Nightingale is a pretty complex open world survival game with procedurally generated realms, but it does ease you in with a pretty lengthy introductory phase. Part of this includes having to upgrade your gear early on to get past gated (literally) content. Here is a quick guide on how you can do that!
How to Level Up Your Gear Early & Fast
As you progress through the game, you will eventually reach your first Abeyance Realm, which is also where you will meet your first Essence trader.
In addition to that, you will run into your first Site of Power (the Antiquarian one). This is the reason you need to level up fast, as it requires you to have a gear score of 20 before it lets you in.
If you follow our guide about the best first base location in Nightingale, then you will find yourself set up close to both of these things right off the bat.
As you make your way to wherever you are going to set your base up, gather resources and kill animals along the way. You will need a lot of animal hide, plant fiber, stone blocks, bundles of wood, and rocks.
Once you have a decent little shelter, even just a Stick tent, you will need to construct the following workbenches (preferably indoors, as this will affect crafting speeds):
- Simple Sewing Bench
- Simple Tanning Station
- Simple Workbench
If you don’t have the recipes for some of them, they will be available at the essence trader. If you are struggling to afford the essence trader’s offerings, check out our guide on how to get essence dust fast.
Also, you can recruit your first companion by completing a very easy quest from the NPC beside the essence trader. All you have to do is finish building the bedrolls and campfire right beside them.
Quick & Easy Gear Score Boost
Now that you have all of the necessary recipes, start crafting leather and two straps at the simple tanning station. If you need more animal hide, the essence trader sells them at a very low price.
With a handful of plant fibre and around 10-12 leather, you can craft an entire set of simple clothing. At the workbench, craft a simple mining pick or simple wood axe using the following materials:
- 1x Stone Block
- 1x Wood Bundle
- 2x Straps
After that, just equip all of these armor pieces and the simple weapon/tool. Once you do that, voila! You now have a gear score of at least 20, and it really only took you a few minutes of work!
SIDE NOTE: We have a complete guide on Gear Score Progression from 20 to 100+, make sure to check it out for other gear scores!
And that is how you level up your equipment as fast as possible in the early game. Once you have progressed a little further into the game, check out our guide on how to get tier 1 essence and upgrade gear in Nightingale!
