Tera: Pirate's Grotto

Not long ago I showed you Cultist's Refuge, an area in Bluehole's upcoming action-MMORPG Tera that was filled with skeletons, double-ended monsters and spiked floors. It was an instance designed for a team of players to tackle in an hour or two.

Today I bring you Pirate's Grotto, a dungeon which could easily be mistaken for another instance. In fact, I mistook it for one myself. But Pirate's Grotto, for all its complexity and detail, isn't an instance -- it's a questing area. Located near Cutthroat Harbor, there are a few ways to actually access the grotto according to Associate Producer Stephan Ramirez at En Masse (Tera's North American publisher), such as swimming into the heart of it, or by entering from the shore of Mistmoor island.

You're likely to visit the grotto as a part of the main story arc, in an attempt to deal with the pirates who have begun to enslave local villagers. It's an area aimed at level 31-34 players and is complex and multilayered. Rope bridges criss-cross the complex and tie tiers of caverns together. There are encampments to serve as rest spots for adventurers like yourself where Federaton officers are able to provide you with task, but stray far beyond these points and you find yourself in the heart of a Red Lash Pirates stronghold (hence the name "Pirate's Grotto").

By this level, enemies have begun to get a little more difficult, not just statistics-wise but in terms of how they fight you. The snake-like Naga, for example, are extremely quick and favor the use of poisons, while the pirates who carry ship wheels on their backs will react rapidly to your attacks. While most of these pirates are in it for the riches, it seems like the Naga might have an ulterior motive, as you'll discover during your journey.

There are bosses in the grotto too, such as the tattooed warrior in the above video. He hits very hard, so constant movement to avoid his more potent attacks is a must. Luckily, when he uses his stronger moves he gives you a little visual cue as warning, which will give you enough time to avoid it -- if you're good.

Deeper in the grotto is the treasure room of the Red Lash Pirates, being guarded by a "Gula." While most pirates might replace a lost limb with a hook or a peg, this Gula (a notorious race of cannibals) performed a ritual to bond himself with some sort of crab-thing. As Stefan Ramirez put it, "Some like to exhibit "left-over" parts from the creatures they find particularly delicious."

While in this particular instance the Grotto was tackled by a group of 4 (a warrior, two slayers and a priest), Pirates Grotto will only really requires you to have a group for boss fights.