Before we get into the events themselves, let’s cover the essential knowledge you need to be successful in a Cataclysm. If you already know these, feel free to skip ahead in the guide.
Stability is a mechanic unique to Cataclysm (and some cataclysm related events). It’s intended to somewhat limit your paths initially, while making secrets harder to collect near the end.
At the Start of a Cataclysm, your Stability meter lasts 30 seconds before it’s emptied. Once Empty, you will begin to take roughly 10% of your Armor per second in damage, ignoring your shields. Each completed event will add 30 seconds to that timer, for a total of 4 minutes in a full 7 arena Cataclysm.
You regain stability by collecting point orbs (notes) that drop from enemies, or by sitting in a safe zone. The amount of stability recovered depends on the value of the note, restoring more based on the point value. In a safe zone, regardless of your total stability, you will fully recover it over five seconds.
You start the Cataclysm with a 1x score multiplier. Like your Stability, this also increases with each arena completed, going up to a maximum of 8x in a full seven arena Cataclysm.
This multiplier is also doubled while in an unstable area. Anytime you are not in a safe zone or have the safe area activated around the current arena, you’ll be getting double the points you normally would.
A lot of secrets will refer to their base score, which is before the multiplier. Simply take that value and apply your multiplier to get an idea of just how much score you get from a particular secret at any given time.
To get the most out of the Cataclysm, there’s a few things you should keep in mind during the run.
All Secrets should be done after all events are complete. Yes, even Time Runes.
Follow the group if you aren’t leading. There’s a few widely known and used strategies that are easy to follow along with just by following your group.
Speed is a huge factor, but so is clearing as many enemies as possible.
It’s a team effort. Especially when it comes to collecting the secrets quickly.
Compared to other activities, Respawning can help a ton when it comes to Cataclysm. When you respawn, it usually sends you to the nearest safe zone, so you can often just respawn in favor of breaking the safety zones, preventing any loss of score.
There are a few exceptions, where respawning will send you to other places, which can be helpful, but those few spots are limited in use. They can contribute to a run that gets you a higher score, due to the slight increase of speed. The most common one is used to move from Casja’s Forge to Sea of Takaro
You can use it for general travel as well, but this requires both practice and an SSD to be viable or load times won’t be low enough to make up for any faster movement. In a lot of cases, it will be roughly equal or slightly faster than most movement tech options. When practiced, it does help Colossus the most, being the slowest javelin with no extra movement tech.
This map is your best friend. Every secret is shown, all teleporter paths are shown as lines. Click to expand
When you first arrive in the Cataclysm, the first event is direct. You're tasked with destroying the gate in the middle of the area. The pillars need to be activated within a certain time limit, which seems to be roughly 1-2 minutes. Once all are active, they stay active.
Here's the basic steps to complete this:
Ideally in an optimized run, you can get both the Luminary Spawn and the speed bonus.
To spawn the Hunter in this event area, Defeat the Luminary that spawns in the later waves of enemies. Rot Weaver, like the other hidden bosses, is worth 150 base score before multiplier.
This event is found on the eastern cliff. The goal is to use the Echoes to make the gate vulnerable and destroy it. This alongside the other Echo Puzzle are harder and more complicated in Public Runs. These generally require communication.
Upon arriving, you see 4 echoes, locked away in protective bubbles. You will need all 4 of these to progress. Here's the steps to get each, as they are all similar.
Tip: Players on Storm or Interceptor have the mobility to quickly move from the button to the echo and collect them without help. It requires a short hop and a precise dash from Storm, or short hop and three dashes from an Interceptor.
Next, is a short Underwater section to collect the fifth and final Echo to complete. Using the Echoes you've already collected, follow these steps to complete this event.
Tip: You will carry echoes even after a respawn! So if you’re concerned about getting trapper under water with echoes, don’t be. You can safely respawn with all three echoes and bring them past the barrier. This trick is often used in score runs, as it tends to be much faster than swimming if the game is running from an SSD.
To spawn this Hunter, Collect the underwater Echo in less than 2 minutes from the start of the event.
Like other hidden bosses, Dusk Blight awards 150 base score before multipliers.
A bit further north, and to the west near the small protection bubble is the next event. This is a simple puzzle, but without understanding or communication can take awhile.
This cave has 4 Fragments that must be collected and returned to silence a relic. Here are the steps to complete:
With a bit of Speed Tech if you want to call it that, if you are fast enough, you can make it around to the opposite side of the room, waiting for only one barrier swap. Might be exclusive to the Interceptor due to triple dash. May also be possible with the storm due to high jump, hover and their quick dash animation.
