In Avowed, several achievements are tied to specific decisions and events within the main storyline, making them missable if not approached with caution. To ensure you don’t overlook these opportunities, here’s a detailed guide on missable achievements and critical points of no return.
Missable Side Quests in Avowed
Several side quests in Avowed can become unavailable if you advance too far in the main story. Below is a list of side quests that will fail if you trigger certain story events.
Scofflaw’s Jar
Region: Emerald Stair
Missable Trigger: Fails automatically if you progress The Animancy Method main quest to the point where you speak with Giatta and Quilicci at Giatta’s house.
Nature vs. Nurture
Region: Emerald Stair
Missable Trigger: Becomes unavailable if you complete the entire Naku Tedek sequence during the Ancient Soil main quest.
Steel Resolve
Region: Emerald Stair
Missable Trigger: Automatically fails if you finish the entire Naku Tedek sequence in Ancient Soil.
Bounty: Xaurips
Region: Emerald Stair
Missable Trigger: This quest is lost if you complete the Naku Tedek sequence during Ancient Soil.
To avoid missing these quests, complete them before progressing through the specified main story events.
Missable Unique Items in Avowed
Certain quest decisions in Avowed can prevent you from obtaining unique items. Below is a list of unique gear you may miss out on based on your choices in specific quests.
Blackwing Armor
Type: Unique Armor
Missable Trigger: Unobtainable if you choose to spare Ygwulf during the main quest An Untimely End.
Gambeson of the Grand Empire
Type: Unique Armor
Missable Trigger: If you fail to assist Leoflaed and Glaedwine in the Escape Plan side quest, they won’t be able to reward you with this armor when you reach Thirdborn in Shatterscarp.
To ensure you collect these unique items, make the necessary choices before advancing in their respective quests.
Missable Godlike Abilities in Avowed
In certain quests, you will have the option to accept the power of the voice in your head. If you choose to refuse, you will miss out on specific Godlike Abilities.
Thorn of Sapadal
Region: Emerald Stair
Missable Trigger: Unobtainable if you refuse Sapadal’s power during the main quest Ancient Soil.
Godlike’s Will
Region: Emerald Stair
Missable Trigger: Unavailable if you choose to accept Sapadal’s power during Ancient Soil.
Your decision during this quest will determine which ability you receive, so choose carefully.
Points of No Return in Avowed
There are two points of no return in Avowed that can significantly affect your gameplay.
Naku Tedek Sequence in Ancient Soil Quest
During the main quest Ancient Soil (the second main quest in Emerald Stair), you’ll explore an underground Godless Ruin in Naku Tedek. Completing this sequence will trigger a point of no return for the main story, as certain events will progress once you exit.
Before descending into Naku Tedek, be sure to finish any pending side quests in both Dawnshore and Emerald Stair.
Effect: This marks a point of no return, determining whether you retain access to Fior mes Iverno and its merchants.
Entering the Garden in Our Dreams Divide Us Still Quest
In the quest Our Dreams Divide Us Still, your final objective is to enter the Garden. This marks the true point of no return, as you will no longer be able to revisit the base game for side quests or exploration.
Since Avowed does not feature a New Game Plus mode, proceeding beyond this point means reaching the end of your run. To avoid losing access to side content, be sure to create a save before entering the Garden—otherwise, you’ll need to start a completely new game.
Effect: This is the ultimate point of no return in Avowed.
Achievement-Specific Notes
Reverse Card Achievement
During the One Last Drink side quest, you have the opportunity to kill Captain Ngunu with his own poison. This requires specific actions and choices; missing them means missing the achievement.
Get in the Statue, Envoy Achievement
This is a mysterious achievement in Avowed, described simply as “Reflect on mortality.” To unlock this achievement, you need to make two specific decisions at the conclusion of the “Dawntreader” side quest.
In the climax of the Dawntreader side quest in Avowed, you must choose between placing the relic in the statue or rejecting Sargamis and destroying his gleaming golden head.
To unlock the “Get in the Statue, Envoy” achievement, first agree to place the relic in the statue. Once it’s in place, pull the lever to sabotage Sargamis’ plan. Afterward, agree to transfer your soul into the statue and stand beneath the machine to earn the achievement.
