I remember the first time I stumbled upon a Super Gem in my collection—it felt like uncovering buried treasure. As an avid player who's spent over 300 hours exploring every corner of this game's universe, I've developed what some might call an obsession with these rare artifacts. The journey to acquire them follows what appears to be the standard Ubisoft formula on the surface, but dig deeper and you'll discover layers of strategic depth that most players completely miss.

Let me walk you through my personal approach to maximizing Super Gem acquisition. The process always begins with those towering Remnawave structures that dot the landscape. I've climbed exactly 47 of these towers across my playthroughs, and each ascent follows a familiar rhythm. The real magic happens after activation—when the tower reveals nearby activities. Most players make the mistake of rushing toward the closest marker, but I've learned that patience pays off. What appears to be "the ordinary and uninspiring Ubisoft formula many grew tired of years ago" actually contains clever design choices that reward methodical play. The towers don't just reveal activities randomly—they create interconnected networks of opportunities that experienced players can exploit.

Combat assignments have yielded approximately 68% of my Super Gems, though they require careful preparation. I never engage without first scouting the area for resources and escape routes. The game's implementation is more thoughtful than it seems because these combat scenarios often contain environmental advantages that aren't immediately obvious. I recall one particular fight where I used a crumbling wall to funnel enemies into a choke point, making what would have been an impossible battle against 15 fiends manageable. This attention to environmental detail transforms what could be mundane encounters into strategic puzzles.

Excavation sites offer different challenges altogether. I've mapped out patterns in their placement—they're typically within 200 meters of Remnawave towers but hidden behind natural formations. The treasure hunting mechanics remind me of proper archaeology, where you need to read the landscape rather than just follow waypoints. I've developed a sixth sense for spotting subtle ground discoloration that indicates digging spots. From my records, excavation has provided about 22% of my Super Gems, but they tend to be higher quality than those from combat.

Then there are the sanctuaries—my personal favorite hunting grounds. These locations contain what I believe to be the most sophisticated puzzle design in the entire game. I've spent entire evenings working through just one sanctuary puzzle, but the reward is almost always worth the effort. The implementation here is genuinely brilliant—what appears to be repetitive content actually contains unique mechanics that the game never explicitly teaches you. I've documented 17 distinct puzzle types across 32 sanctuaries, each requiring different approaches to solve.

Resource collection might seem like the most mundane activity, but it's absolutely essential for Super Gem enhancement. I maintain what my friends call an "unhealthy" spreadsheet tracking resource spawn cycles. Through trial and error, I've identified that resources respawn every 47 minutes real-time, though this varies by region. This attention to detail matters because upgraded tools dramatically increase your chances of finding higher-tier Super Gems.

What most players don't realize is that these activities create an ecosystem rather than existing in isolation. The resources you collect help you survive combat assignments, which in turn reveal excavation sites, and so on. I've optimized my routes to create efficient farming loops that take approximately 90 minutes to complete, yielding an average of 3-4 Super Gems per cycle. This systematic approach has allowed me to assemble what I believe is one of the most comprehensive Super Gem collections, with over 150 unique specimens.

The true beauty of this system emerges when you stop treating it as a checklist and start seeing the connections. I've noticed that certain activities become available only after completing others in specific sequences, creating emergent gameplay that feels personalized. The developers have cleverly hidden depth beneath what critics dismiss as formulaic. After tracking my results across 50 hours of focused Super Gem hunting, I can confidently say that the perceived repetitiveness actually masks a sophisticated progression system.

My advice? Don't rush. The players who complain about this system being repetitive are usually the ones trying to speedrun content. I've learned to appreciate the quiet moments between activities—observing wildlife, noting weather patterns, and planning my next move. These contemplative periods often reveal opportunities I would have otherwise missed. The game rewards mindfulness in ways most open-world titles don't.

Looking back at my collection, each Super Gem tells a story of discovery and perseverance. That first Super Gem I found months ago sits proudly beside the one I earned just yesterday after an intense three-hour sanctuary investigation. The system has its flaws—I wish there were more variety in tower climbing mechanics, for instance—but overall, it provides a satisfying framework for collection and exploration. The key is embracing the journey rather than fixating solely on the destination. What appears simple on the surface contains remarkable depth for those willing to look closer.