Entry requirements
| Exploration | Conquest | |
|---|---|---|
| Character level | 35 | 45 |
| Item level | 500 | 2100 |
| Players | 1–5 | 1–5, realistically 5 |
| Odyle per reward chest | 30 | 40 |
| Reward limit | 7 per week | 1 per 8 h, up to 21 stored |
Sources: MetaBot, ExpCarry, aion2.vi.ki — all agree. Korea's Conquest gate is 2200 and KR groups rarely took anyone under ~2500 (RedCloud), but Korean items have higher item levels, so don't carry those numbers over. This is a three-star expedition: a clear step up from Krao Cave.
There's no Hard mode or "Ordeal" version on Global. If a video teleports everyone to the entrance at 25% and gives you 14 seconds to reach a glowing circle, that's Korean Hard mode.
What to bring
- A movement speed scroll and anything else with run speed (boots, titles, buffs). It's the single most useful stat for Kromede's fire walls (kennai; NC presenter via aion2.vi.ki).
- Yellow potions to cleanse debuffs — the walls and arrows set you on fire. Don't count on your Cleric cleansing everyone; they're dodging the same fire (couga54, kennai).
- Clerics and Chanters: pick the heal specializations that remove debuffs (couga54, aion2.vi.ki).
The route
- There's a reset spot near the entrance: if mobs chase you, run in and they drop aggro (RedCloud, GeraintAmbrosia, kennai).
- An elite named Rotan (Blade Rotan) patrols the temple. He detects players in a wide circle, not just a frontal cone. Let him walk past instead of fighting him (RedCloud).
- Two coolant consoles switch off the fire raining onto the boss arenas. They're optional — that fire doesn't hit hard, and going down for the consoles often ends with Rotan finding you (Madsin, RedCloud).
- Two side bosses on separate platforms: Black Smoke Marute and Red Spark Ignis. Any order. You can cross between platforms by jumping, gliding and hitting Shift (kennai, Madsin).
- Grab the key near the last room and open the door. Once it opens, the whole party is pulled into Kromede's Desire's arena (Madsin, GeraintAmbrosia).
Side bosses
Black Smoke Marute
- Raises an arm and slams the ground; then a small circle appears under every player. The circles go off slightly later than the telegraph suggests (Madsin).
- Growing circle: an AoE around him that expands several times (3 per RedCloud and GeraintAmbrosia, 4 per kennai). The last one covers half the arena. Run out or perfect-dodge.
- Line dash, then a boulder thrown forward. Don't stand in front of him.
- Small red flames on the floor explode when you get close.
- Breaking his stagger bar while he's charging a big attack cancels it (RedCloud).
Red Spark Ignis
- From about 75% he marks players. Three seconds later each marked player drops a lava pool that lasts the whole fight. Drop it at the edge (Madsin).
- From about 65% he leaps to the center and sets almost the whole room on fire. The only safe spot is right next to him — this is the one way to die here (RedCloud, kennai, GeraintAmbrosia).
- Then he dashes to each player in turn. Spread out so the hits don't stack.
- A five-line star around him — getting hit stuns you.
Kromede's Desire (final boss)
- Leaps at the farthest player with a knockdown hit. Ranged players and healers: know who's farthest out (every source).
- Swings and slashes in front — the safe spot is behind her. A rectangular stomp stuns.
- Bow raised: small circles spawn under every player and follow them. Keep moving (couga54, kennai).
- Bow lowered: a line shot at every player. Don't line up with someone else (Madsin, Xela).
- Fire walls (75% and 25% HP): she lifts off and walls sweep across the arena, each with one gap. About seven waves. The gaps jump left and right, so turn early — on high ping, before you reach the wall. A hit sets you on fire: drink a yellow potion. The second round (25%) adds projectiles from the arena edges. These walls kill more players than anything else in the dungeon (aion2.vi.ki, Madsin, kennai; FRESHY puts the first round at ~70%).
- Clones (from ~50%): she flies to the center and clones appear. Each one hits in a line, then swings a wide frontal. Stay close to your clone, dodge the first hit, and get behind it — or dash through it — for the second (Madsin, kennai, FRESHY).
Tank, DPS and healer jobs
| Job | |
|---|---|
| Tank | Hold Marute at the side of the room so the growing circle doesn't eat the arena (aion2.vi.ki). Bosses always face away from the group. Drag Ignis away from lava pools. On Kromede, the sword combo kills tanks most often (Xela, KR) — dodge, and if you can't, eat only one hit. |
| DPS | Melee: stay behind the boss. Ranged: remember she leaps to the farthest player. Hold stagger skills for when a boss charges a big attack — breaking the bar cancels it (RedCloud). |
| Healer | Cleanse the burn after each wall, heal through Ignis's dashes. Dodge the walls yourself — a Cleric with an immunity skill can soak part of it (aion2.vi.ki). |
Class details: the Dungeons tab in the Templar, Cleric, Chanter and other class guides.
Loot
- Exploration (35): Epic Judicator armor (IL 38) and Unique Kromede weapons (IL 43) (MetaBot, ExpCarry). ExpCarry also lists Sealed Kromede Wings from here — an ingredient for Kromede Wings (Substance Morph with Radiant Odyle).
- Conquest (45): Enraged Kromede weapons — IL 86 per MetaBot, 84 per couga54. This is what you farm it for; melee versions have longer reach.
- No Heroic gear in Global Season 1 — NCSOFT pulled it for launch (dungeon stream via aion2.vi.ki, playnews). The Heroic ring from Korean videos doesn't drop here.
When to run it
Clear Exploration at 35 with the story, but only open the chest if a Kromede weapon beats yours. Energy is better saved for 45 (Anders via aion2.vi.ki, couga54). Come back on Conquest at roughly 2100–2500 item level alongside Ferocious Horn Den — couga54 calls it the fastest dungeon of that tier and the one you'll farm most. Next steps: dungeon list and after level 45.