Enshrouded NPC Unlock Guide — All Craftspeople & Rescue Order
Every NPC in Enshrouded: where to find them, what order to rescue them, and what they unlock. 5 craftspeople + 1 Collector + 1 Bard + 5 assistants + 10 villagers — all with exact vault locations.
Last updated: — verified for Enshrouded Update 8
⚡ Quick Answer: Rescue the Blacksmith first — he unlocks the Glider and Grappling Hook, which you need to reach every other NPC vault. Then: Alchemist (healing potions) → Carpenter (Magic Chests) → Farmer (sustainable food) → Hunter (backpack upgrades). Craft a Summoning Staff from 1 Twig to place NPCs at your base. Each NPC needs walls + roof + bed to offer full services.
Table of Contents
🎯 Rescue Priority Order
This is the optimal unlock order based on what each NPC gives you and when you need it.
| Priority | NPC | Why This Order | Key Unlocks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Blacksmith (Oswald Anders) | Glider + Grappling Hook required to reach other vaults. Non-negotiable first pick. | Glider, Grappling Hook, metal tools, Forge, Charcoal Kiln, basic armor |
| 2nd | Alchemist (Balthazar) | Healing potions and Shroud Survival Flasks keep you alive in harder zones. | Health potions, buff elixirs, Shroud Survival Flask, Alchemy Station |
| 3rd | Carpenter (Cade Hawthorn) | Magic Chests auto-feed crafting stations — massive QoL upgrade. | Magic Chests, advanced building blocks, Kiln, Table Saw, furniture |
| 4th | Farmer (Emily Fray) | Sustainable food ends the berry-picking grind. Seedbeds for flax farming. | Seedbed, Oven, Fireplace, farming, advanced cooking recipes |
| 5th | Hunter (Athalan Skree) | Backpack upgrades and ranged gear. Important but not urgent early game. | Backpack upgrades, Drying Rack, Tanning Station, Loom, ranged armor |
🔧 Core Craftspeople — Locations & What They Unlock
All five are found in Ancient Vaults in the Springlands region. Look for the glowing door icons on your map.
⚒️ Blacksmith — Oswald Anders
Location: Ancient Vault – Blacksmith, north of the starting Cinder Vault / southwest of Springlands Ancient Spire.
Unlocks: Glider, Grappling Hook, melee weapons, metal armor, Forge, Charcoal Kiln, Smelter, Summoning Staff recipe.
Quest: "The Blacksmith's Request" — triggers automatically after placing your first Flame Altar.
🧪 Alchemist — Balthazar
Location: Ancient Vault – Alchemist, west of Springlands Ancient Spire.
Unlocks: Healing potions, Shroud Survival Flask, buff elixirs, staff charges, Alchemy Station, Laboratory.
Quest: "A Black Cauldron for the Alchemist" — requires Nomad Highlands Spire unlocked + Level 4 Flame.
🪚 Carpenter — Cade Hawthorn
Location: Ancient Vault – Carpenter, southwest of Low Meadows Ancient Spire.
Unlocks: Magic Chests (auto-feed crafting stations!), advanced building materials, Kiln, Table Saw, furniture, decorations.
Quest: "A Kiln for the Carpenter" — triggers after rescue.
🌾 Farmer — Emily Fray
Location: Ancient Vault – Farmer, north of Springlands Ancient Spire.
Unlocks: Seedbed, Farm Soil, Oven, Fireplace, Beehives, animal husbandry, advanced cooking recipes.
Quest: "Growing Stronger Together" — requires completing other NPC quests first.
🏹 Hunter — Athalan Skree
Location: Ancient Vault – Hunter, east of Springlands Ancient Spire.
Unlocks: Backpack upgrades, ranged armor, Drying Rack, Tanning Station, Loom, Spinning Wheel, arrows.
Quest: "A Tanning Station for the Hunter" — triggers after rescue.
💀 Collector — Alden Crowley
Unlocked after rescuing all five core craftspeople. Requires completing the Hollow Halls quest chain.
📍 Location
Springlands Hollow Halls, southwest of Springlands Ancient Spire. Requires Level 4 Flame and the five core craftspeople rescued.
