Death and Taxes

This page is about the current map version. For other uses, see Death and Taxes (disambiguation).

Death and Taxes is a unique . The map may have variable tier if the base map has more than one variants from the effect of socketed watchstone.

Layout

Map type: Indoor

Encounters

Boss

• Avatar of Ash
• Avatar of Winter
• Avatar of Silence
• Avatar of Apocalypse

Mechanics

Death and Taxes is reminiscent of a raid boss in classic MMORPGs. The map is initially empty. Players must run past three orange portals, which are surrounded by elemental effects similar to those of certain Shrines, to the end of the map where a final fourth orange portal can be found. Upon reaching the end, the boss is activated and blue portals throughout the map will spawn hostile animated weapons.

The map has no native monsters other than the boss, which has 4 forms, though portals will spawn animated weapons after the boss has been engaged. Once each form is killed, the boss will enter an "in-between stage", becoming immune to damage until it is lured to the next orange portal. Players need to kill every form to complete the map. Each form will drop loot.

Animated weapons

Once the first portal is activated, these are spawned continuously until the last boss's form is dead. Caveat: animated weapons can't be hit with SparkSparkSpell, Projectile, Duration, Lightning
Level: (1-20)
Cost: (5-21) Mana
Cast Time: 0.65 sec
Critical Strike Chance: 6.00%
Effectiveness of Added Damage: 125%
Projectile Speed: 560Launches unpredictable sparks that move randomly until they hit an enemy or expire.Per 1% Quality:1Superior2Anomalous3Divergent4Phantasmal1% increased Projectile SpeedProjectiles Pierce 0.1 additional TargetsFires 0.1 additional Projectiles2% of Lightning Damage Converted to Chaos DamageDeals (2-29) to (70-1326) Lightning Damage
Base duration is 2 seconds
Fires (4-6) additional Projectiles
(0-19)% increased Projectile SpeedPlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket.. Spark is ground projectile, and animated weapons are flying.

Avatar of Ash

Once the first portal is activated, Avatar of Ash will spawn, which uses FlameblastFlameblastSpell, AoE, Fire, Channelling
Level: (1-20)
Cost: (4-7) Mana
Cast Time: 0.20 sec
Critical Strike Chance: 5.00%
Effectiveness of Added Damage: 60%Requires Level 28Channels to build up a large explosion, which is released when you stop using the skill. The longer you channel, the larger the area of effect and damage of the explosion, up to 10 stages.Per 1% Quality:1Superior2Anomalous3Divergent4Phantasmal1% increased Damage1% chance to Poison on Hit0.1 maximum Stages
1% less Cast Speed+0.5 to radius
0.5% less Area of Effect per StageDeals (31-280) to (46-419) Fire Damage
110% more Spell Damage for each stage
90% more Damage with Ailments for each stage
50% chance to Ignite enemies
+3 to Radius for each Stage
10 maximum StagesPlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket., Summon Raging SpiritSummon Raging SpiritSpell, Minion, Duration, Fire
Level: (1-20)
Cost: (4-12) Mana
Cast Time: 0.50 secSummons a short-lived flaming skull that rushes at nearby enemies and attacks them rapidly. Enemies will not directly engage these spirits, and can pass through them.Per 1% Quality:1Superior2Anomalous3Divergent4Phantasmal1% increased Minion Movement SpeedMinions have 1% increased DurationMaximum 0.1 Summoned Raging SpiritsMinions can't be Damaged for 0.1 seconds after being SummonedBase duration is 5 seconds
Maximum 20 Summoned Raging Spirits
Minions gain 15% less Added Damage
Minions cannot Taunt EnemiesPlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket. and FireballFireballProjectile, Spell, AoE, Fire
Level: (1-20)
Cost: (6-25) Mana
Cast Time: 0.75 sec
Critical Strike Chance: 6.00%
Effectiveness of Added Damage: 240%
Projectile Speed: 1040
Radius: 9Unleashes a ball of fire towards a target which explodes, damaging nearby foes.Per 1% Quality:1Superior2Anomalous3Divergent4Phantasmal1% increased Projectile Speed2% reduced Projectile Speed
3% increased Area of Effect3% increased Effect of non-Damaging Ailments on Enemies
-2% more Damage with Ignite0.25% chance to Debilitate Enemies for 1 second on HitDeals (9-1095) to (14-1643) Fire Damage
(20-39)% chance to Ignite enemies
(50-88)% more Damage with Ignite
Projectiles gain Radius as they travel farther, up to +(0-9) RadiusPlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket. supported by Lesser Multiple Projectiles. Flameblast is by far the most dangerous of these, especially since all of the action tends to make the expanding circle difficult to see until it is too late, especially in the presence of stun and desync. You need to pre-emptively move every few seconds in order not to get hit.

