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Although the main focus ofTales of Kenzera: Zauis on its heartfelt and personal story about what it’s like to deal with the loss of a loved one, it also offers a sprawling Metroidvania map that’s full of secrets and collectibles to uncover as you unlock new abilities.
Each of the collectibles that you can find in Tales of Kenzera: Zau offers a unique bonus,such as the Reflection points giving Zau a health boostand theSpirit Rituals granting skill points and extending the Spirit meter. One of the more common collectibles in the game are Trinkets, which are rewarded by completing special challenges around the map.
What Are Trinkets?
Trinkets are equippable items that Zau can find throughout Kenzera by completing challenges across the map,which are marked with purple Shaman symbols. These challenges are usually tied to whichever ability is unlocked in the area and usually focus on tough platforming sequences.
There are a total of 11 Trinkets in Tales of Kenzera: Zau, and the player can swap between which ones they have equipped at Workbenches, which are marked on the map and pop up fairly frequently throughout the world. At the start of the game, you can only equip one Trinket at a time, but as you complete Spirit Rituals, you’ll get more slots toequip up to four Trinkets at once.
Some of the Shaman symbols on the map mark Spirit Rituals instead of Shaman challenges,but we’ve got a separate guide on how to find those if you’re trying to unlock everything.
Trinkets provide a range of bonuses, from increasing Zau’s resistance to projectable attacks to more health being recovered whenever you heal. They’re all helpful, but we’ll point out the ones that are best to have equipped. Here’s where to find and unlock them all.
How To Find The Buluu Caverns Trinkets
Battering Stance
The first Trinket that you can find in Tales of Kenzera: Zau is the Battering Stance Trinket. Early on in the game,Zau will fall down into Buluu Caverns while chasing a girl, which will force the player to make their way down some flowing water. Eventually, Kalunga will point out a purple symbol on the wall that indicates a Shaman Challenge.
To clear this challenge, you’ll need to avoid the spikes by ducking and jumping while riding the flowing water. It’s very simple, and you’ll be rewarded with the Battering Stance Trinket,which increases the damage inflicted when enemies are knocked around into walls and environmental hazards. It’s an okay Trinket to start with, and pairs well with some later unlocks.
Lifted Spirit
Interestingly, Buluu Caverns is the only location in the game where you can unlock more than one Trinket. This next one, Lifted Spirit, is very easy to find, however, as it actuallyunlocks by default when you interact with a work bench for the first time while in the caverns.
As for the Trinket itself, Lifted Spirit lets youincrease the amount of Spirit you earn when juggling enemies in the air. Spirit is a helpful resource that lets you heal and unleash special moves, but it’s probably best to stick with the Battering Stance for now.
How To Find The Great Cliffs Trinket
Retaliating Spirit
To find this Trinket,you’ll need to go to the bottom-right corner of The Great Cliffs. Once here, you’ll find yourself up against a fairly tough platforming challenge that just requires you to time your jumps right and wall jump at the right angle. It’s not too bad, but if you’re having a hard time, then it’s worth coming back when you have the glide.
The reward for this challenge is the Retailiating Spirit Trinket, whichgives Zau Spirit (a resource used for healing and special moves) whenever he’s damaged by an enemy. It’s another great Trinket that pairs well with others if you’re just looking to survive, so it’s worth getting early on in the game.
How To Find The Ikakaramba Trinket
Vigorous Spirit
To find this Trinket,you’ll need to go to the cave system in Ikakaramba, which you’ll need to visit during the main quest. To get this Trinket, you’ll need to have unlocked Akida’s Spear, which you get before taking on the first boss of the game in this area. To complete this challenge, throw a spear at the target and then platform your way to the door that it opens before time runs out.
Doing so will reward you with the Vigorous Spirit Trinket,which increases the amount of health you gain from healing. Zau isn’t the toughest game, but this is a great Trinket that’ll keep you in the fight for some of the tougher challenges.
How To Find The Drowning Swamps Twinket
Eluding Soul
To find this Trinket,you’ll need to head to the location marked above in the Drowning Swamps, which should be fairly easy to find. This is another platforming challenge that requires you to avoid spikes and pits of acid. The spikes will instantly kill you but the acid will only deal some small damage, so this is an easy one.
