Darkest Dungeon Release Notes

[redhookjohn]

Darkest Dungeon

“Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before.”
-Edgar Allan Poe (The Raven)

Welcome to the Darkest Dungeon!

Darkest Dungeon began as a thought exercise.

What would it really be like to battle the horrors so commonly dispatched in the games of our childhood? What would facing down unholy abominations day in and day out do to someone? What good is a glowing Sword of Unholy Slaying +5 in the hands of a blubbering coward?

After a year of discussion over scotches and poker games, we began development full time, and Darkest Dungeon started to take shape. As we worked, we got to know the game - its personality. What it would permit, and what it wouldn’t, where it left the beaten path, and where it tended to stay close to its roots.

Darkest Dungeon grew up in that second year. It was not friendly, or welcoming; it did not owe you a victory, or suffer fools. It wasn’t fair, like the horror movies and war stories that formed its foundation. It broke game ‘rules’; took control away, kicked you when you were down. It smoked behind the gym with its friends and skipped class.

Underneath all that badassery, though, it challenged you to think differently about heroism, and about the cost of adventuring. It taught you that preparedness was important, but thinking on your feet when the ♥♥♥♥ hits the fan was the true test. And, of course, it reminded you that overconfidence is a slow and insidious killer. For all its unyielding focus on what can go wrong in an adventure, it showed why heroism is the only antidote for failed hope.

Prior to our launch in 2015, we talked about Early Access as an experience - a journey that the game and its players would take through the rise and fall of certain strategies, buffs, nerfs, changes, and improvements. What we didn’t expect is to be part of that journey ourselves. There have been exhilarating highs, and terrifying lows, not just for the hundreds of thousands of heroes, but for us on the dev team as well. We’ve often likened the experience of developing Darkest Dungeon to being inside the game, contending with our own stresses, bad bounces and heroic rallies. This game’s development has even seen the full cycle of humanity amongst our own team: births, deaths, and friendships and relationships tested. It’s never been easy. It has been indeed a Long Champion boss run, but here we are - intact, (relatively) sane, proud of what we’ve made, and profoundly grateful to all of you for your support.

We’ve been truly humbled by the excitement and enthusiasm we’ve seen from our community. Whether you supported us on Kickstarter, Humble, or on Steam Early Access, you have helped make this game what it is. Your feedback, suggestions, and critiques have been a part of our discussions and development since February, 2015. Not only that, your fanart, streams, YouTube videos, cosplays, theorycrafting, fanfiction, guides, and modding - have inspired and honored us, and we thank you very sincerely for sharing your creations.

The best part? There's more to come! After some much needed rest, the team will get to work on our first (free) expansion featuring Town Events, a new Hero Class, and even more goodies. Beyond that, you can look forward to even more additions, modes, and content throughout the year, as well as our official support of the modding community and their efforts to extend the Darkest Dungeon experience even further. We love our game, and we can’t wait to grow and improve it with you!

Alright, that’s enough from us. Go to Hell, people.

-The Darkest Dungeon Team

Localization & Subtitles

We’ve implemented full text localization and subtitles for all the narrator’s lines in 8 languages. You can access these through the OTHER category in GAME OPTIONS.

• English
  
• French
  
• German
  
• Russian
  
• Br-Portuguese
  
• Czech
  
• Polish
  
• Spanish

*Please note: Users will encounter occasional missing strings in certain languages as our final localization pass is in progress. These will be corrected within a day or two in a hotfix. Thanks for understanding!

Achievements

We’ve added 64 achievements. These achievements reward your accomplishments, be they heroic, or spectacularly disastrous!

The Ancestor’s Journal

You can now collect 21 Journal pages, created by our kickstarter backers! They add color and lore to the seething world that surrounds the Hamlet. You can read the pages you collect by visiting the Ancestor’s Statue in the Hamlet.

New Game +

Upon successful completion of the game players will be awarded New Game Plus. When creating a new save file, you will be prompted if you wish to start a NG+ file. Players must use the DD Strict gameplay options, tougher monsters, and two extra criteria: Complete the game in 91 Weeks with less than 13 deaths. Failure to do so and players will be greeted with a game over, and a deleted save.

