Some players see an extra shadow choice from the tree and later report blue or black encounters. The checked reports do not show how to force that choice to appear, and seeing it does not guarantee a bond.
| Question | What the sources show |
|---|---|
| Current scene | At a tree reached after a forest fork, most route maps show slow and quick descent choices. Some player reports include a third option involving a shadow overhead. |
| Observed outcome | Black-bond reports checked here describe following that shadow. Other players describe a blue encounter first, death, or a continued search. |
| Unconfirmed condition | No checked official source specifies a choice sequence, frequency or earlier action that guarantees the third option. |
| Next useful step | Record whether the third option actually appeared, your route before the tree, and what happened after selecting it. |
If your tree screen offers only the two descent choices, do not force a black-dragon route from a guide onto the current prompt. The documented black reports require an option you do not currently see. The game may still offer other encounters, and the available sources do not establish a way to add the shadow during that run.
Tree route and repeated-run notes ↗ · checked 14 October 2026
Community bonding discussion ↗ · checked 14 October 2026
| Observation | Supported by | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| The extra option has been reported | Player discussions and the independent Wiki describe a third shadow choice at the tree. | Its appearance has not been shown to be forceable. |
| Black bonds followed the shadow in reports checked here | Detailed player accounts and a compiled black-dragon Wiki route. | A complete census of every possible black route is unavailable. |
| A blue may be encountered before a black | Some black-route accounts describe letting blue pass and continuing. | Seeing blue does not prove a black will appear or accept the player. |
| Earlier routes differ | Black-bond posts describe different early direction and cadet decisions. | No single early path is established as necessary. |
A successful account can tell you what happened once the extra choice appeared, but it does not demonstrate that all preceding choices created that option. A player who copies the same visible decisions and receives only two options has not necessarily made an error. The author’s official FAQ confirms color availability and repeat attempts, but does not explain encounter generation or publish black odds.
Black route synthesis and linked player account ↗ · checked 14 October 2026
Megathread with route variations ↗ · checked 14 October 2026
| Stage | Reported event | Keep separate |
|---|---|---|
| Tree | An extra shadow option appears and the player follows it. | The option is not on every reported run. |
| Blue encounter | Some black-seeking players describe remaining still and letting blue pass. | This is a blue encounter, not a black bond. |
| Later decisions | Accounts mention an injured cadet and a sound before a black appears. | Earlier rescue details differ between reported successful paths. |
| Black test | A successful player says they held the black dragon’s gaze. | One completed result does not guarantee the same acceptance next time. |
This table condenses player descriptions, not official instructions. Confirm each prompt in your own run before treating the next row as relevant.
A blue seen in the meadow beside orange and brown is not evidence that the tree’s shadow option appeared. The meadow-blue guide compares sightings and completed bond reports for that separate location. Keeping the branches apart avoids mixing a black candidate route with a blue meadow test.
Player black-bond accounts ↗ · checked 14 October 2026
Blue and black route discussion ↗ · checked 14 October 2026
Before choosing a descent, note whether the screen showed two options or a third shadow option. If there was a shadow, write the exact wording, your earlier direction and companions, and any cadet decisions. Afterward record each dragon encountered and the final result separately. The private journal is designed for this comparison.
If an earlier path matched a posted route but the tree offered only two options, the divergence happened at the tree. If the shadow appeared but the blue or black test ended differently, compare those later prompts instead. This is more useful than describing both attempts simply as “same route,” and it avoids turning a missing encounter into an invented success probability.
No. The checked official FAQ and player sources do not establish a method that forces the shadow to appear. Repeated accounts describe reaching the tree without it.
No. The reports include intermediate blue encounters and unsuccessful endings. A black bond is a completed result, not the mere presence of a shadow.
Yes. The author’s FAQ confirms all colors are possible, and players have shared black-bond accounts. That does not supply a universal route or a numerical chance.
Use the scene finder for slow and quick descents, or the two-green guide if you later reach that clearing.