Vows & Ordeals

A vow is a standing pledge: a restriction you choose to carry for an entire descent, sealed in exchange for something real. Vows are entirely optional. Nothing in the 48-vow table below is required to clear the dungeon; they exist for players hunting an extra dial to turn, harder or richer, once the base game feels solved.

Sealing a Vow

Vows work as a standing pledge rather than a one-time choice. You can pledge or unpledge vows at any time between descents, and that pledge persists across runs until you change it again. The moment a new descent begins, every pledged vow tries to seal onto that run — but a vow whose restriction your currently equipped gear already violates (an empty-slot vow with something equipped in that slot, or a cursed-only vow with a non-cursed item in it) is skipped instead of sealed. It stays pledged and tries again on your next descent, so unequip the conflicting piece first if you want it active. Once a vow does seal, its restriction holds for the rest of that run; there is no way to lift it early.

Trade Vows

Trade vows swap a restriction for real combat power: 36 vows, each pairing one restriction with a bonus that only applies while the vow stays sealed and unbroken.

VowRestrictionBonusSpoilsBreak Scar
Vow of the Reckless Guard
You lower your guard just enough to strike harder.		 25% less Max HP this run. +30% Attack +3% rarer finds 30% Max HP
Vow of the Arcane Toll
Every spell you cast draws payment from your own flesh.		 25% less Max HP this run. +45% Skill Damage +3% rarer finds 30% Max HP
Vow of the Forsworn Cure
You swear off every draught, and let spilled blood be the only cure.		 No potions may be bought or drunk this run. +35% Lifesteal +3% rarer finds 30% Max HP
Vow of the Barefoot Hunt
You hunt without boots, trading swiftness for a steadier aim.		 Boots slot must stay empty. +30% Attack +3% rarer finds 30% Max HP
Vow of the Bowed Head
You bow your head bare before every strike, trusting precision over protection.		 Helmet slot must stay empty. +35% Crit Damage +3% rarer finds 30% Max HP
Vow of the Blood Feast
You feed on your own strength to drink deeper from your foes.		 25% less Max HP this run. +45% Lifesteal +3% rarer finds 30% Max HP
Vow of the Unaided Wound
No draught mends you now. Only duty hardens your flesh.		 No potions may be bought or drunk this run. +25% Max HP +3% rarer finds 30% Max HP
Vow of the Bare Chest
You bare your chest to the fight, daring every blow to find its mark.		 Armor slot must stay empty. +35% Crit Damage +3% rarer finds 30% Max HP
Vow of the Iron Grip
Bare gauntlets grip the blade, every strike felt in the bone.		 Gloves slot must stay empty. +30% Attack +3% rarer finds 30% Max HP
Vow of the Immovable Wall
You plant your feet and never move again, an unbreakable wall.		 20% less Speed this run. +25% Max HP +3% rarer finds 30% Max HP
Vow of the Stripped Collar
You wear no charm at your throat, trusting steel discipline alone.		 Necklace slot must stay empty. +30% Attack +3% rarer finds 30% Max HP
Vow of the Empty Grimoire
No focus channels your will. The spell forms from raw thought alone.		 Weapon slot must stay empty. +60% Skill Damage +3% rarer finds 30% Max HP
Vow of the Warded Flesh
You ward your body with discipline instead of tonics.		 No potions may be bought or drunk this run. +25% Max HP +3% rarer finds 30% Max HP
Vow of the Grimoire of Thorns
A cursed grimoire answers your call, and drinks a little life with every spell.		 Only Cursed gear may fill the Weapon slot, or it stays empty. +40% Lifesteal +3% rarer finds 30% Max HP
Vow of the Unadorned Hand
No ring shapes your casting. Power spills out raw and unpredictable.		 Ring slot must stay empty. +35% Crit Damage +3% rarer finds 30% Max HP
Vow of the Frozen Stance
