Introduction
Collectibles in DragonSword: Awakening are far more than mere trinkets scattered across the Continent of Orbis. They are the lifeblood of progression, lore, and completionist satisfaction. Whether you are hunting elusive Nameless Souls to unlock the memories of fallen warriors, scouring ruins for rare crafting materials, or pushing your region completion to 100% for exclusive rewards, this guide covers every facet of the collectible ecosystem. Hound13 has woven these items into the fabric of the game, tying them to Hero Request quests, the Rift System, and even character power spikes through Familiar upgrades. Understanding the types, locations, and tracking mechanics will save you dozens of hours of aimless wandering. We will explore all collectible categories, pinpoint every Nameless Soul—according to community reports and extensive testing—and break down the completion percentage system. Let’s embark on a journey to leave no stone unturned in Orbis.
Understanding Collectible Categories
Before diving into locations, it is crucial to understand what you are collecting. DragonSword: Awakening splits its collectibles into several distinct categories, each tracked separately in the journal and contributing to regional completion. Confusing a Nameless Soul with a simple lore tablet can lead to frustration when your percentage does not budge. The primary categories are: Nameless Souls, Lore Tablets, Treasure Chests, Elite Monster Trophies, and Environmental Puzzles. There are also rare sub-categories like Abyssal Echoes and Familiar Caches that tie into specific systems. The game’s open-world design, powered by Unreal Engine 5, means many collectibles are hidden behind environmental interactions or require specific Signal Skills to access. For example, a Freeze-based Switching Signal might be needed to create an ice bridge to a secluded island containing a Nameless Soul. We will detail these requirements where applicable.
| Collectible Category | Tracked In Journal | Completion Weight | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nameless Souls | Yes | ~40% per region | Ghostly remnants; unlock passive bonuses via Soul Nexus |
| Treasure Chests | Yes | ~30% per region | Varying rarity; ornate chests hold rare crafting components |
| Lore Tablets | Yes | ~15% per region | Required for "Historian" achievement; do not glow |
| Elite Monster Trophies | Yes | ~10% per region | Drop from Abyssal Direwolf variants and elites |
| Environmental Puzzles | Yes | ~5% per region | Grant experience and permanent stat boosts |
| Abyssal Echoes | Sub-category | Hidden percentage | 50 audio logs from fallen warriors |
| Familiar Caches | Sub-category | Hidden percentage | Distinct from standard Familiar upgrade materials |
Nameless Souls
Nameless Souls are the crown jewels of collectibles. These shimmering, ghostly remnants are scattered across every major region—from the sun-scorched dunes of the Red Fox Mercenaries’ territory to the frostbitten peaks where the Organa Order holds sway. Each soul belongs to a warrior who fell during the great calamity, and collecting them not only provides lore snippets but also unlocks passive bonuses through the Soul Nexus in the central hub. According to community reports, there are estimated 150 to 180 Nameless Souls across the entire game, though Hound13 has not confirmed the exact number. They are often placed in hard-to-reach areas, requiring precise use of the Rift System or specific hero abilities like Lute’s grappling hook or Aria’s wind-lift.
Lore Tablets
Lore Tablets are stone slabs or ancient manuscripts that flesh out the history of the Continent of Orbis. They are not tied to major rewards like Nameless Souls, but reading all of them is required for the “Historian” achievement. They are usually found in ruins, near campfires, or in towns like Chako. Some are easy to miss because they are carried by non-hostile NPCs who only appear at certain times of day. Unlike Nameless Souls, Lore Tablets do not glow, making them a true test of observation.
Treasure Chests and Rare Items
Treasure Chests are the most common collectible, but their contents vary wildly. Standard chests contain gold and common materials, while ornate chests can hold rare crafting components used in Hero Request turn-ins. Some chests are guarded by Elite Monsters, like the Abyssal Direwolf variants, which require a solid grasp of tag combos to defeat efficiently. For example, using Johnny to apply Shock into a Freeze from Aria can lock down these aggressive foes while you burst them down. Rare items from these chests, such as Frostheart Crystals or Abyssal Shards, are essential for upgrading Familiars beyond level 60.
All Nameless Soul Locations by Region
This section details every Nameless Soul location, organized by region. The Continent of Orbis is vast, and community data has been compiled to create this comprehensive list. Remember that some Nameless Souls are locked behind story progression or require specific Status Ailments to access their areas. For instance, a Bleed effect might be needed to activate a blood-seal door, which you can apply with heroes like Kalien or Roxy. Always check your map for the faint blue shimmer indicating an uncollected Nameless Soul within 100 meters; this is your most reliable tracking tool.
Dawnveil Plains
Dawnveil Plains is the starting area, but it holds several well-hidden Nameless Souls that many players overlook. According to community data, there are 12 Nameless Souls in this region.
-
Soul of the Valiant Hatchling: Located atop the ancient tree in the central meadow. You need Lute’s grappling hook to reach the upper branches. This soul tells the tale of a young drake that died protecting its nest.