To spawn the Enforcer in this area, Collect all four fragments in less than 2 minutes.
Like other hidden bosses, Smokefell Gnasher awards 150 base score before multipliers.
Another Puzzle with moving pieces. This time instead of echoes, you're moving around small relics. You start with 2 loose relics, and use them to access two additional relics. It's somewhat similar to Britaheim, but requires matching symbols, rather than placing anywhere.
This event is particularly good to have two people solve it, as moving one relic at a time is slow. Moving two give a better benefit to speed, while still being a controlled pace to allow everything to be killed for points.
Here are the steps to complete this event:
To spawn this Enforcer, you need to place relics on the pedestals that match the symbols on the Southeastern wall of the event area. If you’re in the Cataclysm, these may be hard to see until you get relatively close.
Like other hidden bosses, Rustfire Father awards 150 base score before multipliers.
Tip: Since the spawning method doesn’t despawn or deactivate after leaving the area, you can safely leave the spawn and come back later with a higher multiplier for even more score.
This is purely a kill event. Nothing complicated about it. The Boss will spawn after a certain number of enemies have been killed, you can tell how close you are to the spawn by what is spawning currently. The Fury will Typically spawn after the wave of Brutes and Valkyries.
Here are the Steps to Complete:
To spawn this Enforcer, activate the panel near the tower at the back of the arena, towards Dark Passage. Like other hidden bosses, Doom Inferno awards 150 base score before multipliers.
Tip: This trigger does not deactivate, so you can return later at full multiplier for even more score from this hidden boss.
Another Echo puzzle, A bit more straightforward than Britaheim though. Still uses only 5 Echoes. Requires at least two players to complete. It’s a rather basic airlock puzzle.
Here are the steps to complete:
To spawn this Hunter, Place a weight on the Eastern Pressure Plate outside of the airlock. You will not be able to recover this weight, so be careful! Like other hidden bosses, Baleful Host awards 150 base score before multipliers.
Tip: This spawn mechanism does not deactivate upon leaving the area, so you can safely leave and come back later for even more score!
This puzzle has a few moving pieces, though only the echoes are really necessary in a full, coordinated four player squad. There is however another set of moving pieces that will allow for it to be completed solo! That said, here are the steps to complete:
In a 3 player squad or less, you will have to make use of the weight objects provided in the event area. These are able to keep a button pressed indefinitely and are found in the following locations:
To complete the event solo (or with a squad of any size less than 4) follow these Steps:
To spawn this Enforcer, Smash the Crystal within one minute of delivering the Echoes to expose it. Like other hidden bosses, Blackfire Voice awards 150 base score before multipliers.
Tip: This bosses is a forced spawn, so it’s better to leave this event until the end, despite spawning near it. Through a means of a teleporter in a nearby tunnel, you can safely reach Casja’s Forge with minimal risk
Now that you have gotten all the multipliers from the events, it's time to gather up every single point you can from the secrets and puzzles scattered around the map.
If you left any of the Valkyries alive, now is the time to go back and kill them.
Note: being outside of the safety bubbles will double your multiplier. Every arena will now have their bubble active permanently because the event is complete, but if you are able to finish off a Valkyrie while your javelin is outside of the bubble you will get double the points.
There are 6 main regions of the map which your squad should split up and cover
The Approach
New Dawn
Dominion Foothold
Trials of Might
The Labyrinth
Dark Passage
The Labyrinth, Dark Passage and Trials of Might sections are quick and easy, they are usually done by whoever needs to pass through them on their way either to their assignment, or to Vara once they are done. Make sure you sort out the assignments before you start the run to make things easy. Once you get a good handle on the Cataclysm, 3 people can split up the map while the fourth heads to Vara and gets started on her.
This area has a good amount of secrets around, and a good variety of them at that. This zone encompasses the area around the Eye of Magnus and Britaheim events, and up north to Vara.
The Shaper Sphere here spawns along the beach, Northeast of the event. It requires the collection of three echoes to be completed. The spawn locations are marked on the map as yellow dots.
There’s one fixed echo which will always spawn above the West entrance to Britheim. The other two will appear in several locations:
Bringing all three Echoes to the reservoirs around the Shaper Sphere will activate the Shaper Sphere granting 1000 base score and release 4 points orbs with a total of another 2000 base score for a total of 3000 base score before multipliers.
A bit to the Southeast of the Shaper Sphere is a lonely pedestal in the sand. The relic you need to bring here is found North of the Shaper Sphere, along the edge of the beach.
Bring it to the pedestal to reveal and activate a point cache, worth roughly 1100 base score before multipliers.
To the Northeast of the event near the metal Construct leading up to Britaheim, there’s a circle of relics that is incomplete. You need to bring the missing relic here and complete the circle.
