Circle of Thorns

Overview

The Circle of Thorns are a villain group in City of Heroes and City of Villains. In City of Heroes, the Circle is a powerful group that a hero will likely encounter during almost their entire career, and they are present in force in City of Villains as well.

Villain Types

Minions

Archer

Many who have lost hope go looking in dark places for the answers to life's questions. The Followers are those whose search has taken them to the Circle of Thorns. Now they must prove their true devotion by serving the Circle's evil will.

Powers

• Crossbow Ranged Lethal/Negative, Med Dam + KB
  The Heavy Crossbow is slower to reload that the Hand Crossbow, but it has much longer range, deals more damage and can knock down foes.

• Dagger Melee Lethal
  Wavy ritual blade.

--Yakovlev 11:40, 24 Jan 2006 (CST) (attacks only)

Defender

Many who have lost hope go looking in dark places for the answers to life's questions. The Followers are those whose search has taken them to the Circle of Thorns. Now they must prove their true devotion by serving the Circle's evil will.

Powers

• Hand Crossbow Ranged 50% Lethal/50% Negative, Low Damage
  Small rapid fire Handheld Crossbow.

• Thorn Sword Melee 75% Lethal/25% Negative, +Slow
  The Thron Sword poisons its victims with negative energy to slow them.

--Yakovlev 11:40, 24 Jan 2006 (CST)(added icons only)

Guard

Many who have lost hope go looking in dark places for the answers to life's questions. The Followers are those whose search has taken them to the Circle of Thorns. Now they must prove their true devotion by serving the Circle's evil will.

Powers

Sword Melee Lethal Dam
This wavey sword attack does medium damage and can reduce your foe's defense.

Hand Crossbow Ranged Lethal/Negative, Low Dam
Small rapid fire Handheld Crossbow.

Guardian

Many who have lost hope go looking in dark places for the answers to life's questions. The Followers are those whose search has taken them to the Circle of Thorns. Now they must prove their true devotion by serving the Circle's evil will.

Powers

Falchion Melee Lethal/Negative, Low Dam
This small curved short sword has been enchanted to channel negative energy damage to its victims.

Guide

Many who have lost hope go looking in dark places for the answers to life's questions. The Followers are those whose search has taken them to the Circle of Thorns. Now they must prove their true devotion by serving the Circle's evil will.

• Hand Crossbow Ranged Lethal/Negative, Low Dam
  Small rapid fire Handheld Crossbow.

• Scimitar Melee Lethal/Negative, High Dam
  This deadly weapon has been enchanted to channel negative energy damage to its victims.

--Yakovlev 11:40, 24 Jan 2006 (CST) (mob entry, bio and attacks)

Hordeling Lasher

From the nightmares of Hell's sinners come these disgusting creatures, nightmares born of fire, brimstone, and hate.

Powers

Tongue Strike Ranged, Minor DMG(Smashing), Foe Knockback
You let forth a quick Tongue Strike damaging your target.

Vicious Bite Melee, Moderate DMG(Lethal)
Your bite can cause serious damage to a target.

Nerva Spectral Daemon

Where go the Circle of Thorns go the legions of Hell. These gibbering monstrosities seem to be waiting for... something.

Powers

Fly
All Spectral Daemons have the inherent ability to fly with no endurance cost

Ethereal Self Invisible, Invunerable
Spectres can make themselves Ethereal and shift out of the material plane. Ethereal Spectres are invisible, and cannot affect or be affected by those in normal space.

• Resistance Auto Res Smash, Lethal, Negative, Immobilize
  Spectres are non corporeal and highly resistant to Immobilization smashing, lethal and negative energy damage. However, they are vulnerable to Energy and Psionic damage.

• Ice Bolt -Recharge, -Speed
  The Ice Bolt attack has left you frozen. Your movement speed and attack speed is reduced.

• Freezing Touch Melee 50% Cold/50% Negative Energy Damage, -Speed
  You have been slowed.

• Siphon Life -Speed
  The Spectre taps the powers of the netherworld and its own psychic power to steal life from you and transfer some of it to himself. You have been slowed.

