Nightingale Portals and Realm Cards Explained

Nightingale is a survival game in which you will have the opportunity to travel through portals to visit different Realms. If you are here, it is because you want to know everything there is to know about the Nightingale portals and how Realm Cards work. In fact, unlike other survival games, in Nightingale there is a different game mechanic. Let's see together how portals and Realm Cards work in Nightingale.

Nightingale Portals Explained

Portals, as you can well imagine, are structures that allow you to travel between the various Realms that are present in the game world. However, you will need to be able to build them in order to travel. The thing to know is that you will not be able to do it immediately at the beginning of the game, but you will have to continue playing until you obtain Item Level 20. Our advice is to proceed until you meet Aurelio Acevedo Ortega, or an NPC who will give you several quests to complete, one of which will require you to find a Synchronous Lotus on top of a Fae Tower.

Since the game is procedurally generated, there is no fixed location where you can find this item, as it changes for each player. Therefore, we recommend that you explore thoroughly until you find it. Once you reach the top of the Fae Tower, you will be able to open a chest in which the Synchronous Lotus is located, which will allow you to open your first portal. You will also need other resources, such as Lumber, Ingot, and Wire, but these are much easier to find, so you shouldn't have any problems.

Obviously, Nightingale gives you the ability to create multiple portals within a single world. So don't be afraid of having to think carefully about where and how many portals to create so as not to come across any kind of limitation. Ultimately, these portals function as a sort of fast travel between the various Realms that you have had the opportunity to create and visit up to that point. However, to actually make a portal work, you will need Realm Cards. So, let's see together everything you need to know about it.

Nightingale Realm Cards Explained

Realm Cards help you open portals to new places in Nightingale. They let you pick which type of environment you want to go to and give you some control over what you will find there. You also have your own special place to go back to when you need a break from exploring. To open a portal, you need two cards: the Biome card, which decides if you will end up in a forest, desert, or swamp, and the Major card, which determines things like what you will find there, like interesting places, characters, and tasks to do.

Once you have a Biome card and a Major card and you're all set to create a portal, here's what you do: head over to a Portal structure, which you can easily find in any Realm. These structures are pretty big archways, so they're hard to miss once you're nearby. When you enter a Realm, these locations should be marked on your map.

Realms are different every time you visit, but if you use the same two cards to create one, you will always end up in the same Realm with your current progress. Unless you want to start fresh, avoid telling the Portal console to make a new one, because that will erase everything you have built or discovered in that Realm and replace it with a new one following the same rules.

But how can you get Realm Cards? You will automatically acquire some Realm Cards as you play, but for others, you will need to unlock the recipe by completing their corresponding Site of Power first. Consequently, we recommend that you carefully explore each area of the game before proceeding with the creation of portals, as you may have the possibility of creating multiple portals with different characteristics.

Biome Cards

Currently, there are three Biome cards available, with plans from developers to add more in a future update. Each of these biomes offers its own unique landscape, wildlife, and resources, giving you plenty of options to tailor your Realm to your preferences and needs. Let's take a look at the three Biome cards available:

• Forest
• Desert
• Swamp

The Forest card transports you to a Realm that's like a cozy retreat for seasoned survivalists. Here, you can go on hunts for deer and boars, chop down trees to your heart's content, and cool off with a refreshing swim in lakes and streams. It's the friendliest and most welcoming of the bunch, making it an ideal spot for settling down and establishing your base.

Now, when you dare to explore the Desert or Swamp Realms in Nightingale, get ready for a wild ride into the unknown. These environments are where things get a little bizarre, serving as a constant reminder that you're venturing into alien territory. Creatures become increasingly peculiar, and the challenges ramp up accordingly.

In the scorching Desert biome, you will need to keep a keen eye out for shade or keep your trusty umbrella handy to avoid getting overheated. It's a harsh environment that demands careful planning and resource management. As for the murky depths of the Swamp, while it may offer some relief from the desert heat, don't let its cool exterior fool you. The water here is tainted and can drain your health if you spend too much time submerged. It's a treacherous place that requires caution at every turn.

Major Cards

Major cards play a crucial role in shaping the specifics of the realm you're about to create in Nightingale. They determine things like notable landmarks, the presence of NPCs, quests, and the overall difficulty level. Some of these cards are automatically unlocked as you progress in the game, while others require you to first unlock their recipe by completing specific challenges at their corresponding Site of Power. At the moment, the exact number of Major cards available in Nightingale isn't clear, but here are the Major cards that we know are present in the game:

• Abeyance
• Antiquarian
• Astrolabe
• Hunt
• Byway
• Herbarium

The Abeyance card is perfect for establishing your base and getting the hang of the game mechanics. While there are still hostile creatures to contend with, they're generally more forgiving compared to other Realm types. Additionally, this Realm offers introductory quests that serve as a gentle introduction to the game and help familiarize you with various crafting stations.

Moving on to the Antiquarian and Astrolabe cards, using them will ramp up the difficulty level compared to the Abeyance realm. They also introduce you to two new factions: the Druids and the Calcularia, respectively. On the other hand, if you activate the Hunt card, be prepared to face off against an Apex creature within the realm you create. Make sure you're well-equipped for the challenge. Once inside the Realm, you can track the creature's movements by following its glowing trail.

As for the Byway card, it's utilized during the tutorial phase of Nightingale, although it's uncertain if it serves any further purpose beyond that. Lastly, there is the Herbarium card but there is not much information about it yet. Of course, we will keep updating this guide as soon as we have other details to share with you that might come in handy while playing Nightingale.