What are Heartgem Runes in New World and how do they work

Heartgem Runes are a new item added with the vast Brimstone Stands expansion for New World. The new items serve a similar role as accessory items, but instead of just boosting damage or a few stats, these items provide much more. In short, players who find or craft Heartgem Runes will gain special abilities that can use in combat. Heartgem Runes come in several forms, Minor, Major, and several variants of Legendary Heartgem Runes.

Minor Heartgem Runes feature only the basic level of their special abilities. However, once a player gains one Heartgem Rune, they can later upgrade it to a more advanced version of the Rune. Doing so will boost the ability gained with the minor version with a more advanced counterpart. Better versions of Heartgem Runes will feature special stats such as causing burning damage and a higher gear score rating. That being said, the following are all Heartgem Rune Ulitmate abilities in the game:

• Detonate: This ability allows players to overload themselves with energy to explode later, dealing huge damage in a large radius around them. 
• Grasping Vines: This ability allows players to unleash vines to attack nearby enemies. 
• Stoneform: This ability is a special buff that turns players to stone, making them immune to staggers and other negative effects.
• Cannon Blast: Players with this ability can fire a handheld cannon that deals huge damage on impact. 
• Dark Ascent: Allows players to sprout wings and fly up and slam down into the ground, dealing staggering damage to nearby enemies.

Related: How to make Runeglass cases in New World

Where to Find Minor Heartgem Runes in New World

Players can find Minor Heartgem Runes by completing expeditions and crafting them using expedition material. The following are all expeditions that you can get Heartgem Runes in New World:

• Lazarus Instrumentality Expedition
• Garden of Genesis 
• Tempest's Heart Expedition 
• Barnacles And Black Powder Expedition 
• Ennead Expedition

How to craft and upgrade Heartgem Runes in New World

Once you grab one of the Minor Heargem Runes in New World, you can turn it into a better version via crafting/upgrading. However, to upgrade a Minor Heargem Rune to an advanced version, you must have the following materials:

• Three Sulfer
• Five Gypsum Orb
• Five Runestone
• 5k Umbral Shards
• Five Corrupted Lodestone

Related: How to enter the Brimstone Sands biome in New World

Once you craft Major Heartgem Runes, you can craft the Legendary variant by upgrading the Major Heartgem rune. But before you can upgrade/craft Major Heartgem Runes to Legendary, you will need some special resources. In short, just like with upgrading Minor gems to Major, you need resources to upgrade Major gems to Legendary. The resources required to upgrade Major Heartstone gems will also vary depending on the Rune. Luckily we have the full list of resources required to upgrade Major Heartstone gems: 

• 10 Sulfer
• 10 Gypsum Orb
• Five Runestone
• 1k Saltpeter
• 10 Wooden Coins
• 1k Feathers
• 20 Pristine Sapphire
• 1k Thorny Vines
• Five Writ of Adventure
• 50 Vials of Suspended Azoth
• 5k Umbral Shards
• Five Corrupted Lodestone

How to use Heartgem Runes in New World

Once players have a Heartgem Rune in New World, they can use it by clicking and dragging the item into a equip slot. After equipping the item, a hotkey will appear at the bottom left corner of their screen. Once equipped, players can press the G key to activate their Heartgem Rune ability. 

For more on New World and its Brimstone Sands Expansion, we at Pro Game Guides have you covered since launch with guides like How to get the New World Fallen Spirit Twitch Drop and How to farm Fish Oil in New World.