This relic can be found between some palm trees and the large metal construct that leads up to Britaheim.
This awards 1750 base score before multipliers, between depositing the relic and collecting the cache of points.
There’s a single Pressure Plate Shrine here, to the North of the Magnus event and slightly West near the underwater cave. Both the Shrine and its respective Pressure Plate are right next to each other. This awards 500 base score before multipliers.
This section of the map has three Crystal and Bomb pairings.
The first bomb can be found south of the Magnus event, on the other side of the metal construct near the event. The crystal this needs to be taken to can be found to the West, where the Metal construct meets the stone.
The Second bomb can be found to the Northwest of the event, near the rocky cliff next to the tunnel here. The crystal this needs to be taken to is to the north, tucked in a corner near the Pressure Plate Shrine.
The third bomb can be found on a high ledge to the Southwest of the Britaheim event, just outside of the event area. The Crystal is directly below the bomb, inside the lava cave below Britaheim.
Each of these awards 500 base score upon collecting the point orbs after breaking the crystal.
Tip: Using an ability or weapon can detonate the bomb early, letting you claim your points sooner!
Finally, this area has two time runes.
The first can be found to the East of the event, on a small metal construct outside of Britaheim. It’s on the side that faces Britaheim.
The Second can be found to the North, on a rock between Casja’s Forge and the path that Leads to Vara’s arena, facing towards Casja’s Forge.
Along the passage from The Approach to Vara, there is one more Crystal that needs to be blown up. This one does not use a bomb like the rest, it has a laser beam that needs to be aimed and fired to crack the crystal.
Stand on the right pressure pad to activate the panel to target the laser. It needs to be moved twice to be in the correct position. The Left pad will activate the laser. Stand on this one until the Crystal breaks, which takes a couple seconds.
This can be done by anyone, not only the person assigned to The Approach. Just make sure you communicate who is getting it.
Notes are the small coloured balls of light that are scattered all around the map. You will find several notes in the waters of The Approach. Out in the open water area to the south between where you spawn in and Magnus, and also through the water that runs north towards Vara. There is a hidden underwater cave with more Notes next to the Statue north of Magnus, there are two rooms inside this cave.
This area has five different teleporters to make use of.
The first is just to the West of the event area, between the rocks and the cliff. This teleporter links to the one just outside of Casja’s Forge. The One outside of Casja’s Forge links back to this one, teleporting you between the north and South ends of The Approach.
The second can be found in the water to the West of Britaheim. This teleporter links to the one just North of Castle Kelrik.
The third can be found North of the Shaper Sphere, hidden behind the metal construct on the cliff to the East. This teleporter links to the one in the tunnel East of Sea of Takaro.
The last teleporter here can be found under the Britaheim event area in the magma cave. This will Teleport you to the one just South of Vara
Due to the size of this section of the map, it has a lot of secrets to cover including the highest scoring secret, the Grabbit Den.
This is easily one of the longest and more complex secrets to be found in the game, period. There’s a sequence of steps that need to be performed, but you walk away from completing it with a massive total of 8,345 base score, between the grabbits, Notes and Pressure Plate statue found in this area.
Make sure you go in with strong area of effect abilities or weapons, if a single grabbit escapes you lose a LOT of points. A Storm with Binary Star is the easiest, but Jarra's Wrath works quite well on any Javelin
When Active, completion of this secret granted the “Or You Die” achievement, granting the Grabbit Ears helmet cosmetics. Currently however, this is not active but may become active again in the future
This area only has a single pressure plate statue, found inside the grabbit den.
The statue is found in the middle of the room, with the button on top of the pillar directly in front of it. Be sure to grab this before leaving the Grabbit Den; while you can come back, it’s still a time consuming endeavor due to the location.
New Dawn is home to the second of three Shaper Spheres. It’s found Southeast of the Kelrik event, in the shallow water. This Shaper Sphere, like the others, has one static Echo and a handful of random locations.
The statically placed Echo can be found to the Northeast of the Sphere, on the beach along the cliff.
The other echoes can spawn in the following locations:
Once the Echoes are obtained, you can obtain the same 3000 Base score reward of any Shaper Sphere.
This area is home to a single Time Rune. This one can be found just under and slightly North of the Western Exit of the Castle Kelrik event. It will be along the back wall, on a door texture in this area.
This area has 4 Crystal and Bomb pairings, though the one for the Grabbit Den does not award scores
The Bomb for this one in particular is found near the Time Rune in a higher level of the Castle, directly below the Western exit of the Kelrik Event. The Crystal is found to the Southeast, on a much lower level of the castle. This one will not award any score, but will enable access to the Grabbit Den.
