If you’re diving into Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden, there’s a good chance you’ll make some mistakes along the way. After playing the game for several weeks, I’ve learned a lot—some lessons the hard way. Knowing these key tips from the start would have saved me significant time, frustration, and even an entire restart. To help you avoid the same pitfalls, here are the ten most crucial things to keep in mind when playing.

1. Be Cautious About Who You Banish

One of the biggest mistakes I made early on was banishing shopkeepers. Doing this wipes out their inventory permanently, meaning you lose access to valuable gear, resources, and other essential items. If you mistakenly banish a key merchant, your only way to regain their stock is by starting a New Game Plus playthrough. To avoid breaking your progression, always double-check before banishing any character to ensure they aren’t a shopkeeper.

2. Farming Elite Gems Efficiently

As you progress, you’ll encounter Elites, which drop powerful Elite Gems needed to upgrade gear from Pristine to Relic. These gems are critical for endgame builds, but they’re not easy to come by. There are two types of Elites: standard ones, which provide a one-time reward, and Endless Elites, which allow for continuous farming. However, keep in mind that as you take on more Endless Elites, they scale in difficulty, making them nearly impossible to defeat unless your character is strong. Be strategic about when and how you farm these encounters.

3. Upgrade Gear Wisely

It’s tempting to upgrade every piece of gear that seems strong at the moment, but this can backfire. Elite Gems are limited, so only upgrade gear that fits your long-term build. For example, I wasted too many gems on equipment that didn’t align with my rifle-focused build. Instead, I recommend upgrading gear only to Rare status early on and holding off on further upgrades until you’re confident in your choice.

4. Ghost Missions Grant Skill Points

Throughout the game, you’ll gain skill points for Red, but many of Ana’s skill points come from completing Ghost Huntsand Ghost Missions. These side activities appear as exclamation marks on the map and often reward Essence, which is used to unlock abilities. Since Ana’s abilities serve as bridges to unlock Red’s more powerful skills, completing these missions is essential for progression. Even if you focus on Red as your main damage dealer, ignoring Ana’s upgrades will severely limit your effectiveness in combat.

5. Prioritize Yellow Question Marks

The yellow question marks scattered throughout the map indicate special events, often rewarding rare loot. Some of these lead to Void Ritual Sites, where defeating enemies results in chests containing high-quality gear. While not every event yields top-tier rewards, most provide significant advantages. Prioritize these whenever possible to strengthen your character without excessive grinding.

6. Unlock Cursed Chests ASAP

As you progress, you’ll encounter Seridian and Seeker, who help you unlock Cursed Chests. These chests contain exceptionally powerful gear that can significantly enhance your build. While unlocking them requires completing side quests, the rewards are worth the effort. I highly recommend going out of your way to complete these tasks as soon as they become available to gain a major power boost.

7. Collect Everything—And Farm Efficiently

Resources like plants and other collectibles are essential for upgrading gear. Always pick up materials when you see them. If you need to farm specific resources, returning to your base will reset enemy spawns and material nodes, allowing for continuous farming. Each zone—The Horos, Darkwoods, Meer Marshes, and Mount Pleasant—has unique materials, so keep track of where the best farming spots are for your needs.

8. Use Special Modifiers in Endless Modes

Many endless challenges, such as Void Breaches and Scourges, have special modifiers displayed on the right side of the screen. These modifiers grant significant damage bonuses when used correctly. If you ignore them, you may find enemies take much longer to kill. Always check the mission objectives and use the mechanics to your advantage to clear these challenges faster.

9. Managing In-Game Currency

While you can buy Elite Gems from a witch for 1,000 currency each, this is highly inefficient given the limited income sources in the game. It’s much better to farm Endless Elites or prioritize loot sources rather than spending your hard-earned currency. Save your money for essential purchases instead of relying on expensive gem acquisitions.

10. Plan Your Build Early

Finally, a general but critical tip: have a build plan in mind from the start. The game doesn’t make respecs easy, so knowing what kind of playstyle you want—whether it’s a melee-focused Red, a ranged rifle build, or a more balanced approach—will save you from wasting resources on unnecessary upgrades. Experiment early, but once you find a style you like, commit to it to maximize your efficiency.

By keeping these tips in mind, you’ll save yourself a lot of trouble and make your playthrough of Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden much smoother. Avoid my mistakes, and enjoy the journey through this haunting and thrilling world!