Dungeon Solution for Ultima IV

The Dungeons of Ultima IV are quite complicated. The reasons to enter them are four:
 * To get money.
 * To find the Virtue Stones.
 * To get the Magic Orbs, which raise stats (they do regenerate!).
 * To get the Key of Three Parts.

This solution describes the best way to do so, with a section for the Abyss at the end for the sake of completeness, since that one is the worst dungeon. Also note that this solution shuns the way of using the spells Upward Motion and Downward Motion, since this spoils that part of the game.

Deceit
Deceit is despite its name a straightforward dungeon with no real puzzles. The Blue Stone is found on Level 7 and the Orbs on levels 3, 5 and 6.
 * Magic Orbs: +5INT; 200 damage

On level 1, move directly to the ladder down. On level 2 follow the path through the doors and the stone trap and then navigate through the three dungeon rooms to find the ladder. Take the Orbs on level 3, then the western ladder to collect the mone on level 4. That done, return to take the eastern ladder, which leads right to level 5.

On level 5 first get all the money and the Orb (the fountain heals the damage from the traps), then take the northern ladder. Now follow the path and walk thorugh the two dungeon rooms until you reach the other half of level 6. Take the Orb and got through the traps to rech the ladder to level 7.

On level 7, cross the final dungeon room, then go through the traps and dispell the fields, to get the Blue Stone.

Despise
The dungeon Despise can be a little confusing. The most difficult task is getting the Orbs on level 8, with one on level 4. The Yellow Stone in found on level 5.
 * Magic Orbs: +5DEX; 200 damage

On level 1, cross two dungeon rooms to reach the ladder down. On level 2, follow the path and exit the first room to the north or sount, the second to the west to reach the ladder to level 3. On level 3, despell the field and take the southern ladder. Exite the dungeon room on level 4 to the east, take the Orb, then descent.

On level 5, walk through the winds, dispell the fields and then go south until you reach the three-room-configuration. Enter the middle room, kill the monesters and enter the door fake walls to go north and take the Yellow Stone.

Now backtrack to level 3 and take a different ladder down. Follow the ladders until you reach level 7. Go through the northern secret door and descend to level 8. Take the northern Orb first, then navigate through the rooms to get the other two.

Destard
Destard can be a little confusing, a backtracking is needed. The Red Stone is on level 7 and the Orbs on levels 3 and 6.
 * Magic Orbs: +5STR; 200 damage

On level 1, take a secret door and descend. On level 2 walk through the dungeon room to reach the ladder and go to level 3. Here you must cross a dungeon room three times to get two Orbs and then reach the ladder to level 4.

You have no choice but to climb all the way down to level 8. Go through the secret door in the north and ascend to level 7. There, follow the way to the dungeon room to level 6. On level 6, first take the eastern ladder down to get the Red Stone, then ascend to level 5 and take the western ldder down.

In this chamber are the final two Orbs, protected by strange winds.

Wrong
Wrong is the first really difficult dungeon with numerous puzzles. The Green Stone is on level 8 and Orbs are found on the levels 3, 6 and 7.
 * Magic Orbs: +5INT +5DEX; 400 damage

Go through the secret door on level 1 to find the ladder down. On level 2, go through the dungeon room, then take the northern ladder down to reach the first Orb. Again take the northernmost ladder, then pass one of the dungeon rooms on level 4 to reach the ladder to level 5.

The magic winds on this level are annoying, so navigate with Peer Gems to reach the ladder down. On level 6, first get the two Orbs by dispelling the fields, then take the western ladder (behind dungeon room) to reach level 7. On level 7, first go north to get another Orb, before solving the dungeon room by stepping in front of a fake wall in the east.

On level 8, pass through the series of dungeon rooms. In the last one, step into the north-western corner to open the walls to the west. Behind it is the altar with the Green Stone.

Covetous
Covetous has some tricks up its sleeve. The Orange Stone is located on level 7, while there are Orbs on the levels 3 and 6.
 * Magic Orbs: +5DEX +5STR; 400 damage

On level 1, exit the dungeon room in the east, then follow the pather on level 2 to the ladder to level 3. Go through the rooms first to reach the Orb, then backtrack to exit to the northwest. Take a ladder of your choice to level 4. The strange winds on that level are annoying. Enter the eastern dungeon room and enter one of the smaller chambers to reveal tunnel to the ladder.