Class-Specific Provisions

Other Classes have been inspired by the Houndmaster’s preparedness and have begun to fashion themselves with their own provision to bring into dungeons.

• Houndmaster - 2 Dog Treats
  
• Plague Doctor - 1 Antivenom
  
• Grave Robber - 1 Shovel
  
• Arbalest - 1 Bandage
  
• Crusader - 1 Holy Water
  
• Leper - 1 Medicinal Herbs
  
• Jester - 1 Medicinal Herbs

Miscellaneous Changes

• Expanded beginning tutorial
  
• Tweaked L3 Monsters to reduce difficultly slightly
  
• The Collector now has certain limits for his head spawns
  
• The Prophet AI has been updated to be a tad more intelligent on Tiers 3 & 5
  
• Added icons that show the various effects of enemy skills
  
• End-of-quest quirk/disease now function off of linear interpolation (LERP) and will generally be given less frequently
  
• Added tooltips on map tiles
  
• New sound FX for resistances
  
• Added Pop-up text for when camping skills fail due to afflictions
  
• Added Secret Rooms
  
• Added ability to sort trinkets alphabetically
  
• Trinkets that cannot be equipped on the selected class will now appear greyed out
  
• And many smaller changes/additions...

Miscellaneous Bug Fixes

• Fixed Trinket/Provision Exploit
  
• Guard can only be active on 1 Target per Caster
  
• Stunning Guard Casters will Remove Guard on Target
  
• Fixed Disappearing Party Member on mission start.
  
• Fixed camping ambush exploit
  
• Most attacks that have preferences for highest-stress targets will now no longer target a virtuous hero
  
• Fixed guards ‘failing’ due to an AI error
  
• The Siren will no longer target heroes at Death’s Door for ‘Control’
  
• Allowed camping in first room after backtracking to it.
  
• Fixed Brackish Tidepool transparency issue
  
• DoTs are no longer cleared automatically upon camping
  
• Fixed overlapping backgrounds around the Tavern
  
• Fixed bug concerning custom sound levels
  
• Fixed surprise save exploit
  
• And many smaller fixes...

[redhookjohn]

Trinket Additions and Balances

Please note the current stats will be listed, and individual changes won’t be shown.

• Trophy Trinkets - (Quest rewards from beating level 5 bosses)

