Vortex Gaming

· Lioncrest Manor, located west of Hernand, is a great place to get useful early-game items. You can infiltrate by going to the side or back of the building and entering through a second-floor window.
· Inside the manor, there are several puzzle boxes and locked doors, and some interactions require wearing a mask.

Item	Acquisition Method & Effects
Engraved Gold Earring	Obtained from a puzzle box on the 2nd floor · Defense +1, Movement Speed +1 · Recovers 2 HP per second when upgraded
Ronid Greatshield	Obtained from a treasure chest behind a locked door on the 2nd floor · Useful shield for early game
Gold Bar	Interact with the fireplace to 'Steal' after wearing a mask · Sells for 190 Silver at a shop, exchanges for 500 Silver at a bank
Brass Watcher Plate Gauntlets	Obtained from a treasure chest in a 1st-floor bedroom · Attack +13, Defense +3 · Fire Resistance Level 1 · 10% increased chance to acquire additional wood
Hwando (Hwando)	Obtained from a treasure chest behind a locked door on the 2nd floor of the annex · Two-handed Katana (separate weapon slot) · Attack +19, Critical Hit Level 1 · Stamina Drain Level 1 (synergizes with high stamina cost two-handed weapons)

· Hillside Manor, located southeast of Hernand Castle, has a puzzle box in the southwest corner of the 2nd floor.
· The puzzle involves adjusting resistance dials to align each pin in the correct position.

Item	Effects
Saint's Necklace	· Defense +5 · Unique Ability 'Vitality': Instantly restores stamina every 30 minutes (controller operation can be a bit awkward)

· Bluemont Manor, located southwest of Hernand, has a resistance pin puzzle box in a 2nd-floor bedroom corner.

Item	Effects
Exquisite Gold Necklace	· Attack +1, Critical Hit Rate Level 1 · Suitable for aggressive builds

· The Roberts Family Manor, located west of Hernand, southwest of the large tree, has a puzzle-locked chest in a 2nd-floor bedroom.
· The puzzle involves matching four parts of an owl image to complete it.

Item	Effects
Dark Oath Earring	· Defense +2

· You can purchase items from Rett, a merchant in the center of Hernand city.
· After defeating the boss Matthias, Rett sells the Kanta Plate Armor set. This gear greatly helps with early-game defense.
· Raise your friendship level with Rett to 100 (by giving him Thin Leather or Honey Tea) to purchase the 'Hernand Equipment Trading Contract'.

Item	Effects
Kanta Plate Armor Set	· Useful for early-game defense improvement
Hernand Equipment Trading Contract	· Allows purchasing Hernand equipment from Quartermaster Tranon at Graymane Camp

· 'The Claw' is a unique fishing rod obtained from a special traveling merchant.
· This merchant roams throughout Pywell and can be found near the Goldleaf Guild House or even at Graymane Camp.
· Raise your friendship level with the merchant to 100 to receive 'The Claw'.

Item	Effects
The Claw (The Claw)	· Automatically reels in fish when fishing (currently bugged and not working)

· Below the bell tower of the Church of Calf, north of Calrad, you can access a treasure chest through a broken window.
· This shield provides good defense early on, and you can get a better 'Shield of Treachery' from the boss Cassius Morin by progressing the main quest.

Item	Effects
Shield of Faith	· Defense +8 · Abyss Core: Damage Reduction +1 · Guard Stamina Consumption -3%

· The Silent Waterfall Hideout is an interesting location adjacent to one of the game's secret waterfall caves.
· This underground area contains a massive Gravewalker, and defeating it grants the 'Crown of Darkness' Power Core.
· Light the two braziers behind the boss to open a blocked door and access a small room.

Item	Effects
Wizard's Staff	· Two-handed Weapon · Attack +18, Critical Hit Rate Level 1, Attack Speed Level 1 · No Abyss Core, but unlocking the Witch allows manipulating Abyss Cores to create builds

· There are numerous waterfalls throughout Pywell, and some hide secret caves behind them.
· Completing environmental puzzles grants the 'Knowledge of Hidden Places' key item, which reveals waterfall cave locations.
· Small stone cairns outside the entrance mark secret waterfall caves. Use the 'Stab' skill (controller RB+Y or keyboard Shift+Right Click) to break through the water and enter.