(Note: these came out with City of Villains (I6) and quickly started to appear in Paragon as well. Many consider them overpowered due to their debuffs and siphon life skills. If they turn invisible you lose the target on them too. I´m assuming it´s Invisibility because Tactics seemed to help not to lose them)

--Yakovlev 12:09, 24 Jan 2006 (CST) (added icon to Freezing Touch, added Ice Bolt attack, added icon to Siphon Life, added Fly, added Invisibility and note)

Spectral Daemon

The Circle's sunken city of Oranbega is rumored to be filled with the ancient ghosts of its original inhabitants. Some of these spirits become malevolent Specters, angry and incorporeal beings immune to physical attacks but capable of causing tremendous damage to living beings.

Powers

Fly
All Spectral Daemons have the inherent ability to fly with no endurance cost

Invisibility
All Spectral Daemons have the inherent ability to turn invisible.

• Gloom-Acc
  Gloom reduces your Accuracy.

• Smite -ACC
  You have been hit by Smite! Your accuracy is reduced.

• Siphon Life Psionic/Negative Energy Damage, -Acc
  The Spectre taps the powers of the netherworld and it's own psychic power to steal life from you and transfer some of it to himself. Your Accuracy has been reduced.

(Note: Spectral Daemons gained Gloom recently (around I6 if memory serves me, but I don´t know the exact date, sorry) ...like if they would be easy fights before)

--Yakovlev 12:38, 24 Jan 2006 (CST) (added Fly, Invisibility, Gloom effects and note only)

Spectral Follower

The Circle's sunken city of Oranbega is rumored to be filled with the ancient ghosts of it's original inhabitants. Some of these spirits become malevolent Specters, angry and incorporeal beings immune to physical attacks but capable of causing tremendous damage to living beings.

Powers

Fly
All Spectral Daemons have the inherent ability to fly with no endurance cost

Invisibility
All Spectral Daemons have the inherent ability to turn invisible.

• Siphon Life Psionic/Negative Energy Damage, -Acc
  The Spectre taps the powers of the netherworld and it's own psychic power to steal life from you and transfer some of it to himself. Your Accuracy has been reduced.

• Smite -ACC
  You have been hit by Smite! Your accuracy is reduced.

(Note: most surely they have gained Gloom as well, but I haven´t been able to confirm it)

--Yakovlev 12:38, 24 Jan 2006 (CST) (added attacks, Fly and Invisibility skills and note only)

Spectral Knight

The Circle's sunken city of Oranbega is rumored to be filled with the ancient ghosts of it's original inhabitants. Some of these spirits become malevolent Specters, angry and incorporeal beings immune to physical attacks but capable of causing tremendous damage to living beings.

Powers

Fly
All Spectral Daemons have the inherent ability to fly with no endurance cost

Invisibility
All Spectral Daemons have the inherent ability to turn invisible.

• Gloom Ranged Negative Energy Damage DoT, -Acc
  Gloom reduces your Accuracy.

• Smite Melee 30% Psionic/70% Negative damage, -Acc
  You have been hit by Smite! Your accuracy is reduced.
  

• Siphon Life Psionic/Negative Energy Damage, -Acc
  The Spectre taps the powers of the netherworld and it's own psychic power to steal life from you and transfer some of it to himself. Your Accuracy has been reduced.

--Yakovlev 12:38, 24 Jan 2006 (CST) (added Fly and Invisibility skills, added icon to Gloom only)

Thorn Wielder

The mighty Thorn Wielders are the elite guardians of the Circle of Thorns. They wield the sacred Thorn Blades, enchanted weapons that leave a taint of foul magic on anyone they strike.

Powers

Throwing Dagger Ranged Lethal/Negative, Low Dam
Wavy ritual blade.

Greater Thorn Sword Melee Lethal/Negative, +Slow
The Greater Thorn Sword poisons its victims with negative energy to slow them.

Lieutenants

Energy Mage

Within their fabled lost city, the High Mages of Energy provide light, heat, and energy for their brethren. In battle they unleash their power in blasts of utter destruction, capable of ripping apart flesh, stone, and steel.

Thorn Staff Targeted AoE Energy, -End
The Thorn Staff can hurl an explosive ball of energy.

Brawl Melee Smash
The Circle of Thorns High brawling attacks

Kamikaze Suicide Special
Circle Mages will detonate themselves in a crisis, and attempt to take a few foes with them.

Force Mage

The High Mages of Force deal with the primal forces that move the universe. In their sunken city they are responsible for preventing cave ins by siphoning off the Earth´s seismic energy into useful pursuits. In battle, they can sap the very strength from a foe´s limb and add it to their own.

