If you’re going for the full 100% in Duskfade, there are quite a few collectibles scattered across the different areas. The good news is that you don’t need to stress about missing something during your first trip through a level.
None of the collectibles are missable. You can return to completed areas later, and that’s actually the way I’d recommend doing this. Several locations are blocked off until you unlock the game’s Metroidvania-style movement abilities through the main story.
So, rather than constantly backtracking during your first playthrough, finish the story first and then work through the areas one by one.
There are 10 collectible types in Duskfade:
- Music Boxes – Required for the Master of Melody trophy.
- N1-C0ins – Required for the Collector trophy and can be exchanged for cards.
- Thieving Kittens – Required for the Come Here Right Meow trophy.
- Upgrade Gears – Required for the Shopaholic trophy and used with Crystals to buy upgrades.
- Clock Heart Pieces – Required for the A Clock Heart Piece a Day… trophy.
- Flasks of Dye – Not required for a trophy.
- Rainbow Ingots – Required for The Most Beautiful Sword in the Land.
- Echoes – Not required for a trophy.
- Star Core Fragments – Required for Advanced Clockmaking.
- Broken Stained Glass – Required for Master XII’s Secret.
If you’re only interested in trophies, you can technically ignore Flasks of Dye and Echoes. For a true 100% run, though, grab everything.
Duskfade Collectible Route
The game’s collectible areas are divided into several routes:
Tick Town
- Tick Town
Volcano Path
- Erazus Forest
- Scorched Grove
- Starstone Mines
- Mount Cinder
- Prison of the Beast — No collectibles
Sea Path
- Meridian Village
- Lantern Port
- Clockwork Academy
- Apprentice’s Wing
- Craftsman’s Wing
- Great Library
- Scriptorium of the Twelve
Hills Path
- Canal Hamlet
- Celestial Kingdom
- Royal Highroads
- Auric Palace
- Veiled Chambers — No collectibles
Desert Path
- Deepthorne
- Stonetusk Canyon
- Clockmaker’s Rest
- Desert of the Last Memory
- Chronos Aeternum
There are also a few collectibles that don’t come from the normal level collectible counters.
Some Music Boxes are awarded automatically as you progress through the story, so don’t worry if your Music Box collection seems incomplete after clearing all the levels.
There are also 2 Flasks of Dye and 2 Rainbow Ingots available from the shop next to the Tick Town Fast Travel Point.
Tick Town Collectibles
Tick Town is a good place to start your cleanup because several collectibles are tucked along the paths branching out from the central Fast Travel Point.
N1-C0in #1
Start at the Fast Travel Point and head right, following the Hills path.
At the first corner, look for a small grinding rail.
Ride the rail across to the balcony of the building on your left.
The first N1-C0in is waiting there.
N1-C0in #2
Continue along the Hills path and cross the bridge.
As you move forward, look underneath the pagoda.
You’ll find another N1-C0in underneath it.
It’s a quick pickup, so don’t rush past the bridge.
Music Box #1
Keep following the Hills path until you reach the very end.
Cross the bridge on the right.
You’ll find the Music Box sitting on a small box.
This is one of the simpler Music Boxes to collect, as there’s no special ability or puzzle involved.
N1-C0in #3
Return to the Fast Travel Point and take the Desert path on the left.
After jumping over the water using the rail, go up the stairs.
Look for the path that runs underneath the rock on your left.
Follow it and check behind the trunk on the right.
The N1-C0in is hidden behind it.
Thieving Kitten #1
You don’t need to leave this area after grabbing the previous coin.
The Thieving Kitten is located in the same area as the trunk.
Search around the nearby section and you’ll find it.
N1-C0in #4
Return to the main street and start heading toward the Inn.
As you get close to the Inn, look for the Sea path on your right.
Follow it down.
After using the grappling points on the balloons, you’ll eventually see a grinding rail going up the stairs on your right.
Ride the rail upward.
It will take you to a balcony where you’ll find another N1-C0in.
Meridian Village Collectibles
Meridian Village has a much larger collection of hidden items, so this is an area where following the landmarks is much easier than simply wandering around.
