Search for Clues in the Sanctuary

Winston457

I am by no means a end game player, but I can hold my own in the top GW levels....except for Search for Clues when it's in the Sanctuary.  I breezed though 15 of the 16 PVZ missions in 20A&B yesterday.  Got my soul crushed by the only SfC.

Today, 20A & 20B each have one SfC.  We have moves to spare so, as the top player on the day, I figured I'd see if I could beat the SfC's before committing to 20.  If I couldn't, no harm, no foul.  It would be one move and we could do a different island, even though it likely meant a loss on the day.

Well, I got my soul crushed again. I went in with SPY, as usual, and fully ready to use all the tools in my possession.  Try one, not even close to the exit, didn't even find the right box before dying.  Try two, same result.

Sanctuary and SfC are a lethal combo for me, I maybe have a 10% win rate.  This one had Metal Heads & Fatties, no open spaces, all tight corridors, two auto spawn's, and boxes high and low, very close to the auto spawns.  I never had a shot.

It is very frustrating to be able to handle the highest level of GW, except for one mission type.  Any tips would be much appreciated.  I've watched a few YouTube runs, but can't seem to find one where it's tight quarters.  Thanks in advance!

Winston457

FYI, I am using Sasha with the Winter Harpoon, Princess with Lucky (but not tactical) Decimator, and Yumiko with the GW fire/cripple Pistol.

hdhdh

First of all, learn how to play with SMY, killing stuff instead of building a high level stun wall is much easier... Tactical decimator is a good investment. Some maze maps are garbage in search for clues but try to get out ahead as much as you can before the spawns start

ShadowWalker

You might want to use SMY instead. Mercer kills walkers faster, so if you get stopped at a choke point, he can clear it faster and you won't be trapped. Try to open boxes with Sasha, but use her charge attack first if she has it. If you don't have the crippling Winter Bow it's worth picking one up in the BM, you can give it to Yumiko so she can attack and then open a box. 

Winston457

Good stuff.  I have Mercer at 5 stars, and haven't rerolled him yet.  I will get on that.  I have his top traits as: Ruthless, Marksman, Lucky, Dodge.  Any changes there? Would Sure Shot be better in place of Dodge, in combo with Tactical Decimator?

Winston457

ShadowWalker said:

You might want to use SMY instead. Mercer kills walkers faster, so if you get stopped at a choke point, he can clear it faster and you won't be trapped. Try to open boxes with Sasha, but use her charge attack first if she has it. If you don't have the crippling Winter Bow it's worth picking one up in the BM, you can give it to Yumiko so she can attack and then open a box. 

I use the fire/cripple pistol to take out the un-stunable walkers.  How do you handle those while using the Winter Bow?

ATLAS-Z

I've recorded this mission a few times, will check tonight

ShadowWalker

Winston457 said:

ShadowWalker said:

You might want to use SMY instead. Mercer kills walkers faster, so if you get stopped at a choke point, he can clear it faster and you won't be trapped. Try to open boxes with Sasha, but use her charge attack first if she has it. If you don't have the crippling Winter Bow it's worth picking one up in the BM, you can give it to Yumiko so she can attack and then open a box. 

I use the fire/cripple pistol to take out the un-stunable walkers.  How do you handle those while using the Winter Bow?

I actually primarily use the fire/cripple pistol as well. However, Mercer can actually cut through high level walkers like butter so fire isn't completely necessary. Perhaps you should just try SMY first, but if you're still having trouble, then you can try the Crippling Bow and see if the extra movement helps you.

As for the ideal traits on Mercer, the big 3 would be Ruthless, Luck and Marksman. The fourth doesn't really matter. Sure Shot is fine if you ever use Mercer in the lead with the DAR, but it wouldn't work with the Tactical Decimator because it doesn't have Piercing, and you don't want that when leading Sasha anyway. Also, make sure to give Mercer Michonne's Cat, just in case he doesn't fully charge up when Yumiko makes him attack with Firing Squad.