Avatar of Winter

Upon reaching the next portal, the boss will take form of Avatar of Winter, which uses a huge AoE Ice NovaIce NovaSpell, AoE, Cold, Nova
Level: (1-20)
Cost: (8-23) Mana
Soul Gain Prevention: 0 sec
Cast Time: 0.70 sec
Critical Strike Chance: 6.00%
Effectiveness of Added Damage: 120%
Radius: 30Requires Level 12A chilling circle of ice expands from the caster. If the caster targets near their Frostbolt projectiles, it will expand from a number of those projectiles instead. If this skill would repeat when cast this way, it will instead expand again from the same projectiles after a short delay.Per 1% Quality:1Superior2Anomalous3Divergent4Phantasmal0.5% increased Area of Effect1.5% increased Damage with Hits against Chilled Enemies0.5% increased Cast Speed0.5% increased Effect of ChillDeals (18-518) to (26-762) Cold Damage
Can expand from up to 2 Frostbolt Projectiles
Adds (3-79) to (4-116) Cold Damage against Chilled Enemies
20% less Area of Effect when Cast on Frostbolt
+(0-4) to radiusPlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket., long range Glacial CascadeGlacial CascadeSpell, AoE, Cold, Physical
Level: (1-20)
Cost: (10-20) Mana
Cast Time: 0.60 sec
Critical Strike Chance: 5.00%
Effectiveness of Added Damage: 45%
Radius: 12Requires Level 28Icicles emerge from the ground in a series of small bursts, each damaging enemies caught in the area and knocking them back in the direction of the next burst.Per 1% Quality:1Superior2Anomalous3Divergent1% increased Damage0.5% increased Area of Effect1% reduced Area of Effect
Final Burst Deals 2% more DamageDeals (21-207) to (32-311) Physical Damage
Causes 4 Bursts
100% of Physical Damage Converted to Cold Damage
Cannot Knockback Unique Enemies more than once per second
Final Burst Deals 200% more Damage
Final Burst has 100% more Area of Effect
Final Burst cannot Knockback
Knocks Enemies Back on HitPlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket. and spawns ice versions of FirestormFirestormSpell, AoE, Duration, Fire
Level: (1-20)
Cost: (13-25) Mana
Soul Gain Prevention: 0 sec
Cast Time: 0.75 sec
Critical Strike Chance: 6.00%
Effectiveness of Added Damage: 55%Requires Level 28Flaming bolts rain down over the targeted area. They explode when landing, dealing damage to nearby enemies.Per 1% Quality:1Superior2Anomalous3Divergent1% increased DamageFirst Impact deals 3% more Damage with Hits and Ailments
Base duration is 0.003 seconds1% reduced Enemy Stun ThresholdBase duration is 1.4 seconds
Deals (22-207) to (33-311) Fire Damage
One impact every 0.2 seconds
First Impact deals 325% more Damage with Hits and Ailments
First Impact has 100% more Area of Effect
Maximum 3 Firestorms at a timePlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket..