Rainbow Ingot #1
From the beginning, travel through the first village with the purple crystal in the center.
Use the balloon to leave the village from the other side.
Once you’re outside, stay toward the left.
You’ll find a climbable wall.
Follow the rooftops around until you reach a purple door.
Go through it and complete the platforming section.
At the end you’ll find Rainbow Ingot #1.
Flask of Dye #1
Exit the purple platforming section and continue forward.
You’ll eventually reach a green forest area.
Stay on the left-hand path.
Use the grapple to pull yourself upward onto the platform containing the Flask of Dye.
Upgrade Gear #1
Continue until you reach the large open area with the Fast Travel Point in the middle.
Take the path on the left.
Look for several rocky platforms along the mountain.
Climb them, then turn around.
You’ll spot a lone platform that can be reached with your grapple.
The platform contains Upgrade Gear #1.
Clock Heart Piece #1
From the Fast Travel Point, cross toward the opposite side and head toward the small town.
Climb the small building on the left.
Use the platforms hanging from the balloons to reach the area behind the town.
Continue across the grappling points.
You’ll eventually reach an area where enemies attack you.
Defeat them and a bouncy flower will appear.
Use the flower to reach the platform above.
There’s another flower waiting there that will launch you toward the chest.
Open it to collect Clock Heart Piece #1.
Flask of Dye #2
From the Clock Heart Piece, head toward the cliff overlooking the large open area.
Look down and to the right.
You’ll see a small platform containing a buried chest.
Drop down and open it to obtain Flask of Dye #2.
N1-C0in #1
Return to the Fast Travel Point.
Look for the sundial and use its hand as a grinding rail.
Ride along it, then use the balloons in the air to reach the small platform nearby.
The platform contains N1-C0in #1.
Music Box #1
From the previous coin, look down toward the buildings below.
One of the buildings has the Music Box sitting on its roof.
Drop down and collect it.
Broken Stained Glass #1
Stay near the buildings where you found the Music Box.
Look for a nearby waterfall.
Use the platforms around the waterfall to climb upward.
You’ll eventually reach a cave.
Inside the cave, stay toward the left side.
You’ll find orange crystals blocking the way.
Use a strong attack to destroy them.
The Broken Stained Glass is on the other side.
Upgrade Gear #2
Return to the main open area.
Continue toward the next small town on the opposite side.
This is also the direction of the main story path.
When you reach the town, cross over to the right side of the river.
Look for the bouncy flowers near the building.
Use them to reach the platform containing Upgrade Gear #2.
N1-C0in #2
From the Upgrade Gear location, turn around.
Jump toward the rocky platform with flowers on it.
From there, use the booster ring to launch yourself across.
You’ll reach the platform containing the next N1-C0in.
Scriptorium of the Twelve Collectible
The Scriptorium of the Twelve has a very straightforward collectible to start with.
Clock Heart Piece #1
When you enter the Scriptorium of the Twelve, head toward the Fast Travel Point.
The Clock Heart Piece is sitting in plain sight right next to it.
You don’t need a special ability or complicated route.
Simply walk over and pick it up.
Best Way to Finish the Duskfade Collectibles
I’d strongly recommend finishing the main story before doing a serious collectible cleanup.
Duskfade gradually gives you movement abilities that open previously inaccessible routes. Trying to collect everything immediately can result in a lot of unnecessary running back and forth.
A much smoother approach is:
- Finish the main story.
- Return to Tick Town.
- Clean up each route one area at a time.
- Use Fast Travel Points whenever possible.
- Check every unusual platform, rooftop, cave and alternate path.
- Pick up the trophy-related collectibles first if you’re mainly chasing achievements.
- Grab the Flasks of Dye and Echoes afterward if you’re aiming for genuine 100% completion.
The biggest thing to remember is that nothing is permanently missable. If you reach an area and realize you don’t have the ability needed to access a collectible, just leave it for later.
For trophy hunters, remember that Flasks of Dye and Echoes aren’t required for trophies, while the other collectible categories contribute toward specific trophies.
For a full completion run, however, it’s worth collecting all of them rather than leaving those two categories unfinished.