Loot & Progression

Crimson Moon Progression Guide

Separate permanent upgrades from Run-only power so you know what each Hunt contributes.

Updated September 30, 2026 Level 1-15 milestones checked

Crimson Moon progression has two layers. Permanent progress expands your starting collection and strengthens future Hunts, while temporary Gear and Nexus Gate Boons affect only the current attempt.

Permanent Progress

Gear secured through a Nexus Gate returns in purified form and joins the Armory.
Collected Experience, gained levels, and their unlocks survive a failed Mission.
A portion of Souls earned from enemies is retained, while bonus Souls and part of the collected total are lost on failure.
Collected Lore Scrolls remain in the permanent collection.
Completing a full Run unlocks the next higher difficulty.

The Armory records Weapons, Armor, and Trinkets added to the long-term arsenal.

Run-only Progress

Nexus Gate Boons are temporary and last only for the current Run. New equipment remains at risk until it passes through a Nexus Gate or reaches Mission completion. When the Life Pool is exhausted, unsecured Gear is lost.

The Run progress table shows what continues between Missions and what resets at the end.

Quality and Difficulty Ladder

Equipment Quality progresses through Common, Uncommon, Rare, Epic, and Legendary. Higher difficulties award more XP and can drop Gear across a higher Quality range, making them the main route to stronger permanent Gear.

Use Gajov to improve the Quality of purified Gear, then test the stronger Loadout against the next unlocked difficulty.

For why the first permanent copy begins at Common, see the Purification rules.

Recommended Progression Priorities

Expand the permanent collection with Gear that enables new builds.
Return Lore Scrolls to improve future Boon options.
Upgrade the few pieces central to the current build.
Unlock additional lives and other permanent upgrades when they become available.
Raise the difficulty once you can clear the current tier consistently.

Efficiency rule

Prioritize a coherent starting Loadout before upgrading every item in the collection.

Key Level Unlocks

Level	Confirmed milestones
2	+10 Max Health, +1 Max Life, Merchant, Blacksmith, Fire enemy variant
3	+5 Max Mana, Armor Set, Bounties, Explosive Bombs
4	+10 Max Health, +2 Bag Slots, Librarian Boons, Rare Blacksmith upgrades
5	+5 Max Mana, +5 Max Stamina, +1 Max Life, Sunder Angel, Poison enemy variant
6	+10 Max Health, consumable capacity, Aegis Angel Fire Lv. 1, Uncommon+ drops
7	+5 Max Mana, +2 Bag Slots, Sunder Angel Frost Lv. 1, Marking enemy variant
8	+10 Max Health, +1 Max Life, Health Flask Potency Lv. 2, expanded Boon pool
9	+5 Max Mana, throwable capacity, improved Merchant and Blacksmith Quality, Bleed variant
10	+10 Max Health, +5 Max Stamina, +1 Health Flask, +1 Mana Flask, Armor Set
11	+5 Max Mana, +1 Max Life, Mana Flask Potency Lv. 2, Ice variant, Rare+ drops
12	Aegis Angel Fire Lv. 2, +2 Blacksmith offer slots, expanded Boon pool, Epic upgrades
13	Consumable capacity, Sunder Angel Frost Lv. 2, Epic+ drops
14	+5 Max Stamina, Armor Set, Health Flask Potency Lv. 3, Merchant prices -10%
15	Blacksmith prices -10%, Mana Flask Potency Lv. 3

Values Still to Verify

Exact economy pending

The official level table documents milestones through level 15, but it does not publish the Experience required per level, exact Gold costs, or a complete upgrade price curve.

After your first clear

Pick a specific goal before repeating a Run: levels, total Souls, missing equipment or uncompleted Missions. Steam has separate Level 30 and Great Soul Reclaimer achievements; XP and total Souls are different measures.

The achievement and endgame guide lists useful targets and explains why an unverified farming route should not be called the fastest. If permanent levels disappear, consult save-loss help rather than treating it as a normal Run reset.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Experience carry over after death?

Yes. Collected Experience, gained levels, and their unlocks carry over after a failed Mission.

Are Nexus Gate Boons permanent?

No. They last for the remainder of the current Run.

How do I unlock better Gear?

Purify new equipment, improve its Quality, and climb difficulty tiers that allow higher-Quality drops.

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.