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EQ2 Mob:Switchmaster Zaxlyz
I like to call this, the pick your own poison fight, you have a number of choices for this fight and depending on your raid set up you can taylor the encounter to your liking. By selecting the various protector or sentinel mobs that surround the chamber you decide which powers switchmaster ends up with in the final fight. Here is a hint don't choose Voidstorm.
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Known Info
Switchmaster Zaxlyz (SWZ) is a Shadowed Man, who is responsible for guarding the gates to the other areas in Palace of the Ancient One (POA). He has a number of henchmen that you must pick to fight prior to fighting SWZ. Heat resists are crutial for this fight and everyone must be on their toes because he will cast chaotic infusion on random targets during the fight. This gives that target sonic vision and that player must run to the south west portal way jump in and out of it to remove this effect if you do not it wipes the raid.
Melee Abilities
- Crushing 100%
Healing Abilities
- Consume Soul 100%
Non Melee Abilities
| Ancient Cloak of the Thet | |
- Enthralling Flames (19 second timer)
- Damage Type: Heat
| Ancient Cloak of the Thet | |
- Exothermic Explosion (35 second timer)
- Damage Type: Heat
| Ancient Cloak of the Thet | |
- Chaotic Infusion (no timer needed)
- Damage Type: Magic
- Unstable Feedback (no timer needed)
- Damage Type: Magic
- Void Strike (no timer needed)
- Damage Type: Magic
All Abilities information pulled from parsing data.
Recommended Potions
- Cure Elemental
Strategy Overview
The encounter begins when one player activates a script by selecting a target choice from the dialog with Switchmaster Zaxlyz (SWZ). There are four choices to make, when you select the choice the sentinels or protectors associated with the choice become active. If you fail to make a choice within a certain period of time SMZ will choose for you, this is not recommended.
The order that we have had success with is Voidfield, Stalwart and Unstable, then Agile and Offensive. Once the first mob is active the MT should grab the Sentinel of the Voidfield and drag it to the west portal entrance. The raid follows and dps this mob down, it's pretty much rinse and repeat for the next pair. On the final set the MT should pull off the Offensive void protector to the tank spot while the OT pulls the Agile void protector off to the side. Once the offensive is dead the OT pulls the agile into the tank spot. This allows the MT time to set up on SMZ. At 50% on the agile, the healers should be called out to set up just under the lip off to the left side. At 30% health on the agile DPS should be called out to the rear of the ramp. Tortoise Shell and Blade dance should be called for to shiled the raid from any initial AEs that SMZ throws out as the MT drags SMZ into place in the tank spot shown in the diagram below. This is pretty much where the real fight begins.
Once SMZ is in place DPS is held out for the first Exothermic Explosion (EE) to hit. After the first EE hits the DPS is called in and the burn on SMZ begins. The rest of the fight is just rinse and repeat DPS called out for EE then back in watch positioning on SMZ, do not get in front of him or unnecessary deaths and health loss occur. Burn burn burn and pretty soon you will have a treasure chest to rummage through.
Note: When you get the timing on the initial EE, you can joust in to start for to get some DPS on SMZ prior to the first EE hitting.
Dealing with Chaotic Infusion: You should remember a couple of things. Periodically as mentioned above a couple players with get Chaotic Infusion on them and they must get to the south west portal to strip it off so they don't wipe the raid. When a MT healer has this effect on them it is recommended to jesters cap the other healer in the MT group while that healer runs to strip the effect. The MT will get this as well, the thing to remember here is DPS should step back and disengage while the MT drags SMZ with them to the portal. You can also have OT snap aggro, but we have found just dragging him is more reliable.
Heal Strategy
Healers can position themselves anywhere they like during the first 3 phases of this fight healing is standard tactics during this time. At 50% on the last mob of the last pair, the agile protector the healers should get out and wedge them selves in at the left side of the west ramp just under the lip of the center platform. This position will allow them to avoid the knock back from Exothermic Explosion (EE.) The high focus cures are EE and Enthraling Flames(EF.) EE hits every 35 seconds or so and EF hits on a shorter interval, EF is crutial to cure especially if it hits during the joust for EE. Troubadours should be at the ready with Jcap if one of the MT healers gets Chaotic Infusion on them and has to go out the remaining healer should get Jcap.
note: EE has a very prominant casting animation and can be called as SMZ is casting so long as your profit UI settings are at "Perfomance" and particle effects are fully turned off. It is helpfull to call "casting" when this animation begins.
Tank Strategy
To start the MT should concentrate on tanking the Sentinels and Protectors. Then the last set is split tanked MT on the Offensive Protector and OT on the Agile Protector. MT should be standing out on SMZ when the Agile dies to ensure instant aggro control of SMZ. The tank spot in this encounter is shown in th diagram below, all tanks should wedge themselves in the left corner as your facing the West portal (voidstrom sentinel stands here) Periodically MT will get Chaotic Infussion, we have found it is most reliable to have the MT simply drag SMZ with them to remove the effect, OT should trail and intercede as well as be prepared to pick up SMZ should things go wrong.
DPS Strategy
The DPS strategy is simple for the most part. Joust in after exothermic hits dps on SMZ. Joust out to the end of the ramp when exothermic explosion (EE) is called. Cure the elemental from EE with potions if the healers get backed up. Watch for Chaotic infusion and be prepared to run in to the SW portal. Do not get in front of SMZ and that is about it.
note: if you have a raid member calling for the casting animation or you can see it you can jump and push into the knock back to mitgate how far you get tossed.
Encounter Diagram
| Thet-Em-Aua Encounter Diagram | |
Encounter Video
Raid Groups
| Main Tank | Off Tank | DPS One | DPS Two |
| Berserker | Guardian | Ranger | Shadow Knight |
| Dirge | Dirge | Dirge | Assassin |
| Coercer | Coercer | Troubador | Wizard |
| Warden | Brigand | Warlock | Illusionist |
| Templar | Defiler | Mystic | Inquisitor |
| Defiler | Templar | Brigand | Troubadour |
NOTE: All of our strategies are written up with the group setups we used to beat these encounters and while the specific classes used are not required the general roles that they fill are.
Conclusion
Switchmaster is at base a simple fight. Due diligence should be paid to personal positioning and paying attention for Chaotic Infusion is a must. He can be a bearcat to get in to position but any tank worth their weight in salt should be able to get him in the right spot. As with all strats work out your personal strategy, find your rhythm and soon your raid will be beating this guy regularly and getting some glove crit mit into the raid force.
 | ZAM credits Ghosts of the Jaggedpine & MMO-Strategist for the original information in this guide. |  |
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