Middle-earth Shadow of War: How to Get Gems & What They Do

How to Get Gems & What They Do in Middle-earth: Shadow of War

Gems are an incredibly helpful part of the combat system in Shadow of War. You’ll likely come across a few as you slay countless orcs on your adventures across Mordor, but some players may be wondering how to get Gems or exactly what they do. Here’s everything you need to know about the shiny rocks in Shadow of War.

Gems come in three different colors Red (Potency), Green (Vitality), and White (Wealth). You can equip one gem to the slot of a weapon, and which one you equip will determine its effects. For example, a Potency gem will increase that particular weapon’s damage, while a Wealth gem will increase the chances of an orc dropping loot. However, it’s worth noting that a gem’s actual effect will vary depending on what piece of equipment you equip it to, so be sure to experiment and see what combination works best for your playstyle.

In order to get your hands on these handy stones, you’ll simply want to kill just about every enemy creature you see in Shadow of War. Whether it’s an orc, or the larger trolls, everything has the chance of brandishing gems when slain. There are also specific Orcs marked as Treasure Orcs. They’ll have a sun-like symbol over their head and will sometimes try to run rather than face you. Killing them guarantees a drop, although the drop isn’t always a gem (though they do seem to drop fairly often).

Of course, over the course of the game, you’ll likely find yourself with duplicates of specific gems. When you’ve got three of these, you’ll be able to combine them all together to create a higher quality version of that same gem. As such, always make sure you’re checking your inventory so you don’t miss a chance to get even more powerful gems.

For more on Shadow of War, be sure to check out our wiki.