Understanding Vanguard's Swamp Armor

By Machail

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Introduction

At level 45 the swamp armor quests become available.  These are end-game armor sets and have something for everyone.  The sets are divided into three factions, serving three statistics specializations.

• Gorgalok Armor: This set is focused on offensive statisitics like +damage, and +critical chance.  This set requires killing in Ichtakhta.
• Ichtakhta Armor: This set is focused on defensive statistics like +mitigation,  and +absorption.  This set requires killing in Flordiel.
• Flordiel Armor: This set is a balanced set, mixing statistics. This set requires killing Gorgolaks in Vsurog Moor.

Before beginning the quests it is important to decide which set you want to go after.  As the three sets are separated by faction, when you quest for one set, you'll be losing faction with another, making doing multiple sets relatively difficult.  Not impossible, but difficult.  We'll get to that later.

Location

The Swamps can be found at the southwest of Thestra.  Flordiel has a riftway on the Tier 3 network (linked to Plains of Anguish, Pankor Zhi, Razad and Wyrmwing Slopes).  It is indicated by the white and black circle just above the first "L" in "Flordiel" on the map to the left.

It is easiest reached by going to the Flordiel Rift, but if you don't have it unlocked yet, you can either fly in or boat in with ease from New Targonor, which is just a bit east from the map shown here.

Regardless of which faction you decide you want to go for, it may be an idea to set up in Ruin Falls, which is just north of Vsurog Moor on this map.  There you will find a bind stone, a mailbox, and shops to do your selling.  You can also craft here for faction with any of the three factions.  We'll get to that a bit later too.

Choosing Faction

Once you decide which set of armor you want to do, you'll need to start by gaining faction for that city.  One way to do this is by hailing the steward for the city with which you want to gain faction.  They will offer a quest entitled "Atonement."  The stewards for each faction are:

• Gorgalok: Emissary Geisel, located at -71700, -79500 in Vsurog Moor
• Ichtakhta:  Karoz of the Ichtakhta, located at 50800, -54500 in Ichtakhta
• Flordiel: Esurin, located at -70000, -46300 in Flordiel

The "Atonement" quest requires you to return to one of these stewards with the Ankh of the Fungus King.  This Ankh is dropped from King Mnalu in the Mnalus Caves, in the center of the Swamps of Rumug.  Getting the king to become attackable (as he's always there, just not attackable) requires killing the Prince, the Queen, and finally the King.

The alternate means of gaining faction is doing work orders in Elani in Ruin Falls.  For many, this will be an easier route, as in Elani you will find three craftsmen who offer work orders for any crafting level.  Each work order gives 500 faction upon completion, and negative 250 faction to the opposing factions.

Thirdly, you can begin killing creatures in any of the areas to start building your faction.  This is the slowest route though as they will only offer one or two faction points per kill.

In any case, you will need 2001 faction with your chosen city to be able to complete the armor quests.

Armor Sets

Each set comes in two tiers.  The first tier is the armor received for completing the quest.  This is rare quality armor and is generally pretty good.  However, all of these armor pieces are upgradable to heroic quality by combining it with a crafted component (more on this at a later date).  For this overview, we will do the charts based on the final upgraded armor pieces.

Available Sets:

Class	Gorgalok Set	Ichtakhta Set	Flordiel Set
Bard	Flare Totem	Shadowmantis	Feral Leaf
Blood Mage	Fireweave	Phytotoxinous	Vibrant Petal
Cleric	Swamp Shaman Palladium Skull Plated	Reverberating Sap Biochitinous Impervious Chitin	Serene Leaf Fae Blessed Shimmering Silverbark
Disciple	Swamp Shaman Flare Totem	Shadowmantis Reverberating Sap	Feral Leaf Serene Leaf
Dread Knight	Skull Plated	Impervious Chitin	Shimmering Silverbark
Druid	Fireweave	Phytotoxinous	Vibrant Petal
Monk	Flare Totem	Shadowmantis	Feral Leaf
Necromancer	Fireweave	Phytotoxinous	Vibrant Petal
Paladin	Skull Plated	Impervious Chitin	Shimmering Silverbark
Psionicist	Fireweave	Phytotoxinous	Vibrant Petal
Ranger	Flare Totem	Shadowmantis	Feral Leaf
Rogue	Flare Totem	Shadowmantis	Feral Leaf
Shaman	Swamp Shaman Flare Totem	Shadowmantis Reverberating Sap	Feral Leaf Serene Leaf
Sorceror	Fireweave	Phytotoxinous	Vibrant Petal
Warrior	Skull Plated	Impervious Chitin	Shimmering Silverbark

The Quests

Each of the factions has an NPC that will offer you the quests.  You can only obtain these quests at 2000 faction with your chosen town.  You can obtain these quests at level 45.

