Current status: Cadarum Isles are live in the Western version of Lost Ark. The episode launched with The Twilight Isle update on June 10, 2026. You can access the story at Item Level 1700 or higher after completing the required main-story quest, then use the region’s progression rewards, collectibles, and Horizon Cathedral to continue into the current endgame.
Lost Ark Cadarum Isles Guide: Quick Facts
| Feature | Current Western information |
|---|---|
| Region | Cadarum Isles, beyond the Sea of Gienah |
| Episode availability | Live since June 10, 2026 |
| Story access | Interact with “Journey’s Footsteps” in Iceblood Plateau, Shushire, or the equivalent NPCs in Elnead, South Kurzan, and Bellion Ruins |
| Item Level requirement | 1700 or higher after the required main-story progression |
| Required story quest | “Inherited Will,” the final quest in the “Facing the End of the Abyss” chain |
| Story reward | The Luminas ship, obtained at Level 6 |
| Travel | An Ocean Liner becomes available after you visit Cadarum |
| Endgame activity | Horizon Cathedral, a four-player Abyssal Dungeon with three stages and two gates per stage |
The table’s main practical point is simple: Cadarum is primarily a high-level story and progression region, not an early-game island circuit. If your character is below Item Level 1700, focus first on honing, current raids, events, and other progression sources rather than trying to force access to the episode.
What Are the Cadarum Isles?
Cadarum Isles are a new story region introduced after the conclusion of the war with Kazeros. The islands lie beyond the Sea of Gienah and form the setting for a new episode connected to the post-Kazeros storyline.
The region is designed for established characters and returning players who are approaching the current endgame. It combines a main story questline with exploration rewards, new Mokoko Seeds, World Tree Leaf objectives, a Sea Bounty, Stronghold additions, and access to Horizon Cathedral.
Cadarum does not function exactly like older continents. The official release notes state that Adventurer’s Tome content, Chaos Gates, Field Bosses, and Trade Skill gathering nodes do not appear in the region. Treat it as a story and collectible zone rather than another full daily-activity continent.
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How to Unlock Cadarum Isles
1. Reach Item Level 1700
Your character must reach Item Level 1700 or higher to progress into the full Cadarum episode. Players below this threshold can check the Quest Journal for prerequisite quests and available story requirements, but the region’s main progression is intended for characters at the current endgame entry point.
2. Complete “Inherited Will”
You must complete the main-story quest “Inherited Will.” This is the final quest in the “Facing the End of the Abyss” main-story quest chain. If the quest is missing, check your completed story quests and Quest Journal before assuming that the region is unavailable.
3. Accept the episode from “Journey’s Footsteps”
Begin the Cadarum episode by interacting with “Journey’s Footsteps” in one of the following locations:
- Iceblood Plateau in Shushire;
- Elnead;
- South Kurzan;
- Bellion Ruins in South Vern.
Once the Item Level and story requirements are satisfied, the main quest “Destiny’s New Chapter” is completed during the episode. Follow the active quest markers instead of sailing blindly across the world map.
4. Complete the episode before planning Horizon Cathedral runs
Horizon Cathedral requires the main quest “After the Resonance Stops.” This quest is cleared alongside the Cadarum Isles episode, so completing the story is not optional if your goal is to enter the new Abyssal Dungeon.
Cadarum Isles Story Progression Route
- Check your Item Level and story progress. Confirm that the character is at Item Level 1700 or higher and that “Inherited Will” is complete.
- Travel to a Journey’s Footsteps location. Start the episode from Iceblood Plateau, Elnead, South Kurzan, or Bellion Ruins.
- Follow the main quest through the islands. Prioritize the orange story quests because they unlock the episode’s major systems and prepare access to Horizon Cathedral.
- Collect Mokoko Seeds during the story. If you are already moving through an area, collect nearby Seeds instead of making a separate full-region trip later.
- Finish “After the Resonance Stops.” This unlocks the story requirement for Horizon Cathedral.
- Return to the region after the story. Use the Ocean Liner, collectible tracking, and Stronghold systems to clean up remaining objectives.
- Prepare for the appropriate Horizon Cathedral stage. Stage 1 begins at Item Level 1700, while later stages require 1720 and 1750.
For most players, the efficient order is story first, nearby collectibles second, and endgame dungeon progression third. Do not interrupt the main quest repeatedly to search every Mokoko Seed unless horizontal completion is your immediate goal.
What You Get From the Cadarum Episode
The Luminas ship
The main story awards the new ship Luminas. It is provided at Level 6 when obtained and cannot be upgraded at this time. The release notes also confirm that ship upgrades and exclusive crew members are planned for a future update, but those additions are not currently available.
