View source for Cosmic Observatory

{{otheruses|the raid encounter|the landmark|Cosmic Observatory (landmark)}}
{{Location infobox
| objectives = n
| levels = 80
| within = Skywatch Archipelago
| location tree = Tyria; Horn of Maguuma; Skywatch Archipelago
| type = Raid
| difficulty = 2
| id = 1515
| loading-screen = Mother of Stars.png
| gallery1 = Cosmic Observatory 2.jpg
| requires = soto
}}
{{quotation|Raid selection|The Kryptis have possessed Dagda, the Wizard of the Celestial, during their surprise attack on the Astral Ward. Subdue her so that the ward can drive the Kryptis out of her mind.}}
[[Cosmic Observatory]]<ref>[https://massivelyop.com/2023/06/27/guild-wars-2-formally-announces-fourth-expansion-secrets-of-the-obscure-launching-august-22/ Guild Wars 2 formally announces fourth expansion, Secrets of the Obscure, launching August 22], Massivelyop.com</ref> is the first [[raid encounter]] for the ''[[Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure]]'' [[expansion]]. It contains story details from [[Mother of Stars]] [[story]] step. Its challenge mode was released in a subsequent quarterly update after the expansion,<ref>[https://www.guildwars2.com/en/news/a-new-chapter-begins-in-guild-wars-2-secrets-of-the-obscure/ A New Chapter Begins in Guild Wars 2: Secrets of the Obscure], Guildwars2.com/</ref> and increases Dagda's health along with adding a 10-minute time limit to the fight.

== Getting there ==
Players must own the ''[[Secrets of the Obscure]]'' [[expansion]], be max level (80), and be in a raid-mode (10 player) [[squad]] to join.

* Interact with the {{map icon|strike}}[[Strike Missions (object)|scrying stone]] or {{map icon|strike}}[[Halbera]] at {{point of interest|Hall of Gallantry}} in [[The Wizard's Tower]] (south-east of {{waypoint|Tower Courtyard Waypoint}})
* Enter the {{map icon|raid}} '''Raid — Combined''' portal in [[Lion's Arch Aerodrome]] ({{waypoint|Aerodrome Waypoint}}).
* Join via the pop-up box when the raid instance is opened.

== Objectives ==
* {{event icon|red boss}}Enter the circle to begin the raid encounter
* ''Challenge Mode: Inactive
* ''Engage the enemy.''
* ''Subdue possessed Dagda.''
* Defeat Dagda, Wizard of the Celestial.<br> {{Event bar}}{{event icon|boss}}
* ''Raid encounter complete!''

== Rewards ==
;Quickplay
* {{rewards item|Magnetite Shard|qty=5, 10|chance=Guaranteed}} <small>(included in bonus chest on first weekly completion)</small>
* One bouncy chest <small>'''(once per week)'''</small>
** {{karma|5000}}
** {{experience|66675}}

;Normal
* {{rewards item|Magnetite Shard|qty=10}} <small>(included in bonus chest on first weekly completion)</small>
* One bouncy chest <small>'''(once per week)'''</small>
** One random {{rarity|exotic}} weapon or armor piece.
** {{rewards item|Dagda's Coffer}}
** {{gold|2}}
** {{karma|10000}}
** {{experience|66675}}
* {{rewards item|Sample of Kryptis Possession}} <small>('''if achievement''' [[A New Look]] '''is active''')</small>

;Challenge Mode
In addition to normal mode rewards:
* One additional Challenge Mode bouncy chest <small>'''(once per week)'''</small>
** One random {{rarity|exotic}} weapon or armor piece
** {{rewards item|Dagda's Magnificent Coffer}}
** {{item icon|Magnetite Shard}} (10)
** {{coin|20000}}
** {{karma|10000}}
** {{experience|133350}}
** Possible rare rewards:
*** {{rewards item|Vial of Cosmic Energies|chance=chance}}

== Walkthrough ==
Players must stand in the white circle to lower the barrier shielding the arena.

