Dragon's Stand Meta

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Welcome to Dragon's Stand meta!  If you've never touched foot in this map or need a refresher, this guide will assist.  In my effort to keep this simple, short, and complete, I'll be doing each "lane" in it's own section.  There's a lot that goes on in this meta, so without wasting more time, let's get started.

Dragon's Stand is the final map and chapter for Heart of Thorns (HoT).  Overall, this map isn't hard once you know what you're doing and have at least a semi coordinated map.  This map resets every 2 hours.  In other words, you have 2 hours to go from Pact Base Camp Waypoint [&BHoIAAA=] to killing the Mouth of Mordremoth.  

First and foremost, you'll need access to Dragon's Stand (end of HoT).  There are 3 "lanes" that have a lot of activity going on, but for ease of reference: north, mid, and south.  In general, each lane follows a similar pattern.  

  • Main objective that occurs on the lane itself.  Can involve defending an NPC or gathering items. 
  • Secondary objective generally take less people to complete.  It does provide additional support in fighting your way to the end. A third objective can also happen, such as what happens in the mid lane.
  • Escort a team of NPCs with their dolyak(s) to the first Spitfire.
  • Defeat Spitfire. 
  • Repeat previous 4 steps and defeat the second Spitfire.
  • Escort NPCs to the gate and hold until other lanes are at their gate.
  • Enter area and defeat 3 veterans and their pods, then zerg around the center.  Some people will break off and fight the NPC in the middle.  This is a coordinated effort, so both zones are equally important to ensure the success.
  • Once all 3 commanders are defeated, head out the new door and get to a floating platform.
  • Either fight the head, the body, defeat flowers, or bomb the face.  Just watch other players and see what they do for further clarification.

This map covers the route of each lane:

 

Green - north lane || Blue - mid lane || Red - south lane


For a more detailed breakdown (sort of):

North (Legendary Stavemaster Adryn lane): 

  • Start Tactician Jazmei with 5 players.
  • Objectives:
    • Primary: Gather Mordrem vine pods and return to NPC Briallen. 
    • Secondary: Gather shiny wyvern crystals to Chakata for additional skritt support. 

  • Escort troops to first Spitfire.
  • Defeat first Spitfire.
  • Objectives:
    • Primary: Bring meat from the saurian nests.
    • Secondary: Defend the planted mushrooms.

  • Escort troops to second Spitfire.
  • Defeat second Spitfire.
  • Objectives:
    • Primary: Help Gammalon Vineripper destroy the brambles. (This starts in the same area as Spleecta)
    • Secondary: Help Spleecta turn the machine back on. (This starts in the same area as Gammalon)

  • Escort troops to the gate.
  • Hold the gate until the rest of the lanes are at their gates.
  • Objectives:
    • Enter area and defeat the 3 ley-line collectors and the 3 Mordrem Preservers. Zerg around the perimeter and keep killing the Mordrem Preservers as they spawn.
    • Defeat Legendary Stavemaster Adryn (in the center).

Mid (Legendary Blademaster Diarmid lane):

  • Start Tactician Dutch with 5 players.
  • Objectives:
    • Primary: Help Grumlukl create bombs.
    • Secondary: Retrieve engine parts to keep canons online.
    • Tertiary: Defeat the mushrooms to rescule Itzel for additional Itzel support. 

  • Escort troops to first Spitfire.
  • Defeat first Spitfire.
  • Objectives:
    • Primary: Toss salvaged scrap to NPC Overseer Braeden.
    • Secondary: Destroy Mordrem prisons (unlocks a signal torch for additional Pact airstrike)

  • Escort troops to second Spitfire.
  • Defeat second Spitfire.
  • Objectives:
    • Primary: Defend Alara the Wolf and her turret building.
    • Secondary: Retrieve flamethrower supplies.

  • Escort troops to the gate.
  • Hold the gate until the rest of the lanes are at their gates.
  • Objectives:
    • Enter area and defeat the 3 ley-line collectors and the 3 Mordrem Preservers. Zerg around the perimeter and keep killing the Mordrem Preservers as they spawn.
    • Defeat Legendary Blademaster Diarmid (in the center).

South (Legendary Axemaster Hareth lane):

  • Start Tactician Ranara with 5 players.
  • Objectives:
    • Primary: Defend Splort while he activates lasers.
    • Secondary: Destroy ley-line collectors (gain golem suits for assistance).

  • Escort troops to first Spitfire.
  • Defeat first Spitfire.
  • Objectives:
    • Primary: Escort Dolyak to the next camp.
    • Secondary: Kill chak that are preventing pets from returning to ogres.

  • Escort troops to second Spitfire.
  • Defeat second Spitfire.
  • Objectives:
    • Primary: Protect Skeln Razerfist while he builds thumpers.
    • Secondary: Calm beetles down in the chak nest.

  • Escort troops to the gate.
  • Hold the gate until the rest of the lanes are at their gates.
  • Objectives:
    • Enter area and defeat the 3 ley-line collectors and the 3 Mordrem Preservers. Zerg around the perimeter and keep killing the Mordrem Preservers as they spawn.
    • Defeat Legendary Axemaster Hareth (in the center).

Once the Legendary commanders are defeated in all 3 lanes, you are tasked with fighting the Mouth of Mordremoth.  This part of the meta is pretty easy to do.  There are a few options that occur, but the 3 main parts are: fight the head/face, fight the body, and destroy the flowery vine growths.  Pick whatever part is closest to you at the moment and attack.  Depending on the map, you might have commanders referring to green, brown, and white for the islands.  These are basically the clusters each lane has, but it really doesn't matter in the end.

NOTE:  Be sure to touch the statue at the end (where everyone rushes to post Mordremoth death).  I have everything unlocked for auto-loot, but I have to touch the statue to receive some rewards.

Final bonus for this map comes post meta.  There are 3 treasure mushrooms that you can defeat for a chance at a super rare item.  In order to see it, you will have to have Nuhoch Stealth Detection mastery (HoT training - tier 4).  You do not, however need this in order to attack and hit it.  Initially, these spawn right after the meta completes, then they respawn about 10 minutes after the previous one dies.  I have provided a map for these locations:

Broken Altar - Northern Forward Camp Waypoint [&BFIIAAA=]

Central Barbed Gate - Central Advance Camp Waypoint [&BFMIAAA=]

Exhumed Delve - Southern Advance Camp Waypoint [&BGUIAAA=]

References:

https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Advancing_on_the_Blighting_Towers
https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Find_and_slay_the_treasure_mushroom!_(Dragon%27s_Stand)