Editing Ketheric Thorm/combat

{{PageSeo
| title = Fighting Ketheric Thorm
| description = This page focuses on Ketheric Thorm's behavior during combat and how to fight him.
| image = alena-dubrovina-kethericportrait-1.webp
}}
{{Infobox statistics
| name = Ketheric Thorm
| image = Alena-dubrovina-kethericportrait-1.webp
| imagesize = 0.7
| size = Medium
| race = Undead
| type = Undead
| class = Paladin
| armour_class = 22
| hit_points = 188
| movement_speed_meters = 9
| movement_speed_feet = 30
| weight_kg = 75
| weight_lb = 165
| level = 11
| str = 18
| dex = 13
| con = 17
| int = 12
| wis = 15
| cha = 20
| wis_save_proficiency = Yes
| cha_save_proficiency = Yes
| nonmagic resistant1 = Bludgeoning
| nonmagic resistant2 = Piercing
| nonmagic resistant3 = Slashing
| immune1 = Poison
| resistant1 = Necrotic
| condition1_name = Aura of Protection
| condition1_description = Increases Saving Throws to self and nearby allies
| condition2_name = Aura of Hate
| condition2_description = Increases weapon damage to self and nearby allies
| feature1_name = Arcane Enchantment (+1)
| feature1_description = +1 bonus to Spell Save DC and Spell attack rolls.
| feature1_item = Ketheric's Shield
| feature2_name = Darkvision
| feature2_description = Can attack nearby creatures in the dark without disadvantage.
| feature3_name = Defence
| feature3_description = +1 bonus to Armour Class while wearing armour.
| feature4_name = Divine Health
| feature4_description = Immune to [[disease]].
| feature5_name = Extra Attack
| feature5_description = Make an additional free attack after making an unarmed or weapon attack.
| feature6_name = Fey Ancestry
| feature6_description = Immunity to sleep and advantage on saves against Charmed.
| feature7_name = Immutable Form
| feature7_description = Immune to having your form changed. +5 to saving throws against spells which Banish.
| feature8_name = Improved Divine Smite
| feature8_description = Melee weapon attacks deal an additional 1d8 Radiant damage.
| feature9_name = Legendary Action: Hordestrike
| feature9_description = Spend a Legendary Action to [[Hordestrike]] an enemy when it is attacked by an ally following Deadly Orders.
| feature9_mode = Honour
| feature10_name = Magical Plate
| feature10_description = All incoming damage is reduced by 2
| feature10_item = Reaper's Embrace
| feature11_name = Opportunity Attack
| feature11_description = Make a melee attack against an enemy moving out of range.
| feature12_name = Reaper's Rigidity
| feature12_description = When activated, can't be moved against your will, but have Disadvantage on DEX saving throws.
| feature12_item = Reaper's Embrace
| feature13_name = Shield Bash
| feature13_description = Use a reaction to knock an attacker Prone.
| feature13_item = Ketheric's Shield
}}{{CombatTab}}
This page focuses on [[Ketheric Thorm]]'s behavior during turn-based combat gameplay.

== Attacks and abilities ==
{{Feature box
|name=Incubate Death
|image name=Generic Necrotic.webp
|* Spawn a Skeletal Involucre. After 1 turn, the involucre explodes, dealing {{DamageText|3d8+3|Necrotic}} damage and birthing a [[Necromite]].

{{Range|m=18|ft=60}}

{{Action}}}}

{{Feature box
|name=Deadly Orders
|image name=Generic Control.webp
|* Command your troops to prioritise attacking a specific foe. 
* Your underlings are more likely to target this foe, and their [[Attack Roll]]s against it have {{Advantage}}.
}}

{{Feature box
|name=Divine Smite
|image name=Divine Smite.webp
|* Your weapon emanates divine might as you strike, dealing an additional {{DamageText|2d8|Radiant|drs=t}} damage. Deals an additional {{DamageText|1d8|Radiant|drs=t}} damage to Fiends and Undead.
}}

=== Honour Mode ===
{{Feature box
|name=Hordestrike
|image name=Generic Damage.webp
|{{DamageInfo|4d8|Force}}
* Launch a hammer of spectral force at a creature your minions are attacking.
}}

== Allies ==
Ketheric will be accompanied by the following allies. Detailed information can be found on their respective pages.

