Exaflares (Sparks 2)

Cheat Sheet

supportSupport — North
dpsDPS — South

Melee Flex.

Assigned sides.

All possible starting spots.

Debuff Explanations

Live Candle

Fated to burst into roaring flames, causing damage to those nearby when this effect expires.

This is a two person stack debuff.

Live Candle

Fated to burst into flame, causing damage to those nearby when this effect expires.

This is a simple spread debuff.

Mechanics

Arena, with example exaflares.

castSeal of Scurrying Sparks applies Live Brazier to two random players, and Live Candle to everyone. Which of the two will resolve first is random.

castCloud to Ground telegraphs 8 exaflares around the arena. These exaflares will begin moving once the cast finishes. The pattern of exaflares can be mirrored or rotated, but always looks like the example here.

The first Stack or Spread will resolve with the 3rd exaflare AOE. The second will resolve shortly after the 7th exaflare AOE.

First 3 exaflare AOEs

Final 4 exaflare AOEs

Strategy

Because the two stack debuffs are completely random, this mechanic requires a flex. To solve this, we will be using these priorities:

• Tank Healer North
• Melee Ranged South

If both support, or both DPS players have Stack debuffs, then the Tank and Melee players should swap sides.

From here, to keep melee uptime, we will be using the “thin” safe wedge as the starting spot for this mechanic.

Begin by prepositioning north and south with your partner, and check your debuffs.

• Identify Flex vs No Flex
• Determine which debuff is resolving first.
• Identify the safe slice on your side.

To find the safe slice quickly, look for the exaflare which is in the corner on your side of the arena. The safe slice is to the side of that exaflare.

Later, when you do the 2nd movement, you will be moving behind the exaflare on the other side of the safe slice.

For Stack, both players should stack within melee range in their slice.

For Spread, the ranged should be up against the back wall of your safe slice, while the melee player should stand close. This is fairly tight, so players should spend a moment moving as close to the edge as they can.

This diagram accurately shows the size and shape of both the exaflares and Spread AOEs.

After 3 pulses of the exaflares, the first Stack or Spread will resolve. Once this happens, dodge the incoming exaflare by moving behind the middle exaflare next to your safe slice.

This could result in you moving to the other group’s side of the arena - this is fine, the other group will be doing the same.

Melee players should take a step back while moving to the side, reducing the likelihood they’re hit by the incoming exaflare.

Resolve the 2nd Stack or Spread shortly after the last exaflare.

If Spread is resolving second, there is plenty of space allowing for alternative positioning and safety strats.

Ranged players can move back, towards where the corner exaflare started.

Melee players can move a bit further around the boss, giving the ranged players extra space.

In this example, the Ranged and Tank players followed these recommendations.

POVs

Spread 1st Ranged POV

Stack 1st (Move to corner strat)

Spread First (Melee POV)

Next: Fighting Spirits