The counts are 14 Wanderer's Journals, 17 Hallownest Seals, 8 King's Idols and 4 Arcane Eggs. Sold to Relic Seeker Lemm in the City of Tears, they pay 200, 450, 800 and 1200 Geo each respectively. The combined value of every relic in the game is 21,650 Geo, which is more than enough to cover the Pure Nail, every charm notch and the Lumafly Lantern.
Relics get progressively rarer and more valuable as you go deeper. Journals turn up from the Crossroads onward, Seals appear from Greenpath and the City, Idols are mostly late game or reward drops, and all four Arcane Eggs are in the hardest parts of the map.
How to collect them
Relics sit in plain sight on pedestals or in chests, usually in a side room you have to break into or platform up to. There is no trick to finding them other than checking dead ends and hitting suspicious walls.
Lemm's shop is in the west of the City of Tears, and you have to knock on his door to get in. Sell everything the moment you have it. There is no benefit to holding relics, and Geo you are carrying is Geo you lose to your Shade when you die. One warning: if you are going for a specific ending that involves Lemm leaving, sell your stock before you trigger it.
What you get
Relics are worth zero completion percent. They are a pure Geo faucet, and the best one in the game. Selling the full set gives you 21,650 Geo, which comfortably funds all four nail upgrades at 7050 Geo, the Lumafly Lantern at 1800, Salubra's four charm notches at 2920, and the Elegant and Simple Keys.
All 43 locations by area
Forgotten Crossroads (3)
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Secret room left of the well
Climb the shaft under the Dirtmouth well and slip into the hidden room on the left wall.
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Grubhome, north-west Crossroads
Handed over once 23 Grubs have been returned to the Grubfather.
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Grubhome, north-west Crossroads
Given for rescuing 38 Grubs.
Greenpath (3)
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South-west of the Thorns of Agony room
From the chamber where Thorns of Agony sits, head south-west through the vines.
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Behind a wall outside the Greenpath Stag Station
Slash the cracked wall in the corridor beside the stag platform.
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Room connecting to Fog Canyon
In the east Greenpath room that opens into the Fog Canyon.
Fungal Wastes (5)
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Top of the room east of Queen's Station
Bounce up the fungal platforms in the tall room just east of the station and take the seal from the top section.
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Chest north-east of the Mantis Lords
Only reachable once the Mantis Lords are beaten and the village turns friendly. The chest sits north-east of their arena.
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Ceiling above Willoh
In the Queen's Station room where Willoh chews on mushrooms, climb into the gap in the ceiling.
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South-west of the Shrumal Ogres
In the room south-west of where the two Shrumal Ogres are fought.
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Whispering Root room above the Mantis Village
Beside the small Whispering Root, one screen north of the Mantis Village.
City of Tears (7)
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North-west of Relic Seeker Lemm
A short walk north-west of Lemm's shop, which makes it the easiest seal to cash in.
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Above the King's Station Stag Station
Climb the rooms directly above the King's Station platform.
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West-most room of the Soul Sanctum
In the westmost room of the Soul Sanctum, reachable after the Soul Master falls.
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North-west of the Watcher Knights
In the side room off the spire, north-west of the Watcher Knight arena.
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West of the City Storerooms Stag Station
One room west of the Storerooms stag.
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Pleasure House, behind a hidden passage
Behind the locked door of the Pleasure House, through a hidden passage below the lift, so bring a Simple Key.
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North of King's Station
Climb the rooms over the King's Station platform and take the journal at the top.
Crystal Peak (2)
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Ledge above Cornifer
Straight above the spot where Cornifer sells the Crystal Peak map.
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Crystal Crawler room
In the room crawling with seven Crystal Crawlers in the upper Peak.
Resting Grounds (5)
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Catacombs east of the lift
Work east through the catacombs, breaking several cracked walls along the way.
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Seer's chamber
The Seer's first gift, given for 100 Essence collected with the Dream Nail.
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Behind the waterfall, Spirits' Glade
Walk through the falling water at the back of the Glade of Hope to find the idol hidden behind it.
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Room near the Soul Eater charm
In the eastern crypts of the Resting Grounds, close to where the Soul Eater charm sits.
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Seer's chamber
The Seer hands this one over at 1200 Essence.
Howling Cliffs (2)
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South-west Howling Cliffs
Out on the windy ledges in the south-west corner of the Cliffs.
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Lower Howling Cliffs
Down in the cliff caverns below Cornifer, near the passage to the Nightmare Lantern.
Fog Canyon (2)
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North-east of the Overgrown Mound
In the chamber with the Lifeblood Cocoon, north-east of the Overgrown Mound.
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Room connected to the Forgotten Crossroads
In the north-east Fog Canyon room that joins the Crossroads, hidden behind the left wall.
Royal Waterways (2)
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White Defender's chamber
Break the floor into the hidden chamber where the White Defender sleeps and take the idol inside.
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Room connecting to the Ancient Basin
In the south-east Waterways room that drops through into the Ancient Basin.
Deepnest (3)
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South part of the Beast's Den
Deep in Herrah's den, in the southern web chambers. Bring the Lantern.
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North-west of the Mantis Lords arena
On the Deepnest side of the Mantis Village border, in the room north-west of the Lords.
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West of the web where Zote is trapped
Head west past the webbing that holds Zote and the Vengefly King. The idol sits in the dark beyond.
The Abyss (3)
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Below the Lifeblood Core room
In the chamber under the Lifeblood Core pedestal. Taking the charm seals the room for good, so grab the egg first.
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West of the Shade Cloak chamber
Directly west of the pedestal where the Shade Cloak is taken, at the far east end of the Abyss.
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Southern Birthplace
In the south of the Birthplace, which only opens once you carry the Kingsoul charm.
Kingdom's Edge (5)
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Under the Colosseum of Fools
Directly below the Colosseum, behind a breakable wall in the western chasm of Kingdom's Edge.
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Secret room behind the Colosseum of Fools
Added with Godmaster. Found in the hidden room behind the arena where the Pale Lurker hides.
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West Kingdom's Edge, near the King's Station entrance
In the western part of Kingdom's Edge, close to the broken wall that leads back to King's Station.
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Beside the Kingdom's Edge camp bench
Sitting in the open next to the tent bench on the path to the Cast-Off Shell.
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North-west of Markoth
In the ash fields north-west of the chamber where the Warrior Dream Markoth sleeps.
Queen's Gardens (1)
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North-west of the Stag Station
Up and left from the Gardens Stag Station, past the thorn vines.