PVE: ISO-8 Brotherhood (2016-05-19 to 2016-05-26)

ZootSax

Okay, it's my first try at one of these. Let me know if you spot any errors.

Double Iso, but also a new character release so the 25CP is 10,000 higher than last time. Good luck, all.

Event Info:

Episode 4: ISO-8 Brotherhood
Length of Event: 7 days
Sub-Events? Yes; Alliance Rewards in Sub-Events? Yes
Number of Sub-Events: 7 Length of Sub-Events: 24 hours
Main Bracket Size: 1000 Sub Bracket Size: 1000
Unique Reward(s): High ISO Reward - In each sub-event, a one-time node with a high ISO reward is unlocked after the other non-essential nodes are completed.
Other Notes:
• There are Main nodes to open up the sub-events. These nodes are one time only nodes.
• One node in Main (a team-up node) is repeatable and playable for points throughout the event.
• Enemy Types (Main): Ares, Daken (2*), Doom, Moonstone, Ragnarok, Yelena Belova, ISO-8 Goons

•Sub-Event 1: ISO-8 Lab: Peru
◦Number of Main Nodes to Open Sub-Event: 1
◦Sub-Event Nodes: 10 Total. 6 Regular (repeatable); 3 Essential (repeatable); 1 One-Time Only
◦Enemy Types: Daken (2*), Moonstone, Yelena Belova, Hammer Goons, ISO-8 Goons

•Sub-Event 2: ISO-8 Lab: Nigeria
◦Number of Main Nodes to Open Sub-Event: 1
◦Sub-Event Nodes: 10 Total. 6 Regular (repeatable); 3 Essential (repeatable); 1 One-Time Only
◦Enemy Types: Ares, Moonstone, Ragnarok, Venom, Hammer Goons, ISO-8 Goons

•Sub-Event 3: ISO-8 Lab: Algeria
◦Number of Main Nodes to Open Sub-Event: 1
◦Sub-Event Nodes: 10 Total. 6 Regular (repeatable); 3 Essential (repeatable); 1 One-Time Only
◦Enemy Types: Bullseye (2*), Daken (2*), Moonstone, Ragnarok, Yelena Belova, ISO-8 Goons

•Sub-Event 4: Rescue Mission: Russia
◦Number of Main Nodes to Open Sub-Event: 1
◦Sub-Event Nodes: 10 Total. 6 Regular (repeatable); 3 Essential (repeatable); 1 One-Time Only
◦Enemy Types: Ares, Juggernaut, Ragnarok, Moonstone, Yelena Belova, Hammer Goons, ISO-8 Goons

•Sub-Event 5: ISO-8 Lab: Colombia
◦Number of Main Nodes to Open Sub-Event: 1
◦Sub-Event Nodes: 10 Total. 6 Regular (repeatable); 3 Essential (repeatable); 1 One-Time Only
◦Enemy Types: Doom, Hood, Moonstone, Ragnarok, Venom, Doombots, Hammer Goons, ISO-8 Goons, Maggia Goons

•Sub-Event 6: ISO-8 Lab: Canada
◦Number of Main Nodes to Open Sub-Event: 1
◦Sub-Event Nodes: 10 Total. 6 Regular (repeatable); 3 Essential (repeatable); 1 One-Time Only
◦Enemy Types: Ares, Daken (2*), Doom, Moonstone, Ragnarok, Venom, Yelena Belova, Doombots

•Sub-Event 7: ISO-8 Lab: Saudi Arabia
◦Number of Main Nodes to Open Sub-Event: 1
◦Sub-Event Nodes: 10 Total. 6 Regular (repeatable); 3 Essential (repeatable); 1 One-Time Only
◦Enemy Types: Ares, Bullseye (2*), Daken (2*), Doom, Hood, Juggernaut, Moonstone, Ragnarok, Venom, Yelena Belova, Doombots, ISO-8 Goons

Link to mags1587 PVE Format Guide:
https://d3go.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=14484

Powered Up:

(Essential)
(new)
(new)






(Essential)







(Essential)

Progression awards:

100:
500: 200
1000: rainbow damage boost
2000:
3900: rainbow AP stockpile
6400: 500
9300:
12500: 500
16000:
20000: 500
24500:
29000: 1000
33500: 50
38500: 1000
44000:
50000: 2000
58500: 25
68500:
79000: 4000
90000: 25

Placement rewards:

1-2: + rewards for 2-5
3-10: + rewards for 6-10
11-20: , 6000 , 100
21-50: , 5000 , 100
51-100: , 4000 , 50
101-200: , 3000 , 50
201-300: , 2000 , 25
301-400: , 1000
401-500: x 3, 500
501-600: x 2, 500
601-800: , 500
801-1000: 500