🎁 Unlocks
Ectoplasm Press, Skull Summoning items, Hollow Halls survival gear. The Collector specializes in Shroud-related crafting and summoning items.
🎵 Bard — Valory
Found in the Blackmire region. Requires Level 12+ and access to Revelwood Ancient Spire.
📍 Location
Sunken Ancient City (Blackmire). Start the "Follow the Melody" quest after unlocking Revelwood Ancient Spire.
🎁 Unlocks
Musical instruments, Medium Backpack (+12 slots), Large Backpack (+24 slots), decorations. The Bard is worth rushing for the backpack upgrades alone.
👥 Assistants — Locations
After rescuing craftspeople, they give quests leading to their assistants. Assistants share the same crafting station types, giving you flexibility in base layout.
| Assistant | Belongs To | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Rochelle Anders | Blacksmith | Fanning Ranch |
| Lady Leclair | Alchemist | Glennwood's End |
| Galen Yager | Hunter | Draconian Vulture Nest |
| Fenrig Mills | Farmer | Wolf Cave |
| Aunt Braelyn | Carpenter | Blackmire Hidden Temple |
🏘️ Villagers — All 10 Locations
Villagers add life and dialogue to your base but don't offer crafting recipes. Rescued last — completionist content.
| Villager | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Robert Gibson | Lupa's Lair (southwest of Umber Hollow) | Dig down through rock to find |
| Gabrielle Fairburn | Surat's Rest | Glide to the bonfire to avoid enemies |
| Hannah Reed | Fort Kelvin (south of Revelwood Ancient Spire) | Western watchtower |
| Hugo Vanderhall | Sun Temple (Kindlewastes) | Glide south from Kindlewastes Spire, defeat enemy on balcony |
| Kaori Conway | East Lapis | Southwest part of town, enter house through roof hole |
| Marianne Reed | Vukah Ceremony Hill | Glide southeast from Low Meadows Spire, defeat Vukah Brawler |
| Gunther Galeforth | Balefire Garrison "Windward" | Watch for dragons |
| Anton Godwin | Drifa Gateway Outpost (north of Wickmouth) | Jail cell corpse |
| Oscar Godwin | Rothstep (Albaneve Summits) | Far end of village, defeat Scavenger Tyrant & Wolf |
| Ramone Jones | Pikesmead's Reach (Shanty Shacks) | House with stairs down, hidden passage behind bookshelf |
🪄 Summoning Staff & NPC Placement
How to place NPCs at your base and what they need to function.
🔨 Crafting
Cost: 1 Twig. The cheapest craft in Enshrouded. Recipe unlocks automatically after rescuing your first NPC. Craft it at any Workbench.
🏠 Placement
Equip the Summoning Staff, open your inventory, select the NPC from the staff menu, and place them at your base. You can reposition NPCs anytime for free.
🛏️ Requirements
Each NPC needs walls + roof + bed to offer full crafting services. Some recipes require the "Sheltered" condition. Place workstations near the NPC for easiest access.
📌 Key Takeaways
🟢 Blacksmith Is Non-Negotiable
Without the Glider and Grappling Hook, you can't reach most other NPC vaults. Rescue the Blacksmith before doing anything else.
🟢 Summoning Staff Costs 1 Twig
It's the cheapest craft in the game. Don't forget to actually craft it — you can't place NPCs without it.
🟢 Rush the Bard for Backpack Space
Valory unlocks the Medium (+12) and Large (+24) Backpack upgrades. Worth prioritizing once you hit Level 12 and can access Blackmire.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What NPC should I rescue first?
How many NPCs are there total?
Can I move NPCs after placing them?
Do NPCs need their own rooms?
📖 Related Guides
🏠 Base Building Guide 📖 Beginner Walkthrough 🛡️ Armor Sets & Stats ⚔️ Best Weapons Tier List
Ready to Build Your Base?
Now that you've rescued your NPCs, learn where to build the perfect base for them.
📝 Changelog
- 2026-07-18 — Published. All 20 NPCs with locations, rescue order, and Summoning Staff guide.
Data Sources & References
- Keen Games Official — Game updates and NPC mechanics
- r/Enshrouded Community — Player-verified locations
- Official Enshrouded Wiki — NPC data and quest chains
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