Avatar of Silence

Upon reaching the next portal, the boss takes form of Avatar of Silence, which casts Shock NovaShock NovaSpell, AoE, Lightning, Nova
Level: (1-20)
Cost: (12-23) Mana
Cast Time: 0.70 sec
Critical Strike Chance: 6.00%
Effectiveness of Added Damage: 120%
Radius: 26 / 14Requires Level 28Casts a ring of Lightning around you, followed by a larger Lightning nova. Each effect hits enemies caught in their area with Lightning Damage.Per 1% Quality:1Superior2Anomalous3Divergent2% increased Shock Duration on enemiesRing has 2% chance to Shock
Ring Shocks as if dealing 5% more Damage1% increased Lightning DamageDeals (34-371) to (102-1114) Lightning Damage
20% chance to Shock enemies
(20-39)% increased Effect of ShockPlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket., Ball LightningBall LightningSpell, Projectile, AoE, Lightning
Level: (1-20)
Cost: (12-23) Mana
Cast Time: 0.70 sec
Critical Strike Chance: 5.00%
Effectiveness of Added Damage: 50%
Projectile Speed: 400
Radius: 22Requires Level 28Fires a slow-moving projectile that periodically damages enemies in an area around it with bolts of lightning.Per 1% Quality:1Superior2Anomalous3Divergent1% increased Lightning Damage0.5% increased Cast SpeedProjectiles have 0.5% chance to be SuperchargedDeals (3-22) to (48-426) Lightning DamagePlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket., and Storm CallStorm CallSpell, AoE, Duration, Lightning
Level: (1-20)
Cost: (6-16) Mana
Cast Time: 0.50 sec
Critical Strike Chance: 6.00%
Effectiveness of Added Damage: 130%Requires Level 12Sets a marker at a location. After a short duration, lightning strikes the marker, dealing damage around it. When this happens, it will also set off the lightning at any other markers you've cast.Per 1% Quality:1Superior2Anomalous3Divergent4Phantasmal0.5% increased Area of Effect2% increased Area of Effect
2% reduced Cast Speed0.5% reduced Skill Effect Duration0.25% chance for Lightning to Strike the Marker when CastDeals (21-510) to (38-947) Lightning Damage
Base duration is 1.5 seconds
(10-29)% increased Effect of Lightning Ailments
+(0-6) to radiusPlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket.. As with Avatar of Ash's Flameblasts, it is unwise to stand still; while one Storm Call hit probably won't kill you, an entire salvo may do so.

Avatar of Apocalypse

Upon entering the final portal, Avatar of Apocalypse spawns, which uses all previous spells combined. This is the boss' final form; Avatar of Apocalypse will not respawn once killed.

Legacy variants

Death and Taxes has legacy variants.

Version Discontinued	Base Item	Modifiers
3.13.0	Map Level: 83	Unique Boss deals (30-35)% increased Damage Unique Boss has (25-30)% increased Attack and Cast Speed Unique Boss gives 20000% increased Experience Unique Boss drops (12-20) additional Currency Items
3.12.0	Map Level: 82	Unique Boss deals (30-35)% increased Damage Unique Boss has (25-30)% increased Attack and Cast Speed Unique Boss gives 20000% increased Experience Unique Boss drops (12-20) additional Currency Items
3.11.0	Map Level: 82	Unique Boss deals (30-35)% increased Damage Unique Boss has (25-30)% increased Attack and Cast Speed Unique Boss gives 20000% increased Experience Unique Boss drops (12-20) additional Currency Items
3.10.0	Map Level: 82	Unique Boss deals (30-35)% increased Damage Unique Boss has (25-30)% increased Attack and Cast Speed Unique Boss gives 10000% increased Experience Unique Boss drops (12-20) additional Currency Items
3.9.0	Map Level: 74	Unique Boss deals (30-35)% increased Damage Unique Boss has (25-30)% increased Attack and Cast Speed Unique Boss gives 10000% increased Experience Unique Boss drops (12-20) additional Currency Items
3.8.0	Map Level: 75	Unique Boss deals (30-35)% increased Damage Unique Boss has (25-30)% increased Attack and Cast Speed Unique Boss gives 10000% increased Experience Unique Boss drops (12-20) additional Currency Items
3.7.0	Map Level: 73	Unique Boss deals (30-35)% increased Damage Unique Boss has (25-30)% increased Attack and Cast Speed Unique Boss gives 10000% increased Experience Unique Boss drops (12-20) additional Currency Items
3.6.0	Map Level: 79	Unique Boss deals (30-35)% increased Damage Unique Boss has (25-30)% increased Attack and Cast Speed Unique Boss gives 10000% increased Experience Unique Boss drops (12-20) additional Currency Items
3.5.0	Map Level: 79	Unique Boss deals (30-35)% increased Damage Unique Boss has (25-30)% increased Attack and Cast Speed Unique Boss gives 10000% increased Experience Unique Boss drops (12-20) additional Currency Items
3.2.0	Map Level: 79	Unique Boss deals (50-60)% increased Damage Unique Boss has (25-30)% increased Attack and Cast Speed Unique Boss gives 10000% increased Experience Unique Boss drops (12-20) additional Currency Items
3.1.0	Map Level: 79	Unique Boss deals (50-60)% increased Damage Unique Boss has (25-30)% increased Attack and Cast Speed Unique Boss gives 10000% increased Experience Unique Boss drops (12-20) additional Currency Items
2.4.0	Map Level: 77	Unique Boss deals (50-60)% increased Damage Unique Boss has (25-30)% increased Attack and Cast Speed Unique Boss gives 10000% increased Experience Unique Boss drops (12-20) additional Currency Items
2.0.0	Map Level: 78	Unique Boss deals (50-60)% increased Damage Unique Boss has (25-30)% increased Attack and Cast Speed Unique Boss gives 10000% increased Experience Unique Boss drops (12-20) additional Currency Items

