Join Constantine as he “invites himself” into the A.R.G.U.S. Black Room. Once there, assist Constantine in acquiring mystical aid from the agency, in hopes of defeating the daemonic attack on Gotham.
Open your On Duty Menu and look for JLD: Darkness Rising under Tier 5 of the 4 Player Tab. - Combat Rating: 210
Story[]
Characters[]
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The enemy combat rating is 270.
Locations[]
Map[]
Walkthrough[]
Black Room
You begin the alert by fighting through A.R.G.U.S., and carefully walking through a corridor with laser traps. Eventually you enter a room with two turrets.
NOTE: It is recommended for this alert to have a fairly experienced healer in the group, and for all group members to have a good understanding of the mechanics. This is especially the case for the latter two boss encounters. Otherwise this is generally regarded as one of the more difficult regular alerts in DC Universe Online.
First boss: Waves of ARGUS enemies[]
You will need to clear through and defeat a series of enemy waves in order to proceed further into the instance.
It is advised to stand close to each ARGUS Turret (there are two) in order to control them so that they can be used to attack enemy targets. If they aren't controlled by the group they will do their Voltaic Blast ability, dealing damage over time, stunning, and perhaps knocking back you and other group members who are in range.
Towards the last add wave there will be an onscreen text pop-up stating the following: "Avoid Incoming Nerve Gas Cannisters!". Grey/red AOEs will spawn in various areas around the map, which will do damage over time and stun affected players.
After the last wave of ARGUS enemies are defeated you can proceed through the next corridor, where your group meet Steve Trevor and take on a few more ARGUS enemies. Shortly after you reach the Black Room filled with magical artifacts, and just as Constantine predicted, Felix Faust is already there and has gotten his hands on the Spear of Destiny. With it, he unleashes Etrigan against the team.
Second boss: Etrigan[]
A fairly interesting fight as there are multiple phases, and not all may be observed in the same alert run.
On PS, Hold R1 to block
Mechanics:
- Flame Breath: Etrigan breathes a cone of fire that deals heavy continuous damage in a long line. This can be countered by lunging the boss (be careful not to lunge into the boss if they are facing you).
- Fireball Spread: Etrigan may sometimes throw several fireballs around him, which can do moderate to heavy damage to affected players especially if they are melee or midrange from the boss. This can be countered/lunged to interrupt this only mitigates some of the fireballs being thrown.
- Backdraft: Etrigan may have a skull icon above his head before lifting in the air with a fiery vortex, pulling players in range towards him (unless the tank has popped immunity). This does moderate to significant group wide damage. This can be interrupted if the boss is countered by a lunge.
- John Constantine will try to get artifacts active in the fight back to their cells, and have a golden shield and sigil over him. Animated Etrigan Armour adds will spawn and try to interrupt John Constantine. These won't attack players unless players attack them first. These can be KO'd, however if damage is sufficient and the group is competent the group can focus on damaging Etrigan instead.
- Death Sentence: When Etrigan is at low health, he may have a red skull icon appear above his head, along with an onscreen text pop-up stating the following: "Etrigan has summoned the Sword of Damocles!". A random player in the group will receive a fire sword icon above their head. It is best practice for everyone in the group to block when this occurs, otherwise it does massive damage or will most likely KO affected players.
Mirror Image:[]
- Periodically, Etrigan will disappear from the fight, followed by on-screen text stating the following: "Etrigan has summoned Mirror Images of himself!".
- Etrigan will then respawn with several mirror images of himself. These will also use some of the abilities listed above (Flame Breath, Fireball Spread, Backdraft)
- The real Etrigan will be slightly bigger than the mirror image versions of himself, so if the group can determine this they can focus damage on the real Etrigan and the mirror images will disappear after a time. If this is successful the following onscreen text will appear: "Etrigan's Mirror Images have been successfully dispelled!"
- Alternatively the group can focus damage on the mirror images, and again there will be onscreen text stating the following: "Keep striking the Etrigan Mirror Images to dispel them!".
