In Returnal, few things are permanent, so players are likely to cling onto those things that are. Unlocking certain upgrades like the Atropian Blade or the Icarian Grapnel give players a permanent boost to their character, so they are very important. The same holds true for currency as well. While all of the player's Obolites will disappear whenever they die and start a new cycle, Ether remains no matter what. Because of this, players can farm Ether and end up with a huge stockpile, although it will take quite a bit of time. Still, thanks to its many uses, it may be worth the effort.
Ether is one of many currencies in Returnal, and with it players can do a lot of things. Ether can be used to cleanse malignancy from an item, allowing it to be picked up without incurring a Suit Malfunction, and it can be used to charge Replicators to give players an extra life. Finally, Ether can be traded for Obolites and can also be used to unlock new items.
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While it isn't necessarily the fastest method, simply exploring every biome while playing the game is a great way to get Ether. Players will recognize Ether from its purple glow, but keep in mind that both parasites and malignant items share this same color.
Every day, Returnal players are offered a challenge in which they must clear a certain biome under certain conditions. While players can compete with other scouts as a part of this, simply surviving until the end and clearing the biome is enough to earn players a hefty sum of Ether. Usually daily challenges reward five Ether.
For those players that have a pretty good handle on the game, Obolite Repositories can also be used to farm Ether. Whenever the player puts 300 Obolites into the repository, they are rewarded in turn with five Ether. To maximize the efficiency of this method, be sure to collect all the Obolite dropped by fallen foes before it disappears.
Players that are really confident in their skills can also replay certain boss fights in order to farm Ether. Defeating Phrike, Ixion, Nemesis, or any of the late game bosses will reward the player with five Ether. While this is certainly lucrative, it can be a real challenge especially if the player is spending their Obolite on buying Ether instead of powering up.
Returnal is available now on PS5.