Alliance rewards:

1-2: , 10000 , 250
3-10: , 10000 , 100
11-25 , 6000 , 100
26-50: , 4000 , 100
51-100: , 2000 , 50
101-250: 2000 , 50
251-500: 1000 , 25
501-1000: 1000
1001-10000: 500

Sub-Event Placement Rewards:

1-2: x2, 2000 , 100 , 2
3-10: , 2000 , 100 , 1
11-50: , 2000 , 50
51-100: , 2000
101-200: , 1000
201-300: , 500
301-400: , 500
401-500: x3, 500
5ß1-600: x2, 500
601-800: , 500
801-900: 280
901-1000: 140 :iso8

Alliance:
1-10: , 500
11-50: , 200
51-100: , 200
101-250: ,140
251-1000: x3, 140
1001-2000: x2, 140
2001-5000: , 140
5001-10000: :

Previous runs:

PVE: ISO-8 Brotherhood (2015-12-17 to 2015-12-24)
PVE: ISO-8 Brotherhood (October 1 - 9)
PVE: ISO-8 Brotherhood
PVE ISO-8 Brotherhood - June 4 - June 12
ISO-8 Brotherhood Mar 28 - Apr 1
Iso 8 Brotherhood - Feb 12 - Feb 17
ISO-8 Brotherhood Dec 04 - 9
ISO-8 Brotherhood Aug 19 - 28
ISO-8 Brotherhood (June 13 to 22)

Edit: Fixed poor HTML on my part in "Previous runs" section (thanks, rainkingucd)

Gmax101

Guess that's why they had to fix Vision.

After all, Kamala Khan, Vision and QuickSilver all boosted would mean virtually never having to use health packs drop yellow while stockpiling ISO... cos you aren't taking any match damage... and any you do take is healed when you blow all the AP on a storm of powers with a Blue count down out for nuts damage...

Only colour costing more than 5 is the purple to generate loads more Green

rainkingucd

Thanks for taking care of this one ZootSax. Looks like the links to the previous runs didn't work. Feel free to copy this one here:

PVE: ISO-8 Brotherhood (2016-03-03 to 2016-03-10)
PVE: ISO-8 Brotherhood (2015-12-17 to 2015-12-24)
PVE: ISO-8 Brotherhood (October 1 - 9)
PVE: ISO-8 Brotherhood
PVE ISO-8 Brotherhood - June 4 - June 12
ISO-8 Brotherhood Mar 28 - Apr 1
Iso 8 Brotherhood - Feb 12 - Feb 17
ISO-8 Brotherhood Dec 04 - 9
ISO-8 Brotherhood Aug 19 - 28
ISO-8 Brotherhood (June 13 to 22)

Tatercat

Not a complaint, but just something I found funny. For my first pass or this "Double ISO" event, I got mostly Critical boosts, Standard Tokens, and even both CP's (with the exception of the final node's fixed reward of 3000 iso). I don't think I've never gotten both CP's on the first pass since they started that practice.

I know I'll get the ISO later, it just struck me funny.

EleganceFlawed

I am having so much trouble with this event. Even the "easy" nodes are wiping me out.

deadtaco

I'm having trouble too. I get to the 6th Peru mission, "Peru IV", and it is listed as Normal for me and I wipe each time.

I'm not trying to compete yet, just get the progression awards. The rocket and groom event was perfect but this one is eating my teams.

Azoth658

I've never gone through so many health packs in one sub before and I've got some fairly decent boosted characters for this one.

Managed to 4 plus every node though and 6/7 clear at least half so I'm sitting at 13 with an hour and half left on this sub and I didn't play optimally at all

I don't expect this level of placement in each sub but because of double ISO I'm hoping to clear as much ISO as possibly in this event and nab a Warmachine for the effort. *Fingers crossed*

Unless the points increase a lot over the next few days I'm not sure I'll hit max progression for the 25CP though . I'll keep you posted.

Lastly please leave this double ISO for all PVEs ongoing . One sub and a DDQ and I'm sitting on 26430 ISO (unheard of). I'm going to try and not spend any ISO during the event and see how much I have by the end of it. I know it will be skewed slightly by DDQ and maybe two PVP events but it'll be a good indicator of the ISO change.

Quebbster

Azoth658 wrote:

Unless the points increase a lot over the next few days I'm not sure I'll hit max progression for the 25CP though . I'll keep you posted.

It's very tough to judge progression from the very first sub in a 7 day event. The Points increase a bit in each sub, and it adds up towards the end of the week. From what I see, 3 full clears of each sub should allow you to reach the progression CP with ease.

