The Saintly Quintessence is a rare upgrade item in Lords of the Fallen that empowers your healing flask, known as the Sanguinarix. These hidden collectibles are scattered throughout the Umbral Realm, and each one you give to Pieta in the hub area grants either an additional flask charge or increases the healing strength. Knowing how to efficiently find and use Saintly Quintessence can make a dramatic difference in your survival, especially during difficult boss encounters.
What Is Saintly Quintessence?
Saintly Quintessence is a special resource used to upgrade the Sanguinarix healing flask. You trade them to Pieta at the Skyrest hub, and each upgrade either adds one more charge to your healing flask or increases the amount healed per use. Collecting all available quintessences allows you to fully maximize your healing potential.
Where to Find Saintly Quintessences
These items are hidden throughout the Umbral Realm, usually in statues (called umbral bellies) that glow gold. You must use the Umbral Lamp to soulflay these targets to reveal the item, then pick it up. There are exactly 20 collectible locations in a single playthrough.
Common Locations
- The tutorial area near Sunless Skein Mines.
- Pilgrim’s Perch near Scourged Sister Delyth.
- Forsaken Fen and Fitzroy’s Gorge vestiges.
- Upper and Lower Calrath zones.
- Fief of the Chill Curse and Revelation Depths.
- Manse of the Hallowed Brothers, Tower of Penance, Abbey of the Hallowed Sisters, Empyrean zone.
- Bramis Castle (contains up to three different quintessences).
Many players have reported missing one location often that hidden beneath an elevator in Bramis Castle. This spot is tricky but key to completing all twenty.
How to Use Saintly Quintessence for Flask Upgrades
Upgrading Your Flask
Once you collect Saintly Quintessence, return to Skyrest Bridge and speak with Pieta. Hand over quintessences to receive upgrades. Each upgrade either increases your max usage of flasks or boosts the healing potency. Full stats depend on how many you trade in.
Upgrade Progression
- Early upgrades usually grant +1 charge.
- Later upgrades grant additional healing strength.
- Maxing out requires turning in all available quintessences.
Item Discovery Tips
Using the Umbral Realm
Saintly Quintessences are only visible when using the Umbral Lamp to shift into the Umbral Realm. Once visible, soulflaying the glowing object reveals the item.
Handling Hidden Opportunities
- Be mindful of tricky spots like ledges beneath elevators or hidden platforms that require low weight or rolling.
- Revisit known locations if you’re missing any. Some players report minor bugs or invisible spawns after patches.
One user recommended checking an obscure corpse beneath a bridge in Sunless Skein that lacks the halo but still contains the item.
Common Issues and Workarounds
Some players report getting stuck at 19/20 Saintly Quintessences even after visiting all guide-listed locations. This may be due to subtle glitches, invisible spawns, or missing a spawn condition. If you experience this, revisiting guides and comments helps pinpoint the troublesome location.
Sharing Progress in Co-Op
While you can upgrade your flask in co-op, free pass players often do not receive quintessences reliably due to progression limitations. Full game owners in shared progression sessions are more likely to obtain them properly.
Best Practices for Collecting All Twenty
- Move slowly through Umbral zones with your Umbral Lamp active.
- Consult checklist guides or map resources to track which locations you’ve visited.
- Return after major boss encounters to check for previously missed spots.
- If you miss one, it resets in New Game+, giving another chance.
Summary Table
- Item: Saintly Quintessence (healing flask upgrade material).
- Quantity: 20 collectible locations per playthrough.
- Use: Traded to Pieta in Skyrest to upgrade Sanguinarix flask (charge or healing).
- How to Find: Located in Umbral Realm, interact with golden bellies via soulflay.
- Common Issues: Missing one spawn, co-op limitations, occasional bugs.
Saintly Quintessence is a vital upgrade path for increasing your healing efficiency in Lords of the Fallen. By collecting all twenty items hidden in the Umbral Realm and trading them with Pieta, you can unlock additional flask charges and stronger healing effects. The key is thorough exploration, careful use of the Umbral Lamp, and revisiting tricky zones like Bramis Castle where items may hide beneath elevators or in less obvious areas. Despite occasional bugs or missing spawns, guides and community tips can help track down any elusive items. Fully upgrading your flask enhances survivability and gives you an edge during the toughest challenges every seasoned Lampbearer should aim to complete it.
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