Solo leveling in Hydatos

Since the introduction of the Echo to Eureka in patch 5.1, it became possible to much more easily level solo in Eureka than previously. Of course, Eureka itself is community-minded content, but feel free to use this information if you ever need to level solo.

This page continues from the Solo Leveling in Pyros page.

For general information about Hydatos, please check the Hydatos page. **Eureka leveling has some basic principles you should familiarise yourself with from the solo leveling page, before diving deep into Hydatos tips here.**

### General Guidelines

* Always keep up your food buff, Potion of Harmony, and Hydatos Elemental buff. Use Eurekan potion whenever available to keep your HP up.
* **Hydatos is blessed with 100% mutation / adaptation** rate so be absolutely sure to keep an eye on those conditions (solo leveling guide)
* Avoid grinding enemies that spawn a fate, they don't mutate or adapt so are less efficient to grind. FATEs only drop crystals if your level is higher, same level of the FATE or one level lower, so don't bother joining the train when its on FATEs that are too high for you.
* Teleports unlock at levels 51 and 55. Moving around Hydatos is very easy through the middle down, and the entire "coastline", bottom area of the map is free of almost any enemies.

### Basic Logos

These are the most useful actions to use while leveling:

* It helps fighting wind enemies that have high evasion
* Protect L

Of course, you can play around with as many actions as you want.

## Levels 50 - 58: Focusing mutations / adaptations

Grind enemies 1-2 levels above you and work on your Challenge Log. If you can, leave sprites for levels 58+, unless you're hurrying to finish the log before reset day (tuesday).

Mobs in Hydatos **always** mutate or adapt under certain conditions (day/night and weather) , when they have done mutating/adapting they will give more experience. **As the solo leveling page suggests, you can use the bestiary tracker or the spreadsheet to focus the right enemies.**

Keep in mind that mobs that often change element when they mutate. So, try to get their HP down low before they mutate to make it easier, if you have a stun ability you can use it *after* they've mutated or adapted for extra safety (don't stun them before mutation happens though, it may cancel the ability).

You should try to get in a group and join for FATEs as they spawn. The closer in level they are the better the experience gain, skip FATE's that are 2+ levels higher while levelling. Hydatos is a bit cursed when it comes with fate crystal drops, ranging from 5-10 crystals per FATE (*with exception of special support fate that drops 30*). Also, you do not get any drops if you're more than 2 levels under the FATE level.
So, your best option is to level as fast as possible so you can start benefitting from FATE train more. If a FATE spawns that is lower or around your level, join it. If it's more than 2 levels higher, ignore it. Getting experience from 2-3 mutated enemies will usually outweigh the experience from too high level FATE.

\* These three fates all have rare drops to get a 7th magicite. Molech's Horn, Goldemar's Horn, Ceto Claw.

\*\* Provenance Watcher is the instance boss of Hydatos, You can get Crystalline Scale from this fate at lvl59+

\*\*\* This fate spawns periodically if there are 8+ lvl 60 characters in the instance. The fate is needed to enter the Baldesion Arsenal. Dispel L is highly recommended.

\*\*\*\* This fate only spawns when the Baldesion Arsenal is being done, completion of this fate is needed to weaken Absolute Virtue. Dispel L and Feint L are highly recommended.

## Reflect leveling

### Spot 1: Level 51-58

An alternative way to level from level 51 to level 58 is using the Logos action Reflect L.

Focus mammets and **ONLY** during the **DAY**, because they mutate at nights and deal physical damage then. You also **shouldn't** stand in their AOEs, just run around. **This spot is quite slow** because mammets attack rather slowly, and the night mutations can be annoying, so it's not a recommended strategy for leveling, but it's possible if you prefer this and are alone.

To level this way, bring a Reflect L Logos action, remove the gear on your left side (or equip something in those slots with low defense). Activate Reflect L some distance away, then pull a Mammet. Don't forget to keep using Reflect L at 3-4 seconds remaining on the buff.

