Jon Irenicus(Spoiler)

Berethor · Post by **Berethor** » Fri Sep 02, 2005 7:27 pm

I hear a lot of walkthroughs say that He is very tough to beat, especially the secont time you fight him, in the Tree of Life. I found it far different. Irenicus was much harder the first time, I dont know why. Maybe it was because I turned into the slayer the second time, I dont know. All he does is castTime stop, Ice Storm, Maze, Absolute immunity, fire shield(red), fire shield(blue), and spell deflection or something. I dont think I ever hit him with a normal weapon, even though I was using the Equalizer long sword, and he is chaotic evil. If you manage to summon any animals and they survive, they do fair damage too.

fable · Post by **fable** » Fri Sep 02, 2005 7:31 pm

I think you're right--at least, the five times I played through, the first big battle with Irenicus was the real tough one, with all the doppelgangers! It was also a real problem with the 2D engine, the only time I felt that 2D wasn't really better in an RPG. Far too many characters in a room, some of them mimics of your characters, and it was hard to get a fix on some.

Some folks will tell you their spell combinations for taking him down. There are several, for as you say, he really doesn't vary much, thanks to the mediocre AI. There are some mods that affect ToB opponents, giving them a far greater range of spells, and I think (but am not sure) that Tactics makes Irenicus make difficult in SoA.

Faust · Post by **Faust** » Fri Sep 02, 2005 9:52 pm

[QUOTE=fable] I think (but am not sure) that Tactics makes Irenicus make difficult in SoA.

[/QUOTE]

Tactics does improve Irenicus. Personally, I don't recommend Tactics unless you really like tactical challenges. Parts of the mod are just way over the top difficulty wise.

But, to the original point, I'd agree that the final encounteri with Irenicus is easier the second time. He's not a horribly difficult opponent at any point. He's fairly predictable.

Ravager · Post by **Ravager** » Sat Sep 03, 2005 5:15 am

I found the first battle harder too. I think it's because he spends so much time casting defense spells in the second battle. I don't think he casted as many offensive spells in the second battle either. Lots of standing around as the Slayer.

I haven't tried any of the Tactics mods yet. Maybe another time...

Berethor · Post by **Berethor** » Sat Sep 03, 2005 10:37 am

hes just a sissy, he casted mislead, I took that down in about 10 seconds, the nturned into the slayer and kicked his arse. he wasnt even as hard as the 6 or 7 beholders in hell that I cant beat

Ravager · Post by **Ravager** » Sat Sep 03, 2005 10:41 am

You should have just used True Sight. Much quicker to get rid of any illusions.

AS for the beholders use Balduran's Shield bought in the Adventurer's Mart. Just watch out for the Elder Orb's Imprisonment spell which isn't protected against

.

In the penultimate battle against Irenicus, he casts much more offensive spells like Ice Storm and Abi-Dalzim's Wilting Horror. Fortunately any killed characters follow you to Hell and are revived.

Berethor · Post by **Berethor** » Sat Sep 03, 2005 10:43 am

yeah, i forgot about true sight, i could have used that with keldorn.

those beholders keep using cause serious wounds then one hit and I am dead. i didnt get that shield so could you tell me how to beat them. I know its a little off topic but still

Ravager · Post by **Ravager** » Sat Sep 03, 2005 11:09 am

I never take on beholders without somethning that reflects their rays but I think there is a general tactic. Lots of protections, Haste, surround the beholder and batter away.

In that particular case you could go down the evil route on the other side of the wall.

Maybe it's possible to invisibly sneak past those beholders. I'm not sure if any of them are prepared for that tactic.

There should be more anti-beholder tricks and strategies with the GB walkthrough here: http://www.gamebanshee.com/baldursgatei ... olders.php.

Berethor · Post by **Berethor** » Sat Sep 03, 2005 11:52 am

I know that I found it after I asked the question, but if you want you can congratulate me for beating the Game

Ravager · Post by **Ravager** » Sat Sep 03, 2005 11:56 am

[QUOTE=Berethor]I know that I found it after I asked the question, but if you want you can congratulate me for beating the Game

[/QUOTE]

Congratulations.

How many times through have you gone?

If you have TOB and install the 'Ascension' mod, you can have the chance to fight a much tougher Irenicus again. That's a true challenge.

Berethor · Post by **Berethor** » Sat Sep 03, 2005 12:08 pm

I am buying throne of bhaal later today, and this is my first time getting through.im so proud of myself.

