Raids & Raid Encounters
Raids & Raid Encounters
New to ten-player content? Start with quickplay or beginner IBS encounters. Then try a training group for a boss you want to learn, or an Emboldened wing.
Find a boss guide
Prepare for raids and explore normal and challenge mode mechanics with images and videos.
How do raid encounters and wings differ?
Raids are ten-player squad content. There are standalone encounters and wings containing multiple bosses and events. When starting, consider the boss and the listing's difficulty as well as the format.
On February 3, 2026, the former Strike Missions were unified with raids. Along with the name, their weekly reward schedule, currencies, and daily and weekly achievements changed. When using older strike guides, check current rewards and entry menus.
| Feature | Raid encounters | Raid wings |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | Usually centered on one boss; multiple phases possible | Several bosses and events per wing |
| Difficulty | Ranges from beginner IBS bosses to difficult CMs | Complex mechanics and challenging encounters |
| Story mode | Some bosses have a separate story version | None |
| Assistance | Quickplay for 8 selected encounters only | Emboldened (weekly rotation) |
| Expansion / season | IBS, EoD, SotO, VoE, and others | W1~4: HoT / W5~7: PoF / W8: JW |
Find groups for both in LFG's Raids category.
Can I start with quickplay?
Quickplay automatically matches you into one of 8 selected encounters. Find it under LFG → Raids → Raids (Training). No expansion is required.
Quickplay benefits
- Automatic matchmaking means you do not need to assemble a group
- Quickplay Morale is automatically applied:
- Increased damage and healing
- Greatly reduced incoming damage, with more reduction at low health
- Life steal when dealing damage
- In quickplay, you can revive fully defeated allies during combat. During regular raid combat, you can revive downed allies but not fully defeated ones.
- Available without owning expansions
Quickplay limitations
- Does not count toward Daily Raid Bounties
- Does not count toward regular Weekly Raid Encounters; has a separate Weekly Quickplay Raid Encounters achievement
- No matching by role or squad composition
- You cannot choose which encounter you receive
Best first step: try quickplay to get a feel for ten-player encounters. Then look for "training" groups in LFG to learn normal mode.
What equipment and build do I need?
You can start with exotic gear suited to your build. Matching your stats, runes, sigils, traits, and skills to your role matters more than a full ascended set. Check any additional preparation requirements in the listing.
Equipment
- Weapons and armor: exotic is fine
- Trinkets: prioritize ascended upgrades; laurels and map currencies offer accessible routes
- Agony Resistance (AR): not needed. AR is for fractals, not raids or raid encounters.
Build
- In Snow Crows, go to Builds → Raids → Beginner and choose a profession and role. Check Equipment for stats, runes, and sigils, then Skills & Traits and Rotation for your setup and skill order.
- Prepare for your assigned role: DPS, Quickness, Alacrity, or healing. Training groups still need appropriate roles and mechanics.
Raid masteries: Forsaken Thicket
The Forsaken Thicket track under Heart of Thorns helps with devices and survival mechanics in W1–3. You do not need the entire track before starting, but check the masteries needed for your chosen boss. The separate Gliding track also matters: prepare Updraft Use for Gorseval and Ley Line Gliding for Xera. See all Heart of Thorns masteries →
Gain Reinforced Armor at Ley Rifts to improve health and armor. Using rifts for travel does not require this mastery.
Prevents damage when you or an ally launches you from an explosive launch pad.
Use Matthias's cleansing fountains without their penalty. Without this mastery, using one causes heavy damage and a three-second stun.
Helps you clear Derangement and use Bloodstone Turrets, including during Xera's mechanics.
Where can I practice my rotation?
Practice alone in the Special Forces Training Area before raiding. Summon a training golem and attack it to measure DPS; this is the game's dedicated area for that built-in measurement.
Getting there
The raid lobby is south of Lion's Arch. Its entrance is west of Bloodcoast Ward Waypoint.
The portal near the bank takes you into the training instance.
Setting up and practicing
Use Adjust Self → Add Boons to approximate a group environment. Start with 25 Might, Fury, Quickness, and Alacrity to simulate common party boons.
Start with hitbox size Average and health 4,000,000. Under Additional options, add 25 stacks of Vulnerability and any conditions or effects required by the build you are comparing. Match the golem and boon settings when comparing with a published benchmark.
At each 20% of golem health, your DPS appears in combat chat. This built-in display is specific to the training area.
Which LFG groups should I join?
