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Dungeon Basics

Dungeon Basics

At a glance

Dungeons are five-player instances you can try while leveling. Begin with story mode, and create an LFG listing if you cannot find a group.

What is a dungeon?

Dungeons are designed for parties of five. AC story, the first dungeon, starts at level 30 and introduces group play while you level.

All eight dungeons are included in the core game. Most have story mode and explorable mode. To open an explorable instance yourself, that character generally needs to complete its story mode first. See the table for exceptions such as Arah.

How active are dungeons today?

Dungeons predate fractals and now sit outside the main endgame routine, with a quieter LFG scene. Finding a party can take time, especially for less popular paths or outside peak hours.

Players still run them for unique skins, achievements, and gold. If you want to try one, post your own LFG listing or arrange a run with guildmates. Dungeon Rush events are also a good opportunity to find a group.

Story or explorable mode?

Story mode Explorable mode
Unlock requirement Reach the dungeon's level To open it yourself, complete story on that character
Difficulty Easier Moderate to challenging
Paths 1 3–4
Tales of Dungeon Delving None Yes: 20 base + 80 daily bonus
Distinct rewards Rare headpiece on first completion Exchange currency for dungeon weapon and armor skins

Story mode

Follow the story of Destiny's Edge. For your first run, bring level-appropriate gear and a party. Story mode gives no Tales of Dungeon Delving; each character receives a rare headpiece by mail on their first completion.

Explorable mode

Explore the aftermath of story mode through several paths with different bosses and mechanics. The party votes on a path. You earn dungeon currency and gold, with more coordination needed than in story mode.

Explorable unlocks are per character. Only the player opening the instance needs to meet its level and story requirements; others can join them. A normal party has no separate leader role like a commanded squad.

Joining below the dungeon's level
A lower-level character can join if the opener meets the requirements. Dungeons do not scale low-level characters up, so reach at least the listed dungeon level and prepare suitable gear.
Start with story mode
If you want to watch the story and cutscenes, include "story / watching cutscenes" in your listing. Grouping with players who want the same lets you take your time.

Which dungeon should I do first?

Dungeon Abbreviation Story level Explorable level Explorable paths Notes
Ascalonian Catacombs AC 30 35 3 First dungeon; a good starting point
Caudecus's Manor CM 40 45 3
Twilight Arbor TA 50 55~80 3 Two level-55 paths plus the level-80 Aetherpath
Sorrow's Embrace SE 60 65 3
Citadel of Flame CoF 70 75 3
Honor of the Waves HotW 76 80 3
Crucible of Eternity CoE 78 80 3
The Ruined City of Arah Arah - 80 4 Most challenging; no separate story mode*

*Arah has no separate story mode. The final personal story mission, "Victory or Death," replaces it. Explorable Arah can be opened at level 80 and is the most challenging of the eight dungeons.

Start with Ascalonian Catacombs (AC) story. It is the first dungeon, opening at level 30. Explorable mode starts at level 35.

A level-80 character scales down in lower-level dungeons, but keeps their skills and traits. Returning to AC at level 80 therefore tends to feel much easier.

I cannot find a party

If there is no listing, create your own in LFG. Recruitment time depends on the path and time of day. Dungeons have entrances in their zones; the Dungeon Transportation NPC in Fort Marriner, Lion's Arch, also provides access.

Create a listing instead of only waiting

Press Y, open the relevant Dungeons category, and write a short listing such as "AC story all welcome" or "AC P1 all welcome."

You can also ask guildmates to come along.

Dungeons are still available
Development moved on to other content, but dungeons remain playable. Their 2022 currency update, unique skins, and repeatable Dungeon Frequenter gold rewards keep them relevant.

What do dungeons reward?

Tales of Dungeon Delving

  • Explorable path completion: 20 base + 80 for the account's first completion of that path that day = 100. Repeating the same path afterward gives the base reward.
  • Story mode gives no Tales; rewards include coin, experience, and a headpiece on each character's first completion.
  • Tales go directly to the account wallet.
  • In June 2022, the eight dungeon currencies became Tales. The currency is shared, but vendor items require completions of the relevant dungeon. Older accounts may be exempt; check each item's lock conditions.

Dungeon skin prices

Item Tales required
Full exotic armor set 1,380
One weapon (by type) Off-hand 210 / main-hand 300 / two-handed or aquatic 390

Each dungeon has weapon and armor skins. Armor comes in light, medium, and heavy weights. New accounts need explorable completions for each vendor item: AC exotic armor requires 3–6 runs depending on the piece, while weapons require 4–7.

Dungeon Frequenter

Complete eight different paths for 5 gold and a Chest of Dungeoneering containing 150 Tales. This achievement repeats indefinitely. Story paths also count among the eight.

Other rewards

  • Each explorable path gives coin, one rare gear item, and 20 Empyreal Fragments.
  • Dungeon reward tracks in PvP and WvW also offer these skins.
Fashion Wars
If you like the skins, dungeons are worth trying. Collecting appearances is a major long-term activity in Guild Wars 2.

What are Dragon Response Missions (DRMs)?

DRMs are separate from core dungeons. They support 1–5 players and scale to group size, allowing solo completion.

Basics

  • Players: 1–5; solo is possible
  • Level: 80
  • Required content: Path of Fire and the Icebrood Saga episode Champions. You can unlock Champions individually without completing the earlier episodes.
  • Entrance: Eye of the North
  • Mission count: 10

Three phases

  1. Preparation: up to three tasks, such as defeating enemies, building defenses, or delivering supplies. Completing them grants a morale boost.
  2. Middle phase: defend against waves of enemies or escort NPCs.
  3. Boss phase: fight a dragon champion with mission-specific mechanics.

Public vs Private

Public Private
Matchmaking Automatic Form your own party
Challenge Unavailable Available; up to 3
Allied faction Random Choose one for 10 Tyrian Defense Seals

Choose Private if you want to practice alone. Public lets other participants join during preparation. Start without challenges to learn the basic mission.

Rewards

  • Tyrian Defense Seals: currency earned from DRMs and exchanged at Eye of the North vendors.
  • Volcanic Stormcaller weapons: exotic weapon skins that can drop from rank chests.
  • Dragon Slayer weapons: unique weapon skins made through a dedicated crafting process.
  • First completion of each mission each day: 10 Tyrian Defense Seals, 1,000 karma, and 2 Scraps of Icebrood Saga Mastery
Useful for solo practice
With PoF and Champions unlocked, try a Private mission on your own. Learn the basic route before adding challenges if you want more difficulty.