Crimson Moon Gear Purification Guide
Purification is the bridge between loot you find during a run and equipment you can start future runs with. It is not the same as permanently upgrading item quality.
Quick Answer
Gear Purification permanently adds discovered equipment to your collection at the hub, making it available for future loadouts. Finding a higher-tier item during a run does not mean that same tier automatically becomes your permanent starting version.
What Is Gear Purification?
During runs, equipment found in Gildenarch is immediate run power. Purification turns eligible discovered gear, weapons and other equipment into permanent collection options managed back at Sanctus Clypeus, the Church hub.
Step-by-Step Flow
- Prepare a loadout at the hub from equipment you already own.
- Start a run and find equipment through exploration, enemies, bosses or mission rewards.
- Use run loot immediately if it improves the current attempt.
- Secure eligible finds by reaching the required run checkpoint or the end of the mission.
- Return to Sanctus Clypeus, where purification adds those items to the permanent collection.
- Equip purified items from the Loadout Station before a later run.
- Use upgrades separately to make permanent equipment stronger over time.
When Does Purification Happen?
The official support pages place purification back at Sanctus Clypeus after a hunt or when retained loot returns through the run flow. That return-to-hub step matters: purification is not just picking up an item on the ground.
Purified Starting Quality
ProbablyMonsters confirms that purifying an item permanently unlocks it at Common quality, regardless of the quality found during the run. A Rare find therefore unlocks the item permanently, but its collection version begins at Common; the Rare quality itself is not carried into the permanent collection.
Purification vs Permanent Upgrades
| System | What it does | What it does not do |
|---|---|---|
| Purification | Adds discovered equipment to the permanent collection. | Does not automatically preserve the discovered tier as your permanent starting tier. |
| Armory / Blacksmith upgrades | Raise owned equipment so future runs can begin from a stronger baseline. | Do not replace the need to first discover and purify equipment. |
| Run loot | Changes power during the current run. | Is not guaranteed permanent unless it is retained and purified. |
Character Level and Upgrade Tiers
The wiki.gg Purification page lists character-level gates for permanent quality upgrades: Level 2 for Uncommon, Level 4 for Rare and Level 12 for Epic. Treat those gates as wiki-verified data and check in-game if a patch changes the upgrade screen.
Effect on Future Runs
Purified and upgraded equipment widens the set of options you can take into future runs. Permanent upgrades set a floor for that item in later runs; temporary Boons and fresh drops still shape the current run on top of that baseline. Your purified collection lives in the Armory, then becomes a starting setup through the Loadout Station.
Upgrading the Common Version
After purification, take the permanent Common version to Gajov, the Blacksmith at Sanctus Clypeus. ProbablyMonsters says Gajov's upgrades permanently raise that item's minimum quality for future Loadout Station selections and later loot. This upgrade step is separate from the original Rare, Epic or other quality you discovered.
Common Misunderstandings
- Purification is not a rarity lock. A high-tier find does not automatically become a high-tier permanent starter.
- Purification and upgrading are separate systems.
- Returning to the hub is part of making discovered gear permanent.
- A purified item expands your options; it is not automatically the best choice for every mission.
FAQ
Common questions about this topic.
What does Purification do in Crimson Moon?
It permanently adds discovered equipment to your collection so it can be equipped from the Loadout Station before future runs.
Does a rare item stay rare after purification?
No. ProbablyMonsters confirms that purification unlocks the item at Common quality regardless of the quality found. Gajov's upgrades raise its permanent minimum quality separately.
Where do I purify gear?
Purification happens back at Sanctus Clypeus, the Church hub, as part of the return and permanent progression flow.
Is Purification the same as upgrading?
No. Purification unlocks the item permanently; upgrades make owned gear stronger for later runs.
Sources & updates
This page documents officially confirmed facts about Crimson Moon. Gameplay details can change with patches; anything not yet confirmed is clearly marked as unverified.
Read Steam