> Note that this specific spot, while possible, is quite slow due to how slowly the mammets are attacking and because they can't be farmed during night with Reflect L. It'll be more efficient to focus mutations / adaptations unless you are very bored. This method is most beneficial at lvl 52, if you find yourself at lvl 52 during daytime.
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### Spot 2: Level 58-60

The most efficient method to level from level 58 to level 60 is using the Logos action Reflect L.

At the south-east part of the Hydatos map there is an island. On this island Sprites will spawn during any weather but fair skies. The only damage they do is magical damage, so it gets reflected back to them as long as you have the Reflect L buff up (Thunder sprites reflect back physical damage so don't target them or you'll die from your own auto attacks),. If you have a low defense more damage will get reflected back to them, so remove your left side gear (or equip something with very low defense). Get a Reflect L Logos action ready and activate it **before** you run to the sprites. Once you're nearby them activate Reflect L again, this will cause them to attack you. The buff lasts ten seconds so make sure to activate Reflect L at 4~ seconds. because if it runs out for even a second you will die.

Some extra notes about sprite island:

- don't touch / autoattack any of the sprites. For example, lightning sprites apply shock spikes to themselves, which reflect physical damage. When you use Reflect, always click away on the map or press escape to make sure you cancel any auto attacks and dont kill yourself.

- if you have a friend, they can help keeping the chain up by bringing the nearby enemies closer to the island and killing them.

For any other questions and concerns about Reflect L farming, check the Reflect L page.

You can also join Ceto and PW farm groups at this point, as well as any lockbox farm groups. Because they are killing level 64-65 enemies, exp gain will be really high and it's usually the quickest method if you are lucky to find such a group.

## Level 60 friend willing to help?

If you're blessed to have a friend level 60, as long as you're lvl 52, you can get experience (finally) normally while with them in party. In this case, you should also focus M/A enemies, but **those that are 6 levels higher from you**.

`So, if you're 52, your friend 60 - focus level 58 enemies, ideally those that mutate/adapt. You hit 53, move on to lvl 59 enemies, and so on.`

## Special Notorious Monsters of Hydatos

### A Stone-cold Killer: Ceto

Ceto is a level 59 Notorius Monster that can drop Ceto's Claw, a material you need to acquire for 7th magicite. In order to spawn Ceto, you ***need to kill Hydatos Delphynes.***

Boss abilites

* *Sickle Strike:* A single hit tankbuster.
* *Petrification:* Gaze mechanic that will petrify you if you look at the boss. Turn away.
* *Abyssal Reaper:* A massive point blank AoE. It will one-shot you if you are petrified. Avoid the AoE (and being petrified!)
* Boss has 3 adds that will also cast *Petrification.* You can look at east for the first safe direction. These adds will periodically change positions, so keep an eye on safe direction to look away when they cast *Petrification.*
* Boss will also summon another add called ***Faithless Guard*** at some point in the fight. Avoid the AoE's and conal cleaves from the mob. At some point this mob will cast *Petrattraction,* which will draw you near her if you look at her. At the same time as this casts, the other 3 adds will do their *Petrification.* In order to avoid getting petrified, look at west, and dodge the *Abyssal Reaper* point blank AoE from Ceto.

### Crystalline Provenance: Provenance Watcher

Provenance Watcher (PW) is a level 60 Notorious Monster that will drop Crystalline Scales which you need for the last step of your relic weapon. In order to spawn Provenance Watcher, you ***need to kill Crystal Claws.***

Boss abilities

He starts in fire element, but later changes to ice. It’s good to start the battle with /magiaauto macro, or remember to switch elements as he changes. (REFORGE is when he switches)

* *The Scarlet Price:* A single target tankbuster.
* *The Scarlet Whisper:* Frontal cleave, basically he pukes fire in front. Move to the sides/behind.
* *Ice and Levin:* Boss will call down little AoE's. Dodge them and **go** **inside his hitbox.**
* *Ice and Wind:* Boss summons ice spikes and bigger aoes that do wind damage and blow you up to the air . Avoid all.
* *Diffractive break:* Raidwide AoE, proximity-based so go a bit further.
* *Hot tail:* A big line aoe from the front and back. Move to flanks (he does it twice in a row)
* *Akh morn:* A hard, multi-hitting tankbuser, can be shared.
* ***When he flies away**,* look where his copies are, they will run through the arena in a straight line. You can hide on the bridge outside of fate bounds, or find a safe area.

