Spoiler-free, Chronological 100% Achievement Guide for Pentiment

The whens and wheres of the 41 in-game achievements.

Introduction

This guide is intended to be as spoiler-free as possible, but it is not the same as playing the game blind!

While I have included the names of the 7 secret achievements, the achievement icons are not included in order to limit plot spoilers.

The 41 achievements are listed in chronological order, but it is not possible to unlock all achievements in a single playthrough. Some achievements require different backgrounds/studies, of which you can only pick one, and some achievements in Act I will lock you out of others. Where applicable, I have noted these instances.


KEY:

Section Heading

The section within the Act from which these achievements can be unlocked. They are named after the main quest of that day/s.

* = Achievements which can only be achieved with a certain Background/Study, chosen near the beginning of the game.

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Throughout the Acts

3 Achievements can be obtained outside of specific Acts:


A Regular Saint Francis


Pet 5 different dogs/cats. Can be unlocked from Act I.




Art of Persuasion


Pass 5 dialogue checks. Can be unlocked from Act I.




Smell the Roses

Interact with 10 different flowers. Can be unlocked from Act II if all flowers in Act I are interacted with.

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Act I

19 achievements can be unlocked in this Act. After Day 1, the majority can be tackled in any order, though I have tried to list them in a logical sequence.

At the end of this Act, there are two achievements (Good Graces and Andreas Non Grata). One of which will always be unlocked on your first playthrough, depending on how your treat the abbot. Both cannot be obtained in the same playthrough. Multiple Act I achievements (Nosy Fella and Legal Eagle) will also lock you out of the Good Graces achievement.

A Few More Pages

Simple Soul
In the abbey's Scriptorium, help Illuminata collect the books. Convince her to give you the third book. In order to pass the dialogue check, you must enthusiastically agree to help her and choose dialogue options which speak positively of books and the church. If prompted, promise you will take the book far away from the church. Both the Bookworm and Orator traits can help pass the checks.

Cryptic Solutions

Visit the Crypt in the abbey, and investigate the key on the marble relief at the end of the room.

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The Flood

Legal Eagle* (1/2)
Can only be obtained with the Imperial Law area of study chosen. Complete chores for Ottilia, who can be found in her house by Bauer Farm. After the chores, examine the letter she asks you to look at and explain the legal fineprint to her. The remainder of this achievement will take place later during the conversation with Jacob Estler. Note: This achievement with lock you out of the Good Graces achievement.

Nosy Fella*

Can only be obtained with the Rapscallion background. Attend the autopsy, and hide when Werner enters. Come to Florian’s defense and demand Werner apologise to him. When prompted, headbutt Werner. Note: This achievement will lock you out of the Good Graces achievement.


Quick Fingers

Follow The Spinning Bee quest, and talk to Johan on the farm to begin the wool spinning minigame. Draft the wool x3, then spin x3. Doing so quick enough with unlock this achievement.



Good Influence

Speak to Paul, who is most often found outside the Mill. Encourage him to keep drawing when prompted.




Kiss Zdena

Visit the Library at night via the Crypt. When prompted after a cutscene, choose to remain in the Library whilst remaining hidden. When Zdena finds you in the morning, choose the flirty dialogue options to accept her advances.



Like a Record Baby

Follow the Occult Hands quest. Examine the cipher found in the Scriptorium and find the information to crack it by talking to Doctor Werner (North Town) or breaking into the Library at night. Enter the Prior House in the abbey and solve the volvelle. Puzzle solution here[guidefall.com].


Empty-headed

Share a meal with Sebhat. He can be found at the abbey cloister, and this achievement will unlock towards the end of the cutscene.




The Root of the Problem
Speak to Wojslav in the abbey kitchen and convince him to allow you to enter the kitchen cellar. You can do this by either passing the dialogue check, or telling him that you know of his relations with one of the nuns. The check can be passed by having previously defended Piero passionately to the abbot. You can learn about his relationship with the nun by investigating the library or sharing a meal with Smokey and Vaclav in the forest.

