Guide to Pale Masters: Avoiding Light damage

Guide to Pale Masters: Avoiding Light damage
Pale Master is such a nice PrE for non-WF Wizards who lack quick self healing ability. However, while leveling, you encounter mobs that deal huge light damage on you and possibly one-shot you while you are in undead forms. Thus you cannot rely on these forms all the time and should know when to turn them off or refrain from using them in the quest.

Light Resistance items
Items with Light Resistance are far rarer than other energy resistance items, as it is only available on a very small list of named items. The only one that can be used before level cap is raid loot, which is unlikely to be available for 1st life wizards.
 * Shroud of the Abbot (Improved, and Greater when upgraded, minimum level 14)
 * Raid loot from Ascension Chamber. Old versions (gotten prior to U12) don't have Light Resistance, though can be upgraded to U12 version at the Fountain of Necrotic Might.
 * Epic Phiarlan Mirror Cloak (Greater, minimum level 20)
 * Spell Absorption charges on this item don't work well with Pale Masters. Charges must deplete before you can heal from your Death Aura or Negative Energy Burst.
 * Pale Rod (Greater, minimum level 20)
 * This is a useful item if you don't want to bother getting the Shroud of the Abbot or Epic Mirror cloak, but if you're looking for a pre-20 item, look further.

Quest list and enemy sources of Light damage

 * see also Quests by level

Level 11 quests

 * Made to Order - Dwarven acolytes. Zerging paths and grouping mobs up is okay, but make sure acolytes are not included in the pile of mobs.

Level 12 quests

 * A Relic of a Sovereign Past - Dwarven acolytes. Avoid them like a plague. "Caster tunnel" especially can really be dangerous for Pale Masters.

Level 13 quests

 * Undermine - Droaam Combat Engineers (Kobold) cast Searing Light, also Sunburst on harder difficulties.

Level 16 quests

 * The Lords of Dust - Gnomon often casts Divine Punishment on you.
 * Running with the Devils - The Ghaele Eladrin will favor light-based spells, and constantly cast Searing Light at you. They also have many resistances and immunities, limiting your spell selection. The end fight with Tolarn Rhawn and his lackeys should not be a problem using your form.
 * Ritual Sacrifice - Gnoll conjurers. Troglodyte casters at the summoning portals.
 * Servants of the Overlord - Drow Priestesses and the final boss, Sabriz Rinzyn Kho, are divine-casters. Being Drow, they have a high amount of racial Spell Resistance (CR + 10).

Challenges

 * Dr. Rushmore's Mansion - Divine Punishment from named succubus Mistress Temptia.