The Second Crystal and Bomb can both be found to the West, near the Large Crystal on the Rocks. Both are in plain sight on this rather flat area of rock, just outside of the water that leads to the Grabbit Den.The Third pair are both found in the shallow water to the Southwest of the event. The Crystal will be plainly visible when in the area. The Bomb that pairs with it is tucked away in a nearby metal construct.
The Third pair are both found in the shallow water to the Southwest of the event. The Crystal will be plainly visible when in the area. The Bomb that pairs with it is tucked away in a nearby metal construct.
The final pairing can be found on the Cliff directly below the Castle to the East of Castle Kelrik’s Southern Exit and north of the shaper sphere, way at the top of the wall to the right of the metal spine. The Bomb will be found on a small ledge of the castle that sticks out, and the Crystal will be almost directly below it. You’ll likely spot the Crystal first.
Here you will find notes along the path that follows the base of the cliff that the Castle is built into, plus 3 in the water where the grabbit door is, and two more inside the grabbit cave.
Outside of the Grabbit Den, there’s a single teleporter for this area. This can be found in the top of the structure to the West of the Shaper Sphere. This teleporter links to the one North of Casja’s Forge.
Despite the size of the area, this area is very light on secrets, as opposed to New Dawn which is very packed with them. It does have two of the more collection heavy secrets though.
This is another semi-unique secret to be found here. North of the Diana’s Landing event is a Sealed Door in the wall. Next to it are three pedestals. There’s three relics nearby that need to be brought to these pedestals to open the Door to the Vault.
Note: You cannot swim or fly while carrying a relic, use caution when delivering these!
The first of these relics can be found to the Northwest of the door, under the waterfalls. Grab it and carefully make your way along the edges and over to the door to deliver it.
The second relic can be found directly West, on the top of the nearby cliff. It’s partially obscured by some plants that it almost blends into, but the prompt should be much harder to miss when you’re near enough.
The final relic can be found near a pile of stone, on the other side of the cliff. It’ll be on the ground, in the middle of the area to the Northwest of the Diana’s Landing event. It very heavily blends into the rocks here, so it can be very easy to miss!
Once all three relics are placed, the door will open and the Dominion Vault will activate, releasing a fountain of points worth roughly 1250 base score.
When active, completion of this event completed the “Door Knocker” Achievement, which provided a cosmetic Wrap. It’s unknown if the challenge or cosmetic will be available again, possibly near the Early August anniversary of the event.
The Shaper Sphere here is located on the shore to the West of Diana’s Landing, with the static Echo also being on the same beach, just slightly to the South near the Dominion Tent.
As for the other echoes, they can be found in the following areas:
Just a single pairing here. The Crystal is tucked behind the short metal construct to the South West of the Shaper Sphere, near the edge of the map. The Bomb for it can be found to the South East, on the opposite side of the rocky outcropping in that direction.
One Time Rune here, inside of a metal box on the beach beside the Shaper Sphere
There are several notes around the Shaper Sphere area here, along the edges where all the Echoes can spawn, along the north wall where the vault relics are and one inside a metal box on the beach, beside the Time Rune
The only teleporter here can be found West of the event area itself. This teleporter links to the Northern side of the tunnel near the Crucible of Astrid.
There are only a few quick secrets to cover here.
There’s a single Time Rune in this area, found in the back of the cave south of the Pressure Plate Statue, with one of the Teleporters.
This statue can be seen near the middle of the tunnel between this event and Vara’s arena. It’s respective pressure plate can be found on the stone pillar in the middle of the tunnel, directly in front of the statue.
There’s a single pairing here, both parts are located in the cave between the Crucible of Astrid and Vara’s Arena.
The Bomb can be found at the Eastern end of the tunnel near the Crucible of Astrid, just to the south of the metal constructs lining the cave before entering the arena. The Crystal can be found at the Western end of the tunnel, at the bottom of the short cliff here.
There are only two notes here. One is up above the doorway into Astrid's arena, beside the safety bubble, and the other is in the cave with the Time Rune and Teleporter.
There are three teleporters in this area.
The first is to the north of the Pressure Plate Statue. This one links to the one to the West of Diana’s Landing.
The Second is to the South of the Pressure Plate Statue, in the cave with the Time Rune. This teleporter links to the one in the Northern end of the underwater tunnel, North West of the Ring of Magnus.
The Third is just to the South of Vara’s Arena. This Teleporter links to the one in the magma room below Britaheim.
Due to the smaller space, the secrets in this area are limited.
There are two statues in this small area, both with pressure plates very nearby, but slightly out of the way.
