Quirks: Heroic Traits & Flaws

Learn to manage Heroic Traits and Flaws in Darkest Dungeon II. Understand how Quirks affect your heroes' performance and impact expeditions.

Quirks are persistent character traits that significantly impact your heroes' performance, for better or worse. They are gained and lost throughout your journey, adding a layer of strategic depth and unpredictability to each expedition. Understanding how to manage Quirks is crucial for long-term survival in the darkest reaches of the world.

Gaining and Losing Quirks

Heroes acquire Quirks through various in-game events and interactions. These can include:

• Combat Encounters: Particularly challenging battles or critical hits/misses can sometimes trigger new Quirks.
• Road Encounters: Stopping at specific points of interest on the road, such as Academic's Studies or Hoarders, can present choices that lead to new Quirks.
• Inn Events: Certain Inn items or decisions made during the rest phase can influence Quirk acquisition.
• Relationship Changes: Positive or negative relationship events can sometimes manifest as new Quirks.

Conversely, Quirks can be removed or locked through specific actions:

• The Hospital: Located at certain Assaults or Lairs (less common), the Hospital is your primary means of managing Quirks. Here, you can choose to:
  • Remove a Negative Quirk: Costs Relics and potentially Baubles. The cost scales with the severity of the Quirk.
  • Lock in a Positive Quirk: Costs Relics and often Hope. This prevents the Quirk from being removed by future events. Prioritize locking in powerful positive Quirks early.
• Specific Inn Items: A rare few Inn items, like the Medicinal Herbs or Purifying Draught, can remove a random negative Quirk. These are highly valuable.
• Shrines of Reflection: While primarily for unlocking hero backstories, some choices within Shrines can occasionally influence Quirks.

Types of Quirks

Quirks are generally categorized into two main types:

• Positive Quirks: These provide beneficial effects, ranging from stat bonuses to combat advantages. Examples include:
  • Eagle Eye: +% Crit Chance for Ranged Skills.
  • Tough: +% Max HP.
  • Clutch Hitter: +% Damage when HP is below 50%.
  • Hard Skinned: +% Resistance to Blight and Bleed.

  Prioritize locking in powerful positive Quirks that synergize with your hero's role and your team composition.

• Negative Quirks: These inflict detrimental effects, such as stat penalties, stress increases, or combat disadvantages. Examples include:
  • Claustrophobia: +% Stress in enclosed spaces (e.g., Lairs, Caves).
  • Kleptomaniac: Chance to steal loot from encounters, preventing you from collecting it.
  • Fearful: +% Stress from specific enemy types.
  • Weak Grip: -% Damage with Melee Skills.

  Negative Quirks should be removed as soon as resources allow, especially those that severely hinder a hero's primary function or consistently increase stress.

Strategic Management of Quirks

Effective Quirk management is an ongoing process throughout your expedition. Consider these strategies:

1. Early Assessment: At the start of each run, quickly review your heroes' starting Quirks. Identify any immediate threats (e.g., a Kleptomaniac on your main loot collector) or powerful boons worth protecting.
2. Resource Prioritization: Decide whether to spend Relics and Baubles on removing negative Quirks or locking in positive ones. Generally, critical negative Quirks should be removed first, followed by locking in game-changing positive Quirks.
3. Hospital Visits: Plan your route to include Hospitals when necessary. Don't hesitate to detour slightly if a hero is crippled by a severe negative Quirk. Remember that Hospitals are often found in Assaults or Lairs, so prepare for combat.
4. Inn Item Usage: Save Quirk-removing Inn items for emergencies or when you can't reach a Hospital easily.
5. Synergy and Role: Consider how Quirks interact with a hero's combat role. A Tough Quirk on your tank is excellent, while Weak Grip on your damage dealer is disastrous.
6. Avoid Unnecessary Risks: Some road encounters offer choices that can lead to Quirks. Weigh the potential reward against the risk of acquiring a debilitating flaw.

By actively managing your heroes' Quirks, you can mitigate their weaknesses and amplify their strengths, turning the tide in your favor against the encroaching darkness.