Two Bosses Enter: Ammunae vs. Baron Ashbury
In Two Bosses Enter, WoW Insider's series of fantasy death matches, the bosses of World of Warcraft face off in the squared circle. Your vote determines who wins and claims the season title.
This week on Two Bosses Enter, it's a battle between Ammunae, the Construct of Life, and Baron Ashbury, a scary dead guy. Oh, the anticipation!
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In last week's matchup, Augh and Lockmaw slammed face-first into the Scarlet Wall that is Renault Mograine and Sally Whitemane. The pygmy and his pet didn't stand a chance.
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Follow along for the details of this week's matchup, as well as discussion on last week's match.
The rules of the ring
The WoW Insider Ring is considered neutral territory, where both combatants are able to access their usual encounter mechanics and abilities. If you can't visualize it inside the squared circle, visualize it someplace else -- but you must take into consideration all of each bosses' abilities and mechanics.
Assume that each opponent is intelligent and capable of strategic thinking.
All of the competitors' abilities, including crowd control and other effects to which bosses are usually immune, work on their opponents (with apologies to considerations of lore on this point).
Assume that the opponents share similar levels, health pools, and comparative overall damage output.
Don't get caught up in gameplay mechanics and what actual players might do in each encounter.
Don't neglect style, story, and scale. Everything is a factor; seeking balance is your goal as a spectator and judge.
In Corner One: Ammunae
This chamber will flourish with your life energy!
Ammunae is one of those boss encounters wherein inexperienced DPS is going to create some sort of mini-hell for all involved. Target switches? Kill priority? What are those? Luckily for Baron Ashbury, he's hardly inexperienced -- but can he overcome Ammunae's healing capabilities?
Ammunae's abilities include:
Summon Seedling Pods that cast Energizing Growth on Ammunae
Summon Spores that create Spore Clouds
Want to learn more about the Construct of Life? Read what other adventurers had to say about him!
In Corner Two: Baron Ashbury
Pathetic.
Immediately after the launch of Cataclysm, Baron Ashbury was one of the most intimidating heroic bosses around: Interrupt two spells and dispel two spells, while also keeping up with some mighty intense healing (before players were really familiar with the mechanics).
Ashbury's bag of tricks includes:
Asphyxiate and, if he's feeling generous, Stay of Execution
Can his terrible, terrible damage overcome Ammunae's healing? If you need to know more about Baron Ashbury's modus operandi, check out what others had to say about him.
Last Week's Winner: Whitemane and Mograine
Augh and Lockmaw put up practically no fight at all, taking only about 15% of the vote. Whitemane and Mograine completely dominated, with some predicting that they'll make it all the way to the finals -- after all, Whitemane and Mograine are built to last, with their healing spells and defensive cooldowns. Could we see a showdown between Ozruk and the Scarlet Duo in the finals?
Reader Al painted this scenario for the battle between the Scarlet Duo and the Terrible ... Terribles:
Renault looked wearily around the Uldum delta, wishing he were back at the Monastery.
"She complains about never going anywhere new, and then stays in the tent all week because her skin can't handle so much sun.. what kind of heretic travel agent arranges a desert trip for an albino?" he thought to himself as he wandered down a dune to investigate a ruined city he'd noticed the day before. Hearing a commotion, he ducked behind a pillar. Several strange creatures, appearing to be large humanoid cats made of stone, were in pursuit of two groups of Humans, each carrying a body as they raced out of the city.
Shaking his head in confusion at such a sight, he continued down a side alley. Looking in awe and disgust at such a heathen triumph in architechure, Renault accidentally kicked a small creature in the face as he walked. "You no take treasure!" it screamed as it ran away.
"A Kobold would dare horde treasure from the righteous? Infidel, you must be purged!" Mograine suddenly halted at the sight a large Crocolisk charging towards him, snapping hungrily at his heels. Protecting himself with Divine Shield, he looked in horror as more Crocolisks emerged from the reeds and began approaching. As the Shield disappated, he swallowed his fear and charged towards the largest. Blinded by dust the small creature threw into his face, Mograine quickly fell to the reptiles.
"Augh feed you to the crocs!" it laughed as it prodded Renault's corpse with a stick. "The Commander must have come this way, find him!" could be heard as a large group of Mograine's Scarlet Crusade guard detail finally caught up with their leader after realising he was in combat. Augh created another dust storm, as the Crusaders and Crocolisks charged at each other. A lone figure suddenly appeared behind the chaos.
"Mograine has fallen? You will pay for this treachery!" In her fury, Whitemane put everything before her to Sleep, before approaching Renault's body. "Arise, my champion!"
"At your side, my lady!" Renewed, Mograine took his vengeange upon Lockmaw while his remaining Knights hacked at the other Crocolisks. With the battle soon done, they surrended the trembling Pygmy in rage.
"What shall we do with this.. thing?" Mograine quickly grabbed Augh by the neck before he could try to escape. Emptying out a nearby sack, Renault stuffed his foe inside before tying the bag shut and dropping it into a crate. "Send him to Vishas, I'm sure he'll find a use for it." Two Crusaders nodded, grabbing the crate and walking back toward their encampment. "Say, you think there's a mailbox out this far?" "An entire region without one? Don't be absurd, Brother!"
Renault looked at the rest of his assembled followers and his beloved in triumph. "Now, we will purge the rest of this city's evil. Follow me..."
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The battle begins!
Remember, Two Bosses Enter matchups are all about substance and style, not gameplay, mechanics, and numbers. Don't base your strategies on player tactics, which opponent has been easiest or most difficult for you personally, or the difficulty of each opponent relative to instance progression. Vote for the spirit of the battle as set forth above. Set aside differences in opponents' health pools, game level, and actual damage output. Absolutely no game mechanics nitpicking!
Set aside the world order -- let the WoW Insider Ring determine who's the champion! Your votes determine the outcome in WoW Insider's series of fantasy deathmatches, Two Bosses Enter, One Boss Leaves.
