Week 4 NFL Super Contest Picks
September 29, 2022 | Posted in NFL | By Anonymous
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This post makes five picks against the spread for Week 4 of the 2022 NFL Season in a Super Contest format. A player receives one point for being correct, a half point for tying and zero points for being incorrect.
2022 NFL Super Contest
Week 3 Results – 4-1
Season to Date – 9-6
This past Sunday, in Week 3, the predictions were perfect heading into Sunday Night Football featuring San Francisco at Denver. San Francisco lost 11-10, a total baseball score, costing the predictions a perfect week. Atlanta and Carolina winning outright gave more precedence to the “kitchen sink” week of 0-2 teams who are also 0-2 against the spread both covering the spread and winning outright.
Cleveland -1.5 (at Atlanta)
Atlanta is coming off a road win in Seattle against what could be the worst team in the NFL while Cleveland is coming off a twelve point division win this past Thursday and has ten days of preparation time. Myles Garrett was involved in a car accident and might not play but my cat doesn’t see how Atlanta will stop the run and Browns quarterback Jacoby Brissett is playing average enough for the Browns to win this game by at least a field goal.
New Orleans +3 (vs. Minnesota in London)
This is a buy low sell kinda high opportunity as New Orleans looked awful in losing to Carolina Week 3 while Minnesota rallied from down ten points in the fourth quarter to win at home against division rival Detroit. London games are difficult to handicap as there is no home field advantage. The London crowd, in my cat’s opinion, should favor New Orleans as their super bowl win some years ago was right on the cusp of the NFL becoming a truly global game.
Los Angeles Chargers -5 (at Houston)
Houston has been scrappy this season going 2-0-1 against the spread in 2022 while the Chargers offer a classic buy low situation after getting lambasted by the Jacksonville Jaguars at home 38-10. Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert has another week to heal his broken rib cartilage and we have yet to see a good game from Austin Ekeler. There’s value in this line with all the Charger injuries.
Denver +2.5 (at Las Vegas)
Week 3 of the 2022 NFL Season offered “kitchen sink” games and my cat contends there are “kitchen sink” opportunities in Week 4 with the advent of the 18 week NFL Season. Las Vegas sits at 0-3 overall and 0-3 against the spread. However, my cat doesn’t think anyone can back this Vegas team especially with Russell Wilson finding his groove this past Sunday night against the 49ers on the last drive in what was a vintage Russ game winning drive in the fourth quarter.
Tennessee +3.5 (at Indianapolis)
My cat thinks this is a classic Mike Vrabel underdog situation especially with Indianapolis being over valued after defeating Kansas City outright as seven point underdogs even though the spread compressed before Indianapolis’ game against the Chiefs to +5. Mahomes is always a heavy public favorite and this translates into value in the Tennessee spread. This is a division game my cat sees a field goal either way and we have the hook.
Week 3 NFL Super Contest Picks
September 22, 2022 | Posted in NFL | By Anonymous
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This post shares five predictions against the spread in a super contest format for the third week of the 2022 NFL Season. A player receives one point for being correct, a half point for tying, and zero points for being wrong.
2022 NFL Super Contest
Season to Date – 5-5
On Sunday, double digit spreads went 2-1 with Houston covering +10 against the Denver Broncos and Atlanta rallying to cover +10.5 against the Los Angeles Rams. Cleveland -6.5 was a disappointment to lose but not as disappointing as the Browns losing the game, at home, against the Jets, giving up 14 points in the final two minutes losing the game 31-30.
Indianapolis +7 (at home against Kansas City)
After Dallas upset Cincinnati as touchdown home dogs in Week 2, and touchdown home dogs going 3-0 against the spread in Week 1, I was surprised to find yet another touchdown home dog in Indianapolis Week 3 against the always publicly favored Kansas City Chiefs. My cat sees value in the Colts after they were shut out on the road in Jacksonville Week 2 combined with the Colts being both 0-2 overall and 0-2 against the spread. Week 3 of any NFL Season is always “the kitchen sink week”, meaning 0-3 teams rarely make the playoffs in the traditional 16 game format and throw everything, including the kitchen sink, into winning Week 3 resulting in advantageous covering of the spreads. Indianapolis fits this profile and the spread has already moved to +5.5 since this super contest pick was entered.