  • Necromancer’s Collar
    
    • +20% damage against undead
      
    • +5% crit against undead
  • Prophet’s Eye
    
    • +10 ACC in rank 4
      
    • +2 SPD in rank 4
      
    • -10% stress DMG in rank 4
  • Hag’s Ladle
    
    • +25% to blight skill chance
      
    • +25% blight resistance
      
    • +25% disease resistance
  • Fuseman’s Matchstick
    
    • +2 SPD
      
    • +10% DMG to ranged skills
      
    • +2.5% crit to ranged skills
  • Flesh’s Heart
    
    • +35% to bleed resistance
      
    • +15% max HP
  • Wilbur’s Flag
    
    • +35% stun resistance
      
    • +10 Dodge
  • Siren’s Conch
    
    • +35% debuff resistance
      
    • -15% stress DMG
  • Crew’s Bell
    
    • +35% move resistance
      
    • +20% healing received

• Ancestral Trinkets

  • Ancestor’s Musket Ball
    
    • +15% damage on ranged skills
      
    • +5% CRIT on ranged skills
      
    • +10% Stress DMG
  • Ancestor’s Pen
    
    • +15% damage on melee skills
      
    • +5% CRIT on melee skills
      
    • +10% Stress DMG
  • Ancestor’s Handkerchief
    
    • +30% disease resistance
      
    • +30% bleed resistance
      
    • +10% Stress DMG
  • Ancestor’s Moustache Cream
    
    • +30% debuff resistance
      
    • +30% blight resistance
      
    • +10% Stress DMG
  • Ancestor’s Scroll
    
    • +25% healing received
      
    • +25% stress healing received
      
    • +10% Stress DMG
  • Ancestor’s Signet Ring
    
    • +10 ACC
      
    • +10% PROT
      
    • +10% Stress DMG
  • Ancestor’s Map
    
    • +25% trap disarm
      
    • +25% Scouting chance
      
    • +10% Stress DMG
  • Ancestor’s Candle
    
    • +15% damage if torch is above 50
      
    • +2 SPD if torch is above 50
      
    • +5 DODGE if torch is above 50
      
    • +10% Stress DMG
  • Ancestor’s Lantern
    
    • -20% chance party surprised
      
    • +20% chance to surprise monsters
      
    • +10% Stress DMG

• Very Rare Trinkets

  • Sacred Scroll
    
    • -10% Stress DMG
      
    • +33% heal skills
      
    • -30% stun skill chance
      
    • -3 SPD
  • Raider’s Talisman
    
    • +3% CRIT
      
    • +30% trap disarm
      
    • +20% scouting chance
      
    • +100 food consumed
      
    • +2 SPD
  • Tough Ring
    
    • +10% PROT
      
    • +15% Max HP
      
    • -15% DMG
      
    • +10% Stress DMG
  • Legendary Bracer
    
    • +20% DMG
      
    • -3 SPD
      
    • +10% Stress DMG

• Rare Trinkets

  • Berserk Charm
    
    • +3 SPD
      
    • +15% DMG
      
    • +15% Stress DMG
      
    • -10% Virtue Chance
      
    • -5 ACC
  • Bright Tambourine
    
    • +20% to stress heals
      
    • -25% stress DMG if torch above 75
      
    • +15 stress DMG if torch below 51
  • Hunter’s Talon
    
    • +3% Crit
      
    • +10% ACC
      
    • +100% Food consumed
  • Fasting Seal
    
    • -100% food consumed
      
    • -100% DMG when starving
      
    • +5 DODGE
  • Profane Scroll
    
    • +15% DMG
      
    • +30% Debuff skill chance
      
    • +33% heal skills when in rank 2
      
    • +10% PROT when in rank 2
      
    • +15% stress damage
  • Tome of Holy Healing
    
    • +25% heal skills
      
    • -10% Max HP

• Uncommon Trinkets

  • Dark Bracer
    
    • +5% crit if torch below 26
      
    • +5 DODGE if torch below 51
      
    • -10% damage if torch is above 51
  • Surgical Gloves
    
    • +5% CRIT on melee skills
      
    • +5 ACC on melee
      
    • -20% move resistance
      
    • -10% debuff resistance
  • Tenacity Ring
    
    • +10% deathblow resistance
      
    • +5 DODGE
      
    • -1% CRIT
  • Move Amulet
    
    • +30% move skill chance
      
    • +30% move resistance
      
    • -10% debuff resistance
  • Book of Rage
    
    • +25% DMG if HP below 33%
      
    • +5% crit if HP is below 33%
      
    • -10% blight resistance
      
    • -10% bleed resistance
  • Dark Crown
    
    • -25% stress DMG if torch below 26
      
    • +15% virtue chance if torch below 26

• Common Trinkets

  • Survival Guide
    
    • +10% scouting chance
      
    • +10% trap disarm
      
    • -1 SPD
  • Reckless Charm
    
    • +5 ACC
      
    • -2 DODGE
  • Chirurgeons Charm
    
    • +15% heal skills

Camping Skill Changes

Camping skills have received a rather drastic overhaul, both in effects and durations. Listed below are all of the modified skills in alphabetical class order.

Please note that all buffs now have a duration of 4 combat encounters (hallway battles and room battles).

