Hades one-shot kill?

[DaveyT]

I accidentally started in Normal with my lvl 49 Conqueror (not the first time I've done that) and I decided to kill Hades rather than exit. My conqueror has never had problems with him (even the first encounter was fairly easy). However, this time he shield charges in, cast battle standard, then somehow dies. He heads back for revenge, watching his HP ready to drink a pot and again instant death.

So I read on on Hades attacks in his first form and they seam to be mainly physical with some vit (toon has 88% vit res) and HP reduction. My toon heads in a third time expecting to die again but Hades is only taking off a few hundred HP per attack. After a few more test runs I notice the shadow star attack hurts for about 1000 HP, but that is a far cry from 4800hp. So how did I get owned?

[ASYLUM101]

The big red ball of death.

[Medea Fleecestealer]

I had the same problem farming him in Legendary with my Conqueror the other day. I'd already done 2/3 runs with no problem; fire up Colossus Form for the fun of it, run in and drop the Standard, a few bashes and he's gone. Next two times "You will pay for your hubris" and pow I'm dead! Couldn't believe it. I think I managed to reclaim my lost HP the second time I went in, but it happened so fast I'm not 100% sure. Third time it was fine, back on course for farming. Just shows what overconfidence will do to you.

[Shalie]

Are you sure your vitality resistance is not life leech resistance? They get added up in the display screen, but life leech resistance wont help against the red ball of doom.

[flix]

I feel your pain.

Standing outside Hades' chambers -Deep breath-
Cast the scroll, cast the minions, temp buffs, run in, battle standard and swing--ACK I'm dead.

[Benitot]

Haha got pawned by it too, thought I was invulnerable. Colossus form and shield charge and BOOM rebirth fountain

[Medea Fleecestealer]

So DaveyT you are not alone. We've all been there (well nearly all). Now you know what could happen you'll be prepared for it and, hopefully, can take evasive action before you die again.

[DaveyT]

Yep, it was the big red ball of death. I was running around Hades to see his attacks and got hit by one of the fragments and it took off a major chunk of health. I suppose standing still and getting hit in the head by all 8 fragments is a good way to die.

I must have run him 20 times with nothing but a scratch. I guess I was extremely lucky that Hades never decided to use that skill.

@Shalie - Thanks for reminding me about the vit and life leech being added together. I will need to check it when I get home. My conq's armour is very low as well. He is wearing a normal Prowlers cuirass since melee mobs have not given me any trouble and the bonuses are nice.

Does the large ball count as a single attack (which can be blocked)? Or does it split and count as 8 "small" attacks (which would make blocking useless without -100% shield cool down)?

[ASYLUM101]

The large ball explodes into smaller balls on impact, if he hits you with the large one all 8 of the other projectiles hit you simultaneously, even if you block the first. That's why it instagibs you if you get hit by the big one. Otherwise you're fine.

[DaveyT]

Thanks. So every point of damage I can reduce will get multiplied by 8. My conq is wearing a normal prowlers cuirass (85 armour) and a normal SBC (35? armour) and some other low armour items. Armour handling is not maxed either. With a few skill points and some upgraded gear (A3E), my toon could easily prevent 150+ dmg per projectile or 1200+ dmg total. This may be enough on normal, but probably not epic (which I am more concerned about).

Or I could just learn to watch for Hades animations