I have completed shadowmancer quest in 5 hours over 4 days, it’s not hard but rather… tedious.
On your specific question on pre-requisite tasks, to my understanding is none. Naturally, this is based on the 5 hours experience I went through.
As for a full guide, I will just relay to you what I have personally experienced and hopefully, it would be of use to you.
Strictly based on my opinion on the order of “the least tedious or easiness”,
-
Namu Temple - The easiest of them all
There will be 2 shadows(with black auras, quite distinctive with high graphic settings) and several passive shadows which you need to “step on”. To complete, you just run over these passive shadows. Personally completed during mid of 3rd attempt.
-
Lhadar Forest - Easy with keen eyes and mouse mode
There will be several(3?4?) mobs spawned with 3 different aura colours.
(I did not take screenshots, I am sorry)
A. Green
B. Pink
C. Teal / White
To complete, all you need to do is consistently hit the mob with the same aura colour. For instance, if you start with green, stick with it until the shadow trace loot pops up in your screen. Depending on how many mistakes you make, you may have to do this 2-3 times. Personally completed it at the first 10 kills of my 3rd attempt.
-
Ghibulinas Forest - Easy but you need to focus
To complete, just interact with the shadows. Care that there are “black gases” on the ground to avoid. Getting in contact with these black gases will cause you to be stunned (short duration). Personally completed in 2nd attempt.
-
Khonot Forest - Most tedious of them all
To complete, you need to interact with the blue-coloured pillar that appears just above the shadowmancer’s research device. Once you do, you turn into a shadow and you have to interact with other shadows that spawns. Ideal to do with keyboard mode.
All of the 4 areas have 1 thing in common:
The Shadows only appear during the event and respawns 1 hour from the last event.
Exactly what triggers the event is still unknown to me and perhaps someone else can shed some light on this for you.