Dzemael Darkhold

Level: 44 (Sync: 46)

Difficulty: Normal

Party size: Light Party
4 man • 1 1 2
Unsyncing: Allowed
Time limit: 90 minutes
Phoenix Down: Available
Duty Finder: Dungeons (A Realm Reborn)
Roulette: Leveling
Req. quest: Fort of Fear
Entrance: Coerthas Central Highlands (X:20, Y:28)
Modes: Command Mission
Explorer
Base EXP: 125,000
Patch: 2.0

“

Seeking to utilize an existing labyrinth of natural caves, the Ishgardian house of Dzemael began construction of their eponymous Darkhold near the end of the Sixth Astral Era, intending it to serve as a refuge for those fleeing the flames of the Dravanian Horde. When the house's digging uncovered an entrance to the void, allowing an army of voidsent into this realm, however, they immediately abandoned their plans and withdrew from the subterrane, sealing it off so that they might contain the otherworldly invaders within. Despite all this, the house is unwilling to relinquish its claim to the caves, and believes that if they can be cleared of voidsent, they might still be able to see their original plan brought to fruition.

— In-game description

Dzemael Darkhold is a level 44 dungeon introduced in patch 2.0. This dungeon was first introduced in Legacy with Patch 1.18, and carried forward with A Realm Reborn and revamped. The map layout was overhauled in patch 6.1 while the implementation of Duty Support has been announced for a later patch.

Objectives

Open the Grand Hall gate: 0/1
Clear the Feasting Hall: 0/1
Deactivate the level IV magitek field: 0/1
Defeat Batraal: 0/1

Walkthrough

In the first section of the dungeon, to avoid high damage of the untelegraphed Eyes on Me AoE from the roaming All-seeing Eye (an Ahriman), stand on the purple ground near the glowing crystals to receive the Crystal Veil buff, which will reduce damage taken by 90%.
- This buff also enables one to pull all enemies in the first section of the dungeon to the room before the first boss, without much risk.
In the second and third sections, the orange corrupted crystals will occasionally pulse telegraphed point-blank AoEs that should be avoided.
Stand in the Magitek terminals (blue circles) until the countdown is completed to open doors. Some of them will be within range of the orange crystal AoEs, but a terminal will reset its timer if nobody is standing in it - so just stay put and heal through the damage. Having more people stand in a terminal makes its countdown progress faster.
- The first, large terminal takes 40 seconds with one person, 20 with two, 15 with three, and 10 with four. However, this is the only large terminal in the dungeon, and it is optional for completing the duty.
- All other, small terminals take 20 seconds with one person, and 10 seconds with two-to-four people.
- For the purposes of completing this duty, the following terminals are required to be stood in. All others can be ignored.
  - Magitek terminals III and IV at The Gullet (X 13.7, Y 13.7, Outer Hold) for opening the circular stone door located there.
  - Magitek terminals VIII and IX at The Knight's Quarters (X 10.9, Y 7.9, Inner Hold) for dispelling the barrier located there.

Enemies

Diamond-tooth Hedgemole
Betrayed Soul
Alpgrot Orobon
Mouche Volante
Bone Nix (uses blue mage spell Sticky Tongue)
Forsaken Soul
Lava Drake
Deepvoid Slave
Hellsbound Warrior
Corrupted Crystal

Bosses

Dzemael Darkhold Guide

All-seeing Eye

All-seeing Eye is the first boss of Dzemael Darkhold. This Ahriman boss has an ability called Eyes on Me. The ability does heavy damage to all players near it. Players with the buff Crystal Veil are immune to this damage. Players receive this buff when they are near the glowing crystals. The effect of the crystals fade over time. Players need to move to a new cluster of crystals when this occurs.

Throughout the fight, All-seeing Eye will spawn adds. Avoid Adds AoE attacks and kill them asap.

Fight the All-seeing Eye near the crystal clusters to gain the Crystal Veil buff. When "The power of the crystal begins to dim" appears on screen, move to a new crystal cluster immediately. The All-seeing Eye is invulnerable to attack except when it is near a cluster of crystals.

Abilities

Dread Gaze is a frontal cone AoE attack that inflicts the debuff

Paralysis to all targets hit.

Cursed Gaze is a frontal cone AoE attack that inflicts the debuff

Amnesia to all targets hit.

Eyes on Me is an ability that deals heavy damage all players near the All-seeing Eye. Players under the effect of Crystal Veil are immune to this damage.

Taulurd

Taulurd is the 2nd boss of Dzemael Darkhold. He has some powerful AoE cone attacks that should be avoided by all players.

Throughout the fight he will summon adds named Deepvoid Slaves. These monsters are on top of an elevated platform. They will perform ranged attacks at the players. Be sure to spread out and avoid their Firewater attacks.

Adds

Deepvoid Slave has two types of attacks, Firewater and Boulderdash. Firewater is a circular AoE attack that targets one random player. Firewater can be avoided by moving out of the red circular ground indicator.

Abilities

Straight Punch is an instant melee attack that deals a small amount of damage.

Double Smash is a frontal AoE cone attack that deals a large amount of damage to targets hit.

Elbow Drop is a frontal AoE cone attack that deals more damage than Double Smash. Taulurd starts to use this when it is under half HP.

Batraal

Batraal is the final boss of Dzemael Darkhold. This demon has an instant frontal AoE cone attack that deals heavy damage to all targets hit. Be sure to have only the tank in front of the boss. He has a long ranged AoE column attack named Desolation that does extremely high damage and will instantly kill most players.

Throughout the fight, a purple beam will appear between Batraal and a crystal. Batraal will mark a player with a crosshair and fires Desolation at the target every few seconds. While Batraal is connected to the crystal, he is invulnerable. Be sure to kill the crystal as soon as possible while dodging Desolations. The player who was targeted should avoid aiming the Desolations at the rest of the party.

At around 30% HP and after the 3rd crystal is destroyed, Batraal will use Hellssend and become enraged. He will start using Desolation at will. Batraal will also spawn black pools under 3 players. Players within the pool will take damage over time. Move out of them immediately. The puddles will occasionally explode and deal high damage to anyone standing in them.

Avoid Desolation at all cost, since it will instantly kill most players

If you are targeted, don't point Desolation at the rest of the party

Kill crystals when they appear. The crystal activate in a set pattern at set percentages of the boss's HP. The first to activate is the crystal in the alcove behind and to the left of the boss, relative to where players enter the room. From there, the crystals will activate counter-clockwise (near and to the left of the boss, then behind and to the right of the boss) roughly every 25% of the boss's HP.

Abilities

Grim Fate is an instant frontal attack that deals heavy damage to a single player.

Grim Cleaver is an instant ranged attack that deals moderate amount of damage to a random player.

Grim Halo is an instant attack that deals moderate amount of damage to all players around him.

Desolation is an frontal AoE column that deals very heavy damage to all players caught within.