So I've suddenly and without warning decided the thread needed an update. No it's not a dungeoning update. We'll get there, don't worry. (They take a while to write, and I want time for it). Instead, ANCIENTS!
Ancients are monsters that have spawned and managed to live under the enormous hail of player murder for
fifteen minutes FIVE HOURS (my bad). After the turn into an ancient they despawn after another fifteen? I dunno the exact number. But if they poof that's why.
But why would you want to hunt ancients, you ask? Why is this warranting a guide? Have you gone out of your rocker? Well, ancients have 10x HP, 10 def, 10 prot, the works. The title is displayed as "monster name the ancient". They also give 20x EXP and Gold drops. A huge lucky finish from an ancient monster with almost any amount of gold drop will guarentee a 21k drop almost certainly.
But you may be saying WELL LEVELING ISN'T THAT BIG A DEAL AND GOLD COMES FAST AND EASY WHAT'S UP WITH THIS?!
They also drop very powerful equipment and rare items at a low rate. Gems being the most common, and stuff like thames and highlander claymores and bows being among the rarest.
Drops specifically? Refer to the spoiler below.
Gems 10 cm in size
Diamonds of varying sizes
Ancient magic powder
Red and Blue upgrade stones
Fireball page 10 and shock page 1 through 3
Thames armor, gauntlet, and helms
Any piece of the bohemian set
Trinity staves
Highlander Claymores and Bows
Mana Wall Exclusive Enchant Scroll
Diligent Exclusive Enchant Scroll
Count Exclusive Enchant Scroll
Lucky Exclusive Enchant Scroll
Clever Exclusive Enchant Scroll
Special Enchant Scroll
Classic Enchant Scroll
Ecstasy Exclusive Enchant Scroll
Mana Hammer Exclusive Enchant Scroll
Most of those are fairly rare, but the exp and gold on their own is reason enough, believe you me.
So now you're interested and you want to know where to find these mythical beasts, notable areas are pretty much anywhere in iria, but vales inparticular, the little strech of land that leads to ciar dungeon (oddly enough) and generally any place people don't go regularly.
Now, there are some caveats. Namely monsters in dungeons and shadow missions(I think?) will not go ancient. So don't try "ancient farming". That's... honestly it.
More info, do not try to kill an ancient that is ranked boss or awful. Awful is a maybe, boss will almost certainly outlast you. If you have the stamina/mana/HP potions and the know how you might be able to pull it off after forever years. Still not terribly efficient unless you're going for the ancient drop lottery.
So yes. A small guide on ancients and why you should care about them, for those that weren't aware.