Azoth658

Quebbster wrote:

Azoth658 wrote:

Unless the points increase a lot over the next few days I'm not sure I'll hit max progression for the 25CP though . I'll keep you posted.

It's very tough to judge progression from the very first sub in a 7 day event. The Points increase a bit in each sub, and it adds up towards the end of the week. From what I see, 3 full clears of each sub should allow you to reach the progression CP with ease.

Is that 3 clears optimally over the 24 hour subs or 3 clears at any point?

After Rocket & Groot I realized I would rather play PVE whenever I like rather than timing my watch

Quebbster

Azoth658 wrote:

Quebbster wrote:

Azoth658 wrote:

Unless the points increase a lot over the next few days I'm not sure I'll hit max progression for the 25CP though . I'll keep you posted.

It's very tough to judge progression from the very first sub in a 7 day event. The Points increase a bit in each sub, and it adds up towards the end of the week. From what I see, 3 full clears of each sub should allow you to reach the progression CP with ease.

Is that 3 clears optimally over the 24 hour subs or 3 clears at any point?

After Rocket & Groot I realized I would rather play PVE whenever I like rather than timing my watch

3 clears at full node value. Not necessarily optimal play, but you'll need to wait for the timer to expire at least.
If you want to do it all in one sitting you may have to do four clears, I am unclear on the math there.

Azoth658

Thanks for the advice

Well I finished at 21st due to work stopping me from grinding those last points in the last hour (bah).

I should be able to manage 4 clears on all nodes (hopes scaling does not wreck me for later nodes).

But I think all I'll be doing all week is PVE

It would be nice to get two WarMachine covers but I think for someone as casual as me it is unlikely.

ZootSax

Quebbster wrote:

It's very tough to judge progression from the very first sub in a 7 day event. The Points increase a bit in each sub, and it adds up towards the end of the week. From what I see, 3 full clears of each sub should allow you to reach the progression CP with ease.

I think my single favorite thing about the latest test event was the clearly-stated number of clears for the 25CP progression. No matter what the future PVE format turns out to be, I hope they at least implement that from now on.

You're probably right that it's in the 3-4 clear/day range here, too. I'm missing the two & four star essentials, so three full clears only has me at 6,680, 2,040 less than three full clears. I doubt I'll be hitting this one, but with all the essentials it probably won't be too bad...especially for a new character release.

Azoth658

OJSP wrote:

Iso-8 Brotherhood has a maximum points of around 170k.

To get 90k, we'll need to clear the nodes at least 4 times(with 3 full clears)

Thanks OJSP, looks like I'll try and control myself on a few subs and to them partially timed to max out some points.

Tatercat

You know for once, I would recommend not even worry about the final progression reward. With 7 days of double ISO rewards, a player would be better off just making sure they clear as many nodes as they can to get as many ISO rewards as they can, regardless of optimal refresh time. I made around 15K in ISO just from the hard & essential nodes in the first sub yesterday. In the long run, that ISO is going to serve you better than 25 CP which you could earn from the next 3-4 day PVE.

If you feel you can do both 6-7 clears a node and still place (optimal refreshes with grinding at the end of the sub) then great. But unless you need or want War Machine (and given the nature of Civil War event, he's not as essential as he would be in a normal PVE), I would focus on ISO farming this week. They don't give out too many opportunities like this. Get what you can while the getting is good.

EleganceFlawed

I just want the Hawkeye cover so I can finally max him out, and I don't think I can even place high enough for that at this rate. I had to stop playing yesterday because the scaling was too high.

I'll see what happens today but I'm not hopeful.

Warbringa

So after playing the recent new test and now back to this old system I realized a dichotomy that I struggle with.

1.) Under the test PvE I could play whenever I want and scaling starts lower so the first few clears are much easier however because of this you need to do the full 7 clears as well.
2.) Under the old system, I have to stick on the 8 hour clock and maybe grind somewhat at the end but you don't need to do 7 clears and scaling starts higher but doesn't increase nearly as much.

I spend less overall time playing the game under the old system but I have to play it every 8 hours or so on schedule. Under the new test I have more flexibility but I have to make more clears meaning more time overall playing the game......how about something in between?

Ok for this event I am only focusing on getting progression 25 CP and getting as much ISO as I can since it is double ISO. Probably won't place well since it is a new character event.

