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The time is nigh. After a shocking sequence, ‘Confront theKing’, the Mages Guild finale, will pit you against Mannimarco himself in a dangerous duel to determine the ultimate fate of the guild and beyond.
Here’s how to do just that. ‘Confront theKing’ will test yourOblivion Remasteredskills to an appreciable degree, so you’re going to want to properly prepare for Mannimarco before you enter the lair of the vileKingof Worms. There are also a few tips and tricks to best him with relative ease, too, and we’ve got those covered to help you on your heroic last quest.
How To Start ‘Confront TheKing’
Returning to Traven after finishing ‘Ambush’means giving him theColossal Black Soul Gemfor safekeeping.Speak with him again, and a lengthy - and rather sad! - sequence occurs, after which you mustloot Traven’s corpse for the Filled Black Soul Gem.
You’re also the Arch-Mage now - congratulations, though it certainly came at a cost. Head toEcho Cave, which is foundto the west of Bruma,along the Jerall Mountains.
Echo Cave
At theentrance,Bolor Savelwill challenge you to a fight to the death, so oblige him. Treat him as you would any necromancer, and when he’s been defeated,proceed further into the three-zone dungeon.
Each of the three zones sports bothnecromancers and undeadfoes. There are plenty ofCairn Bolete plantsto pluck while you’re here, if you’re studying the ways of theAlchemist. Finally,the chests in the Necromancer’s Chamber zone are generally quite good.
TheKingOf Worms
When you reach him at last,Mannimarco will engage in a conversation with you. Your choices don’t change theinevitable fact that you must face him in combat, but you can flavor them accordingly. Offer to join him for a destined-to-fail attempt, for instance.
Since you’re immune to Mannimarco’s thrall spell, you’ll fight him onrelativelyeven grounds. Do note,he’s seven levels higher than you, no matter which level you’re at, which gives him a bit of an advantage.
Mannimarco isweak to Fire, Frost, andShockdamage, given his Altmer origin. He’s alsoquite proficient at casting spells, of course - they’re always a double-edged sword in this regard.
Furthermore, he’s largelyimpervious to weapon strikesand evenConjuration summons. You can, however,Conjure creatures to handle Mannimarco’s own creatures, or at least, to take the heat off of you from them. Blades and other weapons, however, have very little place in this fight.
If you’re considering hopping into the water to evade Mannimarco temporarily,bring aWater Breathingmethod, or prepare to suffer the potential consequences. You’ll have tofind a way out underwater, since youcan’t climb back up the steep ledgehere.
It’s doable before drowning, mind you. But you’re potentially cutting it rather close!
Arch-Mage Ascendant
Grab theStaff of Wormsfrom Mannimarco’s long-awaited corpse, andreturn to the Arcane Universitywhen you’re finished here. You are nowofficiallythe Arch-Mage of Cyrodiil.
With such a title comes similarly lofty bonuses. You havethe ability to enter the top-most floor at the University; you canduplicate most Alchemy ingredients; you canbring Mage Apprentices along as helpers; and more!
