Vanguard
The fourth dungeon of Dawntrail, set in enemy territory within Zoraal Ja’s fortress in Shaaloani. Players storm the vanguard after the Dawnblazer train breaches the dome.
Vanguard Commander R8
| Mechanic | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Electrowave | Raidwide | Party-wide magic damage that covers arena edges with dangerous AoEs |
| Enhanced Mobility | Cleave | Boss dashes across arena with wingblade cleaving half the arena; stand opposite the dash direction, then move into cleared area |
| Dispatch | AoE | Summons untargetable adds based on command type |
| Dispatch (Commence firing) | AoE | Adds at front do line AoEs with minimal telegraph |
| Dispatch (Aerial bombardment) | AoE | Floating adds create expanding circle AoEs |
| Dispatch (Electrope testing) | Spread | Marks all players with AoEs plus line AoEs from all arena sides; find safe spaces between lines |
Notes: Enhanced Mobility has only two solutions based on wingblade placement—either center or edges are safe. Watch the boss’s dash path and blade position carefully.
Protector
| Mechanic | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Electrowave | Raidwide | Party-wide magic damage |
| Rapid Thunder | Tankbuster | Magical tank buster |
| Search and Destroy | AoE | Spawns turrets creating numerous line and circle AoEs; keep moving |
| Fulminous Fence | AoE | Summons walls in the arena that restrict movement |
| Battery Circuit | AoE | Boss spins with conal AoE, spawning circles underneath and in front/back; rotate with boss while navigating walls |
| Motion Sensor | AoE | Inflicts Acceleration Bomb on all players; stop moving when debuff expires. Line AoEs spawn in sequence |
| Tracking Bolt | Spread | Large marked AoE on all players |
Notes: Motion Sensor requires you to stop moving when the debuff timer expires or you’ll take heavy damage. Time your movement between the sequential line AoEs while watching your debuff.
Zander the Snakeskinner
| Mechanic | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Electrothermia | Raidwide | Party-wide magic damage |
| Saber Rush | Tankbuster | Physical tank buster |
| Soulbane Saber | Cleave | Line AoE in faced direction that explodes half the arena after delay |
Phase 2 (after regenerating to full HP):
| Mechanic | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Screech | Raidwide | Party-wide magic damage |
| Shade Shot | Tankbuster | Magical tank buster |
| Syntheslean | AoE | Conal AoE on a random player |
| Syntheslither | Cleave | Boss moves east/west, marks path with swords, then cleaves where swords are; stand opposite first cleave |
| Slitherbane Foreguard | Cleave | Soulbane Saber plus frontal cleave during initial line AoE |
| Slitherbane Rearguard | Cleave | Soulbane Saber plus rear cleave during initial line AoE |
Notes: After defeating Zander the first time, he regenerates with a new form and enhanced abilities. Watch for Foreguard/Rearguard variants which add additional cleaves to Soulbane Saber.