Cincinnati -4.5 (at New York Jets)
Cincinnati fits the “kitchen sink” profile sitting at 0-2 and 0-2 against the spread, however, at the time of this publication, a massive 90% of the public is on the Bengals to cover five points leaving the author extremely nervous about the bet. The Jets rally aside, somehow resulting in an out right win despite trailing by 13 with 1:55 to play, this seems like a game where Cincinnati could get back on track offensively. The Jets were gashed for 184 yards and three touchdowns on the ground while Brissett was more than effective prior to the two minute meltdown. The Jets managed one sack and while Joe Burrow has already been sacked 13 times this season, the Bengals proved last year they can win playoff games when Burrow gets sacked nine times in a game. I see an offensive explosion by Cincinnati the Jets won’t be able to match.
Atlanta +2.5 (at Seattle)
While Atlanta doesn’t fit “the kitchen sink” model, despite being winless after two weeks, Atlanta did cover the spread in Week 2 against the Los Angeles Rams. I like this game because, similar to the Detroit Lions, who won outright in Week 2, Atlanta battled back to make the scoreboard respectable against the defending champions. The spread is already compressing, down to an essential pick ’em at Atlanta +.5, making the choice early in the week seemingly sharp. In Week 1, if Denver had not fumbled TWICE at the Seattle one yard line, Seattle would be staring at 0-2 with both losses by double digits. My cat likes Atlanta with an outright road win in this win.
Carolina +3 (at home against New Orleans)
Carolina fits the “kitchen sink” model standing at 0-2 overall and 0-2 against the spread. Baker Mayfield may statistically be the worst quarterback in the league after two weeks but Jameis Winston threw three interceptions Week 2, at home, against division rival Tampa in a game where tempers flared and suspensions were handed out. Plus, New Orleans is statically awful after playing Tampa the last few years and Carolina has two losses by a combined five points. Look for Christian McCaffrey to get on track and find the end zone more than once and look for this spread to move depending on the availability of Alvin Kamara for the Saints.
San Francisco -1.5 (at Denver)
Can Russ get cooking at home in Week 3? Why does my cat suddenly consider the 49ers to be legitimate Super Bowl Contenders with Jimmy G back at the helm after Trey Lance fractured his leg in a Week 2 win against Seattle. The weather in Week 1 during San Francisco’s loss in Chicago must be discounted when evaluating this team and while Houston’s defense showed promise tying Indianapolis Week 1 and holding Russ to 16 points (at home) in Week 2, my cat wants to know if you agree San Francisco’s defense could be on another level when it comes to talent at all three levels. Russ has to show he can cook in Denver while Jimmy G might just do things he learned sitting behind a hall of fame quarterback in New England for three years.
Nick the Cat Week 2 NFL Super Contest Picks
September 15, 2022 | Posted in NFL | By Anonymous
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This post shares five 2022 NFL picks against the spread in a super contest format comparable to the contest at Westgate in Las Vegas for week 2 of the 2022 NFL Season.
NFL Super Contest
Week 1 Results – 3-2
Season to Date – 3-2
A player makes five weekly picks against the spread and is awarded one point for being correct, a half point for tying, and zero points for being incorrect.
Cleveland -6 (at home against the New York Jets)
Week two in the world of sports gambling in the NFL is all about the public over reacting to the first week results and usually backing the 1-0 team against the 0-1 team. This philosophy aside, the Browns are coming off an emotional first week road win against Carolina featuring a 58 yard game winning field goal by Browns rookie kicker Cade York while the Jets were humbled at home 24-9 by the Baltimore Ravens. The Jets were seemingly effective against the run against Baltimore and while Browns QB Jacoby Brisset looked like the worst quarterback in the league, my cat doesn’t see how the Jets are going to keep this within a touchdown as long as Joe Flacco is the Jets’ starting quarterback
Atlanta +10.5 (at Los Angeles Rams)
A double digit spread is an over reaction to Week 1 of the 2022 NFL Season seeing the Rams getting throttled by Buffalo and Atlanta losing by a single point to a perceived superior New Orleans Saints team? My cat has an affection toward double digit spreads, especially with the hook. The look ahead on this line was Atlanta +13.5 and has been bet down by the public to Atlanta +10.5 based on over reacting to Week 1 driving the spread three full points. There is a precedence for good teams covering by double digit spreads and the Rams are a good team but the double digit spread with a hook was too appealing to pass.
