Candles of Hope

“	Search every shadow - there is a little light here.	„
	~ The Academic

Candles of Hope are the main meta-progression currency in Darkest Dungeon II. Primarily used in the Altar of Hope to unlock items, permanent upgrades, heroes and skins.

Main article: Altar of Hope

Once the altar of hope is finished the candles gain a new funcionality mid-run like exclusive node interactions, buying items from The Working Fields, etc.

Earning Candles

There are many ways to earn Candles, including:

Progressing through Regions

Completing a Region rewards Candles increasing with the amount of regions we cleared. This is rewarded once you enter the inn.'

• The Valley: 2
• The Sluice: 4
• First Region: 8
• Second Region: 20
• Third Region: 36
• Defeating Lair (per Region): ( 4 / 10 / 20 )

Nodes have a chance to reward 1 , this chance can be further increased in The Intrepid Coast.

• Academic's Cache ( 25% / 30% / 35% )
• The Field Hospital ( 25% / 30% / 35% )
• The Hoarder ( 25% / 30% / 35% )
• Watchtower ( 25% / 30% / 35% )
• Oblivion's Ingress ( 40% / 45% / 50% )
• The Desperate Few ( 25% / 30% / 35% )
• Resistance Encounter ( 40% / 45% / 50% )
• Academic's Study ( 40% / 45% / 50% )
• Shrine of Reflection ( 40% / 45% / 50% )
• Lair ( 67% / 72% / 77% )
• Creature Den ( 67% / 72% / 77% )
• Oasis ( 25% / 30% / 35% )

Reaching The Mountain and defeating the Act Boss

• Facing your Failures (enter the Mountain): 6
• Defeating Confessional Boss: 20
• Surviving Heroes: 2 per Hero

Completing Region Goals

Every Region Goal has a 20% chance to reward Candles. This Goals are rewarded in the Inventory and must be carried for the rest of run.

• 3 Reward ( 57.14%~ )
• 4 Reward ( 28.57%~ )
• 5 Reward ( 14.28%~ )

Completing Hero Goals

In the Crossroads Heroes spawn with different Hero Goals, they reward Candles- All Hero Goals candles are rewarded in the inventory for the player and must be carried to the end of the run, once the Altar of hope is complete the player unlocks new Hero Goals that reward Hero Trinkets / Signature Items instead.

• All Wanderers: 2 upon reaching the second inn.

Main article: Hero Goals

Spending Candles

All Candles earned during an expedition may be spent on The Altar of Hope.

• The Intrepid Coast
  

Main article: The Intrepid Coast

• The Working Fields

Main article: The Working Fields

• The Living City

Main article: The Living City

• The Timeless Wood

Main article: The Timeless Wood

End Game

Once the Altar of Hope is fully completed Candles gain new funcionalities in the form of extra resources at the Start of a run and powerful node choices at cost of Inventory Candles.

The Working Fields

Similar to unlocking items, the player may spend any amount of Candles (at a very high cost) to start the next run with extra Trinkets, Combat Items, Stagecoach Items and Inn Items.
For more information look:

Main article: The Working Fields

• Trinkets:
  • Costs 16 -> 24 -> 32 (Max)

• Combat Items:
  • Costs 6 -> 8 -> 12 (Max)

• Stagecoach Items:
  • 16 -> 24 -> 32 (Max)

• Inn Items:
  • Cost 4 -> 8 -> 12 -> 16 -> 20 -> 24 (Max)

Quirk Rerolls

During the Crossroads any non-memoried heroes can get their Quirks rerolled as long as the player has Candles to spend.

Main article: Quirks (Darkest Dungeon II)

• Quirk Reroll:
  • Cost 6 -> 9 -> 12 -> 16 -> 20 -> 24 (Max)

Node Choices

New Node Choices will start appearing once Altar of Hope is fully completed, this choices cost Inventory Candles such as Region Goal Rewards, Hero Goal Rewards and Nodes.

Resistance Encounter / Creature Den / Oblivion's Ingress
As long as there enough Candles in the Inventory combat nodes have a chance to show a powerful Hero Choice.
Cost 6 Candles:

• Enemy Party:
  • Add , x2
• Hero Party:
  • Add x2,
  • Add
  • Add x2
  • Heal 100% ( Only if Party HP < 50%: )
  • -10 ( Only if Total Party is 10+ )

The Desperate Few
Similar to Combat Nodes as long as there enough Candles in the Inventory theres a chance for a Hero Choice to appear that will grant both Powerful Items and a Party Buff for an entire Region.

• Destitute:
  
  8 Candles
  • +30 Flame
  • Hero Signature Item and Random Stagecoach Item
  
  10 Candles
  • Hero: Compassionate
  • Party : +20% RES

• Provisions:
  
  8 Candles
  • +30 Flame
  • 4 Tinned Delicacies
  • 1 Roast Pig
  
  10 Candles
  • Hero: Gain Iron Constitution
  •Party : +20% Healing Received from Skills

• Militia:
  
  8 Candles
  • +30 Flame
  • +5 and
  • 4 Random Combat Item Stacks
  
  10 Candles
  • Hero: Gain Tactical Thinker
  • Party : +15% RES, +15% RES