DanMachi: What is Dungeon?

Key conclusions

• The origin of the Dungeon is a mystery, perhaps connected to ancient forces that existed before the gods, with myths that testify to primordial chaos.
• The dungeon has different floors, each presenting different challenges and dangers, and the monsters are constantly respawning.
• The dungeon serves as Orario's economic center, integrating into society through ranks, families, and magical treasures such as magic stones.

Dungeon in Is it wrong to try to pick up girls in a dungeon? better known as Danmachi, is undoubtedly one of the defining elements of the series, serving as both a central location and a mysterious force in shaping the world with the city of Arario at the top. Since Arario is the only place in the world with a dungeon, creatures of various races gather there to explore this mysterious structure.

From the dungeon's architecture to the monsters within its depths, it acts as a melting pot for adventurers, gods, and economic power. A lot of mystery still surrounds the dungeon, which is of such great importance. How did Dungeon come about? What purpose does it serve? What is the ultimate goal of clearing a dungeon? Is there an end to this? Dungeon in Is it wrong to try to pick up girls in a dungeon series, such a treasure trove of mysteries to be unraveled.

Origin of the dungeon

An ancient relic

Dungeon's origins are a question that has yet to be answered, as is the world DanMachi and in terms of storytelling. It is said that the Dungeon existed a long time ago, even before the descent of the gods. Adventurers, in the absence of gods then, fought against the monsters of the Dungeon with the help of spirits.

Although the anime and light novels claim that his creation was caused by divine intervention, his origin has never been officially explained. According to some myths and legends inside DanMachiThe dungeon may have formed as part of the primordial chaos from which the world emerged. This leads to the theory that the Dungeon is a remnant of ancient forces that existed before the gods took over as overseers of creation. It may even be related to the world itself.

Structure of the dungeon

Several floors with different dangers

The dungeon that Orario was built on is anything but underground caverns. The dungeon is divided into several floors, with each floor increasing in difficulty as you progress, becoming more confusing and dangerous. The floors are designed as a kind of multi-level labyrinth, each of which has its own unique structure and task. The floors are divided into four: upper, middle, lower and deep.

Upper floors

The upper floors serve as an entrance for aspiring adventurers. With levels 1 to 12, the upper floors are filled with relatively weak monsters such as goblin spawns. While this is considered the easiest set of levels, that doesn't mean it's a walk in the park. Adventurers are still prepared for traps, environmental hazards, and groups of monsters that appear out of nowhere. Many adventurers use these levels to train and gain experience.

Middle floors

The middle floors, starting at level 13 and 24, start to show a different level of difficulty. The terrain of the levels also becomes increasingly complex and more difficult to survive, forcing adventurers to adapt to harsh environmental conditions. The monsters on the middle floors are slightly taller than those on the upper floors, allowing the adventurers to move smoothly to that floor. Monsters like Minotaurs and Hellhounds have started appearing on these floors, and they also appear at an increased rate.

Lower floors

The lower floors, which contain levels 25 to 36, are notorious for being near death, housing high-level monsters like Wyverns and Goliaths that prey on intruders. There are also monsters like the Amphisbene Rex and the Juggernaut, extremely dangerous creatures that give even 4th level adventurers a hard time. Even the environment becomes hostile as these floors tend to have larger and more unstable terrain. Some areas may flood, earthquakes may occur, or traps may be hidden in ways unusual to the adventurer.

Deep floors

The difficulties of the other floors don't even hold a candle to the deep floors. These floors, floors 37 and beyond, contain monsters of such destructive power that they would wipe out veteran adventurers in an instant. In addition, it would seem that the very rules of the Dungeon begin to be broken on these floors, due to spatial anomalies and otherworldly phenomena that make it difficult to clear such floors. It is in these deepest regions that the nature of the Dungeon begins to reveal its true colors as more than just a labyrinth.

Dungeon monsters

Strong and smart

Arguably, one of the most interesting things about Dungeon is that it constantly regenerates monsters. Monsters are not born, but spawn endlessly from the walls and floors of the Dungeon as if out of thin air, creating a constant challenge for adventurers. Monsters come in all shapes and sizes, along with different abilities. Some of them, like goblins, are quite weak and are usually used to accumulate experience for new adventurers. Others, such as the Wyvern, can pose a serious threat even to experienced adventurers in teams.

The dungeon also includes floor bosses that guard the transitions between levels. These bosses are simply terrifying, requiring entire teams of adventurers to defeat them. Defeating them, however, offers rare and valuable rewards in the form of magic stones and special materials, making the high-risk battle worthwhile for adventurers.

Monsters can also be classified by intelligence. While most of the monsters that have appeared on the lower floors only act on their instincts, those on the deeper floors show a higher level of intelligence and know the importance of retreating. Some monsters evolve into creatures known as Xenos after being repeatedly defeated by adventurers. Xenos, unlike other monsters, have intelligence, and some are even able to speak. However, neither monster nor man accepts them. Even normal monsters see them as enemies and attack them. Monsters with intelligence comparable to Xenos occasionally appear, but are driven by their predatory instincts.

The Role of the Dungeon in Orario's Economy and Society

Cave of treasures and status

A dungeon is not just a place to seek power and glory; it also serves as Orario's economic lifeblood. Magic stones, which can be found at the base of most monsters, serve as the power source for various technologies such as lighting, weapons, and transportation. Because it's a renewable source of energy, the dungeon makes Arario an extremely valuable place, leading to industries like blacksmiths, potions, armorers, and so on that support adventurers. Magic stones, however, do not remain unregulated. The guild serves as the force that regulates dungeon expeditions, keeping Arario's economy under control by managing the flow of magical stones and materials.

However, the Dungeon affects not only the economy of Orario, but also the society. A place that shows the true value of an adventurer. Adventurers strive to become stronger, increase their rank, and even bring honor to themselves and their family, a group of adventurers bound to a god. Family members receive the Falna, a god's blessing that gives them enhanced physical strength. Commonly referred to as heroes, these adventurers are often looking to make a name for themselves by achieving great feats and delving deeper into the dungeon, making the dungeon a key component for assessing social standing. This, combined with its economic importance, makes the Dungeon indispensable to the people of Arario and even to the world.

Deeper mysteries of the dungeon

Is Dungeon Alive?

The Dungeon is shrouded in many mysteries, among which the living nature of the Dungeon is the most frequently discussed. Many adventurers have noticed that the Dungeon reacts to their actions, such as regenerating walls and changing the difficulty of monsters depending on the strength of those around them. The Dungeon seems to have a will of its own, trying to test those who dare to comb it. Sometimes it even reacts violently to certain actions, such as defeating a boss in a level, which shows that the Dungeon is anything but a static maze. Its very origin, which could provide an answer to this question, is its own mystery. Its existence is a mystery even to the gods who descended to the mortal world.

Another mystery is the origin of Xenas. Unlike normal monsters, Xenos have a higher intelligence and sense of purpose, longing for freedom and the surface world. It hints at a deeper connection to the human realm or even a divine origin. The biggest mystery, of course, is whether the Dungeon has an end. So far, no adventurer has reached the final level, so it seems like the Dungeon goes on and on forever as the Dungeon goes deeper and deeper into the earth. Does this mean it will refer to a completely different world? Is there some treasure or catastrophic secret that could affect the world if the adventurers get their hands on it? That is, if there is an end.

DanMachi is available to watch on Crunchyroll and Hulu.