Undoubtedly, MMOs are one of the most popular video game genres in the gaming community as they offer a near-endless amount of content, mostly for free. AndMMOslikeDiablo Immortalhave shown that gamers are interested in playing this genre even if that meansgrinding for hours to get a specific item. Another popular MMO with gamers spending hours on end leveling up their characters isLost Ark, a fantasy-themed RPG.
Related:Lost Ark: The Hardest Achievements To Unlock
And whileLost Arkhas many common features found in other MMOs, it has a couple of unique mechanics that make it stand out from the rest. Strongholds are one of those features that players new toLost Arkfind themselves lost trying to figure out. Once new players understand the Stronghold and all it entails, they’ll be able to complete higher-level raids, likethe Oreha Preveza Abyssal Dungeon raid.
Why Is the Stronghold So Important?
The Stronghold is an account-wide management center where players can craft, research, complete dailies, andearn Silver to upgrade their charactersor other Stronghold buildings. Players unlock the Stronghold once one of their characters reaches level 25, and once unlocked, it becomes available to all other characters. The Stronghold is also important if players want to boost lower-level characters in their account.
For the most part, players will use their Stronghold to craft potions and items that’ll aid later areas of the game. Players can alsosell the items they craft in the Marketto other players for Gold, but before a player can start selling, they’ll need to have an efficient Stronghold set up.Lost Arkplayers can decorate their Stronghold however they want, but it’s only cosmetic and doesn’t affect gameplay.
Getting Access To The Stronghold
As mentioned previously, players must reach level 25 before gaining access to their Stronghold. But, even before meeting the level requirements, players must complete the quest “Clerk Theo’s Invitation,” which is offered by Theo at Luterra Castle. Once players finish speaking to Theo, then the quest “Stronghold Ceremony” will begin.
Related:Lost Ark: Rules For PvP That Will Help You Win More Often
After that, there will be astring of minor Stronghold Quest, and once the players complete “Song of Hearth and Home,” they’ll have full access to their Stronghold (players can press F2 o teleport to it). But, of course, players will need to work hard if they want their Stronghold to be at its full potential.
Key Stronghold Buildings
There are six vital buildings within a player’s Stronghold where they’ll spend most of their time (and resources). Players can click on the building they want to manage, but the fastest way is by pressing the default keybind (CTRL + 1), which opens the Stronghold Management window. Once the Management Window is open, players can access Knowledge Transfer, Workshop, Training Camp, Manor, Station, and Lab.
Knowledge Transfer
Even though most players enjoy grinding their alternate characters to the max level, some would rather fast-track their alts without going through the grind. That’s when the Knowledge Transfer facility comes in handy, as it can level up a character to 50 without the player having to do anything. But, the Knowledge Transfer has limits, so players shouldn’t expect to level all of their alts using this structure.
Workshop
The Workshop will be a player’s main source ofconsumables like Signal Flares, Time Stop Potions, and other battle items. But, players must first research the recipes for these consumables in the Lab. In the beginning, players only have access to one crafting slot, but as they progress and level up, they’ll unlock a few more.
Training Camp
Once a player reaches level 52, they gain access to the Training Camp (and the Knowledge Transfer Center). Although the Knowledge Transfer and Training Camp may seem the same, they’re a bit different underneath.
Related:Pro Tips For Combat In Lost Ark
And that’s because the Training Camp passively levels characters rather than instantly like the Knowledge Transfer. So, players that don’t have the Gold to use the Knowledge Transfer can use the Training Camp to level up their alts, but this method may take several days or weeks.
Manor
The Manor is one of the most important buildings within a Stronghold inLost Arkbecause it allows players to activate passive effects that buff their characters. Players will unlock more slots to allocate passive buffs as they level up.
Station
This Stronghold facility allows players to send out crew members on adventures to gather currencies and upgrade materials. The number of items they find in each adventure depends on the Station level, but players should always ensure they have their crew members out on missions regardless of the level.
Lab
Players that want to unlock new recipes, Stronghold upgrades, oressential Raid battle itemswill be spending a lot of time at the Lab. In this facility, players can research the items mentioned before at the cost of materials they can buy or farm. The time to research an item depends on the level of the Stronghold, but players should expect some research to take several hours.
Secondary Stronghold Facilities
Aside from the main Stronghold buildings, there are three other facilities that players should be aware of while they explore their Stronghold. The first is the Feast facility, which allows players to craft meals that grant the current character and those at the Stronghold buffs. Second is the Trading Merchant, which offers various exotic goods that players can purchase with Gold or other currencies. And finally, the Resource Farm, which allows players to farm certain materials that players can only use to upgrade the Stronghold.
Players should always active the Feast function before heading off to a Raid as it’ll grant them powerful buffs that’ll make it easier to complete. As for the Trading Merchant, players should only purchase items from him if they are in desperate need since most of the items are overpriced and can be farmed. Players shouldn’t expect to gather too much from their Resource Farms but should nonetheless farm them from time to time.
More:Best Games To Play If You Loved Lost Ark