Gorgolak - Veregeth is located in Vsurog Moor at 12300, 16000
Ichtakhta - Stockpiler Gelmitz is located in Ichtakhta at -17600, 25000
Flordiel - Telnia is located in Flordiel at 29100, -25400

All factions require the same quest components apart from the raw armor drops.  The raw armor is what determines which set you can complete.

Quest Drops:

Armor Slot	Quest Components (apart from raw armor)	Drops From
Arms	- 2 Warped Wind Essence	- Various 2-dot creatures in Ichtakhta, Flordiel, Vsurog Moor
Waist	- 2 Fragmented Wind Essence	- Various 2-dot creatures in Ichtakhta, Flordiel, Vsurog Moor
Wrists	- 1 Fragmented Wind Essence	- Various 2-dot creatures in Ichtakhta, Flordiel, Vsurog Moor
Feet	- 2 Residual Chaos Energy - 2 Undamaged Fungal Fiber	- Various 3 dot named in Ichtakhta, Flordiel, Vsurog Moor - Any Mnalus (fungus creature) found in most swamp chunks
Hands	- 1 Warped Wind Essence	- Various 2-dot creatures in Ichtakhta, Flordiel, Vsurog Moor
Head	- 1 Residual Chaos Energy - 1 Spore Beast Membrane	- Various 3 dot named in Ichtakhta, Flordiel, Vsurog Moor - Any Sporebeast in Mnalu Caves
Chest	- 1 Core of Ezigoth	- Hegnerian - Mnalu Caves in Swamps of Rumug
Legs	- 3 Nihilistic Storm Particles - 1 Fungal Arcane Bulb	- Various 3 - 5 dot named in Ichtakhta, Flordiel, Vsurog Moor - Various 3 - 5 dot Mnalus (fungus creature) in Mnalu Caves
Shoulders	- 2 Nihilistic Storm Particles 1 Leech Barbs	- Various 3 - 5 dot named in Ichtakhta, Flordiel, Vsurog Moor - Snake creatures in underwater caves in Mnalu Caves

Raw Armor Drops:

Armor Slot	Heavy Raw Armor Gorgolak Ichtakhta Flordiel	Medium Melee Raw Armor Gorgolak Ichtakhta Flordiel	Medium Healer Raw Armor Gorgolak Ichtakhta Flordiel	Light Raw Armor Gorgolak Ichtakhta Flordiel
Arms	Cracked Husk Underlay Hardened Wood Underlay Solid Bone Underlay	Tough Membranous Underlay Splintered Bark Underlay Swamphibian Hide Underlay	Shattered Chitin Underlay Treated Sap Underlay Gorgalok Patchwork Underlay	Pulsing Mucus Underlay Formed Leaf Underlay Gorgalok Linen Underlay
Waist	Cracked Husk Girdle Hardened Wood Girdle Solid Bone Girdle	Tough Membranous Belt Splintered Bark Belt Swamphibian Hide Belt	Shattered Chitin Belt Treated Sap Belt Gorgalok Patchwork Belt	Pulsing Mucus Sash Formed Leaf Sash Gorgalok Linen Sash
Wrists	Cracked Husk Bracer Hardened Wood Bracers Solid Bone Bracer	Tough Membranous Wristguards Splintered Bark Wristguards Swamphibian Hide Wristguards	Shattered Chitin Wristguards Treated Sap Wristguards Gorgalok Patchwork Wristguards	Pulsing Mucus Cuffs Formed Leaf Cuffs Gorgalok Linen Cuffs
Feet	Cracked Husk Sabatons Hardened Wood Sabatons Solid Bone Sabatons	Tough Membranous Boots Splintered Bark Boots Swamphibian Hide Boots	Shattered Chitin Boots Treated Sap Boots Gorgalok Patchwork Boots	Pulsing Mucus Slippers Formed Leaf Slippers Gorgalok Linen Slippers
Hands	Cracked Husk Gauntlets Hardened Wood Gauntlets Solid Bone Gauntlets	Tough Membranous Gloves Splintered Bark Gloves Swamphibian Hide Gloves	Shattered Chitin Gloves Treated Sap Gloves Gorgalok Patchwork Gloves	Pulsing Mucus Gloves Formed Leaf Gloves Gorgalok Linen Gloves
Head	Cracked Husk Helm Hardened Wood Helm Solid Bone Helm	Tough Membranous Cap Splintered Bark Cap Swamphibian Hide Cap	Shattered Chitin Hood Treated Sap Cap Gorgalok Patchwork Cap	Pulsing Mucus Hood Formed Leaf Hood Gorgalok Linen Hood
Chest	Cracked Husk Breastplate Hardened Wood Breastplate Solid Bone Breastplate	Tough Membranous Tunic Splintered Bark Tunic Swamphibian Hide Tunic	Shattered Chitin Tunic Treated Sap Tunic Gorgalok Patchwork Tunic	Pulsing Mucus Robe Formed Leaf Robe Gorgalok Linen Robe
Legs	Cracked Husk Greaves Hardened Wood Greaves Solid Bone Greaves	Tough Membranous Leggings Splintered Bark Leggings Swamphibian Hide Leggings	Shattered Chitin Leggings Treated Sap Leggings Gorgalok Patchwork Leggings	Pulsing Mucus Pantaloons Formed Leaf Pantaloons Gorgalok Linen Pantaloons
Shoulders	Cracked Husk Pauldrons Hardened Wood Pauldrons Solid Bone Pauldrons	Tough Membranous Shoulders Splintered Bark Shoulders Swamphibian Hide Shoulders	Shattered Chitin Shoulders Treated Sap Shoulders Gorgalok Patchwork Shoulders	Pulsing Mucus Shawl Formed Leaf Shawl Gorgalok Linen Shawl

The raw armor pieces tend to drop off the same creatures, regardless if you're after the light, medium or heavy.  These drops can be very rare, so prepare for a lot of camping.

Gorgolak Faction Armor Locations

Armor Slot	Drops From
Arms (Cracked Husk Underlay, Tough Membranous Underlay, Shattered Chitin Underlay, Pulsing Mucus Underlay)	Hulking Abhorrent - Ichtakhta Ichtakhta Consort - Ichtakhta Ichtakhta Seer - Ichtakhta Ichtakhta Tender - Ichtakhta and Vsurog Moor Swamp Lancer - Ichtakhta and Vsurog Moor
Waist (Cracked Husk Girdle, Tough Membranous Belt, Shattered Chitin Belt, Pulsing Mucus Sash)	Ichtakhta Bloodhook - Swamps in Ichtakhta Ichtakhta Worker - Ichtakhta
Wrists (Cracked Husk Bracer, Tough Membranous Wristguards, Shattered Chitin Wristguards, Pulsing Mucus Cuffs)	Ichtakhta Bloodhook - Swamps in Ichtakhta Ichtakhta Worker - Ichtakhta
Feet (Cracked Husk Sabatons, Tough Membranous Boots, Shattered Chitin Boots, Pulsing Mucus Slippers)	Abhorrent Brute - Ichtakhta Ichtakhta Adjutant - Ichtakhta Ichtakhta Hillguard - Ichtakhta Ichtakhta Mistress - Ichtakhta Ichtakhta Royalguard - Ichtakhta Ichtakhta Server - Ichtakhta Proletarians in Ichtakhta Stewards in Ichtakhta Tunnelsentries in Ichtakhta
Hands (Cracked Husk Gauntlets, Tough Membranous Gloves, Shattered Chitin Gloves, Pulsing Mucus Gloves)	Hulking Abhorrent - Ichtakhta Ichtakhta Consort - Ichtakhta Ichtakhta Lookout - Swamps in Ichtakhta Ichtakhta Nestkeeper - Many locations in Ichtakhta Ichtakhta Seer - Ichtakhta Ichtakhta Sentry - Ichtakhta Swamp Lancer - Ichtakhta and Vsurog Moor
Head (Cracked Husk Helm, Tough Membranous Cap, Shattered Chitin Hood, Pulsing Mucus Hood)	Abhorrent Brute - Ichtakhta Ichtakhta Royalguard - Ichtakhta Stewards in Ichtakhta Proletarians in Ichtakhta Tunnelsentries in Ichtakhta
Chest (Cracked Husk Breastplate, Tough Membranous Tunic, Shattered Chitin Tunic, Pulsing Mucus Robe)	Queen Vixxaeva - Boss encounter in Ichtakhta
Legs (Cracked Husk Greaves, Tough Membranous Leggings, Shattered Chitin Leggings, Pulsing Mucus Pantaloons)	Vezilan the Prophet - Mini Boss encounter in Ichtakhta
Shoulders (Cracked Husk Pauldrons, Tough Membranous Shoulders, Shattered Chitin Shoulders, Pulsing Mucus Shawl)	Advisor Selikzer - Ichtakhta Consort Mekulet - Ichtakhta Culixina the Patient - Ichtakhta Elder Verilix - Ichtakhta Garuli the Feeder - Ichtakhta Gulgarekk - Ichtakhta Handmaiden Zellina - Ichtakhta Kilikki the Protector - Ichtakhta Zelrinik the Hillsinger - Ichtakhta