Supporter attribution

Death and Taxes was created by an anonymous supporter.

Version history

Version	Changes
3.14.0	There has not been a shuffle of the Atlas for Ultimatum. Map tiers are unchanged from Ritual.
3.13.0	Map tiers and locations have been shuffled (though the 'pin' locations for maps has not changed). Most maps are now initially found at a different tier.
3.12.0	Map tiers and locations have been shuffled (though the 'pin' locations for maps has not changed). Most maps are now initially found at a different tier.
3.11.0	Map tiers and locations have been shuffled (though the 'pin' locations for maps has not changed). Most maps are now initially found at a different tier.
3.10.0	The Death and Taxes boss visuals have been improved, and it now has more life, uses new skills, moves more quickly and will transition phases more rapidly. It will no longer target non-player characters (such as minions) during phase transitions. Fewer extra monsters spawn during the fight. The boss now always drops map-related currency on death. We have more extensive changes planned for this map.
3.9.0	The Atlas of Worlds has been reworked. You now start at the centre and will work your way outwards as you explore a new storyline. Added a new mechanic - Watchstones: These can only be obtained by defeating one of the new Atlas bosses. They can be used to raise the tier of all maps in a particular region of the Atlas, causing all maps of those base types to drop at the new higher tier. Unique maps can now drop with varied tiers based on the state of your Atlas. Maps that previously had monster level overrides (such as ) now instead rely on the variable tier.
3.5.0	(not in patch note) Starting from this patch, almost every leagues have new series of maps, which shuffle the tier and location.
3.2.0	The change in how monster rarity affects damage increases (see above) has resulted in changes to the Savage and Overlord's map prefixes, as well as the Death and Taxes map mods. These changes can be obtained on existing items by using a . The boss in the Death and Taxes unique map deals less damage with its melee attack, and should be significantly less likely to one-shot you after transforming.
3.1.0	The entire Atlas has been reworked. Many map names have changed, as have their balance, tier and position on the Atlas. Many maps have also had their boss fights swapped or completely reworked. The rules used to generate monsters in endgame maps have been significantly reworked and rebalanced around the rate at which we expect players to reliably clear out the map. In general, narrow, linear maps will contain fewer total monsters than maps with complex layouts. We will be closely monitoring and adjusting the balance of this change and expect to make further changes and improvements over time.
3.0.1b	Reduced the damage of the boss of the Death and Taxes unique map.
2.2.2	The Death and Taxes unique map can no longer spawn Perandus Chests or Cadiro, as they were capable of spawning on areas the boss needed to go to in order for the map to be completed.
2.0.0	The Awakening series of maps were introduced
1.1.4	Introduced to the game.