• Shared Skills

  • Encourage
    
    • Cost: 2
      
    • -15 stress on target
  • Wound Care
    
    • Cost: 2
      
    • Heal +15% on target
      
    • Remove Blight/Bleed on target
  • Pep Talk
    
    • Cost: 2
      
    • -15% Stress DMG on target

• Abomination Skills

  • Anger Management
    
    • Cost: 3
      
    • +20 stress on self
      
    • -10 stress on other party members
  • Psych Up
    
    • Cost: 4
      
    • +25% DMG on self
      
    • +20 stress on self
  • The Quickening
    
    • Cost: 3
      
    • +4 SPD on self
  • Eldritch Blood
    
    • Cost: 3
      
    • +40% Blight resistance on self
      
    • +40% Bleed resistance on self
      
    • +40% Disease resistance on self
      
    • +20% Stress DMG on self

• Arbalest Skills

  • Marching Plan
    
    • Cost: 3
      
    • +2 SPD on other party members
  • Field Dressing
    
    • Cost: 3
      
    • +35% heal on target (50% chance)
      
    • +50% heal on target (50% chance)
      
    • Remove Bleed on target
  • Restring Crossbow
    
    • Cost: 3
      
    • +10 ACC on ranged skills on self
      
    • +20% DMG on ranged skills on self
      
    • +5% CRIT on ranged skills on self
      
    • -2 SPD on self
  • Triage
    
    • Cost: 3
      
    • +35% heal on other party members

• Bounty Hunter Skills

  • This Is How We Do It
    
    • Cost: 3
      
    • +10 ACC on self
      
    • +5% CRIT on self
  • Tracking
    
    • Cost: 2
      
    • -15% chance for the party to be surprised
      
    • +10% chance for the enemies to be surprised
  • Planned Takedown
    
    • Cost: 4
      
    • +25% DMG against size 2 enemies on self
      
    • +15 ACC against size 2 enemies on self
  • Scout Ahead
    
    • Cost: 3
      
    • +35% scouting chance

• Crusader Skills

  • Unshakable Leader
    
    • Cost: 3
      
    • -25% Stress DMG on self
  • Stand Tall
    
    • Cost: 4
      
    • -15 stress on target
      
    • Remove Death’s Door debuff on target
  • Zealous Speech
    
    • Cost: 5
      
    • -15 stress on self
      
    • -15 stress on other party members
      
    • -15% Stress DMG on other party members
  • Zealous Vigil
    
    • Cost: 4
      
    • -25 stress on self
      
    • -15 stress on self if afflicted
      
    • Prevents a nighttime ambush

• Grave Robber Skills

  • Snuff Box
    
    • Cost: 2
      
    • Remove disease on self
      
    • Remove disease on target
  • Pilfer
    
    • Cost: 1
      
    • Produces a supply item
  • Night Moves
    
    • Cost: 2
      
    • +30% scouting chance
  • Gallows Humor
    
    • Cost: 4
      
    • -25 stress on self
      
    • -20 stress on other party members (75% chance)
      
    • +10 stress on other party members (25% chance)

• Hellion Skills

  • Battle Trance
    
    • Cost: 3
      
    • +10 ACC on self if in position 1
      
    • +20% DMG on self if in position 1
      
    • -10 ACC on self if not in position 1
      
    • -15% DMG on self if not in position 1
  • Revel
    
    • Cost: 3
      
    • -5 ACC on entire party
      
    • -2 SPD on entire party
      
    • -20 stress on entire party
      
    • -10% Stress DMG on entire party
  • Reject the Gods
    
    • Cost: 2
      
    • -30 stress on self
      
    • +7 stress on non-religious party members
      
    • +15 stress on religious party members
  • Sharpen Spear
    
    • Cost: 3
      
    • +8% CRIT on self

• Highwayman Skills

  • Gallows Humor
    
    • Cost: 4
      
    • -25 stress on self
      
    • -20 stress on other party members (75% chance)
      
