Shadows Over Loathing Perk Guide (by chapter)

Hello, everyone.

Here is the list of all the perks that I’m aware of, their effects, and how and when you can get them.

If you happen to know any that I’ve missed, feel free to post them in the comments, I’d be very grateful.

Prologue

Basic Humanity

• +1 Maximum AP
  
• +10 Maximum HP
  
• +1 Muscle
  
• +1 Mysticality
  
• +1 Moxie

You automatically begin with this perk.



Big Heart

• +3 Maximum HP

Tell Ethel, that you want to help Uncle Murray, because he’s family.



Scout’s Honor

• Honorable options will be available in some situations

Tell Ethel, that everyone who needs help deserves it.



Checkered Past (Melee)

• +1 Damage to Melee Weapon Attacks

Tell Ethel, that you are running away from trouble, and beat up a phone booth.



Checkered Past (Ranged)

• +1 Damage to Ranged Weapon Attacks

Tell Ethel, that you are running away from trouble, and shot a parking meter.



Checkered Past (Magic)

• +1 Damage to Magical Weapon Attacks

Tell Ethel, that you are running away from trouble, and burned a mailbox.



Lost Soul

• Seeking options will be available in some situations

Tell Ethel, that you have no idea, what you are looking for.



Voyage of Self-Discovery

• You get EXP, when looking in each mirror for the first time

Tell Ethel, that you want to find yourself.



Haunted

• All Shadow Taint received is doubled.

Tell Ethel, that you want to find something dark.



Meat-Minded

• +20% to Meat Drops

Tell Ethel, that you want to seek your fortune in money.



Ambition

• Ambitious options will be available in some situations

Tell Ethel, that you want to seek your fortune in fame.



Acquisitive Nature

• +20% to Item Drops

Tell Ethel, that you want to seek your fortune in stuff.



Guarded

• +1 Physical Armor

Tell Ethel to mind her own business.



Agent of Chaos

• Chaotic options will be available in some situations
  
• You get hints from Barnaby for free

Tell Ethel, that you flipped a coin. To get that response, you need to consider other options at least seven times, and not pick them from top to bottom.

Chapter 1

Cryptobotanist

• You obtain crafting ingredients from plants
  
• Your +5 EXP from harvesting perk also gives +3 HP Regeneration

Choose to be a cryptobotanist after you pick your character class during your first dream sequence.



Psychogeologist

• You obtain crafting ingredients from rocks
  
• Your +5 EXP from harvesting perk also gives +3 Physical Armor

Choose to be a psychogeologist after you pick your character class during your first dream sequence.



Insectologist

• You obtain crafting ingredients from insects
  
• Your +5 EXP from harvesting perk also gives +1 Maximum AP

Choose to be an insectologist after you pick your character class during your first dream sequence.



Advanced Handgunnery

• +1 Damage to Ranged Weapon Attacks

Find and read the Handgun’s Tale book. It’s located in the Prologue, in the Checkov’s bedroom, click the bookcase several times. You’ll need 5 Mysticality to get the perk.



News Hound

• You gain extra XP for learning new things from the newspaper archive

Read several articles from the Watchful Eye archive.



St. Polycarp's Forehead

• +1 Muscle

Return the stolen urn to the Vicar of St. Polycarp’s Cathedral.



Skeptical

• +1 Mysticality

Pay 3 times for the tarot card reading at Ocean City Boardwalk.



Expert Sitter

• +1 Moxie

Bring the Snackle Cakes to Marvin.



Weapon Repair Aware

• Weapon Durability is unlocked – intended as a joke, weapons don’t break

Find and read the Welding & Wielding book. It’s in the bookcase inside the Tin Lizzies’ Chop Shop shed.



Intermediate Jazz Theory

• +1 Damage to Ranged Weapon Attacks

Read the book from the Ernst Zimmer’s House bookcase.



Heard 'Em All

• +X to Sleaze Armor (upgradeable)

Buy and read the Surely Shocking Jokes (complete set) from a wandering salesman in Ocean City for 200 Meat. Each successive upgrade requires more EXP, starting at 30 and increasing by 10 every time.



Hobo Literacy

• You understand some hobo glyphs

Talk to Letters McCabe at the Hobo Camp. Your Hobo Literacy can be increased by talking to various hobos you meet.

Chapter 2

Nostrildamus

• +X to Stench Armor (upgradeable)

Find and read the Flora foetidae book at the Old Junkyard. Each successive upgrade requires more EXP, starting at 30 and increasing by 10 every time.

Chapter 3

Bloode Lore

• +X to Maximum HP (upgradeable)

Find and read the Encyclopaedium of Bloode book at the Proctor Cellar in Village of Sandwich’s Past. Each successive upgrade requires more EXP, starting at 30 and increasing by 10 every time. Technically, you should be able to grab it in chapter 2, the password is the same every playthrough (FULKE). But in-game, you can’t find that out before chapter 3.



Expert Fishery

• You get additional Meat when fishing

Talk to Walter, the Fisherman Hobo, at the S.I.T. Bridge and ask him for fishing tips. You need to complete Rufus’ first quest to get under the bridge and 9 Hobo Literacy to find him.



