Shadow Vault Scaling

[Incentive]

I entered the Shadow Vault for the first time after finishing the MSQ. The enemies were scaled correctly on Floor 1, but as I go deeper it seems each floor just +1s the level of the enemies rather than actually scaling it. So right now on Floor 7 I was a Level 39 fighting Level 40 monsters, and now I'm on Floor 8 at Level 39 but now fighting Level 41 monsters.

It's not too much a problem now but I see this becoming more problematic the deeper I get if scaling isn't working properly.

[HiFive]

Yes, this is how the scaling in the Shadow Vault works. You can go backwards to repeat previous floors in order to level up more, or you can repeat the story dungeons, but make sure you do not use any town portals in the story dungeons, or the Shadow Vault will reset when you enter it again, so that the enemies are scaled to your new level.

Keep in mind that if you accidentally go backward too far and exit the Shadow Vault entirely, the enemy levels will be reset to your character's level (that is, one level below the current level of your character) when you re-enter the dungeon.

What I do these days is, when I make a new character, I buy 10 to 15 of the 1-10 maps to add extra levels to my character while playing the story quests. Then I buy 10 or more of the 15-30 maps to add extra levels to my character when I'm playing the Shadow Vault.

When your character reaches somewhere around level 40 (I'm not sure the exact character level that triggers this), the vendor only sells 20-? maps, which are always scaled to your character's level.

The reason I don't buy the 10-20 maps or the 12-25 maps (I hope I got those numbers right) is because I don't like those dungeons as much, and the lava prison maps tend to have a lot of those fellas that shoot the clusters of floor bombs (grenades?) at you. Those "grenades" are extremely dangerous.

Keep in mind that the 1-10 maps sometimes actually give you 11-19 level enemies, even if your character is under level 10. You need to check the enemy level right away as soon as you enter the dungeon to see if it's safe. Also, in rare instances, sometimes a large number of enemies will be crowded right in the entrance with you and it can be instant death. I mention this because it can be quite jarring if you are playing a Hardcore character.

[Incentive]

Originally posted by HiFive:

Yes, this is how the scaling in the Shadow Vault works. You can go backwards to repeat previous floors in order to level up more, or you can repeat the story dungeons, but make sure you do not use any town portals in the story dungeons, or the Shadow Vault will reset when you enter it again, so that the enemies are scaled to your new level.

Keep in mind that if you accidentally go backward too far and exit the Shadow Vault entirely, the enemy levels will be reset to your character's level (that is, one level below the current level of your character) when you re-enter the dungeon.

What I do these days is, when I make a new character, I buy 10 to 15 of the 1-10 maps to add extra levels to my character while playing the story quests. Then I buy 10 or more of the 15-30 maps to add extra levels to my character when I'm playing the Shadow Vault.

When your character reaches somewhere around level 40 (I'm not sure the exact character level that triggers this), the vendor only sells 20-? maps, which are always scaled to your character's level.

The reason I don't buy the 10-20 maps or the 12-25 maps (I hope I got those numbers right) is because I don't like those dungeons as much, and the lava prison maps tend to have a lot of those fellas that shoot the clusters of floor bombs (grenades?) at you. Those "grenades" are extremely dangerous.

Keep in mind that the 1-10 maps sometimes actually give you 11-19 level enemies, even if your character is under level 10. You need to check the enemy level right away as soon as you enter the dungeon to see if it's safe. Also, in rare instances, sometimes a large number of enemies will be crowded right in the entrance with you and it can be instant death. I mention this because it can be quite jarring if you are playing a Hardcore character.

Isn't there risk to opening maps while doing a Shadow Vault run? It won't interfere with the portal from the vault?

[HiFive]

Originally posted by Incentive:

Isn't there risk to opening maps while doing a Shadow Vault run? It won't interfere with the portal from the vault?

No. The 2nd floor of each map is short and has a portal at the end. You can even open a map while you are inside another dungeon.

They work similarly to the Phase Beast dungeons, if you've done any of those. The difference is that Phase Beast dungeons are always scaled to your character's level and the maps in them are different and shorter than any of the regular maps. The same can be said for the Mysterious maps that the Wizard in town sometimes gives you when you give him a special ember he asked you to find.

[Incentive]

Originally posted by HiFive:

Originally posted by Incentive:

Isn't there risk to opening maps while doing a Shadow Vault run? It won't interfere with the portal from the vault?

No. The 2nd floor of each map is short and has a portal at the end. You can even open a map while you are inside another dungeon.

They work similarly to the Phase Beast dungeons, if you've done any of those. The difference is that Phase Beast dungeons are always scaled to your character's level and the maps in them are different and shorter than any of the regular maps. The same can be said for the Mysterious maps that the Wizard in town sometimes gives you when you give him a special ember he asked you to find.

Good to know. Thanks for all the help.

[HiFive]

Originally posted by Incentive:

Originally posted by HiFive:

No. The 2nd floor of each map is short and has a portal at the end. You can even open a map while you are inside another dungeon. . . . .

Good to know. Thanks for all the help.

Sure. I'm glad to help.