Guide
Map Without Markers – How to Survive Exploration
Navigate the Ashen Frontier without UI markers while staying combat-ready. Build choices matter: light stance and stamina-efficient builds help you recover, while heavy stance locks in for boss ambushes.
How to mentally map zones
Landmarks you can rely on without markers.
Emberwatch
Caravan Circuit
Follow the shattered road, hugging the right cliffs until you hear war drums.
- Loot the caravan chest behind the broken wheel.
- Use the collapsed bridge to drop behind two knights.
- Open the shortcut gate leading back to the bench.
Black Altar
Pilgrim Steps
Stone lanterns guide you uphill; stay within sight of two at any time.
- From the altar, take the left path under the arch.
- When you see the headless statue, turn right for a hidden shard.
- Circle back when the fog thickens; lantern pairs mark safety.
Tools & builds that help exploration
Stay alive while scouting without markers.
Light stance explorer
High stamina regen and sprint speed. Use the build calculator to ensure combos per stamina bar stay above three.
Stamina-efficient sword
Fine Edge Blade + Balanced Handguard + Leather-Wrapped Hilt. Low weight, great for scouting.
Emergency heavy
Keep a heavy stance loadout in favorites for bosses you meet mid-route. Swap after a rest point.
Supply Runs
Quick loops to grab shards, resins, and cores.
Ashfall Ridge
Resin Run
Sprint between geysers; each one guards a resin pile and a minor chest.
Gloamwood
Core Farm
Three rot hollows each hide a weapon core; listen for buzzing to avoid ambushes.
Hinter Mines
Shard Spiral
Take the leftmost tunnels only; they spiral upward and reconnect near the elevator.
Recommended Exploration Build
Links back to the calculator and stance guide.
Try a stamina-efficient light stance with bleed pressure. Save it to local favorites in the calculator, then switch to heavy stance for bosses. Keep crafting materials ready; see the weapon crafting guide for recipes.