Resonant New Growth Side Quest Walkthrough
This walkthrough explains how to find and complete the Resonant New Growth side quest, covering the starting location, the full objective chain, and the rewards. You begin by speaking to the NPC near the central garden, then collect three Resonant Shards from marked cave entrances and return them to the growth crystal to finish the quest.
Quest Background and Context
Resonant New Growth is a mid-game side quest that appears after you have cleared the second main story dungeon and reached character level 20 or higher. The quest introduces the game’s “resonance” mechanic, where certain items emit a frequency that interacts with dormant plant life. The story involves a botanist who has been studying a crystal that has stopped resonating, causing the surrounding flora to wither. The quest tasks you with restoring the crystal’s power by gathering shards that have scattered across the region.
The quest is notable because it unlocks the “Overgrowth” passive skill for your character, which increases health regeneration while standing in grassy areas. This makes it a popular quest for players who favor sustained combat over burst damage. The quest also provides a significant amount of experience points, roughly equivalent to two main story missions at the same level.
Starting the Quest
To begin Resonant New Growth, travel to the Verdant Hollow region, which is accessible from the world map after completing the second dungeon. The quest giver is a non-player character named Elowen, located near the large crystal formation in the center of the region. She stands beside a small campfire with a notebook in hand, making her easy to spot.
You must have the “Glimmering Key” item in your inventory to activate the dialogue. This key is obtained automatically during the second main story dungeon, so you should have it by this point. If you somehow missed it, check your quest items tab; it cannot be sold or discarded. Interacting with Elowen triggers a short cutscene explaining the resonance mechanic, then the quest objective updates to “Collect the Three Resonant Shards.”
Collecting the Three Resonant Shards
The main objective of the quest involves locating three shards, each hidden inside a small cave entrance marked on your map with a glowing blue icon. The shards are not randomly placed; they always spawn in the same three locations every playthrough. The caves are guarded by level 22-24 enemies, so ensure your gear is reasonably upgraded before attempting.
Here are the three shard locations and what to expect at each:
- Northern Cave (Crystal Echo Cave): Located at the northern edge of Verdant Hollow, this cave contains a group of three Stone Vipers. The shard is on a pedestal at the back of the cave. The Vipers are weak to fire damage, so use fire abilities to clear them quickly.
- Eastern Cave (Rootbound Cavern): Found near the eastern river crossing, this cave has a single large Ent Guardian. The shard is behind the guardian, so you must defeat it to reach the item. The Ent is weak to slashing weapons and resistant to blunt weapons. Bring a sword or dagger.
- Western Cave (Mossy Grotto): This cave is the smallest of the three, located just west of the central camp. It contains two traps on the floor that deal poison damage. The shard is in a chest at the far end. Disarm the traps by walking along the left wall, or use a health potion after triggering them.
Once you have all three shards, the objective updates to “Return to the Growth Crystal.” You do not need to fight any additional enemies on the return trip; the path is safe.
Returning the Shards and Completing the Quest
Return to Elowen and the growth crystal at the central garden. Interact with the crystal while holding the three shards in your inventory. The game will prompt you to insert each shard one by one. After inserting all three, a short animation plays showing the crystal glowing and the surrounding plants blooming. Elowen thanks you, and the quest completes.
The completion rewards are granted immediately:
- 1,500 experience points
- 500 gold coins
- The “Overgrowth” passive skill
- An “Elowen’s Gratitude” consumable that restores 30% of your health over 10 seconds
After completing the quest, Elowen remains in the area and offers a repeatable daily version of the quest that grants reduced rewards (300 experience and 100 gold). The daily version requires you to collect only one shard from a random cave.
Common Problems and Solutions
Players often encounter a few issues during this quest. The most common is not being able to interact with the growth crystal after collecting the shards. This usually happens if you have the shards in your storage rather than your inventory. Move them to your inventory by opening your storage menu and selecting “Transfer to Inventory.”
Another frequent problem is dying to the Stone Vipers in the northern cave. If you are under level 22, consider leveling up once or twice before attempting. Alternatively, you can use ranged attacks from the cave entrance to pull one Viper at a time, avoiding the group fight. The Vipers do not respawn once killed, so you can retreat and heal between pulls.
A third issue is the poison traps in the western cave. If you trigger a trap and die, the shard remains in the chest, and you can re-enter the cave to retrieve it. The traps do not reset, so you can safely walk through the triggered trap area on your second attempt.
Rewards Comparison and Alternatives
The Overgrowth passive skill from this quest is often compared to the “Thorns” skill from the main story. While Thorns reflects damage to attackers, Overgrowth provides sustained healing. For players who prefer a defensive playstyle, Overgrowth is generally considered more valuable. However, for speedrunners or players focused on burst damage, the experience points from this quest might be the primary draw.
If you are struggling with the level requirement, there are two alternative side quests in the same region that provide similar experience rewards: “The Lost Seedling” (level 18) and “Bark and Bite” (level 21). Completing either of these first can help you reach level 22 more comfortably. The Lost Seedling is located in the southern part of Verdant Hollow and involves escorting a small creature back to its nest. Bark and Bite is a simple fetch quest for a hunter near the eastern river.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I complete this quest after the main story?
Yes, the quest remains available after you finish the main story. The enemies in the caves do not scale with your level, so if you return at a higher level, the fight will be trivial. The rewards remain the same regardless of when you complete it.
What happens if I sell or drop a Resonant Shard?
Resonant Shards are quest items and cannot be sold or dropped. They occupy a dedicated quest item slot in your inventory and cannot be removed by normal means. If you somehow lose one due to a game bug, reloading your last save should restore it.
Is the Overgrowth skill worth the effort?
For most players, yes. The health regeneration in grassy areas is a passive effect that requires no activation. It is particularly useful in outdoor zones where grass is common, such as Verdant Hollow and the later forest regions. The regeneration rate is about 2% of your maximum health per second, which can be significant during long exploration sessions.
Does the daily repeatable version give the same skill?
No, the daily version only gives experience and gold. The Overgrowth skill is a one-time reward from the initial completion. If you already have the skill, the daily version is only useful for farming experience points.
Can I get the shards in any order?
Yes, the three shards can be collected in any order. The quest marker on your map shows all three locations simultaneously, so you can choose the order that best suits your current position or gear. There is no time limit or penalty for choosing a specific order.
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