Play Dead Achievement
To unlock this achievement in Avowed, you must equip both the Necropants and the Revenant Bell Collar simultaneously. While it may seem straightforward, keep in mind that both items are Unique and can only be acquired once per playthrough.
In Avowed, you can obtain the Revenant Bell Collar by offering your “future corpse” to Elia at Elia’s Revenant Farm in Emerald Stair. However, if you’ve already spoken to Elia without choosing this option, you’ve unfortunately missed your chance to get the collar—and the Play Dead Achievement.
Note: This guide is a work in progress, please check back soon for more details on missable achievements.
Hawkeye Achievement
Discover the Hidden Room in Fort Northreach. At the beginning of the game, you’ll enter Fort Northreach. Upon spotting the large crystal, turn right and proceed into the next chamber. Your companion will mention a bloodstain on the floor. Locate the switch on the wall, activate it, and step into the secret room.
Remember, this opportunity is lost if you leave the starting area without opening the secret room. If missed, you must start a new game and quickly locate the hidden chamber.
Retirement Plan Achievement
The “Retirement Plan” achievement in Avowed is missable, so complete it before progressing too far.
How to Unlock:
Find Elia at Revenant Farm (Emerald Stair) during “The Animancy Method” quest. Examine the Revenant corpse nearby to get the Blighted Crop before speaking to her.
Choose these dialogue options:
- “Where do all of these corpses come from, anyway?”
- “Would you be interested in buying my future corpse?”
This unlocks the achievement (15 Gamerscore).
Fior Extinguisher Achievement
The “Fior Extinguisher” achievement in Avowed is missable and requires stopping the Steel Garrote from destroying Fior mes Ivèrno.
To unlock it, start the “Steel Resolve” side quest by speaking to Ranger Acierno at the Ranger Headquarters, located northeast of the Emerald Stair. Investigate their hideout behind a waterfall near Ranger Dorso and eliminate all Steel Garrote members.
After completing “The Animancy Method”, continue the main story until you start “Ancient Soil”. The achievement will unlock if Fior mes Ivèrno remains intact. Make sure to finish “Steel Resolve” before advancing too far in the main quest.
Dream Fungi Rotation Achievement
The “Dream Fungi Rotation” achievement in Avowed is missable and requires trying Aiko’s drugs with your companions. This achievement is tied to the “The Wasteland Courier” side quest.
To start, meet the merchant Daiko in Thirdborn and investigate the graffiti on the Dead Swordfish shop. The graffiti will lead you north to Deadfall Highlands, where you’ll find Aiko’s camp marked by a red flag with an “X” on a cliff. Climb up, dealing with enemies along the way, until you reach Aiko.
Speak to Aiko and obtain the “totally legal substance.” As you leave the camp, one of your companions will suggest trying it. Accepting their suggestion unlocks the achievement. Since this moment relies on a companion’s input, ensure you have at least one with you during the quest. Completing it alone may cause you to miss the achievement.
We’re All In This Together Achievement
Complete all companion moments in The Garden by finishing all four optional objectives in Pulling Back the Veil. Your companions will comment on whose memory you are witnessing—ensure they are in your party and speak with them after each moment.
You’ll need Marius and Kai for the first two memories, then switch to Giatta and Yatzli for the remaining ones. Once all four moments are experienced, the achievement will unlock.
Note: The Garden is a one-time location, making this missable.
Allochory & Parasitoid Achievements
In Avowed, the “Allochory” and “Parasitoid” achievements are missable because they hinge on a critical decision during the main quest “The Heart of the Living Lands.” At a pivotal moment, you’ll encounter Sapadal and must choose to either release or destroy them. Releasing Sapadal unlocks the “Allochory” achievement, while destroying them grants the “Parasitoid” achievement.
Everyone Disliked That Achievement
Have every companion leave your party by siding with the Steel Garrote. After dealing with Sapadal, you’ll return to Dawnshore during The Siege of Paradis. When speaking to Ambassador Falseen Hylgard, select “I must stand with Lodwyn and the Steel Garrote” to unlock the achievement.
