While exploring the Dark Place in the titular character’s section ofAlan Wake 2, players will find Words of Power symbols scattered throughout the story that can be collected to upgrade a variety of Alan’s stats. From defensive stats, like restoring health or reducing incoming damage, weapon modifications like gaining a chance to not deplete a bullet when firing, to upgrades for the flashlight, including gaining the opportunity to restore flashlight battery charge upon destroying an enemy, the Words of Power upgrades are critical to ensuring players successfully navigate through the writer’s story ofAlan Wake 2.
This article is a work in progress and will be updated in the next few days as more Words of Power locations are discovered.
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How To Collect Words of Power in Alan Wake 2
While exploring the Dark Place throughAlan Wake’s story, The Initiation, players will findbright yellow arrows that indicate a Words of Powersymbol is nearby.Follow the direction of the arrow- occasionally, the arrow will point to a second arrow, in which case simply follow the direction of the second arrow. The final arrow in the sequence will point to the location of the symbol, sometimes hidden behind destroyable objects or barricades that can be removed by changing the light.
Once the symbol’s location is pinpointed, players will want toaim their flashlight at the symbol with the correct angleto collect a Words of Power point - these points can be spent in the Writer’s Room. Players willnot need to use the focused charge attack; justshine the flashlight at the symbol and reposition left and right, forward and back, untilthe audio of burning can be heard.Hold the position for a few moments,and the Words of Power point will become available. If players are having difficulty finding the right angle,aiming down sights can make it easierto quickly find a position that will collect the symbol.
All Words of Power Types and Locations
There are several types of Words of Power that players will encounter throughout the game, each affecting a different aspect of Alan’s attributes. Each Word of Power type providesthree different upgrades that can be unlocked and then upgraded twice, allowing differentcustomizations of Alan’s abilities and statsfor each player and on each playthrough.
Words of Fix 1
Players can find their first Words of Fix immediately after exitingthe TV Studio, although this symbol cannot be collected until the revolver and flashlight are found. Follow the sidewalk that borders the studio downWheeler Street. On theground between some payphones and a dumpster,players will find the Words of Fix symbol.
Look down at the symbol from the edge of the sidewalk, and the burning audio should begin to play.
Words of Fix 2
The second Words of Fix will reveal itself to playersafter the story interaction with Agent Caseyin The Dark Place alleyway. While exiting back to the alley, thewalls will become covered in colorful graffiti, and players willnotice the yellow designation arrowson these walls. At the last doorway leading back to the alley, look up, andover the exit door,players will find a Words of Fix symbol.
If players have difficulty collecting this symbol, tryaiming down sights while walking backward,away from the symbol, until the audio cue plays.
Words of Lamp 1
The first Words of Lamp players will find is on therooftops past the elevated subway platform nextto the Caldera St Subway Station. Walkover the tracksand off the platform onto the rooftops andclimb the ladder to the left.
On the upper rooftop, head forward to the left through the roof access door to a small staircase that heads down to another rooftop. Afterpassing the safe room on the left, players will begin to notice the yellow arrows. At the top of the half staircase,look down to the rightand find the first Words of Lamp.
Words of Action 1
Players will find a Words of Action symbolunder the elevated subway tracks- follow the trackswalking North toward Caldera Street. Players will notice the yellow arrow on one of the steel support beams on the right side of the street; once the arrow is spotted, look up under the tracks to find the first Words of Action.
Words of War 1
When players reach the taxi with the illuminated headlights on Caldera Street, they can find the first Words of War before securing the light in the Angel Lamp and starting the next fight with shadows.
When approaching the taxi, look to the left andclimb the ladder to the billboard railing. Follow the scaffolding back toa roof area covered in air conditioning units. Look downbehind the first AC unitto find the first Words of War.
If players are having difficulty collecting this symbol, try standing against the middle AC unit and aiming down sights, looking at the symbol, and walking backwards slowly.
Words of Gun 1
Players can also snag their first Words of Gun near the taxi on Caldera Street but will have tograb the light and defeat the shadows firstto gain access to this Words of Power symbol. After the shadows are defeated, take thehalf staircase by the front of the car, now a police cruiser with the light removed, and look up at thewall to the left. Players will find the Words of Gun near the top of the wall.
Try shining the flashlight on this symbol from different distances if not collected easily.
Words of Aid 1
Players will find the first Words of Aid in thesubway tunnels just beforethe Collapsed Tunnelscene. From the save room, go slightly left andaround the subway car instead of inside. Head to the back wall and turn around, looking back towards the subway car. The Words of Aid will be on awall behind some concrete blocks.
Words of Lamp 2
The next Words of Lamp will be foundafter transforming the Collapsed Tunnelscene and moving into the next room with the Echo. Before aligning the spheres, in thestore room with the searchable lockers, look towards the East walland find the Words of Lamp behind the shelving units.
Words of War 2
The next Words of War will be foundafter ascending the ladder to the Derailed Trainscene. At the top of the ladder,turn around and crawl under the scaffolding. Players can find a searchable crate by heading straight ahead, butlook up at the ceilingand find the Words of War behind some pipes.
Words of Action 2
Players will find another Words of Action symbolafter the Derailed Trainscene.After descending the long ladder, search the room to the right. Players will see the yellow designation arrows pointing at asymbol hidden behind some gray wooden planks.Shoot the planksto reveal the Words of Action.
Words of Lamp 3
A third Words of Lamp symbol will be found in the subwaysshortly after completing the lamp puzzle and accessing Shrine Street Station. Immediately after completing the puzzle, players will find a staircase to theirleft that descends onto some flooded train tracks. Along the south wall, players will find graffiti mentioning Mr. Scratch -look up and to the rightto the clean wall beside the graffiti-covered wall and find the Words of Lamp symbol in thetop corner of the clean wall.
Words of Gun 2
InShrine Street station,players will find another Words of Power symbol. Passthrough the train car, and immediately after exiting the doors, stop, turn to the left, and look on the side of the other train carfor the Words of Gun symbol. Be very careful, as there areshadows in the areathat will become aggravated if players move too far out of the train car - players can elect to eliminate all shadows in the area first, then safely collect the Words of Gun.
While this Words of Power symbol can be seen from inside the train car, players will have to be outside the car to collect it.
Words of Gun 3
After players find and investigate the murder scene and the nearby Echo, the path ahead will lead through two doors thathead back to Caldera Street Station. Once at the station, turnright to find the yellow indication arrowspointing into a train car window.Look through the windowand find the Words of Gun symbol on the wall inside the train car.
Alan Wake 2is available now on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.
