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Upper Guk
Upper Guk is a great dungeon from levels 15-35 or so. The loot isn't the greatest, although Ghoulbane and the ancient croc are two highly prized spawns in the zone. The main problems with this zone are the frequency of trains (which is why it's best to hunt away from the main paths of traffic) as well as the distance from a good bind location. For evil races, this isn't too much of a problem, as grobb is a very short walk away.
The spawn time in Guk is about 16.5 minutes, and everything spawns according to this clock. All spawns are standard Everquest spawns, except the Ancient Crocodile, which has a very odd spawning pattern which I'll discuss in a separate section. The key to hunting in upper Guk is either staying on the move so you don't get backspawned, or finding a good safe spot to pull to and pull monsters to there. Hopefully a safe room out of the way of trains. Pulling singles is very useful, as is staggering spawns her, but with a 16 minute spawn time, you can easily get experience without doing too much far away pulling.
Probably the best groups for Upper Guk are mostly tank groups that can just chew through the frogs. A cleric helps, and a bard is really nice to have. Plus you need some way to stop runners. Casters aren't nearly as important due to the lack of dangerous casting frogs.
| Level of Monsters: | 4-25+ |
|---|---|
| Types of Monsters: | Frogloks of all types, including Tads, Guards, Sentries at the front end, then to more advanced frogloks, including Warrior, Shaman, and Knight types, named (weakest to strongest) Tuk, Gaz, Ton, Vis, Shin, Nok, and Tsu, Tonta Knight; Swamp Alligators, Saltwater Crocodiles, Heart Spiders, Large Heart Spider, Fungus Drone, Fungus Breeder, Fungus Soldier, Fungus Ancient, Fungus Mutant, Skeletal Monk |
| Notable NPC's: | Froglok Squire, Froglok Idealist, Froglok Realist, Froglok Necromancer, Froglok Scryer, Froglok Summoner, Nokta Shaman, Shin Knight, Froglok Shin Lord, Tempus, Giant Heart Spider, Ancient Crocodile |
| Unique Items: | Bracelet of Woven Grass, Chitin Shell Armor, Chitin Shell Shield, Collar of Undead Protection, Elf-Hide Gloves, Fungus Spore, Gatorscale Leggings, Gatorscale Sleeves, Ghoulbane, Glowing Mask, Moss Mask, Pouch of Ghoul Ashes, Reed Ring, Runed Bone Fork, Shimmering Orb, Silver-Plated Bracer, Soiled Boots, Troll-Hide Belt, Vial of Egg Whites, Guk Bracket Mildew, Decayed Guk Weed |
| Adjacent Zones: | Innothule Swamp, Lower Guk |
Map Location Key
Top Map
1. To Lower Guk, Dead Side
MAGIC ITEM
Slot: LEGS
AC: 7
WIS: +4 HP: +15
WT: 0.4 Size: MEDIUM
Class: ALL
Race: ALL
MAGIC ITEM
Slot: ARMS
AC: 6
INT: +4 HP: +15
WT: 0.3 Size: SMALL
Class: ALL
Race: ALL
3. Room with Nokta Shaman who drops Globe of Shadow, placeholder Vis Shaman
4. To Lower Guk, Live Side
5. To Lower Guk, Dead Side
6. Room with Froglok Summoner, Froglok Priest, drops Golden Rod used for Enchanter quest, and Shin Knight
7. To Lower Guk, Dead Side
8. Stairs down Pit
LORE ITEM NO DROP
Slot: FACE
AC: 2
WT: 0.4 Size: SMALL
Class: ENC
Race: HUM ERU HIE DEF GNM
10. Ramp Room with Froglok Squire who drops
MAGIC ITEM
Slot: NECK
AC: 5
SV DISEASE: +7 SV POISON: +7
WT: 0.2 Size: TINY
Class: ALL
Race: ALL
LORE ITEM
Slot: RANGE PRIMARY SECONDARY
Skill: Piercing Atk Delay: 29
DMG: 5
SV FIRE: +10 SV COLD: +10 SV MAGIC: +10
