Perks are the special abilities that explorers or companions have. Every explorer begins the game with at least one perk, and gains one additional perk after each successful expedition. Humanoid companions have one upgradable perk that is enhanced with promotions.
Explorers' General Perks[]
After each expedition, the player will choose to add one of these perks to their explorer. Some explorers may also start the game with one of these perks. Secret explorers' names are given in italics.
Symbol | Perk | Explorers | Effect |
---|---|---|---|
Adept | Addition of 1 upgraded support (blue) die. | ||
Anthropology | Huizinga, E.S. Goffterding | Anthropological studies of indigenous cultures can be created for additional fame. | |
Arctic Explorer | Amundsen | Reduces the sanity cost of moving through deep snow by 4. | |
Black Market | Dimir, Sir Chorge | Access more gear when equipping your trek before heading out into the unknown. | |
Bullet Hoarder | Find a Marked Bullet every few days. | ||
Careerist | Duke Lietu, Rafal Sokulski | Boosts loyalty when promoting a companion. | |
Cartographer | Reveals a full region once all of its locations have been found. | ||
Charismatic | Alfred Nobel, Duke Lietu | Recruit up to two units per expedition. | |
Climber | Halász Tamás | Reduces the sanity cost of moving through hills by 7. | |
Desert Explorer | Reduces the sanity cost of moving through desert by 4. | ||
Eagle Eye | G.K. Norman | Increased viewing distance. | |
Explosion Expert | Increases the radius of dynamite explosions to 3 hexes. | ||
Fresh Air Fanatic | Alison Zawacki, Benedikt Meyer, Gregor Onkh, Hercule Boumba, Hiram Bingham | Extra 5 sanity gained when resting in nature. (+8 gain per day without perk, +13 with perk). | |
Good Reputation | Gregor Onkh | Start each expedition with +4 standing. | |
Gun Expert | Guns do +2 damage. | ||
Heavy Carrier | Kai | Gain 2 additional inventory slots of capacity. | |
Impetus | Fortune | Reduces the base sanity cost of travelling (from 5 to 4). | |
Jungle Explorer | Selous | Reduces the sanity cost of moving through thick jungle by 4. | |
Lone Survivor | Survive a little longer when all alone. | ||
Magician | RIVALS only | Addition of 1 upgraded magic (purple) die. | |
Navigator | Earhart | Increases the gained compass accuracy when uncovering fields. | |
Occult Vision | Crowley | Reveals the location of all stone circles and increases the radius when analyzing them. | |
Polyglot | Burton, Austin Walker, Blitz Kriegsler, Megan Carnes, Sound of Mystery | Allows player to rest in native villages without standing cost and improves communication with native people. | |
Polymath | Curie, Lovelace, Christophorus Amiculus | Allows player to choose between 5 perks instead of 3. | |
Protector | Addition of 1 upgraded defense (green) die. | ||
Ruffian | Addition of 1 upgraded attack (red) die. | ||
Strong Mind | Tesla, David Brender, Dingir Bhaak, Fridericus Schneider, Gloegg, Loki Texilake, Matthew Hadley, Riad Djemili | Increased maximum sanity by 20. | |
Waterproof | Lizards, Sir Chorge | Reduced movement costs in shallow rivers and swamps by 3. |
Explorers' Exclusive Perks[]
Exclusive perks are unique starting perks. These perks are only available to the explorer who begins the game with them.
Symbol | Perk | Explorer | Effect |
---|---|---|---|
Animal Whisperer | David-Neel | Can promote animals - but only animals. | |
Authoritative Leader | Garvey, Alfred Nobel | Can have one additional companion, but has lower max sanity (max sanity decreased by 30). | |
Butterfly Enthusiast | Darwin, Aeryn, Baron Victor von Paragon, Johannes Kristmann | Gain 20 sanity each time a butterfly is collected. | |
Cosmic Indifferentism | Lovecraft | Improves use of the Necronomicon but reduces max sanity. | |
Desert Expert | Stark | Always has at least one Desert choice when choosing her next destination. | |
Dream Visions | Tubman | Periodically reveals a location during a travel leg. | |
Healer | Feihong, Rasputin | Is capable of treating wounds. Grants 25% health regeneration to all non-animal trek members. | |
Geography | Bird | Reveals where the 4 nearest locations are at the start of each expedition. | |
Pacifist | Kingsley, Freiherr von Gehlsdorf, Jörg S. Friedrich | Reduced aggro chance but can't use Weapons in combat. | |
Preacher | Rasputin | Can recruit a companion at any/all villages, no matter what his current standing is. | |
Tactical Mastery | Selous | Make an extra dice roll in combat. |
Companions' Perks[]
These perks cannot be chosen by an explorer, and their benefit can only be obtained by recruiting the appropriate companion. A companion's primary perk is enhanced further when the player promotes them.
Certain secret explorers may start with these perks as well, usually but not always at maximum level. They cannot be further enhanced. The names of these explorers are listed in italics, together with the level of their perk.
