Hellgates and Corrupted Dungeons: how they work and how to start

What they are

Hellgates and Corrupted Dungeons are instanced content where you fight demons and other players. Both have a progress bar, rewards that grow with Infamy and the possibility of PvP.

The difference is group size: Hellgates are for groups of 2, 5 or 10 players, and Corrupted Dungeons are for one player only.

Hellgates: the formats

There are three sizes, 2v2, 5v5 and 10v10, and each has two modes:

• Non-lethal: PvP ends with players knocked down and you don't lose your gear. This is the mode for learning.
• Lethal: PvP ends in death and full loot.

2v2 is the simplest format to start with. 5v5 calls for team composition, and 10v10 calls for coordination and a large group.

Hellgates: how to enter

Entry is with Hellgate maps or rituals, which are crafted at the Artifact Foundry, dropped by monsters or bought. They only work in zones that match the type: lethal near red or black zones, non-lethal near yellow zones.

You need a group of the Hellgate's size (2, 5 or 10) and a minimum average item power, which only counts the tier, quality and enchantment of the pieces, not mastery or specialization. The minimum and the cap change with patches, so check what the game shows at the entrance. If your item power is above the Hellgate's cap, it is reduced to it.

Before entering a lethal Hellgate, the game warns that it is a full-loot zone and that you can't change your equipment once you enter.

The current limits, by mode (above the cap only part of the excess counts: 10% in non-lethal and 35% in lethal, so 1000 item power in a non-lethal 2v2 counts as 910):

In 2v2, healing cast is reduced by about 35%. Values change with patches, so check in the game.

Inside a Hellgate

Each Hellgate has PvE and PvP. When the objective bar fills, or an enemy group is defeated, you can proceed to the next Hellgate or return to the surface. Defeating an enemy team gives an additional reward at the end of the level.

You can be invaded by another group at any time, or invade another group each time you enter a new Hellgate. And if you don't defeat your opponents in time, lava slowly rises and eventually swallows the whole area.

The lava starts about a minute and a half after both teams are on the same map, covering 30% of the area, and grows another 20% every 2 minutes, until it covers the whole map at 9 minutes 50. The first part of the lava is a warning zone that does less damage, and the second does much more. The final bosses of 5v5 and 10v10 and the chests of 2v2 drop Black Market loot, and the surviving team keeps the loot and the opposing team's gear.

Infamy

Infamy is gained by defeating demons and other players, and the more Infamy you have, the better the rewards. In Hellgates, Infamy is separate by size (2v2, 5v5 and 10v10), and opponents are picked by the average Infamy of the two teams.

Corrupted Dungeons have their own Infamy, which accumulates between dungeons and permanently increases your rewards.

Corrupted Dungeons

Corrupted Dungeons are solo, with optional 1v1 PvP. You find the entrance by exploring the open world, looking more sinister than normal random dungeons, or you buy or find a Corrupted Dungeon map, which marks the location of an entrance. The maps can also be crafted at the Artifact Foundry.

There are three difficulty levels: Hunter (beginner, non-lethal), Stalker (intermediate, lethal) and Slayer (advanced, lethal and with higher item power). The minimum item power of each level changes with patches, so check in the game.

Inside the corrupted dungeon

You defeat enemies to gain Infamy. There are three mini-bosses that give a lot of Infamy and, when you have gathered enough, the demon appears. After you slay it, it opens a portal to another dungeon, where you can continue for more rewards. Consecutive dungeons keep the same difficulty level.

Invasions

In Corrupted Dungeons you can use the Demonic Shrine to invade another player. If you defeat them, you receive part of their dungeon loot. But invading also raises the chance of being invaded yourself.

Whoever is invaded can fight or destroy several demonic shards, scattered across the dungeon, to banish the invader. It is worth knowing where they are before you start.

What build to bring

In 2v2, the most effective composition is damage plus healing. In the larger formats, you want at least one tank, one healer and reliable damage, with sustain builds such as the Battleaxe or Nature staffs for long fights.

On Builds Forge, check the instanced PvP builds with the Hellgate or Corrupted Dungeons activity. To learn, use cheap gear, such as tier 4.1 or 5.1, and start with the non-lethal modes.

Step by step to get started

1. Pick a non-lethal mode and a cheap build.
2. Find a partner (2v2) or run a Corrupted Dungeon on Hunter difficulty.
3. Read the map, the objective and where the demonic shards, walls and pillars are.
4. Don't jump to the lethal mode until you know your opponents' abilities.
5. When you move to lethal, bring only what you can lose.

Common mistakes

• Entering a lethal Hellgate without realizing you can't change equipment inside.
• Pulling too many monsters and getting invaded halfway.
• Forgetting that lava closes the area if you take too long.
• Invading unprepared: invading raises your chance of being invaded.
• Going lethal only for the reward and without spare gear.

What to check in the game

This content changes a lot with patches, so check:

• The minimum item power and the cap of each mode.
• Where the maps and rituals of each type show up.
• The difficulty levels of Corrupted Dungeons and their rules.
• How Infamy currently works.