Any suggestions for Improved Kangaxx? (Tactics+other mods)

shogplobber · Post by **shogplobber** » Wed Apr 20, 2011 1:56 pm

Improved Kangaxx is giving me a huge amount of trouble, particularly once he turns demi-lich. Protection from magic renders the first fight but harmless, but once he's a demi-lich he doesn't seem to be affected by it at all. I've never survived more than 10 seconds against him; he always time stops, casts a few buffs, and literally throws 5+ imprisonments at whoever is most vulnerable. It never fails and there appears to be very little I can do about it.

Azuredge is completely ineffective and he does not even have to save vs. its instadeath ability. Protection from undead is promptly dispelled. Traps seem to be useless. If I drop the cheese and try to take him on without any scroll use, I can't even kill him the first time; the horrid wiltings in his chain contingency can kill the entire party instantly. I'm playing on insane, so it does over 100 damage to everyone.

I have plenty of +4-5 weapons (Carsomyr, short sword of mask, staff of rhynn, staff of the magi, and Sanchudokuu). The problem is not getting through his defenses but simply surviving long enough to land a hit. I have no freedom spell nor do I know where to get one. Is there any way to do this fight without someone getting instakilled in the first few seconds, or am I going to have to wait till I have the mace of disruption?

My party is level 14-16. No HLA's, obviously. Not even level 9 spells, and therefore no freedom casting even if I could find a scroll; I'd have to use it from a quickslot.

If anyone here has killed this guy, I'd like to hear how you did it.

Stworca · Post by **Stworca** » Wed Apr 20, 2011 2:01 pm

Doublepost

Stworca · Post by **Stworca** » Wed Apr 20, 2011 2:03 pm

Hell, i'll do a full quotation for SCSII + Tactics Kangaxx

Vanilla game Kangaxx-demi lich was very easy to deal with. With only two spells and barely any target switching. SCSII changes that to something challenging, worthwhile.

Kangaxx has all his immunities from vanilla version, in addition
- He can cast spells as a rank 35 mage (this also means he does not have more spells than a rank 35 mage would have!) but with somewhat increased casting speed.
- He starts with a rather nice pre-buff (+ has triggers, contingencies etc)
- He can cast Imprisonment in the same round he casted spell (main difficulty here)
- His imprisonment has been changed. A save vs death is now allowed, if you succeed you suffer level drain but aint imprisoned.

And now for the fight, which aint realy that bad.
- Things that stop Imprisonment : Spell Immunity : Abjuration, Spell Trap, Protection from Magic Scroll, Any form of Enrage (Berserker, Barbarian, Minsc, Lilith Amulet, Cursed sword of berserking <-- this one is worthless)
- Things that stop THIS imprisonment : All of the above + Combo of Protection from negative energy (spell or item) + Potion of Magic Protection (+50% MR and all saves all succesfull)
- Remember that single spell cast by Kangaxx can wipe your party on insane. Protect yourself from fire, magic fire and magic before even trying to face Kangaxx and recast if these are dispelled

I recommend using Protection from Magic scrolls for this one. Yes - spellstrike takes them down, but it is one spellstrike less in Kangaxx spellbook. Have more scrolls!. Protect your main character with potion of magic protection regardless of everything. If you have everyone protected (or have a bunch of Freedom scrolls + restoration spells) Kangaxx is a.. regular mage! Well.. except for immunity to weapons weaker then +4. Work on his buffs / outlast them till its possible to unleash physical hell.

If you fail when trying the regular tactic, there's one more thing you should know about Kangaxx... complete vulnerability to Mace of Disruption +2! Yes, he can be owned by its proc, regardless of spells!

It's for SCSII + Tactics version. Vanilla tactics is cheesier. You might need Carsomyr or Melf Minute Meteors to damage Kangaxx.

Make sure to back Spell Immunity with Spell Defense, so that it's not dispelled too quickly.
Protection from magic energy and protection from fire should keep you alive through horrid willings, fireballs & co.

Since you dont have lvl 9 spells, use Staff of Magi for Spell Trap and possibly Staff of Power for Globe of Invulnerability.

There is no way for characters such as Mazzy to survive this fight, except Protection From Magic scrolls. Ribald has 2 or 3, and someone else has 1 or 2 more.

Lilith amulet is a reward from "Ritual" from tactics mod.

shogplobber · Post by **shogplobber** » Wed Apr 20, 2011 2:09 pm

Yep. I ran through SCS1 in the first game and imported to SCSII as a matter of fact.

I'll check out the stickies. I thought about spell immunity but when I PoM the character closest to him, he just aims for someone else. I only have 2 arcane casters and 2 PoM scrolls; using a simulacrum from Vhailor's helm gives me 4. I would have to use all of my scrolls on my 4 non-casters and spell immunity on the remaining 2 in order to protect everyone, and while I'm not completely against doing that, it makes me a little worried about Improved Irenicus.

Thanks for responding.

EDIT: Thanks! I'm sorry for not reading the stickies before posting.

EDIT2: And double sorry for not putting a spoiler warning up.

Stworca · Post by **Stworca** » Wed Apr 20, 2011 2:15 pm

Well Improved Irenicus is in some way easier to survive.

I covered him in the guide as well. The guide may be a bit short on some encounters, but i had to limit the character amount to 10 000 per post.

Should you have any trouble, suggestions or feedback, i'm here more often than not.

SCSII Kangaxx will always target people who do not have immunities. But SCSII Kangaxx's imprisonment is much easier to deal with (in quote)

Edit : Just to be sure.. I hope that you did NOT install Improved Kangaxx from BOTH tactics AND Scsii. You'll have to run a re-install then. Only one mod per encounter is allowed. It buggs out otherwise.

shogplobber · Post by **shogplobber** » Thu Apr 21, 2011 9:49 pm

I GOT HIM.

Thank you so much, man. I never knew those magic protection potions were so useful and had completely forgotten about the automatic saving throws.

Ended up using the protections and prebuffs you suggested combined with constant use of the ring of the ram, ring of energy, and necklace of missiles. Duplicated the rings with simulacrum, one from Vhailor's helm and the other from my PC sorcerer. Kangaxx is perfectly vulnerable to them and, as it turns out, doesn't have that much HP once you find a way to get past his ridiculous damage reduction and teleport field. He never even had time to use his time stop. It helped that the ring of the ram pushed him out of his teleport field; in previous attempts I couldn't even get within melee range for long.

My tactics were cheesy but at least he is out of the way. Thanks!