Nothing hurts more than surviving a brutal dungeon run in Early Access, only to realize you missed a build-defining artifact because it was buried under a pile of destructible debris. If you are hunting for all relic locations Fatekeeper has to offer, you already know that the game’s default detection mechanics are intentionally cryptic. You spam your Item Highlight button, but the faint golden glow completely blends into the chaotic background lighting of the Shattered Spire.
Developed by Paraglacial and published by THQ Nordic, Fatekeeper is a dark fantasy action-RPG that heavily rewards exploration. The game’s intricate level design—heavily inspired by Dark Messiah of Might & Magic and Skyrim—means that relics aren't just sitting in plain sight. They are locked behind physics puzzles, illusionary walls, and environmental hazards. Forget the generic wikis that just list item names; this comprehensive guide breaks down exactly how to manipulate the in-game detection systems and pinpoint every hidden relic scattered across the ruined world.
Preparing Your Build for All Relic Locations Fatekeeper
Before you step foot into the first dungeon, you need to fix your detection build. If you rely on the base 10-meter Item Highlight, you will walk right past half the loot in the game. The game does not hold your hand, and the tutorial completely glosses over how the detection mechanics scale.
To properly hunt relics, you must upgrade your toolset immediately. Head to the central hub and speak to the Blind Seer NPC.
Here is exactly what you need to unlock to guarantee you never miss a drop:
| Detection Method | Range / Effect | Requirement to Unlock |
|---|---|---|
| Base Item Highlight | 10 Meters (Line of Sight only) | Default starting ability |
| Upgraded Highlight | 30 Meters | Purchase from the Blind Seer NPC for 500 gold |
| Piercing Gaze | Penetrates solid walls and illusions | 3 Skill Points in the Utility Tree |
| Seeker's Dust | Permanent visual trail to nearest relic | Crafted via Alchemy (Rare ingredients) |
| Audio Cue | 15-Meter low-frequency hum | Always active (Listen to your rat companion) |
Your rat companion is your best friend here. Sitting on your shoulder, this bedraggled rodent will occasionally speak in cryptic riddles. Pay attention: when he complains about a "humming in his teeth" or remarks that the air "smells of old magic," you are within 15 meters of a hidden relic. Stop moving, cast your Upgraded Highlight, and look for the glow.
Region 1: All Relic Locations Fatekeeper — The Shattered Spire
The Shattered Spire is the first major dungeon in the Early Access build, and it serves as a brutal introduction to the game's physics-based puzzles. There are five unique relics hidden in this gothic nightmare.
1. The Sunken Crown Located in the Goblin Ambush Hall. After clearing the first wave of enemies, ignore the main door. Look for a pile of destructible wooden debris in the northeast corner. Smash it with a heavy melee attack to reveal a hidden pedestal holding the crown.
2. Druid's First Tear This relic requires you to exploit the game's Unreal Engine 5 physics engine. In the Spike Trap Room, you will see a caged relic hanging from the ceiling. Lure a Spire Guard toward the spiked wall. Use your core kick ability—a direct homage to Dark Messiah—to impale the enemy on the spikes. The weight of the body triggers a hidden pressure plate, dropping the cage.
3. Weathered Ritual Dagger Found in the Flooded Basement. You will not see this one with the base Item Highlight. Listen to your rat companion—he will remark that the water "smells of old blood." Dive into the central pool and swim through a submerged, collapsed tunnel to find the dagger resting on a drowned skeleton.
4. Ring of the Blind Seer Located in the Grand Library. You absolutely need the Piercing Gaze node unlocked for this. Scan the western wall of the library to reveal an illusionary bookshelf. The ring is inside a locked chest behind the illusion (requires a standard iron key to open).
5. Ember of the Cataclysm This is technically unmissable, as it drops directly from the Spire Warden boss at the end of the region. However, you must manually loot the boss arena before taking the elevator up. If you leave the arena without picking it up, it will despawn, forcing a frustrating backtrack.
Region 2: All Relic Locations Fatekeeper — The Moon Gate
Once you escape the Spire, you enter the Serene Forests, leading up to the massive Moon Gate. The environmental puzzles here shift from physics-based combat to elemental magic manipulation.
6. Lunar Catalyst Found directly at the Moon Gate entrance. You will notice three unlit ancient torches surrounding the gate. You must use elemental magic (specifically the Fireball spell) to light all three within a tight 10-second window. Succeed, and a secret stone compartment in the gate will grind open, revealing the catalyst. This item is massive for mage builds, offering a base 78% magic scaling boost.