Chicago +10 (at Green Bay)
Another over reaction from Week 1 of the 2022 NFL Season but a double digit point spread? Granted, Chicago played in atrocious weather conditions in their surprising upset of the San Francisco 49ers as touchdown underdogs, and, there is precedence for good teams covering (by double digits) following a loss but this is Week 2 and can we make judgements Green Bay is a good team This Season? Aaron Rodgers “owns” the Chicago Bears and Green Bay could be missing both tackles while Davante Adams was sorely missed while starring for Las Vegas in the first week. My cat says until we see Green Bay dominate a team by at least three possessions he’s going to try and capitalize on teams getting no respect. Expect Chicago to be motivated by Rodgers’ comments last season about “owning them his whole F’ing Life.”
Houston +10 (at Denver)
Denver, a good team coming off a loss, is Expected by the sharps to cover by more than 10 points because everyone is over reacting to Week 1. Losing in Seattle, Denver turned to ball over twice inside the opponent’s five yard line. A more realistic score on Monday Night Football in Seattle was Denver 26, Seattle 17. My cat says it’s a way too early double digit spread over reaction by the sharps and the public creating value at +10. Denver, Green Bay, and Los Angeles are expected to beat bad teams by at least ten points. Should we wait until we see it happen before believing what we saw in Week 1 does have precedence?
Minnesota +2.5 (at Philadelphia)
Week 2 does offer what are essentially pick ’em games each week with spreads inside three points. This week, Minnesota at Philadelphia, New England at Pittsburgh, Washington at Detroit, Carolina at NY Giants, and Tampa at New Orleans. 9% of all NFL games finish with a margin of victory of one or two points while nearly 30% of all games finish with a margin of victory of three or seven. Meaning, grabbing a spread inside of three on either side will result in a cover 91% of the time. One must simply pick the winning side. My cat liked Minnesota enough to throw a future to win the NFC Conference and appear in the Super Bowl and likes Minnesota in a road test early in the season.
Nick The Cat Week 1 NFL Super Contest Picks
September 7, 2022 | Posted in NFL | By Anonymous
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This post shares five NFL picks against the spread in a super contest format comparable to the contest at Westgate.
NFL Super Contest
A player makes five weekly picks against the spread and is awarded one point for being correct, a half point for tying, and zero points for being incorrect. The world’s most prestigious contest is held at the Westgate in Las Vegas, Nevada so my cat, while not entering the contest himself, is going to make his picks against the spread for Week 1
Chicago +7 (at home against San Francisco)
We hold these truths to be self evident this is week 1 of the 2022 NFL Season, we know nothing, and everyone is making a bunch of assumptions. Chicago is a home NFL team getting 7 points and, apparently, George Kittle is “day to day” with a Groin Injury. We don’t know what to expect from Justin Fields or Trey Lance and with 67% of the bets on visiting San Francisco, Nick the Cat is going to take the home team +7 and contends a push in the world of NFL sports gambling, a push is a win.
Pittsburgh +6.5 (at Cincinnati)
My cat contends all the other Week 1 division games are hovering around three points while this game is offering +6.5. Cincinnati, coming off a shocking worst to first Super Bowl appearance in 2021, is a prime candidate for regression and, perhaps too publicly favored, creating value in the line. Why are all the other division games hovering around a spread of three while this division game is at 6.5? The Steelers are on the Hall of Fame replacement plan and starting Mitchell Trubisky. My cat contends the best thing for the Steelers will be benching Trubisky and going with Pickett to evaluate his skill set. Every game Pickett sits is one less game to evaluate him.
New England +3.5 (at Miami)
My cat contends a division game with a hook offers value. There’s too much Miami hype and New England is still the best coached team in the division and imagine year two growth for Mac Jones similar to Joe Burrow in his second year while coming off injury. Nick the Cat made division winner projections and if he’s going to be correct, and New England is going to win the AFC East, it starts right here. My cat will gladly take the hook on this division game and even sugared the money line.