* The above drop locations are as recorded by Curse Gaming

Ichtakhta Faction Armor Locations

Armor Slot	Drops From
Arms (Hardened Wood Underlay, Splintered Bark Underlay, Treated Sap Underlay, Formed Leaf Underlay)	Blue Moth - Flordiel Faes in Flordiel Fairies in Flordiel Fox Rider - Flordiel Savage Tree NPCs in Flordiel Treants in Flordiel
Waist (Hardened Wood Girdle, Splintered Bark Belt, Treated Sap Belt, Formed Leaf Sash)	Flordiel Explorer - Flordiel Flordiel Swampwalker - Flordiel Grove Mother - Flordiel Savage Tree Landstalker - Flordiel Savage Tree Spiritist - Flordiel Savage Tree Wanderer - Flordiel
Wrists (Hardened Wood Bracer, Splintered Bark Wristguards, Treated Sap Wristguards, Formed Leaf Cuffs)	Flordiel Explorer - Flordiel Flordiel Swampwalker - Flordiel Grove Mother - Flordiel Savage Tree Landstalker - Flordiel Savage Tree Spiritist - Flordiel Savage Tree Wanderer - Flordiel
Feet (Hardened Wood Sabatons, Splintered Bark Boots, Treated Sap Boots, Formed Leaf Slippers)	Alanil - Flordiel Daenura - Flordiel Delbreon - Flordiel Elder Lifewarper - Flordiel Elder Treelord - Flordiel Elder Trunkbreaker - Flordiel Fae Guards in Flordiel Fierce Tree Wolf - Flordiel Bezalia - Flordiel Elbrion - Flordiel Faid - Flordiel Julif - Flordiel Kestra - Flordiel Ledora - Flordiel Malik - Flordiel Merana - Flordiel Ramara - Flordiel Sage Drakel - Flordiel Sage Vilerin - Flordiel Savage Tree Royal Guard - Flordiel Serela - Flordiel Taldin - Flordiel Vayin - Flordiel
Hands (Hardened Wood Gauntlets, Splintered Bark Gloves, Treated Sap Gloves, Formed Leaf Gloves)	Blue Moth - Flordiel Faes in Flordiel Fairies in Flordiel Fox Rider - Flordiel Savage Tree NPCs in Flordiel Syldan - Flordiel Treants in Flordiel Tree Guardian Chosen - Flordiel
Head (Hardened Wood Helm, Splintered Bark Cap, Treated Sap Cap, Formed Leaf Hood)	Alanil - Flordiel Daenura - Flordiel Delbreon - Flordiel Elder Noble - Flordiel Fae Guards in Flordiel Fierce Tree Wolf - Flordiel Bezalia - Flordiel Elbrion - Flordiel Faid - Flordiel Julif - Flordiel Kestra - Flordiel Ledora - Flordiel Lifeshaper Cultivator Malik - Flordiel Merana - Flordiel Ramara - Flordiel Sage Drakel - Flordiel Sage Vilerin - Flordiel Savage Tree Royal Guard - Flordiel Serela - Flordiel Taldin - Flordiel Vayin - Flordiel
Chest (Hardened Wood Breastplate, Splintered Bark Tunic, Treated Sap Tunic, Formed Leaf Robe)	Lord Faladrian - Boss encounter in Flordiel
Legs (Hardened Wood Greaves, Splintered Bark Leggings, Treated Sap Leggings, Formed Leaf Pantaloons)	Lady Menara Orglade - Flordiel Lord Dagon Aerwood - Flordiel Mavara Willowsong - Flordiel Methumeus - Mini Boss encounter in Flordiel (triggered event)
Shoulders (Hardened Wood Pauldrons, Splintered Bark Shoulders, Treated Sap Shoulders, Formed Leaf Shawl)	Named 3-dot Trees in Flordiel