You stand rooted mid cast, pouring every ounce of motion into the spell.		 20% less Speed this run. +45% Skill Damage +3% rarer finds 30% Max HP
Vow of the Martyr's Edge
You channel your own suffering into a sharper, crueler strike.		 25% less Max HP this run. +35% Crit Damage +3% rarer finds 30% Max HP
Vow of the Hands of Mercy
Bare hands alone carry your gift, to heal or to smite.		 Gloves slot must stay empty. +30% Attack +3% rarer finds 30% Max HP
Vow of Faith Alone
You wear no holy symbol. Faith alone must ward your flesh.		 Necklace slot must stay empty. +35% Lifesteal +3% rarer finds 30% Max HP
Vow of the Relic of Borrowed Pain
A cursed relic answers your prayer, and your healing turns lethal in a foe's wound.		 Only Cursed gear may fill the Weapon slot, or it stays empty. +45% Skill Damage +3% rarer finds 30% Max HP
Vow of the Measured Rite
You move slow and deliberate, every strike a measured rite.		 20% less Speed this run. +30% Attack +3% rarer finds 30% Max HP
Vow of the Steady Aim
You trust your aim alone. No tonic steadies a shaking hand.		 No potions may be bought or drunk this run. +35% Crit Damage +3% rarer finds 30% Max HP
Vow of the Bare Fingers
You draw the string bare fingered, feeling the exact breath to release.		 Gloves slot must stay empty. +35% Crit Damage +3% rarer finds 30% Max HP
Vow of the Vampiric Arrows
A cursed bow answers your draw, and drinks the life of every mark you fell.		 Only Cursed gear may fill the Weapon slot, or it stays empty. +40% Lifesteal +3% rarer finds 30% Max HP
Vow of the Reckless Quiver
You trade your own resilience for deadlier trick shots.		 25% less Max HP this run. +45% Skill Damage +3% rarer finds 30% Max HP
Vow of the Hardened Hand
No ring softens your grip. Years alone in the wild hardened you instead.		 Ring slot must stay empty. +25% Max HP +3% rarer finds 30% Max HP
Vow of the Disciplined Blade
Discipline forbids the tonic. Only the blade may answer for you.		 No potions may be bought or drunk this run. +25% Attack +3% rarer finds 30% Max HP
Vow of the Naked Grip
You grip the hilt bare handed, feeling every nerve of the strike.		 Gloves slot must stay empty. +30% Attack +3% rarer finds 30% Max HP
Vow of the Cursed Katana
A cursed blade answers your draw, and drinks a sliver of the fallen's strength.		 Only Cursed gear may fill the Weapon slot, or it stays empty. +40% Lifesteal +3% rarer finds 30% Max HP
Vow of the Duelist's Gamble
You risk your own frailty for a killing edge, a gamble only a duelist would take.		 25% less Max HP this run. +35% Crit Damage +3% rarer finds 30% Max HP
Vow of the Bare Throat
You wear no talisman at your throat. Form and discipline are armor enough.		 Necklace slot must stay empty. +25% Max HP +3% rarer finds 30% Max HP
Vow of the Dry Throat
No flask touches your lips again. Blood alone must quench you.		 No potions may be bought or drunk this run. +40% Lifesteal +3% rarer finds 30% Max HP
Vow of the Bare Fists
You fight bare fisted beneath your gauntlets, fury given form.		 Gloves slot must stay empty. +30% Attack +3% rarer finds 30% Max HP
Vow of the Unbreakable Fury
You scorn your armor. Fury alone makes you harder to kill.		 Armor slot must stay empty. +25% Max HP +3% rarer finds 30% Max HP
Vow of the Cursed Cleaver
A cursed weapon answers your grip, and gorges on stolen life with every swing.		 Only Cursed gear may fill the Weapon slot, or it stays empty. +45% Lifesteal +3% rarer finds 30% Max HP
Vow of the Planted Feet
You plant your feet and swing with reckless abandon, speed be damned.		 20% less Speed this run. +30% Attack +3% rarer finds 30% Max HP

Ordeals

Ordeals are the harder, reward-free counterpart: 12 restrictions with no combat bonus at all. An Ordeal never makes you stronger — it exists purely to make the descent harder, and pays you back in richer spoils instead.

