The LOTRO Treasure Bugan Event is an unusual one compared to the others in the Events Calendar. Instead of a ‘centre’ or ‘base camp’ for earning tokens, this one is based around running scalable (read: group) content. However, thanks to tips from others, I have also included how you can take part Solo. I have attempted to pull together this guide from community sources – which I will credit and link to – to help you out. Now that I have got my head around it, I’m also including my own points. So let’s take a look.
Treasure Bugan Event Info
When is the Event?
The LOTRO Bugan Event starts on the 20th July 2023 AT 10am /servertime (3pm UK-time) until 3am /servertime (8am UK time) on the 25th July 2023.
Who Can Play?
Characters Level 20+ can take part on instances they have unlocked.
What is this Bugan Event?
To anyone who has ventured somewhat through Middle-Earth, you will have encountered Bugans – a type of Goblin. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to find Bugans stealing treasures from Instances and Dungeons, and relieve them of their burden. Doing so earns you Coins of the Bugan, which you trade for the Bugan Event rewards.
Who is Theodore Gorse?
Oh, where to begin? You first encounter this poor deluded soul during Bingo Boffin quests in the Lone Lands. He calls himself a “Master Treasure-Seeker”, but ends up being outdone by you or by those he works with. So, the brave soul that he is, he sends you to seek the treasure instead of him.
Use the Instance Finder to take part in the LOTRO Bugan Event
Chance of a Bugan Appearing
The key phrase here is, there is the chance a Bugan will appear. Though per the Update 33.1 Release Notes, the chance has been increased to 75%. That means, there may not be one. Just bear in mind that you can only start so many instances. So exiting an instance part way through (when you have defeated a Bugan or concluded there isn’t one) to start another one – if you do this repeatedly, you’ll hit an instance lock.
Cooldown Between Bugans
Per World Chat, there is an invisible 5 minute cooldown between valid Bugans. I checked this by accident by defeating two in under 5 minutes, with only the first one counting.
If I saw this correctly, this daily quest is auto-bestowed upon discovering a Bugan in an instance. It is completed once you defeat the Bugan – or failed if they disappear before you can defeat it.
Reward
× 2
Seeking the Treasure Bugans
Click/tap to view full quest.
Requirement: defeat 3 × Treasure Bugans This daily quest pops after you defeat your first Bugan.
This item can be purchased from Theodore Gorse (reminder: inside a qualifying instance) for 10 × . This used to be available for , but since 2022, it is not – which is why I have not included it under “rewards”. What does it do? you may ask:
Now guarantees that a Treasure Bugan will spawn when used in a qualifying instance.
Whether this consumable is worth × 10, is up to you. Especially with that “expires in real time”. If you do purchase one, do not use it unless you can commit to 1½ hours straight playing the event. And 75% chance without it is still pretty darn good.
Solo players, like me. Firstly a huge thank you to people both on Twitter and in World Chat for answering my newbie questions. It’s the community being fab that makes these guides so good to create – because I do not know everything. Together we know enough. So, combining the Wiki and what I picked up in World Chat. Some of instances you can start, get the Bugan and get out are below. You don’t need a complete list, just enough to rotate them.
DPS vs Tank
I had a much easier time defeating the Bugans as a DPS, even compared to a Yellow Guardian. If you are a tank, consider using food and consumable buffs. I found it helpful to keep DoTs active too. UPDATE: I changed Glinmaethor to Red Line and equipped her with a 2-Handed (Great) Sword. Apart from keeping up with the Bugan’s erratic movements, it was much easier to take it down that way.
Soloable Bugan Instances
To clarify – I am not saying the Instances are Soloable! On-level, they are absolutely for groups. What I mean is, reaching and defeating the Bugan is, in theory, soloable.
Sword Halls of Dol Guldur
Go straight on, enter the arena and head straight to the back.
If there’s a Bugan it will be here. You have just enough time to defeat the Bugan and high-tail it back out the door before the instance begins properly.
RAID: The Battle for Erebor
Don’t freak out. The raid won’t start if you don’t touch the banners.
Go straight on through the cave.
Pass through the instance portal.
Once outside, keep running straight on. If the Bugan is there, it is past the two trolls.
Flight to the Lonely Mountain
Once the dialogue has completed and the gate is open, go through it. Immediately turn right.
