Hellgates
Instanced small-team PvP + mob-clearing. Two live formats — 2v2 and 5v5 — each with a lethal and non-lethal mode.
Access & formats
- 2v2 and 5v5, each with separate Infamy. Entered via open-world demonic portals / Hellgate rituals; the 2025 rework added Hell-themed hub entrances in every Royal City.
- Non-lethal (learning) vs Lethal (full-loot). Have a softcap set before going lethal.
- PATCH: 10v10 Hellgates were announced for removal in May 2025 (low population overlapping 5v5) — treat 10v10 as deprecated; dev focus is 2v2 + 5v5.
Layout & mechanics
- PROCEDURAL — several map layouts (open vs pillars/walls). Clear demon mobs to reach the Infamy threshold; matchmaking is by average team infamy.
- When the enemy team enters, non-guardian mobs despawn and it becomes a team fight. There is NO shard/crystal banish object here — that mechanic belongs to Corrupted Dungeons.
Entry IP (community)
- 2v2 Lethal softcap ~1100; 5v5 Lethal softcap lowered 1200→1100 (~35% scaling); Non-lethal ~800 with a heavy softcap reduction.
Recommended build
- Core: DPS + dedicated Healer beats DPS-only; 5v5 wants tank + healer + DPS. Rock-paper-scissors meta — match your comp to the map (melee wants open maps).
- 2v2 meta: Claymore DPS + 1H/Great Holy Staff healer. 5v5: healers Blight/Hallowfall, melee Heron Spear/Infernal Scythe, ranged Cursed Skull/Dawnsong/Great Frost.
Profit & mistakes
- Loot = Black Market drops (5v5 boss / 2v2 chests) plus the defeated team's gear in lethal — among the more rewarding small-group activities, but highly win-rate dependent.
- Mistakes: entering lethal under-IP; poor positioning when the enemy arrives; healers breaking formation or not using Q off cooldown.