In Enshrouded there aren’t just lots of weapons and classes to master—you can also specialize even further into different combat styles later on. To do this, you’ll use one of the two upgrade types for weapons: gems. Not all weapons can take them, but when they do, they unlock new special abilities. Gems aren’t exactly easy to get, and socketing them into weapons will cost you resources. In this guide, we’ll show you how to prepare for gems from the very start and how to hunt for the best gems.
Enshrouded gems: how gems and effects work
Gems were introduced with the “Thralls of Twilight” update in early 2025 and let you give weapons special abilities. Alongside enchantments, they’re another way to power up your weapons and add different effects. Unlike enchantments, which are tailored to a specific weapon and can be upgraded incrementally, you can swap gems freely.
There are more than twenty different gems to find. They are dropped by specific enemy groups and are therefore tied to regions in Embervale. Their abilities vary widely, from more mana or health to damage multipliers or new features for your glider. That makes gems highly versatile, letting you tailor them to your playstyle.
Archaic Essence in Enshrouded: use and where to find it
You can’t just use gems anywhere—you can only upgrade them at certain places. These are the Gem Forges, often found in hard-to-reach locations. You’ll also need Archaic Essence to socket and level up gems. These golden, energy-charged essences come in different tiers and can be found by searching brood nests in the regions. Mine them with your pickaxe or pick them up by hand.
Gem Forges in Enshrouded: upgrade weapons with gems
The Gem Forges have three functions:
- Raise gems to the forge’s maximum level using Archaic Essence (works even if they’re already socketed in weapons)
- Socket or remove gems in weapons using Archaic Essence
- Recycle gems to get Archaic Essence
You can only socket gems at Gem Forges, and there are three per region. They’re tied to your level, and also to the level of gems you can find. Each forge has a maximum level—you can’t upgrade gems beyond that.
- Springlands up to level 12 (Essence lvl. 5)
- Revelwood up to level 18 (Essence lvl. 13)
- Nomad Highlands up to level 22 (Essence lvl. 18)
- Kindlewastes up to level 32 (Essence lvl. 25)
- Albaneve Summits up to level 40 (Essence lvl. 33)
- Veilwater Basin up to level 50 (Essence lvl. 40)
Archaic Essence follows these level ranges as well, and you’ll find a stronger tier when you move into a new region. For example, if you’ve upgraded everything to level 32 in the Kindlewastes, you’ll start finding Archaic Essences from level 33 in the Albaneve Summits.
Farming in Enshrouded: gems and Archaic Essence efficiently
You can stockpile both gems and Archaic Essence and then use them to upgrade your weapons. Always pay attention to the appropriate level. If you’ve already reached the max level, prioritize brood nests and Gem Forges in Veilwater Basin—the others won’t be worth the time.
Farming Archaic Essence: Depending on the region level, you’ll find it in the three brood nests per region. We already have a separate guide for all regions of Embervale if you want more details: (Enshrouded Biome Guide: All Regions in Embervale) . Thanks to its golden color, essence is hard to miss, and you can pick it up by hand, mine it with your pickaxe, or get it by recycling gems at the forge.
Farming gems: Gems are much harder to obtain because they’re tied to specific monster loot. You won’t find them in chests—you need to fight enemies to get them. As with essence, gem drops are tied to regions and enemy types. Which enemies drop what isn’t always obvious. The wiki is a great help.
Best gems in Enshrouded: recommended gems and drops
So which gems are actually worth it? There are more than twenty, and they only drop from specific enemies. What should you look for? That depends heavily on your playstyle. An assassin wants different gems for a rapier or bow than a mage does for a staff. There are no gems that are best-in-slot for every class. Still, here are some that are broadly strong.
| Gem | Effect | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Bloodlust | Enemies drop health orbs that heal you and boost your damage. | Albaneve Summits |
| Lycanthropy | At night, enemies drop moon orbs that improve nearly all stats. | Veilwater Basin |
| Light Focus | Mark enemies to deal increased damage; stacks up to 3 times. | Kindlewastes |
| Cold Composure | Increases resistances but slows you; adds frost damage on hit. | Nomad Highlands |
| Corruption | Mark enemies to make them explode with Shroud damage. | Kindlewastes |
| Current | Soaks enemies while you’re soaked, increasing shock damage. | Veilwater Basin |
| Bleed | Applies bleed on hit, dealing additional damage over time. | Springlands |
| Eye of the Storm | Marked enemies call down lightning that chains to others. | Nomad Highlands |
| Meteor Impact | Landing with the glider deals AoE damage and ignites enemies. | Albaneve Summits |
Conclusion: upgrade your weapons with the right gems
Thanks to its deep combat and weapon systems, Enshrouded is perfect for players looking for challenge and variety. Gems are a key way to give your weapons special abilities and tailor them to your combat style. Upgrade gems at Gem Forges with Archaic Essence, then socket them into weapon slots. The farther you progress, the better the available gems.
Try upgrading your weapons right away by renting one of our Enshrouded servers. Play with friends and trade the gems you find to assemble your best build.
More interesting articles
Enshrouded Weapons Guide: Weapon Types, Gems, Enchantments
Enshrouded Skill Tree Guide: All Abilities, Builds, and Tips
Enshrouded Mage Guide: Best Weapons, Skills & Spells
