How to do Incarnate content?

Here's a question that I'm sure comes up every whipstitch -

So I'm a returning player, know the previously existing systems well. I've figured out most things, but what I'd love to do is take my character and run him through the awesome-looking Incarnate content.

One question: in what order should I do stuff? I know to do the Mender story arc, that much is pretty simple, but what about the raids themselves?

How much time should I reserve for the raids?

Thanks - just really admiring all this awesome content and would love to play along.

Generally, I'd recommend doing them in the order they were released, starting with Apex and Tin Mage TFs, then BAF and Lambda.

I can never remember the order of the rest, so someone else will undoubtedly explain those.

However, it is not essential to do so, by any means - there is very little self-reference in the Incarnate content, so it can be done in pretty much any order you'd care to mention.

Oh, and mix it up by running the new Dark Astoria arcs, too.

Edit: The Trials take somewhere between 30-60 minutes, really.

order for trial BAF, LAM, Keyes, Underground, TPN, MOM, DD.

Basically, for trial order, check your LFG tab -- the incarnate trials are listed in order, with earlier ones at the bottom and later ones at the top. Generally, you want to do earlier ones first, as they ramp up in difficulty from there.

I've found that a good rule of thumb is to stick to BAF, Lambda, and maybe Keyes until you earn your first level shift, then add Underground and TPN to the mix as a +1. Once you've hit +2, MoM and Dilemma Diabolique are doable. Of course, that's just a guideline -- depending on the specific league going through the trial, un-shifted (or under-shifted) characters can often survive later trials without much trouble. My mastermind went through a half-dozen successful Diabolique Master runs at only +1 because we had a decent number of +2 and +3 folks and a skilled leader.

Most incarnate trials are fairly short as "raids" go -- a half-hour or a little longer, not counting the time it takes to form up the league -- with Underground being the exception. That one tends to take an hour at minimum, usually more. But the reward table at the end is better.

One thing no one has mentioned yet - and that is, depending on the server you're on, you may not get any clear direction on some of these trials, even if you tell the leader it's your first run. I would recommend you take a peek at http://paragonwiki.com/wiki/Main_Page and do a search for each trial, and check out some of the strategy - so you'll have at least a vague notion of what's going on, and what's expected of the league.

Another important thing to note is where on your Server the iTrials form up. On some servers it's Pocket D, others RWZ and still others Dark Astoria. I know Justice uses Pocked D and DA the most, Infinity I think has switched from RWZ to DA... but the rest? I have no idea.

Victory definitely runs everything via Dark Astoria now.

Freedom runs usually iTrial from Pocket-D

Pinnacle forms in Dark Astoria (generally near Taskmaster Gabriel) and joining the PinnBadges global channel is a must.

30 to 60 is a general guide. Most leaning toward the 30 mark. Underground is the only one that's almost a guaranteed 60 every run, though I've heard groups doing it in less time (and much more). It's a very dungeon crawly raid.

The rest though? for like Lambda and BAF they can be whittled down to like 20 minutes or so with a practiced team. They just don't take that long

Virtue used to form trials in RWZ (Pocket D is... not not safe there), but now it's typically Dark Astoria, near Gabriel and all the other amenities. I also occasionally catch people forming them in Cimerora for some reason.

Let's start with this.. while you can do the Mendor arc and save a bit of time even that isn't required now.. you can earn IXP to open the Alpha slot doing trials just like all of the other.. My own opinion... do the arc. Its faster that running trials to open Alpha and one less you need to worry about


There is no set oreder you HAVE to run trials in .. basically I'd go with whatever is being formed at the time. Now starting out you may want to stick to the earlier trials like BAF, Lambda and keyes since they are easier to do and designed for new players with no level shifts... That doesn't mean you can't join a Diabolique Trial but keep in mind even the minons are 54+2 so if you are 50 +0 the chance you hit anything are a lot less that on a BAF.


The TPN isn't too bad for newer characters and when successful you walk away with better than 60 threads, 4-5 astrals and 2 emps along with your end bonus salvage. The Underground trial is the same and the payoff is even better .. figure on 8-10 astrals, 2 emps, more than 60 threads and a gaurentee of a rare or ver rare bit of salvage. Big thing with the UG is it takes about an hour which is twice as long as any other trial and a certain number of players need the right destiny (CLARION) for it to succeed.

For those times you cant find a league do the arcs in DA. They are quick , interesting and most require you to defeat an EB or two at the end. This will help open up powers (IXP) and at the end of each arc you get a choice of threads, salvage, or merits. All the arcs can be run over and over through Ouroborus so you CAN get all three from any arc all in one day.

As you gain powers and eventually level shifts you can do any and all of the trials as they form. Have fun and welcome to the Incarnate ranks

Do your leaguemates a favor -- try to get a Tier 3 Alpha slotted before you start running Incarnate Trials, unless you're already built to handle +4 enemies.

You might not necessarily "get in the way" without it, but you'll spend more time on your feet, do more damage and generally support the team better in every way.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nethergoat it's NEVER too late to pad your /ignore list!

One other thing:

Burn astrals into threads. you get them by the bucketful doing trials and each one is worth 4 threads, so, 5 astrals is a common component. Unless you're -really- into the unlockable costume pieces, wait til after your abilities are filled.

And don't be shy burning threads for iXP. It's a really fast way to unlock slots. Both judgment and interface cost a total of 30 a piece, while lore/destiny will cost 50 (and that's in a vacuum, you'll earn iXP doing trials and running in Dark Astoria so it can be less).

It also helps to do the SSAs for a weekly 10 threads and an astral, and the Daily repeatable in Dark Astoria for 10 threads.

Can we possibly get a sticky put on this thread?

It would help a lot of new incarnates keep from asking this over and over. My highest incarnate is finally Tier 3 Alpha, and a lot of this was news to me, too. My guess is some people stay away from the iTrials just because they don't know how to go about it. This thread stickied would help a lot.

As a side note, if you get bored of the Ramiel arc (as I did, rapidly), you can unlock Alpha with a BAF or two, particularly if you don't mind burning threads for ixp.