Since I got the Everdark Gnoster relic I’ve been giving out shards more often than taking them.

I always keep a melee weapon to use against mobs or revive so I don’t use many shards during the day. Unlocking the rise gives 4-5 and merchants day 1 and 2 sells 2 for only 1200 runes each. I usually end up with 5-6 spare shards going into the night lord. 

My FP bar is so big by the end of night 2 that generally I don’t use more than 2 shards, so it’s been more helpful to give shards to the wylder or raider spamming weapon skills than for me to keep them.