Ocean Liner access
After visiting Cadarum, an Ocean Liner route becomes available between the region and other continents. This is the fastest practical way to return to the mainland after completing story objectives, especially when moving between Cadarum, South Vern, South Kurzan, and other endgame hubs.
Mokoko Seeds
Mokoko Seeds have been added throughout Cadarum Isles. Their exact locations are separate from the main story route, so use an up-to-date map if you are completing the region rather than simply clearing its quests.
World Tree Leaves #119 and #120
Cadarum adds World Tree Leaves #119 and #120, together with related quests. These objectives are relevant to players working toward the final World Tree Leaf milestones.
Collecting 120 World Tree Leaves grants the title “World Tree’s Chosen” and the “Sacred Verdant Tree” Structure from the Great Trade Skill Master’s Chest. The Cadarum episode therefore matters even to players who are not interested in its story, provided they are pursuing long-term horizontal progression.
Sea Bounty: “Adventure: Sacrian Censer”
The region also adds the Sea Bounty “Adventure: Sacrian Censer.” The official release information lists it as an exchange item from the New Vernese Scout Ship in the Open Seas exchange system.
Players who are completing Sea Bounties should add this objective to their long-term checklist rather than treating it as a normal quest reward from the Cadarum story.
Additional Stronghold and crafting content
Cadarum introduces new Stronghold-related content, including rewards from the Stronghold Dispatch Station for characters at Item Level 1700 or higher. The update also adds new exchanges and craftable items through Stronghold and Alchemist NPCs.
The official information confirms the addition of Shin’s Crystallized Earth and the recipe “Flask Containing the Energy of Life” through Stronghold exchange content. New craftable items are also available through Alchemist NPCs in Rimeria, Feiton, Yorn, Rohendel, and Arthetine.
Horizon Cathedral: Cadarum’s Endgame Activity
Horizon Cathedral is a four-player Abyssal Dungeon located in the Cadarum content package. It opened on June 17, 2026, one week after the Cadarum Isles update.
| Stage | Item Level | Structure |
|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 | 1700+ | Two gates |
| Stage 2 | 1720+ | Two gates |
| Stage 3 | 1750+ | Two gates |
Each stage has two gates, and entry counts are shared across the stages. You can enter through a major-city object, Party Finder, or the Content Guide using Alt+Q.
Gate progress is saved when you claim rewards. The party can vote to proceed or stop and resume later. This makes it possible to split a run across sessions, but only if the group correctly claims its rewards and follows the saved-progress rules.
Revives and failure rules
Horizon Cathedral allows infinite revives with a 10-second cooldown. A revive consumes either a Phoenix Plume or 10 Crystals. However, a full party wipe causes the attempt to fail, so unlimited individual revives do not remove the need to understand mechanics or manage dangerous phases.
For learning groups, bring the normal battle items recommended by your class and party role, communicate before starting each gate, and avoid treating the infinite-revive rule as permission to ignore avoidable damage.
Horizon Cathedral rewards
Horizon Cathedral shares weekly gold limits and bonus reward counts with other endgame content. Its gold rewards are Character-Bound Gold, not tradeable Gold or Roster-Bound Gold.
| Stage and gate | Item Level | Character-Bound Gold |
|---|---|---|
| Stage 1, Gate 1 | 1700 | 13,500 |
| Stage 1, Gate 2 | 1700 | 16,500 |
| Stage 2, Gate 1 | 1720 | 16,000 |
| Stage 2, Gate 2 | 1720 | 24,000 |
| Stage 3, Gate 1 | 1750 | 20,000 |
| Stage 3, Gate 2 | 1750 | 30,000 |
Gate clears provide Graced Shards, Ark Grid Cores, and Character-Bound Gold. Bonus rewards through “View More” are available after clearing each gate. A first-clear reward is granted once per character, regardless of which stage is cleared.
How Graced Shards Support Progression
Horizon Cathedral’s Graced Shards are used by the new crafting NPC Deni, who appears in major cities. A mirror of Deni is available in Elgacia.
Deni’s exchange and crafting options include:
- Relic Core Chests;
- Random Relic Core Chests;
- Ancient Core Chests;
- Random Ancient Core Chests;
- Order, Chaos, Sun, Star, and Moon Core options;
- Epic Select and Random Astrogem Chests;
- Horizon Honing Material Chests;
- Horizon Metallurgy Selection Chests;
- Horizon Tailoring Selection Chests.
The practical priority depends on your character. If your Ark Grid is underdeveloped, Core options can be more important than immediately converting every shard into honing materials. If your character already has an adequate Ark Grid setup, honing and tailoring options may offer more direct Item Level progress.
