Forgot password
Enter the email address you used when you joined and we'll send you instructions to reset your password.
If you used Apple or Google to create your account, this process will create a password for your existing account.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Reset password instructions sent. If you have an account with us, you will receive an email within a few minutes.
Something went wrong. Try again or contact support if the problem persists.
Lost Ark guide
Image via Smilegate

How to change dungeon difficulty in Lost Ark

From here on out, Lost Ark gets harder.

Dungeons are one of the best sources of loot and challenging content players can attempt to do in Lost Ark, which is a free-to-play action MMO inspired by games such as Diablo and World of Warcraft. It features dozens of unique dungeons scattered around its massive open world. Knowing which difficulty is suitable for you or your party is important, as it can dramatically change the experience and the rewards you can earn. This guide will explain how to change dungeon difficulty in Lost Ark.

Recommended Videos

Related: How Story Express works in Lost Ark

How dungeon difficulty works in Lost Ark

Each dungeon in Lost Ark will take you or your group to an instanced location, isolated from the rest of the server in a series of challenging encounters and boss fights. The difficulty of each dungeon can be chosen by the host of the group, but be warned, it can’t be changed once a dungeon has begun.

Screenshot by Gamepur

When you enter a dungeon, you will be presented with a screen resembling the one pictured above. You can select from a range of difficulties, but near the beginning, you will only have access to Normal and Hard modes. Select the difficulty you want to attempt, then hit Matchmaking to find other players automatically, or Enter, to begin the dungeon with you or your private group.

All dungeon difficulty differences in Lost Ark

When you select a dungeon to enter, you will have a badge called Recommended Item Level next to the difficulty selection. It will then show you the recommended item level in gold numbers and your actual item level in white numbers below it. This is a good barometer for how prepared you are for a particular dungeon. If you are around ten item levels below, you can still attempt to clear it, but it may prove not easy. Being about 20 below is where it can become near impossible.

Screenshot by Gamepur

On Normal, you will face enemies in lesser numbers and far fewer amounts of HP and attack damage. On Hard, you can expect to face many more Elite enemy variants, and the bosses will become significantly more demanding. However, the number of secret items and Makoko seeds in a dungeon will remain the same. Since the challenge of the Hard mode is increased significantly, the rewards are much better and will provide meaningful stat boosts.

Find the right difficulty for your group and brave challenging dungeons in Lost Ark to earn powerful gear and unique cosmetic rewards.


Gamepur is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more about our Affiliate Policy
Author
Image of David Rodriguez
David Rodriguez
David Rodriguez is a freelance writer at Gamepur and has been gaming for 30 years. His work has also appeared at NTF Gaming, Opencritic, and Metacritic. Outside of his love for games, you can catch him extolling the virtues of classic action cinema and the elegant class of early 2000s Nu-Metal.