Region: Steam/PURPLE Global. This guide follows the official notes dated Oct. 27 PDT / Oct. 28 CET.
After Hard mode arrived for Krao Cave and Draupnir, the Global update adds two more Expedition Hard instances: Urugugu Canyon and Vakron Sky Island. Both new modes require item level 2,700, above the 2,600 threshold used by the earlier pair. Before adding them to a weekly routine, make sure your group meets the gear requirement and can sustain enough damage to finish the boss encounter on time.
Entry requirements and combat rules
| Item | New Hard mode rule |
|---|---|
| Dungeons | Urugugu Canyon and Vakron Sky Island |
| Minimum item level | 2,700 |
| Boss Frenzy timer | 4 minutes |
| Revives per player | Up to 3 |
The four-minute Frenzy timer makes sustained damage important alongside survival. With only three revives per player, groups should also agree on how to handle mistakes before entering; spending every revive early leaves less room for later boss mechanics.
What do the new Hard modes reward?
The official notes list several reward additions:
- Philosopher’s Stone: Revelation (Bound): a chance-based drop, and it can also be selected as a guaranteed reward.
- Ariel Fragments: each dungeon guarantees its corresponding fragment.
- Expedition Hero Artwork: available as a chance-based reward.
- Kina: Hard mode pays more Kina than Normal mode.
- Unique crafting materials: Wrathful Mind, Wrathful Will, and Wrathful Ego become available.
- Achievement cosmetics: new Expedition Hard achievements include unique skins among their rewards.
The two instances provide different Ariel Fragment types. If you are farming for progression, check which fragment your character still needs rather than treating the rewards as interchangeable.
How these modes differ from the earlier pair
This is an expansion of the Hard-mode lineup, not simply a higher item-level requirement for the same dungeons. Krao Cave and Draupnir Hard previously required item level 2,600; the newly added Urugugu Canyon and Vakron Sky Island modes require 2,700. The four-minute Frenzy timer and three-revive cap are the main restrictions to remember.
Before you queue
- Verify that your item level is at least 2,700.
- Agree on key mechanics and damage assignments before the run, keeping the four-minute Frenzy timer in mind.
- Decide how the group will spend its limited revives.
- Check the reward table for the specific Ariel Fragment and crafting materials you need.
NC lists increased Kina and several new rewards, but it does not guarantee that every random reward will drop on every clear. Plan around guaranteed rewards separately from chance-based drops.
| Official source: AION 2 Steam official announcements, “Patch Notes | Oct. 27 (PDT) / Oct. 28 (CET).” |
This is independent game coverage and is not an official statement from NC or the AION 2 operations team.