QUOTE(yummydinos @ Jul 14 2015, 23:11)

I was wondering how other players go through the arena challenges. I'm only level 120, but what I used to do was that I would try to do arena challenges on the highest difficulty I could, resulting in a bunch of losses from overconfidence. However, for the arena challenges with rounds over 30, I have started to do them with on normal, since I just do it for the money. I was wondering if others do the same? I also DW all the time, and was wondering if people changed styles for arena or random encounters or w/e else.
QUOTE(MarsRuby @ Jul 14 2015, 23:30)

I'm doing them on Hell difficulty and I've been succeeding until the 100s, after that I had to make sure to use Spark of Life more often. The Lv. 130 arena smacked me hard just now, got hit for 50-60% of my life in one shot and died. Bah. I should have kept Spark of Life up (but it currently costs so much mana!)
I mostly do them for the money, exp, and the poor poor equips. I will get something good one day.
I'm using DW for every battle. I've heard good things about 1h+shield. I redid my char for magic and tried it for a few battles but the mana cost is ludicrous. Also, it needs SO MANY ability points. I will have to try again later.
Make sure that you use the right build for your level and save yourself a lot of grief. Simple guide
DW WeaponsMain Elemental/ethereal Axe/Club of slaughter and offhand Elemenetal/ethereal rapier of nimble or balance
(Exquisite up to level 300, magnificient up to level 400, legendary up to level 500)*
DW ArmourLevel below 200 ---> use legendary leather armour (its cheap or even free)
level 200-500 Transition to magnificient shade of fleet to legendary shade of fleet to legendary shadowdancer if possible.
(Exquisite up to level 300, magnificient up to level 400, legendary up to level 500)*
1H + shieldLow level <200 use best 1H elemental/ethereal rapier of slaughter and kite sheild + plate armour
200-300 transition to exquisite power armour and maybe a force shield
300-400# mix of magnificient power armour and plate and upgrade rapier and switch to forceshield
400+ Better Rapier, and better power armour will improve your clear time.
#with a good legendary force sheid you can probably stick to mag armour forever.
MagiPick one element, Wind, Lightning, Ice are best for 'umm less rich players' and Dark/Holy are better for established players or level 300-400 players.
Staff Level <300
Magnificient Elemental Redwood of Elemental damage or Elemental proficiency (Legendary version may be good until level 400)
Legendary Elemental Redwood of Focus (Level <200)
Staff Level >350
Legendary elemental redwood/willow/katolox/Oak of destruction or elemental damage as required. Note some staff are better for different elements, so do your research before buying.
Standard IW 5 Eco + 4 proficiency of your choice.
Proficiency + elemental cloth level <400
2-3 Cloth of elemental proficiency
2-3 Cloth of matching phase armour for your element.
Exquisite until 310, Magnificent until 400 then legendary all the way
>350 4 Legendary phase of your element + 1 cloth of elemental proficiency.
*rough guides
ForgingExquisite is fine to forge to +5
Good Magnifcient to +20-25
Legendary and peerless +30-Max