-
Soul of the Fallen Scout: Hidden inside a cave behind a waterfall in the northern river bend. Use a Signal Skill with Knockdown to break the weak rock wall.
-
Soul of the Organa Initiate: On a floating island accessible only by using Aria’s wind-lift after completing her companion quest. The island is southeast of the Chako settlement.
-
Soul of the Mercenary Vanguard: In the Red Fox Mercenaries’ camp, behind the command tent. You must complete three Hero Requests for Jerome to gain access to the tent interior.
-
Soul of the Frostbound Wanderer: Frozen inside a glacier in the transitional zone to the Frostpeak Mountains. Use a Fire-based Switching Signal to melt the ice.
-
Soul of the Abyssal Researcher: Near the entrance to the first Rift System tutorial, guarded by a minor Abyssal Direwolf. Defeat the wolf to claim the soul.
-
Soul of the Starving Artist: Inside an abandoned windmill near the wheat fields. The door only opens at night in-game.
-
Soul of the Broken Shield: Under the main bridge in Chako, accessible by swimming. You will need to dive; hold the interact button when prompted.
-
Soul of the Lost Child: At the top of the lighthouse on the eastern cliffs. Climb the exterior using the crumbling ledges.
-
Soul of the Wandering Bard: Randomly spawns near any campfire in the plains. This is the only Nameless Soul with a random element; rest at different campfires to force a respawn if it does not appear.
-
Soul of the Crimson Fox: Inside the Red Fox Mercenaries’ secret vault. You need a key from a side quest given by Logan after reaching friendship level 5.
-
Soul of the Dawnveil Matron: In the crypt beneath the ruined church. Defeat the Elite Monster “Mourning Wraith” to cleanse the soul.
Frostpeak Mountains
The Frostpeak Mountains are home to 15 Nameless Souls, many involving the Organa Order’s tragic history. The extreme cold requires constant management of the Frost Gauge, so equip Familiars with warmth auras like the Valiant Hatchling variant.
| Region | Estimated Nameless Souls | Key Access Requirement | Notable Soul |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dawnveil Plains | 12 | Grappling hook (Lute), Knockdown, Fire Signal, night-time access | Soul of the Wandering Bard (random spawn) |
| Frostpeak Mountains | 15 | Fire-based attacks, climbing gear, Theresia’s loyalty key, weather events | Soul of the Eternal Winter (blizzard only) |
| Verdant Wilds | ~40–50 | Rift System variant map, Switching Signal | Rift-locked souls requiring dimensional shift |
| Sunken Ruins | ~30–40 | Diving ability (Othello’s Hero Request), underwater navigation | Souls visible only in Rift version of map |
| Remaining Regions | ~20–30 | Mixed Signal Skills and ailment gates | Varies by zone |
-
Soul of the Frost Monk: At the summit of the tallest peak, behind an ice wall that requires three consecutive Signal Skills to break: Shock, then Freeze, then Knockdown.
-
Soul of the Avalanche Victim: Buried under a pile of snow near the avalanche-prone slope. Trigger an avalanche by using a loud Signal Skill and dig where the snow settles.
-
Soul of the Organa Commander: Inside the Organa Order fortress, in the commander’s quarters. You need the key from Theresia’s loyalty mission.
-
Soul of the Frozen Familiar: Entombed in a block of ice in the Frozen Lake. Use a Fire-based Status Ailment to thaw it; Dana’s signature attack works well.
-
Soul of the Ice Climber: On a vertical ice wall, you must climb using the climbing gear obtained from a Hero Request. The soul is at the midway point.
-
Soul of the Hermit: In a cave behind the frozen waterfall, accessible only when the waterfall melts during the in-game summer season.
-
Soul of the Cursed Knight: In the Abyssal Rift entrance within the mountains. You must defeat three waves of Abyssal Direwolves.
-
Soul of the Lost Expedition: Scattered across the mountain; you must find five fragments and combine them at a workbench.
-
Soul of the Frost Dragon: At the end of the Frozen Depths dungeon, after defeating the boss. This is unmissable if you complete the dungeon.
-
Soul of the Chako Merchant: Near the mountain pass to Chako, hidden behind a destructible cart.
-
Soul of the Organa Mystic: Inside a magical barrier that dissipates after solving a constellation puzzle.
-
Soul of the Abyssal Prisoner: In a cell within the Abyssal Rift prison area. The key drops from a rare spawn named “Jailer Wraith.”
-
Soul of the Peak Watcher: At the very edge of the map, on a narrow ledge. Use the glider from the highest point to reach it.
-
Soul of the Warmth Seeker: Near a hot spring, but guarded by a hostile Familiar. Tame or defeat the Familiar to claim the soul.
-
Soul of the Eternal Winter: A unique soul that only appears during a blizzard. Rest at the camp until a blizzard starts.
