How many heals necessary to kill M and S?

[Egavactip]

So I can't use staves of banishment against Morgoth? Will he drain them and get health back? Is that right? No staves of any kind?

Sure you can. Just don't expect much. I had an extra slot last night, so I took a staff of banishment w/4 charges into the action against Morgoth. Got to use at least 3 of the charges before it was drained.

[Egavactip]

You can still use staves and wands against Sauron and Morgoth, realizing that once they're in melee range they can drain charges and regain health. For example, mage players sometimes use wands of annihilation and drain life against the Big Bosses, phase dooring away or teleporting them away when they get to close.

It seems to me that mana storm would be more efficient for this purpose. I usually just do runes of protection and mana storms.

[Ingwe Ingweron]

It seems to me that mana storm would be more efficient for this purpose. I usually just do runes of protection and mana storms.

It depends. Gnome-mage device skill bonuses make annihilation quite viable.

I've used mana storm exclusively, annihilation and drain life exclusively, OOD exclusively, even fists only once. MattB killed Morgoth using only a regular, store bought shovel. That being said, nowadays mostly I use a combo of missiles and melee to take out the bosses, regardless of the race/class combo.

[Pete Mack]

Kept count in recent fight, as Cl 46 mage (this meant mana storm fail rate was relatively high, so fight was long.)
S:
2 rod activations
3 Heal
M:
9 *Heal - he mana stormed a lot
6 Heal
1 activation

[Mudd]

It depends. Gnome-mage device skill bonuses make annihilation quite viable.

I've used mana storm exclusively, annihilation and drain life exclusively, OOD exclusively, even fists only once. MattB killed Morgoth using only a regular, store bought shovel. That being said, nowadays mostly I use a combo of missiles and melee to take out the bosses, regardless of the race/class combo.

Wait, what?! MattB used a regular store bought shovel to deplete Morgoth of 20000 hp??

I got to know more about this shovel! That battle must have went on forever!

And speaking of forever....how the hell does one pummel Morgoth with fisticuffs and live to tell the tale!?

[Ingwe Ingweron]

And speaking of forever....how the hell does one pummel Morgoth with fisticuffs and live to tell the tale!?

You can read all about it here: http://angband.oook.cz/ladder-show.php?id=17057