Enshrouded: How to Upgrade the Flame Altar With a Shroud Core

In Enshrouded, the Flame Altar controls base size; Shroud Cores upgrade it, while Sparks do not. From the altar menu, select Upgrade Altar and use one Shroud Core. This expands the Building Area from 40m x 40m x 40m to 80m x 80m x 80m.

Quick answer: Press E at your Flame Altar, pick “Upgrade Altar”, then press the Upgrade Altar button. Altar Level 1 to 2 costs one Shroud Core and expands the area from 40m to 80m.

Shroud Core for the Flame Altar upgrade

You need a Shroud Core in your backpack before you head to the altar. The upgrade screen lists two places to get one under the item’s name, “Alchemist or Fell Bosses”.

The Fell Thunderbrute is an early boss that drops one. It sits at the bottom of the Elixir Well in the Springlands, as part of the quest Clear The Elixir Well. Its loot window holds a Shroud Core, listed as Materials, Level 5, Rare. The altar to upgrade first is your home altar, the one you built during the quest Claim A Spot For Your Base.

How to upgrade the Flame Altar to Altar Level 2

Walk up to your Flame Altar and press E to “Commune with the Flame”. If you just destroyed the Shroud Root under the Elixir Well, the Flame talks first. It tells you that felling the root earned you Skill Points to spend in the Skill Tree, and urges you to drop the paths of the Warrior, the Ranger and the Wizard and forge your own. Press Space to move past it.

The Flame speaking at the Flame Altar in Enshrouded about the Skill Points granted for felling the Shroud Root — The Flame’s line after the first Shroud Root: Skill Points to spend in the Skill Tree.

Check the FLAME ALTAR menu that opens. The top reads ALTAR LEVEL 1 and BUILDING AREA 40m x 40m x 40m. Below sit Upgrade Altar (“Extend its building range”), Strengthen the Flame (“Gain global benefits”), Reskill (“Modify or Reset the Skill Tree”), Remove Water, and Deactivate Altar. R is “Set as preferred spawn altar”, F renames the altar, and Space confirms.

Flame Altar menu in Enshrouded with the Upgrade Altar option highlighted to extend building range — The FLAME ALTAR menu with Upgrade Altar selected.

Select Upgrade Altar. The screen shows Altar Level 1 -> 2 and Building Area 40m x 40m x 40m -> 80m x 80m x 80m. Under “Upgrade requirements”, the single entry is Shroud Core. It turns green when you’re carrying one. F pins the requirements if you still need to go get it.

Upgrade Altar screen listing one Shroud Core for Altar Level 1 to 2, with the Upgrade Altar button highlighted — The Upgrade Altar screen for Altar Level 1 to 2, with one Shroud Core as the requirement.

At the screen’s lower edge, activate the Upgrade Altar button. This uses up the Shroud Core and advances the altar to Altar Level 2.

There are two visible signs of success. Its plain, round stone base is replaced by a bigger carved stone bowl, and the FLAME ALTAR menu lists ALTAR LEVEL 2 and BUILDING AREA 80m x 80m x 80m.

Flame Altar menu in Enshrouded at Altar Level 2 with an 80m x 80m x 80m building area and the new carved bowl — After the upgrade: ALTAR LEVEL 2, BUILDING AREA 80m x 80m x 80m, and a bigger carved bowl.

Altar Level 3 requirements (120m building area)

Open Upgrade Altar again at Altar Level 2 and the next step is already waiting. The cost goes up, and a new requirement appears.

Upgrade	Building Area	Requirements
Altar Level 1 -> 2	40m -> 80m	Shroud Core x1
Altar Level 2 -> 3	80m -> 120m	The Flame Level 2, Shroud Core x5

The Flame, Level 2 line shows in red while your Flame is still Level 1. That means the 120m x 120m x 120m area is gated behind Strengthen the Flame, on top of the five Shroud Cores.

Upgrade Altar screen for Altar Level 2 to 3, asking for The Flame Level 2 and five Shroud Cores — The Altar Level 2 to 3 upgrade, which needs The Flame at Level 2 and five Shroud Cores.

Upgrade Altar vs. Strengthen the Flame

The menu offers two distinct upgrades, each using its own materials. Upgrade Altar uses Shroud Cores to increase the Altar Level and building area of that altar. Strengthen the Flame instead increases your Flame Level for “Gain global benefits”, without using any Shroud Core. For Flame Level 1 -> 2, the requirements are:

Resin x5
Penny Bun x5
Bones x5
Shroud Liquid x5
Spark x1 (“Found in Flame Shrines and Sanctums”)
Animal Fur x5

So if you want more room to build, spend the Shroud Core on Upgrade Altar. The Spark goes to Strengthen the Flame, which you’ll need later to unlock Altar Level 3.