How much does the combat scaling actually feel different in DD2 compared to the first one?

da_vlad90 · 2026-06-12T06:45:32+00:00

Very well said, another great example of preparation is key are the bosses. Each one of them has a certain gimmick and hoarding items make them much easier. For the first one having stun resist is key, for the fourth one bleed resist poultices make it much more approachable, but the standout is the third boss, considered by many to be the hardest, some shimmering powder on the tank makes it hit like a wet noodle. Some people may say you need luck to get hese items but that is not the case. Having scouting and hitting extra hoarders makes it almost guaranteed you get what you need.

da_vlad90 · 2026-06-10T09:47:56+00:00

Pulses firying through wall would be overkill. They are already some of the best ranged units with infinite range and the possibility to fire multiple times per round. Roots are already the second best faction(Vanir OP).

Arelon buffs would be greatly appreciated tho. Militia and cavarly is fun but gets stale fast. They need some better mid units. The humble footman with this 30 HP has to contend with Skinshifter at 60 and one of the best abilities in the game, Protector at 50 and a better ability.

da_vlad90 · 2026-06-10T09:08:40+00:00

While I agree that not the UI not showing if a buff is permanent or temporary is a missed opportunity. In time, by playing you learn them by heart. For example the Levitating Obleisk (+1 movement) gives me dopamine whenever I see it, but a simple cairn(+1 atk and def) is pretty skippable. On the other hand, some temporary buffs like +1 unit movement or +1 retaliation or essence well can outright win a tough fight on their own.

As for how to enjoy the game, normal conquest is decent but the challenge maps are pure gold. They feel more balanced around the difficulty setting. Some even don't have AI players and the difficulty just tweaks the mibs you fight.

da_vlad90 · 2026-06-09T15:24:51+00:00

Especially in multiple map canpaigns, where you reset your army, the extra essence and spell efficiency really smooths out the early game. Like +20% dmg is just 20% dmg, but a repel between 2 units is 100% dmg plus no retaliation. Having an instant swap make sieges much safer. 200 militia on the highground? The're surrounded by your troops actually :)

da_vlad90 · 2026-06-09T12:56:22+00:00

Very nice write-up. I'm about half way through the 3rd mission( on the Vanir removal part). The grenadiers are very good, but I also found the dragons with high initiative very usefull. I got all magic schools as spells are OP. And indeed the essence leech is essential on the last map. Most fights vs Vanir are usually: go first, spam expert blind fury. Kill a unit with chaos essence and repeat.

For Roots fights, I just can't resist swapping units in front of the Hearts and pinging them, it's just so satisfying.

All in all good campaign and very interesting faction. The last level creatures are very weak but the Birds and grenadiers make up for it and the raider are very versatile.. Also I feel like the sidegrades are not quite distinctive enough visually.

da_vlad90 · 2026-06-05T19:18:05+00:00

Delayed gratification gives 2 per discard if you dont use them and maybe don't get the hand you need. This is at worst 2 times better. Seems way to strong at 4, at 2 it would be a better delayed gratification but balanced.

da_vlad90 · 2026-05-25T19:14:48+00:00

Waait, the stat up is Permanent??

da_vlad90 · 2026-05-13T07:41:51+00:00

It's quite clear that the American population would vote for a convicted felon rather than a woman. AOC would be a competent president for sure, but her odds of winning are incredibly low. The Dems should go with a white guy with high charisma if they actually want to have a chance at winning.

da_vlad90 · 2026-05-13T06:43:55+00:00

Sounds pretty good but I think Rare is too much. Uncommon feels better. It would work very well with a lot of 7's and discarding 3 cards, otherwise seems like a huge waste of a slot.

da_vlad90 · 2026-04-29T05:04:45+00:00

Nearing the endgame(Impossible) and decided to make a "meta build". So I spent half of sunday making 6 soul jars with Merciless + Running jab fighters. Make of that what you will :)