Cleveland +2.5 (at Carolina)
Apparently, they’re calling it the “Baker Bowl”. My cat contends Mayfield is going to be such a try hard and with the Cleveland defense pressuring him into bad decisions, the result is going to be a road win for the DeShaun Watsonless Browns. Cleveland boasts the top offensive line in the NFL and two stud running backs in Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt. Can Jacoby Brissett make the throws necessary to win the game? Six other NFL teams have the same question. This is the worst spread for an underdog but since my cat liked Cleveland on the money line, he likes them as a super contest pick if you were able to grab the spread at Cleveland +2.5.
Arizona +6 (at home against Kansas City)
Patrick Mahomes and Kansas City are always too heavily favored in my cat’s opinion and Arizona is projected as competitive in one of the best divisions in the NFL. The spread hovered around three but suddenly jumped to six and my cat saw value in fading the 2.5 to three point spread change. Again, we hold these truths to be self evident, this is Week 1 of the 2022 NFL Season and we are making a bunch of assumptions.
Nick the Cat Predicts 2022 NFL Division Winners
September 5, 2022 | Posted in NFL | By Anonymous
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This post shares predictions on teams winning the NFC South, the NFC North, NFC East, AFC North, and the AFC East. These predictions were made by a cat.
Sports Gambling Coming to you Soon
Assuming you do not already live in a location with legalized sports gambling, our opinion is soon you will. It’s a multi-billion dollar industry with each new state, like Ohio, joining the ranks of other states legalizing sports betting, creating more square money for my cat to, perhaps, snatch up with his devastating cat stuff skills.
Apparently, Worst to First is a Thing in the NFL
Seventeen times in the last nineteen NFL Seasons, a team went from “worst to first” in the division and, somewhat surprisingly, won their division like the 2021 Cincinnati Bengals. The most recent example marked the eighth time in the past seven years a team finished in last place in their division the previous season and won their division the next season.
2022 Detroit Lions, NFC North, 10-1 odds
The Lions earned a following from Hard Knocks and no NFL franchise is more tortured. They last won a NFL Championship in 1958. The Lions last won a playoff game in 1991. The face of their franchise, Matthew Stafford, went to Los Angeles and won a Super Bowl. Their division foe, the Green Bay Packers, has Hall of Fame quarterback play for the past …. 30 Years … and the Lions lose, dramatically, in close games. Rodgers to Rodgers, The Calvin Johnson Rule, and Justin Tucker’s NFL record making 66 yard field goal.
Why can the Lions win the division? Green Bay regressing and Minnesota being, well, Minnesota, and underachieving, could open the door for a quietly solid offensive unit led by the strength of the Detroit offensive line. My cat says, in a clean pocket, with minimal pressure, Jared Goff is the best QB in the NFL. Amon-Ra St. Brown showed he can play and TJ Hockenson returns fully healthy along with newly acquired DJ Chark. Lewan playing left tackle with Sewell and right tackle with Ragnow returning at center fully healthy. My cat says this team was garbage last season and played close games, winning three, tying one (that’s soooo Lions) and if Aidan Hutchinson is defensive rookie player of the year, the Lions are going to be competitive in a division where 9-8 can finish in first place with tie breakers.
2022 Jacksonville Jaguars, AFC South, 7.5-1
My cat says Trevor Lawrence is the dude, Urban Meyer was a disaster, the offensive line is better, and Travis Etienne returns fully healthy. Jacksonville is another worst to first candidate in a division featuring a Tennessee team with too many question marks to prognosticate and Indianapolis as a heavy favorite featuring newly acquired Matt Ryan featuring a defensive unit and running back (Jonathan Taylor) likely to regress.
2022 New Orleans Saints, NFC South, 3-1
My cat says the vibes from Tampa are awful with the offensive line, the way Tom Brady looks, and an aura of Gisele not being pleased Brady decided to return for another season. Chris Godwin won’t return right away and Rob Gronkowski is staying retired. Defensively, Tampa appears elite but my cat doesn’t see the Saints defensive unit far behind led by Marshon Lattimore island. Jameis Winston is a gun slinger and people are forgetting last season, when Winston was healthy, the Saints were … good?, featuring a 38-3 shellacking of Aaron Rodgers? And, my cat says Tom Brady is too heavily favored by the public and there’s too much value in .25u at 3-1 someone besides Tampa is going to win the NFC South.