Artifact phases[]
The following artifact phases may not all be observed on the same boss attempt:
Survive Egyptian Scourge:[]
- There will be on-screen text stating the following: "Avoid the roaming sandstorms!". Sandstorms will spawn around the room and move around. If a player is affected, they will be stunned and lifted into the air by a Whirlwind resulting from the sandstorm, and will take mild damage over time.
- A Statue of Isis will spawn in the middle of the room, and may have a red skull icon above its head before firing a red beam (Doom of Isis) at a random player in range, dealing some damage.
Avoid Contact With Allies (Effigy Phase)[]
- There will be onscreen text stating the following: "Those marked by the Effigy must stay away from each other!".
- Most/all players in the group will receive a spinning skull animation around them. If two players with the purple skull animation move too close to each other they will deal Tether damage to each other, dealing massive damage (potentially KO) to both players and knocking both players back away from each other.
Dodge Leprechaun Magic[]
- There will be onscreen text stating the following: "Avoid the Lephrechaun Magical Strikes!"
- Leprechaun themed Orbital Strike AOEs will spawn in various areas around the map. If a player is hit directly they will take considerable damage. As such, avoid these where possible. (Displayed in combat log as Something's Orbital Strike)
Avoid Energy Orbs[]
- There will be onscreen text stating the following: "Avoid the energy orbs ejected by the Obelisk of Realities!"
- The Obelisk of Realities (displayed in combat log as Nexus Paradox Generator) will spawn in the middle of the room, and will throw various energy orbs around the room, including the following: Concentrated Frozen Energy, Concentrated Electric Energy, Concentrated Fiery Energy, Concentrated Quantum Energy. If a player is directly hit by any of these they will take a mild damage over time. For the frozen energy orb it may also stun and encase the affected player in ice.
- There is another orb that is less likely to directly hit a player, and it may be that the player has to chase the energy orb in order to be hit by it. This energy orb will infuse the affected player with Anti-Matter energy, allowing the player to be able to interact with the Obelisk of Realities. After fully interacting with the Obelisk of Realities it will turn off and the phase will end prematurely (this will also reward the group a feat). (More info needed)
Once you've defeated Etrigan, Steve Trevor reluctantly agrees for Constantine to have an artifact if he helps finding the Mark of Cain and the Book of Lilith. Go through the portal.
European Castle
You arrive at an European Castle full of vampires, werewolves, and fascists, until you reach the final chamber. A fascist hands Tala the Mark of Cain, and she leaves with it. The Vampire Lord appears and attacks the team.
Last boss: Vampire Lord[]
A fairly tricky boss encounter by regular alert difficulty standards for DC Universe Online.
Mechanics:
- The following enemies may spawn to assist Vampire Lord in battle: Vampire Brood Leader, Vampire Bat, Feral Werewolf, Blood Golem
- Bat Swarm: Vampire Lord will give some players a swarm of bats around them, which will deal damage over time. It may also stun players by lifting them in the air.
- Shadow Vortex: Vampire Lord will have a red skull icon above his head, before using dark magic to pull players in range towards him. This will do multiple ticks of considerable damage if any players are affected by this. He is most likely to use this ability after teleporting or moving into a Pool of Darkness. He may also use this after a group member uses a Supply Drop.
- Disintegration Beam: Vampire Lord will have a red skull icon above his head while looking at a player in the group (normally the player with the most hate), before firing a dark beam at that player. This does multiple ticks of mild damage over time before the beam causes a dark explosion on the affected player, dealing considerable damage. There is a chance that this beam may stun the affected player. (More info needed?)
- Black Energy Burst: Vampire Lord will have a red skull icon above his head, before doing a dark energy cone AOE attack directly in front of it. Does moderate damage to affected players.
Pool of Darkness:[]
- Four Pool of Darkness AOEs will spawn in each corner of the room. There will be on-screen text at the start of the fight when this occurs stating the following: "Small pools of darkness have begun to form in corners of the room!". When they are fully active in the fight there will be on-screen text stating the following: "The pools of darkness are fully formed!"
