Hallowmas (Guide)/Item Comparison
Early MYN Content and Onwards |
Item Comparisons |
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Seasonal |
Feast of the Rose |
Whitsun |
Estival |
Fruits of the Zee |
Hallowmas |
Christmas |
Perennial |
Exceptional Stories and Misc Fate Content |
Mr Chimes' Lost & Found |
This content is only available during Hallowmas!
For the history of this holiday see Hallowmas (historical) |
This is to help players determine how to spend their FATE and Confessions during Hallowmas.
A Note about Rankings[edit]
The nature of Hallowmas as a festival is that only some items are available for free any given year. It also has the largest inventory of any of the festivals. These two combined make it especially difficult to rank items, as Hallowmas equipment will often outclass other Hallowmas equipment, but it's likely neither will be free at the same time.
For the sake of my Nightmares and yours, I'm making the assumption that you're paying FATE for these companions for ease of making comparisons. This does result in fairly crowded "low tiers", but as a rule of thumb, you can consider any equipment that's free one tier higher than it normally is.
Several Hallowmas companions can also be married; for simplicity's sake, these are given their own section.
Items Sorted by Stats[edit]
Note that these tables follow the following format: strict BIS is bold, shared BIS is italic, and stats which are neither will be in regular case.
Best In Slot[edit]
These items are the strict best in slot for one or more stats.
Item | Slot | Acquisition | Stats | Notes |
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The Ephebe, Manifold | Hat | Spend 30 FATE to make The Infant permanent, in years where Wounds can be submitted to the Fool's Apostate. |
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Shared BIS for BDR with several other items, of which the Anonymous White Mask, Zee-Stained and Mildewy is the most accessible, from the Sacroboscan Calendar. The only peer Shapeling Arts item is its temporary counterpart. |
The Gant Moth | Hat | Spend 30 FATE to make The Moth permanent, in years where Nightmares can be submitted to the Fool's Apostate. |
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Shared BIS for BDR with several other items, of which the Anonymous White Mask, Zee-Stained and Mildewy is the most accessible, from the Sacroboscan Calendar. The only peer Glasswork items are its temporary counterpart and the possibly-RETIRED, Advent Calendar-exclusive Commander's Oneironautical Helm. |
Private Debating Lessons with the Jovial Contrarian | Weapon | 40 FATE (former ELECTION item) |
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Offers ten(!) points of Persuasive over the freely-available Unexploded Mine. Several other +2 BDR weapons, the most accessible of which is likely Iron Republic Journal. The Golden Spiked Rosary is one of the few better BDR weapons, only available during FEAST OF THE ROSE. The other two are exclusive to Ambition: Bag a Legend! and SMEN. Arguably the funniest item in the game. |
Feducci's Lance (Replica) | Weapon | 40 FATE (former ELECTION item) | Offers nine(!) points of Dangerous over the freely-available Honest Butcher's Tool, and eight(!) points over the technically-free-but-only-for-Hellworm-owners Vial of Cantigaster Venom. Several other +2 BDR weapons, the most accessible of which is likely Iron Republic Journal. The Golden Spiked Rosary is one of the few better BDR weapons, only available during FEAST OF THE ROSE. The other two are exclusive to Ambition: Bag a Legend! and SMEN. | |
Celebrated Weasel | Companion | Upgrade Lucky Weasel or spend 10 FATE |
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This is the only item in the game that increases gain for Plagued by a Popular Song! How fun! Though if your stats are high, there are other weasels that might be more useful to you. There is, of course, no good reason why you should ever want more Plagued by a Popular Song. But perhaps you want to detonate 400,000 weasels at once for an art project. |
The Scuttering Palace Guard | Companion | Upgrade Scuttering Squad or pay 20 FATE |
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Individually, these stats are tied for best-in-slot for with multiple other companions, but being able to have multiple BIS at once can be useful in situations where outfits are locked, such as Hearts' Game (Guide) |
Ursine Honey Connoisseur | Companion | Upgrade Honey-Mazed Bear or pay 15 FATE |
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Other companions, including its base item, give +1 Glasswork. Peer BIS is also a HALLOWMAS companion, Silver-Eyed Scoundrel. |
The Pirate-Poet, Inscribed Anew | Companion | Upgrade FEAST OF THE ROSE companion The Pirate-Poet or pay 20 FATE |
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Other companions, including Almost-Tame Blue Prophet, give +1 Zeefaring. |
