Initial Steps and Tutorial
As an Ironman player in RuneScape: Dragonwilds, your journey begins on the continent of Ashenfall, specifically in the Temple Woods. The game is a survival crafting experience set in the RuneScape universe, where you’ll gather, build, skill, and craft to survive. Your first objective is to speak with the Wise Old Man (Dionysius) within the Saradominist temple, which serves as your expedition’s base. While the tutorial is optional, it’s highly recommended to familiarize yourself with the game’s mechanics, especially for an Ironman playthrough where self-sufficiency is key.
Following the Wise Old Man’s instructions, seek out Doric outside the temple to complete the “Getting Started” main quest. Next, converse with Vannaka to undertake the “Ratcatcher” main quest. Finally, engage with Zanik to complete the “Rune Mysteries” main quest. These initial quests will introduce you to basic gameplay elements and set the stage for your adventure. Remember that early game skill progression is relatively quick, allowing you to unlock new spells, crafting recipes, and abilities efficiently.
Establishing Your Base in Bramblemead Valley
After completing the initial quests in Temple Woods, your next destination is Bramblemead Valley. Here, you’ll meet the Wise Old Man again to complete “The First Steps” main quest. A critical early-game task for any Ironman is to establish a secure home base. Ensure your base includes at least a bedroll covered by a roof to manage fatigue and provide a respawn point.
Crafting is central to survival. Your next priority should be building a Spinning Wheel to craft Coarse Threads. These threads are essential for creating early combat gear. Construct an Ash Shortbow and some arrows to aid in hunting creatures like deer, which are crucial for resources. For melee combat, craft a Wooden Shield and a Bone Dagger. Progress the “Dragon Slayer” main quest by locating and reading the lore book at the goblin castle in Bramblemead Valley.
Continue hunting deer and cows to accumulate Animal Hide and Animal Bone. These materials are vital for upgrading your protective gear. Build a Tannery to process Animal Hide into Leather. With Leather, craft the Reinforced Armor Set, a Leather Shield, and a Bone Club. Blunt weapons like the Bone Club are particularly effective against vault guardians. Before moving on, raid the South Temple Woods Vault, located south of Bramblemead Village, to obtain at least one Vault Core. This core is necessary for building a Lodestone near your base, allowing for fast travel.
Advancing to Whispering Swamp
Your journey continues to the Whispering Swamp to progress the “Dragon Slayer” main quest. Your objective here is to find Spitfoot inside the Whispering Swamp Vault. Upon reaching the vault, build another Lodestone outside for convenient fast travel back to your base. Inside the boss room of the vault, interact with the Dragonkin Effigy to acquire the recipe for the Anti-Dragon Shield, a crucial item for future encounters with dragons.
After securing the Anti-Dragon Shield recipe, prioritize repairing your gear. You’ll also want to gather another Vault Core to establish a Lodestone in the Fractured Plains, your next major area. The Whispering Swamp is rich in valuable crafting materials. Gather clay to construct a Kiln at your base. A Kiln is essential for creating Adhesive, Charcoal, Clay Vessels, and Wild Anima, all of which are vital for later gear and armor upgrades. Following the Kiln, build a Furnace to prepare for smelting and further gear enhancements.
Before venturing into the Fractured Plains, maximize your gathering efforts in the Whispering Swamp. Collect as much Harralander, Bittercap Mushrooms, and Swamp Tar as possible. These ingredients are used to craft Weak Antipoison Potions, which will prove invaluable in the more hazardous regions ahead.
Fractured Plains and Resource Gathering
Upon arriving in the Fractured Plains, your primary goal is to scout the area for essential mining resources: Copper Ore and Tin Deposits. Once located, build a Lodestone nearby to facilitate easy access and resource transportation. With a Furnace already established at your base, you can now smelt Bronze Bars from the Copper Ore and Tin.
These Bronze Bars are crucial for crafting a Smithing Anvil for your base. The Smithing Anvil will unlock further crafting possibilities, allowing you to create more advanced tools, weapons, and armor, which are essential for tackling the increasingly dangerous creatures and environments of Ashenfall. The Fractured Plains are also characterized by the “Anima Twist,” where magical energies transform local flora, often giving plants the hues of dragonfire. This unique environment suggests the presence of Anima, which is used for transformative magic, such as summoning spectral axes or repairing equipment. Farming Anima Infus will be a key activity here.
FAQ
What is RuneScape: Dragonwilds? RuneScape: Dragonwilds is a survival crafting game set in the RuneScape universe, developed by Jagex and powered by Unreal Engine 5. It takes place on the forgotten continent of Ashenfall after the reinstatement of Guthix’s edicts.
Where does the game take place? The game is set on Ashenfall, a continent that remained hidden until the Sixth Age. It features diverse regions such as Temple Woods, Bramblemead Valley, Whispering Swamp, Bloodblight Swamp, Fractured Plains, and Stormtouched Highlands.
What are the main gameplay mechanics? Players gather, build, skill, and craft to survive. Key mechanics include managing hunger, food, and fatigue, hunting and fighting creatures, exploring ruins and Dragonkin Vaults, developing skills, and completing quests. It features ranged, magic, and melee combat, and a transformative magic system using Anima.
Who are some of the characters I’ll encounter? You’ll join an expedition team that includes familiar RuneScape characters such as Vannaka, Zanik, the Wise Old Man (Dionysius), and Doric.
What is the main goal of the game’s story? The main storyline focuses on ending the threat posed by the dragon general Velgar and his queen, Kuldra, while uncovering the mysteries of Ashenfall’s history.