Atlana and Carolina could, somewhat surprisingly, be competitive enough to go 1-1 with Tampa and 1-1 against each other, creating another NFL division where 9-8 could indeed win the division. My cat says with the new 17 game schedule and the rising parity of the game will result in teams finishing 8-9 and winning their division. In the future, when the 12-5 Los Angeles Chargers go on the road to play 8-9 Cleveland in the wild card playoffs, the NFL will be forced to come up with something new.
2022 Washington Commanders, NFC East, 5-1
Despite Indianapolis melting down last season and missing the 2021 NFL Playoffs, Carson Wentz played all sixteen games for just the second time in his career. Now in Washington, a division featuring the public crazed Dallas Cowboys and “sexy favorite” and “most improved team” Philadelphia Eagles, Wentz has a chance to lead a team to the playoffs again in his career. Winning a playoff game is always another story.
Can the offensive line give Wentz the time? Are Washington’s downfield options competent? Chase Young will return at some point but how well will Washington defend the pass? With Dallas ready to implode, Michael Gallup won’t be ready early, Amari Cooper is gone, and their left tackle Tyron Smith will miss another season. I’d like to interject, independent of my cat’s predictions, Philadelphia winning this division with a 12-5 record will be no surprise. Philadelphia is going to run the ball in ways difficult to defend and Hurts could, potentially, make the throws he needs to make to win NFL games.
It’s as if Baltimore and Philadelphia are at war with the pass first three receiver set new NFL game we’ve been watching the past five years. Can the designed quarterback running plays be successful? Any NFL offensive scheme is completely disrupted with front four pressure especially up the middle. No team is more prepared to disrupt opposing offenses than the Washington Commanders.
2022 New England Patriots, AFC East, 5-1
The Buffalo Bills are the Super Bowl favorite at 6-1 and heavily favored to win the AFC East. In another NFL division featuring a heavy favorite, and a “trendy pick” in the Miami Dolphins, my cat sees value in .25u on the GrandMaster of Foxboro. This is a bet New England is the best coached team in the division. We will know so much more about this bet after Week 1 when Buffalo opens the season on the road against the defending champion Los Angeles Rams and New England travels to Miami to play the highly hyped Dolphins and their … and my cat cannot stop laughing … left handed quarterback.
Elden Ring Best Class – Mage
May 6, 2022 | Posted in Elden Ring | By Anonymous
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This post shares 180+ hours of experience playing pure mage in Elden Ring. The Astrologer starting class is the clear choice for those wishing to play pure mage and at level 225, Faith remains seven and Arcane remains nine, the starting values for Astrologer, because a mage neither casts healing spells or concerns themselves with bleed damage. Journey 2 experiences are being shared.
Elden Ring Best Spell – Comet
What is the best spell in Elden Ring? For the Astrologer Mage, with 80 intellect and 60 mind, and Azur’s Glintstone Armor, the clear choice is Comet. Players can obtain the Comet Spell in the Academy of Raya Lucaria in Liurnia of the Lakes. The zone’s legacy dungeon will always be significant in the game because the boss encounter with Rennala, Queen of the Full Moon, is often the second Great Rune obtained by players to unlock Leyndell, Royal Capital and progress in the game. Players are tasked with obtaining Godrick the Grafted’s Great Rune and here’s astrologer mage defeating Margit and Godrick in Stormveil Castle in Journey 2. The melt with Comet is real.
Elden Ring Best Weapon
The best weapon for the astrologer mage is Lusat’s Glintstone Staff. Hours of gaming time were spent comparing Lusat’s Staff with Azur’s Glintstone Staff with Lusat’s Staff emerging as better. However, Azur’s Staff will continue to scale beyond intelligence third soft cap of 80. A choice was made to leave Intelligence at 80 to increase other stats like Endurance and Dexterity. Eventually, Intelligence will reach 99 and further comparisons can be made on these two mage weapons of choice. Journey 2 Comet with Lusat’s Glintstone Staff against the bosses in Leyndell, Royal Capital. Again, the melt is real.
