Aetherblade Fractal

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Aetherblade Fractal

Aetherblade Retreat Fractal map.jpg
Map of Aetherblade Fractal

Levels
80
Type
Instance
Dungeon
Fractals of the Mists
API
956

Fractals of the Mists loading screen.jpg
Loading screen

Image(s)

Aetherblade Fractal.jpg

Click to enlarge.

Infiltrate the hidden Aetherblade base with the help of Inspector Ellen Kiel.

— In-game description

The Aetherblade Fractal is a Fractal that reprises the first part of the attack on the hidden Aetherblade base in Lion's Arch as encountered during the Sky Pirates of Tyria release. It occurs at levels 14, 45, 65, 70 and 96.

Objectives[edit]

  • Event boss (tango icon).png Explore the Aetherblade hideout and track down Mai Trin.
    • Fractal Difficulty Scale: x
    • Personal Fractal Level: x
    • Inspector Ellen Kiel
      Event bar.jpg Event shield (tango icon).png
    • Breach the gate.
    • Gate Guards Defeated
      Event bar.jpg Event swords (tango icon).png
    • Shut down Frizz's Lab.
      Event bar.jpg Event fist (tango icon).png
    • Avoid the golem-buffing electric walls.

Rewards[edit]

Primary article: Fractals of the Mists#Rewards

Walkthrough[edit]

The party starts in front of a mined underwater passage. The players need to swim and avoid the mines. Triggering a mine is instantly lethal. Players should beware of mines hidden behind the scenery and therefore invisible from the expected view angle (on the ceiling and among the algae).

After exiting the mined passage, the party will meet Inspector Kiel and face two groups of Aetherblade attackers. Once the Aetherblades are defeated, the party will need to pass two trapped areas.

Aetherblade traps[edit]

The first trap area is relatively simple: the ground is divided into sections that "light up" periodically, killing players who step on them. During each phase, there will be several squares that will not light up, allowing the party to move from one safe section to the next and stay there safely during the "lit up" phase.

After the party crosses the first section, they will face a single Inquest enemy. While very easily dealt with even for a single player, the Inquest enemy does have a knockback attack - which can knock a player back into the lethal puzzle area, killing them. Stability, dodging, and blocking will help.

Once past the puzzle, inside the hut, the squares can be disabled using terminals, allowing the players who have not yet passed the puzzle to move freely. Multiple terminals can be used by a single player if they use a skill to remove the Immobile effect.

On top of the slope, the party will face another trapped puzzle section. The entire floor is covered by a series of rotating force fields, forcing the players to run in the free spaces between the fields. Dodges and invulnerability skills can help. Once past, the puzzle can be deactivated by using terminals identical to those used to deactivate the first puzzle.

It is important to note that both trap sections must be disabled, even if every party member successfully crosses each one. Inspector Kiel must make it to the final phase and she is unable to move past either trapped area before it is disabled. Once past the puzzles, the party will face the cannon barrage section.

Cannon barrage[edit]

The party will need to defeat several waves of Aetherblade attackers while under fire by cannons. After the waves of Aetherblades are dealt with, the door opens and players reach Frizz, the final boss of the fractal.

Frizz[edit]

Frizz and his lab.
Activation and kill order of Elite Aetherblade Golems.

The fight starts with the party facing Frizz and a small number of Inquest and Aetherblade guards. Once Frizz takes some damage, he retreats into the shielded forcefield in the center of the room, summons defense golems and activates the room's forcefield defenses.

This section of the fight has the party face a small number of golems while a rotating forcefield forces the party to keep moving. Forcefields inflict heavy damage on the players they sweep over and boost the golems, granting them a short term blocking ability. The forcefield damage cannot be negated by dodging through the forcefield. The party needs to kill the golems to advance to the next phase.

  • Phase one — The room is swept by a single, fast, half height forcefield. The forcefield can be outrun near the hub of the room, although this invites the risk of fighting generally closer to this mobile damage source. The fast forcefield can also be avoided by jumping on top of stacked crates present in the room. Players can simply stay on top of a crate stack for the duration of this phase, but can be pulled off by the golems.
  • Phase two — The room is swept by a single, slow, full height forcefield. The forcefield can only be avoided by party members outrunning it. The party can maintain an optimal damage potential by remaining together in one half of the room.
  • Phase three — The room is swept by both of the forcefields. The party will therefore have to keep outrunning the slow forcefield and periodically jump on top of crate stacks to avoid the fast forcefield.

