Doing dungeons - which one first and how to prepare?

dumimare

dumimare

Academy Page

Join Date: Jul 2008

Bat Country

Heavens Rebels [HR]

D/

I've really gotten back into GW, and I mean really. I'm enjoy the game tremedously and was thinking I would like to do dungeons. Thing is I know very little about them.

My main is a dervish and I have only finished the Nightfall campaign. While I work on completing the others as well I'd like to do some dungeons as a change of pace. Also for the loot.

I would like you to tell me which dungeon I could realistically do first as my dervish isn't really that hardcore. How do I prepare for this? Are there any elite skills I need? (I only have the avatars and Wounding Strike)

Can I solo any dungeons with H/H? If not, how hard is it to find a group that will not label me as noob and tell me to gtfo because I have never done dungeons and/or I don't have the build they expect?

Would it be best I wait before I finish both the Prophecies and Factions campaigns?

Thanks for taking the time to answer any of my questions.

Divine Ashes

Divine Ashes

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Aug 2006

Chicago

LFG

R/

To be honest the only really semi-difficult dungeons on normal mode are Frost Maw's, Catacombs of Kathandrax, Slaver's Exile, and Shards of Orr, so I wouldn't recommend doing those first (although they generally give the best loot). You could hero hench all the rest pretty easily with decent heroes...especially since in normal mode you can keep on trying even after 60DP...and as such whichever build you'd prefer would probably work (I would probably suggest Wounding Strike as elite).

Also, finishing the nightfall campaign would help, since you'd have access to more heroes than just eye of the north would give you alone, but finishing Prophecies and Factions isn't required in the least, nor would it give you any sort of benefit (besides maybe some lore from prophecies).

I believe my first dungeons were Sepulchre of Dragrimmar and Bogroot's, so starting with them would be a good option. Also, you could Cathedral of Flames ran for about 2k, although you would be doing little to no fighting at all, it would give you a general sense as to how dungeons work. You find these runs at Doomlore Shrine in Vanguard area of EotN.

riktw

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jul 2008

netherlands

Mo/E

as long as you dont press the hard mode button you can do all dungeons H/H
avatars work well normally, but use guild wars wiki to get some information about the dungeon you want to do and what skills the mobs use

if you want super easy mode, add a hero with strengh and honor, make sure you do holy damage.
go to catadral of flames.
hit everything for 200 or more each hit as most stuff there takes double holy damage

if you want some help, PM me in game and i can help you if i got some time to kill.
<---- IGN

Gennadios

Gennadios

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jun 2009

N/A

You're asking a very general question and requesting specifics in terms of skills and whatnot.

Every dungeon is different, but the avatars are generally flexible enough for any of them to work provided you put a good build together around them. More importantly, you need to have experience and skill unlocks for heroes of other classes if you hope to H/H it.

Everything is H/Hable in NM, but the catch is that you need to be flexible with your heroes, meaning equip them with decent weaponry and runes/insigs, as well as having decent builds.

As a first run, I'd recommend you get 2 (good) hero monks and a MM, the reason being that good monks can keep a party of crappy damage dealers long enough to kill things, and henchies and minions will serve as the pretty crappy damage dealers.

As far as dungeons go, doing either Cathedral of Flames, or Frostmaw's first would be best. Plenty of corpses to exploit in the two of those.

If H/Hing isn't an option, I don't see very many people doing dungeons outside of runs/guilds, but you may luck out with a party. You should probably try your alliance/guild if you have one first though.

Marty Silverblade

Marty Silverblade

Administrator

Join Date: Jun 2006

I'm voting for Bloodstone Caves for the easiest dungeon category. I finished it in 30 mins in HM with H/H and no consumables. It's short, fairly easy, doesn't require much (if any) prep/specific builds, isn't hard to get to, etc. My first dungeon was Sepulchre of Dragimmar, and my only issue was not having a reliable interrupt.

Kook~NBK~

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Mar 2005

A little chalet outside Drok's

Natural Born Killaz

Fronis Irontoe's lair is by far the easiest, but it's a solo dungeon (just you and a crazy dwarf for an ally!). Another pretty easy one is the Secret Lair of the Snowmen.

Attius

Attius

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Aug 2009

Hungary

Knights Illuminati Secret Sect [KISS]

R/

Fronis was my 1st dungeon. It is so funny, I often do it with my warrior when I feel bored.
I am voting for Bloodstone Caves too. It is a good dungeon to begin your master dungeon guide tour.
And bring Light of Deldrimor with you if you can. Good luck, and have fun.

kupp

kupp

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Feb 2008

The Shiverpeaks

[KISS]

W/

Every dungeon is H/H'able in NM even Slaver's Exile. Just focus on getting your heroes and yourself properly equiped, you can do that while doing the other campaigns. If you're all decently equiped no particular dungeon aside Slaver's will be much of a challenge.