• Crystal Staff -DAM
  The Crystal Staff has stolen your strength, reducing your damage.

• Brawl Melee Smash
  The Circle of Thorns High brawling attacks

• Kamikaze Suicide Special
  Circle Mages will detonate themselves in a crisis, and attempt to take a few foes with them.

--Yakovlev 13:39, 24 Jan 2006 (CST) (mob entry, bio and powers)

Hordeling Berserker

From the nightmares of Hell´s sinners come these disgusting creatures, nightmares born out of fire, brimstone and hate.

--Yakovlev 13:39, 24 Jan 2006 (CST) (mob entry and bio only)

Hordeling Hurler

From the nightmares of Hell´s sinners come these disgusting creatures, nightmares born out of fire, brimstone and hate.

Powers

• Ice Phlegm -Recharge, -SPD
  You have been frozen by Ice Phlegm. Your movement Speed and Recharge rate are reduced.

• Frost Breath DoT(Cold), -Recharge, -SPD
  You are frozen by the Frost Breath. You are taking damage over time and your attack speed and movement speed are reduced.

• Flailing Claws Melee, Minor DMG (lethal)
  A series of quick Swipes with your claws. Does minor damage, but has a very quick recharge rate. Damage: Minor (DoT), Recharge: Very Fast.

--Yakovlev 13:39, 24 Jan 2006 (CST) (added bio, Flailing Claws and Ice Phlegm only)

Life Mage

Magical mastery over life can be a powerful tool for good, but in the hands of the Life Mages it is a deadly weapon. They can suck the very life force out of their foes, weakening and eventually killing them.

Powers

Poison Staff Ranged Toxic, +Self HP
The Poison Staff can steal life.

Brawl Melee Smash
The Circle of Thorns High brawling attacks

Kamikaze Suicide Special
Circle Mages will detonate themselves in a crisis, and attempt to take a few foes with them.

Nerva Spectral Daemon Lord

Where go the Circle of Thorns go the legions of Hell. These gibbering monstrosities seem to be waiting for... something.

Fly
All Spectral Daemons have the inherent ability to fly with no endurance cost

Invisibility
All Spectral Daemons have the inherent ability to turn invisible.

• Ice Bolt -Recharge, -Speed
  The Ice Bolt attack has left you frozen. Your movement speed and attack speed is reduced.

• Freezing Touch Melee 50% Cold/50% Negative Energy Damage, -Speed
  You have been slowed.

• Siphon Life -Speed
  The Spectre taps the powers of the netherworld and its own psychic power to steal life from you and transfer some of it to himself. You have been slowed.

• Chill of the Night -ACC
  The Chill of the Night surrounds you, reducing your Accuracy, and slowly dealing Negative Damage to you.

• Midnight Grasp Immobilize, DoT(Negative), -ACC
  You are being held motionless by dark tentacles, which are slowly draining your life. Your Accuracy is reduced.

(Note: Notice these mobs use the same model as the Nerva Spectral Daemon (minion), and even the same bio. Check before engaging. Very dangerous mob.)

--Yakovlev 13:39, 24 Jan 2006 (CST) (mob entry, bio, powers and note)

Soul Mage

The High Mages of the Soul delve into the deepest reaches of the human spirit. They are largely responsible for the gathering and training of specters and other spirits. When forced into combat, their petrify their foes in a wave of inescapable self-contemplation that leaves them incapable of any action.

• Darkness Staff Gloom Ranged Negative, DoT, -ACC
  The Darkness Staff can slowly drains a target of life and reduces the his chance to hit.

• Darkness Staff Hold
  You have been petrified by the Darkness Staff.

• Brawl Melee Smash
  The Circle of Thorns High brawling attacks

• Kamikaze Suicide Special
  Circle Mages will detonate themselves in a crisis, and attempt to take a few foes with them.

(Note: Notice the presence of a Hold in this mob´s powerset. Non-protected status AT beware)

--Yakovlev 13:39, 24 Jan 2006 (CST) (mob entry, bio, attacks and note)

Spectral Daemon Lord

The Circle's sunken city is rumored to be filled with the ancient ghosts of its original inhabitants. Some of these spirits become malevolent Specters, angry and incorporeal beings immune to physical attacks but capable of causing tremendous damage to living beings

Powers

Chill of the Night -ACC
The Chill of the Night surrounds you, reducing your Accuracy, and slowly dealing Negative Damage to you.

