Why Torchless is Bad: Darkest Dungeon Discussion

Summary

In this video, Shuffle critiques the Torchless challenge in *Darkest Dungeon*, claiming it’s not as difficult as many think. While it adds stress, increased damage, and Shambler spawns, Shuffle argues that the mode primarily reinforces the existing meta of the game, such as relying on speed, stuns, and scouting. Torchless doesn’t teach new strategies but rather emphasizes mechanics that experienced players already use. Despite claims of its difficulty, Shuffle believes the challenge is imbalanced, particularly with Shambler's spawn rate, and doesn’t lead to significant improvements in gameplay. He also discusses the concept of self-imposed challenges and their role in pushing player skill.

Takeaways

• 😀 Torchless mode in *Darkest Dungeon* isn't necessarily harder than regular play after reaching a certain point. The real challenge comes from the Shambler's spawn rate and game balance.
• 😀 The primary strategies for surviving Torchless are speed, stuns, and scouting. Once you understand these mechanics, the challenge becomes more manageable.
• 😀 The Shambler spawn rate in Torchless is a major difficulty spike, creating an imbalance that can make the game feel unfair.
• 😀 Players can impose self-challenges to make the game harder, like beating the game without torches or playing with deathless runs, which can feel more rewarding than completing Torchless.
• 😀 Achieving in Torchless doesn't necessarily make you a better player. Many experienced *Darkest Dungeon* players already know how to use stuns, speed, and accuracy effectively.
• 😀 The culture around difficult challenges in *Darkest Dungeon* often leads to unhealthy comparisons, such as comparing whether someone has completed the game on Torchless or Blood Moon difficulty.
• 😀 Beating the game with alternative challenges (e.g., no gold or no stuns) is a greater achievement than completing Torchless, as these challenges test different aspects of player skill.
• 😀 Torchless doesn't teach new skills or strategies; it primarily reinforces already known mechanics like managing stress and using debuffs.
• 😀 The speaker critiques the idea of ‘bragging rights’ around completing Torchless or Blood Moon, emphasizing that players can always crank up difficulty by adding their own challenges.
• 😀 The video also teases a future guide on the Leper class and promotes the speaker's Twitch stream and Discord community for further interaction and support.

Q & A

What is the Torchless challenge in *Darkest Dungeon*?

The Torchless challenge is a self-imposed difficulty mode in *Darkest Dungeon* where players choose not to bring torches into dungeons and snuff out their light at the first opportunity. This increases enemy damage, crit rates, and stress, and introduces additional dangers like increased surprise rates and the chance of a Shambler appearing.

Why does the speaker believe the Torchless challenge is not actually difficult?

The speaker argues that after reaching a certain point in the game, Torchless just feels like playing the regular game. They believe the challenge mostly comes from the early stages and the high spawn rate of the Shambler, but once the player gains access to useful trinkets and heroes, the difficulty levels off.

What are the key mechanics that make Torchless easier to manage, according to the speaker?

Speed, stuns, and scouting are essential for managing Torchless. Characters with high speed can prevent enemy actions, and stuns further mitigate the damage and stress. Scouting also reduces the surprise rate, making it less dangerous to walk into fights.

How does the Shambler affect Torchless gameplay?

The Shambler is one of the few things that truly impacts Torchless gameplay. Its high spawn rate makes it a significant threat, especially on higher difficulty levels. The speaker notes that its spawn rates were balanced around a mechanic that allowed retreating from it, which was later removed, making the challenge feel imbalanced.

How does speed influence Torchless gameplay?

Speed is crucial in Torchless as it allows the player to act before enemies, preventing damage and stress buildup. The speaker mentions that faster characters are generally more beneficial, as they can stun enemies and mitigate some of the worst effects of increased enemy damage and crits.

What is the speaker's opinion on the difficulty of Torchless compared to other game modes?

The speaker believes that while Torchless might seem difficult at first, it's not as challenging as other game modes like Blood Moon or the Stygian difficulty. They argue that with the right strategy (speed, stuns, scouting), players can easily manage the increased stress and damage, making Torchless less challenging after a certain point.

What does the speaker think about the meta that Torchless reinforces in *Darkest Dungeon*?

The speaker claims that Torchless reinforces the existing *Darkest Dungeon* meta, which relies on speed, stuns, and efficient control strategies. Instead of forcing players to develop new tactics, it mostly leads to optimizing existing strategies that are already powerful in normal play.

What impact do trinkets and hero choice have on the difficulty of Torchless?

Trinkets and hero choice significantly reduce the difficulty of Torchless as players progress. Characters like the Leper and Arbalest, when properly equipped, can perform well despite the increased stress and damage. Additionally, trinkets like the Hellion's Hairpin can be very useful in minimizing the challenge.

How does the increased loot in Torchless affect the game's economy?

The increased loot drop rate in Torchless helps offset the higher costs of using facilities for stress healing and other expenses. The player can accumulate enough gold and heirlooms from treasure drops to maintain their resources and even build up a large stash by the end of the game.

What other self-imposed challenges does the speaker recommend for improving player skill in *Darkest Dungeon*?

The speaker suggests that more challenging self-imposed conditions, like playing without gold or without stuns, are better ways to improve as a player. They argue that these types of challenges push players to think more creatively and strategically than simply playing with Torchless mode.