WT: 4.5 Range: 50 Size: MEDIUM
Class: WAR RNG SHD BRD ROG
Race: ALL
11. Mushroom Farm with Fungus Men, also Fungus Mutant who drops Guk Bracket Mildew (common) and Decayed Guk Weed (rare)
MAGIC ITEM
Slot: FACE
Charges: 10
AC: 2
Effect: Enduring Breath (Any Slot, Casting Time: Instant)
WT: 0.1 Size: SMALL
Class: ALL
Race: ALL
LORE ITEM NO DROP
Slot: FEET
AC: 4
WT: 2.5 Size: SMALL
Class: MAG
Race: HUM ERU HIE DEF GNM
13. Room with Froglok Warden who drops
MAGIC ITEM
Slot: HANDS
AC: 4
DEX: +5 AGI: +5
WT: 1.0 Size: SMALL
Class: BRD ROG
Race: ALL
MAGIC ITEM
Slot: WAIST
AC: 5
STR: +5 STA: +5
WT: 1.0 Size: SMALL
Class: BRD ROG
Race: ALL
14. Room with Froglok Realist who drops Pouch of Ghoul Ashes (common) and
MAGIC ITEM
Slot: FINGER
DEX: +2 HP: +10
WT: 0.1 Size: TINY
Class: ALL
Race: ALL
15. Temple with Froglok Scryer who drops
MAGIC ITEM
Slot: WRIST
AC: 1
INT: +3 HP: +12
WT: 0.2 Size: TINY
Class: ALL
Race: ALL
MAGIC ITEM LORE ITEM
Slot: SECONDARY
AC: 15
HP: +20
WT: 0.2 Size: TINY
Class: BRD NEC WIZ MAG ENC
Race: ALL
LORE ITEM NO DROP
Slot: FACE
AC: 2
WT: 0.4 Size: SMALL
Class: ENC
Race: HUM ERU HIE DEF GNM
16. Room with Froglok Necromancer
MAGIC ITEM
Slot: WRIST
AC: 7
SV DISEASE: +5 SV POISON: +5
WT: 1.0 Size: SMALL
Class: WAR PAL RNG SHD MNK BRD ROG
Race: HUM BAR ERU ELF HIE DEF HEF DWF TRL OGR HFL
MAGIC ITEM LORE ITEM
Slot: PRIMARY
Skill: 1H Slashing Atk Delay: 34
DMG: 15
Effect: Dismiss Undead (Combat, Casting Time: Instant) at Level 20
WT: 9.5 Size: LARGE
Class: PAL
Race: HUM ERU HIE HEF DWF HFL GNM
18. Heart Spider Room with Giant Heart Spider who drops
Slot: SECONDARY
AC: 15
SV POISON: +10
WT: 4.0 Size: SMALL
Class: WAR CLR PAL RNG SHD DRU BRD ROG SHM
Race: ALL
LORE ITEM
Slot: CHEST
AC: 17
SV POISON: +10
WT: 6.5 Size: MEDIUM
Class: ALL
Race: BAR TRL OGR IKS
Bottom Map
11. Froglok Necromancer - One of the low level mobs here, the froglok necromancer drops the Pouch of Ghoul Ashes, which has some useless effect.
12. Froglok Idealist - Another low level spawn, the idealist drops a
EXPENDABLE Charges: 1
Effect: Enduring Breath (Any Slot, Casting Time: Instant) as Level 20
WT: 0.4 Size: SMALL
Class: ALL
Race: ALL
MAGIC ITEM
Slot: FACE
Charges: 10
AC: 2
Effect: Enduring Breath (Any Slot, Casting Time: Instant)
WT: 0.1 Size: SMALL
Class: ALL
Race: ALL
MAGIC ITEM
Slot: FINGER
DEX: +2 HP: +10
WT: 0.1 Size: TINY
Class: ALL
Race: ALL
MAGIC ITEM
Slot: NECK
AC: 5
SV DISEASE: +7 SV POISON: +7
WT: 0.2 Size: TINY
Class: ALL
Race: ALL
LORE ITEM
Slot: RANGE PRIMARY SECONDARY
Skill: Piercing Atk Delay: 29
DMG: 5
SV FIRE: +10 SV COLD: +10 SV MAGIC: +10
WT: 4.5 Range: 50 Size: MEDIUM
Class: WAR RNG SHD BRD ROG
Race: ALL
Dangers
The primary danger in Upper Guk is the sheer number of monsters located within close proximity to each other. It is not uncommon for some rooms to have 5 or more static mobs with several more pathing in and out on patrol routes. There are also a large number of shamans mixed in with the melee classes so expect to deal with heals, nukes and annoying DOT's. Some of the camps are deep within the dungeon and so if something goes wrong (and it almost always does eventually) the zone line is a long way away.
Monsters
Frogloks in Guk have a very specific naming convention which can easily help you determine levels/difficulty. There are basically three types of frogloks besides the named ones: warriors, shamans, and knights.
