The fourth episode of our instance previews is to some extent a continuation of the previously published guide to Rift's Edge (Normal Mode. Whilst the hard mode builds upon the normal difficulty, there are enough differences – alternative routes, stronger monster attacks, extra rewards – that we'd like to present them here.
The entrance to the dungeon can similarly be found in the Timeless Woods in Essenia. You should have an item level of at least 164.
For the group of 10 combatants, everything is the same as in the normal mode as far as Berserk Arachnaea. The first change can be found after Arachnaea's demise: there are no airships waiting to carry the players further. Instead, your group can only reach Yativio by splitting up and going off in two separate directions.
The first route leads the players past three BAMs which need to be defeated. At the same time, the other half of your group will have to follow a second path and defeat the monsters there. Only once both groups have reached the ends of their paths and defeated all of the monsters will the gates to Yativio open.
Tips for the second path
You'll meet little yellow Tuberelle plants, which explode when they're near their enemies, and which are also waiting for you at Yativio. The simplest way to deal with them is to have your tank attract and draw them together, so that the plants also cause damage to the Akdeva monsters.
If all of the little Tuberelle plants have hit the Akdevas, your group won't even need to intervene. You can repeat this process numerous times, and reduce the length of time it takes you to reach the end of the path.
Be very careful that you aren't hit by the plants or enemies, since they cause huge amounts of damage!
The fight against Yativio is similar to the normal mode, but with increased difficulty. Even more speedier plants will be summoned which rush to Yativio's aid. Yativio will also enter a Fiery Rage, increasing his powers by 68% and his attack speed by 50%.
The fight against Vesporax is also similar to the one in normal mode. You'll have to deal with stronger attacks and more bees, and your group will have to decide whether to defeat them yourselves or draw them to the parasites.
The fight against Koleogg is limited to 15 minutes in hard mode. You'll find the same phases with shields which must be removed or destroyed. Koleogg can also enter a Fiery Rage, increasing his power by 68% and his attack speed by 50%.
If Koleogg hasn't been defeated within 15 minutes, he'll fall into a Rage-Fueled Madness. This increases his power by 1000% and his attack speed 5-fold. There's nothing even the most skilled adventurer can hold to that – this is one fight your group will not win!
If Koleogg has been defeated within 15 minutes, the following items can be found as loot:
- Gold
- Master Enigmatic Scroll
- Tier 14 & 15 sacrifice items
- Powerful brooch designs
- Beautiful Koleogg's Wing
- Koleogg's Wing
- Devastator equipment items
- Muhrak's Cryptic Document
- Moloch equipment items
- Airborne Shell
- Rare Carapace Treasure Box
