Raid Task: Showdown at the Crystal Core  

Quest Started By:Description:
Where:
Who:
Rating:
*****
Information:
Level:85
Maximum Level:125
Monster Mission:No
Repeatable:Yes
Can Be Shrouded?:No
Quest Type:Task
Quest Goal:
  • Advancement
  • Loot
Related Zones:
Related Creatures:
Era:Seeds of Destruction
Recommended:
Group Size:Raid
Min. # of Players:6
Max. # of Players:54
Appropriate Classes:
  • All
Appropriate Races:
  • All
Entered: Fri Nov 28 19:54:41 2008
Modified: Tue Dec 5 05:21:04 2023
This raid task begins with Ulgin Darkhammer in the Korascian Warrens.

We have conflicting reports about the task's pre-requisites. You may only need "The Crystal Bloom" + appropriate faction. "Pinnacle of Destruction" may also come into play, however, as may Delver Hagorn's four solo tasks. (What are the minimum requirements? Everyone in the raid need to stand close to the NPC, when requesting, iirc. )

You say, 'Hail, Ulgin Darkhammer'

Ulgin Darkhammer says 'You did well in removing the Imperiont, but it seems that that was not the end of the issue. Something even bigger has taken its place, and even the largest group we have been able to send into the Crystal Core have not even been able to get to it. Worse yet, it looks like it is starting an offensive to strike back at us. If you can gather a large amount of friends to help, we will need more of your [assistance]. If you are not able to assist us, you can still [investigate] the other matters.'

You say, 'We'll give you our assistance'

Ulgin Darkhammer says 'Thank you. When you and each of your companions are [ready] I will have one of my assistants escort you to the staging area.'

You have been assigned the task 'Showdown at the Crystal Core'.

Protect the Darkhammer leaders and kill the Crystalline Tyranont.

The leaders you need to protect are:
Kaigrun Darkhammer
Ulgin Darkhammer
Delver Hagorn
Ordrik Darkhammer
Glerud Darkhammer

Protect the Darkhammer Leaders and destroy the Crystalline Tyranont 0/1 (Korascian Warrens)

Report your success to Ulgin Darkhammer 0/1 (Korascian Warrens)



In Summary

Clear the area of trash mobs, trigger the event, kill off as many crystalline waves as you see fit (or until the Tyranont gives you the 30-second failure warning), engage the Crystalline Tyranont, fend off further add waves, kill the named, loot the chest, hail task NPC to complete.



In Detail

Tell Ulgin "ready" to zone in.

You say, 'Ready!'

Ulgin Darkhammer says 'May Brell strengthen your arms.'

LOADING, PLEASE WAIT...
You have entered Korascian Warrens.

Clear the entire area around the crystal core of Crystalline mobs. There is nothing particularly special about the trash mobs. They have relatively low hps and hit for ~5,000.

When ready, gather the entire raid around Kaigrun Darkhammer to initiate the event:

Kaigrun Darkhammer says 'Gather around. Gather around, I have much to say.'

Kaigrun Darkhammer says 'Hear me, fellow Darkhammers! The loathsome crystal beasts of the Crystal Core are stirring once more, and they mean to deprive us of our productive delve! Let every axe and hammer smite these horrible pests, and let every thane and miner give his utmost to protect our troves! We came for nine wagon's worth of treasure, and with the help of these adventurers, we'll leave with what we came for!'

After about 10 seconds you see:

Crystalline Tyranont yells, 'My minions, arise and remove the dwarves from our realm.'

Upon this emote, numerous mobs spawn inside the crystal core and slowly make their way towards the Darkhammer dwarf camps. You need to stop them in their tracks and kill them before they're able to kill the dwarves.

Shortly after this wave of mobs spawns, another one appears. And then another, and so on.

Each wave consists of anywhere from 8-14 (or so) mobs. All mobs are mezzable. A few come with an AE spell (~5,000 DD). They're not too bad individually but can be a handful in large numbers. You'll want them under control as soon as possible.

Killing the spheres ("a crystalline nexiont") will lower the health of the other adds to the point where it takes 2-3 hits to kill them. Get the spheres first.

