Darkest Dungeon 2 is not a walk in the park, as there is always something to make my playthrough miserable. Challenges are different, but one thing is constant - the worry about the stress level of heroes. So how does stress work in Darkest Dungeon 2, and can you do something to ease the pain of constant suffering?
What does stress do in Darkest Dungeon 2?
Stress is a system in Darkest Dungeon II that represents the mental pressure your heroes endure. Each character has a stress meter that can reach a maximum of ten. Should a character's stress reach maximum, they'll have a meltdown or become resolute.
Most of the time, heroes will face a meltdown, but if you're lucky enough, you'll get a positive outcome with resolute. The Flagellant character is an exception, as he'll always go into a toxic state, allowing him to be even more effective. When a character has a meltdown, their health will be significantly reduced, and relationships between heroes will be penalized.
Related: All Changes in Darkest Dungeon 2
How to avoid stress in Darkest Dungeon 2
Unfortunately, avoiding stress is almost impossible, but you can manage it. Many factors can increase stress in Darkest Dungeon 2:
- Suffering attacks
- Choosing a different path while traveling than the one some character wants.
- Healing one character instead of another.
Stress influences affinities, so if you don't manage them, you'll have a problem with strained relationships. To minimize the stress, use characters' combat skills, inn items, inn bonuses, combat items, trinkets, and stagecoach upgrades.
For more information on Darkest Dungeon 2, check out How to upgrade your Characters in Darkest Dungeon 2 on Pro Game Guides.
