Running a Dungeon: an introduction

Welcome to Guild Wars 2!  The following is an introductory guide on running a "dungeon" in GW2.  It will cover what a dungeon is, the basics elements of a dungeon, and general guidance on how to do one yourself.

(Already know how a dungeon works?  Skip straight to our dungeon running tips.)

What is a dungeon?

Also called "instances" in other games, a dungeon is a self-contained area that creates separate "instances" for each party that enters it.  For example, Ascalonian Catacombs (suggested minimum level: 30) is the first dungeon.  If I enter it, I get one "instance" of the dungeon.  If you enter it, you get your own instance.  If you join my party and enter it, you join my instance.  This means that every party gets a chance to complete the challenges on their own, instead of following others who have already cleared the content before them.  Dungeons are meant to be completed with a five person party, though you can do it with fewer (but not more).  There is no reason to not take a full party if you can because it makes the dungeon easier and run faster, and since everyone gets their own loot you don't lose out on anything.

Why is it misleading to call a dungeon an "instance"?

There are a lot of instances in the game that are not dungeons.  For example, all of your plot quests put you into a separate "instance" that no one else can see or enter.

How do I get to a dungeon?

Every dungeon has a different entrance in the world.  For example, Ascalonian Catacombs has its entrance in the Plains of Ashford, next to the Black Citadel.  If you've been there before, you can waypoint directly to the entrance.  If not, get to the Black Citadel and walk over.  When you reach the suggested minimum level for a dungeon, you will receive an in game Mail letter that informs you of the dungeon, why you should go, and has a button that will show you where the dungeon is.

How do levels work with dungeons?

Every dungeon has a minimum suggested level, which is the same as the level cap.  For example, Ascalonian Catacombs has a MSL of 30.  If you are level 30, your effective level is 30.  If you are level 50, your effective level is 30.  If your level is 24, your effective level is 24 (it doesn't scale up).  Nonetheless, it is is still easier to do dungeons at higher levels because of the trait benefits and extra skill slots.

What is a dungeon like?

A dungeon generally follows one of the original heroes of Destiny's Edge through a problem that they're facing and solves it with the player's assistance.  For example, Ascalonian Catacombs has the players helping the Norn hero, Eir, find a lost Ascalonian sword to reunite the Charr and Human heroes of Destiny's Edge.

What are the components of a dungeon?

Dungeons can be generally divided into three separate sections: "trash" mob clearing, puzzle/trap sections, and boss fights.

"Trash" mob clearing usually makes up the longest period of the dungeon run, and it is a period where you are usually traveling from one boss battle to another, killing packs of weaker mobs.  Weak is definitely a relative term- the mobs are very strong compared to normal quest mobs (stronger than veteran mobs even), and most are very difficult and extremely time-consuming for a single player to kill alone.  They are referred to as "trash" mobs because they have very little value.  Compared to the guaranteed chests of good items with bosses, the massive XP dungeon completion bonus and even just normal questing, the drops and xp from killing the mobs is pitiful compared to the time and risk it takes to do so.  Thus, the best runs are the ones that minimize time fighting trash mobs.

Puzzle/trap sections are areas that you have to pass through in order to continue the dungeon.  Sometimes they are mixed in with trash mob groups as well to increase the difficulty.  Trap sections involve either passive or active defenses.  Passive defenses would be something like spikes that come out of the wall periodically, requiring good timing to get through without dying.  Active defenses are things like infinitely respawning turrets until you deactive a certain trigger.  Puzzles vary wildly in what is required to solve them, but a simple example is putting a boulder on a weight-sensitive pressure plate to open a gate.

Boss fights are separated into mini-boss and final boss battles.  Mini-bosses are usually mandatory fights that you must win to progress in the dungeon, while the final boss is usually your last obstacle to dungeon completion.  After both types of fights there is usually a chest with loot in it.  Remember, every chest has loot for every player present in it- there is no group loot that is split.  After you complete the final boss fight there is a cutscene and then a huge XP bonus for finishing the dungeon.

What is story mode vs. explorable mode?

These are diffferent ways to play the dungeon which the first character into the dungeon chooses.  Once chosen, the selection is permanent until you reset the instance.  Story mode is the typical way you run the dungeon.  You go in, help a Destiny's Edge hero, and walk away having moved the overall story further a bit.  Explorable mode is significantly different.  You enter the same dungeon then pick one of three possible paths.  Each of these paths is mutually exclusive- you only do one of them at a time.  There is no real greater plot significance to these paths- they're all loosely connected to the main story because they come about because of events from story mode, but don't reveal anything particularly exciting about the game world or involve any of the major characters.

Explorable mode is MUCH more difficult than story mode generally speaking.  The minimum suggested level is 5 more than the story mode.  For example, AC story mode has a minimum suggested level of 30, so the minimum suggested level (and thus the level cap) is 35.

Each explorable path shares the same "trunk" section, and usually splits only after defeating a mini-boss.

Who do I run a dungeon with?

The best option are other people in your guild.  You are most likely to have worked with them before and you can all jump into Ventrilo/Mumble together.  For example, my guild does multiple instance runs almost every weekday night (many more on weekends).

Your next best bet are random people, either through the "Looking For Group" interface or just using map chat.  I find that few people use the LFG functionality, so your best bet is to broadcast something like "looking for two more to run AC story mode" in major cities, level-appropriate zones, and the actual zone with the dungeon.  Many people wait outside the entrance of the dungeon looking to jump into groups heading in, so that's a good place to start.

Okay, I'm in a dungeon, what now?

Check this article out for tips on running a dungeon.