The dark, brooding world of V Rising just got even deeper with the 1.1 Oakveil update, officially titled “Secrets of Gloomrot: Invaders of Oakveil”. This expansion brings new passive abilities, reworked gear progression, spell revamps, and invading threats that will test your survival instincts more than ever. Whether you’re returning after a long hiatus or starting fresh, navigating Act 1 in Farbane Woods requires smart choices, efficient base-building, and the right combat strategies.
This V Rising 1.1 Guide guide breaks down the best starting builds, Base Location, resource tips, and combat strategies to help you thrive in West Farbane Woods, especially while adapting to the new mechanics introduced in patch 1.1.
V Rising 1.1 Guide – Builds, Base Location (Invaders of Oakveil)
Base Location (Oakveil Update)
- Start your castle in West Farbane, ideally near:
- Dunley Farmlands entrance (future access to mid-game content)
- Local merchants for gear and utility purchases
- Nearby creature zones like wolves and bears (for blood types and essence)
It gives you early access to key enemies, merchants, and resource nodes. Plus, Oakveil invaders make roaming riskier—having strategic positioning near choke points makes defense easier.
Set Up 2-3 Sawmills ASAP
Planks are your early-game bottleneck, especially for:
Castle Heart upgrades
Basic equipment
Workstations like the Simple Workbench
Craft multiple sawmills early to ramp up production and stay ahead in your progression. It’ll save you hours of grind later.
Starter Spells & Builds (Oakveil 1.1 Meta)
By default, the game gives you Shadow Bolt and Blood Right. These are solid, but Oakveil’s new spell rebalance allows better options right from the start.
Reset Your Abilities Early
Unlock the Altar of Recollection and reset your spells. This lets you reassign Blood Rage in place of Shadow Bolt.
Recommended Starter Spell Combo
- Blood Rage – Heals allies, gives +25% attack speed, and +10% movement speed
- Blood Right – Defensive tool with invulnerability and counterattack
This combo is ideal for Act 1 when your gear and health pool are still weak.
Kill Alpha the White Wolf (Use the Spear Build)
Once you craft Plated Boneguard gear and unlock the Spear, head straight to Alpha the White Wolf.
Why the Spear?
- Extra damage vs. creatures
- Fast attack rate pairs well with Blood Rage
- Great for dodging and weaving around the wolf’s lunges
Stay mobile, use your defensive spells smartly, and you’ll gain Wolf Form—an essential speed boost for exploration.
Use Rats + Blood Press
Early on, rats can be converted into Blood Essence, saving you from hunting low-tier creatures.
Vermin Salves
These heal-over-time potions are crucial in the absence of fast healing spells. Craft them using:
- Rats (from your Vermin Nest)
- Plant fiber & bones
You can even summon Nibbles, a mini-boss rat, if you’re feeling bold—but it’s not recommended early.
Visit the Copper Mine (and Beat Errol)
Head to the Copper Mine—even if you don’t beat Errol the Stonebreaker, you can still harvest copper from surrounding nodes.
Recommended Weapon: Mace
- Strong vs. minerals
- Good range to keep distance from Errol’s attacks
Optional Spell Switch:
- Shadow Bolt or Power Surge (for speed and AoE)
- Still keep Blood Right for defense
Spell School Tips & Power Surge Build
Later in Farbane, you’ll unlock spell schools like Chaos and Frost. Try out:
- Power Surge – Boosts movement speed and attack speed
- Cold Snap – Freezes enemies in AoE, useful for crowd control
These pair well with fast weapons like the Sword or Spear.
Glass Cannon Build for Rufus the Foreman
For Rufus, try a high-risk, high-reward build:
- Weapon: Sword
- Spells: Blood Rage + Power Surge
Blood Type: Rogue (increased crit & speed)
This gives you insane attack speed, letting you melt through his health quickly. Just stay aggressive and dodge well.
Passive Skills & The Future
The new passive skill system introduced in 1.1 means you’ll soon be tailoring your vampire even further. Some great upcoming passives include:
- +15% healing on Blood Mend
- Faster movement or attack speed options
- Extra crit chance with specific blood types
A Build Lab inside your castle will help test these setups. Respec often and experiment—this is where the Oakveil update shines.