I've tried multiple days now to get the City of the Dead mechanic to work.

I'm of the opinion now that it s bugged.

The reason I believe this the following results:

1. I approach the pack of creatures

2. the staff creature teleports away

3. the staff creature displays a gold shield around itself

4. I CC the staff creature

5. the staff creature falls down along with the other creatures

6. i apply damage

7. the damage applied remains linear. unchained from prior to knockdown.

8. at half health the creatures do not explode, but stand up on continue to fight. 

9. a long fight while dodging aoes ensues

At no time does the mechanic actually work past the initial knockdown. 

Knockdown damage does not appear to be applying or is very slow.

No "miss" are being displayed at all if that is the issue. Accuracy is 924. 

Basically, it appears to be bugged or my class (Tamer) is not being provided the same benefits as other classes when fighting this. That wouldn't be terribly surprising either and I actually do wonder if there isn't something to that (not deliberately done, but as though something of one of our effects is interrupting the other?) Like the spells are on the same channel or something in the scripts. Not sure. 

Please look into this. Thanks. 

Hi there, may I ask what your total AP (Ap + Monster AP) is? The mechanic only works if you manage to bring the mobs below 50% while they are still CCed. Also make sure you see  the buff from the mechanic on your buff bar. It should be a green-ish icon looking like a helmet with horns and arrows pointing upwards.

If you dont get above the first AP threshhold for the spot even with the extra buff from the mechanic, you still wont have good damage, because you will only do 5% of your actual AP in terms of damage. So you need to make sure youre above the AP threshold (901 total AP for City of the dead)

Have this happen to me as well. Figured out that the wizard that explodes in the beginning you have to pick up the item that he drops which applies the debuff.

So you need to have your pets out.