7. Whispering Papyrus Located high in the Serene Forests canopy. Look up into the branches near the first save crystal. You will see a glowing item stuck in the dense leaves. Use your Wind Knockback spell to dislodge it and bring it crashing to the forest floor.
8. Band of the Old World Hidden inside the Crumbling Sanctuary. This arena is heavily guarded by two heavy knights. Defeat them, then consume a pinch of Seeker's Dust in the center of the room. A glowing golden trail will lead you directly to a loose floorboard. Pry it open to claim the ring, which provides a flat 22% melee damage increase.
9. Alchemist's Mortar Found on the outskirts of the Serene Forests. Look for a massive pile of dead, brown leaves that blocks a hidden cave entrance. Burn the leaves with a fire spell to clear the path, granting you access to the cave and the mortar inside.
Region 3: All Relic Locations Fatekeeper — The Underground Caverns
The deepest available zone in the current build, the Underground Caverns, requires a mix of platforming precision and audio-cue awareness.
10. Handbomb Primer Located in the Crystal Caves. The path forward appears to be a deadly drop into a bottomless chasm. Do not jump blindly. Use Seeker's Dust to reveal an invisible crystal bridge spanning the gap. Cross it carefully to find the primer resting on a forgotten altar.
11. Core of the Depths Drops from the Arachnid Queen boss. Similar to the Spire Warden, ensure you thoroughly loot the massive web sac in the corner of the boss arena before proceeding to the exit.
12. Vials of the Forgotten Found in the Central Chamber water puzzle. You must lower the water level by pulling three levers in the correct sequence (Left, Right, Center). Once the pool is fully drained, drop down into the basin to collect the vials.
13. Shadow-Weaver's Amulet Located near the cavern exit. Your rat companion will complain about the air feeling "heavy and wrong." This is your 15-meter audio cue. Smash the stalagmites along the eastern wall with a heavy weapon to uncover a hidden alcove containing the amulet.
Relic Alchemy and Progression Synergies
Finding relics is only half the battle; knowing how to utilize them in Fatekeeper's alchemy system is what separates average players from unstoppable druids. Relics are not just static stat boosts. Many of them serve as permanent catalysts or break-down ingredients for high-level crafting.
The alchemy system allows players to combine three ingredients to craft Potions, Weapon Vials, or Handbombs.
For example, the Handbomb Primer you found in the Underground Caverns fundamentally alters how your crafted explosives work. By slotting it into your active relic pouch, your handbombs will now bounce off walls, utilizing the game's physics engine to clear corners without exposing yourself to enemy fire.
Similarly, pairing the Lunar Catalyst (78% magic scaling) with Weapon Vials allows you to coat your melee weapons in devastating elemental damage, perfectly bridging the gap between raw swordplay and sorcery. Mastery comes from understanding these synergies, stacking the right relics, and preparing the exact tools needed for the boss ahead.
FAQ: Finding All Relic Locations Fatekeeper
Do you need to find all relic locations in Fatekeeper to unlock the true ending? Yes. While the game is currently in Early Access, dataminers and in-game lore strongly hint that assembling the Core of the Cataclysm—which requires fragments from all regional relics—is mandatory to access the final locked door beyond the Moon Gate.
Can you miss any relics permanently? No. Fatekeeper features a central hub that allows you to backtrack to previously cleared zones like the Shattered Spire and the Serene Forests. However, boss drops like the Ember of the Cataclysm must be looted manually before leaving the arena, or you will have to run the entire dungeon again.
Does the rat companion automatically find relics for you? The rat will give a cryptic audio cue when you are within 15 meters of a hidden item, but he will not pick it up. You still need the Upgraded Item Highlight or the Piercing Gaze skill to reveal its exact location behind walls or debris.
What is the best relic for a pure melee build? The Band of the Old World, found in the Serene Forests, is currently the best-in-slot for melee players. It boosts raw melee damage by 22% and synergizes perfectly with heavy weapon vials, allowing you to brute-force your way through shielded enemies.
Sources
- THQ Nordic Official Site: Fatekeeper Early Access Patch Notes
- Paraglacial Developer Blog: Weapon, Relics & Forgotten Arts
- Steam Community Hub: Fatekeeper Player Progression Guides
- IGN: Fatekeeper Official Early Access Launch Trailer Breakdown