Guild Wars 2

It’s a little troublesome to get masteries etc from Dragon’s Stand due to lack of players to open the lanes. Is there any way to sneak onward on solo?

Whenever the map starts a new cycle I always seem to be able to find a group on LFG, very rarely have a problem finding one with players in.

I’m sure it is possible to stealth or run around patrols to avoid them through if you want to go places solo.

Dragonstand is the only map in the game that requires the use of a timer and looking for group. Dragonstand maps are always populated at the start of the cycle, but when the maps fill up, the maps you get on have no one, because there’s no real point in being there. Participate in the meta you’ll get all the openness you need.

As a side note, many things in this game are greatly improved by use of a timer site and the LFG tool.

I can’t tell you the number of times people have posted here saying this zone is dead, or this meta isn’t done any more, only to have a bunch of people come in and say they do the meta all the time.

The problem is none of this is explained in game very well.

The timer site I use is GW2timer.com Just find out when dragon stand is starting, and get to a map 10 minutes earlier. Find a commander tag, and join that squad.

When the map closes, everyone will be killed and moved to a new map. Make sure you get on the map with the commander. Then do what you need to do.

I know it’s clunky but it works.

Edit: The LFG tool can be accessed by pressing Y and going to the second icon down. Click on open world and dragon stand to look on the maps currently active. Good luck!

Vayne, that doesn’t work at all. He wants MAPPING, not meta. Even if he taxis into a map that’s doing the meta, he still won’t be able to get the zone mapped, because all those people will be doing the meta.

The zone is dead, except for the meta itself.

OP, the only way to solve your problem is to find a team to go there with you. LFG would work, although you might have a long wait. Probably the best way is to find a guild to join, even temporarily.

I got so frustrated with it that I gave up on ever attaining anything close to all the masteries. I’ve had to force myself to shut down all desire to ever complete the HoT mastery tracks. That way, I don’t feel as bad about it, since it’s impossible for someone my age and time commitment level.

If all the OP wants is the lanes open (to map), and doing the Meta opens the lanes, what is the problem?

I’m a solo-player and I managed to get Dragon’s Stand fully mapped. I’ve only done the Meta twice there, lol. But, I did mapping when others were doing the Meta.

Daddicus.6128:

Vayne, that doesn’t work at all. He wants MAPPING, not meta. Even if he taxis into a map that’s doing the meta, he still won’t be able to get the zone mapped, because all those people will be doing the meta.

The zone is dead, except for the meta itself.

OP, the only way to solve your problem is to find a team to go there with you. LFG would work, although you might have a long wait. Probably the best way is to find a guild to join, even temporarily.

I got so frustrated with it that I gave up on ever attaining anything close to all the masteries. I’ve had to force myself to shut down all desire to ever complete the HoT mastery tracks. That way, I don’t feel as bad about it, since it’s impossible for someone my age and time commitment level.

You mean you can’t get onto a populated map and map while they’re doing the meta? It’s 100% possible.

But you also get a good portion of the map from doing the meta, with 20 or so minutes left at the end to finish up the other stuff.

Getting to a populated map that’s doing the meta is a valid way to follow along and get everything you need.

It works because I’ve done it.

Edit: In fact, the ONLY way to map that zone is to get into the meta, since 4 hero points, and a vista and several POIs are only available once you’ve cleared the meta.

Vayne.8563:

You mean you can’t get onto a populated map and map while they’re doing the meta? It’s 100% possible.

He’s specifically asked about the mastery points.

I’ve done map completion with all of my characters. You can get everything solo except for what’s at the towers and the final area with the map boss.

As far as mastery point unlocks, everything in a strongbox can be obtained solo. Obviously those tied to an event cannot be done solo.

Ayrilana.1396:

I’ve done map completion with all of my characters. You can get everything solo except for what’s at the towers and the final area with the map boss.

As far as mastery point unlocks, everything in a strongbox can be obtained solo. Obviously those tied to an event cannot be done solo.

Indeed. I was surprised when a friend took me around showing just how much of the map can be unlocked without the meta. I think we got 80% completion without a meta on the map, successful or otherwise.

Daddicus.6128:

Vayne.8563:

You mean you can’t get onto a populated map and map while they’re doing the meta? It’s 100% possible.

He’s specifically asked about the mastery points.

To be fair he actually said “masteries etc”, which would imply other stuff as well, not specifically the mysteries. I would assume, the other stuff to be map completion related things as there isn’t much else. In which case joining a populated map to clear the meta makes the most sense to get access to all map areas.

