Darkest Dungeon 2 version 1.0 official notes: Release patch, Flagellant goes live, new features, and more

Darkest Dungeon 2 finally got its full release with version 1.0, and the latest patch seeks to add a fair bit of new content to the RPG. One of the biggest highlights of the update will be the addition of the new playable character, The Flagellant, along with new story content and boss battles in ACT 4 and 5. Additionally, there will be more cosmetic updates as well, along with a ton of other gameplay features that players will be able to enjoy.

Darkest Dungeon 2 fans looking for a detailed description of version 1.0 can look up their official website. However, for a brief overview, here are all the major highlights.

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Darkest Dungeon 2 version 1.0 official notes

1) New Features in Darkest Dungeon 2 version 1.0

• New Playable Character: The Flagellant
• ACT 4: Final Boss, ordainment, story content
• ACT 5: Final Boss, ordainment, story content, ending cutscene
• Greatly improved new player experience, including a comprehensive Tutorial update, new Prologue, and a rebalanced Denial Confession
• Cosmetic Unlocks: Hero Palettes and Weapon Kits
• Infernal/Radiant Torches
• New Deliverable Item: Hero Remains
• Corpse Art
• Flame gameplay effects now vary by Confession
• Custom Keybinding and Remapping
• Mouse Only Controls
• New language support: Korean/Japanese/Ukrainian/Simplified Chinese
• An inordinate amount of new barks!

2) New Player Experience in Darkest Dungeon 2 version 1.0

• The tutorial experience has been thoroughly reworked and improved.
• The very first expedition is a “Prologue” that consists only of an introductory Valley. Following that, the player chooses their first Confession (Denial), and the play proceeds as normal.
• Videos have been added to many tutorial events to depict information better

3) Denial Confession in Darkest Dungeon 2 version 1.0

• Denial consists only of two full regions instead of three
• Denial features only the Sprawl and The Tangle
• Denial does not require a Trophy to enter the Mountain
• The Shackles have been rebalanced to be a bit easier
• No Champions or Antiquarian will appear in Denial

4) Cosmetic Unlocks in Darkest Dungeon 2 version 1.0

• Each hero has 3 alternate color palettes and three weapon kits available on the new Mountain subscreen at the Altar of Hope.
• Once unlocked, these palettes and kits are configurable at the crossroads in any combination you wish.

5) Infernal/Radiant Flames in Darkest Dungeon 2 version 1.0

• The Radiant Flame is available at all Valley Inns and gives various gameplay boosts to help you overcome any Confession. Furthermore, each time you fail a Confession, the Radiant Flame gets stronger and stronger. Mounting the Radiant Flame reduces the candles scored slightly, but it can be well worth it.
• By contrast, Infernal Flames make the game harder. There are five in total, each with a specific theme. Infernal Flames are unlocked at the Altar of Hope. Mounting them will give you a candle scoring bonus at expedition end.

6) Hero Remains in Darkest Dungeon 2 version 1.0

• Honor the fallen by bringing their remains to the next Inn, and you will be rewarded with candles of Hope!

7) Candle Earning and Altar of Hope Balance Changes in Darkest Dungeon 2 version 1.0

• All “abandon run” candle penalties have been removed. Push your journey forward risk free. Reaching the next Inn is always valuable for more candles.
• Earn candles by carrying your fallen heroes’ remains to the next inn (see Hero Remains, above).
• First time victory bonuses for each Confession increased dramatically.
• Increased region completion candle awards modestly.
• Valley completion candle award increased slightly.
• Overall Altar of Hope price audit, resulting in reducing prices of many unlocks.
• Hero unlock prices raised from four to eight.
• Hero Altar tracks: changed first deathblow resist upgrade to always be the first upgrade (after the class unlock).
• No longer need to spend candles to leave the Altar.

8 ) Misc Balance Changes in Darkest Dungeon 2 version 1.0

• Relationship blessed and cursed skills now are selected with weighted chance influenced by usage, meaning that the most-used skills are more likely to be chosen.
• Enemy Advantage tuning pass (several have changed).
• Meltdown: hero stress now drops to one
• Overstress (meltdown or resolute) confer a three round stress resist buff afterwards.
• Resolute: now heals 67% (was 50%) and gives a three round debuff resist buff
• Meltdown: affinity penalty to -3 (still down from -4 that was in Early Access)
• Adjusted overall affinity change rates to try to reduce current positive relationship heavy bias. Will continue to monitor data after launch.
• Champion monsters will no longer appear until Confession 3+.
• Blocked diseases from happening in the Valley.
• Added more repair fight variety on Gaunt side.
• Reduced Sluice appearance chance to 50% at any given inn.
• Rare combat items will no longer appear in Common Combat Item draw table road debris now pulls from common combat item table instead of ALL combat item table. Helps provide balance sandbox so you can't hoover your way to all the good stuff.
• Sluice generation tuning: removed cultist chance; expanded Academic Study chance to 1-2 Sluice battle config tuning: no more easier, just like other factions.