How do i get rid of this pretender ?

[Finalgenesis]

For Vengeance of the dead, keep in mind medusa shield is likely the best counter against it.

Since spell options have been covered pretty well, I'll go on the SC options.

Keep in mind gargoyle is immune to Aegis petrification, as its a stone being. Don't know if you have the paths to summon + GoR them though. Crusher shows as stone being on the database but I've heard it's bugged, you will want to test it before GoRing them.

GoRed Gargoyle would make good patrollers against tele raider if you can get a couple of them equipped.

If you are using CBM 1.8x, vine whip has irrestible 1 AoE vine lock. Gargoyles with a vine whip and chi boots (might want cold immunity from ring or armor just in case) can probably kick him to death 1 on 1.

If CBM 1.9x, a gargoyle with gladiator gloves, speed boots, stone bird and astral snake have a fair chance 1v1 against him especially if you can get the snake paralyze hit in 1st. Again Rime hauberk optional for cold immunity.

Barring gargoyle, high MR SCs will have to do.

Finally, an example patrol team (many other types of patrol team that can work):
1. Bane - Eye of aiming, summer sword. Script cast
2. Bane - Piercer (or Just man)
3. Bane - Piercer (or Just man)
4. Chaff troops
Chaff troop buys time along with any PD, Sword bane attempts vine lock. Position to have enemy pretender as close to your sword bane as possible when you vine lock (have chaff hold a few step in front, or maybe anchor to an extra commander). Archer bane will proceed to peg him to death, piercer and Just man can both fully/partially bypass shield block. If enemy is cursed he'll also build affliction like crazy in the meantime.

In 1.8x vine bow also had AoE 1 vine, not sure if there was a change in 1.9x, if not it can replace summer sword.

[Amhazair]

Originally Posted by brxbrx

Horrors. Lots and lots of horrors. He'll succumb eventually.

And how do you get these horrors in a position to attack him? (other than waiting and hoping some show up naturally from his horror marks.) Remember that he's moving every turn in the magical movement fase, so you can not go after him. Send Horrors are not assassination spells, so they'll just attack the province the Frost Father allready left. (Usefull and cheap way to take back the province with the help of a scout, but that's not really what we're looking for. )

Originally Posted by triqui

Vengeance of the Dead. I don't know if they have modified it lately in CBM or something, but that spell autokills any SC, period.

I don't get the massive love for Vengeance of the Dead in these parts. It's only useful in a very limited set of circumstances. In this case it's strictly inferior to Mind Hunt in every way. (Significantly harder to cast and a succesful cast isn't a sure kill - remember, we're facing the Aegis here, so the pretender will need to have accumulated a massive amount of kills to succumb to the turn timer - I am assuming the pretender isn't protected by S mages here: Since the pretender is moving every turn, any astral mages used to keep him safe would be left stranded and easy prey. [Barring stealth-capable S mages, but we're getting really far into counter-counter-counter territory here...])

Originally Posted by Finalgenesis

GoRed Gargoyle would make good patrollers against tele raider if you can get a couple of them equipped. [...] Stuff about Gargoyles
[...]
Finally, an example patrol team (many other types of patrol team that can work):
1. Bane - Eye of aiming, summer sword. Script cast
2. Bane - Piercer (or Just man)
3. Bane - Piercer (or Just man)
4. Chaff troops

Patrol teams along these or other lines might be able to beat the monster pretender, though I'm not sure of it. (I haven't really experimented with missile weapons of various kinds to kill SC's) The problem is: How many patrol teams can you afford to just have wandering around in your territory on the off chance the pretender teleports on top of them? (And not something else, that is able or designed to take them on.) Sure, you might defend a couple of important provinces, or incorporate them into your real armies you want to keep safe, but protecting your territory this way? Not so much I'd say.

I'm sorry to be such a downer, it's just that the Boots of the Planes take away so many options to counter a SC it's not even funny anymore. (Unless it's you who has them, then you can laugh evilly all day long. )

Really, barring Mind Hunt success I'd just make sure the real forces you have out in the field to conquer defended enemy castles have an option to take him on (Either anti-SC's, MR or die spells or the blood counters, as discussed above.) in case he drops in to spoil the party, and otherwise ignore him while retaking the lost provinces as cheaply as possible. (And making sure you have nothing valuable in the field that you can't protect from him - though you might try to bait him with a juicy medium-sized force)

[GFSnl]

Don't forget Stellar Cascades.
It can fatigue anything.

You still have to attack through the Aegis though or have some ranged attack.

[brxbrx]

If you have high astral you can maybe try wishing his aegis away.
Provided you can procure the 100 pearls.

[Soyweiser]

If you are going to wish, wish the boots of the plane away. way more valuable

[brxbrx]

If he keeps the boots on for that long, he may also get lost in the astral plane. That'll make him an invalid. He'll be out of commission for a while and he'll come back stark raving mad.

[brxbrx]

Originally Posted by brxbrx

If he keeps the boots on for that long, he may also get lost in the astral plane. That'll make him an invalid. He'll be out of commission for a while and he'll come back stark raving mad.

Eventually, of course.

[triqui]

I don't get the massive love for Vengeance of the Dead in these parts. It's only useful in a very limited set of circumstances. In this case it's strictly inferior to Mind Hunt in every way. (Significantly harder to cast and a succesful cast isn't a sure kill - remember, we're facing the Aegis here, so the pretender will need to have accumulated a massive amount of kills to succumb to the turn timer - I am assuming the pretender isn't protected by S mages here: Since the pretender is moving every turn, any astral mages used to keep him safe would be left stranded and easy prey. [Barring stealth-capable S mages, but we're getting really far into counter-counter-counter territory here...])

The Aegis is the key difference. Other than that single artifact (or the Gorgon Pretender), it's better than mind hunt in every aspect, assuming you can cast both. It's harder to counter, has no backfire aspect, only needs a single MR fail (opposed to Mind Hunt, which need two), and, the best part of it, requires Thau 4, instead of two paths at 5/6. Depending on your nation, S3D1 is easier to have than S4 mages, and you can have potentially higher penetration with a high Astral mage. A S9 mage will get +3 bonus to Vengeance, and +2 to Mind Hunt.

In this particular situation, yes, Mind hunt is probably better, assuming he does not have S1 mages protecting him, becouse he has bassically the only item in the game that does not become VotD a insta-kill. But overall, VotD is a incredibly powerful spell against SC, and it's cast only at Thau 4.

[Bullock]

Thx for all those answers.
I keep in mind many of your ideas.
I think i ll mind hunt with my pretender full of magic pene (i m crafting the stuff actually) while i prepare some other trick in case the hunt fail.

I don't have a good enough income of S gems to wish, and btw he s free to craft again the item after that. (unless i m wrong)

And i m still hoping he s getting lost in astral planes 1/100 chance if i m correct that s not so bad. (it sounds even a bit high to me to put this kind of shoes on my pretender)

[NTJedi]

Not sure if it was mentioned, but curse him... this will bring other afflictions which will help break him.