=== Short version ===

# Dagda will occasionally select a player as the target of a beam attack. A large green arrow on the ground will follow that player. Players can split and absorb the damage by stacking in front of the chosen player. The chosen player can easily position themselves a few steps back, leaving their team between Dagda and themselves.
# Dagda will occasionally spin, launching projectiles from herself and creating a damaging AoE underneath herself. She may also teleport before doing so. This is the only time she teleports. Players don't need to follow her as she will eventually return back to the center of the arena. 
# At 90%, 75%, 50%, and 25% health, Dagda becomes untargetable and fires 8 cones of diffractive energy at once, marked by AoE cones. Getting hit by it applies stacks of {{effect|Residual Anxiety}} and {{effect|Debilitated}}.
# At 10 stacks of Residual Anxiety, players become mind controlled and hostile to other players.
# Every time Dagda becomes untargettable  she will spawn additional enemies that the players have to kill.
# When a moving '''[[Soul Feast (Dagda)|Soul Feast]]''' spawns, players should pick up the '''white orbs''' that fly out of Dagda, select the puddle, and then use the [[Special action skill]] ({{skill icon|Purifying Light (Dagda)}}) to destroy the puddle. The puddle may linger for a bit after its destruction.
# Touching the Soul Feast Puddle applies a stack of  {{effect|Residual Anxiety}}.
# After reaching 50%, she will start covering half of the arena in AoE. Run/Dodge out of it.
# Use [[Control effect|crowd control]] abilities on her [[Defiance bar]] when it appears, or the squad will be hit by a large AoE.

=== [[Dagda]]  ===
:'''Health''': 47,188,800 (56,626,560 if the Challenge Mode is active)
: '''Enrage Timer''': None (10 minutes if the Challenge Mode is active)
: '''Enrage Effect''': Defeats all players
: '''[[Fixated|Fixation]] Mechanic''': None

==== Phase 1 (100% &ndash; 75%) ====
The encounter begins once players attack Dagda, who uses skills of celestial and demonic nature:

{| {{STDT|mech2}}
! Skill
! Notes
|-
| style="width:120px;" | '''[[Demonic Blast]]'''<br>'''(Red Cone)'''
| At 90%, 75%, 50%, and 25% health, Dagda becomes untargetable then fires 8 cones of diffractive energy at once. Each player hit by this will spawn one [[The Tormented]] and be inflicted with {{effect|debilitated|stacks=1}} (20s).
|-
| '''[[Demonic Fever]]'''<br>'''(Spread)'''
| Between 90% and 25% health, the 7 players '''closest''' to Dagda will be targeted with an orange circle that explodes after a delay, dealing '''unavoidable''' damage. Players standing within two or more overlapping circles will take massive damage.
|-
|'''[[Shooting Stars (Dagda)|Shooting Stars]]'''<br>'''(Green Line)'''
| Until 25% health, a '''random''' player is tracked with a large green arrow and receives the game message: '''''Beware the Shooting Stars. Hide behind your allies!''''' <br> At least 5 players must stand between the target and Dagda to reduce the '''unavoidable''' damage and {{effect|Infirmity|stacks=1}} (30s) application to all players (the target will not receive this effect). <br> The damage is evenly distributed among all players.
|-
| '''Spinning Nebula'''<br>'''(Spin)'''
| Dagda spins in place and hurls projectiles that are susceptible to [[Block#Projectile_destruction|projectile destruction]] and [[reflect]]s. Starting at 90% health and below, she may instead teleport before channeling this skill then teleport back to the center.
|-
| '''Strike''' → <br> '''Vengeful Strike''' → '''Starburst'''
| Three-part auto-attack chain that targets the '''closest''' player, with the third attack launching a projectile susceptible to related skills.
|}

The Infirmity effect from failing the '''Shooting Stars''' mechanic reduces all incoming healing by 25% per stack. At 4 stacks, players can no longer heal or be revived. This is one of the two mechanics during the normal mode that inflicts this effect.

Upon reaching 75% health, Dagda casts '''Demonic Blast''' and creates a damaging field in the center of the arena that pushes players away. Players should quickly move out of this field during these phase changes. The '''Demonic Fever''' and '''Shooting Stars''' mechanics can each occur at the same time as the push, requiring players to spread out for the former, and stack together for the latter.