Stats:
Berethor-level 23 assassin(blackrazor/the equalizer/celestial fury)
Minsc-level 17 ranger(silver sword)
Keldorn-level 16 inquisitor(carsomyr + 5)
Jaheira-level 13 druid/level 13 fighter(club + 3, blackblood)
Aerie-level 13mage/level 13 cleric(my lover)[martial staff]
Imoen-level 14 mage/level 7 theif(short bow of gesen)

pretty good, huh?

Ravager · Post by **Ravager** » Sat Sep 03, 2005 12:18 pm

That should work. TOB is definitely a good purchase

. SOA has lots of replayability too, especially after going through once... I've probably gone through 5 times by now.. most of them completely (only once full through TOB though).

And more of a challenge than SOA, IMO. Try going through TOB as it is and at some point installing the 'Ascension' mod which improves the ending storyline. Have a good savegame from around Amkethran (I know it won't mean much to you now but you'll know when you get to it), then install the mod for the alternate ending.

Good luck. Have fun

Hope we're not going too far off topic. Still related to the endgame of SOA. Just barely.

If you need any tips on TOB, start a new thread and I'll see if I can help

Berethor · Post by **Berethor** » Sat Sep 03, 2005 12:31 pm

when i get it, I will.

the only problem I had in the end of SOA was the demons, too many of them, plus the slayer. must have used 10 potions on that alone

Ravager · Post by **Ravager** » Sat Sep 03, 2005 12:39 pm

Irenicus killing tactics follow:

My tactic was to cast the whole gamut of protections: Death Wards, Chaotic Commands, Resist Fear, Protection from Petrification, Protection From Evil 10" Radius, Fire Shields, Stoneskins, Haste.

Summon up the maximum amount of elemental support, then trigger the battle. Irenicus transports away soon after. I focus on the demons though most of the time all my summoned allies vanish (maybe a Death Spell is cast by Irenicus), dispatch the demons fairly quickly, then follow Irenicus.

Then mostly lots of Ruby Rays of Reversal and Pierce Magic spells with the odd Horrid Wilting thrown in and Irenicus is history. I hardly need any potions I think, a couple of healing and that's about it.

Same tactic every time through really. Though I suppose the Tactics mod would dramatically increase the difficulty.

Berethor · Post by **Berethor** » Sat Sep 03, 2005 12:43 pm

Wait a second.

Irenicus was the slayer? All he used was petrification, prismatic spray, and some others. I just used breach with Imoen, I turned slayer and whooped his arse.

P.S. I liked the end where he got tackled by slayers in the video

Ravager · Post by **Ravager** » Sat Sep 03, 2005 12:52 pm

Ooh. Hope we're not going to get in trouble for going off-topic.

Some more spoilers-

Yeah I liked the video too. Kobolds in there I think. Not slayers. Just demonstrates how powerless he is. And the last portion of the video relates to the story of TOB (like you'd expect it to do).

Irenicus can turn into the Slayer because he stole the PC's divine soul. He took some Bhaalspawn abilities at the same time.

I avoid using the Slayer change 99% of the time. It's not normally neccesary and you get a negative reputation shift at least once for using it. I think it may get more powerful in TOB though (or that might be added in 'Ascension')

Berethor · Post by **Berethor** » Sat Sep 03, 2005 12:54 pm

It lowers 2 rep every time, i probably have 11 or 12 right now. He kept using weapon protections, so I just turned slayer and did 30 damage each hit(which was most of the time)

it also lowered my alignment to neutral evil from neutral good

i dont know why, maybe it wasnt because of slayer but I dont know.

Ravager · Post by **Ravager** » Sat Sep 03, 2005 12:56 pm

Hmm.. I would have thought the Slayer's attack would count as a magical weapon that the spell protects against.

it also lowered my alignment to neutral evil from neutral good i dont know why, maybe it wasnt because of slayer but I dont know.

You probably took an evil path in the tests, such as killing the dragon. Ah, I think I can guess. You took Blackrazor, didn't you?

That's too tempting.

That's why your alignment changed (if you did that).

Berethor · Post by **Berethor** » Sat Sep 03, 2005 1:01 pm

yeah i took black razor, and the cloak of bravery, but in hell i had no choice in fighting the dragon, it made me. and i killed serevok and the genie, but i only noticed my alignment change after i killed sarevok, got minsc back from the demon, and killed the dragon. i dont know why

Ravager · Post by **Ravager** » Sat Sep 03, 2005 1:16 pm

Talking to the demons presents different choices. Taking the cloak of bravery, blackrazor, fighting the dragon or rising to Sarevok's taunts each counts as an evil choice with an evil alignment shift.