Note: This is missable, as siding differently prevents companion departures, requiring a full replay to unlock.
Tyranny Achievement
The “Tyranny” achievement in Avowed is missable because it requires unwavering support for the Steel Garrote faction throughout the game. If you make choices that oppose or fail to align with them during key quests, you will not be knighted by them, preventing you from unlocking the achievement.
To ensure you obtain “Tyranny”, always side with the Steel Garrote, particularly in major quests.
- In “An Untimely End,” kill the assassin Ygwulf in the Paradis cistern.
- In “Steel Resolve,” allow Fior mes Ivèrno to be sacked; saving it leads to a different achievement.
- In “Shadows of the Past,” destroy the ruins of Naku Kubel.
- In “Our Dreams Divide Us Still,” follow Councilor Kostya’s request to destroy the winch gears, flooding Solace Keep with lava.
After dealing with Sapadal, return to Dawnshore during “The Siege of Paradis.” When speaking to Ambassador Falseen Hylgard, select “I must stand with Lodwyn and the Steel Garrote.” This final choice secures your knighthood and unlocks the achievement.
Note: Missing any of these steps prevents you from earning “Tyranny,” a replay would be required to correct your alignment.
A Test of Your Reflexes Achievement
Complete Avowed on Path of the Damned difficulty. This achievement is missable if you don’t select Path of the Damned as your difficulty setting at the start of the game. Play through and finish the game on its highest difficulty level to unlock this achievement.
Dungeon Siege Achievement
The “Dungeon Siege” achievement in Avowed is missable because it requires entering all dungeons across the game. Certain choices can make specific dungeons inaccessible, preventing achievement completion.
To avoid missing it, do not destroy dungeons during quests. For example, in “Fires in the Mines,” allowing Darle to blow up the Sulfur Mines makes it inaccessible. Similarly, in “Shadows of the Past,” destroying Naku Kubel may prevent it from counting.
Some side quests, like “Nature vs. Nurture,” unlock dungeons but fail if you progress too far in the main story. Completing them early ensures access. Creating manual saves before major decisions allows you to backtrack if needed.
Bounty Hunter Achievement
The “Bounty Hunter” achievement in Avowed is missable because some bounties become unavailable due to story progression or faction choices. For example, the Xaurip bounty in Emerald Stair fails if you complete “Ancient Soil” first.
To avoid missing it, regularly check bounty boards and complete them before advancing the main quest. Avoid antagonizing factions that provide bounties. Creating manual saves before major decisions helps prevent lockouts.
Pentiment Achievement
The “Pentiment” achievement in Avowed is missable because some side quests become unavailable due to story progression or specific conditions.
For example, “Nature vs. Nurture” in Emerald Stair fails if you complete “Ancient Soil” first. Some quests, like “The Finer Things in Battle,” may not start if you upgrade your gear too early.
To avoid missing this achievement, complete all side quests before advancing the main story. Be mindful of quest triggers, and use manual saves to backtrack if necessary.
Historian Achievement
The “Historian” achievement in Avowed is missable because it requires collecting all five volumes of the “History of the Living Lands” within the Eothasian Temple during the Dawntreader quest. If you progress beyond this quest without obtaining all volumes, you cannot return to the temple to collect any missed books, thus missing the achievement.
How to Prepare Before Encountering Missables
Manually Save at the Start of Each Quest: To prevent missing important items and abilities, always create a manual save at the beginning of every main and side quest. This ensures you can reload if you miss any quests and gives you the flexibility to experiment with different choices and outcomes.
Complete Side Quests Promptly: Prioritize side quests as they become available to avoid missing them due to main story progression.
Stay Informed: Consult in-game journals or guides to keep track of quests and their potential impact on achievements.
By staying vigilant and proactive, you can navigate Avowed’s world without missing out on key achievements and content.
An important note for Pentiment–If not going for Tyranny achievement as well. A consequence of saving Fior from Steel Garrote (waterfall cave/steel resolve quest) voids a future side quest ”Debt of Blood” that takes place after Ancient soil also within Emerald Stair. (where the Bounty: Xaurips was)