- If a player stands inside them they will take damage over time.
- If Vampire Lord stands inside them they will receive defence buffs and may restore some health. There will be on-screen text stating the following: "Keep the Vampire Lord out of the pools of darkness!"
- Pools of Darkness can be destroyed if a player has the Illuminating Touch consumable equipped, and uses it while in a Pool of Darkness. There will then be a fire icon in the middle of the pool, which the player has to interact with in order to destroy the pool.
- If a Pool of Darkness is destroyed, Vampire Lord may summon Shadow Minions to the fight. These can be defeated by the group or they will go to an empty corner of the map and create a new Pool of Darkness.
Shadow Monster[]
After some time, a Shadow Monster will spawn from a Pool of Darkness. The Pool of Darkness will then disappear in its place. There will be onscreen text when this occurs, stating the following: "The Vampire Lord has summoned a Shadow Monster!". There are four different types of Shadow Monsters:
Note: There may be onscreen text stating: "Defeat Shadow Monster before more are summoned!". Shadow Monsters should be defeated as soon as possible, or more Shadow Monsters will spawn alongside them and the boss, making the fight increasingly tricky with multiple overlapping mechanics.
Shadow Snake[]
- If a player stands too close, the snake may Swipe, dealing damage to affected players and some knockback. The snake may also use its Snake Bite ability to a nearby targeted player, dealing moderate damage.
- Flame Breath: The snake may also do a breath attack in a certain direction. This will deal heavy damage over time to affected players.
Shadow Man-Bat[]
- Sonic Stun: Deals damage in a cone to affected players in front of it, and may stun affected players.
- Sonic Screech: The Shadow Monster will move while having a red skull icon above its head. It will then launch into the air slightly, producing a shockwave that does moderate damage to and may stun affected players in range.
- (More info needed)
Shadow Bat[]
- (More info needed)
Shadow Werewolf[]
- Lycanthropy: The Shadow Werewolf will move to and look at a random targeted player, stunning the player and turning that player into a werewolf. This will be shown in on-screen text to all group members, stating the following: "Someone has been marked by the beast!" This effect will last for a time however that player won't be able to use their powers (more info needed). This can be prevented or cured if the affected player uses an equipped Pious Aura consumable.
- Feral Charge: The Shadow Werewolf may charge into a player or ally NPC. Does considerable damage and some knockback on impact.
- Shadow Werewolf will have a red skull icon above its head, before doing a howl cone AOE attack directly in front of it. Does moderate damage and may stun affected players. (More info needed)
- (More info needed on other mechanics)
Lamp of Van Helsing notes:[]
- If a player runs this alert for the first time on a character, either ever, or after previously deleting a Lamp of Van Helsing from their inventory, they will receive a Lamp of Van Helsing upon entering European Castle by speaking to Steve Trevor (just after defeating Etrigan in the Black Room). This Lamp of Van Helsing can be levelled up by acquiring Otherworldly Essence (250 experience each) from various content throughout the Justice League Dark episode. The player will need at least 2500 experience to fully level a Lamp of Van Helsing, and receive several random consumables along with a new Lamp of Van Helsing. These consumables may include one or more of the following: Radiant Light, Illuminating Touch, Righteous Pyre, Pious Aura
- Radiant Light: Using this item will call forth Holy Light in a large area to apply the following effects: Stun all non-boss Vampires, Werewolves, Zombies, and Shadow Monsters
- Illuminating Touch: Using this item will allow you to interact with one Pool of Darkness to destroy it.
- Righteous Pyre: Using this item will call down a righteous flame that applies the following effects: Damages Vampires, Werewolves, Zombies, and Shadow Monsters. It also damages players cursed with Lycanthropy and removes the curse
- Pious Aura: Using this item will apply these effects: Immunity to the damage and negative effects from Pools of Darkness, Immunity from contracting Lycanthropy from the Shadow Werewolf, Remove Lycanthropy from self
Upon defeat, Vampire Lord explodes into a pool of blood and leave behind the Book of Lilith, which Trevor allows Constantine to take, and offers the rest of the Crime Bible as long as Constantine returns it after the crisis is over.
