Progression in Grim Trials is built around turning failed and successful Trial Ground runs into permanent advantages. Experience and materials remain after Avelin falls, while Soul Runes feed into the Skill Tree, materials become crafted weapons and gear, Academy quests build Affinity and unlock support, and randomized Blessings shape the current run.
The Grim Trials progression loop
The easiest way to understand progression is to separate permanent preparation from the temporary power you assemble inside a run. The official store description confirms that experience and materials earned in battle remain with Avelin after death. Those retained gains mean an unsuccessful attempt can still move your save forward.
- Enter the Trial Grounds and collect experience, materials and other progression rewards.
- Return to the Academy after a run and check story dialogue, mentors and available quests.
- Use materials and unlocked recipes to improve weapons, gear and consumables.
- Use Soul Runes to develop the Skill Tree and open more build options.
- Advance character relationships and quests instead of treating the Academy as a menu between runs.
- Start the next run with a clearer permanent setup, then adapt to the randomized Blessings offered during that attempt.
What stays when Avelin dies?
Experience and materials persist after death according to the official Steam and Xbox descriptions. This is the foundation of the roguelite progression system: dying ends the current attempt, but it does not erase everything you earned.
That makes material collection valuable even when a run is unlikely to reach the next boss. If you are still learning an encounter, bringing useful resources home can be a better measure of progress than judging the run only by whether you won.
Soul Runes and late-game progression
Soul Runes are an important part of the released game's long-term Skill Tree progression. Their role is no longer something that needs to be inferred from demo footage: the first post-launch balance patch explicitly addressed Soul Rune acquisition and their interaction with the Skill Tree.
Update v1.0.20260824 fixed an issue that could stop some late-game players from obtaining additional Soul Runes. It also fixed removed Soul Runes disappearing instead of being refunded. In practical terms, the released system is intended to let you remove a Soul Rune from the tree and recover it rather than permanently destroy the resource.
The achievement Maximum Occupancy 120 provides another useful progression target: it requires activating all Skill Tree and Slot Upgrade nodes. That confirms that Slot Upgrades are part of the completion path rather than merely an old demo concept.
Crafting is part of progression, not just equipment management
Materials gathered in combat can be turned into weapons, gear and consumables with the Academy's mentors. The achievement list includes Fashionista for crafting all gear and Weapon Connoisseur for crafting all weapons, while In Their Final Forms asks you to complete a Trial Ground run with Level 3 Mastercrafted Weapon and Gear.
Crafting also connects back to the Skill Tree. The August 24 update improved the Gear Enchantment quest and tutorial and added clearer wording explaining how Gear Enchantment is accessed through the Skill Tree. The same patch fixed a bug where Crafting could sometimes produce no item and improved Crafting Recipe layout, readability and navigation.
For efficient progression, spend materials toward a build you are actually using instead of crafting everything as soon as it appears. Completionists can return for the all-weapons and all-gear achievements after the core progression loop is stable.
Quests and Affinity matter
The Academy is a progression space, not simply a hub. Official store text tells players to take on quests, build relationships and unlock support from other Reapers and mentors. The released achievement list confirms maximum-Affinity objectives for Pytra, Milyun, Ivanya, Iskra, Kai, and Breone & Nameles.
There are also named quest and relationship milestones such as The Special Delivery, Three Headed Snake Quest, sparring with the Fellow Apprentice, and the final toast with Ivanya and Iskra. This is why checking NPC dialogue after major Trial Ground progress is worthwhile: character content is tied into the broader completion route.
| Progression layer | What advances it | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Experience & materials | Playing Trial Ground runs | Persistent gains survive death |
| Skill Tree | Soul Runes and node progression | Permanent build development and Gear Enchantment access |
| Crafting | Materials, recipes and mentors | Weapons, gear, consumables and Mastercrafted progression |
| Affinity & quests | Academy characters and quest chains | Relationships, support and completion milestones |
| Blessings | Random choices during runs | Temporary build synergies that change each attempt |
Where Blessings fit
Blessings should be treated differently from permanent progression. They are randomized upgrades obtained during a run, so the goal is to make them work with the equipment and Skill Tree foundation you already brought into the Trial Grounds.
The achievement Omnitheism rewards experiencing every Gods of Death Blessing, giving completion-focused players a reason to try options outside a favorite build. Balance is also still evolving: v1.0.20260824 adjusted the Anubis Blessing as part of ranged-build balancing, and the developers later said they are exploring broader Blessing expansion and additional synergies.
What should you prioritize first?
For a first playthrough, prioritize systems that make every future run easier to evaluate rather than chasing 100% completion immediately.
- Keep progressing even on failed runs. Bring back experience and materials instead of restarting mentally after every death.
- Build the Skill Tree deliberately. Spend Soul Runes toward nodes that support the way you actually fight, knowing removed runes should now refund correctly.
- Craft targeted upgrades. Improve a weapon/gear setup you understand before spending heavily on completion crafting.
- Check Academy quests. Affinity and mentor content are real progression tracks in the released game.
- Adapt Blessings to the run. They are the flexible layer; do not require one exact Blessing to make your permanent setup function.
Useful long-term progression goals
- Activate every Skill Tree and Slot Upgrade node for Maximum Occupancy 120.
- Craft every weapon and every gear item.
- Complete a run with Level 3 Mastercrafted Weapon and Gear.
- Reach maximum Affinity with the six achievement-linked character groups.
- Experience every Gods of Death Blessing.
- Work toward the normal ending and the true ending as your story progression advances.
Progression videos
We searched for a focused post-launch Grim Trials progression or Soul Rune walkthrough while reverifying this page on September 8, 2026. No sufficiently specific current-version video was available to recommend over the written sources, so this guide does not embed a generic trailer as a substitute. A focused progression video can be added here once one is verified.
Progression FAQ
Do you lose your experience and materials when you die?
No. The official game descriptions state that earned experience and materials remain with Avelin after she falls.
Can Soul Runes be removed from the Skill Tree?
Yes. The August 24 patch fixed a bug where removed Soul Runes could disappear instead of being refunded, confirming that removal is intended to return the rune.
Is Gear Enchantment connected to the Skill Tree?
Yes. The v1.0.20260824 notes specifically improved the tutorial wording so players understand how Gear Enchantment is accessed through the Skill Tree.
Are Blessings permanent upgrades?
Blessings are randomized during runs and form the temporary build layer. Your persistent resources, crafted equipment and longer-term progression systems should be planned separately.
Related Grim Trials guides
Sources & verification
- Grim Trials on Steam — official description of persistent experience/materials, crafting, Skill Tree, Blessings and Academy progression
- Grim Trials Steam announcements — official v1.0.20260824 progression, Soul Rune, Crafting and Gear Enchantment fixes and the current v1.0.20260829 gameplay baseline
- Grim Trials on Xbox — official progression, crafting, quests and relationship description
- Steam achievements — Skill Tree/Slot Upgrade, Affinity, crafting and Trial Ground completion goals
