Flame

“	"Take this—it is Hope. The very last of it, it is yours now."	„
	~ The Academic

The Flame is a mechanic in Darkest Dungeon II, representing the last hope for the world. It is the player's responsibility to protect the flame and bring it to The Mountain.

Flame Level[ | ]

The strength of the Flame is measured on a scale from 0 to 100 and waxes and wanes during the journey, altering the difficulty of battles. The Flame starts at 100 when entering a new region, and decreases naturally when travelling. There are a number of factors, like Loathing, that affect this rate. Stalling too long in a fight (e.g., not using any damaging abilities in order to heal) will decrease the Flame. A small number of enemies, like Ghouls, also have attacks that decrease the Flame.

The easiest way to increase flame is through Assistance Encounters. By choosing to help passersby, the player can earn from 15 to 30 Flame in addition to other rewards. However, there are also more selfish options that decrease the Flame while granting larger rewards. Many combat encounters—at an Oblivion's Ingress, Lair or Oblivion's Rampart, for example—also grant a small amount of Flame upon completion. Lastly, the Combat Item A Glimmer of Hope restores 15 Flame every time it is used.

When the Flame reaches 0, Cultists will ambush the party; defeating them will award 40 Flame, enabling the expedition to continue. At low Flame levels, the party also has a chance to be ambushed by the Shambler during a road battle.

Effects[ | ]

Each confession changes the Effects of the Flame, granting small bonuses to the party when High Flame; conversely, having low Flame levels penalizes the player and buffs enemies.

Unlike in the first game, there are very few benefits to having a low Flame unless using Sluice Trinkets and Infernal Flames.

Flame Status	Flame Value	Hero Modifiers	Enemy Modifiers
Bright Light	100-76	+6% RES	Round Start: Add (10%)
Dim Light	75-51	+3% RES	Round Start: Add (5%)
Shadowy	50-26	-3% RES	+15% Enemy Advantage Chance
Darkness	25-1	-6% RES Round Start: Add (5%)	+33% Enemy Advantage Chance
Black as Pitch	0	-9% RES Round Start: Add (10%)	+100% Enemy Advantage Chance

Flame Status	Flame Value	Hero Modifiers	Enemy Modifiers
Bright Light	100-76	+10% Positive Banter	Round Start: (10%)
Dim Light	75-51	+5% Positive Banter	Round Start: (5%)
Shadowy	50-26	Round Start: (5%) +5% Negative Banter	+15% Enemy Advantage Chance
Darkness	25-1	Round Start: (10%) +10% Negative Banter	+33% Enemy Advantage Chance
Black as Pitch	0	Round Start: (15%) +20% Negative Banter	+100% Enemy Advantage Chance

Flame Status	Flame Value	Hero Modifiers	Enemy Modifiers
Bright Light	100-76	Round Start: Add (10%) +33% Healing Recieved	-
Dim Light	75-51	Round Start: Add (5%) +20% Healing Recieved	-
Shadowy	50-26	-20% Healing Recieved	Round Start: Add (5%) +15% Enemy Advantage Chance
Darkness	25-1	-33% Healing Recieved	Round Start: Add (10%) +33% Enemy Advantage Chance
Black as Pitch	0	-50% Healing Recieved	Round Start: Add (15%) +100% Enemy Advantage Chance

Flame Status	Flame Value	Hero Modifiers	Enemy Modifiers
Bright Light	100-76	Round Start: Add (10%) +6% RES	-
Dim Light	75-51	Round Start: Add (5%) +3% RES	-
Shadowy	50-26	-3% RES	Round Start: Add (5%) +15% Battle Advantage Chance
Darkness	25-1	-6% RES	Round Start: Add (10%) +33% Battle Advantage Chance
Black as Pitch	0	-9% RES	Round Start: Add (15%) +100% Battle Advantage Chance

Flame Status	Flame Value	Hero Modifiers	Enemy Modifiers
Bright Light	100-76	+6% RES	Round Start: Add (10%)
Dim Light	75-51	+3% RES	Round Start: Add (5%)
Shadowy	50-26	Round Start: Add (5%) -3% RES	+15% Battle Advantage Chance
Darkness	25-1	Round Start: Add (10%) -6% RES	+33% Battle Advantage Chance
Black as Pitch	0	Round Start: Add (10%) -9% RES	+100% Battle Advantage Chance

Radiant Flame[ | ]

“	Radiant light will suffuse you with the strength of your convictions...	„
	~ The Academic

The Radiant Flame is an item mounted onto the Stagecoach that reduces the difficulty of the run at the cost of reducing Candles of Hope collected. The Radiant Flame is always available at in Inn in The Valley at the beginning of each run, and once equipped, the Radiant Flame cannot be removed for the duration of the run.

Each consecutive unsuccessful run increases the power of the Radiant Flame, starting with two buffs at level I and increasing to five buffs at level IV. Each Radiant Flame level also decreases the traveling Flame Drain rate.

