The Best Umbral Shard Farming Guide In New World Season 10

If you’re diving into New World’s Nighthaven expansion, one thing’s for sure: Umbral Shards are your golden ticket to getting your gear score up to 800, and they’re crucial for making the most out of the new season. These little power-ups are used to upgrade your gear past the 700 GS threshold, directly impacting your weapon stats, armor, and perks. With the weekly cap set at 4,000, you need to be efficient with your farming methods to hit that cap and upgrade your gear as fast as possible. Whether you're a PvE enthusiast or PvP grinder, knowing where and how to farm these shards is a game-changer.

If you’re not into grinding non-stop and want a shortcut to boost your Umbral farming, you can always buy New World coins from PVPBank to fuel your upgrades and progression without the hassle of grinding every week.

In this guide, we’ll break down the best strategies, from PvP arenas to PvE elite runs, so you can hit that 4,000 cap and make your gear stronger than ever. Let’s get into it.

What Are Umbral Shards and Why Should You Care?

Before we jump into the best farming strategies, it’s important to understand the role of Umbral Shards in New World. These shards are the key to upgrading your gear beyond the standard 700 GS. With the introduction of Nighthaven, Umbral Shards replace the old Gypsum system, allowing you to directly upgrade your high-level gear and unlock stronger damage, defense, and perk scaling. Here’s why you need them:

1. Boost Your Gear Score: Upgrading with Umbral Shards increases your gear score, pushing it towards 800 for maximum effectiveness.

2. Massive Stat Boosts: Higher gear score means more base damage, better perk strength, and overall better performance in both PvP and PvE.

3. Essential for Endgame Content: Raids, PvP, and the toughest PvE content all demand high gear scores, and Umbral Shards are the easiest way to get there.

4. Long-Term Progression: With every season, your gear will need these upgrades to stay competitive. Umbral Shards ensure your gear stays relevant in the long haul.

Now that we’ve covered the importance, let’s dive into the most efficient ways to farm these precious shards.

The Best Methods to Farm Umbral Shards

Whether you’re a PvP fan or a PvE grinder, there are a few methods to farm Umbral Shards that can help you hit your weekly cap in no time. Here's a breakdown of the top strategies:

PvP Methods for Fast Umbral Shards

If you're looking to stack Umbral Shards quickly, PvP is one of the fastest routes. The great thing about PvP in New World is the variety of modes available, and each rewards you with Umbral Shards whether you win or lose.

Capture the Flag (CTF) - The Best PvP Method

• Reward: 150 shards for a win or loss

• Time per match: 5–10 minutes

• Efficiency: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

• Why it’s great: CTF is the best method for farming Umbral Shards due to its short match times and guaranteed rewards regardless of the outcome. Whether you’re winning or losing, you still get a solid amount of shards, making this the go-to method for consistent farming.

If you’re into fast, repetitive gameplay, this is your farm. Plus, it’s quick, so you can knock out several matches in an hour.

Outpost Rush (OPR)

• Reward: 200 shards for a win, 75 for a loss

• Time per match: 15–20 minutes

• Efficiency: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

• Why it’s good: While OPR is a bit longer, it’s another solid PvP method for earning Umbral Shards. The rewards are better for wins, but even if you lose, you still get a decent amount of shards.

OPR is an excellent way to farm if you’re looking to get a lot of PvP experience while also farming Umbrals. Focus on win streaks to make the most of this.

Arenas

• Reward: 75 shards for a win, 30 for a loss

• Time per match: 10 minutes

• Efficiency: ⭐⭐⭐

• Why it’s good: Arenas are quick, but the rewards are pretty low compared to other methods. Still, they’re a decent option if you’re looking for quick matches and a small bonus of shards.

PvE Methods for Efficient Umbral Shard Farming

If you prefer PvE, there are also some efficient farming methods for you. Here are the best spots for PvE farmers to get their Umbral Shards.

Elite Chest Runs (Best PvE Method)

• Reward: ~150 shards per run (every 10 minutes)

• Time per chest: 10 minutes

• Efficiency: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

• Why it’s great: Elite chest runs are the most efficient PvE method for farming Umbral Shards. Not only do you get a solid amount of Umbrals, but you also pick up plenty of loot and materials to upgrade your gear. The best part? There’s no queue time, so you can farm these at your own pace.

The best zones for elite chest runs include Brimstone Sands, Shattered Mountain, and Reekwater. These areas are packed with elite chests and plenty of mobs, ensuring that you’ll always have something to fight while you farm Umbrals.

Mutations (M1–M3)

• Reward: 150 Umbral Shards for M1, up to 250+ for M3

• Time per run: 20–50 minutes

• Efficiency: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

• Why it’s good: Mutations are tougher and require a solid group to clear, but the rewards are great, especially for higher mutations. Mutated Expeditions like Glacial Tarn or Genesis can reward you with up to 250 Umbral Shards per run, making them an excellent farming choice for endgame players.

However, they come with a significant difficulty curve, so this method is better suited for experienced players or group setups.

Catacombs

• Reward: 20–50 Umbral Shards

• Time per run: 20–30 minutes

• Efficiency: ⭐⭐

• Why it’s good: While catacombs are fun, they’re not the most efficient method for farming Umbrals. The rewards are on the lower end, and while they’re good for XP and loot, they don’t stack up to elite chest runs or mutations in terms of Umbral yields.

3. Solo Farming Options for Umbral Shards

For those who prefer to fly solo, there are still viable farming options.

Elite Chest Runs in Cutlass Keys

• Reward: ~100–300 shards per chest

• Time per run: 10–15 minutes per chest

• Efficiency: ⭐⭐⭐

• Why it’s good: Late-night runs or low-pop hours make this solo-friendly. With a steady stream of chests to farm, you can loot and stack shards on your own. Just be sure to bring some luck gear to maximize your drops.

Pit Lord Boss

• Reward: ~200–400 shards

• Time per kill: 15–25 minutes

• Efficiency: ⭐⭐⭐

• Why it’s good: If you’re looking for a solo boss grind, the Pit Lord boss is a decent option. With decent shard drops and a manageable difficulty for 725+ GS players, it’s a fun solo option if you want to farm shards without a group.

Gear Prioritization and Upgrades

Once you’ve farmed your Umbral Shards, you need to know how to spend them efficiently. Here’s the order in which you should upgrade your gear:

1. Artifacts: These offer the most value across multiple builds and should be your first priority. Artifacts like Serenity (GS 795) and Bloodrinker (GS 793) provide massive bonuses that will improve your performance in both PvP and PvE.

2. Weapons: Boost your main weapon next. Upgrading weapons like Greatswords or Bows significantly increases damage output, making them critical for progression.

3. Armor: Finally, boost your armor after your weapon and artifacts. Armor upgrades are important but will yield diminishing returns after reaching around 780–785 GS.

Conclusion: Maximize Your Umbral Shard Farming

To efficiently farm Umbral Shards, focus on a mix of PvP and PvE methods. Capture the Flag is your best bet for fast, consistent Umbral farming, while Elite Chest Runs and Mutations are your go-to for those looking for high-yield, high-reward farming.

As you continue grinding and upgrading, don’t forget that Umbral Shards are just one part of the journey. Equip yourself wisely, aim for those 4,000 weekly shards, and you’ll be scaling your gear score like a pro. Happy farming, and may your shards be plentiful!