The time between waves increases with each subsequent spawn:
- Between first and second wave = about 0:35...
- Between second and third wave = about 1:00...
- Between third and fourth wave = about 1:35... (and so on)

At some point you need to engage the Crystalline Tyranont. It is up to you when you do so: Engage it early and you'll have several add waves to contend with during the encounter (because they're still spawning at a quicker rate). Engage it later and you'll have them less frequently.

You MUST engage the Tyranont after 8-11 add waves (varies). Your warning:

Crystalline Tyranont yells, 'If you wish to flee from me I will just end this with a pre-emptive strike. Come face me and prove your capabilities.'

If you see this, you have 30 seconds to engage the Tyranont. If you do not, you see this:

Crystalline Tyranont yells, 'You have failed to protect your precious leaders. I will be back to wipe the rest of you from my home at another time.'

...And the zone respawns (trash mobs included). You'll have to start over.

The Crystalline Tyranont itself hits for a max ~12,000. It does not rampage, flurry, or enrage. It has an emote-based attack:

Crystalline Tyranont aims a head at _____ a single spike apearing in its mouth.

After which its target is hit with "Crystal Spike":

Crystal Spike: Single Target, (0)
1: Decrease Hitpoints by 15000

It'll also morph its attackers into various crystalline illusions. Some of these increase damage taken, some are DoT's, some will hit you with a DD if cured, some will wear off into a much larger DoT (generally occurs AFTER the event because it gets overwritten while the Tyranont is still alive).

Heal through the AEs, kill off any add waves, and defeat the Tyranont.

Crystalline Tyranont has been slain by _____!
Your task 'Showdown at the Crystal Core' has been updated.

A chest spawns with loot at this point.



Task Completion

To complete the task, return to Ulgin Darkhammer in the non-instanced Korascian Warrens zone and hail him:

You say, 'Hail, Ulgin Darkhammer'

Ulgin Darkhammer says 'Thank you. It is a great relief to not have that creature cutting into our profits.'

Your task 'Showdown at the Crystal Core' has been updated.
You have protected the Darkhammer Leaders and killed the Crystalline Tyranont.



Loot (Normal: 54-player version)

A chest spawns with loot after the Tyranont's death. You'll get 2 Runes (first list) + 2 Armor Pieces (second list) + 2 other items (third list):

Glowing Entropic Rune
Whirring Archaen Rune

Fractured Primeval Incandessence
Fractured Primeval Luminessence (See this armor guide for essence use)

Cascading Living Crystal Web
Hollow Tyranont Tooth
Living Crystal Beads
Living Crystal Ring
Living Crystal Shard
Nexiont Spell Shield
Tyranont Articulation Ring
Tyranont Charged Spike
Tyranont Crystal Shard
Tyranont Heart



Loot (Hard: 36-player version)

In the hard version, the chest contains 2 Runes (first list) + 1 armor piece (second list) + 1 other item (third list):

Glowing Entropic Rune
Whirring Archaen Rune

Distorted Primeval Incandessence
Distorted Primeval Luminessence
Fractured Primeval Incandessence
Fractured Primeval Luminessence
Phased Primeval Incandessence
Phased Primeval Luminessence (See this armor guide for essence use)

Brekt's Fanatical Cloak
Discordraught Cloak
Ixt Tail-Hair Cloak
Mastruq Hide Cloak
Shredder Chain Cloak
Slaveworn Splint



Spell Rewards

This raid unlocks certain Rank III spells for some classes.

Bard - Song: Cantata of Courage Rk. III
Cleric - Spell: Blood of the Unsullied Rk. III
Druid - Spell: Twincast Rk. III
Enchanter - Spell: Mana Reiterate Aura Rk. III
Magician - Spell: Twincast Rk. III
Necromancer - Spell: Scorching Shadow Rk. III
Paladin - Spell: Aurora of Dawnlight Rk. III
Wizard - Spell: Twincast Rk. III
Rewards:
Send a Correction
Post Comment
Trivial at 115
# Jul 22 2020 at 7:08 PM Rating: Excellent
Sage
***
3,008 posts
As to be expected, I guess, at level 115 this raid becomes trivial. You can ignore protecting the dwarves and just burn down the boss in 15 seconds. It's one old-time raid still worth doing since Twincast is one of the very few sub-90 spells, other than ports and utilities like Call of the Hero, that are still very useful at 115.

