Am I forced to do dungeons?

[Callstack]

I'm 26 lvl currently and just found out that upgrade weapon (blight staff) is dungeon only drop. Is there a way around? (getting other weapon than hongmoon staff viable?

Or what should I do now to progress?

[Engete]

Short answer is yes... at least if you wanna upgrade your weapon...

try entering with party, friends party is preferred, or if you have to join random party i believe you could create party with option to limiting class recruitment...

[Slizzard]

To Upgrade your Weapon and accessories you have to do Dungeons. No way around it. Is this your first MMO or what. 

[Nilkemios]

Unfortunately, yes.

 

You can choose to skip it and get other weapons and rings, but the Hongmoon gear and its upgrade tiers are so far and above everything else at their level and even higher level blue and purple weapons from field bosses won't be as good.

[Tsuchiryu]

Sadly, you will have to grind Blackram Narrows for that Blight Staff, hoping it drops from either the chest after defeating the Devourer or from the Locked Blight Weapon Chest (you may use a Brilliant Viridian Key to open it to make sure you get the Staff, but getting that key outside Hongmoon Store is next to impossible).

 

And not to kill your enthusiasm or anything, but it won't be the last time you'll have to get an upgrade weapon this way and no, it doesn't get better. So you'd better prepare yourself for more of that kind of grind as you progress.

[Kure]

Fortunately getting a party and getting through isn't too much a pain. The cross server dungeon usually let's you get in with a bunch of randoms and out without too much talk and drama. At least for Blackram Narrows. Best thing would be getting a good guild with higher levels willing to help out new people. Other two options are roll an assassin and learn how perm stealth kills everything, or just come back when you can face stomp it. Careful with the last since it's much easier to level with a good weapon.