Secrets & Gilded Treasure
War in the North doesn't have a fixed numbered collectible map — its 'collectibles' are hidden Secrets and gilded treasure chests, and the trophies are counters: seeker (25 secrets in one playthrough) and Expert Treasure-hunter (5 gilded chests in one playthrough). The good news: guides confirm there are well over 25 secrets and more than five gilded chests available in a single playthrough, so a thorough run clears both comfortably — you do not need to find every last one. This page is the method.
🔎 The golden rule: secrets are class-gated. As you near one, the hero who can reveal it will call out and an on-screen prompt appears — so explore with your eyes and ears open, and check every dead-end, side path and cracked wall. Finding secrets and finding gilded chests is the same hunt.
Eradan · Dúnedain Ranger
Reveals hidden Ranger stashes and tracks — look for footprints, disturbed ground and stash markers only he can read.
Andriel · Elf Loremaster
Opens rune-warded doorways and wards — glowing runes she can dispel to reveal a sealed room.
Farin · Dwarf Champion
Finds false and breakable walls — cracked masonry and hollow stone he can sense and smash through.
Rivendell (your hub)
Not a secret-hunting area, but the most important stop for missables: on your first arrival, talk to Frodo (trophy), plus Elrond, Aragorn and Bilbo. Buy gear and pick up optional quests here between chapters.
Early wilderness chapters
Your first real hunting grounds. Build the habit now: after each fight, sweep the edges of the arena and every side path before following the objective marker onward.
Nordinbad & the dwarf-holds
Stone corridors and side galleries — prime territory for Farin's false walls. The siege section is also the single best place to farm War-machinist (150 war-machine kills).
The Barrow-downs
Dark, maze-like crypts with plenty of hidden alcoves. Check every side chamber rather than pushing straight through.
Mirkwood
Two jobs here. Secrets hide in the web-choked side chambers — and this is where the missable Friend of the Woodland Realm lives: find the orc camp holding the captured elf and free him. Do not leave the area until you have.
Mount Gundabad
A big, multi-level chapter — explore vertically as well as forward. Both false walls and rune-warded doors appear across the citadel.
The final chapters
Still worth sweeping — do not tunnel straight at Agandaur. And remember: at the final fight, never summon Beleram if you want Eagle Savior.
- Gilded chests are gold-coloured and glint — you'll spot them easily once you're already exploring for secrets.
- There are more than five available per playthrough, so you have margin — no need for a perfect sweep.
- They're usually inside or just past a secret area — finding secrets and finding chests are the same hunt.
- Both counters are per playthrough. If you finish a run short, use chapter select to replay a rich chapter (Nordinbad, Gundabad) and top up.