* The above drop locations are as recorded by Curse Gaming

Flordiel Faction Armor Locations

Armor Slot	Drops From
Arms (Solid Bone Underlay, Swamphibian Hide Underlay, Gorgalok Patchwork Underlay, Gorgalok Linen Underlay)	Gorgalok Native - Vsurog Moor Gorgalok Tender - Vsurog Moor Gorgalok Scout - Vsurog Moor Gorgalok Sentry - Vsurog Moor Velok Hatchling - Vsurog Moor Velok Youngling - Vsurog Moor
Waist (Solid Bone Girdle, Swamphibian Hide Belt, Gorgalok Patchwork Belt, Gorgalok Linen Sash)	Gorgalok Scout - Vsurog Moor Gorgalok Sentry - Vsurog Moor Veloks (3 and 4 dots)  in Vsurog Moor
Wrists (Solid Bone Bracer, Swamphibian Hide Wristguards, Gorgalok Patchwork Wristguards, Gorgalok Linen Cuffs)	Gorgalok Scout - Vsurog Moor Veloks  in Vsurog Moor
Feet (Solid Bone Sabatons, Swamphibian Hide Boots, Gorgalok Patchwork Boots, Gorgalok Linen Slippers)	Bloodclaws in Vsurog Moor Blood Lords in Vsurog Moor Blood Lurkers in Vsurog Moor Cabalists in Vsurog Moor Cleft Troopers in Vsurog Moor Flamewardens in Vsurog Moor Guuls in Vsurog Moor Seers in Vsurog Moor Shadowsouls in Vsurog Moor Troopers in Vsurog Moor Watchers in Vsurog Moor
Hands (Solid Bone Gauntlets, Swamphibian Hide Gloves, Gorgalok Patchwork Gloves, Gorgalok Linen Gloves)	Gorgalok Native - Vsurog Moor Gorgalok Tender - Vsurog Moor Gorgalok Scout - Vsurog Moor Gorgalok Sentry - Vsurog Moor Velok Hatchling - Vsurog Moor Velok Youngling - Vsurog Moor
Head (Solid Bone Helm, Swamphibian Hide Cap, Gorgalok Patchwork Cap, Gorgalok Linen Hood)	Bloodclaws in Vsurog Moor Blood Lords in Vsurog Moor Blood Lurkers in Vsurog Moor Cabalists in Vsurog Moor Cleft Troopers in Vsurog Moor Flamewardens in Vsurog Moor Guuls in Vsurog Moor Seers in Vsurog Moor Shadowsouls in Vsurog Moor Troopers in Vsurog Moor Watchers in Vsurog Moor
Chest (Solid Bone Breastplate, Swamphibian Hide Tunic, Gorgalok Patchwork Tunic, Gorgalok Linen Robe)	Tishra - Boss encounter in Vsurog Moor
Legs (Solid Bone Greaves, Swamphibian Hide Leggings, Gorgalok Patchwork Leggings, Gorgalok Linen Pantaloons)	Gorrulosh - Mini Boss in Vsurog Moor Silidoth the Destroyer - Mini Boss in Vsurog Moor Tishra - Boss encounter in Vsurog Moor
Shoulders (Solid Bone Pauldrons, Swamphibian Hide Shoulders, Gorgalok Patchwork Shoulders, Gorgalok Linen Shawl)	Blood Guardian - Vsurog Moor Gurgrek - Vsurog Moor Krul - Vsurog Moor Prishar - Vsurog Moor Saphson - Vsurog Moor Savesh - Vsurog Moor Steth - Vsurog Moor Vindicators in Vsurog Moor

* The above drop locations are as recorded by Curse Gaming

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