliving your first alpha (and they will try), it will be near impossible to kill him with it. He will also be prepared for it. I try to keep them at least a little busy with healing, so that my alpha comes ... well, yeah, as a surprise. This takes alot of practise to time, though.
As said - try to time the alpha when they are starting to DoT you.
Soldier
Ouch. These guys hurt. Here's what they'll most probably do : They'll AMS up the second the duel starts, and start shooting you. That's it.
This is why you need an AMS script (will try to post one up here when i get around to it).
In duels against soldiers - there are the two important things you need to learn:
1. Surviving against the soldier for 1:20.
So how do you survive? First off, let me tell you that there are two different options to use for the soldier vs a MA in a duel. They will either use the Dshark and rely on their AR to cap their FA/bursts on you, and hotswap to AS weapon every once in a while. Or, they will use the EC3 (Kyr'Ozch Energy Carbine - Type 3) for an 11second AS. Both variants are pretty hard to outlast against a well equipped 220 soldier, but it can be done.
You have to sit down. Yes, i said sit down. As in, you actually stop fighting the soldier, and just let them shoot you while you are sitting down in front of them. This is because you are going to let your healdelta be an important part in your healing up during 1:20. Use all your heals when you need them - just do whatever you can do stay alive. Once every 12 seconds, you will stand up to use the heal nano. During that standing second, i like to annoy the soldier a little by using some various items and perks on them, such as : blind ring, UWOS, UBT perks. Some times, i also have to sacrifice the stun attack, and instead use a Flower of Life (if the soldier is hitting excessively hard). In duels vs soldiers, i deliberately go extra low HP. This is what i swap off:
- take off token board and use CoH collar
- take off pen pad and use another GoC
- take off both my bracers and put on Sandy Piece of Goo.
- take off both my sleeves and use Pen OFAB sleeves (yes, they add to HP, but i believe the +80 Dodge does a great difference).
This renders me to a little below 8k HP, which is especially good against EC3 soldiers, as you will have an easier time healing up the 11s capped AS.
Cycle your acrobat perks the following way - First off, start with using only DoF. When under DoF, use the annoying things i mentioned (blind, UBT etc). As DoF is about to go out - i hit both ES and limber.
Why do i hit both? Well, you still have another 40 seconds to live until his AMS goes out. But, also, in 40 secs he will be killable, and you want to save some evades for that (because it hurts more when you're standing up and trying to kill the sold). When your limber goes out, your ES is still going to be up for another 40 seconds. This additional 1000 AAD will help more when you're up and trying to kill the soldier.
2. Killing the soldier after his AMS goes out
To be honest, i think this is the most annoying part of the duel. After you've sweated your arse off trying to keep alive for 1:20, you still need to take down the soldier who has 20k+ HP and 40-50%~ reflects. However, there is one trick! Timing is KEY here, and you need to rely alot on your timing with the AMS script. You see - right after their AMS goes out, there is a window of 2-3 seconds where the soldier has NO REFLECTS AT ALL! Yes, you heard me. He has NONE.
So here is where most of your damage must go in. I usually even waste my dimach here, using a SoFC to hit SA+FA+Dimach simultaniously, while my perk alpha is kicking on him. Just be careful not to concentrate 110% on your alpha - don't forget the soldier is still shooting you !