HEROIC 4 [The Alchemy of Evil] is SOLOABLE

It's a heroic mission from GSI quest (it's a seeker droid mission), the mission title says HEROIC 4, but I just found out that it's actually soloable with using Operative/Scoundrel classes using TANK as a companion. Well, I've used operative on this one, and I think (in my opinion) it can only be soloed using this class. I will explain why in a sec.

This mission is pretty nice since it will allowed you to dig rare BoL (Bound to Legacy) gears; Dreadseed gears/Starforager gears.

I will highlights few important things to get this done on this heroic. For full guide details you can go check dulfy site; http://dulfy.net/2013/03/26/swtor-ma...issions-guide/

I didn't record my solo gameplay, but some other dude who inspired me did. This is the link to his vid:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiyUxa_ypDU

This heroic has 3 phases.

1. Phase 1: Survive the Onslaught
Operative has a huge advantage over other classes on this one thanks to roll ability that will save a lot of your running time grabbing cells. At the beginning, you need to make turret generator as your first priority before those dread creeps start to hurting shields. If I remember correctly I was able to lighted up the turret generator to 50%-62.5% before the creeps started to turned one of the shield to yellow.

When they finally got one of your shield to yellow, you have to make shield protection to become your first priority. (Don't worry, you will be able to make up for your turret later).

One thing to note for this phase: if you carry a cell and you got attacked or attacking a mob, you will got insta death. And there will be one mob during the phase, make sure to kill it first or if you carrying a cell, command your tank companion to attack it first (to prevent it from attacking you, thus killing u instantly).

Just make sure no dread creeps gets inside by keep protecting your shields, and make up for the turret generator to 100%, and you will be good.

In my case, I didn't make it, and died from powercell blow. BUT I tried to revive on the spot, heals to the full, use stealth, put sleep dart to the creep that stands nearest the generator, and I was able to fill the generator. This is why using operative is really good because you can be sneaky at the quest objective.

2. Phase 2: Corrupted Sithspawn Experiment
On this phase, there are 2 important things you need to watch. First, after you kill all 4 tentacles, you need to stand above the Arcanum Bio-Containment Canister (or stand near it, and make sure your tank following you at that time). If that Caniseter has a Dreadseed Corruption growth on the top of it, you need to click it first to remove it before you can stand on it. This will helps you to stun the boss when it lands on you, and make you able to do him some damage.

The 2nd thing is make sure you ONLY use your Escape ability when the boss start to use its tentacle to heal himself, and interrupt it. This occurs after the stun period (10-12 secs) after it lands on you after you killed 4 creep tentacles.

Make sure your tank keep aggroing the boss, and you heal your tank so both of you can still survive the ordeal. This is one of the reason why only operative/scoundrel is the only one who can solo this heroic. Second reason would be the "Escape Plan" utility that grants 1:30 cooldown on Escape ability, which is really important on this phase to prevent miniboss from heal itself.

Sorcerer might be able to do this since sorc has Force Barrier and Unbreakable Will as break skill mechanics

This is the hardest phase in my opinion

3. Phase 3: Lord Tagriss
Lord Tagriss phase is the easiest. At 75% hp, he will start to broke crystal, and become immune from damage. You need to click on the crystal he broke and you will automatically channel a seeker droid into it. Wait until it finished, and run to the seed of rage on the forging table and click the seed to cancel Lord Tagriss's immunity effect. At this rate, there will be 2 tentacles near the seed of rage table. Make sure your tank kills or distract it, because those tentacles can bash you out from the table and prevents you from planting the crystals.

At around 50% hp, he will do the same thing again, but at this time he will begins to channel some red effects on the water to harm you. I didn't know what kind of harm effects it will do to us, just stay out from water and keep standing on platform when the red effects appears.

It's pretty simple fight, at 25% HP, he will instantly die after a few seconds, and voila! You've done it!

Important notes:
- You always HAVE to heal yourself and your tank companion, it's really imperative to keep both of your health above 50%
- Switching aggro on enemies for your tank companion needs to be done on contingency basis, depends on the situation)
- Make sure you have Resuscitation Probe ability ready, just in case when your companion dies.
- It's a mandatory to take "Escape Plan" heroic utility during phase 2, because you need the 30 seconds lowerance cooldown on your Escape ability for interrupting the miniboss tentacle heals.

Good luck and Good Hunting ;)