Perhaps the most frustrating part for any new player in Tainted Grail: Conquest is how quickly Wyrdcandles run out. More than just a visual, running low on these candles mean getting cards with stiff penalties placed in the player's hands. It's a contributing factor to most runs that are cut short.

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When players meet the candlemaker, it's like a dream come true. But too often, it's a dream come true in disguise for gamers that don't understand how to make the most of his abilities. This is everything there is to know about the candlemaker in Tainted Grail: Conquest. It's worth reading because mastering his abilities is key to victory.

Farm Up Tallow

Tainted Grail The Candlemaker Sitting In Front Of His House In The Village

Different currencies that matter to different NPCs are one of the reasons that this is one of the best RPG games on Game Pass. All of the candlemaker's important upgrades require tallow and tallow doesn't naturally fall off of opponents or bosses.

Thankfully, tallow gathering occurs naturally. Every candle turns into tallow as it melts. Unused Wyrdcandles, after every run, are automatically converted into tallow. To maximize tallow gain, get every candle possible and never use a new candle to go over the maximum meter.

Prioritize Boss Candles Over Initial Candles

Tainted Grail Conquest Upgrades Boss Candles Before Initial Candles

It can be tempting to start off with an extra Wyrdcandle. After all, for new players, they're likely to be running low on them as soon as the first area is done. But thoughtful mechanics help make RPGs incredibly immersive and strategists will always prefer boss candles over initial candles.

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By upgrading the boss candles, players get extra stacks off of the first three bosses. That means that one upgrade in boss candles translates to three candles in the long run. Even newer players that can only beat one boss will see that this is the way to go over single candles at the start.

Duration Has Two Purposes

Tainted Grail Conquest Preparing To Start A Run With A Wyrdcandle Already Lit

Complexity gives games a longer lifespan and it's this crafty thinking that can have RPG fans demanding sequels to games like Tainted Grail: Conquest. Increasing the duration of the Wyrdcandle lets each candle last longer, but that's not the only purpose of the upgrade.

Remember that each Wyrdcandle is converted into tallow currency after each run. A longer duration leads to more bars filled, which means more tallow per candle. Ultimately, the duration upgrade costs tallow but yields even more tallow in the long run.

NPC And Location Map Upgrades For Newcomers

Tainted Grail Conquest Purchasing The Map Reveal Upgrades At The Candlemaker

Getting off of the subject of tallow for a moment, the candlemaker offers two intriguing upgrades for regular wealth. They must be purchased, if desired, for each run since the benefit does not last between playthroughs. The value is somewhat subjective.

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Newer players that have to choose their battles should buy both location reveals, as this will help guide their fight selection into choosing only the most rewarding battles or revealing quest-oriented characters. After players can fully clear, though, these upgrades are no longer necessary since good runs will always entail clearing every fight.

Don't Get Milestone Upgrades

Tainted Grail Conquest Avoiding The Milestone Upgrades At The Candlemaker

To be blunt, almost nobody should be getting the temporary buffs from milestones. Turning it into a Wyrdcandle gives players free tallow, so this is the better option until literally every tallow upgrade has been purchased. Even then, an extra Wyrdcandle is useful for more than a handful of immediate fights.

This means that the upgrades that boost these temporary Milestone perks should not be purchased until every other tallow upgrade has been unlocked. The Candlemaker has many uses, but these aren't his best and should be saved for last.

The Special Card: Burning Light

Tainted Grail Conquest Acquiring The Burning Light Card From The Candlemaker

There isn't a nice preview location to see cards that are potentially unlocked. Instead of spending wildly and hoping for the best, this is a peek at what the candlemaker's special card, Burning Light, does. It decreases enemy armor by 10 for each Wyrdcandle bar lit for three turns.

This is a decent benefit and using it right after filling the Wyrdcandle gauge makes the most use of its talents. However, it does require wealth which translates into golden tokens, so it's probably best to hold off until the scientist has been maxed out on golden token upgrades.

Tainted Grail: Conquest was released on May 27th, 2021, and is available for PC.

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