Symbol | Perk | Companion | Effect | Promotions |
---|---|---|---|---|
Animal Capacity | Native Animal Handler | Increased inventory size for all pack animals. | 1 extra Capacity per Level | |
Artist | Artist, Allison Otting (lvl 4) | Increases the quality and value of created paintings. | Increase painting value | |
Climber | Mountain Trooper | Reduced sanity cost when climbing up onto hills and plateaus. | Does -2 Sanity cost per Level | |
Coca Expert | Cultist | Increases the sanity gained when consuming Coca Leaves. | 5 more Sanity bonus per Level | |
Combat Spirit | British Soldier | Gain sanity through combat. (+10 for Lv 1) | 5 more Sanity per Level | |
Culinary Finesse | Cook | Can cook meat to increase sanity regeneration. (+2 for Lv 1, +5 for Lv 2, and 5 more for each level after.) | 5 more Sanity per Level, Lv 2+ | |
Desert Expert | Bedouin | Reveals nearby oases. | add 5 hex distance detection per Lvl | |
Extra Capacity | Pack Animals | Increased cargo capacity. Available for purchase at the harbor after each expedition. | 1 extra Capacity per upgrade | |
Extra Character | Some Quest Companions, Luis, Pug, Buckwheat | Allows the addition of certain quest companions to the troupe without costing a companion slot. | None | |
Fast Mount | Mountable Animals | Reduced the base sanity cost of each travel leg by 3 while mounted. (-45%) | None | |
Flare Usage | Sailor, Reddick Campbell (lvl 4), Sir Deddlee Endeavour (lvl 4) | Increases the effectiveness of Coston Flares. | Increases flare range and reveal radius. | |
Good Reputation | All Natives, Persian Translator | Start each expedition with a +1 Standing bonus. | None | |
Haggle | Parsi Trader, Diplomat James Sterling, Rami Ismail (lvl 4) | 5 Value discount at each trading location. | 5 Value extra discount per Level | |
Indigenous Diplomacy | Persian Translator | Increased sanity gain when resting in villages.
(+20 Sanity / Lv1) |
10 more Sanity per Level | |
Journalist | Tim Timster, Fabian Aleksandar Scherschel (lvl 4) | Increased fame bonus for completing each expedition successfully (reaching the golden pyramid) | 5% more fame per Level | |
Medium Mount | Mountable Animals | Reduced the base sanity cost of each travel leg by 2 while mounted. (-35%) | None | |
Mushroom Recipes | Native Shaman | Sanity gain from eating mushrooms. (+20 for Lvl 1) | 10 more Sanity gained per Level | |
Pathfinder | Native Hunter | Reduced movement costs in arctic terrain | Sanity cost for travel in arctic terrain reduced by 10% per level | |
Scouting | Native Scout | Increased viewed distance by 30%. | 15% more view distance per Level | |
Slow Mount | Mountable Animals | Reduced the base sanity cost of each travel leg by 2 while mounted. (-25%) | None | |
Spiritual Solidarity | Missionary, David Brender | Allows free rest in missions. | None | |
Sparkling Personality | Yeti | Increases loyalty of all trek members in regular intervals. | Shorter intervals | |
Stealth | Native Warrior, Zacharias Zour (lvl 4) | Reduces probability of aggroing enemies by 20%. | 10% extra reduction per Level | |
Strong Mind | Missionary | Increases maximum sanity. | 10 extra Sanity per Level | |
Waterproof | Lizards | Reduced movement costs in shallow rivers and swamps by 3. | None | |
Whisky Expert | Scottish Soldier, Eric Smith (lvl 4), Fabian Aleksandar Scherschel (lvl 1) | Increases the sanity gained from drinking whisky. (+10 Sanity for Lv1) | 5 extra Sanity per Level |
Blessings[]
The blessings are special perks that can be only obtained by visiting temples. When exploring a temple, a single chosen companion is blessed with a random permanent positive ability.
Certain secret explorers and companions may start with a blessing. The names of these characters are listed in italics.
Symbol | Blessing | Character | Effect |
---|---|---|---|
Claws | Lawrence Talbodd, Olivia White, Sound of Mystery | A ghastly deformation of the hands allowing extra bestial attacks. | |
Holy Marking | Robert, Pug | Receives a +3 standing bonus as this person was hallowed by the pagan gods. | |
Inhuman Strength | Enormous strength allows to carry two additional items. | ||
Leatherskin | A leathery and thick skin increases the natural protection from any kind of harm (+6 toughness). | ||
Pure Mind | Is immune to any kind of mental ailments. | ||
Regeneration | Olivia White | Wounds will never become infected and regenerate much quicker. |
Temporary Perks[]
Temporary perks occur after consuming certain items or through special events. They expire after a certain amount of time.
Symbol | Perk | Effect | Duration |
---|---|---|---|
??? | Represents travel timer in portal worlds. | 20-30 days | |
Feeling Strong | +1 Carrying Capacity. Effect does not stack. | 4 travel legs | |
Elevated Mood | +1 Loyalty to all companions. Effect does not stack. | 20 days |