It has already been a week since the release of Lost Ark's second Shadow Raid, 'The Arbiter of Death, Velgardin.'
While the immediate post-launch focus was on the First Clear race and progression, time has brought forth a variety of new strategies, builds, and a steady stream of unexpected bugs and hilarious moments.
In particular, we are seeing new trends unique to Velgardin, such as the resurgence of the previously overlooked 'Broken Bone' setting and adventurers going as far as stripping gems from their alts to secure a clear. Here is a collection of the most talked-about moments from the first week of Velgardin on Lost Ark INVEN.
First Clear by a Team in Their 20s! The 'Young-ro-ti' Buzz
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Director Jeon Jae-hak had warned that Velgardin would be a high-difficulty boss. Despite the high anticipation, the actual First Clear was achieved just 4 hours and 53 minutes after release—8 minutes faster than the Serka Nightmare clear.
The team that claimed the honor of the First Clear was 'Young-ro-ti,' which drew attention for its members' average age of 20. Having previously cleared Brelshaza Nightmare in just 24 minutes, they once again beat other teams to the punch with the Velgardin Nightmare First Clear.
Their flawless execution and impressive mechanical skill in the released video sparked a variety of reactions on INVEN. While some jokingly told them to 'go play Roblox,' others were fixated on the tiny mouse cursor used by team member Kim Mi-ryeon.
'The best-designed raid in a long time': Velgardin receives praise
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One of the most notable reactions in the first week is the praise for the raid design itself.
The author of the post highlighted that the raid allows high-spec teams to leverage their power while remaining accessible enough for lower-spec teams to clear, noting the existence of diverse tactics. They also viewed the use of 'Suppression' and 'Broken Bone'—settings rarely seen in previous raids—as a positive development.
This is due to an update that allowed 'Suppression' damage to apply during the 'Grand Melee' phase. The raid is so well-received that some wonder how it would have felt if it had been applied during the 'Serka' trials. Velgardin offers significant attack windows upon successful cumulative stagger, and the strategy shifts depending on how teams utilize the Grand Melee or stagger phases. With tricky grab patterns in tight spaces, it is a raid where player adeptness is felt just as much as gear score.
Thought it was Velgardin, but it was 'Bae-gardin'
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Velgardin comes with a 6-week Title mission. To earn the Relic Title, you must clear Nightmare at least four times and complete difficult exclusive missions.
What would you do to clear Nightmare?
One adventurer, tired of seeing Velgardin's enrage phase, took the final resort: stripping gems from their alts, fusing them, and equipping them on their main character. They eventually succeeded in clearing Velgardin Nightmare. The problem came afterward.
Having spent all their gold on the Nightmare challenge, they couldn't afford to re-equip their alts. Friends teased them, calling it 'Bae-gardin' instead of Velgardin—a pun on 'splitting the belly' (sacrificing) of alts to feed the main character.
'The Death Caller' appears in just 3 days
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An adventurer has already emerged who quickly obtained 'The Death Caller,' the final honorary Relic Title for the Velgardin Conquest.
In the past, adventurers have managed to earn titles requiring multiple clears, such as 'Abyssal Punisher' or 'Destiny's Adversary,' within the first week. This is usually done by players with multiple high-spec alts.
However, because this is a high-difficulty title event spanning 6 weeks—similar to 'Eclipse'—completing the conquest mission in just 3 days caused quite a stir. The author revealed they completed the mission by joining various 'clear parties.' The post included proof of the acquired Relic Title.
To earn the Conquest Relic Title, you must complete not only cumulative Nightmare clears but also challenging missions, such as achieving zero personal deaths, limiting the total number of grabs by the entire raid group, and ensuring everyone survives. As players quickly met these conditions shortly after release, the community responded with comments like 'Bamboo Wife' and 'M...Monster.'
Is it actually viable? 'Broken Bone' setting research is active
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One of the most interesting changes since Velgardin's release is the research into Engravings.
Notably, 'Broken Bone' is back in the spotlight. This Engraving is famous for the 'Broken Bone Suppression' stagger-specialized setting. It was used in the past for high-difficulty content like 'Hell' or 'Trial' modes in Seasons 1 and 2, but it had largely disappeared due to a lack of practical viability.
In Velgardin, the boss enters a staggered state during the Grand Melee and certain stagger patterns, allowing players to capitalize on the high damage increase of 'Broken Bone.'
The post author calculated the results of using 'Broken Bone' instead of standard 17% damage Engravings. They analyzed that since the Gate 2 Grand Melee accounts for a large portion of the total HP, the practical efficiency of 'Broken Bone' can be quite high for parties that can reliably utilize both Grand Melee phases.
Beyond this, research into Suppression-based settings is ongoing, making setups rarely seen in previous raids a viable choice for Velgardin.
My good sir, why have you arrived without your head
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One adventurer experienced an unexpected side effect after clearing Velgardin.
A graphical error occurred where the character's head completely vanished after the clear. The screenshot showed the character with their armor and body intact, but with the head area cleanly missing.
The author joked, 'Is this a Dullahan transformation for the story?' The bug felt strangely fitting given the raid's theme of death and necromancy.
The 'Bear Summoner Photo Time' that starts after the clear
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After the grueling Nightmare clear, a photo session is a must.
Recently, the 'Bear Summoner,' who takes the form of a cute bear, has become very popular. The mismatch between the cruel, gothic imagery of the Shadow Raid and the cute, brightly dressed bear creates a humorous contrast.
One raid party took a commemorative photo around a giant teddy bear after clearing Velgardin, drawing laughs. The sight of a cute bear standing with its arms wide open against the backdrop of a gloomy graveyard and ruins creates a striking contrast. With a bear much larger than the raid boss taking center stage, it naturally looks like the 'true final boss.'
The Bear Summoner's antics didn't end there. During a tense cutscene where Velgardin appears, a bear peeks its face out from the bottom right corner of the screen.
While Velgardin solemnly declares, 'Minions, ravage to your heart's content,' the Summoner's bear stands right next to him, looking completely oblivious. It is a hilarious photo, thanks to the clash between the dark, death-themed aesthetic of the Shadow Raid and the innocent-looking bear.
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