A mix of two [[Veteran The Tormented|Veteran]] and [[Elite The Tormented]] will spawn and must be defeated to progress to the next phase.

{{bug|If Dagda's health is pushed to a phase transition threshold while she is performing Spinning Nebula at any spot other than the center, she will use the spot where the Spinning Nebula was performed as her default position (instead of the center) until another Spinning Nebula teleports her to another spot.}}

==== Phase 2 (75% &ndash; 50%) ====
Defeating the Kryptis renders Dagda vulnerable again. She returns with an additional skill:

{| {{STDT|mech2}}
! Skill
! Notes
|-
| style="width:120px;" | '''[[Soul Feast (Dagda)|Soul Feast]]'''<br>'''(Red)'''
| Two orbs will spawn in addition to a [[Soul Feast (NPC)|Soul Feast]], which targets and spawns on top of a '''random''' player who receives the message:  '''''You are targeted by Soul Feast. Run!''''' <br> The Soul Feast pulses {{effect|Residual Anxiety|stacks=1}} and {{effect|Infirmity|stacks=1}} on-hit and expires after either 15 seconds or when targeted by the {{skill icon|Purifying Light (Dagda)}} projectile from touching an orb. This skill deals minimal damage to Dagda.
|}

'''Soul Feast''' is the second mechanic in the normal mode that applies the Infirmity effect. It applies this effect much easier and should thus be avoided and handled quickly.

At 50% health, Dagda casts '''Demonic Blast''' as a mix of four Veteran and Elite The Tormented spawn. They must be defeated to progress again.

==== Phase 3 (50% &ndash; 25%) ====
Dagda obtains two additional skills during this phase:

{| {{STDT|mech2}}
! Skill
! Notes
|-
| style="width:120px;" |'''Planet Crash'''
| Dagda unlocks her [[defiance bar]] and channels an attack that deals massive damage when complete. Breaking this bar will interrupt the channel and launch a weaker version of this attack.
|-
| '''Rain of Comets'''
| Dagda covers half of the arena with comets.
|}

Upon reaching 25% health, Dagda casts '''Demonic Blast''' and a mix of six Veteran and Elite The Tormented will spawn. '''Rain of Comets''' can also occur at the same time as the push, but will remove the '''Demonic Blast''' telegraph.

==== Phase 4 (25% &ndash; 0%) ====
Until defeated, Dagda will continue to use all prior skills, except for '''Demonic Blast''', '''Demonic Fever''', and '''Shooting Stars'''.

=== Challenge Mode ===
There are several differences between the normal and challenge mode versions of the fight:
;General
* Players have 10 minutes to complete the entire encounter.

;Monster buffs
* Increased boss health and damage
* Additional and altered boss mechanics
* A mix of [[Elite The Tormented|Elite]] and [[Champion The Tormented]] now spawn at 75%, 50%, and 25% health
** Champions may spawn an additional 5 [[Veteran Tormented Phantom]]s, indicated by a red-black charging ability that will explode.

