There is no getting around that roguelike games have randomness baked into them. Tainted Grail: Conquest has various NPCs, encounters, events, and shop items each playthrough. No two runs are going to look, or even feel, very similar. That's part of the beauty.
So how, then, are players supposed to consistently win in such conditions? Thankfully, in a world full of instability, the scientist is there to make each run a little more consistent. By upgrading her items and visiting her each run, players are much more likely to see regular victory screens at the end of Tainted Grail: Conquest.
Farming Golden Tokens
Having different NPCs that value different currencies makes this game one of the best RPGs on Game Pass. The primary currency for the scientist is golden tokens. Unlike many other currencies in the game, players don't immediately see it given to them.
That's because golden tokens are granted at the end of each run, one for each one-hundred wealth that the character was holding onto. That means saving wealth for only the most important purchases is important until the scientist has been maxed out. Also, consider clearing the entire map of enemies as most fights yield at least a moderate amount of coinage.
Increase Item Drop Rate
There is a self-defeating nature of buying items with the scientist. On one hand, buying her items can be helpful in a tight spot. On the other hand, spending wealth means fewer golden tokens to upgrade her with. It's tough decisions that make RPGs on the PC so immersive.
Thankfully, there is a way to get these items without spending any wealth. With four upgrades into item drop chance, gamers will see a 125% item drop rate. This is usually enough to get at least one of the combat items that players want the most. It's not completely dependable, but the medley of gear is substantial.
Best Items To Upgrade And Purchase
The initial Talking Skull is likely one that won't impress many players. Discarding a hard and drawing four cards has sideways usefulness at best and, at worst, occupies a combat slot that is better spent on something else. But at level three, it discards a hand, picks up five new cards, and reduces all costs by one energy for each card.
Tome of Knowledge is another item that gets better with upgrades, allowing players to draw additional cards, up to four with a single item use. It's handy when there is leftover energy waiting to go during a round in which players get damage bonuses or enemies have armor penalties.
The Special Card: Third Eye
After completing some quests, gamers will be able to purchase the scientist's special card, which is, unfortunately, not described prior to this purchase. For gamers thinking about shelling out the coins, the Third Eye is a card that costs zero energy and gives players 10% more damage for each enemy on the field for three turns.
It's a decent enough card and worth taking if it were totally free, but it's a bit hard to justify the wealth expenditure. Players that have maxed out the scientist shouldn't refrain from picking it up, however. Make if this RPG gets an exciting sequel, these special cards will get buffed up for players of all experience levels.
Worst Purchase
Flatly, the Wayfarer Leaves are not good. Giving a little bit of life, even for something like energy, is rarely worth it. Remember, this is a roguelike game that focuses on whittling down players before they cross the finish line. Voluntarily giving up that health is a huge error in judgment unless it's the last round of the entire game or a healing rune is equipped.
To reiterate, most of the items at the scientist aren't worth buying until golden tokens have no value anymore (after the scientist has hit maximum upgrades). So be stingy at the shop unless the scientist is offering something vital for the class, like Warding Lore for a Pathfinder.
Tainted Grail: Conquest was released on May 27th, 2021, and is available for PC.