One interesting note: I recall when I tackled this raid a few years it was an unusual instance in that it was bindable. I remember clearly binding my druid near the boss's cave and teleporting my entire group there for the final fight. As of today though, it's not bindable anymore. They must have fixed or nerfed this. It would be odd to be bound in an instance. I'd hate to imagine what would happen if you forget to relocate your bind and you attempt to gate after the raid finishes and the instance fades away. It doesn't bear thinking about!

Edited, Jul 22nd 2020 8:21pm by Sippin
____________________________
Sippin 115 DRU **** Firiona Vie ****Agnarr
FV: 115 WAR ENC CLE MAG WIZ SHD SHM Master Alchemist ROG Master Tinkerer & Poison-Maker
Master Artisan (300+) * Baker * Brewer * Fletcher * Jeweler * Potter * Researcher * Smith * Tailor
Agnarr: 65 DRU ENC SHD MAG CLE ROG WIZ BRD WAR
minimum required?
# Aug 22 2019 at 2:55 PM Rating: Good
Sage
Avatar
**
770 posts
With three characters huddled around Kaigrun Darkhammer, he just continued to endlessly spam his "Gather around" dialog. Apparently 3 isn't enough to actually trigger the event.
minimum required?
# Aug 24 2019 at 1:46 PM Rating: Excellent
Tobynn wrote:
With three characters huddled around Kaigrun Darkhammer, he just continued to endlessly spam his "Gather around" dialog. Apparently 3 isn't enough to actually trigger the event.


Was that 3 without mercs?
____________________________
Allakhazam Developer and Admin

For real time update information on Allakhazam, follow me on Twitter!
https://twitter.com/gidono

Or join us via our Discord channel at https://discord.gg/zu9tTS7
minimum required?
# Jul 22 2020 at 7:04 PM Rating: Good
Sage
***
3,008 posts
Gidono wrote:
Tobynn wrote:
With three characters huddled around Kaigrun Darkhammer, he just continued to endlessly spam his "Gather around" dialog. Apparently 3 isn't enough to actually trigger the event.


Was that 3 without mercs?


Mercs are not allowed in the raid. Everyone in the raid has to "gather around." We had a raid of 7 and a group of 6 was gathered and he wouldn't continue his spiel until the 7th non-group raid member got close.
____________________________
Sippin 115 DRU **** Firiona Vie ****Agnarr
FV: 115 WAR ENC CLE MAG WIZ SHD SHM Master Alchemist ROG Master Tinkerer & Poison-Maker
Master Artisan (300+) * Baker * Brewer * Fletcher * Jeweler * Potter * Researcher * Smith * Tailor
Agnarr: 65 DRU ENC SHD MAG CLE ROG WIZ BRD WAR
Raid wasn't starting
# Aug 07 2019 at 9:10 PM Rating: Decent
Scholar
36 posts
We had problems getting this raid to start. Eventually we figured it out. We were standing next to the wrong NPC. Look carefully at the name saying "Gather Round." It isn't Ulgrin.
For Folks Finally Getting Off Their Tush...
# May 13 2017 at 11:54 PM Rating: Good
*
95 posts
Did this raid tonight with a group of 105 box toons (in a mix of TDS-TBM group armor). Never did it before so read Sippin's post below and went for it. Here's new/other information that I found:

-When a toon gets close to Kaigrun, he will say the first line of his speech...but not the second unless your entire group is nearby.
-Clearing the original mobs takes 10 minutes...basically to run around the ring and aggro everything...they die easily...why not increase that slayer count...
-I let 3 waves spawn before doing anything then I moved the group counter clockwise around the pool, killing the adds I encountered along the way.
-When I finally got to the core and engaged the boss (I wanna say after 5 waves had spawned), he started calling all his buddies to him (pretty sure that these were just the ones that were freshly spawning). I had more mobs on aggro than my extended target could show...
-Had my pally burn with 2 hander and using what little ae aggro tricks he has to keep mobs focused on him. Had the wizard full burn on boss and ignored all adds. Pally health required a few group heals during battle.
-At some point, wizard got hit with a spell delay ae which slowed the rate of kill.