### I Don't Want to Believe: Ovni

Ovni is a level 60 Notorious Monster. It doesn't have a regular spawn requirement. Ovni will spawn whenever there are at least 8 elemental level 60 players in the instance who have completed their questlines, and first Ovni spawn is guaranteed 20 minutes after instance is opened, provided there are at least 8 elemental level 60 players who have completed their questlines. It will also spawn periodically every 30 minutes, as long as the instance is not closed. The respawn timer starts ***after*** Ovni is killed, in contradiction to other Notorious Monters in Eureka whose respawn timer starts immediately after the FATE(NM) spawns. **If Ovni isn't killed but despawned**, then the respawn timer is 20 minutes. In order to get experience and Hydatos Crystals from Ovni, you need to be at least level 59. If you are level 60 and unlocked The Baldesion Arsenal, you will get a buff called **Aetherially Primed** which will give you access for entrance to The Baldesion Arsenal.

Boss abilities

* *Pull of the Void:* Pulls all players near it towards it. Immediately followed by either **Concussive Oscilation** or **Megastorm***.*
* *Concussive Oscilation:* Immediately after **Pull of the Void**. AoE slightly larger than boss hitbox. Get out.
* *Megastorm:* Massive donut AoE. Marker doesn't appear until ~halfway through the cast. Be either extremely far away or directly beneath the boss*.* Happens after **Pull of the Void**.
* *Rock Hard:* Targets a random player with a small AoE. Dodge it.
* *Torrential Torment:* A long conal AoE. Dodge it.
* *Fluorescence:* Boss will gain a damage up buff that can stack up. **It must be dispelled with Logos Action Dispel L.**
* *Ion Shower:* Marks random player with a purple arrow. After a few seconds, hits them with a small AoE, damaging themselves and anyone in the area around them. A few seconds later, targets them for a massive AoE, about the same size as the boss hitbox. The lower the boss HP, the more times it hits. Marked players should move as far away as possible, with other players moving away from them so they aren't caught in the blast.
* *Vitriolic Barrage:* Massive unmarked proximity based AoE centered on the boss. Move as far away as possible. No damage taken if at max cast range.

### Expedition Support: Tristitia

Tristitia is a level 60 Notorious Monster. It can only spawn if there is a BA run going on. In order to spawn this FATE, players inside BA must step inside the portals at the same time in the hallway that lead up to Absolute Virtue. When 6 players step inside the portals, the Expedition Support FATE will spawn with some adds first, then Tristitia as a last boss. Just like Ovni, in order to get Hydatos Crystals and experience from this FATE, you need to be at least level 59. And if you are level 60 and unlocked The Baldesion Arsenal, you will get **Aetherially Primed** buff which gives you access to entrance into The Baldesion Arsenal. Tristitia drops 30 crystals, as compensation for the time that Ovni cannot be spawned (during the BA run).

Boss abilities

* *Wateraga III:* Small AoE that targets a random player.
* *Tornado II:* A massive donut AoE centered on the boss, with the safe spot inside the boss' hitbox or at max cast range. Always either immediately after or just before **Aeroaga IV**.
* *Aeroaga IV:* Small AoE centered on the boss. Always either immediately after or just before **Tornado II**.
* *Spine Lash:* Frontal cone AoE.
* *Dualcast:* Immediately uses the next spell after casting the first. Always paired with **Tornado II** and **Aeroaga IV**.
* *Shock Spikes:* Grants the boss a Damage Up buff that **must be dispelled with the Logos Action Dispel L.**
* *Mighty Strikes:* Grants the boss a Critical Damage Up buff that **must be dispelled with the Logos Action Dispel L.**
* *Meteor:* Unmarked proximity damage centered on the boss. It will wipe the entire FATE if **Mighty Strikes** buff isn't dispelled.
* **Logos Actions Feint L and Dispel L are very crucial to succesful completion of this FATE. Apply Feint L immediately after Tristitia spawns and do not let it drop. Always dispel Mighty Strikes and Shock Spikes with Dispel L.**