Expert Panhandlery

• +25% to Meat Drops

Find and read the Psychography of Panhandling book. It’s located at the S.I.T. Library Stacks, and you need 6 Hobo Literacy to find it.



I Choose Not to be Cold

• +X to Hot Armor (upgradeable)

Find and read the Short Stories of Long Winters book at S.I.T. Barbecue Wing Freezer Room (accessible from Steam Tunnels). Each successive upgrade requires more EXP, starting at 30 and increasing by 10 every time.



Mutton Magnate

• +30% to Meat Drops

Lift the curse from Librum Umbra Malum Ovilla and read the resulting 101 Delicious Mutton Recipes book.



Meaty Expertise

• +X% to Meat Drops (upgradeable)

Destroy the Book’s Curse for good and read the resulting 111 Delicious Mutton Recipes book. Each successive upgrade requires more EXP, starting at 30 and increasing by 10 every time.



Collision Dynamics Expert

• +1 Damage to Melee Weapon Attacks

Buy and read the Advanced Collision Physics book from a wandering salesman at S.I.T. Campus.



Cannon Canon

• +1 Damage to Ranged Weapon Attacks

Buy and read the Advanced Projectile Physics book from a wandering salesman at S.I.T. Campus.



Seen Forces

• +1 Damage to Magical Weapon Attacks

Buy and read the Advanced Magnetospheric Flux book from a wandering salesman at S.I.T. Campus.



Comprehensively Veined

• +3 Maximum HP

Buy and read the Advanced Vascular Anatomy book from a wandering salesman at S.I.T. Campus.



Energized Brain

• You can use one additional combat item per round

Buy and read the Advanced Neurological Anatomy book from a wandering salesman at S.I.T. Campus.



The Shadow's Vision

• +1 Mysticality
  
• +5 Damage to Magical Weapon Attacks
  
• -10 Maximum HP

Learn from Librum Umbra Malum Ovilla with a Shadow Taint level of 3.



The Shadow’s Vanity

• +1 Moxie
  
• Only Shadow familiars will aid you in combat

Learn from Librum Umbra Malum Ovilla with a Shadow Taint level of 4.



The Shadow’s Protection

• +1 Muscle
  
• +5 Physical Armor
  
• -1 Maximum AP

Learn from Librum Umbra Malum Ovilla with a Shadow Taint level of 5.



Occlusion of Shadow

• Elemental Armor challenges are easier (requirements are lowered)

Learn from Librum Umbra Malum Ovilla with a Shadow Taint level of 3.



Suffusion of Shadow

• Stat challenges are easier (requirements are lowered)

Learn from Librum Umbra Malum Ovilla with a Shadow Taint level of 4.



Collusion of Shadow

• You start combat with three shadow creatures on your side

Learn from Librum Umbra Malum Ovilla with a Shadow Taint level of 5.

Chapter 4

Pep Talk (no Moxie)

• +1 Muscle
  
• +1 Mysticality

During the first dream, check the lockers and insist on opening the seventh one until you get an overdue book. During the second dream, talk to your childhood bully, he will take the book away and you’ll get your teeth. During the third dream, interact with the skulls, and place your teeth into your skull to get “No Tongue”. During the fourth dream, place the “No Tongue” into the statue with hip shades.



Pep Talk (no Mysticality)

• +1 Muscle
  
• +1 Moxie

The same, as the no Moxie one, but place the “No Tongue” into the smug-looking statue.



Pep Talk (no Muscle)

• +1 Mysticality
  
• +1 Moxie

The same, as the no Moxie one, but place the “No Tongue” into the scowling statue.



Bruise's Mark

• -1 Muscle
  
• -1 Mysticality
  
• -1 Moxie

Pig Skinner exclusive. Lose or surrender to General Bruise during your first travel at the Big Moist. It will be removed once you defeat Bruise in Chapter 6.



Noël's Dark Sigil

• -1 Muscle
  
• -1 Mysticality
  
• -1 Moxie

Cheese Wizard exclusive. Lose or surrender to Dark Noёl during your first travel at the Big Moist. It will be removed once you defeat Noёl in Chapter 6.



Terrence's Accounting

• -1 Muscle
  
• -1 Mysticality
  
• -1 Moxie

Jazz Agent exclusive. Lose or surrender to Terrence Poindexter during your first travel at the Big Moist. It will be removed once you defeat Terrence in Chapter 6.



Ziggurat Power

• You can use 3 additional combat items per round

Fix and use the broken El Vibrato machine in the Gatorman Fortress. You will need 6 Mysticality.



Swamp Geas

• -1 Muscle
  
• -1 Mysticality
  
• -1 Moxie

Accept the sword from the random wander event at the Big Moist. You can remove it at the Uncursing Machine.



Hunter’s Mark

• +2 Damage to Melee Weapon Attacks

Take a nap in the Leather Brothers’ sleeping bag after completing their quest.



Life Debt

• +2 Damage to Magical Weapon Attacks

During the search for the missing kids on behalf of Largebass & Sons, you will find an abandoned amphibious truck. Inspect the engine several times to ensure, that it has been eaten. Then, find the kids at the Bus Stop, and defeat Occams' Gator in combat. After winning the battle, you will obtain the engine. Install the engine into the truck to gain the perk.