;Mechanical changes
{| {{STDT|mech2}}
! Mechanic
! Notes
|-
! colspan="2" | New Skills
|-
| style="width:170px;" | '''[[Charging Constellation]]'''<br>'''(Numbers)'''
| Targets 5 '''random''' players, indicated by a roman numeral ([[File:Target Order-1 (overhead icon).png|20px]], [[File:Target Order-2 (overhead icon).png|20px]], [[File:Target Order-3 (overhead icon).png|20px]], [[File:Target Order-4 (overhead icon).png|20px]], [[File:Target Order-5 (overhead icon).png|20px]]) and an orange screen border.<br>A constellation is fired at each target in sequential order, exploding upon impact and inflicting the {{effect|Extreme Vulnerability}} effect in an area. This attack is both a '''slash''' (line [[Area of Effect|AoE]]) and '''explosion''' around all hit players, both of which can be [[block]]ed, [[evade]]d, or sidestepped. It is essential not to be in the path of this attack.<br>This attack deals lethal damage to players affected by {{effect|Extreme Vulnerability}}: alive players will be '''downed''' whereas downed players will be '''defeated'''.
|-
| '''Demonic Pools'''
| 8 large red pools spawn around the outer perimeter of the arena with small gaps between, each pulsing moderate damage and {{effect|Residual Anxiety|stacks=1}}.
|-
| '''[[Meteor Crash]]'''<br>'''(Greens)'''
| Targets 2 '''random''' players with a green circle, each requiring at least 3 players in them to avoid massive damage. Failure applies {{effect|Planetary Weight|stacks=1}} to Dagda.
|-
! colspan="2" | Updated Skills
|-
| '''Planet Crash'''<br>'''([[crowd control|CC]])'''
| Dagda will begin the encounter with this attack. Each break grants Dagda {{effect|Planetary Weight|stacks=1}}. Failure inflicts lethal damage.
|-
| '''[[Shooting Stars (Dagda)|Shooting Stars]]'''<br>'''(Green Line)'''
| Instantly defeats the targeted player if they are not hidden behind at least five players. Failure applies {{effect|Planetary Weight|stacks=1}} to Dagda.
|-
| '''Spinning Nebula'''<br>'''(Spin)'''
| The projectiles are now '''indestructible''' and inflict {{effect|Debilitated|stacks=1}} to players and allies. They will '''bypass''' blocks but can be avoided with evades and invulnerability. Players can additionally body-block them.
|-
| '''[[Soul Feast (Dagda)|Soul Feast]]'''<br>'''(Reds)'''
| A Soul Feast spawns every second up to 5 times, for a total of 5 that follow the targeted player.
|-
! colspan="2" | New Effects
|-
| '''{{effect|Demonic Aura (Dagda)}}'''
| Stacking effect applied to Dagda that reduces damage taken by 10% per stack (max 10 stacks). The number of stacks is affected by the following:
* (-5) Using the {{skill icon|Purifying Light (Dagda)|size=20}} <small>(15s)</small> special action skill on Dagda
* (+1) Every tick that a Soul Feast hits Dagda
* (+10) Upon expiry of the Demonic Aura Timer effect
* (+10) Upon phase change at 90%, 75%, 50%, and 25% health
|-
| '''{{effect|Demonic Aura Timer}}''' <small>(20s)</small>
| Timed effect applied to Dagda upon removing all stacks of the Demonic Aura effect. Regenerates 10 stacks of the Demonic Aura effect upon expiry.
|-
| '''{{effect|Planetary Weight}}'''
| Permanent effect applied to Dagda that increases each subsequent [[defiance bar]] strength. This effect comes from:
* (+1) Breaking their defiance bar
* (+1) Failing either the '''Meteor Crash''' or '''Shooting Stars''' mechanics
|-
! colspan="2" | Updated Effect
|-
| '''{{effect|Residual Anxiety}}'''
| This effect on players no longer decays and is now permanent.
|}

{{bug|The green circles during the '''Meteor Crash''' attack can be stacked together with no punishment, despite the arrows indicating too many people are inside.}}

==== General tips ====
The {{effect|Demonic Aura (Dagda)}} effect, [[Champion The Tormented]] enemies, and the {{effect|Debilitated}} effect from the '''Spinning Nebula''' attack increase the difficulty in maintaining high damage uptime on the boss.

Upon breaking Dagda's defiance bar, players should hold off on their burst until all stacks of the Demonic Aura effect are removed. Condition stacks however can still be applied.

The limited supply of Purifying Lights requires players to be conservative with them. They now spawn during '''Charging Constellation''' and '''Shooting Stars''', and after '''Spinning Nebula'''. They should only be used when the Demonic Aura effect is active on Dagda. Because the {{effect|Demonic Aura Timer}} expires after 20s and the Purifying Light expires after 15s, players should delay grabbing a light to ensure it does not expire by the time Dagda regains the Demonic Aura effect.