Relict Catapult | Weapon | Upgrade Grubby Urchin or pay 20 FATE | This is not BIS in either stat, but only just. Useful in situations where outfits are locked, such as Hearts' Game (Guide) | |
Prescient Automatist | Companion | Upgrade FEAST OF THE ROSE companion Genre Painter |
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There are better companions for both Mithridacy and Glasswork, though notably not all at once. There is not currently any situation where you would need both Mithridacy and Glasswork in one outfit, though that could change with new content. |
Recalcitrant Sculptress | Companion | Upgrade Misplaced Ring or pay 30 FATE |
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There are better companions for all the stats she provides, though notably not all at once. There is not currently any situation where you would need both Monstrous Anatomy and Artisan of the Red Science in one outfit, though that could change with new content. Other +3 BDR companions available at various festivals, and the only +4 BDR companions are Übergoat and Bifurcated Owl, which involve both FATE and significant grinds. |
Feline Pariah | Companion | Upgrade FRUITS OF THE ZEE companion Inquisitive Lamp-cat or pay 20 FATE |
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Several +1 Monstrous Anatomy companions are available at other festivals. |
Efficient Plenipotentiary | Companion | Upgrade Efficient Commissioner from FEAST OF THE ROSE (for 50 FATE(!)) or pay 30 FATE |
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Several +1 A Player of Chess companions are available at other festivals. Individually, the highway stats are tied for best-in-slot for with multiple other companions, but being able to have multiple BIS at once can be useful in situations where outfits are locked, such as Hearts' Game (Guide) |
The Eagle, Ascendant | Companion | Upgrade Hallowmas companion The Precocious Engineer (Companion) |
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Similar companion available for 12 x Memory of a Tale, Illuminating Futurist. Oddly, the Engineer themself was a companion from a previous Hallowmas as well, making them currently the only companion with sequential upgrades over multiple years. |
Clay Corroborator | Companion | Upgrade HALLOWMAS companion Acerbic Clay Man |
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Currently the only Supsicion-mitigating companion |
Gravel-Voiced Gossip | Companion | Upgrade HALLOWMAS companion Acerbic Clay Man |
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Currently the only Scandal-reducing companion |
Silver-Eyed Scoundrel | Companion | Upgrade Starry-Eyed Scoundrel | Other companions give +1 Glasswork. Peer BIS is also a HALLOWMAS companion, Ursine Honey Connoisseur. |
Situational Best in Slot[edit]
For a subset of players, these items are the best available options for their slot. This may be because the alternatives are only available at other festivals, are only obtainable with certain Ambitions, cost FATE, etc.
Item | Slot | Acquisition | Stats | Notes |
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The Violant Demon | Hat | Spend 30 FATE to make The Demon permanent, in years where Scandal can be submitted to the Fool's Apostate. |
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Shared BIS for BDR with several other items, of which the Anonymous White Mask, Zee-Stained and Mildewy is the most accessible, from the Sacroboscan Calendar. Peer Artisan of the Red Science items are A Dream of Truth-Strangling for Ambition: Heart's Desire! players, or The Forsaken Crown of a Grand Devil from FRUITS OF THE ZEE. |
The Cosmogone Crown | Hat | Spend 30 FATE to make The Crown permanent, in years where Suspicion can be submitted to the Fool's Apostate. |
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Shared BIS for BDR with several other items, of which the Anonymous White Mask, Zee-Stained and Mildewy is the most accessible, from the Sacroboscan Calendar. Peer Mithridacy items include Diogenes from the FATE story The Mushroom's Dream and Tuneful Hat from WHITSUN. |
Midnight Matriarch of the Menagerie of Roses | Companion | Upgrade Midnight Matriarch or pay 25 FATE |
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This is the best Watchful companion in the game that isn't an Overgoat or Übergoat. Does not trigger the undesirable Like rats and cats card. |
The Scuttering Scoundrels | Companion | Upgrade Scuttering Squad or pay 20 FATE | Boosts the same stats as Efficient Plenipotentiary, so is strictly worse than her, but is available without completing The Efficient Commissioner's Tale and paying FATE. Does not trigger the undesirable Like rats and cats card. | |
Roseate Antagonist | Companion | Upgrade Countess of Thorns from FEAST OF THE ROSE or pay 15 FATE |
