Albion Online is without a doubt a community oriented game. Still, some players prefer to experience the Sandbox Interactive game on the own. The Black Zones are the most dangerous areas of the game, and it is generally not advisable to venture there alone and without a guild/party. However, should you insist on doing so, there are some guidelines you can follow that will reduce the risks of seeing your character die, or at least minimize the losses you incur upon death.
What Are Black Zones
The term “Black Zone” is used to describe the three large continents north of the royal continent, namely Anglia, Cumbria and Mercia. These areas are accessible only from an immense gate situated to the north-west of the town of Caerleon. When you enter this portal, you can select several destination points, each color corresponding to a continent: green for Anglia, yellow for Cumbria and red for Mercia. You can return to the city by interacting with the same portal or any of those located in black zones.
It should be noted that when you enter a black zone, you will be associated with the continent for two hours. This means that for two hours, you will not be able to enter a different blackzone (you can still use the portal you entered from to leave). So think carefully before you chose one.
Preparing For A Black Zone
Before you go to these territories, you should remember that the resources you find there will be tier 4 or more. Therefore, there is no need to go to these places without having at least a T3 tool and the ability to use it, otherwise your travels will be just dangerous and not lucrative. Also prepare equipment that will allow you to escape easily, preferably with invisibility or dashes.
While the same can be said about all the areas in Albion Online where PvP is enabled, Black Zone are places where people are especially hostile. Therefore you have no protection, and every person you meet will most likely be an enemy. Travel there with the knowledge that every other player you meet will kill and loot you. Therefore, it is best to roam there with inexpensive equipment, which you can afford to lose, depending on your financial capabilities of course. Also, while I advise you to use a mount that you can replace, try to go with the fastest one you can afford to lose to be able to escape quickly.
When you enter a Black Zone, move away from the gate as soon as possible. It is useless to remain close to it, and there are usually groups players camping the area. Staying close by until the bubble of protection is gone will only lead to a pointless death. You should also try to stay near the war camps, places that guilds must control to attack their opponents. In each of these camps is a chest where you can deposit your resources or precious objects. Therefore if you return there regularly, you will only lose a minimum of your work should you died.
When you get off your mount to harvest resources, be sure to stay close to it and be responsive in the event of an attack. By staying close to your mount you will be able to climb on it quickly and instantly put some distance between you and your attackers. In most cases, this gives you plenty of time to escape to a military camp or move back to Caerleon.
It should also be noted that, in general, mobility in the black zone will always have to be favored. Whenever you encounter a player that is in a PvP guild or alliance, they will most likely let others know that a player is gathering resources in a particular area of the map. If you are lucky they won’t bother with it, but it is not unusual that a guild sends a small party to hunt you down. Always stay in motion and never stick to a particular area of the map even if you get a lot of resources by staying there.
Areas to Avoid
Before all things, you will have to avoid cities like the plague. Cities are territories conducive to construction, possessed by guilds. As a result, they are often used as headquarters by players who will regularly be moving about inside or about them. Thus, definitely avoid being anywhere close to them or risk being an easy target.
Guild territories are also to be avoided in general. You can possibly collect resources in the surroundings, but here again I advise against it. These territories are symbolized by large red squares on the map and are filled with enemy soldiers.
And this one is quite obvious, but definitely stay away from multiplayer dungeons in black areas. Indeed, many groups spend hours in these dungeons to gain fame and death waits for you at every corner. Even if there were no players, it is not guaranteed that you could handle the enemies that spawn there.
Likewise, the Hellgates are to be proscribed in general, firstly because you will not be able to clear them, then because the players who go in such portals are often well equipped and in groups. Therefore, they have no difficulty in getting rid of you. Approaching a hellgate portal, even if you have no intention of entering, is not recommended either, since you might come across a group of players who plan to raid it.
If you want to earn fame in the black zone, you can try to run the solo dungeons. These dungeons are somewhat easy and give a decent amount of fame, although clearing them alone and with budget gear takes some time. These are also relatively uncrowded places as guild players will prefer to visit the multiplayer dungeons that will earn them astronomical fame in a short time. You must nevertheless be careful. It won’t be unusual for other solo players to attack you while you are already in combat with the dungeon enemies.