Grave Matters
After completing the volvelle cipher (Like A Record Baby), examine the grave in the abbey courtyard. Speak to Gernot, who can be found in the Large Garden or Abbot House and convince him to let you dig up the grave. To successfully pass the check, you must not have argued with Piero being accused, not debated the baron or been caught attending the autopsy. Lie that you have not been investigating the abbey. The Logician background helps pass the check.

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The Archdeacon's Investigation

Hot Goss

During the conversation with Jacob, bring up information you have learnt on any of the suspects that doesn't necessarily pertain to the investigation - essentially, any gossip you have on them. You will have to accuse the suspect first before giving this additional information.


Legal Eagle* (2/2)

During the conversation with Jacob, bring up Otallia as a potential suspect. Mention the letter she received and convince Jacob Estler to stop the foreclosure proceedings in order to save her home.



4X Secret Achievement (The Stonemason, The Widow, The Prior, The Nun)

There is one achievement for accusing each of the four suspects. It is possible to investigate all four leads within a single playthrough. Once you have accused one of the suspects and unlocked the achievement, exit and reload the game in order to do so for the other three.

Good Graces

End Act I in the abbot’s favor. In order to unlock this achievement you must have been polite with Gernot throughout, not spoken up at the dinner with the Baron or have dug up the grave without the Abbots permission - in general, having meddled very little with abbey affairs.


Andreas Non Grata

End Act I out of the abbot’s favor. This can be obtained in multiple ways; by choosing negative dialogue options with Gernot, head-butting Werner during the autopsy, digging up the grave without Gernot's permission, speaking out at the dinner with the Baron etc.


The Baron


Automatically unlocks at the end of Act I.

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Act II

14 achievements can be unlocked during this Act.

Paying Respects

Room Service

Complain to Niko at The Golden Hand about your room. Note: You cannot obtain this achievement in the same playthrough as the Good Graces achievement.




Matchmaker

Speak to Endris, the blacksmith who is usually found in the Town Commons. Encourage him to talk to the girl at the market.

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Saint John’s Eve

A Fateful Sausage (1/2)

Visit the cellar within the abbey kitchen and feed the cat the sausage. The achievement itself will be completed and unlocked during Act III.

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Another Murder

The Cornish Patient

After visiting the monks in the Library and talking with Florian, speak with Gertrude in the Convent Garden. Investigate near the waterfall in the Forest to find the yellow gentian. Bring it back to Gertrude and after a segment of time has passed, collect the medicine from her and deliver it to Aedoc in the Library.


High Roller
Win everyone’s money at Lansquenet whilst investigating the lead at The Golden Hand. While the Rapscallion background is not required, it can make getting this achievement a lot quicker and easier. Exit and reload the game in order to get the Down to the Last Pfennig achievement as well.



Down to the Last Pfennig

Lose all of your money at Lansquenet whilst investigating the lead at The Golden Hand. Exit and reload the game in order to get the High Roller achievement as well.



Should Have Seen the Other Guy*

Can only be obtained with the Rapscallion background. Investigate the lead at The Golden Hand. Once all interactions are exhausted and the cutscene has played, choose to start punching. When prompted, sucker punch.



Among Us
Speak with Brigita at Martin Bauer Farm about her husband. Choose the more kind and truthful dialogue options in order to pass a dialogue check. Alternatively, speak to Werner during The Golden Hand investigation. Downplay your own knowledge/achievements whilst mentioning his to help you pass the check. With the information he gives you, you can confront Martin directly.


The Penitent Man


Investigate the lead at the Church in town. After the cutscene, complete your penance.



The Deer Hunter

Pursue the lead at the Mill with Lenhardt and accept his offer to go hunting. Shoot the deer – aim slightly upwards in order to hit it. If you miss, you can exit and reload the game. Exit and reload in order to achieve The Hand of Mercy achievement.


