Quartz Is Literally Your New Drug in Styx: Blades of Greed
Yeah if you have just started Blades of Greed you already know Styx is obsessed. One wrong shard and you are hooked. Absorbing Quartz is the fastest way to stop sucking at stealth and start owning every patrol route. It is not just pretty blue rocks. It is your EXP, your Talent points and eventually the key to Resonance powers that make the game feel completely different. Stick with me and you will be possessing guards and rewinding time before Act 1 ends.
Styx: Blades of Greed: Quartz Powers and Resonance System Guide
Collecting Shards Without Dying A Lot
Every mission throws Quartz shards at you. Some are story mandatory. Most are hidden in the massive vertical levels. Look for the blue glow, climb everything and check every rooftop and cellar. Early game they are tiny and easy to miss but each one you absorb gives EXP straight away.
Pro move: use Goblin Vision to highlight purple stuff including hidden shards. Building on that basic sneaking you already know, grabbing shards becomes the loop that actually feels rewarding instead of frustrating.
Styx: Blades of Greed: Quartz Powers and Resonance System Guide
Talent Points vs Resonance Points
Here is the deal. Every Quartz you eat gives immediate Talent points you spend in the upgrade menu right away. That is your bread and butter stuff. Cheaper invis, better clones, longer Amber Vision, all the classic Styx tools.
Keep absorbing enough total Quartz and you will earn Resonance points at milestones. First one hits end of Act 1. These bad boys are rarer and only unlock the four big Quartz Powers. You do not spend them like Talent points. You use them to open the whole new skill category.
This is exactly why the last tip about hunting shards matters. More Quartz equals faster Resonance equals earlier god powers.
Styx: Blades of Greed: Quartz Powers and Resonance System Guide
Unlocking Resonance
Once you hit that first Resonance point head back to the Zeppelin hub and open the upgrades menu. You will see a new spinning crystal section at the bottom. Spin and lock in whichever power you want first. Order is totally up to you but most people including me grab Mind Control immediately.
No respec stress either. Wren is Cauldron on the ship lets you forget skills one by one or wipe everything if you mess up.
Mind Control
This is the one. Spend 2 Amber, possess any normal guard in range and walk him wherever you want. Move patrols, open doors, scout ahead. Pure chaos in the best way.
Upgrade order I swear by: Teleport on Target (1 Talent point). Stab them from behind the second you exit. Invisible Puppeteer (1 Talent point). Zero Amber cost while controlling plus you stay invisible. Suicidal Impulse (2 Talent points). Yeet them off ledges for silent kills.
One wrong move still means instant death if you are spotted mid control but once upgraded this power makes every guarded room feel solvable.
Styx: Blades of Greed: Quartz Powers and Resonance System Guide
Time Shift
Activate for 4 seconds of enemy slow motion while you run normal speed. Perfect for slipping past a group or lining up a perfect backstab.
Upgrade priority: Slowdown Exploit (2 Talent points). Instant kill normals or strip armor on heavies. Time Shift Mastery (1 Talent point). Plus 2 seconds. Improved Slowdown (1 Talent point). They crawl even slower.
Pair this with the basics we covered earlier and you will never feel stuck again.
Goblin Reflexes And Flux Blast
Goblin Reflexes costs Amber but lets you dodge incoming attacks and even deflect projectiles back. Unlock this ASAP if you are on higher difficulties. It is the difference between stealth failed and I meant to do that.
Flux Blast is your wave of pure Quartz energy that blasts through groups or heavily armored dudes. Great when stealth completely collapses and you need breathing room.
Both use Resonance to unlock then Talent to improve. They are the reason the game never forces pure ghost runs.
Quick Priority Table So You Do Not Waste Points
Spend your early Resonance on Mind Control or Time Shift. Everything else is luxury until Act 2.
Extra Tips
Amber is still king. Farm Solid Amber for crafting and never run dry on powers for your adventures. You can respec anytime at the Zeppelin so experiment. Later shards are guarded harder but the vertical level design means gravity solves half your problems if you are patient.
Wrapping It Up
There you go, the Quartz Powers and Resonance System without the rage. Collect shards, bank Talent, hit Resonance milestones then abuse Mind Control until guards start jumping off roofs for you. The system feels brutal at first but once it clicks you will be laughing at patrols like the sarcastic little goblin you are.Now get back in there and make Styx proud. See you on the next guide, gamer.