Once the third set of golems is dealt with, the forcefield generator malfunctions and collapses on Frizz, killing him.

Achievements[edit]

Aetherblade Retreat Stabilizer Fractals of the Mists 5Achievement points
You've completed the Aetherblade fractal inside the Fractals of the Mists.They're in full retreat now. 1 Fractal 5Achievement points
Fractal Recursion: Aetherblade Retreat Sky Pirates 3Achievement points
Complete the Aetherblade fractal after completing the "Sky Pirates" episode.
Prerequisite: Case Closed
Completed the Aetherblade Fractal 3Achievement points

Complete the fractal at least once.

Holo-Hornpipe Fractals of the Mists Central Tyria mastery point 5Achievement points
Dance with the Aetherblade hologram dancers.It's Dance Like A Pirate Day! Dance With Atherblade Holo Dancers 5Achievement points

Completed by dancing (/dance) with the two Aetherblades hologram dancers. The first hologram is found to the right of the shack with the switch that shuts off the charged floor panels. The second hologram is in the center of the next room at the top of the ramps with the moving phase walls.

Still Faster Than Light Fractals of the Mists 5Achievement points
Complete Kleptotronic Advanced Designs without being hit by lasers. Avoided Lasers in Kleptotronic Advanced Designs 5Achievement points

Avoid being hit by any of the laser walls during the fight with Frizz and his golems.

NPCs[edit]

Allies[edit]

Foes[edit]

Asura (Inquest)
Various (Aetherblades)

Objects[edit]

Dialogue[edit]

Primary article: Aetherblade Retreat#Dialogue

As this is a recreation of the Aetherblade Retreat, the dialogue is almost the same as the original for the same sections.

Upon arrival
Dessa Observation Mode: Hello? Can you hear me? I'm reading a large cavern beyond the water. That should be your starting point.
Dessa Observation Mode: It seems you have an ally. Is that Lionguard armor? What's happening in there?
Inspector Ellen Kiel: Let's get going.
Talking to Inspector Kiel at entrance
Mai Trin and her crew came through here. I've got a bad feeling about this, but at least you're here too. Let's go.
Talk end option tango.png I'll take the lead.
Dessa Observation Mode: Wait, is this Inquest technology? And charr, humans, and norn? Is the Inquest multiracial now?
As Inspector Kiel approaches the electric walls
Inspector Ellen Kiel: Ow! It shocked me!
Talking to Inspector Ellen Kiel while waiting at the electric walls
We need to shut that down. You find a way to turn that off, I'll watch your back.
Talk end option tango.png I'm on it.
At the second puzzle
Dessa Observation Mode: Now that's just excessive.
At the console before the Kleptotronic Design Lab
Inspector Ellen Kiel: Hmm, let's see what this does.
Talking to Inspector Ellen Kiel to start Frizz's Lab fight
This security panel seems simple enough. Are you ready to breach the room?
Talk ready option.png Let's go.
Talk end option tango.png Not yet.
Frizz: This is a sterile research environment. Leave at once.
Talking to Frizz
This is a sterile research environment. Leave at once.
Talk ready option.png Let's finish this.
Initiating combat
Frizz: Very well. I have ways of dealing with contaminants.
When Frizz is at 75% health
Frizz: You're vandalizing precious equipment. Why don't you play with live wires?
During fight
Frizz: Time to amplify the power. Fry, you pests. Fry like a skritt on a lightning rod.
Frizz: This isn't supposed to happen. You should be dead by now!
When someone is downed or defeated
Frizz: Someone call sanitation. I have stains that need eradicating.
When all golems are defeated
Frizz: You think you've won? You've won nothing! Tremble and cry as I unleash my greatest—
Inspector Ellen Kiel: Have I mentioned how much I hate those grubby little Inquest?

Related achievements[edit]

Upon completion[edit]

Objective during[edit]

Notes[edit]

  • If Inspector Ellen Kiel did not advanced into the final chamber, talk to Frizz and select the "Let's finish this!" option to continue the fight.
  • Since the golems in the final encounter block all incoming attacks for extended periods of time, it is most beneficial to have a source of unblockable damage, like Signet of Might.
  • In scales where the force fields apply agony, it is a good idea to stand on the boxes and apply stability so the golems are unable to pull you down.

Trivia[edit]