Darkest Dungeon 2: Understanding Relationships and Stress

If you want to succeed in Darkest Dungeon 2, it\’s important to understand the game\’s Relationship and Stress mechanics. This guide will explain how they work, what affects them, and how to manage them.

• Relationships
• Stress

Relationships

Relationships and Emotions are new mechanics in Darkest Dungeon 2 that affect your party\’s performance outside of combat. Neutral relationships have no effect, while positive relationships can grant bonuses such as free healing and Stress reduction. Negative relationships, on the other hand, can cause allies to interfere with each other and increase Stress levels.

Gender does not affect relationships, which are randomly assigned based on the emotions bar in a hero\’s panel. To establish a Relationship, you must fill all the \”fields\” on the emotions bar. You can end a Relationship by reducing it by 4 \”fields.\”

Relationships are influenced by Heroes\’ Quirks, the amount of Flame in the Stagecoach, actions in combat, the current state of the relationship, choices during encounters, critical attacks, and Inn Items. Make sure to maintain healthy relationships, as they can significantly impact your gameplay.

To improve relationships, use playing cards at the Inn. Dartboards and Boxing Gloves can also work, but their success rate is lower.

Stress

Stress is represented by the black boxes below a hero\’s health bar. Enemies can increase Stress levels with special attacks, and critical hits can also impact Stress. You can reduce Stress with Inn Items and some skills.

If a hero\’s Stress level reaches its maximum, they will suffer a Meltdown. This can cause a sudden deterioration of relationships, loss of health, and negative Quirks. After a Meltdown, some Stress will disappear. Learn more about Quirks on a separate guide page.

To alleviate Stress in the game, players can use Inn Items while resting or purchase them from local merchants. The Laudanum combat item is also recommended as it\’s cheap and can be used without losing a turn. Stress levels can be affected by various factors such as relationship levels, hero and enemy skills, negative quirks, Nightmare Tokens, skipping turns, flame level, encounter choices, suggested routes, and critical hits. Improving the Plague Doctor\’s Ounce of Prevention skill can help reduce Stress levels for all heroes. It\’s important to monitor and gradually lower Stress levels as some enemies can increase Stress effectively. Avoiding certain fights may be necessary in certain parts of the game.

FAQ

What role do relationships play in Darkest Dungeon 2?

In Darkest Dungeon 2, relationships between your heroes are more important than ever. As you journey through the game\’s procedurally generated dungeons, your heroes will form bonds with each other, either positive or negative. These relationships can be strengthened by fighting alongside each other or camping together, or they can be weakened by being forced to interact with someone they dislike. These relationships will affect your heroes\’ stress levels, and can even result in new abilities or bonuses for your party. So, it\’s important to keep an eye on your heroes\’ relationships and try to foster positive ones.

How does stress work in Darkest Dungeon 2?

Stress is a major component of Darkest Dungeon 2, and it affects your heroes in a number of ways. As your heroes battle monsters and explore dungeons, their stress levels will rise. This can lead to a variety of negative effects, such as reduced accuracy, increased damage taken, and even heart attacks. To manage stress, you\’ll need to use a variety of stress-relieving activities, such as camping, praying, or drinking. You can also equip your heroes with trinkets that help reduce stress, or use certain abilities in combat that can reduce stress for your entire party. However, stress is a constant threat in Darkest Dungeon 2, so you\’ll need to be prepared to deal with it at all times.

Can stress be a positive thing in Darkest Dungeon 2?

While stress is generally seen as a negative thing in Darkest Dungeon 2, it can actually be a positive force in certain situations. When a hero\’s stress level reaches a certain point, they may enter a state of \”virtue\”. This state provides a variety of bonuses, such as increased damage, accuracy, and resistance to stress. Additionally, heroes who are virtuous can spread their positive energy to other members of your party, helping to reduce their stress levels as well. So, while stress is generally something to be avoided in Darkest Dungeon 2, it\’s worth keeping in mind that it can sometimes be a useful tool to help turn the tide of a difficult battle.