    • +10 stress on other party members (25% chance)
  • Unparalleled Finesse
    
    • Cost: 4
      
    • +10 DODGE on self
      
    • +2 SPD on self
      
    • +20% DMG on melee skills on self
      
    • +10 ACC on melee skills on self
  • Clean Guns
    
    • Cost: 4
      
    • +10 ACC on ranged skills on self
      
    • +20% DMG on ranged skills on self
      
    • +5% CRIT on ranged skills on self
  • Bandit’s Sense
    
    • Cost: 4
      
    • -20% chance for the party to be surprised
      
    • +20% chance for the enemies to be surprised
      
    • Prevents a nighttime ambush

• Houndmaster Skills

  • Hound’s Watch
    
    • Cost: 4
      
    • -20% chance for the party to be surprised
      
    • +20% chance for the enemies to be surprised
      
    • Prevents a nighttime ambush
  • Therapy Dog
    
    • Cost: 3
      
    • -10 stress on other party members
      
    • -10% Stress DMG on other party members
  • Man’s Best Friend
    
    • Cost: 2
      
    • -20 stress on self
  • Release the Hound
    
    • Cost: 4
      
    • +50% scouting chance

• Jester Skills

  • Turn Back Time
    
    • Cost: 3
      
    • -30 stress on target
      
    • -15 stress on target if afflicted
  • Every Rose Has It’s Thorn
    
    • Cost: 3
      
    • -15 stress on other party members
      
    • -15% stress DMG on other party members
  • Tiger’s Eye
    
    • Cost: 3
      
    • +10 ACC on target
      
    • +5% CRIT on target
  • Mockery
    
    • Cost: 2
      
    • -20 stress on other party members
      
    • +20 stress on one target

• Leper Skills

  • Let the Mask Down
    
    • Cost: 2
      
    • -25 stress on self
      
    • +5 stress on other party members
  • Bloody Shroud
    
    • Cost: 3
      
    • +25% bleed resistance on self
      
    • +25% blight resistance on self
      
    • +25% move resistance on self
      
    • +25% debuff resistance on self
  • Reflection
    
    • Cost: 3
      
    • -20 stress on self
      
    • +10 ACC on self
      
    • +5% CRIT on self
  • Quarantine
    
    • Cost: 3
      
    • +20% health damage on self
      
    • -20 stress on other party members (50% chance)
      
    • -15 stress on other party members (50% chance)

• Man-at-Arms Skills

  • Maintain Equipment
    
    • Cost: 4
      
    • +10% PROT on self
      
    • +15% DMG on self
  • Tactics
    
    • Cost: 4
      
    • +10 DODGE on all party members
      
    • +3% CRIT on all party members
  • Instruction
    
    • Cost: 3
      
    • +5% DODGE on target
      
    • +3 SPD on target
  • Weapons Practice
    
    • Cost: 4
      
    • +10% DMG on other party members
      
    • +5% CRIT on other party members (75% chance)

• Occultist Skills

  • Abandon Hope
    
    • Cost: 1
      
    • -25 stress on self
      
    • +10 stress on other party members (50% chance)
      
    • +5 stress on other party members (50% chance)
  • Dark Ritual
    
    • Cost: 4
      
    • -100 torch
      
    • +15 stress on self
      
    • +50% heal on target
      
    • Remove Death’s Door debuffs on target
  • Dark Strength
    
    • Cost: 2
      
    • +15 stress on self
      
    • +20% DMG on target
  • Unspeakable Commune
    
    • Cost: 3
      
    • +7 stress on other party members
      
    • Prevents a nighttime ambush

• Plague Doctor Skills

  • Experimental Vapours
    
    • Cost: 4
      
    • +50% heal on target
      
    • +33% healing received on target
  • Leeches
    
    • Cost: 2
      
    • +15% heal on target
      
    • Remove blight on target
      
    • Remove disease on target
  • The Cure
    
    • Cost: 1
      
    • Remove disease on self
      
    • +20% disease resistance on self
  • Self-Medicate
    
    • Cost: 3
      
    • -10 stress on self
      
    • +20% heal on self
      
    • Remove blight on self
      
    • Remove bleed on self
      
    • +10 ACC on self

• Vestal Skills

  • Bless
    
    • Cost: 3
      
    • +10 ACC on target
      
    • +10 DODGE on target
  • Chant
    
    • Cost: 3
      
    • -20% Stress DMG on target if religious
      
    • -10% Stress DMG on target if not religious
      
    • -15 stress on target if religious
      
    • -5 stress on target if not religious
  • Pray
    
    • Cost: 4
      
    • -15 stress on other party members if religious
      
    • -5 stress on other party members if not religious
      
    • +15% PROT on other party members if religious
      
    • +5% PROT on other party members if not religious
  • Sanctuary
    
    • Cost: 4
      
    • +50% heal on other party members if Death’s Door debuff is present
      
    • -25 stress on other party members if Death’s Door debuff is present
      
    • Prevents nighttime ambush

Hero Stat/Skill Changes

Hero changes will have their individual modifications shown. Values are shown where readily available.