Image	Flame	Description
	The Radiant Flame (I-IV) Radiant Flame	A helping hand for when all seems lost. -25% Traveling Flame Drain Candles of Hope: -15% 2-5 buffs, randomly selected from the following: +5% Positive Relationship Chance +2 +25% RES +25% RES +10% RES vs Cosmic: +33% DMG +5% CRIT +33% Traveling Heal +25% HP +15% Resolute Chance

Infernal Flame[ | ]

“	Only death for those who would seek to stifle us!	„
	~ The Academic

Conversely, Infernal Flames, when mounted onto the Stagecoach, greatly increase the difficulty of the run in exchange for a boost to your party. There's a total of 5 Different Infernal Flames with unique effects and rewards.

Infernal Flames are unlocked at the The Intrepid Coast, and once unlocked, all of them appear at the Inn in The Valley. Once equipped, an Infernal Flame cannot be removed for the duration of the run.

The Despairing Flare[ | ]

Flame	Description	Value	Hero Modifiers	Enemy Modifiers
The Despairing Flare Infernal Flame	Hope, a cruel illusion. -33% Positive Relationship Chance -33% Traveling Flame Drain -50% Max Flame At Various Flame Levels: Heroes Gain +CRIT and On Meltdown:Gain Negative Tokens Enemies Gain +CRIT and Enemy Advantage Chance
		Shadowy 50-26	On Meltdown: Add	+33% Enemy Advantage Chance
		Darkness 25-1	On Meltdown: Add , +6% CRIT Chance	+100% Enemy Advantage Chance +12% CRIT Chance
		Black as Pitch 0	On Meltdown: Add , +12% CRIT Chance	+100% Enemy Advantage Chance +15% CRIT Chance

The Corpse Light[ | ]

Flame	Description	Value	Hero Modifiers	Enemy Modifiers
The Corpse Light Infernal Flame	Touched by the grave. -100% Safe Routes Enemies have at Round End: Corpses transform into Carrion Eaters (66%) At various Flame Levels: Heroes Gain SPD and - RES Enemies Gain + RES and On Resist: Gain Positive Token
		Bright Light 100-76	-10% , , RES	+20% , , RES
		Dim Light 75-51	-20% , , RES	+33% , , RES
		Shadowy 50-26	-20% , , RES +2	+33% , , RES On Resist: Gain Positive Token
		Darkness 25-1	-33% , , RES +4	+66% , , RES On Resist: Gain Positive Token
		Black as Pitch 0	-66% , , RES +8	+100% , , RES On Resist: Gain Positive Token

The Doom Candle[ | ]

Flame	Description	Value	Hero Modifiers	Enemy Modifiers
The Doom Candle Infernal Flame	Loathing and ruin. +20% Traveling Flame Drain Loathing Max: -1 Loathing after Reset: +1 At Various Flame Levels: Heroes Gain + RES Piercing and Combat Start: Gain Negative Tokens Enemies Gain + RES Piercing and Combat Start Gain Positive Token
		Bright Light 100-76	Combat Start: Add	Combat Start: Add
		Dim Light 75-51	Combat Start: Add	Combat Start: Add +33% RES Piercing
		Shadowy 50-26	Combat Start: Add +20% RES Piercing	Combat Start: Add +66% RES Piercing
		Darkness 25-1	Combat Start: Add +66% RES Piercing	Combat Start: Add +100% RES Piercing
		Black as Pitch 0	Combat Start: Add +100% RES Piercing	Combat Start: Add +100% RES Piercing

The Hateful Pyre[ | ]

Flame	Description	Value	Hero Modifiers	Enemy Modifiers
The Hateful Pyre Infernal Flame	Battle and bloodshed -100% Traveling Heal No Heal between fights in Lairs At Various Flame Levels: Heroes Gain +DMG and Healing Received Enemies Gain +DMG and Apply On Hit: Knockback
		Bright Light 100-76	-10% Healing Received	+5% DMG Dealt
		Dim Light 75-51	-20% Healing Received	+10% DMG Dealt
		Shadowy 50-26	-40% Healing Received +10% DMG Dealt	+10% DMG Dealt On Hit: Knockback 1
		Darkness 25-1	-40% Healing Received +20% DMG Dealt	+20% DMG Dealt On Hit: Knockback 2
		Black as Pitch 0	-80% Healing Received +40% DMG Dealt	+40% DMG Dealt On Hit: Knockback 3

The Stygian Blaze[ | ]

Flame	Description	Value	Hero Modifiers	Enemy Modifiers
The Stygian Blaze Infernal Flame	Ashes to ashes. -33% Positive Relationship Chance +20% Traveling Flame Drain +25% Enemy RES Champion Enemies have increased chance to appear and will appear in all Regions At Various Flame Levels: Heroes Gain +looted RELICS and BAUBLES and On Meltdown: Gain Negative Tokens Enemies Gain +SPD, +DMG, and Enemy Advantage Chance
		Bright Light 100-76	-	+5% DMG Dealt +2
		Dim Light 75-51	-	+10% DMG Dealt +2
		Shadowy 50-26	On Meltdown: Add +2 RELICS +1 BAUBLES	+10% DMG Dealt +4 +15% Enemy Advantage Chance
		Darkness 25-1	On Meltdown: Add , +4 RELICS +2 BAUBLES	+20% DMG Dealt +4 +33% Enemy Advantage Chance
		Black as Pitch 0	On Meltdown: Add , +6 RELICS +4 BAUBLES	+40% DMG Dealt +6 +100% Enemy Advantage Chance