Chapter 5

Swamp Geas Plus

• -2 Muscle
  
• -2 Mysticality
  
• -2 Moxie

Refuse to pay the woman who gave you the great auntie’s sword during a random wander event at the Gray County.



Nightmare Alloy

• +X to Spooky Armor (upgradeable)

Find and read the Scary Stories for Spooky Children book at the Old Gilmore Place. Each successive upgrade requires more EXP, starting at 30 and increasing by 10 every time.



Coldridge's Armor

• +X to Cold Armor (upgradeable)

Buy His Majesty's Least Favorite Poems book from Ovid at S.I.T. Campus (or Hobo Camp, if you had him relocate there), and then throw it down the H***hole to get Posthumous Works of the Romance Poets. Read the book for the perk. Each successive upgrade requires more EXP, starting at 30 and increasing by 10 every time.



There's Treasure Everywhere

• +X% to Item Drops (upgradeable)

Find and read the Expensive Luxuries, Inc. catalog. It’s located inside the Black Gold Mine past the group of vampires. Each successive upgrade requires more EXP, starting at 30 and increasing by 10 every time.



Badly Misaligned Teeth

• -1 Moxie

Allow Dr. Sarah, a dentist in The Maize Maze, to practice her dental work on your teeth once.



No Teeth At All

• No actual effect (I think?)

Allow Dr. Sarah, a dentist in The Maize Maze, to practice her dental work on your teeth twice.



Perfect Teeth

• +1 Moxie

Allow Dr. Sarah, a dentist in The Maize Maze, to practice her dental work on your teeth three times.



Fence Capitalist

• +50% to Meat Drops

Start the quest at the Treehouse in Big Moist, and paint all 10 fences.

Finale

Hard Time, Hard Body

• +1 Muscle
  
• +3 Damage to Melee Weapon Attacks

Charlestown State Pen. Give Bert (cell 1D) a prison Chiropractor gift certificate.



Daydream Believer

• +1 Mysticality
  
• +3 Damage to Magical Weapon Attacks

Charlestown State Pen. Give Donna (cell 2C) a prison Chiropractor gift certificate.



Expert Whistler

• +1 Moxie
  
• +3 Damage to Ranged Weapon Attacks

Charlestown State Pen. Give Mitch (cell 3A) a prison Chiropractor gift certificate.



Fond Memories

• +3 Sleaze Armor

Walk between 2 rocking chairs in front of Jasper’s Feed and Tack until you get it.



Missing Biceps

• -4 Muscle

Pig Skinner exclusive. Enter the Army Recruitment Office. To remove the perk, you will need to get to the Warden’s office in the Charlestown State Pen.



Cracked Knuckles

• -1 Muscle

Destroy one of the Dark Monoliths with your fists.



Full-Body Concussion

• -1 Mysticality

Destroy one of the Dark Monoliths with your head.



Shattered Teeth

• -1 Moxie

Destroy one of the Dark Monoliths with your teeth.



You've Heard Too Much

• +3 Spooky Armor

Listen to all phone conversations in Government Valley.



Shadow-Charged

• The only ending you get is the all-consuming one

With a level 5 Shadow Taint, absorb the Dark Monolith.

[MrLisreal]

Ah, never really occurred to me. Thank you.

I give you a big salute

[Sammun Mak]

I found a perk not in this guide!

In chapter 4, the swamp, do the quest at the Leathers Brothers. If you give the voice to the brother as soon as you can they do a thing where they throw their weapons in the swamp. You can grab the items, but instead, pick that you also will drop something in the swamp. Pick any random weapon and you get the "Disarmer" perk, giving +2 physical armor.

[Sammun Mak]

Perhaps there is a condition I'm missing because I can't get my character to say any names at all. I'm at the very end-game (i.e. after you reload a game you beat) and did all the quests for those people in grey county. Oh well. Thank you for the info.

[MrLisreal]

You need to walk between the rocking chairs untill your character says 11 names. 11 is an arc number of the Loathing series

[Sammun Mak]

Has anyone actually managed to get Fond Memories? I can't make it trigger. I walked between the two rocking chairs where those people were playing that name-naming game, both stopping in front of each chair or just walking back and forth, nothing.

[w aveydavey]

@Origami Dog that is H-ilarious, thanks for sharing.
@nnnobodyy St. Polycarp's Forehead is a Perk as the guide states - it appears under the "Perks" tab in game, and does not disappear when sleeping. the Prototype Growth Serum appears under the "Effects" tab.

[rubberducky]

If we're talking stuff that only lasts a day St. Polycarp's forehead is one of those

[rubberducky]

Also if you take the spiders course at S.I.T you can obtain the prototype growth serum which gives you -5 hp and +3 to all M stats.

[MrLisreal]

It's not a perk, it's an effect. It only lasts for one day. Better save it for the last! :D

[rubberducky]

In the junkyard in Crystaldream Lake, there is a room with a toilet and a bath. Using the bath gives you +1 to all M stats!