Find groups under LFG → Raids. These common listing terms will help you choose.
| Term | Meaning | For beginners |
|---|---|---|
| Listing types | ||
| training | Beginners welcome, with mechanic explanations | Start here |
| chill | Relaxed run; check expected experience in the listing | Check whether beginners are welcome |
| exp | Experienced players only | Avoid for now |
| Proof of experience | ||
| KP | Kill proof: evidence of clears | An informal recruiting practice |
| LI | Legendary Insight, a raid currency | Used as proof of experience |
| UFE | Unstable Fractal Essence (fractals) | Not a raid requirement |
| Content abbreviations | ||
| W1~W8 | Raid Wings 1–8 | "W4 training" means Wing 4 training |
| IBS | Five Icebrood Saga encounters | Three easy encounters plus Boneskinner and Whisper |
| EoD | Four End of Dragons encounters | Harder than introductory IBS encounters |
| SotO | Secrets of the Obscure encounters | CO, ToF |
| Roles and mechanics | ||
| tank | Controls the boss's target and positioning; targeting rules vary by boss | You do not need to tank as a beginner |
| heal / hfb / hm | Healer, such as Heal Firebrand or Heal Mechanist | Support role |
| alac / quick | Provides Alacrity or Quickness | Essential group boon coverage |
| DPS | Damage dealer | A good starting role |
| stack | Fight close together | Stay within boon-sharing range |
| CC | Crowd control to break the defiance bar | Use CC skills when called |
| wipe | Squad defeat | The encounter resets after the squad defeats itself with /gg |
| /gg | Voluntarily defeat yourself to reset an encounter | Follow the leader's /gg call |
| CM | Challenge mode | Learn normal mode first |
| pug | Pick-up group assembled through LFG | Join without a fixed team |
Using KP or LI totals to judge experience is a player recruiting practice. LI itself is an official raid currency. You can join beginner training and build experience without existing KP or LI.
Where should I begin?
Difficulty varies considerably between encounters. Start with easier ones below. The tables also include abbreviations used in LFG.
Raid encounters (former strikes): suggested beginner order
Icebrood Saga encounters are abbreviated as IBS in LFG. Start with the easier three: Shiverpeaks Pass, Fraenir, and Voice & Claw: then learn Boneskinner and Whisper.
| Boss | LFG abbreviation | Difficulty | In brief |
|---|---|---|---|
| Icebrood Construct | IBS, IC | Very easy | A good introduction to squad combat: avoid the main attacks |
| Fraenir of Jormag | IBS, Fraenir | Easy | Several straightforward phases; learn the transitions |
| Voice & Claw | IBS, V&C | Easy | Reduce both bosses' health together and finish them nearly simultaneously |
| Whisper of Jormag | IBS, Whisper | Moderate | When a chain links you to the boss, move predictably and do not drag it through allies. |
| Boneskinner | IBS, BS | Moderate–hard | Avoid the dark fields under your feet, move in the same direction as the squad, and stay within healing range. |
Raid wings: start with easier bosses
LFG uses wing numbers such as "W1" and "W2". These are some of the easier encounters across the wings.
| Boss | LFG abbreviation | Difficulty | In brief |
|---|---|---|---|
| Escort | W3 | Very easy | Protect Glenna while advancing; assign tower and escort duties |
| Mursaat Overseer | W4, MO | Very easy | Attack from safe tiles. Assign Claim, Dispel, and Protect, and note the six-minute timer |
| Cairn | W4 | Easy | Avoid red circles, stay away from allies if you have Shared Agony, and follow squad instructions for green circles |
| Bandit Trio | W2 | Easy | More of an event than a boss fight |
| Vale Guardian | W1, VG | Moderate | The first raid boss, useful for learning mechanics |
| Gorseval | W1, Gorse | Moderate | A damage check, with relatively straightforward mechanics |
What is Emboldened mode?
Emboldened assists players in raid wings. It automatically applies to one wing each week and provides more help after failed attempts.
How it works
- The selected wing changes on Mondays at 08:30 UTC, rotating through W1–W8
- You enter with one stack of Emboldened
- Each failed boss attempt lasting at least 20 seconds adds one stack
- After a boss clear, the next encounter starts at one stack again
Bonuses by stack
| Stacks | Health | Damage | Healing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (starting) | +20% | +10% | +10% |
| 2 | +40% | +20% | +20% |
| 3 | +60% | +30% | +30% |
| 4 | +80% | +40% | +40% |
| 5 (maximum) | +100% | +50% | +50% |
Normal rewards are unchanged while Emboldened is active.