The first is between the event area and the eastern entrance from The Approach. The Statue will be seen clearly when flying in; the pressure plate however is tucked in along the wall, slightly obscured by ruins and spider webs.
The second is on the opposite side of the event, just before the forked path that leads to either Diana’s Landing or Castle Kelrik. Again the Statue will be clearly seen from flying. This time the pressure plate is tucked in a narrow path directly to the South of the statue. Taking the path up from the statue towards Casja’s Forge, rather than the lower path will let you spot it easily.
There’s a singular Time tune here, found just outside of the Northern entrance to Castle Kelrik. It can be found in a small Dominion hut during the vertical section of this path. Since this area is a little darker than other areas, it should stand out as you pass by it.
the only Notes here will be in the room with the Time Rune. Some down at the bottom, one way up at the top inside a small structure.
This area has three teleporters.
The first can be found just outside the Northern exit of the Casja’s Forge event area. This teleporter links to the New Dawn beach, near the Shaper Sphere.
The second cna be found in the Northern end of the tunnel near the Pressure Plate Statue, coming from The Approach. This teleport links to the Southern teleport in the Cave near Crucible of Astrid, which happens to have a Time Rune.
The third one is in a small cave before entering the Castle Kelrik event area, behind a broken wall just North of the event itself. This teleporter links to the underwater one, West of Britaheim.
The Sea of Takaro doesn’t have much in terms of secrets.
There’s two pairings in this rather small section of the map.
The first Bomb can be found on a broken bridge to the West of the event. The respective Crystal can be found along the wall to the South, and can be seen from the bomb’s location.
The Second Bomb can be found to the East, behind the teleporter along the South side of the tunnel that leads towards Vara. The respective Crystal can be found further East into the tunnel.
Just a single one. The statue can be found directly east of the Sea of Takaro Event, along the Northern wall. The Pressure Plate for it can be found further East along the same wall, inside some nearby ruins and tucked behind some boxes.
Several notes can be found in the two sections of water that surround the Takaro event, as well as the river leading into the cave from Dominion Foothold.
Just a single teleporter here, this one can be found to the Southeast of the event, in an alcove in the tunnel heading toward Vara. This teleporter links to the one Northwest of Britaheim, behind the metal construct.
This boss seems relatively straightforward currently. Weak point is at the head, and currently only has 2 phases. Aim for the head for extra damage, doesn’t appear to be any additional weak points. Still need to get more information for this fight, but this is what I have currently. It's not much, but working on it.
Phase seems pretty standard. Stand in the middle of the arena launching attacks. Occasionally summon a few Dominion troops. Below is a list of attacks I've seen.
Charged Fire Beam: Much like the reworked Fire Valkyries, it's a charged beam that deals high damage and will always inflict status. Will always follow a Freeze from Ice Barrage.
Flame Waves: Vara Targets up to two players with a pillar-like indicator. Fire waves will be sent out from these player's locations at their current height.
Tip: This attack is often preceded by the Voiceline “Burn.”
Ring of Fire: Vara creates a ring of fire at the end of the arena and pulls it towards her. Stand in the middle of the room near Vara to avoid this attack. This Attack is a guaranteed kill in GM3.
Tip: This attack is usually preceded by the voicelines “Get over here.” or “You think you can Escape?”
Ice Barrage: Vara will launch a small barrage of Ice projectiles at a player, high chance to freeze on hit. Always Followed up by the Charged Fire Beam if a Freeze is inflicted.
Summon Dominion: Vara summons 10 Dominion Troopers in the middle of the Arena.
Tip: This is usually preceded by the voiceline “The Dominion will rule this world.”
More of the same, but Vara relocates herself to one of the farthest pillars. However if you want to live, I suggest staying on the pillars yourself. She Spreads fire across the entire battlefield, while disabling Flight, leaving the pillars safe. If you want to be able to melee her, you need to predict which pillar she will be on, which can be hard.
She seems to enter and leave this phase every 20% HP. Meaning at 80% and 40% Health is when this becomes active.
Stationary Fireballs: Casts ~5-7 Fireballs on your squad. These Fireballs leave a lingering AoE for a bit. Be careful these don't land on your platforms. Depending on javelin, it can be safest to drop to the floor when each spawns, to keep them out of the way.
Tip: Each Fireball is usually preceded by a scream. The scream is the cue that the location has been set and you need to move.
Blazing Floor: This gives the phase its name. Vara disables flight for all Javelins (Storms can still hover), and sets the arena on fire. Pillars are left as the only safe areas.
Defeating Vara will double your total score, so you must absolutely make sure you leave enough time to do so.