Fractals of the Mists

Fractals of the Mists

Map of Fractals of the Mists

Levels

1-80

Type

Dungeon

Region

The Mists

Connects to

Lion's Arch

Loading screen

Fractals of the Mists is a special type of dungeon that consists of an array of mini-dungeons called fractals, where each fractal has its own story and environment. The difficulty of the fractals increase the more they are completed (or "stabilized") although the difficulty level can be adjusted prior to entering. Parties may choose any difficulty from 1 to the highest completed by any party member prior to entering. Characters are adjusted to level 80 while within this dungeon. It is the first dungeon to offer ascended equipment. When entering the dungeon, the players arrive in Mistlock Observatory, a "hub" area within the Mists.

Entering Mistlock, you'll meet Dessa, a scientist who has made explorable chunks of reality from the Mists. There are hostile elements that were acquired during Mistlock which you are asked to dispose of. You may begin by entering the portal within the Mistlock to enter a fractal. You will hear Dessa's voice while stabilizing the fractal. Once it is stabilized, she and her krewe will transport you to the next one. Eventually, you'll be looped back to the Mistlock.

Getting there

The entrance to the dungeon can be found next to the Consortium Gift Shop in Fort Marriner in Lion's Arch.

Mechanics

Difficulty scale

Difficulty scale selection window

Fractals of the Mists has a difficulty scale rather than a story and explorable mode. Players choose a difficulty scale between 1 and the highest level attained by any individual party member.

There is an especially big jump at scales that are multiples of 10. Some players refer to the tens digit of the difficulty scale as the "tier" (thus, scales 1-9 are tier 0, 10-19 are tier 1, etc.).

Increasing difficulty has several effects:

• Many foes become harder to kill and spawn in greater numbers.
• Some foes gain new attacks (e.g. the harpies in the Uncategorized Fractal).
• Agony becomes more powerful each tier.
• New items begin dropping, and some old items drop in greater numbers.
• There is a bonus fractal when the difficulty scale is a multiple of 2.

Mistlock Observatory

Mistlock Observatory serves as the hub area for the dungeon; it offers armor repairs, a merchant, and a token vendor for relics. A portal in the center of the area can be used to access the fractals; this requires confirmation from all players in the party.

Fractals

Each difficulty scale requires the completion of 3 consecutive randomly-selected fractals; even-numbered difficulties also require completion of a fourth "bonus" fractal, which is always the Solid Ocean Fractal.

Each fractal has its own story and environment. After it is stabilized, all players must confirm they are ready before Dessa will transport the party to the next one. After all fractals in a difficulty scale are stabilized, the party will be returned to the Mistlock Observatory and the difficulty scale will increase by one.

Fractals of the Mists uses a checkpoint mechanic instead of waypoints. If any party member dies, they must wait to be revived by their party or for the rest of the party to get out-of-combat (ooc). When the entire party is out-of-combat, each defeated member is given the option to teleport back to the furthest completed checkpoint or to leave the fractal.

There are no repair stations inside the fractals. If the party leaves mid-round to repair themselves, they will lose all progress; players can get around this problem by bringing Instant Repair Canisters.

Agony

Primary article: Agony

Agony plays a role in fractal difficulty scales 10 and higher. Most Agony is inflicted as part of an enemy attack and can be avoided by avoiding the attack, but the Jade Maw in the "bonus" Solid Ocean Fractal inflicts unavoidable Agony. Once inflicted, the effects of Agony can only be reduced by Agony Resistance, which is only obtainable from ascended items. Agony's damage increases at every 10th difficulty scale, requiring progressively more Agony Resistance to maintain parity.

Locations

Area	Locations	Description
Mistlock Observatory	Asura Gate to Lion's Arch	Main hub for Fractals of the Mists
Aquatic Ruins Fractal	—	Defeat the Giant Jellyfish as you fend off krait while navigating as a dolphin or exploring the dark depths
Cliffside Fractal	—	Break the seals of the Colossus with the Cultist Hammer
Snowblind Fractal	—	Fight the Sons of Svanir and protect against frostbite by lighting fires
Solid Ocean Fractal	—	Defeat the Jade Maw
Swampland Fractal	—	Three wisps event puzzle, defeat Bloomhunger or the Mossman
Underground Facility Fractal	—	Encounter dredge, solve the pressure plate puzzle, and defeat Dredge Powersuit or Ice Elemental
Urban Battlegrounds Fractal	—	Transform into a Flame Legion Charr and fight the Ascalonians
Volcanic Fractal	—	Avoid the lava as you encounter grawl while trying to defeat the Grawl Shaman
Uncategorized Fractal	—	Complete the Raving Asura's jumping puzzle

Rewards

Monsters within Fractals of the Mists drop items and equipment equivalent to level 80 monsters of the same type. Additionally, Ascended quality items such as Vial of Condensed Mists Essence have a random chance of dropping. At the conclusion of each fractal is a boss fight similar to other dungeon bosses. Defeating this boss rewards players with a large chest that can contain rare and exotic loot as well as a guaranteed quantity of Fractal Relics which can be traded with BUY-4373 in the observatory. Reward chests from scale 10 and onwards will include the chance to drop Ascended items. It is generally believed that the higher the tier of the fractal, the better the drops (i.e. Difficulty 1-9, 10-19, or 20-29). Account-bound exotics drop in Fractals as well.

