If you want a specific setup to work toward, start with the Frost build for a first full clear. It combines sprint-triggered Frost with Winter Sun for nearby enemies and a ranged fallback. The guide identifies the documented equipment, explains substitutions, and separates a creator's successful run from guaranteed results.
Frostbound Charge supplies the sprint trigger; Revenant Blade or Sword of the Lunar Sentinel supplies Winter Sun. If those pieces are missing, use a weapon whose attacks you can land safely and add recovery or defense. You can collect and purify the target gear while completing earlier Runs.
The sections below explain the nine slots and how weapons, Boons and Angels fit together. Crimson Moon has no permanent character classes.
The Four Build Pillars
| Pillar | Function |
|---|---|
| Gear | Core stats, Quality, Armor Set pieces, Trinkets, and attached Boons. |
| Weapon Arts | Cooldown abilities attached to the equipped Weapon. |
| Boons | Gear-bound and temporary effects that change damage, defense, recovery, and triggers. |
| Angel | A pre-Hunt transformation choice that completes the combat plan. |
All Nine Gear Slots
A Nephilim can equip nine pieces of Gear: four Armor pieces, two Trinkets, a one-handed Weapon, a Shield, and a two-handed Weapon. The one-handed Weapon and Shield form one combat setup, while the two-handed Weapon provides another.
Do not judge Gear by Quality alone. Its Boons can determine how the build heals, applies status effects, rewards aggression, restores Flasks, or debuffs an enemy.
Use the weapon and shield catalog to check which equipment supplies an Art before spending upgrades on it.
How Builds Change During a Run
The starting Loadout comes from purified equipment. New drops can replace a current piece or go into the Bag for later Purification. Nexus Gates offer temporary Boons for the rest of the Run, so the final build can differ substantially from the one that left Sanctus Clypeus.
- Strengthen the current plan when a matching choice appears.
- Change direction only when a new Weapon, Art, or Boon creates a stronger, more coherent build.
- Remember that Nexus Gate choices are temporary.
- Return Lore Scrolls to Mereda to expand future Boon options.
For the difference between your current drops and permanent collection, see what Purification keeps.
Verified Build Directions
Pressure and recovery
Combine aggressive melee Gear, combat healing or Flask support, and a Weapon Art that keeps contact with the enemy.
Defense and survival
Stack defensive Armor and Boons, then use an Art or Angel that reduces exposure during difficult encounters.
Freeze and shatter
Frost stacks slow and damage targets; enough stacks cause Frozen, preventing movement and actions. Combine effects that build Frost with attacks you can safely land during that opening. The first-clear Frost build turns this direction into a versioned target setup.
There is not enough verified Gear and boss data to identify best-in-slot items or reliable endgame builds.
Co-op Build Combinations
Two players can coordinate complementary Loadouts and Boons. The developers describe a combo in which one player applies a Mark or status effect and the other uses Gear that benefits from it.
A duo should split damage, control, and survival responsibilities instead of duplicating bonuses that do not work together.
Plan your two Trinket slots
The ring and amulet guide matches 12 selected items to their Boons and explains their triggers. Start with effects your other equipment lacks. For the Frost setup, use the higher-difficulty adjustments to work out whether control, Mana or survival is the immediate problem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Crimson Moon have classes?
No. Builds are classless and come from Gear, Weapon Arts, Boons, and Angels.
How many Gear slots are there?
Nine: four Armor pieces, two Trinkets, a one-handed Weapon, a Shield, and a two-handed Weapon.
Are Nexus Gate Boons permanent?
No. They last for the remainder of the current Run.
Sources and Evidence
Official sources explain the rules. Third-party gameplay reports are identified by author and describe the version or session shown; they are not our own tests.