Cave & Item	Effects
Twilight Cave: Scorchflame Plate Gauntlets	· Attack +14, Defense +6 · Recovers 0.1 Spirit per second · Abyss Core 'Volcanic Eruption': Meteor explosion when using Fire and Abyss elements
Whispering Cave: Twilight Fang Leather Armor	· Defense +5 · Lightning and Fire Resistance Level 1 · Food Level Effect +1, Climbing Speed +2%
Shadow Heart Cave: Dark Overlord Cloth Helmet	· Defense +1, Movement Speed Level 1 · Stamina Regeneration +2%
Echoing Tunnel: Dark Overlord Cloth Cloak	· Defense +1, Ice Resistance Level 3
Blade Cave: Dark Overlord Cloth Armor	· Defense +3, Movement Speed Level 2 · Recovers 0.1 Spirit per second
Cloud Mist Cave: Dark Overlord Leather Gauntlets	· Attack +12, Defense +5 · Critical Hit Rate Level 1, Lightning and Ice Resistance Level 1
Starlight Storm Cave: Fallen Kingdom Plate Gauntlets	· Attack +13, Defense +3 · Food Level Effect +1, Recovers 2 HP every 1 second
Echoing Wave Cave: Sunset Reed Leather Armor	· Defense +10, Movement Speed Level 1 · Lightning Resistance Level 1, Stamina Regeneration +2%
Frozen Soul Cave: Fallen Kingdom Leather Armor	· Defense +7, Lightning Resistance Level 1 · Silver Acquisition +10%, Stamina Regeneration +2%, Swim Speed +2%

· Hernand has many interesting Points of Interest (POIs) worth exploring, full of hidden secrets and items.

Location & Item	Acquisition Method & Effects
St. Husius' Healing House: Blackwing Leather Boots	· Enter the tower through an open window, then crouch and use 'Focused Punch' to break the central tile to obtain from the chest below · Attack +12, Defense +2 · Critical Hit Rate Level 1, Movement Speed, Lightning Resistance Level 1
Castlewood Ruins: Twilight Fang Leather Gauntlets	· Burn the vines next to the metal-barred door in the Southern Hernand Ruins with 'Blinding Light' and light the torch to obtain · Attack +14, Defense +6 · Critical Hit Rate Level 1, Lightning Resistance Level 1, Recovers 0.2 HP per second
Castlewood Ruins (Second): Sunset Reed Leather Cloak	· Light the lamps on both sides of the second metal-barred door within the ruins to obtain · Defense +2, Lightning Resistance Level 3
Icemoore Castle Ruins: Fallen Kingdom Leather Cloak	· Enter a small crevice on a lower floor deep within the ruins to obtain from a secret room · Defense +1, Lightning Resistance Level 3
Sanctuary of Blessing: Fallen Kingdom Leather Helmet	· A POI connected to the Witch questline. Defeat enemies, then light the lamp outside the door to obtain from a secret room · Defense +3, Lightning Resistance Level 1 · 'Spinning Slash' damage +35% (one of the highest damage skills in the game)
Sanctuary of Temperance: Odek's Guardian Plate Boots	· A POI southeast of Graymane Camp. Defeat enemies, then burn the vines at the very bottom of the ruins with 'Blinding Light' to obtain · Attack +17, Defense +5 · Movement Speed Level 1
Sanctuary of Penance: Blackwing Leather Gauntlets	· In the ruins area with four small pillars, stand facing the front wall for the floor to collapse, revealing a secret room where you can obtain it · Attack +13, Defense +3 · Critical Hit Rate Level 2, Recovers 2 HP per second, Lightning Resistance Level 1
Mud Ridge Cabin: Petal Earring	· Obtained from a sliding puzzle box in the cabin southeast of the camp · Defense +5 · Unique Ability 'Music Box': Plays a melody
Mud Ridge Cabin: Goblin King's Treasure Dagger	· Obtained from a chest in a hidden space beneath the cabin · Attack +14, Critical Hit Rate +5 · 10% increased chance to acquire additional leather from animals

· The Sanctuary of Atonement, located in a secluded area southwest of Hernand, is a very dangerous early-game zone guarded by the powerful boss 'Antumbra Blade'.
· To defeat the boss, you'll need sufficient food, 'Focus Level 3' for time-slowing abilities, and the high-damage 'Blinding Flash Finisher' skill.
· The boss constantly summons mirror images and fires energy waves, so using the arena's pillars to block some attacks is an effective strategy.
· Upon defeating the boss, you can obtain one of the most powerful two-handed swords available early in the game.

Item	Effects
Dark Tracker's Sword	· Two-handed Sword · Attack +25, Critical Hit Rate Level 1 · Unique Abyss Core 'Dark Wound': Fires three additional dark energy waves when using 'Spinning Slash' (highly effective against multiple enemies)