In Enshrouded there are many different weapons and classes to master, and later in the game you can specialise even further into distinct combat styles. For this, you’ll use one of two weapon upgrades: gems. Not every weapon can take them, but when they do, they unlock new special abilities. Gems aren’t that easy to obtain, and socketing them into weapons costs resources, too. In this guide, we’ll show you how to prepare for gems from the very beginning and how to hunt down the best gems.
Enshrouded gems: How gems and their effects work
Gems were introduced with the “Thralls of Twilight” update in early 2025 and let you grant unique abilities to your weapons. Alongside enchantments, they’re another way to enhance weapons with additional effects. While enchantments are tailored directly to a weapon and can be upgraded step by step, you can swap gems freely.
There are more than twenty different gems to find. They’re dropped by specific enemy groups and are therefore tied to the regions of Embervale. Their effects 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 perfectly to your playstyle.
Archaic Essence in Enshrouded: Use and where to find it
You can’t just use gems straight away — you can only upgrade them at certain places. Those are the Gem Forges, often found in hard-to-reach spots. You’ll also need Archaic Essence to socket and level up gems. These golden, energy-charged essences appear in different tiers and can be found by searching for brood nests in each region. Mine them with your pickaxe or gather them by hand.
Gem Forges in Enshrouded: Upgrade weapons with gems
Gem Forges have three functions:
- Upgrade gems to the forge’s maximum level using Archaic Essence (this also works if they’re already socketed)
- Socket or remove gems in weapons using Archaic Essence
- Recycle gems to recover Archaic Essence
You can only socket gems at Gem Forges, and there are three per region. They are tied to your level and to the level of the gems you can find. Each forge has its own 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 also follows these brackets, and you’ll find higher-grade essence 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 Essence from level 33 in the Albaneve Summits.
Enshrouded farming: Efficient gem and Archaic Essence routes
You can farm both gems and Archaic Essence and then use them to upgrade your weapons. Always pay attention to the relevant level. If you’ve already reached the maximum level, prioritise the brood nests and Gem Forges in Veilwater Basin — the others won’t be worth it anymore.
Farming Archaic Essence: Depending on level, you’ll find it at the three brood nests per region. We already have a dedicated guide for all Embervale regions if you want more details: (Enshrouded Biome Guide: Every Region in Embervale) . Thanks to its golden glow, essence is hard to miss, and you can pick it up by hand, mine it with your pickaxe, or obtain it by recycling gems at a forge.
Farming gems: Gems are much harder to get because they’re tied to specific enemy loot. You won’t find them in chests — you need to fight enemies to obtain them. As with essence, they’re bound to regions and enemy types. Which enemies drop which gems isn’t always obvious. The wiki is a great help here.
Best gems in Enshrouded: Recommended picks and drops
You’re probably wondering which gems are actually worth using. There are more than twenty, and only certain enemies drop them — so what should you look for? It depends heavily on your playstyle. An assassin needs different gems for rapiers or a bow than a mage does for a staff. There are no gems that are best for every class. Still, we’ve picked a few that are broadly useful.
| Gem | Effect | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Bloodlust | Drops life orbs that heal you and boost your power. | Albaneve Summits |
| Lycanthropy | Enemies drop moon orbs at night that raise almost all stats. | Veilwater Basin |
| Light Focus | Mark enemies to take increased damage, up to 3 stacks. | Kindlewastes |
| Cold Composure | Increases resistances but slows you; adds bonus frost damage on hit. | Nomad Highlands |
| Corruption | Mark enemies to make them explode with Shroud damage. | Kindlewastes |
| Flow | When you are Wet, you inflict Wet on enemies, increasing Shock damage. | Veilwater Basin |
| Bleed | Applies bleeding on hit for additional damage. | 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: Power up your weapons with the right gems
Thanks to its deep combat and weapon systems, Enshrouded is perfect for players who want a fresh challenge and variety. Gems are a key way to give your weapons special abilities and tailor them to your preferred combat style. Upgrade gems at Gem Forges with Archaic Essence, then socket them into weapon slots. The farther you progress, the better the gems you’ll be able to use.
Try upgrading your weapons right away by renting one of our Enshrouded servers. Play with friends and trade the gems you find to craft the best build.
More interesting articles
Enshrouded Weapons Guide: Types, Gems, Enchantments
Enshrouded Skill Tree Guide: All Skills, Builds, and Tips
Enshrouded Mage Guide: Best Weapons, Skills & Spells