Elden Ring Best Armor
For the Elden Ring Mage utilizing Comet, Azur’s Glintstone Armor increases damage by 15% but the spell also costs 15% more mana to cast. You can see the melt on Journey 2 game progression legacy dungeons. A personal preference was developed for the Preceptor’s Set increasing Mind by 3 based on aesthetics and weight because Azur’s amor cannot be altered. The Preceptor’s set can be greatly altered to reduce weight as a pure mage carries no melee weapon and has a light load. Sometimes the shield is shed because mages don’t use shields. However, there are boss encounters where the shield must be utilized like in Volcano Manor and against the Fire Giant required to progress in the game. Journey 2 Fire Giant was low key melted utilizing the Preceptor’s Set.
Elden Ring Best Talismans
For the Astrologer Mage, the four best talismans are Viridian Amber Medallion +2 increasing Stamina, Cerulean Amber Medallion +2 increasing mana, Radagon Icon increasing casting speed, and the Graven Mass Talisman increasing spell damage. At level 225, with 55 vigor, the Crimson Amber Medallion +2 increasing health is also viable instead of the Radagon Icon. The author read a blog post about the twin gargoyles in Sofria Aqueduct, a encounter missed in Journey one. Here’s the astrologer mage utilizing comet in this duo boss encounter.
Elden Ring End Game
April 20, 2022 | Posted in Elden Ring | By Anonymous
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This post shares information regarding Elden Ring’s end game, specifically, player actions after Leyndell, Royal Capital and gamers defeating Morgott, The Omen.
Mountaintops of the Giants
Players will access this area of the Elden Ring utilizing the Grand Lift of Rold via a medallion provided by Melina after defeating all the bosses in Leyndell, Royal Capital. Players must make their way to the forge where Melina will sacrifice herself to burn the erdtree defeating The Fire Giant along the way. The boss encounter has two phases and his ankle is particularly vulnerable during phase one. Playing astrologer mage presented challenges on this boss due to low vigor. However, looting the crimson amber medallion +2 and moving points from endurance to vigor via a respec with Rennala solved the Fire Giant encounter after a solid 20+ deaths.
Crumbling Farum Azula
After defeating the fire giant and touching the site of grace on the forge rim and the Melina cut scene, players will be transported to Crumbling Farum Azula where two bosses await. Navigating the last major dungeon of the game and reaching the various save points seemed intuitive in a way players may be able to actually play a major dungeon without looking up how to get to the next site of grace. The first boss encounter is against the God Skin Duo
Maliketh, the Black Blade
How many times does the average Elden Ring player have to die fighting a boss before finally defeating the encounter? You can watch the astrologer mage absolutely MELT phase one of the encounter and then pillar hump the boss in phase two like playing frost mage in arena 2s when I would pillar hump my opponents trying to let my cool downs recharge. Players utilizing terrain, particularly the pillars in this encounter, will lead to success. The author of this post was having trouble when Maliketh would emerge in phase 2, however, utilizing the pillar saved a lot of pain. Comet hit so hard the author was able to carry more healing potions. Player learning curve on the encounter and learning from other players, their experiences, the class they played, how they downed bosses are key to this Elden Ring adventure. Stars of Ruin was clutch finishing Maliketh.
Leyndell, Ashen Capital
Players will be returned to Leyndell, now in ruins. There aren’t a lot of things to do other than find the bosses and complete Brother Coryn’s quest. Players must first defeat Sir Gideon Onfir.
Players will then move to Godfrey, First Elden Lord and Hoarah Loux, Warrior in Phase 2 of the encounter.
Finally, players will fight the last boss of the game. Radagon of the Golden Order in Phase One and the Elden Beast in Phase 2
Elden Ring Miquella’s Haligtree Legacy Dungeon
April 13, 2022 | Posted in Elden Ring | By Anonymous
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This post shares information about the legacy dungeon located in the Consecrated Snowfields to assist players navigating a difficult mob dungeon to each site of grace saving dungeon progress. Players will eventually fight Loretta, Knight of the Haligtree to gain access to the second part of the dungeon where Malenia awaits as the dungeon’s true boss.
