Dragonhold Guides Hub
Mission loops, extraction timing, castle rebuilds, bosses, servers, and solo play — all in one place.
Welcome to the Dragonhold guides hub for Exis Games’ dragon-riding extraction ARPG on Steam. Whether you are landing on your private hub island for the first time or pushing deeper into the war-torn Azarkeen region, these walkthroughs explain how the full loop fits together: choose a mission, ride and fight on dragonback and on foot, loot gear and materials, extract anytime you want, then spend Anchor Stones and resources to rebuild Dragonhold castle and expand your town.
Dragonhold is not a traditional open-world grind. Each run is a deliberate risk–reward excursion shaped by the Hand of Fate, modifiers that can make a mission easier, brutal, or wildly unpredictable. Your castle is both home base and a visual tech tree — every restored wing unlocks vendors, crafting stations, and new progression paths. You can play fully solo or join friends on a dedicated server; progress and castle growth carry across both modes.
Start here
New riders should begin with the Getting Started guide, which covers the hub island, your first Azarkeen departure, basic combat on ground and in the air, and what to prioritize before your second run. From there, learn when to push and when to bail in How to Extract, then turn mission rewards into permanent power in How to Rebuild the Castle.
Combat and progression guides
Boss encounters in Dragonhold demand different tactics depending on whether you stay mounted or dismount for dungeon-style fights. How to Beat Bosses breaks down phase patterns, dragon strafing setups, and loot priorities after a victory.
Build planning matters as much as raw skill. Cross-read the Beginner Build page and Gear Priority hub so your early stat choices align with extraction goals rather than vanity pickups.
How to Unstuck covers the Patch #1 Pause/Escape menu escape hatch when geometry traps you. AI Director explains spawn pressure and extract timing when the Director punishes linger — pair with Hand of Fate and Risk vs Reward.
Multiplayer and solo paths
Dragonhold supports full solo play — the entire campaign and castle loop work without a party. How to Play Solo explains pacing, AI Director pressure, and how to recover from bad extractions alone. If you prefer co-op, start with How to Host a Server and the Dedicated Server reference for ports, saves, and session stability.
Patch 1 added an Unstuck button in the pause menu — see How to Unstuck for terrain clips, dragon landing bugs, and when not to abuse reposition. For spawn escalation and extract timing, read AI Director alongside Risk vs Reward.
Related hubs worth bookmarking
These guides connect tightly to other sections of the wiki:
- Controls — flight, ground combat, and camera settings for readable aerial fights.
- Extraction — mission loop, Hand of Fate cards, and risk vs reward framing.
- Castle — Anchor Stones, town buildings, and crafting station unlock order.
- Map — Azarkeen zones and expedition landmarks.
- Items — loot tiers, crafting mats, and relic effects.
- Tools — printable extract and server checklists for group runs.
How to use this hub
Read guides in the order above if you are on your first weekend after 1.0. If you are returning after an update, jump straight to Updates and the guide that matches your blocker — extraction timing, boss gear checks, or server hosting. Each article cross-links siblings within this category so you can move from general strategy to specific mechanics without losing context.
Dragonhold rewards players who treat every Azarkeen trip as a structured decision: what the Hand of Fate dealt, what your castle still needs, and whether your party can afford one more chest before extraction. Use these guides as a map for those decisions, not a substitute for the tension of riding out with a full satchel while the Director sends something nasty your way.
Guide index at a glance
| Order | Guide | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Getting Started | First hub visit, maiden Azarkeen run |
| 2 | How to Extract | Banking loot, reading Director pressure |
| 3 | How to Rebuild the Castle | Anchor Stones and town unlock order |
| 4 | How to Beat Bosses | Mounted openers and ground phases |
| 5 | How to Host a Server | Dedicated co-op stability |
| 6 | How to Play Solo | Single-player pacing and sustain |
| 7 | How to Unstuck | Pause/Escape menu stuck recovery |
| 8 | AI Director | Spawn pressure and extract timing |
Each row links to a sibling page in this category — read them in sequence during week one, then cherry-pick by blocker. Extraction questions pair naturally with Mission Loop and Risk vs Reward. Castle questions pair with Anchor Stones and Crafting Stations. Combat questions cross into Controls and Builds without duplicating their full depth here.
Post-1.0 maintenance habit
Patch notes in Updates sometimes rebalance Fate cards, boss damage, or server tooling. After any headline combat or hosting change, re-skim the guide tied to that system before your next Azarkeen departure. A five-minute refresh beats losing an inventory to an outdated extract habit or a renamed server port. Bookmark this hub as your return point whenever Dragonhold’s meta shifts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers tied to this page.
Which Dragonhold guide should I read first?
Start with Getting Started for hub basics, then How to Extract and How to Rebuild the Castle to understand the core loop.
Do these guides cover solo and co-op?
Yes. How to Play Solo and How to Host a Server cover both paths, and most combat guides apply to parties and solo riders alike.
Where do Hand of Fate and Anchor Stones fit in?
Hand of Fate modifiers are explained in the Extraction hub and extraction guide. Anchor Stones and castle rebuilds are covered in How to Rebuild the Castle and the Castle section.