Before you can start getting new recipes in Nightingale, you need lots of Essence to strike a deal with the Essence Trader. This abundant resource can, fortunately, be found rather easily around the many Realms you can explore during your gameplay.
Where to Find Essence in Nightingale
Essence can be obtained through many ways, with the most common being by Extracting it from items you’ve gathered. Any given item will get you a certain quantity of Essence depending on its rarity, with more complex items (such as tools, weapons or equipment) giving you more Essence than simply raw materials (such as sticks, wood or ores).
But despite yielding less Essence directly, gathering those is the most recommended method for farming tons of it quickly. The sheer abundance of raw materials in the wilds makes up for the low amount of Essence you get from each extraction. Better items/materials can eventually lend you Tier 2 or higher Essences.
Go for easy-to-get materials such as Sticks and Plant Fiber since those can be obtained with just your bare hands. But as soon as you can, start using a Sickle to get these as it will get you more units per gathering. You can extract a bunch of materials at once, so your job gets easier if you get a lot of them first. Just be mindful of your inventory or your overall speed will be immediately lower. Start extracting as soon as you reach or start reaching your current weight limit.
Alternatively, Essence can also be obtained by defeating enemies. From animals to monsters, each living opponent has a chance of leaving you some Essence behind, so grab these if you happen to see them. Similarly to extraction, stronger enemies will give you higher-tiered Essences. They’re also sometimes placed inside Fae Chests, but this is a rare occurrence.
What Are Essences Used For in Nightingale?
Essences are used as the main currency in the game, and you can use them to trade for new blueprints or resources at any Essence Trader. This is one of the main methods to get specific resources or certain blueprints that won’t be available anywhere else in the game, so you’ll need a lot of Essence for your playthrough.
Essence is also consumed when repairing your gear. From tools to equipment, everything can be instantly repaired to maximum durability by consuming a bit of Essence, so remember to regularly recycle some of that extra loot you’ve gotten from farming Plant Fibers, Gemstones, or other common resources in the Realm.