OrdealRestrictionSpoilsBreak Scar
Ordeal of the Fallen Shield
Your shield falls, and duty alone must hold the line.		 45% less Attack this run. +15% rarer finds 30% Max HP
Ordeal of the Silenced Spellbook
Half your spellbook reads as silence now.		 45% less Attack this run. +15% rarer finds 30% Max HP
Ordeal of the Broken Ward
The ward that once shielded you crumbles to dust.		 40% less Defense this run. +15% rarer finds 30% Max HP
Ordeal of the Clipped Wings
Your fastest steps now move like everyone else's.		 40% less Speed this run. +15% rarer finds 30% Max HP
Ordeal of the Dulled Edge
Your blade loses its bite before the first duel begins.		 45% less Attack this run. +15% rarer finds 30% Max HP
Ordeal of the Starving Rage
Your rage devours you from within before the fight even starts.		 40% less Max HP this run. +15% rarer finds 30% Max HP
Ordeal of the Sundered Stance
Your plate drags at every step, a wall too slow to hold the line.		 40% less Speed this run. +15% rarer finds 30% Max HP
Ordeal of the Brittle Focus
Your body grows brittle, the price arcane strain leaves unpaid.		 40% less Max HP this run. +15% rarer finds 30% Max HP
Ordeal of the Hobbled Hands
Your steps slow to a crawl, the wounded left waiting too long.		 40% less Speed this run. +15% rarer finds 30% Max HP
Ordeal of the Frayed Bowstring
Your bowstring frays, every shot landing soft as a whisper.		 45% less Attack this run. +15% rarer finds 30% Max HP
Ordeal of the Faltering Footwork
Your footwork falters mid duel, the killing blow arriving late.		 40% less Speed this run. +15% rarer finds 30% Max HP
Ordeal of the Blunted Fury
Your weapon dulls mid swing, fury alone cannot sharpen a blunted edge.		 45% less Attack this run. +15% rarer finds 30% Max HP

Breaking a Vow

Breaking a vow's restriction — drinking a forbidden potion, or equipping into a forbidden slot or rarity — forfeits its bonus and its spoils weight for the rest of the run, and stamps a lasting scar in their place: a flat 30% cut to Max HP, the same for every vow currently in the game. The scar applies immediately and lasts until your next wipe or fresh descent.

Vow of the Reckless Guard, Ordeal of the Fallen Shield, Vow of the Arcane Toll, Ordeal of the Silenced Spellbook, Ordeal of the Broken Ward, Ordeal of the Clipped Wings, Ordeal of the Dulled Edge, Vow of the Blood Feast, Ordeal of the Starving Rage, Vow of the Immovable Wall, Ordeal of the Sundered Stance, Vow of the Frozen Stance, Ordeal of the Brittle Focus, Vow of the Martyr's Edge, Vow of the Measured Rite, Ordeal of the Hobbled Hands, Vow of the Reckless Quiver, Ordeal of the Frayed Bowstring, Vow of the Duelist's Gamble, Ordeal of the Faltering Footwork, Vow of the Planted Feet, and Ordeal of the Blunted Fury pay their cost the instant they seal rather than through anything you do mid run, so in practice they can never actually be broken; the scar exists only for consistency with the rest of the table.

Ordeals and Trade Vows Never Mix

An oath of hardship admits no crutches. Ordeal and trade vows cannot be sealed together. You choose one side or the other for a given descent: chase power with trade vows, or chase spoils with Ordeals, never both at once.

A handful of vows also conflict within their own category, because they target the same equipment slot or sacrifice the same stat:

  • Vow of the Reckless Guard and Vow of the Arcane Toll can never be sealed together: Conflicting vows both sacrifice maxHp.
  • Vow of the Reckless Guard and Vow of the Blood Feast can never be sealed together: Conflicting vows both sacrifice maxHp.
  • Vow of the Reckless Guard and Vow of the Martyr's Edge can never be sealed together: Conflicting vows both sacrifice maxHp.
  • Vow of the Reckless Guard and Vow of the Reckless Quiver can never be sealed together: Conflicting vows both sacrifice maxHp.
  • Vow of the Reckless Guard and Vow of the Duelist's Gamble can never be sealed together: Conflicting vows both sacrifice maxHp.
  • Ordeal of the Fallen Shield and Ordeal of the Silenced Spellbook can never be sealed together: Conflicting vows both sacrifice attack.
  • Ordeal of the Fallen Shield and Ordeal of the Dulled Edge can never be sealed together: Conflicting vows both sacrifice attack.
  • Ordeal of the Fallen Shield and Ordeal of the Frayed Bowstring can never be sealed together: Conflicting vows both sacrifice attack.
  • Ordeal of the Fallen Shield and Ordeal of the Blunted Fury can never be sealed together: Conflicting vows both sacrifice attack.
  • Vow of the Arcane Toll and Vow of the Blood Feast can never be sealed together: Conflicting vows both sacrifice maxHp.
  • Vow of the Arcane Toll and Vow of the Martyr's Edge can never be sealed together: Conflicting vows both sacrifice maxHp.
  • Vow of the Arcane Toll and Vow of the Reckless Quiver can never be sealed together: Conflicting vows both sacrifice maxHp.
  • Vow of the Arcane Toll and Vow of the Duelist's Gamble can never be sealed together: Conflicting vows both sacrifice maxHp.
  • Ordeal of the Silenced Spellbook and Ordeal of the Dulled Edge can never be sealed together: Conflicting vows both sacrifice attack.
  • Ordeal of the Silenced Spellbook and Ordeal of the Frayed Bowstring can never be sealed together: Conflicting vows both sacrifice attack.
  • Ordeal of the Silenced Spellbook and Ordeal of the Blunted Fury can never be sealed together: Conflicting vows both sacrifice attack.
  • Ordeal of the Clipped Wings and Ordeal of the Sundered Stance can never be sealed together: Conflicting vows both sacrifice speed.
  • Ordeal of the Clipped Wings and Ordeal of the Hobbled Hands can never be sealed together: Conflicting vows both sacrifice speed.
  • Ordeal of the Clipped Wings and Ordeal of the Faltering Footwork can never be sealed together: Conflicting vows both sacrifice speed.
  • Ordeal of the Dulled Edge and Ordeal of the Frayed Bowstring can never be sealed together: Conflicting vows both sacrifice attack.
  • Ordeal of the Dulled Edge and Ordeal of the Blunted Fury can never be sealed together: Conflicting vows both sacrifice attack.
  • Vow of the Blood Feast and Vow of the Martyr's Edge can never be sealed together: Conflicting vows both sacrifice maxHp.
  • Vow of the Blood Feast and Vow of the Reckless Quiver can never be sealed together: Conflicting vows both sacrifice maxHp.
  • Vow of the Blood Feast and Vow of the Duelist's Gamble can never be sealed together: Conflicting vows both sacrifice maxHp.
  • Ordeal of the Starving Rage and Ordeal of the Brittle Focus can never be sealed together: Conflicting vows both sacrifice maxHp.
  • Vow of the Bare Chest and Vow of the Unbreakable Fury can never be sealed together: Conflicting vows both target the armor slot.
  • Vow of the Iron Grip and Vow of the Hands of Mercy can never be sealed together: Conflicting vows both target the gloves slot.
  • Vow of the Iron Grip and Vow of the Bare Fingers can never be sealed together: Conflicting vows both target the gloves slot.
  • Vow of the Iron Grip and Vow of the Naked Grip can never be sealed together: Conflicting vows both target the gloves slot.
  • Vow of the Iron Grip and Vow of the Bare Fists can never be sealed together: Conflicting vows both target the gloves slot.
  • Vow of the Immovable Wall and Vow of the Frozen Stance can never be sealed together: Conflicting vows both sacrifice speed.
  • Vow of the Immovable Wall and Vow of the Measured Rite can never be sealed together: Conflicting vows both sacrifice speed.
  • Vow of the Immovable Wall and Vow of the Planted Feet can never be sealed together: Conflicting vows both sacrifice speed.
  • Vow of the Stripped Collar and Vow of Faith Alone can never be sealed together: Conflicting vows both target the necklace slot.
  • Vow of the Stripped Collar and Vow of the Bare Throat can never be sealed together: Conflicting vows both target the necklace slot.
  • Ordeal of the Sundered Stance and Ordeal of the Hobbled Hands can never be sealed together: Conflicting vows both sacrifice speed.
  • Ordeal of the Sundered Stance and Ordeal of the Faltering Footwork can never be sealed together: Conflicting vows both sacrifice speed.
  • Vow of the Empty Grimoire and Vow of the Grimoire of Thorns can never be sealed together: Conflicting vows both target the weapon slot.
  • Vow of the Empty Grimoire and Vow of the Relic of Borrowed Pain can never be sealed together: Conflicting vows both target the weapon slot.