MY question reguarding this: what about dungeons in HM? I was thinking of doing those for the books instead of the storyline. Aside from Slaver's and Vloxen wich I already failed miserably, is it possible to to dungeons in HM with H/H, and if so, wich ones?

subarucar

subarucar

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jul 2006

New Zealand

None

My first proper dungeon (Not Fronis/Mission dungeon/Snowman) was Ooze Pit, and that was relatively easy. The ones that are used in missions are also good in their non-mission modes, the only ones I remember are Bloodstone Caves and Heart Of The Shiverpeaks.

Xenomortis

Xenomortis

Tea Powered

Join Date: May 2008

UK

N/

Bloodstone Caves is fairly straightforward and you can easily learn how dungeons work there.
Cathedral of Flames is very easy to get to (the entrance is at an outpost), it's a decent size and the mobs aren't too difficult. The boss fight at the end is one of the more interesting bosses too, but shouldn't be too bad in NM.
Vloxen Excavations is another easy access one and isn't too challenging in NM. The Stone Summit mobs aren't too threatening and the undead later on are simple. The end boss is another unique enemy and is easy to wear down, even if you wipe repeatedly. Vloxen is much harder in HM though, as you're faced with Summit mobs akin to those in Slaver's Exile.

Every dungeon can be H/Hed in both Normal and Hard Mode, but doing the latter would require a very good setup and in some dungeons, a high level of knowledge of the dungeon and mobs.
It's generally accepted that the harder dungeons are Shards of Orr, Slaver's Exile and Frostmaw Burrows. In HM, that can also include Vloxen Excavations.

dumimare

dumimare

Academy Page

Join Date: Jul 2008

Bat Country

Heavens Rebels [HR]

D/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kook~NBK~ View Post
Fronis Irontoe's lair is by far the easiest, but it's a solo dungeon (just you and a crazy dwarf for an ally!). Another pretty easy one is the Secret Lair of the Snowmen.
I like this concept a lot - sometimes the henchies and heroes get on my nerves.

Thank you all for you input, it will serve me well.

riktw

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jul 2008

netherlands

Mo/E

but for shards of orr, holy damage helps a lot.

HawkofStorms

HawkofStorms

Hall Hero

Join Date: Aug 2005

E/

Vloxen? That one is far from easy.

Definitely go with either Bloodstone Caves (blind helps) or Raven's Point for an easy dungeon.

Atro

Atro

Miss the good ol' days

Join Date: Sep 2009

Where don't I live?

A/

I'd say do the Secret Lair of the Snowmen to get into the groove of doing dungeons, its the easiest IMO to do besides Irontoe's Lair which is a solo dungeon. Just role some Fire Ele Heroes and the Fire Ele henchmen, the Earth Henchmen, and the two monks. I do this on my Warrior, Ranger, and Assassin occasionally for Dwarven points and it always works for me. Oh and if you can run either Searing Flames or Savannah Heat on your hero bars, and if its too difficult to start off like that drop one Nuker for a monk.

~EleShad~

Xenomortis

Xenomortis

Tea Powered

Join Date: May 2008

UK

N/

Quote:
Originally Posted by HawkofStorms View Post
Vloxen? That one is far from easy.
In NM? The Stone Summit mobs aren't any harder than the ones you meet in various EotN quests. You could say they're easier, they don't have any beasts that cause and are immune to knockdowns.
Obviously it's harder than Bloodstone, but Bloodstone is probably the easiest dungeon.

Oola's Lab in NM is fairly easy too, the enemy golems are what you fight in The Elusive Golemancer and with the exception of annoying traps and bosses, is very straight forward.

Iuris

Iuris

Forge Runner

Join Date: Nov 2006

Crazy ducks from the Forest

W/

One preparation for doing any dungeon:

START WITH AN EMPTY INVENTORY!

Dungeons are LONG, the equivalent of traveling two or three maps, and you'll get lots of loot. So, start up with as much space in your inventory.

Also, a powerstone of courage as backup is great in case DP starts to get high. And don't forget to take the bounty that the dwarven beacons offer - the morale boost every few enemies killed is what keeps DP from accumulating.

payne

payne

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Apr 2007

england (currently located on the south coast)

R/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Xenomortis View Post
Bloodstone Caves is fairly straightforward and you can easily learn how dungeons work there.
Cathedral of Flames is very easy to get to (the entrance is at an outpost), it's a decent size and the mobs aren't too difficult. The boss fight at the end is one of the more interesting bosses too, but shouldn't be too bad in NM.
Vloxen Excavations is another easy access one and isn't too challenging in NM. The Stone Summit mobs aren't too threatening and the undead later on are simple. The end boss is another unique enemy and is easy to wear down, even if you wipe repeatedly. Vloxen is much harder in HM though, as you're faced with Summit mobs akin to those in Slaver's Exile.

