Stress (Darkest Dungeon II)

• Combat Mechanics
• Stress
• Damage over Time
• Tokens
• Critical Hits
• Death's Door

• Heroes
• Quirks
• Disease
• Stress
• Relationships
• Goals

A very stressed-out Man-at-Arms.

“	The mind cannot hope to withstand such a protracted assault.	„
	~ The Academic

Stress is a mechanic in Darkest Dungeon II that represents the mental strain suffered by Heroes during combat and travel. Higher levels of stress will cause increasingly negative effects, reducing heroes' effectiveness in combat and directly impacting their Relationships with other heroes. For this and other reasons, managing Stress and maintaining good relationships between party members is essential for the long-term success of the expedition.

Stress Levels

Stress is represented by a number from 0 to 10. As accumulates, heroes will begin to say more Negative Banter, which causes further and also causes the heroes to lose Affinity with one another. This can easily lead to a snowballing effect.

Stress Level	Effects
0-3	No Negative Banter
4-6	Some Negative Banter
7-9	More Negative Banter
10	Meltdown, Resolute, or Toxic

Certain skills and items provide RES, giving heroes a chance to avoid damage.

Horror

Some enemy attacks inflict Horror, a status effect that inflicts over time.

Meltdown

An Occultist suffering a meltdown.

When a hero reaches 10 in combat, there is an 80% base chance that they will suffer a Meltdown, with the following effects:

• Reduce the to 10% (does not apply if already at or under 10% )
• -15% RES (until next Inn)
• +40% RES (3 turn)
• with all other party members.
• Add a Negative Quirk (40%)

Related Quirks

Quirk	Effects
Shattered Will	-20% Turn start: Destroy 1 positive token Combat start: Add +20% Meltdown Chance
Coward	When hit: +1 (15%) Turn start: If rank 1: Back 3 (15%, ignores resistance) +10% Meltdown chance
Darkly Curious	Prone to investigating the Dark Arts.
Doomsayer	-5% Positive relationship chance +10% Negative relationship chance
Fragile	-15% max When damaged: +1 (10%) +15% Meltdown Chance
Hypochondriac	On hit: 5% to obtain Random
Nervous	Round start: +1 (10%) +1 +5% Meltdown Chance
Pacifist	On attack: +1 (5%)
Soft	-5% max 10% Meltdown Chance
Terrified	Combat start: 1 (10%)
Thanatophobia	Round start: If < 25%: (25%) If < 25%: -25% resist. If teammate dies: +10
Weak Hold On Life	-10% resist. +15% Meltdown Chance

Resolute

A Man-at-Arms becoming resolute.

Alternatively, when a hero reaches 10 in combat, there is an 20% base chance that they will become Resolute, with the following effects:

• Heal 67%
• +15% RES (until next Inn)
• +40% RES (3 turn)
• +50% RES (3 turn)
• with all other party members.
• Add a Positive Quirk (40%)

Related Quirks

Quirks	Effects
Ascetic	Chance to donate gold during Assistance encounter. (-15 , +45 Flame) +15% Resolute chance. -5% Positive Relationship Chance.
Calm	+20% Resolute chance.
Clutch Hitter	+10% Critical chance if < 50% +25% Damage dealt if party < 25%
Deadly	+15% Critical chance
Death Seeker	On death's door: -10 +15% Resolute Chance
Defiant	Round start: +5%
Iron Constitution	+20% Max
Iron Stance	+30% RES
On Guard	+1 Combat start: x2
Resilient	If < 50% : -1 (25%) +15% Resolute Chance
Robust	+20% RES
Steady	+15% RES
Unyielding	+10% RES

Toxic

The Flagellant becoming toxic.

Upon reaching 10, the Flagellant cannot become Resolute nor suffer a Meltdown, but will instead become Toxic, with the following effects:

• Add Toxic token.
• with all other party members.
• Clear all skill cooldowns.
• -10% RES (until next Inn).
• All paths except Scourge: Set to 30%.
• Scourge: Set to 45%.
• Scourge: +1 Dealt (until end of combat).