Witch's Ritual

Overview

Witch's Ritual is the first encounter of the Crown of Sorrow raid. It has no boss: players pair up to clear enemies and pass the Witch's Blessing buff around, while crystals spawn during four phases of constant spawns. Blessed and non-blessed enemies must be shot to match the fireteam member's buff.

Mechanics

A green pool just inside the first room grants the Witch's Blessing. While blessed, a player can damage blessed enemies but not non-blessed ones; non-blessed players have the reverse restriction. If the Blessing runs out after about a minute, the player receives the Witch's Curse and dies shortly after.

The Witch's Vessel is a spherical crystal on the far side of the room, in front of a ravine. Blessed players stand in its marked radius and damage it at roughly the same time as a non-blessed player, which swaps their buff state. Keeping the team inside that radius is the usual approach.

After a short delay, three crystals spawn: one in the centre of the room and one on each side of the Vessel. Each crystal needs damage from a blessed and a non-blessed player at about the same moment. If a crystal survives too long, the whole team wipes.

Phases

When the crystals fall, blessed and non-blessed enemies spawn on both sides of the Vessel, along with a blessed and a non-blessed mini-boss Ogre. Killing the Ogres triggers another crystal wave, and clearing it displays "Ritual Phase Completed." The cycle repeats three more times, for four completed rituals in total, which finishes the encounter.

Tips

• Stay grouped around the Vessel so buff swaps are quick.
• Well of Radiance can protect the group during the enemy waves.

Trivia

Some guides differ on whether exactly three or up to three players stand in the pool at the start. Older guides may not reflect later changes to the encounter.