Lords of the Fallen doesn't hesitate to emphasize its strong influence on the Souls series through various gameplay mechanics, and one specific aspect that you should familiarize yourself with from the outset is the Sanguinarix healing item. This item is provided to you at the beginning of the game, and understanding its functionality is crucial for your survival in the upcoming battles.
If you are a newcomer to the game and wish to gain insights into the Sanguinarix and its role within the game, we've got you covered. In the following sections, we will break down everything you need to know about the Sanguinarix in Lords of the Fallen.
How Does the Sanguinarix Work in Lords of the Fallen?
Much like the Estus Flask or Blood Vials found in the SoulsBorne series of games, Lords of the Fallen introduces the Sanguinarix. This item replenishes when you rest at Vestiges but has a limited number of uses before it's depleted upon death. It's essential to note that when you die in Axiom and are transported to Umbral with a full health bar for a second chance, your Sanguinarix does not automatically refill. So if you have one when you die in Axiom, you'll only have that one left when you enter Umbral.
The primary function of the Sanguinarix is to restore your health in combat, similar to how the Estus Flask or Blood Shards work. It can't heal status ailments or debuffs and serves solely as a health pool to draw from during battles. Using it involves a relatively quick animation, making it suitable for various playstyles and allowing you to stay close to most enemies.
When used in conjunction with the Wither mechanic in the game (represented by the gray bar indicating the health you can recover when taking damage), akin to the Regain system in Lies of P or the Rally system in Bloodborne, players can use the Sanguinarix sparingly if they play cautiously. However, this doesn't mean you need to be cautious of your healing throughout the whole game, as there is a way to upgrade the Sanguinarix as well.
To upgrade your Sanguinarix, you must engage with Pieta and provide her with quintessence. She will then enhance your item, granting you additional healing charges with each upgrade, much like discovering Estus Shards in the Souls games. Ultimately, the Sanguinarix serves as the perfectly balanced healing source you'd desire in any Souls-like game. Now that you understand how it operates, you'll be well-prepared to face the challenges of the Mournstead realm.