The Forge Raven Cave Update Guide: Walkthrough

The Forge Raven Cave Update Guide: Walkthrough

The Raven Cave update is a three-wing dungeon split across the Nesting Shelf, the Mid-Cavern Waterfall, and the Ashen Brood Chamber, and you can clear it solo at hero level 41+ with fire resistance of at least 35%. Bring a hard-hitting melee or ranged build, two light sources, and a piercing secondary for the Swarmcaller’s armored flanks. This walkthrough covers the entrance, the gear thresholds, every enemy pattern, and the loot table for each chamber so you can run it in one pass.

The numbers below reflect the live patch notes for the 2026 season and the in-game Bestiary stat readouts; treat them as the developer’s stated values, not fixed absolutes, since small balance tweaks ship between patches.

Where the Raven Cave Update Entrance Is

The entrance sits on the north face of the Nesting Shelf, roughly behind the third windbreak cairn on the old hunting trail. You will pass two collapsed mine shafts before you reach it; the third dark opening with a carved raven over the lintel is the cave. If you are coming from the south road, follow the trail past the abandoned watchtower and turn left at the cairn with the split stone.

Two lamps flank the entry arch, and a narrow stream runs out of the mouth toward the cliff edge. Bring a second light source: the cave darkens sharply about 20 meters in, and the first chamber has no naturally placed torches.

Required Gear Levels and Stats

You can enter at hero level 36, but the boss checks in the Ashen Brood Chamber assume you have hit level 41 with a full set of tier 3 gear. Entering earlier means you will deal reduced damage against the Stone Warden and take extra fire damage through the fungal vents.

If you are running with a group, the level floor drops by about 2 levels per additional competent player, but the loot is split per participant, so solo runs are usually better value for the first clear.

Chamber 1 — The Nesting Shelf

Enemy patterns

Expect roosting skirmishers and two armored sentinels. The skirmishers stay on the ceiling until you cross the open floor, then dive in staggered waves. The sentinels never leave their post at the far gate; they advance only when aggroed and will not chase past the water line.

• Roost skirmisher: dives in a straight line, then perches for 3–4 seconds. Hit it while it is grounded; it cannot dodge on the perch.
• Raven sentinel (armored): blocks frontal damage. Attack from the flank or use a piercing weapon. Its shield bash has a short wind-up — step sideways, not back.

Loot table

Chamber 2 — The Mid-Cavern Waterfall

Enemy patterns

The waterfall chamber is where most first attempts fail. Three enemies matter: the Swarmcaller, vent crawlers, and the falling stalactites.

• Swarmcaller: a single large armored beast. The center mass absorbs hits; the flanks and the exposed neck are weak points. Use a piercing weapon. When it roars, everyone within 8 meters gets a slow debuff for 5 seconds — roll away early rather than tanking the roar.
• Vent crawlers: spawn in pairs from the floor cracks. They are fast but have low health; clear them between Swarmcaller attacks so you are not staggered mid-combo.
• Stalactites: fall on a fixed rhythm over the center of the chamber. There is a safe ring near the waterfall itself.

Loot table

Chamber 3 — The Ashen Brood Chamber

Enemy patterns

This is the boss room. The Stone Warden guards an egg clutch and cycles through three attacks.

• Ground slam: telegraphed by a raised fist and a dust ring. Move out of the ring before it lands or take heavy physical damage.
• Fire breath arc: sweeps left to right across a wide cone. Run perpendicular to the arc; do not try to outrun it forward.
• Brood summon: spawns two hatchlings at roughly 60% and 30% health. Kill them quickly or they drain your health while you fight the boss.

Two rules keep this chamber survivable. First, stay mobile on the slam ring and the breath cone; standing still is the single biggest cause of wipes. Second, burn the hatchlings immediately — ignoring them turns a manageable fight into a three-enemy pile-up.

Loot table

Quick Reference: Loot by Chamber

How to Prepare Before You Enter

1. Check your fire resistance at 35%+. Reason: the brood chamber’s breath arc and fungal vents deal fire damage, and below that threshold you lose health faster than a solo player can recover.
2. Carry a tier 3 piercing weapon. Reason: both the Swarmcaller and the armored sentinels reduce frontal damage, so a slashing weapon nearly doubles your clear time.
3. Stock two light sources and 10 healing items. Reason: the cave has long dark stretches and the boss fight alone can burn through most of your potions.
4. Clear the vent crawlers between boss attacks. Reason: leaving them alive staggers you out of combos and adds unneeded damage in the final phase.

One concrete example: a level 42 solo player with 40% fire resistance, a tier 3 spear, and 12 healing items can typically clear all three chambers in around 25 minutes. The same player with 20% fire resistance and a slashing weapon will usually die at the Stone Warden’s first breath arc.

Frequently Asked Questions

What level do I need for the Raven Cave update?

The entrance allows hero level 36, but the boss chamber realistically requires level 41+ for a solo run. Lower levels can still clear the first two chambers if they bring decent gear. The Ashen Brood Chamber’s fire damage scales faster than your health pool below level 41.

Where exactly is the Raven Cave entrance?

It is on the north face of the Nesting Shelf, behind the third windbreak cairn on the old hunting trail. Look for a carved raven over a dark opening, with two lamps flanking the arch. If you are coming from the south road, pass the abandoned watchtower and turn left at the cairn with the split stone.

What is the best weapon type for the stone warden boss?

Use a tier 3 piercing weapon for the armored flanks and weak points. Slashing weapons are inefficient because the boss reduces frontal damage. Ranged builds work if you can maintain distance during the fire breath arc, but the hatchling summons punish players who stay too far back.

Can I solo the Raven Cave or do I need a group?

Solo is entirely viable at level 41+ with 35% fire resistance and the recommended gear. Groups lower the effective level requirement slightly, but loot is split per participant, so solo runs are usually better for gearing. The three chambers are designed to be cleared in sequence, not as three separate visits.

How long does a full Raven Cave clear take?

A prepared solo player typically clears all three chambers in about 25 minutes, including the boss fight. First attempts usually run longer because of the swarm timing and the Stone Warden’s attack cycle. Once you learn the patterns, the cave is closer to a 20-minute run.

What are the most common mistakes in the Ashen Brood Chamber?

The two biggest errors are standing still during the fire breath arc and ignoring the summoned hatchlings. The arc sweeps a wide cone, so moving perpendicular is safer than running forward. Killing hatchlings immediately, at roughly 60% and 30% boss health, is what keeps the fight from spiraling.

This is a game walkthrough for entertainment purposes only. Values reflect the developer’s stated patch notes and in-game Bestiary readouts; check the current patch before you plan a run, since balance changes ship between updates.