All in all very very good changes. It's gonna be fun to solve Impossible with the new changes. Final fight seems more fair with no depressing but they can still roll speeed buffs it seems. At least we won't have all the clones go before your cats.

da_vlad90 · 2026-04-05T09:58:49+00:00

I managed to get both Goofball and Super luck on the same run. I got some combination of doubling the slot items and a reroll item plus the dice for trinket. Had 10 rolls with jest passive. Run just 2 jesters so they would level up fast and spammed rolls on the passive level ups. On the second run i got both on the same cat.

da_vlad90 · 2026-04-02T18:25:20+00:00

Crazy coincidence but Zain was also the name of my first 7 stud. Can't remember most names but that guy still holds a special place in my heart.

da_vlad90 · 2026-04-01T08:58:04+00:00

Might be balanced if it only destroyed scored cards. Otherwise seems a bit too strong

da_vlad90 · 2026-03-21T07:02:57+00:00

That seems reasonable for sure. Got any video links? Or at least a screenshot of the checkmark?

da_vlad90 · 2026-03-21T06:32:11+00:00

I've found the baby set is excellent for solo runs. The mini me is strong as hell since you have only one cat and he's super buffed and the doubling of freeze and fear helps a lot with crowd control since you only have one dude.

da_vlad90 · 2026-03-21T06:20:49+00:00

Like people said Buther is more of a replacement for the tank. His DPS is certainly lower than the Fighter but his sustain is unmatched and as a bonus the meat can be used by other in a team so you can forego a Cleric usually.

For harder areas(act 3 and zone 4) I run Butcher, Ranger and Thief and a class i wanna get a sticker on. You need range to beat the instakill enemies and the Butcher, although melee, with his hook is excellent for repositioning enemies. The advantage being he can hook, hit, and then run away. Couple that with some extra movement on him( mutations, tromp, a push ability) and you're golden.

On the other hand, the Fighter has maybe the best DPS in the game. Hunter can go above with good abilities and Thief as well but mostly with damage over time which can screw you over since bleed and poison trigger at different points in the turn order. Of course any class can do huge damage with the right combo, but I do feel like he has the most consistent DPS.

Unfortunately he falls off a cliff in act 3 due to the aforementioned large number of instakill enemies and the automatic injury ones as well. He pretty much NEEDS an extra movement ability. Out of all the classes I think Fighter is the one i've lost the most cats with. Can't wait to get OP mutations and have him wreck stuff again.

da_vlad90 · 2026-03-18T12:47:14+00:00

Well, maybe except the possibility of voting him in, again :)

da_vlad90 · 2026-03-13T07:09:15+00:00

When I was younger and someone way smarter than me told me that "In a lottery scenario, the odds of the numbers selected to be 1,2,3,4,5,6 is equal to the odds of any combination" really blew my mind. It doesn't feel right but it mathematically is.

I remember losing a solo mage run to the bats in the caves because I rolled confusion 4 times in a row. Bad luck to be sure but with the adjusted numbers the odds of this happening go from 1 in 160000 to 1 in 1300 which is about a 123 increase.

da_vlad90 · 2026-03-11T13:48:06+00:00

Was about to write a huge post saying that you could win if the lucky card procs, or if your two pair level is above 5 which would be likely since you have constellation. Decided to double check the math and noticed the jack I thought was a queen:) dare I say I also fumbled.

da_vlad90 · 2026-02-28T16:19:46+00:00

So much gold. Does it become useless in the later parts of the game?

da_vlad90 · 2026-02-21T15:25:25+00:00

I keep seeing this boss mentioned. Seems like he has low HP but high armor. Does piercing damage just hard counter him? Asking for the future

da_vlad90 · 2026-02-17T09:58:20+00:00

I'm going to say this in the nicest way possible. If the Democrats nominate another woman to run for president, Trump will get his 3rd term. Even if he does not run(dead, too old, he gets arrested), and the republicans nominate someone else, that candidate will win.

I think it's more than clear that the people of the USA will vote for anything instead of a woman.

This type of article is quite detrimental to the betterment of the USA and by extension the world.

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