It's important to obtain all the Mastery Points available in each map of Heart of Thorns as you'll need the majority of them in order to buy your Mastery lines. There are a total of 9 Mastery Insights and 5 Strongboxes in Verdant Brink, providing a total of 14 Mastery Points. The vast majority of them are very easy to locate and only require basic Masteries to complete (Basic Gliding, Mushroom Jumping and Updraft). 

Masteries

1. Verdant Brink Insight (West Of Heartless Pass)

Mastery Required: Basic Gliding

Directions: A super easy Mastery Insight to obtain and almost immediately east from the Shipwreck Peak Waypoint. Simply jump off the cliff edge and hang northeast until you see it below you. You may need to land on a nearby vine (on your left) to regain your stamina before making the final landing. Alternatively, from Jaka Itzel Waypoint head south and climb the cliff face. You can then glide down without needing to rest. Both are easy. 

2. Verdant Brink Insight (Creeping Crevasse)

Mastery Required: Basic Gliding

Directions: From the Mastery Insight you just secured, fly straight into the middle of Creeping Crevasse. When in the middle and near the bottom you'll see a building that looks like a waffle (or it has a roof with square holes in!). Just slowly descend to it, and land in the middle above the Hero Point. 

3. Verdant Brink Insight (Hidden Copse)

Mastery Required: Basic Gliding and Bouncing Mushrooms

At the cave mouth head inside and down to the Bouncing Mushrooms.

Directions: Head directly east from Faren’s Flyer Waypoint towards Hidden Corpse. Once inside the cave make your way to the bottom. On your left you'll see two Bouncing Mushrooms. Jump on both and you'll land on the Mastery Insight. Easy.

4. Verdant Brink Insight (Canopy over Noble Crash Site)

Mastery Required: None.

Directions: Head back to Faren’s Flyer Waypoint and make your way up the hill. Half way up the hill you'll see a large vine on your right hand side. Jump on it and simply follow it all the way to the end. 

5. Verdant Brink Insight (Cave West of Jaka Itzel)

Mastery Required: Basic Gliding

Directions: From the Jaka Itzel Waypoint head immediately West and follow the path until you reach a cave. Inside the cave just follow it to the end until you see the Mastery Point. With Basic Gliding you can climb the rocks and fly to the Mastery Insight without touching the poisonous vines. 

6. Verdant Brink Insight: The Corpse Grove

Mastery Required: Basic Gliding

Look for the nest on the right hand side after landing on Blighted Depths. 

Directions: From Mellaggan’s Valor Waypoint head immediately north towards Blighted Depths. Once you land, on the right hand side you'll notice a structure that has a nest over it (it looks like a hole below). If you step on it, you'll drop through the floor and be able to fly to the Mastery Insight. Be aware that you'll need to open your Glider straight away or you'll miss the landing spot and have to Waypoint.

7. Verdant Brink Insight (Thistlevine Ravine - Just Above It)

Masteries Required: None.

Directions: A super easy Mastery Insight. Head south from the Pact Encampment Waypoint and simply walk up the tree branch on the left hand side. 

8. Verdant Brink Insight: Holdfast Hollow

Masteries Required: Basic Gliding and Updraft

Directions: A little trickier than the others, this Mastery Insight requires that you be in Verdant Brink at night. Once you are, take the Chopper from the Pact Encampment Waypoint up to the Canopy. Once there, fly onto the platform opposite. At the north tip of the platform, you'll see an updraft. You need to fly to it and once on the updraft, turn around to face south. You'll see a vine below. Land on the vine and in front of you will be another updraft. Take that updraft high into the sky and if you turn around you'll see the Mastery Insight on the top of the ship. Just glide down to it. 

9. Verdant Brink Insight (Canopy Over Pact Encampment Jumping Puzzle)

Mastery Required: Basic Gliding and Bouncing Mushrooms

After jumping on the mushroom work your way up the vine, to the left hand side of it.

 

Directions: An infuriating Mastery Insight and one that resulted in me getting very mad. Firstly, head to Shrouded Ruins Waypoint and head to Dust Dancer Plateau. Jump on the bouncing mushroom and you'll see a huge vine that you can climb. Climb it all the way onto the floating island and walk across until you come across another Bouncing Mushroom. When you jump on that, it will land you at the start of the puzzle. Simply work your way along the beams to the top. Tips for succeeding include:

1. Remember to open your glider if you fall down as you'll need to fly back to the mushroom. 

2. Your glider will close if you touch anything so try not to bump into things if flying back to the mushroom. 

3. First person really helps here as it's a very tight space. 

4. The beams you use to jump to are usually a dark grey color. These are your indicators. 

5. Dulfy has an awesome video of the puzzle which I'd recommend you look at

Strongboxes

Lethal Vantage Strongbox

Mastery Required: Basic Gliding

Directions: From Shipwreck Peak Waypoint head out as if you were going back to the skill point in Creeping Crevasse. To the left hand side, above the skill point is a small island where the Strongbox is located. 

Mellagan’s Valor Strongbox

Mastery Required: Bouncing Mushrooms

Head west for the first mushroom.

Once you land, just follow the path to the second.

Directions: Go west from Mellagan’s Valor waypoint and jump on the bouncing mushroom to the west. This will bounce you up to a second island. Follow the route south west and you will find another bouncing mushroom that will take you up the strongbox.

Faren’s Flyer Strongbox

Mastery Required: Basic Gliding and Updraft

Directions: Head east from Mellagan’s Valor Waypoint and you'll see an updraft. Jump on it and turn around, flying towards the large updraft from the broken ship. Once you take it, land on top of the ship and climb across its roof to the edge. Glide over to the opposite platform (on the left hand side). 

Glory of Tyria Strongbox

Mastery Required: Basic Gliding

Directions: A really easy Strongbox. From Faren’s Flyer Waypoint just travel up the ramp behind you and when you reach the large vine, look right (south). Fly over and down - you can't miss it. 

Thunderbreaker Strongbox

Mastery Required: Basic Gliding

Directions: As the last Strongbox, from Faren’s Flyer Waypoint once more, just head up the path to the top. On your left, walk to the edge and fly to the opposite island. Simple.

Have I missed a Mastery Insight or Strongbox? Do let me know!


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Last Updated: Mar 21, 2016

About The Author

Lewis is a long standing journalist, who freelances to a variety of outlets.

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