If the Bugan is going to spawn it’s around the small ruin stones.
Do not cross the river. Stay on the near side of the bank. I crossed it once. It wasn’t pretty.
Other Instances
From what others have said and what the Wiki’s notes give us, the following may also be possible to Solo:
Woe of the Willow Suggested by @MVPtheBrave. You can solo the whole instance and you do have to fight. But if you want to enjoy content rather than just amass coins quickly, then go for it. Join Marigold Boffin in the Old Forest against Wood Trolls and an unusually angered Old Man Willow. Per the Wiki, if your Treasure Bugan is going to spawn in Woe of the Willow, it will be in the river en route to the second boss. It didn’t appear on my run.
The Fires of Smaug
Fires of Smaug (54.7N, 9.1E)
Wiki’s Note: don’t get close to the boss. This was where I failed! But you’ll do better, won’t you? In fact, I did better the second time around. I found the Bugan around 54.7N, 9.0E.
Dungeons of Dol Guldur I tried this last year, but if a Gorthorog finds you, you’re sent back to the start. This makes failure to defeat the Bugan in time almost inevitable). Due to this causing me genuine stress, I’ll just quote the Wiki.
In the northwest corridor corner of the eastern wing.
Per the Announcement there are no new rewards for 2023. The update instead focuses on game performance, which, to be honest, is more important.
There are some unique rewards for the Treasure Bugan Event, with the larger part being dedicated to cosmetic pets. Let’s take a look. Also note that “Theodore Gorse’s Lucky Feather” is spoken about above, as it cannot be classified as a reward as such.
Where is Theodore Gorse?
Theodore Gorse is inside qualifying instances as soon as you enter an instance. He can also be found:
Outside the Bree Town Hall (31.2S, 51.5W)
Rivendell, Elrond’s Stables (29.2S, 6.7W)
Moria, the Twenty-First Hall (5.7S, 105.3W)
I saw this question in World Chat a lot today – usually asking “Where is the Bugan Event vendor?” or wording like that. So I thought I’d just include it for completeness.
Where is Theodore Gorse (the event barter vendor)?
Cosmetic Pets
As I’m only just playing the Treasure Bugan Event for the first time in 2022, these screenshots are c/o LOTRO-Wiki. I’ll replace them with my own eventually. Thank you to the Wiki team for their hard work and saying I could use their imagery here.
You can find all the available decorations from the LOTRO Treasure Bugan Event over at Déco du Milieu.Have a Look →
TL;DR Get In, Bash a Treasure Bugan, Get Out
That’s the LOTRO Treasure Bugan Event in a nutshell! Of course, if you are someone who does group content in The Lord of the Rings Online, then you’ll be after the rewards from the instances as well. Play however you find the most fun. If you want the pets on offer here, then you’ll have to get the Coins of the Bugan. And remember, LOTRO have begun making their own guides this year, so you can see theirs here. Have fun!
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The LOTRO Bugan Event starts on the 20th July 2023 AT 10am /servertime (3pm UK-time) until 3am /servertime (8am UK time) on the 25th July 2023. 
To anyone who has ventured somewhat through Middle-Earth, you will have encountered Bugans – a type of Goblin. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to find Bugans stealing treasures from Instances and Dungeons, and relieve them of their burden. Doing so earns you 
Coins of the Bugan, which you trade for the Bugan Event rewards. 
Oh, where to begin? You first encounter this poor deluded soul during Bingo Boffin quests in the Lone Lands. He calls himself a “Master Treasure-Seeker”, but ends up being outdone by you or by those he works with. So, the brave soul that he is, he sends you to seek the treasure instead of him. 
Virtue XP, a 
Virtue Acceleration Tome and some LOTRO crafting supplies. 
1 × Crate of Crafting Materials
Requirement: complete Seeking the Treasure Bugans × 4. This is a once-per-event quest. 
. This used to be available for 
Suggested by @MVPtheBrave. You can solo the whole instance and you do have to fight. But if you want to enjoy content rather than just amass coins quickly, then go for it. Join Marigold Boffin in the Old Forest against Wood Trolls and an unusually angered Old Man Willow. Per the Wiki, if your Treasure Bugan is going to spawn in Woe of the Willow, it will be in the river en route to the second boss. It didn’t appear on my run. 