- Warriors are the standard froglok type, and are basically your standard warrior monster.
- Shamans are shaman types of mobs. They go down quick, but they can cast spririt of the wolf and healing which is very annoying. They can also root. They are very fond of casting drowsy/walking sleep which slows down your attack rate. It's best to kill shamans before warriors. Typically 1 or 2 levels lower than their warrior counterparts.
- Knights are just like warriors, except typically 2 or 3 levels higher, and they seem to have higher ac and strength than the standard warrior type of monsters.
Additionally, there are different clans of frogloks, which range from level 14 to level 47. In upper guk, they go up to level 31.
- Wimps - Sentrys, guards, sentinels, neophytes and tads all range from 1-12. They drop netted and woven.
- Tuk - These range from about 12-16, and are the weakest kind. They drop woven armor and can be found mostly in the entry area of guk
- Gaz - These range from 16-20, and drop mesh armor. They are a little distance from the entry, and are relatively easy to pull to the zone.
- Ton - These range from 19-24. They are found over most of upper guk, on the bottom floor.
- Vis - These are the shaman counterparts to Ton. There are very few seen in guk.
- Shin - These range from 25-31, with the knights only being found near the entrance to lower guk live side. The knights are also found in lower guk. This clan is in charge of upper guk
- Nok - The shaman counterparts to the Shin warriors.
- Tsu - Very rare to see one of these in upper guk, they are the shaman counterparts to the Wan knights in lower guk.
Given these level ranges, you can easily pick an area of guk to hunt in depending on your levels. Killing massive amounts of low blues is by far the best way to get experience.
Some of the other mobs in guk are Heart Spiders (poisonous, non aggro, social, around level 15), Swampwater crocs (non aggro, around level 10), and Fungus men.
In the fungus farm, there are:
- Fungus Soldier - weak melee critter
- Fungus Breeder - druid type, casts stinging swarm, which is no joke if you're trying to solo it
- Fungus Ancient - I haven't gotten it to spawn yet, just heard them casting a few times.
- Fungus Drones - will heal any fungus in range, so unless you can unload HARD its best to pull targets away from the room.
Benefits
Despite the above mentioned dangerousness of the zone, this has to be one of the most popular dungeons in the game, the only problem with this is that it is so far away from the majority of players, and the difficulty at getting bound nearby for any of the good races. There are several reasons for this, but the largest is that the frogloks are just plain rich. Even the lowliest froglok possesses woven armor, which is about the equivalent of banded armor for mage classes.
There is also a large amount of good equipment to be had in Upper Guk. Many of the items are on characters wish lists, and the added benefit of making some great experience while waiting for the critter who carries it to spawn is worthwhile.
Suggested Hunting
- Levels 1-15. Probably stay near the entry zone and hunt pull the weenie frogs. Be careful on the C bridge, it can be hard ot navigate, and falling off can be a major pain.
- Levels 15-20. Either hunt in the same area and pull gaz from near the idealist room. Or hunt near the heart spiders and pull from the scryer room.
- Levels 20-25. Hunt near the froglok warden or near the dead zone to lower guk. The danger of hunting near lower guk zone is that people will occassionally train stuff to there while running to lower guk
- Levels 25-30. Now you can either hunt the barracks and do the shin lord with a good group, or move to near the saltwater/ancient croc and do tons and shin warriors. The ancient croc room is nice because there is a zone right by there which is very safe since there's never anything on the other side.
- Levels 30-35. The only place left to hunt are the shins and nok by the live side of lower guk. Ancient room is good for this, as well as right by the live zone. At 34-35 the dungeon starts greening out, and in a large group you'll probably have trouble finding blues to hunt. Time to move to lower guk.
Popular Camps
AC
"Ancient Crocodile" is a mob commonly camped for his sought-after +wis pants.
Scryer
A common strategy when holding this room is to sit in the hallway just beyond at the top of the ramp. There is only one froglok which spawns here and you are then free to pull from both the scryer room and the room below.
Lower Guk Zone Line
This is a great spot to sit if you have decent group as there are a ton of higher level frogloks in the area to pull. Though maybe not a camp in the traditional sense since there is no specific loot, I've found it to be the best exp I've gotten in upper guk so far.
Travelling To and From Upper Guk
There is one entrance into Upper Guk from the Innothule Swamp. The entrance is guarded on the outside by two froglok guards, and on the inside has a narrow corridor guarded by at least one higher level froglok guard.
The entrances to Lower Guk are apparently many in number, but I have never personally found any of them, despite traveling far into the zone.