=== Moonrise Towers Rooftop (Stage 1) ===
* [[Susdera]]
* [[Squire]] (If still alive)
* [[Kar'niss]] (If still alive)
* 8x [[Necromite]]

=== Mind Flayer Colony (Stage 2) ===
* [[Mind Flayer]]
* [[Isobel]] (if kidnapped during [[Resolve the Abduction]])
* 4x [[Intellect Devourer]]
* 4x [[Necromite]]

== Encounters ==
Ketheric Thorm's actual battle has two individual stages, with some of the choices of the party coming into play in them.

===Stage 1===
The first part of the encounter with Ketheric takes place atop [[Moonrise Towers]]. Ketheric will be joined by [[Susdera]], an acolyte of [[Myrkul]], as well as eight [[Necromite|necromites]]. Susdera will stand immediately before the party, while Ketheric will stand on the small balcony behind her, necromites flanking the stairs to it on both sides. 

The necromites can be safely ignored if the party is equipped to have a high DC or has necrotic resistance, as they only cast [[Reach from Beyond]], a low damage spell. However, both Ketheric and Susdera can summon more of them, so it's best to dispatch them with AoE attacks to avoid being overwhelmed.

Susdera herself may prove to be more of a direct threat at the start of combat given that she can cast Fireball and the party begins the fight grouped together by default. [[Silence]] or [[Darkness]] spells can neutralize her and give the party a chance to form up as needed. She's also able to cast "Bone Chill", preventing healing for one entire turn.

Ketheric may be a challenge if the party has no means of reliably damaging high AC enemies as he boasts a strong 22 AC. Additionally, though his Dexterity skill is relatively low, he has advantage on Dexterity Saving Throws via [[Ketheric's Shield]]. Spell with a dex save component can still be used should Ketheric use [[Reaper's Embrace]], which would negate the advantage he has. Charming or putting him to Sleep is out of the question too given his Fey Ancestry.

Ketheric has relatively low Intellect, so spells with it as a saving throw are a good means of damaging him. Alternatively, players may lean more into the melee side of things and attempt to knock him prone, paralyze him, disarm him or otherwise. Blinding him or other means of granting the party Advantage are also means of getting hit in more reliably.

Ketheric's main source of damage will be through a combination of his melee attacks and Smites. As a [[Paladin]] type of enemy, his attacks can very quickly burst down party members if his hits all connect. Radiant damage resist, AC increasing spells and granting him Disadvantage are all methods to mitigate his burst damage somewhat. At the end of his turn, Ketheric will also order his necromites to focus fire using [[Deadly Orders]] and cap his turn by casting [[Incubate Death]]. Be careful of the AoE explosion of the summoned entity should it not be destroyed before transformation.

Ultimately, the best course of action is to burst Ketheric down as soon as possible through whatever means available. Should the player have spared Aylin, she will join the fight on the party's side and assist. She's capable enough of quickly dispatching Susdera through her own Smites and greatly help with Ketheric. 

Once Ketheric's health drops to around 25%, he will interrupt the fight by summoning a gargantuan tentacle, kidnapping Aylin should she be present, and fleeing down the destroyed tower to the [[Mind Flayer Colony]]. If all of his allies are dead, combat ends immediately, otherwise they must be dispatched first. The party is then free to explore the surroundings and follow Ketheric when ready.

===Stage 2===
====Phase 1====
The second stage of the fight begins shortly after catching up to Ketheric in the [[Mind Flayer Colony]]. A Restoration Pod that grants the benefits of a [[Long Rest]] can be found to the right of the elevator that brings you to him. This is also an excellent opportunity to prepare for the coming fight by summoning additional help. If available, a set of [[Conjure Elemental|Elementals]] can be particularly helpful in keeping the necromites and skeletal involucres under control; likewise [[Conjure Minor Elemental|Azers]]. The area also offers unlimited fodder for [[Animate Dead]]. 

After the cutscene regarding Ketheric and his allies, players will enter a short conversation with Ketheric. During this dialogue, he can be talked down from fighting with a {{Ability Check|Persuasion|18}}. On a success, Ketheric will kill himself and the battle will skip directly to [[#Phase 2|phase two]]. Otherwise, a fight will ensue.

This time, Ketheric can be found on the raised, round platform before the party. To the far right, a [[Mindflayer]] can be found overlooking the battlefield, further in, four [[Intellect Devourer|Intellect Devourers]] will quickly approach the party. Should she be alive, [[Dame Aylin|Aylin]] will be found trapped by spectral hands, granting Ketheric [[Invulnerable_(Condition)|invulnerability]] once more. On the other side of the room, to the left, four [[Necromite|necromites]] will sling spells down at the party.

