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In this video, William from YourAnthem takes you through advanced tips and tricks that will help you conquer the Cataclysm’s most challenging content.
Increasing Your Score
Why is increasing your score important? The more points you earn in the Cataclysm, the more Minor Crystals you’ll be awarded and the more you can purchase at the seasonal store (Herschel’s Hut in the Fort Tarsis market). Minor Crystals can be used to purchase Major Crystals and buy War Chests and vanity items. War Chests contain all the non-vanity items you can unlock during the Cataclysm.
So, now you understand the “why,” it’s time for some tips on how to do it!
Tip 1 – Bring your squad along. Not only will it help you when it comes to solving the puzzles, but you’ll be awarded more points for the additional Freelancers as well as for all the extra kills they’ll be making.
Tip 2 – Stay within the effect of the Cataclysm as long as possible to increase your score multiplier. Taking shelter from the Cataclysm, or shooting the rift hanging over each of the arenas cuts your score multiplier in half. Just be aware of your Stability Bar – the ferocity of the storm will deplete it quickly, and once it’s gone your javelin begins to take damage.
Tip 3 – Complete each arena to receive a baseline score multiplier plus a 30-second increase to your Stability Bar, which helps you survive longer in the storm and earn more points. Completing arena challenges also adds three additional minutes to your Cataclysm timer – allowing you to complete more arenas, kill more enemies, and score even more points. Note: there are also time rooms scattered throughout the map that add even more time and a small number of points; spending a little time discovering their locations will help you increase your overall Cataclysm score.
Tip 4 – Collect glowing, orb-shaped notes that can be found by defeating enemies throughout the map, searching under the water, or at different points on the surface. Picking up notes has the added benefit of increasing your Stability Bar. Notes come in green, blue, purple, and yellow – with the higher rarities giving you more time and points.
Summoning Valkyries
Each arena within the Cataclysm contains a secret mini-boss battle with their own unique way of spawning them. Defeating these powerful enemies is definitely worth your time.
Tip – The way to summon a Valkyrie always has something to do with the interactable components of a given arena.
Note Puzzles
Keep an eye open for strange objects and symbols throughout the Cataclysm map. Most will have “?” above them, making them relatively easy to recognize. If you can uncover their secrets, you’ll be awarded a variety of notes.
Tip 1 – Look for statues of female cyphers similar to the one you’ve seen in the Freelancer enclave in Fort Tarsis. On discovering one, explore the area for a small, square pressure plate. Once the plate’s been depressed, a yellow note will appear in the bowl at the statue’s feet.
Tip 2 – While exploring the map be sure to locate crystallized rock formations with the telltale “?” above them. To unlock the note within them, find and pick up a nearby bomb, return to the crystallized rock, open your communication wheel, and select “Drop Item.” After the bomb detonates you’ll be able to collect your yellow note.
Tip 3 – Shaper battery balls require three echoes in order to open them. You’ll find those echoes relatively nearby, however, don’t expect to find them in exactly the same place each time. You can carry all three echoes yourself but splitting up your squad to search for them saves time. Inside is a motherload of notes, so don’t overlook these puzzles.
Defeating Vara
It’s vitally important to leave yourself (and your squad) sufficient time to take on and beat Vara, as not only will fighting her rack up a high number of points but defeating her will actually double your score. Here are a few tips to help you survive the fight and take her down.
Tip 1 – When you enter her arena destroy the rift above her, otherwise you won’t be able to damage her. Note: the rift reappears after a period of time and you’ll need to destroy it each time it does.
Tip 2 – Hold off on using an ultimate ability until after you’ve just destroyed the rift, so you don’t waste it. If you try to use an ultimate while the rift is re-forming it won’t do any damage.
Tip 3 – Vara has command of all of the elements and can do a great deal of damage if you get too close. She can also teleport and each time she does her attack pattern will change.
Tip 4 – The one time you do want to get up close and personal with her is when she uses one of her most deadly attacks – World on Fire. To avoid the flames (and certain death), fly directly towards her and remain in the glowing blue ring beneath her feet.
Tip 5 – Once you’ve taken Vara down to her second health bar her attacks change. Her lava attack will immediately overheat your javelin, meaning you won’t be able to hover. Move to the top of one of the surrounding pillar platforms to survive. Even after the attack disperses your javelin will remain overheated so sprint for a bit to cool down.
Tip 6 – Just before Vara summons her minions, she’ll imbue her hands with acid elemental energy and declare, “This world belongs to the Dominion.”
Tip 7 – Avoid her frost shard attacks; if you’re hit by enough of them your javelin will be frozen and she’ll follow up with a deadly acid beam that will very likely take you out with one shot. Note: the shards will not affect Storm javelins while they are hovering with their shields up.
Tip 8 – When Vara has been dealt significant damage, she will collapse to the ground, and that’s your signal to hit her with everything you and your team have. Note: remember to keep an eye out for the rift reforming and destroy it as soon as it does.
Want to find out more so you can really unleash your power? Read our Everything You Need to Know: Cataclysm guide and check out the Cataclysm Basic Tips tutorial.
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