Ancient Ore Armor in Gothic 1 Remake: The Non-Lethal Gomez Route

Late in Gothic 1 Remake, once you come back to Xardas after the Sleeper’s Temple, he tells you that Gomez owns the most powerful armor inside the Colony. He stops short of explaining how to pry it loose. The Ancient Ore Armor sits in a chest in Gomez’s private room on the upper floor of the Old Camp castle, and you can claim it without putting Gomez in the ground.

Quick answer: Loot the two teleportation runes from a chest deep beneath the Sunken Tower, speak with Gomez in the castle, and hand him the Teleport to the Sunken Tower rune. He gives you the key to his chest, after which you go upstairs into the first room on the left and open the large chest by his bed for the Ancient Ore Armor.

What you need before starting

This route only opens in the final phase of the game, after the Sleeper’s Temple, when Xardas points you toward Gomez’s armor. The whole plan hinges on one item that he never names directly, the Teleport to the Sunken Tower rune. You also need a way to break a magically sealed door inside the tower.

Access to the Sunken Tower, located just south of the Old Citadel.
Fire, Ice, and Wind magic (or Telekinesis) to open the sealed inner door.
Enough combat strength to clear Skeletons, Zombies, and a Skeletal Mage.
Lockpicks for the chest that holds the runes.

Step 1: Reach the Sunken Tower basement

Ask Xardas whether any other armor is available, and he points you to the Robe of the Dark Arts. The item you actually need is hidden far below the Sunken Tower, so head there first.

Inside the tower, locate the underwater tunnel that drops you into the lower sanctums. Fight through the Skeletons and Zombies on the way down, and take out the Skeletal Mage so it stops summoning more undead.

Use Fire, Ice, and Wind magic (Telekinesis also works) to open the sealed door. Step through and move into the room on the right.

Step 2: Grab both teleportation runes

Lockpick the door blocking the chest, then open the chest. It holds two runes that you need for the rest of the plan.

Rune	Color	Use
Teleport to the Sunken Tower	Yellow	The item Gomez wants in trade
Teleport to the Fire Mages	Red	Gets you into the inner ring of the Old Camp

Step 3: Trade the rune to Gomez inside the castle

Use the red Teleport to the Fire Mages rune to land in the Fire Mage’s Quarters in the inner ring of the Old Camp. Bartholo is waiting there, so deal with him and continue toward the castle.

Keep your weapon holstered as you approach. Drawing it early pulls the whole camp onto you. Walk past Raven and into the castle without starting a fight.

Past Raven’s post, Arto attacks alongside Raven and a few guards. Knock them down and loot them, since they carry some of the best one-handed swords in the game.

Approach Gomez and tell him you need the armor to defeat the Sleeper. He agrees, on the condition that you bring him the Teleport to the Sunken Tower rune.

Hand over the yellow rune. Gomez gives you the key to his chest in exchange, and Gomez himself stays alive.

Note: Gomez may still swing at you right after you give him the rune. If that happens, knock him out and head straight upstairs. Once you leave his sight, he forgets the encounter and the route still counts as sparing him.

Step 4: Open the chest and confirm the armor

Go up the stairs and enter the first room on the left, which is Gomez’s bedroom. Open the large chest beside the bed using the key he handed you.

The Ancient Ore Armor sits inside that chest. You know it worked when the set lands in your inventory with its description noting that the ore provides unmatched protection.

Ancient Ore Armor stats

Resistance	Value
Edge	90
Blunt	90
Point	25
Fire	25
Wind	15
Ice	15
Energy	15

You can take the set further by completing the quest Between a Rock and a Hard Place. After you rescue Stone from the Old Camp’s prison, he upgrades the Ancient Ore Armor into the Improved Ore Armor.

The trade route costs you a trek through the Sunken Tower and one rune, but it leaves Gomez breathing and still hands over the strongest armor in the Colony. If you would rather take the violent path, defeating Gomez drops Innos’ Rage, the Ring of Invincibility, and the Master Keys to his room. Either way, the Ancient Ore Armor ends up in your hands.