I run five boxes as adding the sixth pushes me over some invisible ram barrier and causes a world of pain...  3.25g ram - - don't ask.

Poison and Disease aren't a big deal once you have Legend of Shylo Renewal - it cures the dragon poison.

2.0 on the 4.0 pet - add burning-whatever-its-called-pet-buff and you're set.  Can take on any avatar (dispel pull Hell).  Haven't tried shadow - I imagine solo the mage would die without the ability to self heal.  I would try this but I would rather spare the our of mircomanaging to do pretty much anything else  .

Soloing on my 4.0 mage with oracle 11 and damage range wand I can take out HoH avatars and two minor adds without an issue.  Just keep up the shylo renewal.   Without smaller add ons and adding my own nukes I can take on two avatars though I have to pay attention.

Excellent, this clears it up for me.  Thank you both!

Greatly enjoying the new spells btw.

I'm having difficulty getting the enchanting defender spells to work.  I've tried casting on one of my summons, the caster guild pet, and having no pet and casting on self and nothing seems to happen.  Any advice?

Also also - suggestions on spells that are helpful buffs now that the new spell changes have been implemented?