Starmetal is the rarest material in Avowed. You can use it to forge and upgrade a powerful Sword and an Arquebus. We’ll tell you where to find all 4 pieces of Starmetal, what Ondra’s weapons do, and how to make the most of your free upgrades!
Table of contents
What is Starmetal?
Starmetal is one of the rarest metals in the Living Lands; so rare that most blacksmiths don’t even know how to work with it; so valuable that they’re too afraid to try for fear of ruining it.
The only smith who can make anything with the Starmetal is Forgemaster Dela of Solace Keep in Galawain’s Tusks, the fourth region you visit in the game.
The first time you pick up a fragment of Starmetal, you’ll get a quest called “Forged of Star-Stuff” that just tells you to ask blacksmiths about it.
You don’t need to follow this mission to get Forgemaster Dela to make the weapon, though make sure the Starmetal is in your inventory, not storage box.
Starmetal Locations
There are 4 pieces of Starmetal spread throughout the Living Lands with 1 piece located in each of the 4 major regions.
Dawnshore Starmetal Location
Dawnshore’s Starmetal piece is located on the Godless Altar in the Southern Embrace near the Emerald Stair Gatehouse. I have no idea how no one has stolen it yet.
Emerald Stair Starmetal Location
The Starmetal Piece in Emerald Stair is located at the Damp Burrow in the Rolling Crags, northwest of Fior mes Ivèrno. You’ll need to fend off too many spiders and an ogre to get it.
Shatterscarp Starmetal Location
Shatterscarp’s Starmetal piece is located at the southern edge of the Abandoned Mine in the obnoxiously inaccessible mountain range north of Thirdborn.
The entrance to the Abandoned Mine is a small cave located on the western side of the Shatterscarp central mountain range on the road dividing it from the Ancient Lakebed. Keep your eyes peeled for an elaborate fossil that’s visible from the road.
After you exit on the other side of the narrow tunnel, go up the stairs on the left. Climb up the wooden ladder and head east. After a few jumps and a squeeze through another narrow tunnel, you will find the item at the lower end of a sloped path.
The Abandoned Mine is also where you’ll find Ruanga, one of Captain Ngunu’s former crew members as part of the quest “One Last Drink”.
The Trickster’s Boots are nearby as well. You have to climb up to the top level of the mine and head south, opposite where Ruanga is.
Galawain’s Tusks Starmetal Location
The piece of Starmetal in Galawain’s Tusks is located in a crater in the Ash Forest. The crater is in the exact same location as the Bounty for Destul, and no, that’s not a coincidence. Upon picking up the Starmetal, you’ll aggro Destul.
Starmetal Unique Weapons
Forgemaster Dela can use the Starmetal to make 2 weapons (technically 4), a Sword and an Arquebus. Both weapons deal Frost damage and are themed around Ondra, goddess of the ocean and the moon.
Each weapon costs 1 piece of Starmetal to make, and then you can give Dela an additional piece of Starmetal to improve the weapon, so if you collect all 4 pieces, you can make and upgrade both weapons.
A word of warning, it’s possible that a certain decision you make after visiting Mt. Forja in Galawain’s Tusks as part of the Main Mission may prevent you from being able to get these weapons, so make sure you grab all the Starmetal before then.
Meteor Blade ▶ Ondra’s Offense (Sword)
Ondra’s Offense is a One-Handed Melee weapon that deals Frost damage. Contrary to its name, Ondra’s Offense is much more of a defensive weapon that synergizes best with a hybrid Fighter-Ranger build.
Lamenting Flurry
A Full Combo Attack makes the hit enemy take -20% Damage for 15s
Crashing Tide
A Full Combo Attack makes the hit enemy take -40% Damage for 15s
Tidecaller’s Revenge
A successful Parry deals high Stun and Frost Accumulation to nearby enemies
Freezing Lash
Hits deal +10% bonus Frost damage
Crashing Tide is tantalizing, but Tidecaller’s Revenge means your opponent will likely be Frozen when they get Stunned, making your Special Attack even stronger.
Ondra’s Offense pairs well with any of the Legendary Unique Shields available in Galawain’s Tusks, with Bastion of Solace perhaps being the best.
Moonstrike ▶ Heavenstrike (Arquebus)
Heavenstrike is an Arquebus that deals Frost damage. Its enchantments are pretty straightforward; they just apply a lot of Frost Accumulation to nearby enemies.
Ondra’s Scorn
Power Attacks deal moderate Frost Accumulation to nearby enemies
Ondra’s Anger
Power Attacks deal high Frost Accumulation to nearby enemies
Lunar Champion
Killing an enemy gives you +5% Damage Reduction for 10s
Freezing Lash
Hits deal +10% bonus Frost damage
I strongly recommend against choosing the Lunar Champion Enchantment. The Damage Reduction is small and doesn’t last very long, especially considering you aren’t likely to be near any enemies for a good chunk of those 10s.
Is it worth it to use Starmetal to Upgrade the Moonstrike or Meteor Blade?
YES, but DO NOT spend a second piece of Starmetal to upgrade the Meteor Blade or Moonstrike until you have obtained another Legendary Weapon (Tier V gold).
Upgrading the Meteor Blade or Moonstrike using a second piece of Starmetal improves its base Physical Damage and Stun stats (which are scaled by its Quality level).
It does not affect the Stamina Cost, Critical Hit Chance, or Enchantments. Since the Enchantments don’t change or get reset, you can safely Enchant the Meteor Blade or Moonstrike without wasting materials.
Take a look at the stats for the Moonstrike at Superb +1 and +2 and Heavenstrike at Superb +2 to see what I mean:
A Superb Quality +2 Moonstrike has lower Physical Damage and Stun stats than a Superb Quality +2 Heavenstrike, but the Enchantments, Stamina Cost, and Critical Hit Chance remain the same.
Things get a little more complicated when it comes to the Item Quality (Superb vs Legendary).
Since all upgrade costs are not remotely equal, I strongly recommend being strategic about when you use Startmetal to improve the Moonstrike and Meteor Blade. We’re talking about saving at least 168,875 Skeyts here.
Adra Bán, the material required to upgrade gear from Superb +3 to Legendary Quality, is significantly more rare and expensive than regular upgrade materials, and it’ll cost you 10 to upgrade both. You really don’t want to spend your own Adra Bán when Dela will give it to you for free!
The Quality Tier you get back (and loot from Chests in general) seems to be determined by the highest Quality Tier you have ever obtained for that slot. For example, you’ll start getting Legendary Weapons once you’ve upgraded a Superb +3 Weapon to Legendary.
Given that this oversight has such gargantuan economic implications for your ability to purchase endgame gear, I expect Obsidian to patch it in short order. The quick and dirty solution is just making it so that Heavenstrike and Ondra’s Grace are always at least Legendary Quality.