Consecrated Snowfields
This is a “secret area” of Elden Ring accessible via the Grand Lift of Rold with players utilizing the Secret Medallion of the Haligtree. Once players enter the Consecrated Snowfields, the zone’s legacy dungeon, Miquella’s Haligtree, lies to the north. The snow storm upon entering the zone can be difficult, however, the path is lit and if players keep in a northern direction they’ll emerge from snow storm and find a site of grace.
Haligtree Canopy
Players begin the dungeon at the Haligtree Canopy site of grace and must navigate branches to the dungeon’s first save point, the Town Plaza site of grace. The trumpeting snowmen mobs shooting gold globes at players are far more powerful in this dungeon than they were in Leyndell, Royal Capital. Players will, at some point, fall to their death from the branches of the haligtree from a mistimed jump or being hit by a mob. One mob’s placement, a super shooting trumpeter with a plethora of damaging golden globes, requires skillful navigation to eliminate ensuring terrain use to line of site the mob. Large Ants patrol the branches as well with high damaging toxic spray. The navigation of the dungeon from the Haligtree Canopy site of grace to the Haligtree Town site of grace is the most difficult in the game having reached the boss in every dungeon with exception of end game legacy dungeon.
Haligtree Town Site of Grace
Once players have navigated the Haligtree Canopy and reached the first save point in the dungeon gamers will be asked to make their way to the Haligtree Town Plaza site of grace. The path to the second save point of the dungeon is far easier than navigating the canopy.
Haligtree Town Plaza Site of Grace
After reach the dungeon’s second save point, players will need to navigate some rooftops with annoying crystalline mobs. Players will need to find the summoning snails in three locations to easily eliminate the three crystallines. After, players will face a horde of slow moving mobs who will mount a charge difficult for the astrologer mage to survive. After clearing the roof, the rest of the navigation is intuitive.
Loretta, Knight of the Haligtree
Once players reach the third site dungeon save point, at the Town Plaza Site of Grace, it’s a fairly short run to the dungeon’s boss encounter who, when defeated, will unlock the path to Elphael, Brace of the Haligtree where Malenia, apparently the games most difficult boss encounter, is waiting. Loretta has some magical attacks easily dodged and learning her lunging melee attacks will take a few deaths but hey, this is Elden Ring and dying is second nature.
Elden Ring Latenna’s Quest (Somber Ancient Dragon Smithing Stone)
April 10, 2022 | Posted in Elden Ring | By Anonymous
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This post explains Latenna’s NPC quest line in Elden Ring rewarding players a smithing stone allowing gamers to upgrade their unique weapon the final tier to +10. There are eight known somber ancient dragon smithing stones in the game and Latenna’s Quest offers the path of least resistance for players to obtain this precious item.
Finding Latenna
Players must defeat the boss of Lakeside Crystal Cave in Lakes of Liurnia. Upon defeating the Bloodhound Knight, players can access a “rear entrance” to the cave where Latenna will be sitting with her wolf, Lobo. It’s important players realize they must first have collected the Haligtree Secret Medallion (Right) from Albus in Albinaurics Village in Lakes of Liurnia. Without this item, Latenna will not begin her quest line and, apparently, if players have collected both halves of the medallion, Latenna’s quest will not activate at all and players are only able to obtain Latenna’s Spirit Ash.
Lakeside Crystal Cave Dungeon
Here’s six minutes of video of the astrologer mage shredding this dungeon, slaying the boss, and beginning the quest. The mage sacrifices armor for mobility and hit points for ranged spell damage. The mage sacrifices strength and dexterity for a large mana pool. And a mage has no faith or arcane.
Beginning Latenna’s Quest
Players must exhaust dialogue with Latenna outside the rear entrance of Lakeside Cave. Latenna will become a spirit ash in players’ inventory and gamers will have instructions to take Latenna to the Consecrated Snowfields, a “secret area” only accessible when players have both halves of the Haligtree Secret Medallion.
Haligtree Secret Medallion
Players already possess the right half of the medallion triggering the quest. Players must next obtain the left half of the medallion from Castle Sol in the Mountaintop of Giants after defeating the dungeon boss, Commander Niall.