When boss was finally dead, task updated and chest spawned. Once adds on aggro were done, looted runes. Moved back to Ulgin was and he was gone...and not on track. There were some remaining adds fighting dwarves so I must have let him get killed...oops. But since the version of Ulgin you hail for the final raid update is outside the task, when I campfired back to him...task update and success...achievement and Twincast Rk III.

I am not certain when Ulgin died...very possibly could have been after I killed the boss. But I can confirm that not all 5 dwarves need to be alive after you take down the boss.

In the future, I think a group can just bum rush the boss at the beginning and assuming they can handle the adds beating on them (which I think pretty much any 105 tank class can handle at this point), burn the boss before Ulgin dies. Would probably take you longer to run and start the raid instance than to actually do it.
unlocks bard song too!
# May 07 2017 at 6:43 PM Rating: Good
Scholar
**
340 posts
After completing this I was able to buy Cantata of Courage RK3 from Zeb.
unlocks bard song too!
# May 10 2017 at 5:08 PM Rating: Excellent
svann wrote:
After completing this I was able to buy Cantata of Courage RK3 from Zeb.


Thanks, added.
____________________________
Allakhazam Developer and Admin

For real time update information on Allakhazam, follow me on Twitter!
https://twitter.com/gidono

Or join us via our Discord channel at https://discord.gg/zu9tTS7
Challengeq
# Jul 06 2014 at 8:41 AM Rating: Good
Sage
***
3,008 posts
Interesting raid, challenging to do with single group or small force even at 100.

A few things I've learned for posterity:

Nothing sees thru invis except the boss and the nexiont spheres.

Nothing summons except the boss.

In truth, it's NOT essential to clear the lake. None of the existing spawns assist at all when the summoned minions travel thru the area toward the dorfs' camps. Dunno if they'd assist if you fought the summoned mobs near them. Probably. Up to now I clear any of the trash close to anyplace I'm fighting. It sure doesn't hurt to clear them but it isn't really needed and it certainly doesn't matter if a couple escape notice.

The raid fails when Ulgin Darkhammer dies. Essentially. He's the first named dorf they encounter and it just takes one named death for failure. He's a tough little guy! I triggered the raid for learnin' purposes and did nothing but watch and he and his crew lasted entirely thru 5 full rounds before he succumbed. Unfortunately, you can't heal or buff him. He also doesn't regen fast since his HPs stayed the same after each round, even if he had 1-3 minutes to heal up. I have to test if he can be charmed and then buffed. I suspect being a quest NPC he isn't charmable and I also suspect his closeby guards and buddies might take offense to the attempt. But worth a shot! Maybe his guards being ordinary NPCs, could be buffed... a whole crew of dorf warriors and paladins buffed to the gills with AC, HP, haste, regen and damage shields might prove a fearsome threat to the Crystal Core! ;)

I've debated WHERE to engage the waves of adds. I've tested right outside the core and right at the beginning of the tunnel that leads to the dorf camp. It might be better to fight them WITH the dorfs altho I'd have to test if aoe mez is going to **** off the little men. That would be bad. Of course with all the dorfs helping it might not even be necessary to perform crowd control.

Note also when the waves spawn from the core they move en masse to the "shore" but then they usually split, half going south and half going north. This is why you have to find a bottleneck where you can be sure to intercept them all. That is, unless you want to trust in the dorfs being able to handle partial waves with no problem. They wiped out the first 5 waves and were halfway thru the 6th when Ulgin finally croaked, at least during the one run I just observed the action.

Given the dorfs do a good job defending themselves, a viable strat might be to fight the first 7 waves or so with them, get to the level where the waves are 4 mins apart, teleport the group to right outside the core, wait for the next wave to spawn and move out and then engage the boss. This would allow almost 4 minutes of raiders-against-boss fighting before the next wave spawns.

/ponder

I will post more as I learn more.


