How to Get and Use Umbral Shards in New World: Aeternum

In New World, Amazon's expansive MMORPG set in the mystical world of Aeternum, players are constantly looking for ways to improve their gear, enhance their combat effectiveness, and progress their character. One of the latest and most important in-game resources that players need to be aware of is Umbral Shards. This special currency has a significant role in the endgame progression of New World, particularly when it comes to improving your gear through the "Greatsword," "Void Gauntlet," and "Reaper" weaponry systems and accessing some of the most powerful enhancements in the game.

In this guide, we'll dive into everything you need to know about Umbral Shards—how to obtain them, how to use them effectively, and what they unlock. Whether you're a seasoned veteran gearing up for the endgame or a newcomer aiming to level up your character's potential, understanding Umbral Shards is key to your success in New World Gold coins.

What are Umbral Shards?

Umbral Shards are a special currency introduced in New World's later updates, primarily for endgame progression and gear improvements. Unlike standard resources such as gold, crafting materials, or Azoth, Umbral Shards cannot be used for basic crafting or normal trade, but they play a central role in upgrading and enhancing high-tier gear, especially for high-level players.

These shards are primarily used to improve your existing gear and augment the gear score (GS) of weapons and armor. In New World, gear score determines the overall strength of your character's items, affecting your damage, defense, and healing capabilities. As players push into the more challenging territories and game modes, increasing gear score becomes critical for tackling tougher content like Expeditions, War, and Outpost Rush.

In essence, Umbral Shards allow players to reach the highest levels of gear and play a major role in how the endgame content of New World is experienced.

How to Get Umbral Shards

There are multiple ways to obtain Umbral Shards in New World, and they are tied closely to high-level activities in the game. You'll primarily need to participate in some of the most challenging content to gather Umbral Shards. Here's how you can get them:

1. Endgame Expeditions and High-level PvE Activities

Umbral Shards are most commonly earned through Expeditions (high-level dungeons), such as the Garden of Genesis, Tempest's Heart, and The Lazarus Instrumentality. These activities are designed for high-level players, and completing them is one of the primary ways to earn Umbral Shards.

When you complete these endgame dungeons, especially at higher difficulty levels, you will receive rewards, including Umbral Shards. For instance, completing an expedition with a higher difficulty rating, such as on Expert or Ultimate difficulty, increases the number of Umbral Shards you earn. These expeditions often require a well-coordinated group, making it essential for players to be part of a skilled team.

Additionally, PvE content in the form of elite world bosses or open-world invasions may occasionally drop Umbral Shards. These world bosses can be challenging, so you'll need to be prepared to face tough competition or gather a group of other players to ensure success. The higher the difficulty of the event or the boss, the more Umbral Shards you'll be able to earn.

2. PvP Activities and Wars

In New World, PvP (Player vs. Player) content also provides a means to collect Umbral Shards. Faction wars, Outpost Rush, and siege warfare are some of the main PvP activities where Umbral Shards can be earned. These events often reward participants with valuable endgame loot, including the coveted Umbral Shards.

Outpost Rush, in particular, is a fun and competitive mode where teams of players fight over control points, completing objectives for rewards. Players who perform well in these PvP modes or participate in faction wars can earn Umbral Shards as part of their rewards. Like PvE content, the more difficult or prestigious the activity, the more likely you are to earn larger amounts of Umbral Shards.

3. Daily/Weekly Missions and Challenges

Certain daily and weekly missions or challenges may offer Umbral Shards as part of their rewards. These are often relatively straightforward tasks that can be completed solo or with a group. By focusing on these missions, you can steadily accumulate Umbral Shards over time.

For example, daily faction quests, elite area runs, and large-scale world events are excellent ways to stockpile Umbral Shards, especially if you focus on completing them consistently. Be sure to check your quest log regularly for time-limited tasks that offer Umbral Shards, as they can be essential to advancing your gear score.

4. Upgrading Gear in the Endgame

Once you reach the highest tiers of gear, such as legendary or exotic items, you will need Umbral Shards to enhance and upgrade them. To upgrade a piece of gear using Umbral Shards, you must visit a crafting station or interact with special upgrade NPCs found in the game's main cities and settlements.

The higher the gear score you want to reach, the more Umbral Shards you'll need to spend. This makes Umbral Shards especially useful for high-level crafting and gear upgrades, and you'll want to ensure you are actively engaging with endgame activities to gather as many as possible.

5. Transmuting Gear

In addition to upgrading, Transmuting is another way to get the most out of your Umbral Shards. This system allows players to change the appearance of their gear while keeping its stats intact. However, transmuting legendary or exotic gear often costs a substantial amount of Umbral Shards.

By participating in activities that yield a large number of Umbral Shards, you can also get more flexibility in customizing your gear's appearance, giving you both functional and aesthetic benefits.

How to Use Umbral Shards in New World

Once you've collected Umbral Shards, the next step is to use them effectively. Here's a breakdown of how to apply Umbral Shards to your gear and maximize their value:

1. Upgrading Gear Score

The most common use of Umbral Shards is to upgrade the gear score of your weapons and armor. To do this, you must visit a crafting station or an upgrade NPC, where you can select the gear you want to upgrade. Upgrading is a multi-step process, and each step will require a significant amount of Umbral Shards.

Upgrading your gear score is crucial for progressing through the most challenging content in New World, such as elite expeditions, high-level PvP, and faction wars. Gear with a higher gear score will not only improve your stats but also give you a competitive edge in difficult endgame content.

2. Transmuting Legendary Gear

Transmuting allows you to take a piece of gear and apply a different appearance to it without altering its functionality. This is especially useful if you want to give your legendary gear a more unique look, but it comes at a cost in Umbral Shards. The more powerful the gear or the rarer the appearance, the more Umbral Shards you'll need to spend.

Using Umbral Shards in this way is a great option if you want to enhance your character's style and stand out visually in the game, while still benefiting from the powerful stats of your gear.

3. Enhancing Weapons and Armor

Apart from gear score upgrades and transmuting, Umbral Shards can also be used to enhance the attributes of your weapons and armor. This system allows you to improve a specific stat, such as adding more damage output to your weapon or increasing your defensive stats on armor.

Using Umbral Shards for enhancement can be a strategic move for fine-tuning your build and making your gear more specialized toward your playstyle or the type of content you intend to tackle. This is particularly helpful for players who focus on certain roles, like tanking or healing, and want to fine-tune their stats to meet specific needs.

4. Crafting Legendary Gear

For players who focus on crafting, Umbral Shards can be used to craft legendary gear directly. Crafting at high gear scores requires not just base materials, but also a large number of Umbral Shards, which can be used to augment the quality of crafted items. This system rewards players who put time and effort into gathering resources and mastering the crafting systems of cheap New World Gold.

5. Participating in Endgame Content

The use of Umbral Shards is ultimately tied to the experience of the endgame itself. As you level up your gear, upgrade your weapons, and transmute your appearances, you will find that the highest-level content (such as elite expeditions and high-stakes PvP) becomes more accessible, rewarding, and enjoyable. Umbral Shards ensure that your character remains competitive and ready for whatever New World's most dangerous and rewarding challenges throw at you.

Conclusion

In New World, Umbral Shards are a critical resource for players looking to maximize their potential in the endgame. By participating in high-level PvE and PvP activities, completing elite challenges, and using the shards to upgrade, enhance, and transmute gear, you can ensure that your character remains at the cutting edge of power and style. As you progress in the game and tackle tougher content, Umbral Shards will be essential for keeping your gear on par with the challenges ahead, making them an integral part of your journey through Aeternum.