Rewards[]
- Source Marks, Loot Items
- 1 Catalyst (Augments)
- Justice League Dark: Treasure Box (members/owners only)
Collectibles[]
Briefings and Investigations[]
Collections[]
- n/a
Feats[]
- Divide and Control: During the JLD: Darkness Rising (Normal) Alert, take control of each turret and do not lose control until the last wave is defeated. (25 points)
- Dodging Darkness: During the JLD: Darkness Rising (Normal) Alert, in a single run everyone must avoid being damaged by the Pools of Darkness. (25 points)
- Drain the Pools: During the JLD: Darkness Rising (Normal) Alert, destroy 6 Pools of Darkness in the Vampire Lord fight, in a single run. (50 points)
- Hellish Reflections: During the JLD: Darkness Rising (Normal) Alert, defeat Etrigan's Mirror Images by focusing fire on the real Etrigan until his concentration breaks, before Constantine begins locking down the artifacts, five times, in a single run. (25 points)
- Laser Tag: During the JLD: Darkness Rising (Normal) Alert, without turning off the laser traps, everyone must navigate the laser trap hallway without being tagged by a laser, before anyone progresses further into the A.R.G.U.S. complex. (25 points)
- Leader of the Pack: During the JLD: Darkness Rising (Event or Normal) Alert, defeat 151 Werewolves in the European Castle. (10 points) Grants title: Alpha
- Redaction Action: During the JLD: Darkness Rising (Normal) Alert, complete all other feats associated with the A.R.G.U.S. Black Room. (25 points) Grants title: Special Agent
- Complete the Divide and Control Feat
- Complete the Upping the Anti Feat
- Complete the Hellish Reflections Feat
- Complete the Laser Tag Feat
- Stake Well Done: During the JLD: Darkness Rising (Normal) Alert, defeat the Vampire Lord in 50 seconds. (50 points) Grants title: the Slayer
- Upping the Anti: During the JLD: Darkness Rising (Event or Normal) Alert, get infused with Anti-Matter energy in order to turn off the Obelisk of All Realities artifact during any of its activation phases. (10 points)
- Werewolf Woes: During the JLD: Darkness Rising (Normal) Alert, in a single run, no one can be defeated after contracting and currently under the curse of Lycanthropy. (10 points) Grants title: Lycanthrope
Additional lore[]
While at the European Castle, you can optionally explore the Ritual Room and Laboratory. The Ritual Room consists of a few altars and large grotesque centerpiece of blood, flesh, and bones. John Constantine would comment that it reeks with black magic and a lot of people were killed there. The Laboratory looks like a shabby hospital room but also with twelve civilians trapped suspended in tubes. Steve Trevor would comment that the cult is utilizing science and technology as well.
Trivia[]
- At the beginning John refers to the menace in the skies of Chaos Gotham as "flying tagliatelle monster". This may be a reference to the Flying Spaghetti Monster, as tagliatelle and spaghetti are both types of pasta. Additionally, while spaghetti bolognese is perhaps the most famous pasta dish, bolognese sauce is traditionally served with tagliatelle instead.
- When you're directed to travel to the European Castle, the prompt reads "Get to the choppa!", a famous quote by Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 1987 Predator film.
- The Righteous Pyre consumable can also be used in the boss encounter against Shadow of Trigon, in the raid Legion: Convergence of Unmaking. It could also be used previously in the boss encounter with Vampire Lord while in Survival Mode: Titans Training Sim.
- Multiple mechanics by Etrigan are very similar to Fire power abilities.
- Multiple mechanics by Vampire Lord are very similar to Celestial power abilities. These include Disintegration Beam and its similarities to the finisher move Defile, and Shadow Vortex and its similarities to the ability Consume Soul.
Gallery[]
.jpg "Steve Trevor (Darkness Rising).jpg (246 KB)")