  • Vow of the Empty Grimoire and Vow of the Vampiric Arrows can never be sealed together: Conflicting vows both target the weapon slot.
  • Vow of the Empty Grimoire and Vow of the Cursed Katana can never be sealed together: Conflicting vows both target the weapon slot.
  • Vow of the Empty Grimoire and Vow of the Cursed Cleaver can never be sealed together: Conflicting vows both target the weapon slot.
  • Vow of the Grimoire of Thorns and Vow of the Relic of Borrowed Pain can never be sealed together: Conflicting vows both target the weapon slot.
  • Vow of the Grimoire of Thorns and Vow of the Vampiric Arrows can never be sealed together: Conflicting vows both target the weapon slot.
  • Vow of the Grimoire of Thorns and Vow of the Cursed Katana can never be sealed together: Conflicting vows both target the weapon slot.
  • Vow of the Grimoire of Thorns and Vow of the Cursed Cleaver can never be sealed together: Conflicting vows both target the weapon slot.
  • Vow of the Unadorned Hand and Vow of the Hardened Hand can never be sealed together: Conflicting vows both target the ring slot.
  • Vow of the Frozen Stance and Vow of the Measured Rite can never be sealed together: Conflicting vows both sacrifice speed.
  • Vow of the Frozen Stance and Vow of the Planted Feet can never be sealed together: Conflicting vows both sacrifice speed.
  • Vow of the Martyr's Edge and Vow of the Reckless Quiver can never be sealed together: Conflicting vows both sacrifice maxHp.
  • Vow of the Martyr's Edge and Vow of the Duelist's Gamble can never be sealed together: Conflicting vows both sacrifice maxHp.
  • Vow of the Hands of Mercy and Vow of the Bare Fingers can never be sealed together: Conflicting vows both target the gloves slot.
  • Vow of the Hands of Mercy and Vow of the Naked Grip can never be sealed together: Conflicting vows both target the gloves slot.
  • Vow of the Hands of Mercy and Vow of the Bare Fists can never be sealed together: Conflicting vows both target the gloves slot.
  • Vow of Faith Alone and Vow of the Bare Throat can never be sealed together: Conflicting vows both target the necklace slot.
  • Vow of the Relic of Borrowed Pain and Vow of the Vampiric Arrows can never be sealed together: Conflicting vows both target the weapon slot.
  • Vow of the Relic of Borrowed Pain and Vow of the Cursed Katana can never be sealed together: Conflicting vows both target the weapon slot.
  • Vow of the Relic of Borrowed Pain and Vow of the Cursed Cleaver can never be sealed together: Conflicting vows both target the weapon slot.
  • Vow of the Measured Rite and Vow of the Planted Feet can never be sealed together: Conflicting vows both sacrifice speed.
  • Ordeal of the Hobbled Hands and Ordeal of the Faltering Footwork can never be sealed together: Conflicting vows both sacrifice speed.
  • Vow of the Bare Fingers and Vow of the Naked Grip can never be sealed together: Conflicting vows both target the gloves slot.
  • Vow of the Bare Fingers and Vow of the Bare Fists can never be sealed together: Conflicting vows both target the gloves slot.
  • Vow of the Vampiric Arrows and Vow of the Cursed Katana can never be sealed together: Conflicting vows both target the weapon slot.
  • Vow of the Vampiric Arrows and Vow of the Cursed Cleaver can never be sealed together: Conflicting vows both target the weapon slot.
  • Vow of the Reckless Quiver and Vow of the Duelist's Gamble can never be sealed together: Conflicting vows both sacrifice maxHp.
  • Ordeal of the Frayed Bowstring and Ordeal of the Blunted Fury can never be sealed together: Conflicting vows both sacrifice attack.
  • Vow of the Naked Grip and Vow of the Bare Fists can never be sealed together: Conflicting vows both target the gloves slot.
  • Vow of the Cursed Katana and Vow of the Cursed Cleaver can never be sealed together: Conflicting vows both target the weapon slot.

Spoils: How Vows Reweight Your Loot

Every sealed, unbroken vow — trade or Ordeal — adds its Spoils percentage to a single running total for the run. That total reweights every uncommon-and-above item row in the loot tables you roll against, shifting relative odds toward the rarer end without adding or removing any entry, and separately raises the odds of the rare cursed-item drop channel by the same amount. The reweight reaches every rarity from uncommon up through cursed inclusive. The two purely drop-only apex tiers above it, mythic and divine, along with their pity timers, are completely untouched by any vow — see Items for the full rarity ladder and Bosses for where those two only ever drop.

The Vows Leaderboard

The Ranks screen carries a dedicated Vows tab: an all-time leaderboard, separate from the daily difficulty boards, tracking the best floor anyone has ever cleared while at least one vow stayed sealed and unbroken for that clear. Ties are broken by how many vows were still unbroken at that floor. It is a permanent record independent of daily resets or difficulty tier, so a strong vowed clear stays on the board for good.

See Progression for everything else you spend outside of vows, and Items for the cursed relics a high Spoils total makes easier to find.