As a Blacktalon, it's a bit difficult to kill someone. Cudgel damage is a bit...dismal, and thornlash/rend is nigh useless in 1v1. Thankfully, with Runes, Haegl makes Swoop MUCH easier to pull off. However, I can't help but wonder about the Runist instakill. Death Prophesy.

It works like this: The prophesy requires certain runes to be in your inventory to cast. It costs three power. Once cast, it works much like a game of Simon Says. It pops up an ASCII image of the rune that you need to throw, and tells the name. If you sling it, and it's the right one, you move on to the next rune. If you miss, or if you sling the wrong rune, you essentially wasted three power. It goes through a cycle of six different runes. If the sixth rune hits, you get your kill. However, for the sixth rune to kill, all of the other afflictions need to remain on the target.

So, here's my question: is Dark Prophesy a viable instakill as a druid? I'm thinking that if I can stick Saplock with a cen fused, and have gyfu/ger and eoh/isa combos on them, it might be possible.

Any other suggestions on what would help them to stick, or if you think it's even possible to land?

I tested this with Yuniko when she first went Runist Mage, granted she doesn't have anything to be able to lock me down with but I consider this the most unviable, worst instakill in game. After watching her do it with no hindering on my part, it still took me forever to die and I had to stand there. For those who aren't used to this instakill (its probably not even in systems to warn you) you might could get some elements of surprise without even locking people and kill them but after they get used to it, don't expect to get it again.

edit: And oh, I don't think its just the runes that you need to throw in that order, its that you have to throw the runes and the afflictions have to stick and not be cured. Meaning one cure and you fail. That is the I think part, its been a while.

Yeah, I already stated that all the aflics have to stick, which is why I wonder if this is actually probable. But to make the statement that it's less viable than thornlash and rend is outrageous. But, you could very well be right. I'll have to do more testing just to be sure, though.

They don't have to stick all the way through. It's enough that he has the five afflictions at the end of the prophecy. So if you begin with stupidity, your target cures it, and then he gets it again before you deliver the last rune, it won't stop the instakill part.

That's good to know, but it's still a bitch to make sure the afflictions stick.

Yeah, but you don't have to use runes to afflict them. In fact, I don't think it even has to be you who gives the affliction (beyond the initial rune). So if you are lucky and time it correctly, it can be useful. But only that. It is a quite weak Instakill outside a group.

The only way you will get a death prophecy is if your opponent turns off curing. The instakill is ridiculous. You have to stick 5 affs. They have to cure 1.

But DUUUUUUDE what if they are saplocked with four broken limbs, a concussion, slickness, and a bear is eating their intestines?

Then why not let the bear finish them off?

Because that is the only time at which you can write your name in the annals of history under "Legit Death Prophecy Kill"

Or call in a harmony monk to Deathtouch. Or I could crunch them without the hour setup. Still would likely be easier to just let the bear finish them off.

I want the bear eating intestines instakill... Eco Users Unite!

I dunno, that sounds like an Ackleberry kill.

I almost fell off my chair. Desipuss.

Cuz then the bear gets the XP, not you. And then you've got an even higher-level bear to fight.

Yes, but then you yourself get more XP for killing the bear.

Am I mistaken, or can the random rune land on haegl/sigil/rad?
If so, doesn't that count as a freebie, since those aren't affs?

I certainly hope not rad.

Nope. Only affliction runes unfortunately.

When it first came out, it was bugged to ask for any rune (and, for that matter, not require you to be afflicted with them at the end!) but that was quickly fixed.