The Hand of Mercy

Pursue the lead at the Mill with Lenhardt and accept his offer to go hunting. Don’t shoot the deer – you must not shoot at all, as opposed to shooting and missing. Exit and reload in order to achieve The Deer Hunter achievement.

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Soldiers Approach

3X Secret Achievement – (The Embezzler, The Imposter, The Adulteress)

There is one achievement for accusing each of the three suspects. It is possible to investigate all three leads within a single playthrough. Once you have accused one of the suspects and unlocked the achievement, exit and reload the game in order to do so for the other two.


Vis Major


Automatically unlocks at the end of Act II.

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Act III

There are 5 achievements to unlock in Act III, all of which can be obtained in a single play-through without exiting and reloading the game.

Tassing’s Early History

The Second Plague

When learning more about the town, speak to Artemis and Apollo in the forest. Convince Artemis to tell you the details of their plan.




Look Before you Climb

Following on from The Second Plague achievement, speak to Artemis and Apollo again after completing their request. This will trigger a cutscene, and the achievement.

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Christian Tassing

A Fateful Sausage (2/2)

Talk to Wojslav, who will mention the cats at the abbey. After talking with Mother Franziska and entering the convent, enter the abbey. At one point, you will spot some cats. During The Revolt of 1525 section of this Act (Christmas Eve), speak to Wojslav in The Golden Hand to unlock the achievement.

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The Revolt of 1525

Cookie Master
Help cut cookies at The Golden Hand. Make sure you cut a few of every shape, and use all the dough in order to make as many as possible. Once you have clicked ‘Done’, this achievement will trigger. If you haven't cut enough to unlock the achievement, you can redo the mini-game. Make sure you also speak to Wojslav to complete A Fateful Sausage achievement.


Manu Propria


Automatically unlocks at the end of Act III.

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[Cyberpunkabbestia]

@ant_farm - yup! You can! I did not hide but eventually I've got Good Graces achievement!

[ant_farm]

@Cyberpunkabbestia - That is a good question; and I’m not 100% sure myself! Let me know if you were still able to get Good Graces this way, and I can update the guide to reflect this.

[Cyberpunkabbestia]

I have failed to remain hidden during the autopsy when the doctor came in but I salute him politely and walked away. "Good Graces" is gone now? I did not speak during the dinner and I did not take Piero side openly. I'm on my 2nd walkthrough

[Dangerous Beans]

Guess I spoke to soon, there does seem to be one impossible combination: Legal Eagle and Good Graces. You have to start working toward Legal Eagle before meeting Estler, and as AlabasterFox writes that already gets you on the abbot's bad side.

[Dangerous Beans]

Thanks a lot for the guide, it all worked like a charm!

I'm pretty sure it is possible to get all achievements in a single playthrough (with strategic reloading). You'll need a Rapscallion and Legal background, and finish the act 1 investigation without annoying the abbot. Whether or not Andreas is welcome in the abbey depends on who he gets executed. All the achievements pop before the next save, so you can reload and play through all possible outcomes.

Continue into act 2 in bad relationship with the abbey so you can complain about your room to the innkeeper.

[AlabasterFox]

Just an addition that if you explain the terms of her legal papers to Ottila you will NOT be able to get the Good Graces achievement, even if you do everything else right. I guess you either have to lie to her or skip helping with her chores altogether.

[ant_farm]

@HeeCawRoo - Yes I believe so.

[HeeCawRoo]

the conversation for Matchmaker isnt triggering to me; do i need to have talked to endris in act 1 in order to bring it up?

[Jackie]

@ant_farm I DID IT! Thank you :)

[ant_farm]

@Jackie yes it’s possible to get both Grave Matters and Good Graces in the same playthrough! Since getting the Grave Matters achievement means going through Gernot, so you’re not doing it behind his back and are still in his favour.

Also to clarify for Good Graces, you need to do all those things you listed, but it’s a lot easier to fall out of favour with the abbot as by just doing one of those actions (eg being caught at the autopsy) means you will fall out of Gernot’s favour.

Hope this helps!