Spoiler‑light route. This covers the fastest consistent path to your second Pale Oil via Great Taste of Pharloom, then the third Needle upgrade at Plinney.
Overview
Your third Needle upgrade requires a second Pale Oil. The most reliable mid‑game route is to complete Loyal Mergwin’s “Great Taste of Pharloom” wish in the Choral Chambers. After turning in five items, Mergwin awards a Pale Oil. Return to Pinmaster Plinney in Bellhart and pay the fee to sharpen.
TL;DR
- Get a first Needle upgrade for free from Plinney after freeing Bellhart.
- Get a first Pale Oil (e.g., Whispering Vaults) for your second upgrade: see /guides/tutorial/pale-oil-second-needle-upgrade.
- For the third upgrade, obtain a second Pale Oil by completing “Great Taste of Pharloom” for Loyal Mergwin in Choral Chambers.
- Return to Plinney with 1× Pale Oil and pay the Rosary fee to receive the third upgrade.
Requirements & Prep
- Story: Bellhart unlocked; access through Citadel paths to reach Choral Chambers.
- Mobility: Clawline (grapple) and Faydown Cloak (double jump) make the Crustnut pickup and Lugoli fight practical.
- Rosaries: Bring ≈480 Rosaries for Vintage Nectar and ≈500 for Plinney’s sharpening fee (estimate varies by progression).
Start the Quest — Find Loyal Mergwin (Choral Chambers)
- In Choral Chambers, find the abandoned dining hall northeast of the spa.
- Strike the glass jar containing Pale Oil to wake Loyal Mergwin and accept “Great Taste of Pharloom”.
- He asks for five items:
- Mossberry Stew
- Vintage Nectar (480 Rosaries)
- Pickled Muckmaggot
- Crustnut
- Courier’s Rasher (timed delivery)
Item Locations & Tips
Mossberry Stew — Mosshome/Moss Grotto
- Speak to the Moss Druid in Mosshome; complete her Berry Picking if needed to receive the stew.
Vintage Nectar (480 Rosaries) — Halfway House (Greymoor)
- Buy from Creige at the Halfway House; descend to the basement and clear the red‑ant ambush to claim it.
Pickled Muckmaggot — Sinner’s Road (Lugoli)
- Enter Sinner’s Road from Greymoor. Reach Lugoli’s back room and ring the dinner gong to start the fight.
- Full route and fight: /guides/tutorial/sinners-road-disgraced-chef-lugoli.
Crustnut — Sands of Karak (above Blasted Steps)
- Climb from Blasted Steps into the Sands of Karak using Clawline; break red growths and finish a short platforming section to collect.
- Route help: /guides/tutorial/how-to-reach-sands-of-karak.
Courier’s Rasher — Timed Run (Bellhart → Choral Chambers)
- Complete “My Missing Courier” (rescue Tipp) and “My Missing Brother” (rescue Pill) to enable the run.
- Carry the rasher on foot from Bellhart to Mergwin in Choral Chambers within the time limit (taking damage reduces time). Movement buffs help.
When all five are delivered, Mergwin opens the container beside him—loot the Pale Oil.
Turn In — Third Needle Upgrade
- Return to Pinmaster Plinney in Bellhart.
- Choose “Sharpen Needle?” and hand over 1× Pale Oil.
- Pay the sharpening fee (≈500 Rosaries) to receive the third upgrade.
Effect: Global Needle damage increase, noticeably reducing hits‑to‑kill on common enemies and tightening boss cycles.
Rosary Planning (Quick Math)
- 480 Rosaries — Vintage Nectar (required by Mergwin).
- ≈500 Rosaries — Plinney’s sharpening fee for the second oil turn‑in.
- Optional buffers — travel pins, benches, and emergency purchases.
- Short on currency? Run your preferred farm loop or see currency tips in Deep Docks/Greymoor routes.
Troubleshooting
- Can’t find Mergwin? Check the dining hall northeast of the spa in Choral Chambers; strike the oil jar.
- Lugoli arena locked? You need Faydown Cloak (Double Jump) to reach the back room.
- Rasher timer too tight? Avoid damage to preserve time; plan a clean route through Shellwood → Blasted Steps → Grand Gate → Choral Chambers.
Sources
- Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6Azn_rXQwo
- Cross‑checked with common guide coverage for Mergwin’s quest items, Lugoli access, and Plinney’s role.
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