Challenges

Challenges are a mechanic exclusive to the Kaycee's Mod version of the mod. They are optional modifiers that change how the game is played.

Challenges also give points that function as a score.

## True Challenges

These modifiers make the game more difficult by either removing some of the positive mechanics or adding new negative ones.

### No Bones

**+15 challenge points**

Disables the ability to gain a Bone at the start of each fight, for each boss defeated.

#### Strategy

The No Bones Challenge severely limits your early game options and flexibility in later areas. In order to win, you have to get more Bone generation than you usually would, and limit the amount of expensive Cards greatly.

As this Challenge does not affect Soul production in any way, playing with the Spirits Starter Deck may make it easier.

### Kaycee's Kerfuffle

**+15 challenge points**

On the 4th turn of each Battle, all your cards become Frozen Away.

### Strategy

A good way to play around Kaycee's Kerfuffle is to play weak cards until the 4th turn of the battle. This way you wont risk getting your stronger cards frozen by the challenge's effect.

The challenge does have an upside as frozen cards will grant an additional bone after being "unfrozen".

### Sawyer's Showdown

**+5 challenge points**

At the start of each turn, you lose 1 Bone. If you have less than 3 Bones, you gain 1 Bone instead.

#### Strategy

Sawyer's Showdown is a challenge that will be especially disruptive for decks built around mass Bone generation. Similarly to No Bones, it is advised to focus on cheap cards rather than relying on costly finishers.

Just as other boss-themed challenges, Sawyer's Showdown has an upside as it will aid you if you fall behind with the Bone generation.

### Royal Rumble

**+5 challenge points**

Every third card you play gains the Lit Fuse sigil.

#### Strategy

Royal Rumble forces the player to plan ahead a lot, as there is no tell for the effect to trigger. The player has to carefully calculate playing cards in order to avoid getting their valuable creatures destroyed by the Lit Fuse sigil.

Just as other boss-themed challenges, Royal Rumble has an upside, as the Lit Fuse sigil will allow to easily clear high-health enemies, such as Hell Hound, Limoncello or even The Twin Giants or The Bone Lord, making boss fights trivial.

### Soulless

**+10 challenge points**

Skeletons cost 1 Soul. This challenge can be stacked up to two instances, resulting in Skeletons costing up to 2 Soul.

#### Strategy

While a single instance of the Soulless challenge doesn't add much, having two of them enabled at the same time can massively decrease survivability in the early game. Without any free cards in hand, the player is forced to wait until the 2nd turn before they can play any cards. Focus on Soul generation is heavily advised when playing with this challenge.

### Frail Hammer

**+15 challenge points**

The Hammer will be repaired only after beating a Boss.

#### Strategy

Reducing Hammer's utility to only three uses per each region rather than each battle can be pretty annoying, when trying to make early use of cards like Bone Heap or Glacier. When playing with this challenge, it is advised to save the Hammer only for emergency and use it only when absolutely necessary.

### Jammed Chair

**+10 challenge points**

The Electric Chair will be always set to level 3.

#### Strategy

Depending on your playstyle, Jammed Chair may not be a disadvantage at all, or it might completely ruin your run. The main disadvantage of this challenge is the unpredictability of the electric chair when set to max level. You may get a really good sigil, which will carry your run or you may end up just getting sigils that are either completely useless or grant minimal utility.

### Wilted Clover

**+20 challenge points**

Card Choices will contain only 2 cards to choose from.

### Hell Mode

**+80 challenge points**

Significantly increases the difficulty of regular battles.

#### Strategy

It is recommended that players of Hell Mode learn to reduce the mental and physical effects of abject suffering upon their person.

### Vengeful Ghouls

**+40 challenge points**

Kaycee, Sawyer and Royal gain a 3rd phase with unique mechanics.

#### Strategy

For details and strategies, see the pages for the respective bosses.

## Anti-Challenges

These modifiers make the game easier by removing negative mechanics or adding new positive effects. In return, they give negative points for the score.

### Infinite Lives

**-999 challenge points**

Grants infinite lives. If you lose a battle, you are brought back to the chess board and have to fight again.

### Safe Chair

**-20 challenge points**

Prevents cards from being destroyed on the Electric Chair.

### Bone Lord's Mercy

**-20 challenge points**

Grants you a Bone every time you play a card that costs no Bones. This includes cards that are completely free or cards that cost only Souls.

### Pharaoh's Blessing

**-20 challenge points**

Custom rules of Ankh Guard battles always benefit the player.

## Trivia

* The Vengeful Ghouls challenge and Pharaoh's Blessing anti-challenge were added in v3.1.0.
* Prior to v3.1.0, No Bones was worth 10 challenge points, Soulless was worth 5 challenge points for each instance and Royal Rumble was worth 10 challenge points.