How consumables work in Anthem
In Anthem, consumable items called inscriptions exist for players to use. But how can you get them, and what are they for? Here's all the information you need.
In Anthem, BioWare's new science-fiction multiplayer game, there are consumable items that the player can obtain and use to boost their statistics. However, it can be confusing to know both how to get them and what they're for specifically since the game is rather vague about them. Fear not, however: we've figured out the answer to both questions, and we have all the details you need to know in this quick guide.
Sci-fi mayhem
A brand new adventure
Anthem, BioWare's brand new franchise, features a gorgeous open world and flying exosuits that players can use in order to devastate foes.
What are consumables for?
The consumables in Anthem are one-time use items called inscriptions that boost a player's health, shielding, heat capacity (important when flying) or one of the various types of damage during an expedition, such as a mission or a session of freeplay. At the start of the game, you'll only be able to use one inscription per expedition. However, at level 20, you'll unlock the ability to use two, and at level 30, you can utilize three of them at once, which will make your life a lot easier in endgame activities.
How can you make consumables?
Before you can make inscriptions, you need to find the blueprints for them during gameplay. This isn't difficult for ones of Uncommon rarity since they are (ironically) a common loot drop, but for the Rare and Epic variants that boost your stats significantly more, you'll need to do Stronghold expeditions. Strongholds are lengthy structured missions with a large boss at the end, and they require a full team of competent players in order to complete.
Once you have the blueprints for inscriptions, crafting them is either easy or difficult depending on the rarity of the inscription you're making. You're going to need a handful of ember items with a rarity that corresponds to the rarity of the inscription that you want to make. For example, if you wanted to make a Rare Melee Sigil inscription (pictured above) than you would need two Rare embers. Embers are some of the resources that you can loot from plants and stashes found in the open world, and as you'd expect, a higher rarity ember has a lower chance of dropping. Uncommon embers drop all the time, Rare ones drop every so often, and Epic ones are rare finds.
Once you've collected the embers you need, the last step is going into the expedition menu by hopping into your javelin. Once there, you tab to the consumables menu on the right, select the blueprint for the inscription you want to make and then craft it. Then, move over to the equip menu and select your inscription(s). You're good to go!
Your thoughts
What's your opinion of Anthem's consumables? Do you think the process of making them is too complicated, or do you like it as is? Let me know.
Anthem is expected to be released on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC on February 22 for $60. If you have an EA/Origin Access or an Origin Access Premiere subscription, you can play it early right now on Xbox One and PC.
Get the Windows Central Newsletter
All the latest news, reviews, and guides for Windows and Xbox diehards.
Sci-fi mayhem
A brand new adventure
Anthem, BioWare's brand new franchise, features a gorgeous open world and flying exosuits that players can use in order to devastate foes.
Brendan Lowry is a Windows Central writer and Oakland University graduate with a burning passion for video games, of which he's been an avid fan since childhood. He's been writing for Team WC since the summer of 2017, and you'll find him doing news, editorials, reviews, and general coverage on everything gaming, Xbox, and Windows PC. His favorite game of all time is probably NieR: Automata, though Elden Ring, Fallout: New Vegas, and Team Fortress 2 are in the running, too. When he's not writing or gaming, there's a good chance he's either watching an interesting new movie or TV show or actually going outside for once. Follow him on X (Twitter).