At 90% health, Dagda becomes untargetable and casts '''Demonic Blast'''. She then regains max stacks of the Demonic Aura effect. Players should ideally hold onto a Purifying Light prior to 90% health to use immediately afterwards.

During the splits phases at 75%, 50%, and 25% health, all players should stack together to lure all enemies to one location. Pets and minions should also be recalled to the group. Meanwhile, the player targeted by '''Soul Feast''' should move away.

The '''Demonic Fever''' and '''Meteor Crash''' mechanics can each occur at the same time as the push from '''Demonic Blast''', requiring players to spread out for the former, and stack together for the latter.

Players should again hold off on their burst until all stacks of the Demonic Aura effect are removed following each split phase.

Starting at 75% health and below, players can listen to Zojja's [[Strike_Mission:_Cosmic_Observatory#Dialogue|voice lines]] to predict future '''Spinning Nebula''' attacks. This attack is normally paired with '''Demonic Pool'''.

Starting at 50% health and below, Dagda will start channeling '''Planet Crash'''.

Enemy players can be quickly broken free by targeting them with hard [[crowd control]] (CC), such as {{daze}} and {{stun}}.

== NPCs ==
=== Allies ===
* [[Zojja]]

=== Foes ===
* [[Champion The Tormented]] <small>(Challenge mode only)</small>
* [[Dagda]]
* [[Elite The Tormented]]
* [[Soul Feast (NPC)|Soul Feast]]
* [[Veteran The Tormented]]
* [[Veteran Tormented Phantom]] <small>(Challenge mode only)</small>

== Objects ==
* [[Challenge Mote]]
* [[Purifying Light (Dagda)|Purifying Light]]

== Dialogue ==
;Before engaging, repeated at random
:'''Dagda:''' ''You cannot...take my power.''

:'''Dagda:''' ''Keep them away!''

:'''Dagda:''' ''Get away from me...''

;Starting the raid encounter
:'''Strike Initiator: '''Defeat Dagda to cleanse her Kryptis possession.
:{{dialogue icon|ready}} ''Let's do this.''
:{{dialogue icon|end}} ''We're still waiting for more people to show up.''

;Dagda casting Planet Crash 
:(One of the following):'''
::'''Zojja:''' ''A-Alchemy—stun her or we're done.''
::'''Zojja:''' ''If you don't stun her... We have no other options!''

;Dagda spawning Purifying Light
:(One of the following):'''
::'''Zojja:''' ''She's dropping more orbs!''
::'''Zojja:''' ''Gather as many of those as you can!''
::'''Zojja:''' ''Pick those up!''

;Dagda casting Meteor Crash
:(One of the following for both Dagda and Zojja):'''
::'''Dagda:''' ''Collide!''
::'''Dagda:''' ''I'll turn this ground to crater!''
::'''Dagda:''' ''Let the stars strike!''
::'''Dagda:''' ''Rain down!''
::'''Zojja:''' ''Alchemy... Don't be shy!''
::'''Zojja:''' ''Get together!''

;Dagda casting Demonic Pool
:(One of the following):'''
::'''Zojja:''' ''Don't stand in that or we'll lose you!''
::'''Zojja:''' ''Get out! Get out!''
::'''Zojja:''' ''Get outta that! It's making you vulnerable!''

;Dagda reaching 85%, 60% and 35% health
:(One of the following):'''
::'''Zojja:''' ''Come back to us!''
::'''Zojja:''' ''Dagda, listen to me!''
::'''Zojja:''' ''Hang in there!''
::'''Zojja:''' ''Remember when I first got here? When you told me that I was safe? Let me do the same for you.''
::'''Zojja:''' ''Wake up!''

;Dagda reaching 25% health
:(One of the following):'''
::'''Dagda:''' ''Do not...please...!''
::'''Dagda:''' ''No... Get away!''
::'''Dagda:''' ''I... don't want to hurt you, Zojja!''

;Dagda reaching 15% health
:(One of the following):'''
::'''Zojja:''' ''I... I don't know how much longer...''
::'''Zojja:''' ''D-Dagda, come on...''