Ideally the party should split in three: one to deal with the Mindflayer and help Aylin if alive, one to keep Ketheric occupied, and one to deal with the Necromites. Dispatching the Mindflayer quickly will help the party keep control of the battle as otherwise it will attempt to stun them. It will also grant the party member a vantage point to fight against the intellect devourers and Ketheric. Dispatching the intellect devourers shouldn't be too difficult, most AoE spells should work, and they are not too troublesome either, though they could prove an annoyance should they [[Threatened|threaten]] a ranged unit. 

Aylin can be freed from her prison via the [[Help]] action. Once free, she will assist the party in the fight, usually by charging directly at Ketheric. The Necromites on the left platform are not too dangerous, however, they should be eliminated before the next phase, otherwise Ketheric will have a great power spike. One party member with an AoE spell should suffice, leaving them up there will also provide another vantage point for the rest of the fight.

Finally, dealing with Ketheric himself should be relatively similar to his first encounter. Beware that much like any other NPCs, he will quickly deplete all his spell slots using Smite on each of his attacks, so any form of mitigating this burst damage is good, such as an [[Elixir of Radiant Resistance]]. Like in the previous fight, Ketheric can order his party to focus using [[Deadly Orders]] and raise new necromites using [[Incubate Death]].

As soon as Ketheric is defeated, the next and final phase of the fight begins. It's recommended to clear all of Ketheric's allies before moving on to the next phase of the fight.

====Phase 2====
The last phase of the fight begins as soon as Ketheric is killed, and this time the party faces the [[Apostle of Myrkul]]. Twisted by necrotic magic, the Apostle takes up the entire space in the center of the room, summoning necromites as the fight begins.

The Apostle hits hard, hits often, and has a large health pool. However, the battle is manageable provided you take care of the necromites and keep the Apostle occupied. The main gimmick of the fight is that the Apostle will sacrifice a necromite in order to gain the {{SAI|Finger of Death}} spell. Should the necromites be dealt with (or the Apostle itself prevented from consuming them), then this spell won't be an issue. 

The Apostle's presence also applies {{cond|Bone Chilled}} to anyone near it on the platform, which prevents healing damaged party members. Wounded party members can use [[Disengage]] to leave the platform (or move to a few small areas at the very edge of it outside the Bone Chill aura), and downed ones can be shoved off by others if necessary. 

Party members having trouble hitting the Apostle can turn to area-of-effect attacks, such as spells or smokepowder bombs. 

Despite the large size of Apostle, it's still susceptible to most regular conditions, such as weakened or blinded, and can be made [[Wet (Condition)|wet]] using [[Create Water]]. The effect from Arrows of Ilmater that prevents healing and similar effects that prevent healing are extremely effective. Likewise, although it has a difficult-to-overcome saving throw versus many more severe conditions, casting [[Darkness]] on it will blind the Apostle thereby helping any melee fighters prevent some of the damage and combos, in particular removing its ability to opportunity strike. 

The Apostle's [[Reaper's Scythe]] does respectable damage and also knocks foes back, potentially off of the platform itself. Positioning all melee units with the spikes of the arena at their back will prevent them from being knocked off the platform this way. Alternatively, the Apostle can be disarmed of its scythe, removing the threat entirely.

Once the Apostle is defeated, Ketheric will finally die for good, allowing the party to retrieve his Netherstone, and proceed to [[Baldur's Gate]].

==Achievements==
{{Achievement|No Free Lunches}}

== Notes ==
{{notebegin}}
* If [[Gale]] uses his [[Netherese Orb Blast]] during the second encounter with Ketheric, the game can end at this very moment, allowing the party to kill Ketheric Thorm, [[Enver Gortash]], [[Orin the Red]] and the [[Absolute]] in one fell swoop. This only works during the cutscene; using the ability outside of the cutscene will trigger a [[Game Over]] as usual.
* Ketheric has [[Necrotic]] resistance and [[Poison]] immunity on Tactician difficulty.
* If you are an [[Oathbreaker]] [[Paladin]] above level 11, it is possible to use [[Control Undead]] on the Apostle of Myrkul and have him fight for you against his minions. His movement speed of 0 means he will not follow you anywhere to fight anyone out of his range. You could then attack him again and kill him while he remains friendly and won't fight back. This death however will not trigger the cut scene where he turns back to Kethric or the Dream Visitor returns. Looting the body of the Apostle will give you a supply pack, a letter from Isobel, Kethric's Warhammer, and Kethric's Sheild, but not the Reaper's Scythe, Reaper's Embrace or Kethric's Netherstone. This option thus prevents the game from progressing to Act 3.
{{noteend}}
[[Category:Combat guides]]