If you want to survive the brutal melee and magic combat of Paraglacial’s new dark fantasy RPG, you need the right gear. The best relics Fatekeeper players can equip right now focus on combining raw physical stagger with massive Mana Cost Reduction (MCR). Currently, the Aetherial Conduit stands as the undisputed S-tier choice, effectively doubling your mana pool for devastating spell-blade combos. In this guide, we break down the ultimate tier list for optimal sword and sorcery builds so you can dominate Early Access.
Fatekeeper, developed by a passionate 13-person team at Paraglacial and published by THQ Nordic, launched into Steam Early Access on June 2, 2026. While the initial release offers roughly two hours of meticulously handcrafted content, the mechanical depth is already staggering. Drawing heavy inspiration from cult classics like Dark Messiah of Might and Magic and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, the game features a physics-heavy combat engine where your build dictates your survival. You play as a Druid—a member of an ancient order—tasked with exploring ancient battlegrounds, serene forests, and crumbling sanctuaries. But to truly master the reactive melee combat and precision spellcasting, you must understand the game's intricate relic system.
Understanding the Relic System in Fatekeeper
Unlike standard weapons and armor, which dictate your base damage and defense, relics in Fatekeeper are powerful artifacts that fundamentally alter your playstyle. These items are scattered across the world, often hidden in unmarked side rooms or held by elite enemies. They provide passive buffs, resource management enhancements, and unique synergies that can turn a struggling warrior into an unstoppable force of nature.
The game's progression goes far beyond surface-level stats. Whether you lean into raw strength, nimble precision, or devastating sorcery, relics are the glue that holds your build together. Furthermore, relics interact uniquely with the game's alchemy system. By combining three ingredients, players can craft potions, weapon vials, and handbombs. Certain relics amplify these alchemical toxins, creating a gameplay loop where preparation is just as important as execution.
As Paraglacial works toward their planned 15-hour campaign over the next 18 months of Early Access, the relic meta will undoubtedly shift. However, based on extensive playtesting of the current build, clear winners have emerged.
S-Tier: The Absolute Best Relics Fatekeeper Has to Offer
The S-Tier represents items that are mathematically superior and completely define the current meta. If you find these, equip them immediately.
1. Aetherial Conduit
The Aetherial Conduit is widely considered the most broken item currently available in the game. If you are aiming for an Unlimited Mana Build, this is your engine. Securing it requires farming the Underground Caverns, where it drops as a notoriously rare 0.4% Boss Drop. Its Primary Stat grants Cast Speed +15%, but its true power lies in its MCR—a staggering 50% Reduction to all spell costs. When analyzing combat logs, players using this ring shift their damage output to a Physical 20% / Magic 80% split, transforming them into arcane artillery. It is, without a doubt, the definitive choice for spell-casters in Early Access, earning its S-Tier status and tags like Magic, MCR, and Endgame.
2. Veydris's Iron Sigil
For players who prefer the visceral crunch of melee combat, Veydris's Iron Sigil is unparalleled. This relic massively increases your physical stagger output, allowing you to break the guard of elite enemies in just two heavy swings. In a game where physics and positioning matter, knocking an enemy off a wooden scaffolding into an abyss is both highly effective and incredibly satisfying.
3. Blightwood Sap
Resource management is notoriously difficult in Fatekeeper's early hours. Blightwood Sap solves this by offering a steady heal-over-time effect whenever you deal damage to a poisoned enemy. When paired with alchemical weapon vials that apply toxin, this relic effectively makes you immortal during prolonged engagements.
A-Tier: Top Contenders for the Best Relics Fatekeeper Builds
When examining the overall Fatekeeper Relic Power Rankings, it's clear that while the Aetherial Conduit and Veydris's Iron Sigil dominate the top spots, the A-Tier options are nothing to scoff at.
The Paraglacial Prism is a phenomenal choice for elemental builds, converting 30% of your physical sword damage into frost damage. This is particularly useful against the heavily armored foes found in the later stages of the current build. Meanwhile, the Druid's Cinderstone reduces the stamina cost of evasive dodges by 40% immediately after casting a fire spell, enabling an incredibly fluid, dance-like combat rhythm.
