If you’ve spent any time running Void Intercept Battles or grinding resource runs in The First Descendant, you’ve likely seen other players flying around with Sharen’s signature ice wings and crowd control abilities that turn even the hardest boss fights into a walk in the park. As one of the most sought-after support and DPS hybrid characters in the game, it’s no surprise so many players are searching for how to get Sharen in The First Descendant. I’ve unlocked her on three different accounts for friends over the past few months, so I’ve narrowed down the fastest, most consistent method that cuts out all the unnecessary grinding most new players waste time on. Before you jump into runs, there are a few key prerequisites you need to check off first, otherwise you won’t even be eligible to get her unlock drop.
Core Requirements to Get Sharen in The First Descendant
First, you need to progress through the main story until you unlock the Vulture Valley region and reach player rank 30. A lot of new players try to grind for Sharen as soon as they unlock Void Intercept Battles, but they miss these two core requirements that block them from getting her drop. You cannot get Sharen’s unlock drop on Normal difficulty, so you also need to complete the Normal mode Void Intercept Battle for the Frost Wyrm boss to unlock Hard mode access.
Each Hard mode Frost Wyrm run costs 4 Void Intercept keys, which you can earn from daily missions, weekly challenges, and opening high-tier supply crates across the map. I recommend stockpiling at least 20 keys before you start your grind, just in case you have a few unlucky runs with no drop. Player rank 30 is non-negotiable – even if you beat the Hard mode boss before hitting rank 30, the game won’t let you claim the blueprint if you don’t meet the level requirement. I made this mistake on my first ever run, so trust me when I say it’s worth taking an extra hour to level up first if you’re sitting at rank 28 or 29.
Fastest Resource Farming Routes for Sharen’s Unlock
Once you get Sharen’s blueprint drop from the Frost Wyrm, you still need to collect a set of crafting materials to build her at the Forge. Many players overlook this step and end up waiting days to use her even after they get the blueprint, so I recommend farming these materials while you run Void Intercepts to save time. The full list of required materials is:
Frost Crystals are the most time-consuming material to farm, so I recommend running the Vulture Valley side mission "Frost Patrol" on repeat, since it spawns 15+ Frost enemies every 3 minutes, and you can usually get 20-30 crystals per run. I usually farm these while waiting for my friends to get online for Void Intercept runs, so I’m making progress on two goals at once. Don’t waste your premium currency on buying these materials – if you run the right routes, you can collect all required materials in less than 2 hours of casual farming, even if you’re playing solo.
How to Increase Your Sharen Unlock Drop Rate
The base drop rate for Sharen’s blueprint from Hard mode Frost Wyrm runs is around 15% per clear, but there are a few easy ways to boost that rate significantly to cut down on your grind time. First, make sure you’re in a full 4-player squad. The game gives a 25% increased rare drop rate bonus for full squads, which stacks with any drop rate boosters you have active from the battle pass or event rewards.
If you have a drop rate booster saved, use it right before you start your run of Void Intercepts. I got my Sharen blueprint on my third run with a booster active, while one of my friends took 7 runs without one, so the difference is very noticeable. You also get an extra 10% drop rate boost if you complete all bonus objectives for the Frost Wyrm fight, which means breaking all three of its ice cores before it enters its second phase. It takes a little extra coordination with your squad, but it’s well worth the effort to speed up your unlock. Even if you get downed during the fight, don’t leave early – you still qualify for the drop as long as you stay in the match until the boss is defeated.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Unlocking Sharen
After helping so many friends unlock Sharen, I’ve seen the same mistakes pop up over and over that add hours of unnecessary grind. The first big one is thinking you can trade for Sharen’s blueprint or fragments with other players. All character unlock blueprints are account-bound, so you have to earn them yourself, no exceptions. Don’t fall for scams from players offering to sell you a blueprint, because they can’t actually transfer it to your account.
Another common mistake is wasting Void Intercept keys on other bosses when you’re grinding for Sharen. The Frost Wyrm is the only boss that drops her blueprint, so don’t get tempted to run other Void Intercepts even if your friends ask, unless you’ve already unlocked Sharen. You also don’t want to forget to check your in-game mail after a run – the blueprint doesn’t go directly to your inventory, so you have to claim it from your mail tab within 7 days or it will expire. I’ve had one friend lose a blueprint this way, and it was a brutal setback for his grind.
If you’re struggling to survive Hard mode Frost Wyrm runs, don’t be afraid to switch to a tanky character like Freyna for your first few runs. Sharen is a squishy character, so you don’t want to bring a low-level DPS build to the fight and get one-shot by every AoE attack, slowing down your whole squad. Once you learn the boss’s attack patterns, you can switch back to your main build no problem.
Unlocking Sharen doesn’t have to be a weeks-long grind if you follow the steps we’ve laid out, and she’s well worth the effort once you get her – her ice abilities can shut down entire crowds of enemies, and her team-wide defense buff makes her a must-have for any high-difficulty run. If you’re just starting out and still working on hitting rank 30, focus on completing main story missions first, and start stockpiling Frost Crystals early so you can craft her as soon as you get the blueprint. Now that you know how to get Sharen in The First Descendant, you can jump into your next runs with a clear plan instead of wasting time on tasks that don’t move you closer to unlocking her. If you end up getting her faster than expected, don’t forget to come back and check out our full build guide for her to make the most of her unique kit.