Similar to explorable dungeons, individual characters can receive daily rewards for completing the Solid Ocean Fractal in each tier they have unlocked. This daily reward chest includes a Bag of Coins (which contains 2 to 4 silver), a number of Fractal Relics, a chance at a bonus Ascended or Fractal item depending on the tier, and a Pristine Fractal Relic at scale 10 and higher. Thus, a character that has unlocked difficulty 30 could complete 4 fractal dailies each day, one each at even numbers from 1 to 9, 10 to 19, 20 to 29 and 30.

For each player, rewards are based on the minimum between the selected Fractal Difficulty Scale and the player's Personal Reward Level. Also, players running at Fractal Scales lower than their own will receive bonus karma at the end of round. The consequence is that playing at a scale higher than one's level increases difficulty but not rewards, while playing at a lower scale decreases difficulty and rewards, but gives karma in exchange.

Completing a bonus fractal will award the player with a "bonus" chest. This can be obtained for each tier of Fractal Difficuly Scale below or containing the player's personal reward level.

Personal Reward Levels

• Each character on your account will have separate progress in fractal difficulty scales.
• The level of your personal reward will increase by 1 each time a fractal difficulty scale is completed at or above your current reward level.
• Completing a fractal difficulty scale below your personal reward level awards you karma.

Daily Chest Rewards

Tier	Difficulty Range	Fractal Relics	Pristine Fractal Relic	Possible Bonus
0	1-9	20	None	None
1	10-19	25		Ascended Ring (non-Infused)
2	20-25	30		Ascended Ring (non-Infused), Ascended Ring (Infused), Fractal Weapon
2	26-29	30		Ascended Ring (Infused), Fractal Weapon
3	30-39	35		Ascended Ring (Infused), Fractal Weapon
4	40-49	40		Ascended Ring (Infused), Fractal Weapon
5	50-59	45		Ascended Ring (Infused), Fractal Weapon
6	60-69	50		Ascended Ring (Infused), Fractal Weapon
7	70-79	55		Ascended Ring (Infused), Fractal Weapon
8	80	60		Ascended Ring (Infused), Fractal Weapon

Boss Chest Relics

Scale	Standard Fractal Relics	Jade Maw Fractal Relics
1-5	5 each	15
6-10	6 each	20
11-15	7 each	25
16-20	8 each	30
21-25	9 each	35
26-30	10 each	40
31-35	11 each	45
36-40	12 each	50
41-45	13 each	55
46-50	14 each	60
51-55	15 each	65
56-60	16 each	70
61-65	17 each	75
66-70	18 each	80
71-75	19 each	85
76-80	20 each	90

Ascended Crafting Materials

Certain crafting materials can only be obtained as random loot from foes in the Fractals of the Mists; unlike the above rewards, these drop from killing ordinary enemies, not for completing fractals. Each has a minimum difficulty scale at which it can appear.

Scales	Ascended Crafting Materials
1+	Vial of Condensed Mists Essence
10+	Glob of Coagulated Mists Essence
20+	Shard of Crystallized Mists Essence

Notes

• Most fractals are designed for more than one person. For instance, you need at least three to complete the Underground Facility.
• Despite similarities to dungeons, completing a fractal does not count for Monthly Dungeon Participation and does not award influence to your guild.
• Personal fractal reward level is per character; it is not account based.
• Rewards, including bonus ones, are determined by your personal reward level. For example, a character whose personal reward level is 8 but completes a fractal at difficulty scale 11 will receive no Pristine Fractal Relics.

Trivia

• Fractals of the Mists was introduced as part of the Lost Shores release (November 16th, 2012).

External links

• Fractals of the Mists teaser

References

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Dungeons

Ascalonian Catacombs	(story • explorable)	Caudecus's Manor	(story • explorable)
Twilight Arbor	(story • explorable)	Sorrow's Embrace	(story • explorable)
Citadel of Flame	(story • explorable)	Honor of the Waves	(story • explorable)
Crucible of Eternity	(story • explorable)	The Ruined City of Arah	(story • explorable)
Fractals of the Mists