Even B-Tier items like the Sanctuary Locket have their place in niche survival setups. Achieving that massive 50% MCR might be the dream, but as the developers expand the current build toward the full 15h Campaign, we expect the 2026 Early Access meta to shift. For now, this remains the Optimal Relic Hierarchy for Sword & Sorcery.
Optimizing Your Loadout: Sword and Sorcery Synergies
Fatekeeper's combat shines brightest when you stop treating melee and magic as separate entities and start blending them into a cohesive hybrid build. Creating the perfect hybrid build requires balancing your offensive output with your resource management. When you equip the right gear, the synergy is undeniable.
For example, the Aetherial Conduit ring reduces mana cost by 50%, allowing you to spam high-damage spells without constantly chugging potions. Meanwhile, the Blightwood Sap provides passive healing during intense boss fights, keeping you alive when you miss a dodge. On the offensive side, wielding a heavy mace in the main hand maximizes physical stagger, easily breaking enemy guards. Simultaneously, your off-hand elemental magic benefits from the Cast Speed affixes, letting you weave lightning or fire between heavy swings seamlessly.
Build Comparison Table
| Build Type | Primary Focus | Key Relic | Playstyle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melee Juggernaut | Physical Damage, Stagger | Veydris's Iron Sigil | Aggressive, guard-breaking, reliant on physics and environmental hazards. |
| Arcane Artillery | Elemental Magic, Ranged | Aetherial Conduit | High burst damage, heavy resource management, relies on dodging and positioning. |
| Spell-Blade Hybrid | Balanced Sword & Sorcery | Paraglacial Prism | Fluid switching between melee strikes and quick-cast spells, highly adaptable. |
How to Farm the Best Relics Fatekeeper Early Access Drops
Knowing what the best relics are is only half the battle; acquiring them is where the true challenge lies. Fatekeeper does not hold your hand. There are no glowing objective markers leading you to legendary loot. Instead, you must rely on environmental storytelling and sheer persistence.
If you want to optimize your loadout, you need to know where to look. The journey begins in the toxic Blightwood. This area is dense with enemies, but you must search every forgotten sanctuary for hidden loot rooms. These unmarked locations often contain chests with guaranteed relic drops. However, the true prize requires a boss fight. You must defeat Lord Commander Veydris for high-tier drops. During the fight, he will frequently shout, "For Veydris!" as he unleashes his unblockable heavy attack. Survive this encounter, and you might just secure the 0.4% drop rate Aetherial Conduit.
Farming in Fatekeeper requires patience. Because the game utilizes a handcrafted world rather than procedural generation, chest locations are static, but the drops from elite enemies and bosses are subject to RNG. We recommend clearing the Blightwood loop, resting at Haven (the game's hub area) to reset the spawns, and repeating the process.
FAQ: Mastering Fatekeeper's Gear
Where is the best place to farm relics early? The Blightwood and the Underground Caverns are currently the most efficient farming routes. Focus on taking down Elite enemies, as they have a significantly higher chance of dropping A-Tier and S-Tier artifacts compared to standard mobs.
Does MCR (Mana Cost Reduction) have a cap? In the current Early Access build, MCR seems to soft-cap around 65%. Stacking the Aetherial Conduit with minor rings will get you close to this limit, making your elemental spells nearly free to cast.
Can I respec my character if I find a relic that doesn't fit my build? Yes. While Fatekeeper encourages committing to a playstyle, you can visit the hub area, Haven, to reallocate your skill points and attributes, allowing you to pivot from a melee brute to a master of sorcery if a god-tier magic relic drops.
Will my relics carry over to the full 1.0 release? Paraglacial has stated that due to the nature of Early Access and planned systemic overhauls, major patches may require save wipes. Enjoy your overpowered builds now, but be prepared to earn them again when the 15-hour campaign is finalized.
Sources
- THQ Nordic Official Site: Fatekeeper Game Details and Early Access Roadmap.
- Steam Community: Fatekeeper Weapons, Relics & Forgotten Arts Dev Blog.
- IGN: Fatekeeper Official Early Access Launch Trailer and Combat Breakdown.
- Destructoid / Games.gg: First-hand gameplay impressions of the Blightwood region and Lord Commander Veydris boss fight.