== Related achievements ==
* {{achievement|Cosmic Observatory Strike Mission}}
* {{achievement|Jotun Skypiercer}}
* {{achievement|Priority Horn of Maguuma Strike: Cosmic Observatory}}
* {{achievement|Weekly Secrets of the Obscure Strike Missions}}

;Requires challenge mode
* {{achievement|Danced with the Stars}}
* {{achievement|Legendary Cosmic Observatory Strike Mission}}
* {{achievement|Precision Anxiety}} - Despite the wording of this achievement suggesting only players that are alive needing to be successfully get turned hostile and turning back, players that are dead at the end of the encounter also need to successfully get turned and back.

== Notes ==
* Despite the purported mission objective of subduing Dagda, she is killed at the conclusion of this instance.
* Surprisingly enough, the in-game position of this raid encounter isn't at [[Dagda's Perception]], where the model for the arena exists in the world, but rather at the southwestern wing of [[Southern Wizard's Tower]], an area normally only accessible during [[The Missing Facet]] and [[Tower of Secrets]] missions and after completing the [[Skywatch Archipelago]] meta-event.

== Version history ==
{{Version history table header|hidetext=y}}
{{Version history table row|2026-02-03}}
* Strike Missions have been renamed and are now raid encounters.
{{Version history table row|2024-11-19}}
* Dagda's abilities that instantly defeat players who fail to perform mechanics can no longer be avoided by applying invulnerability.
* '''Charging Constellation''' can no longer be avoided by standing on top of Dagda.
{{Version history table row|2024-08-23}}
* Fixed an issue that caused Secrets of the Obscure strike missions to incorrectly reward [[Green Prophet Shard]]s instead of [[Blue Prophet Shard]]s. [[Nikki the Lost]] now trades Blue Prophet Shards for Green Prophet Shards.
{{Version history table row|2024-08-20|release}}
* (Undocumented) Secrets of the Obscure strike missions now reward Blue Prophet Shards instead of Green Prophet Shards.
{{Version history table row|2024-06-04}}
* (Late Note) Fixed an issue that prevented the sector name from being correctly displayed inside the Cosmic Observatory Strike Mission.
{{Version history table row|2024-03-19}}
* Cosmic Observatory Challenge Mode:
** Fixed an issue that could cause the {{achievement icon|Secrets of the Obscure (achievements)#Precision Anxiety|Precision Anxiety}} achievement to be rewarded even if the entire party did not meet the requirements.
{{Version history table row|2024-02-29}}
* Fixed an issue that prevented the eligibility effect for the {{achievement icon|Secrets of the Obscure (achievements)#Danced with the Stars|Danced with the Stars}} achievement in the Cosmic Observatory Strike Mission from being reapplied on subsequent challenge mode attempts.
{{Version history table row|2024-02-27}}
* (Late Note) New challenge-mode achievements have been added for both Cosmic Observatory and Temple of Febe, including new titles to obtain.
{{Version history table row|2023-11-08}}
* (Undocumented) Increased Dagda's attack damage in the challenge mode.<ref>[https://en-forum.guildwars2.com/topic/139851-update-to-dagda-attack-damage-in-cosmic-observatory-cm/ Update to Dagda Attack Damage in Cosmic Observatory CM], [[Rubi Bayer]], Guild Wars 2 Forum</ref>
{{Version history table row|2023-11-07}}
* Update 2:
** Cosmic Observatory: Dagda's health has been reduced by 20% in normal mode.
* Cosmic Observatory Strike Mission: Introducing the challenge mode version of this Strike Mission.
{{Version history table row|2023-08-25}}
* Fixed an issue that prevented the Cosmic Observatory Strike Mission from being available to all characters after unlocking it on a single character.
{{Version history table row|2023-08-23}}
* Fixed an issue that caused Dagda's '''Shooting Stars''' and '''Soul Feast''' skills to target player pets.
{{Version history table row|2023-08-22|r=y}}
|}

== References ==
<references />

{{Raid nav}}
[[de:Kosmisches Observatorium]]
[[es:Observatorio Cósmico]]