Lost Ark Belgardin Shadow Raid unlocks at item level 1,750 after completing the Cadarum Islands main quest After the Resonance Stops. The regular raid takes eight players through two gates. Hard and Nightmare have higher entry levels, while Matching Mode adjusts its difficulty for smaller groups.
The Lost Ark Belgardin Shadow Raid arrived with the 21 October Arbiter of Death update. If it appears locked, start by checking your Cadarum story progress and item level. Both are needed to enter the difficulty you select.
Lost Ark Belgardin Shadow Raid: difficulty and item level requirements
There are three versions of the two-gate fight: Normal at 1,750, Hard at 1,770 and Nightmare at 1,780. Pick the version you can enter, then check its gate rewards before committing an entry.
The related A Sprouting Seed prologue starts at Journey’s Footsteps near the Rendezvous Market Triport in the Cadarum Islands. It can be completed once per roster. The official raid-entry requirements name the main quest and item level; the prologue guide covers the introductory quest.
How to enter the Lost Ark Belgardin Shadow Raid
- Finish After the Resonance Stops in Cadarum Islands.
- Check you meet 1750, 1770 or 1780 for your desired difficulty.
- Use the Shadow Raid entry object in a major city, or open the Content Guide using Alt + Q.
- Select Belgardin, Arbiter of Death and use Party Finder for the regular eight-person raid.
- Check Gate Info for rewards and confirm your remaining entry before joining.
Find Belgardin under Shadow Raid in Party Finder or the Content Guide (Alt + Q), or enter through the Shadow Raid object in a major city. If entry is locked, check the chosen difficulty and your character’s completed Cadarum quests.
How to play Belgardin Matching Mode
Matching Mode is available at item level 1,750 after the same main quest. Open Escape > Adventure > Single/Matching Mode or select the Matching Mode button in the raid entry window.
You can enter alone, match as a solo player or a group of two to seven, or arrange a party through Party Finder. A complete eight-person raid group cannot use the Matching button. Combat balance adjusts to the number of participants.
Matching Mode rewards are identical to Normal in type and amount, except gold is split 50% general and 50% bound. View More Rewards remains available after a clear. There are no loot auctions and no Sidereal Energy drops.
How the weekly raid reset works
The Lost Ark Belgardin Shadow Raid shares entries across its three difficulties, with the reset listed as Wednesday at 10:00. The official notes don’t specify a timezone for that line, so check the timer displayed in your client. Switching from Normal to Hard won’t restore an entry you’ve spent.
Leaving an attempt while the raid is in progress uses an entry even if you earn no rewards. Belgardin also has gate saves and a shared revival pool per gate, with the initial allowance varying by difficulty. For certain boss attack patterns, Holding Just Guard lets you defend by holding the G key at the required moment.
Rewards from Lost Ark Belgardin Shadow Raid
Clearing the gates can give Gold, Ark Grid Cores and Vambraces materials. Your first Gate 2 clear grants Epic Vambraces on any difficulty, and the first-clear reward is given just once. You don’t need to clear Nightmare to get your first pair.
Normal rewards Spectral Shade; Hard and Nightmare reward Deathly Hand. Check Gate Info before entering. Our material farming guide explains the Limit Break requirements, and the Vambraces guide covers upgrading the gear.
The separate Belgardin Conquest event runs through 2 December 2026, with missions for clears, no-death achievements and harder challenges. Event tokens come from qualifying Hard and Nightmare missions, not from the Spectral Shade or Deathly Hand used for Vambraces.
Official developer and publisher notes: Lost Ark Arbiter of Death update.