The only time I have noticed a populated DS map is when the daily is there.
A lot of the masteries in DS are gated behind map progression.
I believe an achievement relies on meta completion too.
In fact more than one…

Daddicus.6128:

Vayne.8563:

You mean you can’t get onto a populated map and map while they’re doing the meta? It’s 100% possible.

He’s specifically asked about the mastery points.

But most of the mastery points in that zone,. virtually all of them, come from doing the events that are up during the meta, and those events are up no other time.

What I’m saying is true for map completion and it’s true for getting mastery points.

In fact, some of the mastery point from achievements on that map are only attainable by completing the meta.

I find following behind a successful meta works well for me. By doing that, DS becomes the easiest map to clear in my opinion.

Vayne.8563:

Edit: In fact, the ONLY way to map that zone is to get into the meta, since 4 hero points, and a vista and several POIs are only available once you’ve cleared the meta.

Which is exactly the problem with that zone. Map completion is something that one should be able to do on one’s own, not need to rely on a timer/luck for.

Stevieboy.4192:

The only time I have noticed a populated DS map is when the daily is there.
A lot of the masteries in DS are gated behind map progression.
I believe an achievement relies on meta completion too.
In fact more than one…

I’m sorry to hear that. I’ve certainly found that US EST and PST “peak” evening times, and weekend afternoons, are pretty reliable for tracking down an active map. That’d be ~ 6PM EST through to ~ midnight PST during the week.

Stevieboy.4192:

The only time I have noticed a populated DS map is when the daily is there.
A lot of the masteries in DS are gated behind map progression.
I believe an achievement relies on meta completion too.
In fact more than one…

I find it populated every time at map reset. If I happen to not end up on a populated one, there’s usually one on LFG.

Ayrilana.1396:

Stevieboy.4192:

The only time I have noticed a populated DS map is when the daily is there.
A lot of the masteries in DS are gated behind map progression.
I believe an achievement relies on meta completion too.
In fact more than one…

I find it populated every time at map reset. If I happen to not end up on a populated one, there’s usually one on LFG.

I guess it depends on where you live and what time zone you are in.
I live in the UK and DS is pretty much dead all the time, even when using LFG.
Staying up till four in the morning (my time) to complete a couple of masteries doesn’t really work for me.

You can get everything on the map solo, with the exception of the 3 towers, Mordremoth’s area, and the mushrooms hero point.

Stevieboy.4192:

Ayrilana.1396:

Stevieboy.4192:

The only time I have noticed a populated DS map is when the daily is there.
A lot of the masteries in DS are gated behind map progression.
I believe an achievement relies on meta completion too.
In fact more than one…

I find it populated every time at map reset. If I happen to not end up on a populated one, there’s usually one on LFG.

I guess it depends on where you live and what time zone you are in.
I live in the UK and DS is pretty much dead all the time, even when using LFG.
Staying up till four in the morning (my time) to complete a couple of masteries doesn’t really work for me.

Dead all the time? I’m in the UK and I’ve always found a populated map through LFG near the map resets. Certainly during the day, afternoon and evenings, haven’t tried looking from midnight till 4-5am though.

Stevieboy.4192:

Ayrilana.1396:

Stevieboy.4192:

The only time I have noticed a populated DS map is when the daily is there.
A lot of the masteries in DS are gated behind map progression.
I believe an achievement relies on meta completion too.
In fact more than one…

I find it populated every time at map reset. If I happen to not end up on a populated one, there’s usually one on LFG.

I guess it depends on where you live and what time zone you are in.
I live in the UK and DS is pretty much dead all the time, even when using LFG.
Staying up till four in the morning (my time) to complete a couple of masteries doesn’t really work for me.

Then you’re not using LFG AND a Timer site. Because I live in Australia and I’ve pretty much done DS at every single time slot and I’m telling you there’s always a full map. Look at the timer, every 2 hours all day long, get there ten minutes early, get into a squad before the old map closes and you can do it.

This isn’t some sort of guess on my part. It’s something I’ve done dozens of times.

Thaanks for the tips everyone. I’ll then just have to wait the cooldown of “Head of the Snake” until DS meta gets more players back and I propably need to adjust my timing too to see when other timezones are active.

Saana Kivisilta.5327:

Thaanks for the tips everyone. I’ll then just have to wait the cooldown of “Head of the Snake” until DS meta gets more players back and I propably need to adjust my timing too to see when other timezones are active.

If you’re on a US server, hit me up in game. I’ll show you how to get into an active dragon stand map. It’s still done, every time it comes up. You don’t have to wait for Head of the Snake. I have done dragon stand several times since it’s release.

The trick really is just going to DS map 10 mins before the map restarts. I’ve always encountered players there.