Notes
- Players can vote to disable it through the Emboldened Mote
- Activating challenge mode disables it
- Certain achievements cannot be completed while Emboldened is active
Raid encounter list
Encounters are grouped by expansion. CM means challenge mode; you can focus on normal mode when starting.
Icebrood Saga (requires Path of Fire)
| Encounter | Notes |
|---|---|
| Shiverpeaks Pass | |
| Voice and Claw of the Fallen | Two bosses |
| Fraenir of Jormag | |
| Boneskinner | |
| Whisper of Jormag | |
| Forging Steel | Modular challenges available |
| Cold War |
End of Dragons (requires End of Dragons)
| Encounter | CM |
|---|---|
| Aetherblade Hideout | Yes |
| Xunlai Jade Junkyard | Yes |
| Kaineng Overlook | Yes |
| Harvest Temple | Yes |
Secrets of the Obscure (requires Secrets of the Obscure)
| Encounter | CM |
|---|---|
| Cosmic Observatory | Yes |
| Temple of Febe | Yes, plus legendary mode |
Visions of Eternity and other encounters
- Old Lion's Court: Living World Season 1; has CM
- Secret Lair of the Snowmen: Wintersday only; no expansion required
- Visions of Eternity: Guardian's Glade (Kela) and Nexus of Eternity (Vloxx). Both have CMs and require the expansion.
Raid wing list
Each wing contains multiple boss fights and events.
| Wing | Name | Expansion | Bosses / events |
|---|---|---|---|
| W1 | Spirit Vale | Heart of Thorns | 3 bosses + event |
| W2 | Salvation Pass | Heart of Thorns | 2 bosses + Prison Camp (trio) |
| W3 | Stronghold of the Faithful | Heart of Thorns | 2 bosses + Escort and Twisted Castle |
| W4 | Bastion of the Penitent | Heart of Thorns | 4 bosses |
| W5 | Hall of Chains | Path of Fire | 2 bosses + River of Souls and Statues |
| W6 | Mythwright Gambit | Path of Fire | 3 bosses |
| W7 | The Key of Ahdashim | Path of Fire | 3 bosses + entrance escort event |
| W8 | Mount Balrior | Janthir Wilds | 3 bosses + event |
Entry: use the wing portals in Lion's Arch Aerodrome. The lobby also has a bank, Trading Post, crafting stations, and a portal to the Special Forces Training Area.
What are the rewards?
Completing raids awards dedicated currencies and equipment.
Main currencies
| Currency | Source | Weekly limit | Main use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legendary Insight (LI) | Encounter and boss completions | Up to 78 (as of September 2026) | Legendary armor crafting |
| Magnetite Shard | Raid bosses and events from expansions before VoE | 800 from direct kills; CM, containers, and other sources are separate | Ascended equipment |
| Gaeting Crystal | VoE raid encounters | 150 from direct kills; CM and other sources are separate | VoE raid rewards |
The weekly 78 LI total (September 2026)
- 44: weekly clears of all wings and standalone encounters, including Vloxx in Nexus of Eternity
- 28: Daily Raid Bounties (4 each day × 7 days)
- 6: Weekly Quickplay Raid achievement (10 quickplay completions)
Magnetite Shard
- 8–16 per boss or event completion
- 10 additional CM rewards per boss each week, separate from the regular kill cap
- Some rewards even on failed attempts: 1–5, based on progress
- Buy ascended equipment and boss-specific rewards from vendors such as Scholar Glenna
Weekly reset: Monday at 07:30 UTC
What is challenge mode?
Challenge mode (CM) adds mechanics and difficulty to certain bosses. Activate it through the instance's Challenge Mote. "CM" in LFG refers to this mode.
Activating it
Discuss it with the squad before using the Challenge Mote. Activation and deactivation methods vary by encounter. Check the Challenge Mode status before starting; if it was enabled accidentally, disable it before combat.
What changes in CM?
- Health, damage, or attack patterns may change
- Additional mechanics activate
- Some bosses also have a higher legendary mode (LCM)
CM rewards
CM adds bonus CM rewards to the normal weekly rewards. If you already cleared normal mode that week, CM awards the additional rewards you have not yet received. Additional CM currency is 10 per boss per week; there are also exclusive achievements, titles, and drops.