Best Cadarum Priorities for Different Players
For a character that has just reached Item Level 1700
- Complete the Cadarum story and unlock Horizon Cathedral.
- Use available progression events before spending large amounts of bound resources.
- Clear Stage 1 when your build, engravings, gems, and battle items are ready.
- Collect nearby Mokoko Seeds only if they are convenient during the story.
- Save Graced Shards for the progression system your character currently lacks most.
For a returning player
- Check the Quest Journal for “Inherited Will” and other prerequisite quests.
- Confirm that your character is using current Ark Grid and equipment systems.
- Complete the story before searching for a Party Finder group.
- Review the weekly gold limit before adding Horizon Cathedral to your routine.
- Use the Ocean Liner after your first visit to shorten future travel.
For a horizontal-progress player
- Track World Tree Leaves #119 and #120.
- Add the Sacrian Censer Sea Bounty to your collection checklist.
- Search the region for Mokoko Seeds after finishing the story.
- Review Stronghold Dispatch Station rewards and new crafting recipes.
- Work toward 120 World Tree Leaves if you want the “World Tree’s Chosen” title and Sacred Verdant Tree Structure.
Common Cadarum Isles Mistakes
Trying to enter before completing the story requirement
Item Level 1700 alone is not enough. “Inherited Will” must also be complete, and Horizon Cathedral additionally requires “After the Resonance Stops.” Check the Quest Journal before honing further or searching for a missing entrance.
Expecting normal continent activities
Cadarum does not contain Adventurer’s Tome content, Chaos Gates, Field Bosses, or Trade Skill gathering nodes. Do not waste time waiting for activities that are not part of this region.
Spending Graced Shards without a plan
Graced Shards support Ark Grid cores, Astrogems, and upgrade-material crafting. Decide whether your immediate bottleneck is combat-system progression or honing before choosing a crafting option.
Ignoring Character-Bound Gold rules
Horizon Cathedral’s gold is Character-Bound Gold. It cannot be treated like tradeable or Roster-Bound Gold, so plan its use around the character that earned it.
Assuming infinite revives make wipes irrelevant
Individual revives are available with a cooldown, but a party wipe still fails the attempt. Groups should continue to respect stagger, positioning, counter, destruction, and other gate mechanics as they learn the dungeon.
Should You Complete Cadarum Isles?
Yes, if your character can meet the requirements. The story unlocks access to Horizon Cathedral, awards the Luminas ship, opens Ocean Liner travel, and contributes several horizontal-progress objectives. It is also a direct route into the Item Level 1700–1750 endgame bracket.
If your character is below Item Level 1700, Cadarum should be a target rather than an immediate activity. Concentrate on current progression events, bound honing materials, raids, daily content, and your roster’s strongest resource sources until the entry requirement is realistic.
For players who want to reduce the time spent on repetitive endgame routines, the ExpCarry Lost Ark services page lists current raid, dungeon, progression, and daily activity options. For recurring routine work, review the Lost Ark Daily Bundle only when the included activities match what your character still needs.
Related Lost Ark Guides
- Lost Ark guides and updates for current progression, raid, and system coverage.
- Lost Ark Gear Progression Guide for planning your route toward higher Item Levels.
- Lost Ark Kazeros Act 1 Extreme Preparation Guide for endgame preparation outside Horizon Cathedral.
- Lost Ark Weekly Bundle for characters managing a large weekly activity checklist.
FAQ
Are Cadarum Isles live in the Western version of Lost Ark?
Yes. Cadarum Isles launched in the Western version on June 10, 2026, as part of The Twilight Isle update.
What Item Level is required for Cadarum Isles?
The main Cadarum episode requires Item Level 1700 or higher, along with the required main-story progression and completion of “Inherited Will.”
Where do I start the Cadarum questline?
Interact with “Journey’s Footsteps” in Iceblood Plateau, Shushire, Elnead, South Kurzan, or Bellion Ruins in South Vern.
Is there an Adventurer’s Tome for Cadarum Isles?
No. The official release notes state that Adventurer’s Tome content does not appear in Cadarum. The region does have Mokoko Seeds, World Tree Leaves, achievements, and a Sea Bounty.
How many players can enter Horizon Cathedral?
Horizon Cathedral requires a four-player party. It contains three stages, and each stage has two gates.
Does Horizon Cathedral give tradeable gold?
No. Its gold rewards are Character-Bound Gold. The dungeon also shares weekly gold limits and bonus reward counts with other endgame content.
Published: July 22, 2026 — Initial version based on official Western information available on this date.
