The Depths Guide - Your Gateway to PvP

Introduction

The Depths dropped in June 2025 and completely changed how new players learn PvP in Albion Online. Think of it as PvP with training wheels - you keep your gear when you die, but lose whatever's in your bag. Pretty smart, right?

This extraction-style dungeon has already seen over 4 million runs in just a few weeks. Why? Because it finally solves that age-old problem: how do you learn PvP without going broke?

What Makes The Depths Different

The Depths use something called "Orange PvP" - a totally new ruleset that sits between Yellow and Red zones:

• ✅ Your equipped gear stays safe (weapons, armor, accessories)
• ❌ Everything in your inventory drops (loot, consumables, gathered items)
• 💀 You can be revived by teammates or choose to bail and drop a soul

It's basically the perfect place to test that expensive build you've been eyeing without risking millions in silver.

How to Enter The Depths

Finding and entering The Depths is straightforward once you know what to look for:

Entry Points

Look for Antiquarian's Dens - glowing red cracks in walls found in:

• All Royal Cities (Thetford, Lymhurst, Bridgewatch, Fort Sterling, Martlock)
• Caerleon

Entry Mechanics

The Three-Level Structure

Each Depths run has three distinct levels, getting harder but more rewarding as you go deeper:

Level Breakdown

Level 1 - The Warmup

• Easy mobs, basic loot
• Good for learning the mechanics
• Low PvP risk (most teams are just starting)

Level 2 - Decision Time

• Harder mobs, better rewards
• This is where you decide: cash out or go deeper?
• Higher chance of PvP encounters

Level 3 - The Treasure Vault

• Hardest mobs, best buffs
• Ends with a locked vault that opens for 60 seconds
• Pure chaos when multiple teams fight over the vault
• Dungeon collapses after vault timer - escape or die!

Understanding Souls

The Soul system is unique to The Depths and adds a whole new layer of strategy:

What Happens When You Die

When you get knocked down, you have two choices:

1. Wait for revival - Keep your gear, hope your team wins
2. Leave The Depths - Drop a neutral soul, keep your gear, lose everything else

Best Team Compositions

2v2 Setups

Meta Comp: DPS + Healer

• Most consistent success rate
• Can handle extended fights
• Better PvE sustain

Glass Cannon: Double DPS

• High risk, high reward
• Fast clearing speed
• Struggles against healer comps

3v3 Setups

The Classic: Tank + DPS + Healer

• Maximum survivability
• Great for new players
• Slower but safer

Aggressive: Double DPS + Healer

• Fast clearing
• Strong burst in PvP
• Requires good coordination

Recommended Builds

You can find Albion Depths builds in Albion Free Market's Builds System

Healer Builds

Core Build:

• Weapon: Elder's Hallowfall
• Offhand: Elder's Mistcaller
• Head: Elder's Royal Cowl
• Chest: Elder's Cleric Robe
• Boots: Elder's Guardian Boots
• Cape: Thetford Cape

Key Tips:

• Save your burst heal for clutch moments
• Position behind your DPS
• Use Mistcaller for escapes

DPS Builds

Top Melee Options:

Top Ranged Options:

Loot and Rewards

Where Loot Comes From

1. Room Clears - Basic chests after clearing mobs
2. Player Kills - Everything they had in inventory
3. Demon Kills - Better loot from elite mobs
4. Treasure Vault - The big prize at Level 3
5. Kill Trophies - Silver based on enemy gear value

Exclusive Rewards

Antiquarian Standing Shop:

• T5 Hellspinner Mount (starter spider)
• T8 Soulspinner Mount (has a pounce ability!)
• Demon Cape Crests
• Hell-themed avatar items
• Exclusive emotes

Pro Tactics

PvE Phase

• Target priority: Demons > Elite mobs > Regular mobs
• Buff management: Some buffs persist through death!
• Resource conservation: Save big cooldowns for PvP

PvP Encounters

Early Fight Tips:

• Third-party fights when two teams are engaged
• Use mob aggro to your advantage
• Control choke points between rooms

Vault Fight Strategy:

1. Position near vault before it opens
2. Assign roles (looter, defenders)
3. Have escape route planned
4. Use AoE abilities to zone enemies
5. Remember: 60 seconds then everyone dies!

Risk vs Reward Analysis

What You Risk

• ⚠️ Inventory items
• ⚠️ Consumables
• ⚠️ Time (15-25 minutes per run)
• ⚠️ Minor repair costs

What You Gain

• ✅ PvP experience without gear loss
• ✅ Build testing opportunity
• ✅ Exclusive rewards
• ✅ Fame and silver
• ✅ Confidence for real PvP

Bottom Line: The Depths won't make you rich, but they'll make you better at PvP without breaking the bank.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Overextending - Know when to leave with your loot
2. Poor buff management - Don't skip demon rooms
3. Tunnel vision - Always watch for other teams
4. Bad vault timing - Arriving too early or too late
5. Inventory management - Don't carry valuables you're not willing to lose

Depths vs Other Content

Quick Start Guide

Your First Run Checklist

• Find a partner (or two for 3v3)
• Equip T6+ gear with decent IP
• Bring cheap food and potions
• Empty your inventory of valuables
• Head to nearest city with Antiquarian's Den
• Wait for entrance to open (check timer)
• Enter and have fun!

Recommended Starting Loadout

Budget Option (Under 500k):

• T6.1 weapon of choice
• T5.1 armor pieces
• T4 food and potions
• Basic cape

Tryhard Option (1-2M):

• T7.1 or T6.2 weapon
• T6.1 armor pieces
• T6 food and potions
• City cape with energy

FAQ

Q: Can I lose my equipped weapon? A: No! Only inventory items drop on death.

Q: What's the best time to run Depths? A: Peak hours (18:00-22:00 UTC) for more PvP, off-hours for safer farming.

Q: Should I run 2v2 or 3v3? A: 2v2 is easier to coordinate, 3v3 has better loot potential.

Q: Is it worth it for experienced players? A: Yes, for testing builds and warming up before real PvP.

Final Tips

The Depths are all about learning and improving. Don't stress about perfect runs - even failed attempts teach you something. Focus on:

• Communication with your team
• Learning enemy patterns
• Improving your PvP mechanics
• Having fun without gear fear

Remember: everyone in The Depths is there to learn or test builds. It's the most forgiving PvP content in Albion, so use it to push your limits!