After defeating the boss, players will run a short distance utilizing a lift and looting a body for the left half of the secret medallion to access Consecrated Snowfields where Latenna must be summoned at the Apostate Derelict Site of Grace to complete the quest.
Elden Ring Astrologer Mage Best Gear
April 7, 2022 | Posted in Elden Ring | By Anonymous
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This post share information regarding the astrologer mage class, the best gear to find and equip, ideal attributes, and the best spell combinations for an Elden Ring mage. The mage is driven by high intellect for spell damage and mind for a hefty mana pool. Players driving points into Faith, Arcane, Strength beyond 18, Dexterity beyond 15, are playing a hybrid class not a mage.
Mage Attribute Points
At level 147, these are the attribute stats for the toon I’m playing
Vigor (25), Mind (50, 280 fp/mana), Endurance (25), Strength (20), Dexterity (15), Intelligence (75), Faith (7), Arcane (9).
Not a single attribute point has been spent on Faith or Arcane because the toon is a Mage trying to maximize ranged damage. Strength (18) and Dexterity (15) are required for the Uchigatana, perhaps the best mage melee weapon, due to it’s speed and bleed damage proc. Two additional attribute points have been placed in Strength because there is some scaling with casting staves.
Astrologer is the ideal starting class for mage because of the starting Intellect of 16. There’s nothing preventing other classes from playing mage because the class is focused on high intellect and mind.
Mage Best Weapons
The mage is all about casting spells and casting spells quickly. The clear choice for the best staff for players primarily utilizing sorceries is Azur’s Glintstone Staff found in the Academy of Raya Lucaria legacy dungeon in Lake of Liurnia. The weapon scales primarily with Intelligence and some with Strength. As long as the weapon is continuing to scale, additional points are going to be placed in Intelligence to maximize spell damage. Another choice for the best staff in the game is Lusat’s Glintstone Staff, however, Azur’s staff stacks with the Radagon Icon further increasing casting speed. Here’s the Elden Ring mage against Morgott the Omen in Leyndell, Royal Capital with the boss being absolute Melted on the encounter’s first look.
Mage Best Armor Set
The mage class wears what amounts to cloth armor. Players wearing any armor set besides cloth are not playing a mage, they are playing a hybrid. The mage wears cloth armor for weight reasons because Endurance is the fourth stat of priority in building an ideal Elden Ring mage. The Snow Witch Armor awarded part way through Ranni’s Quest can get players through the end game and is a highly desirable armor set for aestics reasons. The quest line requires players to defeat Starscourge Radahn in Redmane Castle and you can watch the mage class handling this fight after less than ten looks at the fight.
Another choice for mages regarding armor is Alberich’s Armor Set found in Leyndell, Royal Capital. When the garment set is altered at a site of grace, players drop 1.6 weight, making clutch mage barrel rolls slightly quicker.
Mage Best Talisman Slot Equipment
Players will eventually be able to equip four items in this slot. For the mage, the gear is simple. Stargazer Heirloom raising intelligence by 5 (giving this toon 80 Intelligence), Crimson Amber Medallion +1 (raising health by 56 points), Graven-School Talisman increasing spell damage, and Radagon’s Icon increasing casting time and stacking with Azur’s Glintstone Staff.
Best Mage Spells
Glintstone Pebble serves the mage well during all phases of the game and is a starting spell for the Astrologer. The Astrologer becomes a mage when Intelligence and Mind are selected as the two primary attributes to level mercilessly. The tertiary attribute is Vigor and the final attribute of some focus is Endurance. Comet, a sorcery obtained in the Academy of Raya Lucaria, is Glintstone Pebble on steroids. With 50 Mind and 28 Endurance, I can cast Comet six times before using a mana potion and waiting for Stamina to recharge. Comet Azur, obtained by finding Primeval Sorcerer Azur in Altus Plateau, when combined with Terra Magica, and a physick preventing spells from costing mana offer the mage boss melting capabilities. However, the setup and stationary nature of the spell combination of Comet Azur, give the mage a disadvantage. There’s also a wind up on Comet Azur before the spell casts and if the boss moves, players will have to stop casting, reacquire the target, and wind the spell up again.