• Abomination

  • General Stats
    
    • Reduced base damage slightly
  • Transform
    
    • Increased damage buff slightly
      
    • Reduced party stress heal upon transforming back into a human

• Arbalest

  • General Stats
    
    • Increased SPD by two per rank
  • Sniper’s Mark
    
    • Added -20% dodge debuff that increases by 2.5% per tier
  • Flare
    
    • Added +10% debuff resistance buff that increases by 2.5% per tier

• Bounty Hunter

  • Mark for Death
    
    • Added -10% PROT debuff that increases by 2.5% per tier

• Crusader

  • Holy Lance
    
    • Lowered crit chance by 5%
      
    • Removed ability to use in rank 2
  • Battle Heal
    
    • Slight reduction to overall healing
      
    • Adjusted healing to be more consistent

• Grave Robber

  • Thrown Dagger
    
    • Removed bleed debuff
      
    • Added +25% damage to marked target
  • Flashing Daggers
    
    • Added bleed debuff from ‘Thrown Dagger’

• Hellion

  • If It Bleeds
    
    • Lowered damage to -35%
  • Breakthrough
    
    • Added forward movement by 1 rank

• Highwayman

  • Pistol Shot
    
    • Added +25% damage to marked target

• Houndmaster

  • Dog Treats
    
    • Removed crit buff from Dog Treats
      
    • Slightly lowered accuracy buff from Dog Treats
      
    • Slightly lowered damage buff from Dog Treats
      
    • Increased amount of Dog Treats to 2

• Jester

  • General Stats
    
    • Increased debuff resistance by 20%
  • Inspiring Tune
    
    • Added the ability to use it from the third rank
      
    • Added +10% stress resistance buff that increases by 2.5% per tier
  • Solo
    
    • Increased debuff effect chance by 20% each tier
      
    • Increased ACC debuff by 2% per tier
  • Battle Ballad
    
    • Increased crit chance buff by 1% per tier

• Man-at-Arms

  • General Stats
    
    • Lowered base crit chance by ~2.5% per tier

• Occultist

  • Wyrd Reconstruction
    
    • Increased maximum healing by 2 per tier

• Plague Doctor

  • Disorienting Blast
    
    • Removed damage entirely
      
    • Added regular stun

• Vestal

  • Divine Grace
    
    • Increased healing to be more consistent in later tiers
  • Divine Comfort
    
    • Increased healing to be more consistent in later tiers

[min's brother]

Holy. crap.

[Weeping-pirate</JAG\>]

thats one hell of a patchnote list, cant wait to head into the fray!
*First EA game in my list that gets released , gj and quite fast ! *

[Grut]

Finally ! Awesome work guys : I'm proud of you ^^

[nuther]

Stuck at work. Cant play for 5 hours. Looking forward to Jester and Leper crit skills in camp!

You (or big piggie) might be sorry about that one...

[R1105]

SO GOOD!
THANK YOU!

[StrBrn13]

awesome, guys! Russian gamers <3 DD!

[Taiz]

Downloading the update ! Have fun guys :D

[attenzionee]

wow nice work :D

[Chobi]

Finally!

[Fenrir]

no new hero or the new dungeon for the release?????
or this is just a patch note?

[ElGamerViejuno]

marvelous game! ty

[zoom]

suck my pp

[Fenrir]

no new hero or the new dungeon for the release?????
or this is just a patch note?

[Kildia Zesified [Sachiko]]

While I bought the game last Halloween, I've left it uninstalled because I wanted to start playing it when it came out of Early Access. Today, the nightmare begins for me. Wish me luck because I'm gonna need it.