Grave robbing, thieves' dens, and dragon lairs

[Castler]

Some levels have randomly generated events: graves which you can choose to disturb or hole leading to a cavern full of thieves or a cavern full of dragons.

After losing a few lives to each of these, I'm wondering, are these ever worth it? Disturbing graves seems to either generate named elite undeads (not too hard, but they don't give enormous rewards either, either) or drops you into a cavern full of undeads (very dangerous). Similarly, the thieves' dens and dragons' lairs have some decent coins and gems, but large numbers of enemies and open areas with limited escape options make it not worth it.

Are there potential benefits I'm missing? Strategies that make these more survivable? Or, like the Dark Crypt, are graves and strange holes better left alone?

[Red]

I personally, in the few times I found these places, them to be comepletely worth it. This has happened on three occassions-dwarven alchemist, dwarven fungus bulwark, and a dark fairy brawler. In each case, I was so powerful for the area that there was basically no threat.

So I suppose it's a question of how powerful you are at the time-in each of these cases, I was either so damn survivable (fungus bulwark) that I could chew through bosses with bump attacks and not drop below half health, or so damn offensively powerful (alchemist, completely OP self cloning +40% damage +80% attack speed brawler) that nothing survived long enough to hurt me seriously.

And do note, these are literally the only three times I've encountered one of these. I'm sure other people have more experience and better advice, but I'm just giving you what I've got.

[Razakai]

Graves aren't too bad, as they spawn a single undead at a time so you can use escape options. The caves depend on classes really - if you have strong AoE/mass disable, high defences or both you can clear them relatively easily as the mobs are tightly packed and there's usually chokepoints/stair dancing. The mass grave can be intimidating though, as it can spawn several master archers or casters at a time and kill you quickly.
I open/enter all of them regardless, but I'm very reckless. If I was playing cautiously I'd definitely leave mass graves. Note you can tell the difference between them, as the mass grave/old battlefield is always a cluster of graves, whereas the single elite undead ones are spread out.

[Fhtagn]

Note you can tell the difference between them, as the mass grave/old battlefield is always a cluster of graves, whereas the single elite undead ones are spread out.

Damn. You never stop learning. Thanks!

[Doctornull]

Are there potential benefits I'm missing? Strategies that make these more survivable? Or, like the Dark Crypt, are graves and strange holes better left alone?

For the old battlefield (which is a cluster of graves, yeah), what you want to do is get to cover. I like the niche in the southern half of the west wall (so left-bottom part of the map).

Once you are not being hit by 8 Skeleton Warriors at once, the map is quite survivable. From there, focus on endurance. This is a battle of attrition. Be careful with your resources, avoid big attacks unless you can get a lot of enemies at once, mind your cooldowns, etc.

In general, though, try them so you can learn your character's strengths & weaknesses. These areas and events are optional. Try them -- in Adventure mode -- and don't be too proud to skip them if a character type handles them poorly.

[Faeryan]

The multiple grave cluster is the only one I tend to skip regularly.
The separate graves when met in Old Forest I really should skip since more often than not I have to flee or get killed, but I never do.

[Marson]

Even with the grave clusters, there's a trick you can do to see which one is the portal. If you step on the grave and then say "no", you can hover the mouse over it and it will tell you if it is a normal grave or not. If it's going to send you to the cave it will be marked as an "exit".

For the other caves, you can pop in and look to see what level the enemies are and if they are too high, just leave. It doesn't take a turn so you'll be safe. Plus it sets the cave's level so you can come back later when you feel you are high enough.