Hell is Us Relics & Items
Passive bonuses, active powers, and consumables from Vaults, Timeloops, and mysteries.
Relics are stat and utility modifiers separate from weapon glyphs. Every loadout supports one passive relic and one active relic. Passive effects apply constantly — increased Lymbic theft, combo damage, stamina regen, or weapon experience gain. Active relics map to L2/LT + Circle/B / key 4 and work regardless of which weapon is drawn, sharing the modifier row with glyphs.
Most relics arrive from Vaults of Forbidden Knowledge, Timeloop closures, Good Deeds, and optional mysteries scattered through Hadea. Because the game hides locations behind Investigations, this guide emphasizes what to prioritize rather than spoiling every pickup coordinate — pair it with Datapad threads and the Codes Hub when vault sequences block entry.
Passive vs active relics
Passive relics define your always-on power budget. Examples cited in community wikis include The Entropic Enigma, which accelerates weapon experience gain, stacking with the active Memoria of The Phol for fast mastery sessions. Running both while grinding Timeloops can level a secondary greatsword before Marastan bosses.
Active relics provide burst utility — healing pulses beyond the base R1 ability, temporary damage shields, or enemy debuffs. Swap actives before boss rematches; keep passives stable unless you pivot entire builds on the best loadouts page.
Top priority relics
| Relic | Type | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Memoria of The Phol | Active | Speeds weapon XP while you grind weaker weapons |
| The Entropic Enigma | Passive | Passive XP boost; pairs with Memoria |
| Lymbic regen passives | Passive | Sustains glyph spam in long Hollow fights |
| Stamina recovery picks | Passive | Helps when Healing Pulse timing slips on Balanced |
Exact names and locations unlock mid-campaign — if a Vault emotion dial rejects your sequence, visit vault codes before assuming the relic is missable.
Vaults of Forbidden Knowledge
Vaults gate the strongest relics and glyph upgrades. They require emotion keystones discovered through Investigations — not numeric keypads. Acasa Marshes and Lake Cynon host early vaults; Lethe and Marastan expand the pool. Closing a vault often completes a Timeloop thread, spawning Elite drone modules or Grade 2 weapons on return visits.
Treat vaults as build milestones. Enter with a stable polearm setup, Distract module, and at least one passive relic from Senedra side content. Merciless players should downgrade difficulty for first vault clears if Healing Pulse remains inconsistent — see review summary for difficulty discussion.
Consumables and usable items
Beyond relics, Ren carries usable items on the D-pad wheel — medkits, Lymbic Capacitors, Lymbic Batteries, and the default compass. Medkits are deliberately scarce; reviews compare healing to Nioh-style Ki Pulse reliance. Lymbic consumables refill energy for glyph chains during boss phases when theft cannot keep pace.
Rotate usable items with Previous/Next item binds documented on PC controls. Compass activation (Q on PC) is essential for no-map navigation — relics do not replace landmark memory emphasized in The Verge’s launch coverage.
Defensive gear and other items
Defensive gear occupies two slots but, like multiple guides note, rarely changes outcomes compared to weapons and relics. Collect sets for completion if you enjoy fashion, not because they trivialize bosses.
Miscellaneous items include Investigation evidence, Timeloop keys, and Good Deed rewards that sometimes grant relic-adjacent buffs. Store clutter in the Datapad inventory screen; sell or discard only after confirming no Investigation references the item.
Relic farming routes
Early route: Vitalis basement (code 321713), Senedra optional caves, first Acasa Marshes Timeloop — aim for any passive Lymbic or stamina boost.
Mid route: Auriga Museum vault wing, Lethe library side quests, Hamil lab research — stack Memoria and Entropic Enigma if both are available.
Late route: Marastan OMSIF houses, repeated Timeloops for Elite-tier companion rewards, New Game Plus cleanup for missed passives.
Synergies with glyphs and drone
Relics modify the systems covered on glyphs and drone modules pages:
- Lymbic regen passives extend glyph chains on twin axes terror builds.
- Cooldown reduction (where available) keeps Distract and Surge Step rotating in elite rooms.
- Combo damage passives multiply polearm sweep value during crowd fights.
Avoid relics that duplicate drone effects — if Distract already stuns, an active stun relic adds little unless it hits bosses immune to drone pull.
Deluxe edition items
Deluxe purchasers receive bonus digital loot including the APC safe combination 199301 — not a relic, but often confused with Vault rewards. Standard players never see that safe. Full SKU breakdown lives on platforms and editions.
Related guides
After equipping relics, finalize weapon glyphs using the weapons tier list. Track balance patches on patch news if relic proc rates change.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers about Hell is Us progression, combat, and exploration.
How many relics can I equip at once?
One passive and one active relic. Active relics use the fourth L2 modifier slot alongside three weapon glyphs.
Where do most relics come from?
Vaults of Forbidden Knowledge, Timeloop completions, mysteries, and Good Deeds. Few drop from random chests alone.
What relics speed up weapon leveling?
Memoria of The Phol (active) and The Entropic Enigma (passive). Equip both while grinding weapon experience.
Are relics required for story completion?
No, but mid-game vault relics make Balanced and Merciless combat significantly smoother.