On level 5, go directly to level 6. The winds on this level again are annoying. First take the three Orbs, then ascend the two other ladders get the money on level 5. Next, take the ladder that despoits you north of the level 7 dungeon rooms. Find the secret wall in the east and behind it the Orange Stone.

Shame
Shame is a very bad maze with lots of false leads. The Purple Stone is located on level 2 and the Orbs are on the levels 1, 4 and 8.
 * Magic Orbs: +5STR +5INT; 400 damage

First you have no choice but to descent right down to level 7. Go into the dungeon room and close in on the eastern wall, then stepp into the now open coffin to open the wall so that you can exit. Ascend the other ladder to level4, then walk through the secret door.

Now, first exit the series of dungeon rooms to the east to get two Orbs, then to the south to reach the ladder up. Navigate through the dungeon room on level three to reach the western ladder, then get the Purple Stone on level 2. Ascend to get the orb on level 1.

Now backtrack back to level 4 and take the western exit to follow the ladders down to level 8. The rooms are packed with fake walls and monsters, and at the end are two more Orbs.

Hythloth
Now, you think there is a Stone in Hythloth? Wrong, the White Stone was stolen, although the Balloon at the entrance helps to get it back. However, Hythloth has the best (although often deadly) Magic Orbs, which raise three stats. They are found on the levels 1, 3 and 5. Also, it connects to all three dungeon rooms.
 * Magic Orbs: +5STR +5DEX +5INT; 600 damage

Too bad that Hythloth is the worst regular dungeon.

Entering Hythloth is not possible the normal way because of shallow waters. Entering it from Castle Britannia forces you to descend right down to level 8. Dispell the southern field to find the ladder up. It is pretty straight forward until leving the level 5 dungeon rooms. Take the northern ladder up, then the western ladder down, to get two Orbs. Backtrack, then take the eastern ladder up.

Pass two dungeon rooms on level and take the ladder to level 3. Take the Orb, than ascend to level 2. Pass the dungeon room, then climb up to level 1. Get the final Orb. For kicks, you can find the empty altar as well.

Later, return to Hythloth via Castle britannia to have easy entrance to the altar rooms.

The Abyss
The Abyss is the ultimate challenge. Warping is impossible and the dungeon has the meanest rooms and monsters. However, there is no level-hopping required. All Virtue Stones are needed to pass.
 * No Orbs


 * Level 1: Easy. Follow the pather, slaughter everything in your way. Use the Blue Stone at the altar.
 * Level 2: Also easy. Pass through the rooms to exit at the southeast, then dispel the fields to reach the altar (the ladder is fake). Use the Yellow Stone.
 * Level 3: Enter dungeon rooms and work hard to enter the center of the level, where you use the Red Stone on the altar.
 * Level 4: Go through the series of secret doors, then dispell the fire field. The door behind the field is a dead end. Instead serch for secret doors to the right dungeon room leading to the altar. Use the Green Stone.
 * Level 5: The first complicated room puzzle. Enter southern or eastern room and walk through the area behind the force fields to open pasage to center room. Clear the center room and find touchplates then walk east. Avoid stpping in the middle (poison trap) and exit south. Use the Orange Stone.
 * Level 6: The meanest level of all time. See here for a detailled solution: Abyss Room Puzzle.
 * Level 7: Follow the path and use the fake walls in the dungeon rooms to clear the way, until you reach the altar. Use the White Stone.
 * Level 8: The first rooms are a big trap to confuse you. Take the sothern entrance and walk south. In the next room, there is a fake wall in the northeast and a touchplate to the southwest, opening the exit. In the next room puzzle, kill the mirror-images, the enter th eastern room. find the two triggers at the eastern wall to open the exit to the last altar, where you use the Black Stone.

Then comes the moment of truth. To pass, you need:
 * The Key of Three Parts
 * The correct password (VERAMOCOR)
 * Be at level 8
 * Have all 8 companions
 * Be a eight-part Avatar

If one of these things is missing, you are booted out of the Abyss. If all is right, then it then goes to the final quiz.