Every dungeon can be H/Hed in both Normal and Hard Mode, but doing the latter would require a very good setup and in some dungeons, a high level of knowledge of the dungeon and mobs.
It's generally accepted that the harder dungeons are Shards of Orr, Slaver's Exile and Frostmaw Burrows. In HM, that can also include Vloxen Excavations.
agree with all of this EXCEPT frostmaws dungeon NM or HM....I don't personally understand the difficulty with it, PI and HeV blow apart the wurms, although the nerf to VoR might hurt my h/h
for frostmaw - if you can tank effectively, by which I mean stand away from your h/h setup with PS and SB on you....easy peasy me matey! :P

if you do ever want to get into frostmaws then you can feel free to PM me in-game and i'll be happy to provide you with helpful information on a team setup, actually scratch that....if you like help with any h/h setup for any dungeon (possibly not duncan HM - haven't made it 100% proof yet) then go ahead and PM me either through here or in-game, my IGN is: sal lycros

subarucar

subarucar

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jul 2006

New Zealand

None

Agree with Iuris, I have started many SC's, Dungeons etc without enough inventory room. After getting annoyed at missed drops I now clear at least 15 spaces in my inventory. It all depends on what you want to pick up. I take all Greens/Golds/Purples and nice skinned Blue weapons (even non-max) if they are insc for defensive caster sets.

It's also handy to take an ID kit with you, you can identify stuff so you can drop it if it's useless to you. Salvage kits are handy if you salvage for mats, this way you can fill stacks of a couple of mats rather than hauling 10 items around.

cosyfiep

cosyfiep

are we there yet?

Join Date: Dec 2005

in a land far far away

guild? I am supposed to have a guild?

Rt/

bloodstone is easy, bogroot is pretty easy too, ooze is only one level so its pretty fast, dark time delves takes a bit of time, but is also pretty easy. Oola --once you know it, is easy.

merchantile summoning stones ftw

dumimare

dumimare

Academy Page

Join Date: Jul 2008

Bat Country

Heavens Rebels [HR]

D/

Thanks all. You're alright.

Xenomortis

Xenomortis

Tea Powered

Join Date: May 2008

UK

N/

Quote:
Originally Posted by payne View Post
agree with all of this EXCEPT frostmaws dungeon NM or HM....I don't personally understand the difficulty with it, PI and HeV blow apart the wurms, although the nerf to VoR might hurt my h/h
for frostmaw - if you can tank effectively, by which I mean stand away from your h/h setup with PS and SB on you....easy peasy me matey! :P
I might reasses the difficulty on Frostmaw's HM, given I've just successfully H/Hed it myself without PI (used Divert Hexes over Hex Eater Vortex).
Didn't tank with Prot Spirit or Spirit Bond either.

I would say Frostmaw is much more scary than it is difficult, until you know where all the popups are and how to deal with them.

Catchphrase

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Apr 2009

I have no trouble doing the dungeons (except SOO, rragar's and slaver's) in HM with heroes and hench so far. Most dungeons are designed to either have mobs with spikey AOE damage with little corpses or generic 'balanced' mobs with plenty corpses. There are few exceptions which may require you to tank and spank to complete like the aforementioned three dungeons.

Verene

Verene

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Jan 2009

[SOTA]

D/

I found Arachni's Haunt (in NM, of course), to be rather easy, as well. I'm surprised no one mentioned that one.

ogre_jd

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Feb 2008

Canadia

W/

Arachni's is easy? What's the key? The spiders refuse to be pulled and the oozes swarm the instant one notices you. [spent an hour or so trying yesterday for the first time; never got past the (first?) collector on level 1's room. :/]

Verene

Verene

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Jan 2009

[SOTA]

D/

Maybe I just got lucky spawns? But I had no problems with it, beyond Arachni not wanting to spawn at the end.

(and the fact that I only got a diamond from the end chest, grrr)

Dzjudz

Dzjudz

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Jun 2005

gwpvx.com/user:dzjudz

Oola is easy as well.

payne

payne

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Apr 2007

england (currently located on the south coast)

R/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Xenomortis View Post
I might reasses the difficulty on Frostmaw's HM, given I've just successfully H/Hed it myself without PI (used Divert Hexes over Hex Eater Vortex).
Didn't tank with Prot Spirit or Spirit Bond either.

I would say Frostmaw is much more scary than it is difficult, until you know where all the popups are and how to deal with them.
I'll admit I'm not the best micromanager of heroes...so I generally tank wurms spawns and frostmaw at the end with PS and SB - first time round I forgot PI (HM) and still did it under 1:30 with balanced h/h setup so...not to bad

will have to try DH > HeV - might give my build more versatility by using amonk over my second mes hero

thanks for that tip