Your reward for beating the challenge is Eluding Soul,which gives Zau resistance to projectile damage. It’s easily the best Trinket you’ll have unlocked at this point, as enemies like to spam projectiles that can take a lot of health from Zau. Definitely equip this one.
How To Find The Wildwood Trinket
Prosperous Mind
You’ll find the Prosperous Mind Trinket in The Wildwood, and it’s another one that’s simple to reach. You’ll likely find it on the main path, but head to the location above, and you’ll find another platforming challenge that requires you to avoid insta-kill swinging traps and spikes. Either wait for them to swing or jump over them as they come, and this one shouldn’t be too much trouble.
The reward is worth it, though, as theProsperous Mind Trinket allows you to gain more Ulogi from defeating enemies, which helps you level up faster. It becomes useless once you reach the max level, but it’s very helpful in the early hours of the game, especially if you have more than one Trinket slot.
By the end of Zau, I had six extra Shaman Points I couldn’t use since I was already at max level with the skill tree filled out. Keep that in mind when equipping this Trinket.
How To Find The Nature’s Crown Trinket
Heroic Stance
You’ll find this Trinket on the west side of Nature’s Crown, but you’ll need to have unlocked Zawadi’s Hook to complete it, which you’ll also find in this area. Once you have it, come back here to complete this challenge, which requires you to time your hooks and avoid spikes while jumping off mushrooms. It’s easier if you come back when you’ve unlocked the glide ability later in the game.
This is one of the tougher Trinkets to unlock in the game, and the reward sadly isn’t worth it.Heroic Stance lets Zau deal more damage if he’s at full health, but that’s such a rarity in the game that it’s not really worth equipping.
How To Find The Ember’s Spring Trinket
Stone Soul
You’ll find this Trinket in theupper-right corner of Ember’s Spring, and it’s definitely one of the longer challenges. You’ll need to have unlocked Tawa’s Heart to get through it (which you get as part of the main quest in this area), and once you do, you’ll need to break down walls to clear a path, dash through waterfalls, and rebuild platforms to jump off of. It’s not too hard, but keep an eye on the amount of damage you take from the hot water.
Luckily, this Trinket is well worth the effort asStone Soul gives Zau resistance against melee attacks. Considering how often you’re going to run into melee attacks, this is one of the most essential Trinkets in the whole game.
How To Find The Searing Sands Trinket
Augmented Spirit
You’ll find this Trinket right at thetop of The Searing Sands next to the area’s only fast-travel point. Handy! You’ll need to have unlocked the glide ability before completing this challenge, but you’ll have got that before reaching the top of the Searing Sands anyway. To beat this challenge, you’ll need to glide around a path while avoiding spikes and shooting down barriers.
It’s a tough challenge that might take a few tries to get right (especially with the insta-kill spikes), but once you do you’ll get the Augmented Spirit Trinket. This Trinketincreases the amount of Spirit you get from defeating enemies, which is a big help for healing and pulling off powerful special moves.
How To Find The Mount Itshoka Trinket
Indomitable Soul
The second to last Trinket that can be found in Tales of Kenzera: Zau islocated in Mount Itshoka, right at the very top of the map. You’re going to need to get the Tshukudu’s Might ability, which you unlock in this area. This challenge is a tough one and requires you to use your glide along with the EGG ability to make your way around a course without falling into lava or spikes.
There’s no real tip for getting through this one, but when you can stop to take a break in between the gliding, I recommend doing that.
This Trinketlets Zau gain resistance to all damage whenever he’s at critical health, which is a decent bonus but one that comes a little late in the game and isn’t better than some of the Trinkets we’ve collected so far.
How To Find The Enduring Rite Trinket
Final Stance
The very final Trinket in Tales of Kenzera: Zau can be found just as you enter The Enduring Rite.Make your way up and to the left to reach the challenge, which is very similar to the last in that it focuses on you using the glide around a dangerous area full of spikes and lava that can kill you instantly. There are also platforms you have to time and land on to avoid even more lava. Fun!
It’s not the easiest challenge to beat, but with time you’ll get through. Your reward is the Final Stance Trinket, whichincreases the damage that Zau deals when he’s at critical health. Again, it’s helpful but coming into the game far too late to be worthwhile.
