Tips for Using Haunt?


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Tartarus Sorceror

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Joined: Thursday, 31st May 2012, 15:45

Post Thursday, 5th April 2018, 16:39

Tips for Using Haunt?

I have a DENe in Vaults that has just learned Haunt, the first time I've ever used the spell. I am guessing I'm not using it right because thus far it seems underwhelming. I've used it when I have a lone tough monster, such as a ettin or stone giant, and all my derived undead from the previous fight have expired. The problem I'm having is that the pattern in which the summons appear does not reliably block LOS or even prevent the enemy from reaching melee range on me if I choose actions besides movement. Is a lone foe not the correct time to use it? What is a good followup or prelude to it?
Won (52). Remaining (15): 5 species: Ba, Fe, Mu, Na, Op; 5 Backgrounds: AM, Wr, Su, AE, Ar; 5 gods: Jiyv, newNem, WJC, newSif, newFedh
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Spider Stomper

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Joined: Tuesday, 8th July 2014, 10:18

Post Thursday, 5th April 2018, 16:46

Re: Tips for Using Haunt?

BVC + infestation, Dchan come to my mind for your problematic. and haunt itself is pretty MP-inefficient and oldschool. i dont use it much

Tartarus Sorceror

Posts: 1822

Joined: Thursday, 31st May 2012, 15:45

Post Thursday, 5th April 2018, 19:44

Re: Tips for Using Haunt?

I'm using Infestation for the first time, too. Duvessa's comment on it in his "spell guide for cool people" was really helpful in understanding what to do with it: it lets you transform popcorn into allied death scarabs. I flat-out destroyed Desolation of Salt with it. And BVC is indeed getting better and better as I increase my Necro. If Haunt continues to disappoint, I'll swap it with something else--maybe Servitor so the Summoning isn't completely wasted.
Won (52). Remaining (15): 5 species: Ba, Fe, Mu, Na, Op; 5 Backgrounds: AM, Wr, Su, AE, Ar; 5 gods: Jiyv, newNem, WJC, newSif, newFedh

Swamp Slogger

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Joined: Friday, 13th March 2015, 13:33

Post Thursday, 5th April 2018, 22:17

Re: Tips for Using Haunt?

Theres no reason to go for haunt over other overpowered necro spells if you are strapped for spell slots or need to train summoning specifially for it. Its an ok spell, but doesnt really drastically impact your gameplay like infestation, vile clutch, or death ch.

Abyss Ambulator

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Post Friday, 6th April 2018, 01:52

Re: Tips for Using Haunt?

Cast it 2–3 times on the same monster, if necessary.

Ziggurat Zagger

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Post Friday, 6th April 2018, 06:57

Re: Tips for Using Haunt?

I tried Haunt in exactly one game: I was really disappointed as it is inferior to both Necro and Summoning spells of lower level and it is very unlikely that you train both magic schools as they do basically the same thing: provide allies. Maybe it is ok for Gnoll though.
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Ziggurat Zagger

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Joined: Wednesday, 23rd October 2013, 07:56

Post Friday, 6th April 2018, 09:37

Re: Tips for Using Haunt?

Haunt is different from other summoning spells in that the summoned allies will only attack their target (until it's dead). So it is also good when a crowd of monsters has one nasty monster and some popcorn.

I learned to love Haunt when I killed Mennas with it (I have said this many times) without losing a single hit point. Granted, I cast it 4 times, so it wasn't very MP-efficient kill, but it was HP-efficient.
DCSS: 97:...MfCj}SpNeBaEEGrFE{HaAKTrCK}DsFESpHu{FoArNaBe}
FeEE{HOIEMiAE}GrGlHuWrGnWrNaAKBaFi{MiDeMfDe}{DrAKTrAMGhEnGnWz}
{PaBeDjFi}OgAKPaCAGnCjOgCKMfAEAtCKSpCjDEEE{HOSu
Bloat: 17: RaRoPrPh{GuStGnCa}{ArEtZoNb}KiPaAnDrBXDBQOApDaMeAGBiOCNKAsFnFlUs{RoBoNeWi

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Cocytus Succeeder

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Joined: Sunday, 18th December 2011, 13:31

Post Friday, 6th April 2018, 13:48

Re: Tips for Using Haunt?

Yup haunt is a smite full los nuke that will offer in one turn both the benefits of keep your ass safe and kill most of things including many extended threats.
Overall is still at least a very strong spell, if you can cast it. (because all necro and all summons spell need to be extremely strong at least).

However, the big drawback of haunt which make almost never worth to remember it exists, is that is a lv.7 dual school spells of two school which have no other synergy and that are alone strong enough to win the game with.
Sure, neither of two have a perfect alternative to haunt, but why go with summoning if you can just death channel + infest everything + another 10 good spells? Or viceversa cast some more xxx?
screw it I hate this character I'm gonna go melee Gastronok

Mines Malingerer

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Joined: Saturday, 17th December 2016, 18:26

Post Saturday, 7th April 2018, 02:41

Re: Tips for Using Haunt?

Airwolf wrote:Cast it 2–3 times on the same monster, if necessary.

I didn't realize this was possible at first, because I thought it inflicted a "haunted" status (maybe because the monster version says "you feel haunted"). Single casting of haunt is underwhelming, but multiple casts will kill pan/hell lords.

Ziggurat Zagger

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Joined: Sunday, 5th May 2013, 08:25

Post Saturday, 7th April 2018, 06:16

Re: Tips for Using Haunt?

Haunt summons between 2 and 6 monsters, is one of the few summon spells that summons at range (LOS range at that), has no summon cap, and in addition to all the damage it does, it will likely slow the monster you cast it on. It's really good.

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MainiacJoe, nago

Temple Termagant

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Joined: Friday, 10th June 2011, 10:14

Post Saturday, 7th April 2018, 08:54

Re: Tips for Using Haunt?

Haunt is a great spell. It is smite targeted, so you can get more summons exactly where you need them, even if your existing summons block your shot. The summons deal an irresistible slow, which can even slow Pandemonium Lords. It pays to take Haunt even if only to slow big bosses.

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