Edited, Jul 6th 2014 1:17pm by Sippin
____________________________
Sippin 115 DRU **** Firiona Vie ****Agnarr
FV: 115 WAR ENC CLE MAG WIZ SHD SHM Master Alchemist ROG Master Tinkerer & Poison-Maker
Master Artisan (300+) * Baker * Brewer * Fletcher * Jeweler * Potter * Researcher * Smith * Tailor
Agnarr: 65 DRU ENC SHD MAG CLE ROG WIZ BRD WAR
Enables use of Pure Power Sources
# Mar 08 2012 at 9:01 PM Rating: Decent
*
145 posts
This raid enables you to use the Pure Power Sources ! Tested it on my toon...could not "open" my pure source prior to...as soon as raid complete, I could open the pure power source
Enables use of Pure Power Sources
# Mar 08 2012 at 9:01 PM Rating: Decent
*
145 posts
This raid enables you to use the Pure Power Sources ! Tested it on my toon...could not "open" my pure source prior to...as soon as raid complete, I could open the pure power source
Task Adding
# Jul 09 2010 at 8:26 PM Rating: Decent
You can taskadd after the boss dies and before the final hail. However, it doesn't look like people added at that point will get their Rank III spells from Zeb.
spell reward
# May 20 2010 at 8:49 PM Rating: Good
Is there a list for what all classes get for completing this?
____________________________
Fight smarter not harder.
Rk 3 unlocks
# Jan 11 2010 at 9:50 PM Rating: Decent
Wizards, Druids, and Mages get Twincast Rk 3 unlocked on Zeb in the void (if Void E or higher I think)

Enchanters get Mana Reiterate Aura Rk 3
Rank III spells
# Sep 28 2009 at 1:33 PM Rating: Decent
*
57 posts
Paladins get Aurora of Dawnlight rk III
Clerics get Blood of the Unsullied Rk III

for completing this
Hard mode essence
# Sep 02 2009 at 5:55 PM Rating: Decent
Just did this hard mode and had the distorted primeval essence drop.
Parse?
# Aug 07 2009 at 1:27 PM Rating: Decent
Can anyone give an aprox. amount of hp on named?
Parse?
# Aug 31 2009 at 7:39 PM Rating: Decent
*
50 posts
30 million if I remember right
hard version
# Jul 22 2009 at 5:41 PM Rating: Default
Avatar
*
208 posts
hard version drops whirring runes too
____________________________
Warrath
Endless Knot
Cazic-Thule
120 Shadowknight
Everquest Player Since 2001
Prereq's
# May 08 2009 at 9:39 AM Rating: Decent
10 posts
The only task you need to have to be able to request this raid is "Crystal Bloom." We had requested crystal bloom with 3 people in it that had never seen the dwarf area before. Once we finished the task they were able to request this raid. Obviously the person getting the Crystal Bloom task must have all the prerequisites done though.
Prereq's
# Jun 18 2009 at 1:55 PM Rating: Decent
Avatar
*
151 posts
Not True. Atm all I have done for him is the group task and he will not give me the raid task. You need his solo tasks as well.
Prereq's
# Jul 12 2009 at 10:21 AM Rating: Good
***
1,312 posts
Not true. I can get his raid task without having done any of his solo tasks. All I did from him is Crystal Bloom. And I have high amiable faction.
Dialogue
# Apr 26 2009 at 10:03 AM Rating: Decent
35 posts
You say, 'Hail, Ulgin Darkhammer'

Ulgin Darkhammer says 'You did well in removing the Imperiont, but it seems that that was not the end of the issue. Something even bigger has taken its place, and even the largest group we have been able to send into the Crystal Core have not even been able to get to it. Worse yet, it looks like it is starting an offensive to strike back at us. If you can gather a large amount of friends to help, we will need more of your [assistance]. If you are not able to assist us, you can still [investigate] the other matters.'

You say, 'assistance'

Ulgin Darkhammer says 'Thank you. When you and each of your companions are [ready] I will have one of my assistants escort you to the staging area.'

____________________________
Durew - Luclin
Inverse Logic
correction
# Jan 06 2009 at 7:41 PM Rating: Good
Scholar
*
95 posts
Raid given by Ulgin Darkhammer
____________________________
Tameron
110 Wizard of IL
Zeb/Xegony
Raid
# Jan 06 2009 at 5:59 PM Rating: Good
Scholar
*
95 posts
Given by Delver Hagorn in dwarf camp.
____________________________
Tameron
110 Wizard of IL
Zeb/Xegony
Post Comment

Free account required to post

You must log in or create an account to post messages.