Smite -ACC
You have been hit by Smite! Your accuracy is reduced.

Midnight Grasp Immobilize, DoT(Negative), -ACC
You are being held motionless by dark tentacles, which are slowly draining your life. Your Accuracy is reduced.

Siphon Life -ACC
The Spectre taps the powers of the netherworld and its own psychic power to steal life from you and transfer some of it to himself. Your Accuracy has been reduced.

Bosses

Agony Mage

There is no greater distraction than pain and suffering. The Masters of Agony often help relieve their friends of such distractions in times of peace. But when it comes to battle, they are adept at harming their foes through powerful and disruptive enchantments.

• Gravity Distortion Hold
  Gravity is Distorted around you and you are Held.

• Crush Immobilize, DoT (smashing), -Fly
  You are being Crushed. You are Immobilized, taking Smashing Damage over Time, and cannot Fly.

• Falchion Melee Lethal/Negative, Low Dam
  This small curved short sword has been enchanted to channel negative energy damage to its victim.

• Kamikaze Suicide Special
  Circle Mages will detonate themselves in a crisis, and attempt to take a few foes with them.

• Siphon Power -DMG
  The Ruin Mage has siphoned your power and reduced your damage potential to strengthen her own.

• Siphon Power +DMG
  Your Damage potential has been increased.

• Absorb Pain Ally +HP, Self -HP
  This power has only a tiny Endurance cost, but dramatically heals an ally´s wound by sacrificing some of your own health.

(Note: Notice the spelling error in Siphon Power)
(Note: Notice that an Agony Mage under the influence of Confuse will use Siphon Power to buff you instead of debuffing, so the effect can be both an attack or a buff)

--Yakovlev 15:09, 24 Jan 2006 (CST) (mob entry, bio, powers and notes)

Death Mage

• Gloom Ranged Negative Energy Damage DoT, -Acc
  Gloom reduces your Accuracy.

• Chill of the Night -ACC
  The Chill of the Night surrounds you, reducing your Accuracy, and slowly dealing Negative Damage to you

• Dark Pit Disorient
  You have been Disoriented within the Dark Pit.

• Tenebrous Tentacles Moderate DMG (Negative/Smash), Immobilize, -ACC
  You have been enveloped in Tenebrous Tentacles. You are Immobilized and have your accuracy reduced as you are being crushed.

• Falchion Melee Lethal/Negative, Low Dam
  This small curved short sword has been enchanted to channel negative energy damage to its victim.

• Kamikaze Suicide Special
  Circle Mages will detonate themselves in a crisis, and attempt to take a few foes with them.

• Twilight Grasp Ranged -Acc, -Dam, Team Heal
  The Death Mage channels negative energy through himself to a targeted foe. Twilight Grasp drains the power from that target and slowly transfers it to yourself and all allies near you. The targeted foe´s accuracy and damage is reduced while you and your nearly allies are healed. Twilight Grasp can only heal you and your allies as long as there is a valid target to steal power from.

--Yakovlev 15:33, 24 Jan 2006 (CST) (mob entry and powers only)

Madness Mage

The Masters of Madness can control every aspect of the psyche. For their friends, they provide a constant aura of mental fortitude that helps them in all endeavors. In battle, their enemies suffer complete mental domination that leaves them incapable of any actions at all.

Powers

• Psychic Scream -Recharge
  Your attack speed has been reduced by the Psychic Scream.

• Mesmerize Ranged Psionic, Sleep
  The psychic energy has rendered you unconscious.

• Dominate Ranged Hold
  Tear at the mind of a single target foe. Dominate renders a victim helpless, lost in his own mind and unable to defend himself.

• Scramble Thoughts Disorient
  Your thoughts are scrambled, and you are Disoriented.

• Falchion Melee Lethal/Negative, Low Dam
  This small curved short sword has been enchanted to channel negative energy damage to its victim.

• Kamikaze Suicide Special
  Circle Mages will detonate themselves in a crisis, and attempt to take a few foes with them.

• Fortitude Ally, +DEF, +DMG,+ACC
  Fortitude immensely enhaces a single targeted ally´s Accuracy, damage potential and defense. The target ally will even take less damage from those few attacks that do hit him. Fortitude even protects the target ally from psionic attacks and damage.