So far my favorite team is for most nodes. QS and KK are champed and boosted while DD is champed but not boosted in this event. So far this is why it has worked so well. QS has a nice passive blue and his green actually deals good damage with the retool a few months ago. KK passive healing is huge because QS has so many quick powers he can fire off and DD powers are only mid average cost so you get a lot of healing. KK also give you green acceleration and her green AoE is good at times. You have two good green choices on this team: one AoE and one targeted but cheap AP. I have used them both depending on the situation. Now DD, I have other boosted characters I could use in his place but his Ambush works great with QS. I have so many times matched his Ambush using QS black and it deals quality damage of around 3400. There are also times the AI matches for more damage as well (5500 I think?). His blue is an awesome power that works regardless of level too. His purple is usually not used since KK is better but if you do have to get rid of Daken tiles etc. it does the job. The major weakness in this team is #1) no active yellow AP powers #2) no strike tile or damage acceleration The major strengths are #1) strong blue combo with passive and stun #2) good green AP versatility #3) good overall control with DD stun, QS black and KK purple

BlackSheep101

Warbringa wrote:

Now DD, I have other boosted characters I could use in his place but his Ambush works great with QS. I have so many times matched his Ambush using QS black and it deals quality damage of around 3400. There are also times the AI matches for more damage as well (5500 I think?).

You can use QS to set up a match-4 on the row with the trap to force the AI to match it. It need not be a red match; any match 4 on the row/column will do. Just make sure you have a match that won't disturb the setup so you can pass the turn to the AI.

DeNappa

I also found running KK with QS is really effective. With QS's locked tiles, his powers become pretty cheap and KK's healing kicks in often.

I've run them with:

• 2*Daken (my 3* is underleveled); gives a blue power that packs a punch. His blue is also cheap, so more healing. And because you're gathering green for QS (probably) you will drop strikes.
• MNmags; his purple places blue, so you can use him to speed up QS even more. His blue power will probably only be used to activate KK's healing, but his red is quite powerful.
• Dr. Doom; while speeding up QS by collecting blue you feed into Doom's Technopatic strike that will add a lot of black to the board. While it's true that it will remove blue, this can be used to your advantage: if you have 3 or 4 of QS's speedup tiles out, his powers are cheap. Using doom to remove blue tiles will ensure that the powers will stay cheap for a while. Purple can be fired either by KK or Doom according to the situation.

Warbringa

I forgot how this event gets way more difficult in the later events with Juggs, Ares, Doom and Hood. The Russia ones are brutal with both Ares and Juggs. My only saving grace is the team combo I mentioned above as I can try to deny them green and red and I don't care about the other colors since Moonstone or Rags doesn't really scare me if they get other colors and fire them off. Scaling is getting much harder as well. This past clear I only had to use 4 health packs thanks mainly to KK (really only had to use 2 but used 2 extra for insurance). My scaling on the hard nodes is between low 210's to 260's on the second clear right now. Juggs scaling is ridiculous as mentioned on numerous posts before. He is close to 20,000 health for me while my highest boosted characters are around 13,000.

Here are the teams I have generally been using for the whole event ( all 3* except essentials and daken as I don't have 3* daken maxed so I usually use 2* version)

Trivial nodes (and sometimes first hard node during first 2 clears) -
Hard nodes and QS Essential -
2* Wolv Essential - (use when available instead of )
4* Cyclops Essential -

Alternate teams (for grinding mainly): and anyone else depending on the node , ,

Update: My go-to team of got rocked in the Russia sub-event since Hood was in most nodes and the team was just too slow and couldn't deal damage fast enough to Hood before he drained AP. I had to use a team of on the Hood nodes. Good news though is that in the Canada sub-event that follows with no Hood in the nodes I can use this team again to beat up on Ares, Rags, Dr. Doom, Moonstone, etc with no problems.

Warbringa

BlackSheep101 wrote:

Warbringa wrote:

Now DD, I have other boosted characters I could use in his place but his Ambush works great with QS. I have so many times matched his Ambush using QS black and it deals quality damage of around 3400. There are also times the AI matches for more damage as well (5500 I think?).

You can use QS to set up a match-4 on the row with the trap to force the AI to match it. It need not be a red match; any match 4 on the row/column will do. Just make sure you have a match that won't disturb the setup so you can pass the turn to the AI.

Yeah that works well too but actually my strategy with QS is to not let the AI match the red as I can usually get several matches quickly on it using his black so I end up doing more damage that way than letting the AI match it since it disappears when they match for only 2000 damage more. If the AI does match great but I try to set it up so that I can just keep matching it and let it spawn. It works great because I am denying red (best color for AI enemy Moonstone, Rags, Ares, and Juggs against this team) and I gather more red for more Ambush tiles. Nothing feels better as I said that using QS to move a red tile so that you can match two adjacent Ambush tiles

Inarius

i must've won the lottery cause the guys in my bracket seem to be the most easy going folks I've seen

literally 3 hits per node is enough to stay in the Top10, both sub and bracket-wise, so a big thank you for not making me hit them nodes like no tomorrow

wish all events would be as chill as this bracket PVE-wise ^_^