Firekid

I don’t tend to use range for search for clues maps. It’s actually my favourite GW map type. It’s a different way to play it but here’s my playlist when I did most of the SFC for the day. Hopefully it’ll give you some idea. Honestly can’t remember what the maps were or anything. https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtQ7D6oxUUw-rU1uFdCjP0NUXvGwJFQRT

Le_Mat

Hey! Well, yeah, there are several maps super complicated, one in particular I believe everyone moving to 19-20 has either red gased it first time or lost an attack in (video here: https://youtu.be/dtbIitvBuz4). Is this the one you're referring to?

As said before, it's a matter of mastering SPY/SMY. About those two, I think there's not a unified criteria on what combo is better. Some say you should def take Mercer to kill special walkers faster, which is true. In my case, although a good choice, I prefer Princess since I prefer to ensure charge points.

These are old videos, they may help. I don't record regularly, I will try to do it tomorrow as well to update my old list:

https://youtube.com/channel/UCrPntCETxKjYTBMEsnhYgRw

I hope this helps!

ATLAS-Z

Yeah sorry I found two videos one was very old and the other one did not have any tank or Spike

Winston457

Firekid said:

I don’t tend to use range for search for clues maps. It’s actually my favourite GW map type. It’s a different way to play it but here’s my playlist when I did most of the SFC for the day. Hopefully it’ll give you some idea. Honestly can’t remember what the maps were or anything. https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtQ7D6oxUUw-rU1uFdCjP0NUXvGwJFQRT

I've watched a number of your videos since JayZ retired.  I appreciate your videos and will make sure to go through those thoroughly!

Winston457

Le_Mat said:

Hey! Well, yeah, there are several maps super complicated, one in particular I believe everyone moving to 19-20 has either red gased it first time or lost an attack in (video here: https://youtu.be/dtbIitvBuz4). Is this the one you're referring to?

As said before, it's a matter of mastering SPY/SMY. About those two, I think there's not a unified criteria on what combo is better. Some say you should def take Mercer to kill special walkers faster, which is true. In my case, although a good choice, I prefer Princess since I prefer to ensure charge points.

These are old videos, they may help. I don't record regularly, I will try to do it tomorrow as well to update my old list:

https://youtube.com/channel/UCrPntCETxKjYTBMEsnhYgRw

I hope this helps!

That is not the specific one, but obviously very similar with how everything is narrow pathways. However that video is a good reference and I appreciate you posting it.  It has been informative.

Winston457

ATLAS-Z said:

Yeah sorry I found two videos one was very old and the other one did not have any tank or Spike

No worries.  I appreciate you taking the time to look.  I'm glad I asked the question, between you, Shadow, Firekid and Le_mat I have a ton of great info to review before the next week of GW.  I'm excited to practice with SMY, and then get to work on 19 & 20.

Winston457

Firekid said:

I don’t tend to use range for search for clues maps. It’s actually my favourite GW map type. It’s a different way to play it but here’s my playlist when I did most of the SFC for the day. Hopefully it’ll give you some idea. Honestly can’t remember what the maps were or anything. https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtQ7D6oxUUw-rU1uFdCjP0NUXvGwJFQRT

I see who you were using back then. Do you do anything different now?  Would Zeke in the lead (Mace), with Eugene (New Riot Shield), and PGG(Mercer Axe) be a good combo?

Firekid

@Winston457 no, would still use beta, being able to herd on your way to crates is a massive bonus. I did use the new shield and found on some maps it was a bit of a hinderance as would pull walkers into choke points but overall think it went better. Pgg only on maps that don’t have spikes and yes the new mercer’s axe is my go to weapon all the time now. 

edit to add, I’m in a minority using melee on these maps though. Learning how to use SMY will get you through then a lot easier once Sasha and mercer have a couple of pinks.