The popular turn-based roguelike RPG, Darkest Dungeon, takes players into the high-stakes world of adventuring heroes. Unlike most RPGs though, Darkest Dungeon delves deep into the minds of these so-called heroes and presents them as people living on the very edges of sanity. The game confronts the true psychological nature of conflict and its effects on everyday people.

As players explore the various dungeons in the game, the characters they take along will slowly gain stress from the many obstacles they encounter. When a character reaches a stress level of 100, they gain an affliction. These debuffs affect the characters in different ways and can even lead to death by heart attack. Players can cure these afflictions in town by sending the character to the church or tavern. Darkest Dungeon presents players with a grim reality of life and death, where conflict has consequences, and not everyone will make it home alive. These are the worst afflictions players can get in Darkest Dungeon.

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9 Rapturous

Can Only Be Inflicted On The Flagellant

The first DLC released for Darkest Dungeon offers players the chance to use an entirely new character class, the Flagellant. This frontline healer is unique in the game, as they are unable to gain any affliction other than Rapturous.

The Rapturous affliction causes a reasonably high chance of act-outs, with all actions having an 8.3% chance, including party stress, moving forward, using random skills, attacking an ally, and attacking themselves. There is a lower chance of the hero being attacked, at 20%, but this is certainly an affliction that could cause issues for players in the thick of battle.

8 Refracted

Exclusive Only With Color of Madness DLC

Refracted is another affliction that is only available through the Darkest Dungeon's downloadable content. The "Color of Madness" was the third DLC to be released for the game and came with a whole host of new features. Central to this was the Farmstead, a new survival mode that pits players against waves of enemies.

For any characters who have been to the Farmstead, they are now able to receive the Refracted Affliction. This affliction has a lower percentage rate for act-outs, with a 2.4% chance of attacking an ally. This debuff can also lead to characters refusing to be healed, refusing to eat at a camp, and refusing a camping skill.

7 Fearful

High Chance of Act-outs, But Doesn't Hurt Allies.

Characters exploring the depths of these darkest dungeons are under constant stress, with dangers lurking around every corner. It is no wonder a hero may become Fearful. This affliction gives a higher percentage for characters to act out, with a 10.5% chance of causing the party stress, moving back 1 place, or passing a turn.

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While it may not be the most damaging affliction in the game, as it does not cause characters to attack or hurt themselves, becoming fearful can lead to missed turns and lower damage. When fighting for their lives, these traits can have a big impact when they are close to death.

6 Hopeless

Has Lower Chance Of Attacking the Party or Themselves

While facing down the many monsters found lurking in the dark places of the Darkest Dungeon, it is understandable if a hero loses all confidence and becomes Hopeless. This affliction has a lower chance of act-outs, with only a 5% chance, but these can include attacking themselves and marking themselves.

Any affliction that can cause damage to one of the party members is a dangerous one to receive. While the chances of act-outs are smaller, at 33%, the hero may also refuse to retreat and refuse buffs or heals. This may lead to dangerous moments for the entire party.

5 Paranoid

Lessens Damage, Chance to Attack Allies

With dangers lurking at every corner, heroes exploring the dungeons of the game may fall victim to paranoia. When the lights go out, anything could be waiting in the dark. For characters that become Paranoid, even fellow party members can be seen as enemies.

While the buffs to dodging and speed are a plus of this affliction, the lower amounts of damage can become an issue when taking down tougher enemies. With a 9.4% chance of act-outs, as well as a 3.1% chance of attacking an ally, this affliction may not be the most damaging, but it can cause serious problems for the group.

4 Masochistic

Fewer Stat Changes, Higher Chance To Hurt or Mark Themselves

The high stakes of adventuring and the constant stress of combat can lead many heroes down a dangerous path. As their anger turns inward, characters can become Masochistic and become a danger to themselves.

Although this affliction has fewer overall stat changes, with only a debuff to dodge, leaving a hero with Masochistic traits in a dungeon can endanger the whole party. With an 8.3% chance of act-outs, which can include moving forward and attacking or marking themselves, this affliction can cause chaos in combat. It also makes the character interact with torture curios more often.

3 Irrational

A Higher Number of Act-Outs Than Other Afflictions

When the stress of constant attack becomes too much for a hero to handle, their choices in situations can become dangerous. Characters that gain the Irrational affliction can be a danger to not only themselves but the whole party.

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This debuff can cause many act-outs, including a 5.2% chance of attacking or marking themselves, as well as moving forward or back 1. With only a 1.7% chance of attacking an ally, the danger to others is less than some afflictions. Becoming irrational can also lead to a 33% chance for the hero to refuse to retreat, heal, use items, receive food, or camp skills.

2 Selfish

Deals High Amounts of Stress, Steals Loot

In stressful situations, the worst sides of people’s nature can emerge. When their lives are at stake and riches are to be gained, heroes can become Selfish. This affliction has a lower chance of act-outs at 8.3%, but these can include passing turns, moving back 1, or using a random skill.

For heroes who become Selfish, their only goal is themselves, which increases the chance the party will turn against them. The most damaging of these traits is a 50% chance that they will steal any loot found in the dungeon, which can increase the stress of every member of the party.

1 Abusive

High Chance of Attacking Allies and Causing Stress

For some, the stresses of combat become all too much, and they start to act out on others. For heroes living with death always around the next corner, the stress can lead them to become Abusive to other members of the party.

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The Abusive affliction can be one of the most damaging to the party in Darkest Dungeon, as it can cause high levels of stress for the rest of the heroes. Although there is a 20% boost to damage, this stat can easily turn against the party, as the afflicted hero has a higher chance of attacking allies.

Darkest Dungeon

Platform(s)

PS4 , PS Vita , Xbox One , Switch , PC , iOS

Released

January 19, 2016

Developer(s)

Red Hook Studios

Genre(s)

RPG