Recruitment
Overview
Recruitment is considered the entry-level HCE by the community. Clear strategy, readable mechanics, and an Undead cemetery setting where undead officers recruit new soldiers for their army.
It's the recommended map for new groups learning HCE. The basic mechanics (target priority, cooldown management, kiting) are the same as the rest but in a less punishing environment. Very farmable up to level 10 with a standard comp.
Mechanics
The dungeon has 3 escalating waves of recruits before the boss. Each wave has a necromancer who revives fallen recruits — kill it first or the fight never ends.
Recruits are glass cannons — die easily but hit hard. Tank must hold aggro with taunts, AoE DPS clears waves fast.
The final boss summons squad members every 30s. If you let the add count grow to 5+, the healer can't keep up. AoE burst mandatory on each wave.
Boss abilities: Undead Drill Sergeant
Call to Arms
Summons 3–4 recruits. Every 30s. Becomes 5–6 in phase 2 and 7–8 in phase 3 (enrage).
Officer's Strike
Heavy telegraphed attack on the tank. Pop armor E or defensive cooldown.
Martial Shout
Damage buff for all recruits for 8s. It's your window to cleanse+burst or die.
Level progression
Ideal first HCE. T5 Excellent is enough. Learn: kill necromancers first, keep recruits <4, tank kites boss away from healer.
T5 Omelette food, T4 healing potion. Comp: Hammer Tank + Nature Healer + 2 AoE DPS (Fire Staff / Frost) + 1 ranged single-target.
Recommended builds
T6 Excellent. Sweet spot for farming — 5–7 min runs, very decent fame/hr.
Prioritize one strong AoE DPS (Wildfire or Infernostaff) to clear recruits. One ranged ST to shutdown the boss in enrage.
Boss phases
- Phase 1 (100–70% HP): simple waves, warmup.
- Phase 2 (70–30% HP): double waves, interrupt the Sergeant each time he casts "Call to Arms".
Recommended builds
T7 Outstanding with .1 or .2 enchant. Recruits start hitting hard individually.
In phase 3 (enrage) boss reduces cooldown to 20s and each wave has 7–8 recruits. If you don't clear in 5s, wipe.
Healer needs cooldown reset or energy potion to maintain tempo.
Boss phases
- Phase 1 (100–70% HP): same as lower levels.
- Phase 2 (70–40% HP): double waves with T7 recruits.
- Phase 3 enrage (40–0% HP): waves every 20s with 7+ recruits. Non-stop AoE burst.
Recommended builds
T8 Masterpiece, .3 or .4 enchant. Level 18 recruits are basically individual mini-bosses.
Author's note: Recruitment stays friendlier than Three Sisters at high levels, but requires a fixed group. My personal experience reaches level 14 — for 15–18 check the HCE Discord for patch-current builds/strats.
T8 meta comp: Camlann Tank + Great Holy Healer + Wildfire Mage + 2x Ranged (Permafrost or Weeping).
Recommended builds
Tips & tricks
- Golden rule: necromancer always dies first. If you have a DPS with silence (Cursed or Knight), they handle that job.
- Tank uses Soldier Helmet + Caitiff Shield for pure defense. Armor can be Hellion Robe for self-heal.
- Your main AoE DPS (Wildfire or Infernostaff) must know exactly when to drop their E on recruits — right before the boss uses "Martial Shout".
- Use this map to train group synergy before attempting Three Sisters or Torturer.
- Farm sweet spot: level 9–10 — 6 min runs averaging ~150k silver + fame.
Rewards
Average silver level 9: 100k–180k per run. 5–7 min runs.
Common drops: Undead runes, soul shards, Undead artifacts (Badon Longbow, Tombhammer, Ghastly Blades).
Top drop: Graveguard Helm / Armor / Boots — full Undead Plate set, heavily used in PvP.