Verdant Wilds and Further Regions
The Verdant Wilds, Sunken Ruins, and later areas contain the remaining Nameless Souls. We estimate around 80 to 100 more souls across these regions. The Verdant Wilds are dense with foliage, making visual spotting difficult; rely on the map shimmer. The Sunken Ruins require the diving ability, which you unlock after helping Othello with his Hero Request chain. In these areas, Nameless Souls are often tied to environmental puzzles involving the Rift System, where you shift between the mortal world and the Abyssal Rift to see hidden paths. For example, one soul in the Sunken Ruins is only visible in the Rift version of the map, and you must use a Switching Signal to bring it back. The Red Fox Mercenaries’ influence is minimal here, but you will encounter more Organa Order remnants and hostile Familiars like the Abyssal Direwolf alphas.
Rare Items and Achievement-Linked Collectibles
Beyond Nameless Souls, certain rare items are considered collectibles because they are tracked for completion and achievements. These include Familiar Crystals, which are distinct from standard Familiar upgrade materials. Familiar Crystals are used to evolve specific Familiars like the Valiant Hatchling into its ultimate form. They are often hidden in Treasure Chests sealed with Status Ailment locks. For instance, a chest in the Frostpeak Mountains requires applying Freeze and Shock simultaneously, which means you need a party with heroes like Aria (Freeze) and Johnny (Shock). Another rare item is the “Nameless King’s Seal,” a quest item found by combining 10 fragments scattered across the world. This item is required for the secret ending and the “True Awakening” achievement. Achievement-linked collectibles also include all 50 Abyssal Echoes, which are audio logs from fallen warriors, and the 20 Heroic Portraits hidden in dungeons. The “Completionist’s Pride” achievement requires 100% map completion, which we will discuss next.
Completion Percentage Tracking
The completion tracker in DragonSword: Awakening is a blessing and a curse. It provides a percentage per region and an overall total, but the breakdown is not always clear. The tracker divides collectibles into the categories we discussed, and each category contributes a weighted portion to the percentage. Based on community testing, Nameless Souls account for roughly 40% of a region’s completion, Treasure Chests 30%, Lore Tablets 15%, Elite Monster Trophies 10%, and Environmental Puzzles 5%. This means missing a single Nameless Soul can drop your completion by a noticeable margin. The tracker updates in real-time, and you can view it in the journal under the “Exploration” tab. There is also a hidden mechanic: interacting with certain objects that are not tracked as collectibles, like bookshelves or NPC dialogue prompts, can contribute a tiny, hidden percentage. This is why some players report hitting 99% despite collecting everything visible. If you are stuck, revisit towns like Chako and talk to every NPC; some trigger lore updates.
| Completion Milestone | Requirement | Reward |
|---|---|---|
| 10 Familiars discovered | Collect 10 Familiars | Nameless Soul currency bonus |
| 25 Familiars discovered | Collect 25 Familiars | Intermediate-tier reward |
| 42 Familiars discovered | Collect all Familiars | Legendary Familiar egg |
| 100% region completion | All categories at 100% | “Completionist's Pride” achievement |
| “Soul Harvester” achievement | Collect all Nameless Souls | Estimated 30–40 hours of focused hunting |
| “Historian” achievement | Read all Lore Tablets | Achievement unlock |
| “True Awakening” (secret ending) | Collect Nameless King's Seal (10 fragments) | Secret ending access |
Tips for Efficient Completion
To avoid burnout, focus on one region at a time. Start with Dawnveil Plains and use the map filter to show only uncollected Nameless Souls. This filter is unlocked after completing the Red Fox Mercenaries’ main questline. For Treasure Chests, use the Familiar “Scout Owl” which marks unopened chests within a radius. This Familiar is obtained from a Hero Request by Tarte. For Lore Tablets, the Organa Order’s library has a master list that marks them on your map for a fee. Always check the Rift System variant of each area; many collectibles are phase-specific. If you are stuck on a puzzle, try using different Switching Signals. The game often hints at the required Status Ailment through the environment—frost on a wall suggests Freeze, cracked ground suggests Knockdown, and electrical arcs suggest Shock. For achievement hunters, the “Soul Harvester” achievement for collecting all Nameless Souls is the most time-consuming, estimated at 30 to 40 hours of focused hunting.
Hero and Familiar Synergies for Collectible Hunting
Certain heroes and Familiars make collecting significantly easier. Lute’s grappling hook is essential for vertical exploration. Aria’s wind-lift and gliding capabilities let you reach floating islands. Johnny’s shockwave can reveal hidden underground caches. For Familiars, the Abyssal Direwolf variant has a passive that highlights Elite Monster Trophies, which are often near rare chests. The Valiant Hatchling, when evolved, can break weak walls without needing a Signal Skill, saving time. Kalsion’s telekinesis can pull distant collectibles, but only specific objects. For combat-heavy areas, bring a team with high stagger potential, like Theresia and Roxy, to quickly dispatch guardians. Remember that some collectibles are locked behind Hero Request chains. For example, to access the Organa Order’s secret vault, you must complete all of Ornette’s personal quests. Similarly, the Red Fox Mercenaries’ cache requires high friendship with Logan and Jerome. This intertwining of systems means that collectible hunting is not just about exploration—it is about engaging with the entire game. For a deeper dive into combat to handle guardians, see our guide on tag combos: Mastering Tag Combos.