--Yakovlev 14:29, 24 Jan 2006 (CST) (added Falchion and Dominate attacks, added text and stats to Fortitude)

Ruin Mage

In ancient times, the Masters of Ruin could level whole cities with their powerful earthquaque magic. Today these masters of mayhem are still deadly foes, capable of summoning localized tremors that cause great devastation in a short time.

• Earthquake Earthquake
  All foes that pass through this earthquake will be debuffed and may fall down.

• Fossilize Hold, -DEF
  You are fossilized and encasesed in solid stone. You are Held and your Defense is reduced.

• Stone Prison Immobilize, DoT (smashing), -Fly
  You are being crushed in a Stone Prison. You are Immobilized, taking Damage over Time, cannot Fly and your Defense is reduced.

• Tremor AOE Smash, Knockback
  A tremendous attack, Tremor shakes the very Earth itself, damaging and knocking back everything in a nearby area.

• Falchion Melee Lethal/Negative, Low Dam
  This small curved short sword has been enchanted to channel negative energy damage to its victim.

• Kamikaze Suicide Special
  Circle Mages will detonate themselves in a crisis, and attempt to take a few foes with them.

• Dispersion Bubble Team AoE toggle + RES (special)
  Creates a large bubble which protects all allies inside. While active, the Dispersion Bubble gives all allies within increased defense to all attacks except psionic. The Dispersion Bubble also protects allies inside from Immobilization, Disorient and Hold effects.

--Yakovlev 14:29, 24 Jan 2006 (CST) (bio and attacks only)

Archvillains

Baphomet

The Baphomet is the oldest and most feared of the Behemoth Lords. The ground beneath its cloven feet burns with its own infernal fire.

• Fire Blast Ranged Fire, DoT
  Sends a blast of fire at a targeted foe and sets the target on fire for a short period of time. Slower recharge rate than Flares, but more damage.

• Fire Ball Targeted AoE Fire
  A Fireball consumes a targeted foe, and any other enemy in a tight radius. Anyone in that area is burned and damaged over a short period of time.

• Flash Stomp DoT (Fire) DoT
  Baphomet´s Flash Stomp has set you on fire.

• Greater Fire Sword DoT (fire)
  You have caught on fire after being hit by the Greater Fire Sword.

• Healing Flames Heals Self
  

(Note: Apparently he´s just a perfect copy of the Envoy of Shadows, but without the nasty aura)
(Note: I have been unable to confirm if Baphomet uses Fire Breath)

--Yakovlev 16:19, 24 Jan 2006 (CST) (mob entry, bio, attacks and notes)

Envoy of Shadows

Unbound and unnamed, it has crossed the gulf of worlds on a bridge of greed and pain. The Envoy of Shadows is the ambassador of the Prince of Demons, here to offer the Circle of Thorns great power and dark alliances. Its consuming flames and cloak of darkness are manifestations of its endless evil.

• Fire Blast Ranged Fire, DoT
  Sends a blast of fire at a targeted foe and sets the target on fire for a short period of time. Slower recharge rate than Flares, but more damage.

• Fire Ball Targeted AoE Fire
  A Fireball consumes a targeted foe, and any other enemy in a tight radius. Anyone in that area is burned and damaged over a short period of time.

• Fire Breath Cone Fire DoT
  Baphometh breaths forth a cone of fire that burns all foes within it´s narrow cone. Very accurate and very deadly at medium range.

• Flash Stomp AoE Fire Dmg, knockback DoT
  Baphomet can stomp his hoof to blast all those around him in a shockwave of fire, igniting and kocking down nearby targets.

• Greater Fire Sword DoT (fire)
  You have caught on fire after being hit by the Greater Fire Sword.

• Shadow Toggle AoE Negative, -ACC
  The Envoy of Shadows is always surrounded by a chill of negative energy that reduces all nearby foes chance to hit while slowly dealing damage.

• Healing Flames Heals Self
  

(Note: Notice the spelling errors)
(Note: The Envoy will be found three times during his Story Arc. You can avoid him the first one, but you will have to defeat it the next two.)

--Yakovlev 16:06, 24 Jan 2006 (CST) (mob entry, bio, attacks and notes)

Named Bosses

• Clemalion
• Dretch - Mission: Defeat lead mystic, his coven. Save Professor Black and his geology students.