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Better Kataleptic Toxicology companion is July, available for 12 x Memory of a Tale. Another non-BIS Toxicology companion, Transfixing Squirrel, available for free from WHITSUN. Other +3 BDR companions available at various festivals, and the only +4 BDR companions are Übergoat and Bifurcated Owl, which involve both FATE and significant grinds. |
Regretful Sceptic | Companion | Upgrade Dashing Debunker, available with certain choices from the FATE story Noises from Upstairs, or pay 30 FATE |
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Mechanically inferior to his competition for A Player of Chess BIS, the Efficient Plenipotentiary, but is available without completing The Efficient Commissioner's Tale. |
Winged Creature of Considerable Speed | Companion | Upgrade Storm-bird or pay 20 FATE | Other +3 BDR companions available at various festivals, and the only +4 BDR companions are Übergoat and Bifurcated Owl, which involve both FATE and significant grinds. | |
Portable Fingerking Moot | Companion | Upgrade Forty-Nine-Voiced Warbler or pay 30 FATE |
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Shared BIS for Mithridacy with Bohemian Sculptress from FEAST OF THE ROSE. |
Liquid Debutante | Companion | Upgrade HALLOWMAS companion Rubbery Newcomer or pay 20 FATE |
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Other Shapeling Arts +1 companions available at HALLOWMAS and WHITSUN. Note that a +2 Shapeling Arts companion is available at FEAST OF THE ROSE, The Abbot-Commander. |
Squirming Reprobate | Companion | Upgrade HALLOWMAS companion Rubbery Newcomer or pay 20 FATE |
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Outclassed by other companions, including the Feline Pariah and Recalcitrant Sculptress available at this festival, but is easier to acquire since it doesn't require having a FRUITS OF THE ZEE companion or access to the Upper River. |
The Captivating Princess' Third-Best Tiara | Hat | Upgrade FEAST OF THE ROSE companion Incognito Princess or pay 20 FATE |
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Peer item is only available during SUMMER, Fourth City Eyeball. |
Stormy-Eyed Scoundrel | Companion | Upgrade Starry-Eyed Scoundrel or pay 20 FATE | Other +3 BDR companions available at various festivals, and the only +4 BDR companions are Übergoat and Bifurcated Owl, which involve both FATE and significant grinds. | |
Epistemological Mapmaker | Companion | Upgrade HALLOWMAS companion Weary Wayfinder or pay 20 FATE |
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Outclassed by Prescient Automatist and Portable Fingerking Moot. |
Navigator-Elect of the Sea of Spines | Companion | Upgrade HALLOWMAS companion Weary Wayfinder or pay 20 FATE |
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Other Shapeling Arts +1 companions available at HALLOWMAS and WHITSUN. Note that a +2 Shapeling Arts companion is available at FEAST OF THE ROSE, The Abbot-Commander. |
Verity of the Savage Lily | Companion | Upgrade FEAST OF THE ROSE companion Verity |
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Peer Dangerous with The Minister of War, peer Kataleptic Toxicology is Transfixing Squirrel from WHITSUN, though Roseate Antagonist from this festival gives more KT. See also the companions in the higher tiers which give +10 to multiple stats. |
Vial of Cantigaster Venom | Weapon |
|
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Honest Butcher's Tool from Hearts' Game is an equivalent for Toxicology. Feducci's Lance (Replica) from HALLOWMAS is quite a bit more Dangerous. |
Perennial Peer Items[edit]
These items have peer items freely available at all times of year, though they may be difficult to acquire or require completion of a lengthy storyline.
Item | Slot | Acquisition | Stats | Notes |
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A Very Lenient Judge | Companion | Upgrade Unassuming Judge or pay 20 FATE |
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Equivalent perennial items include The Minister of Culture for Persuasive. See also the companions in the higher tiers which give +10 to multiple stats. |
Buccaneering Palaeontologist | Companion | Upgrade FEAST OF THE ROSE companion Debonair Palaeontologist or pay 20 FATE | Equivalent perennial items include The Minister of War. See also the companions in the higher tiers which give +10 to multiple stats. This companion can also be married, see below. | |
Rodentine Panegyrist | Companion | Upgrade Metaphysically Educated Rattus Faber or pay 15 FATE |
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Equivalent perennial items include The Minister of Culture for Persuasive. See also the companions in the higher tiers which give +10 to multiple stats |
Early-Game Utility[edit]
These items are strictly outclassed for endgame players, but may be useful options for those who do not yet have access to a more lategame alternative.
Item | Slot | Acquisition | Stats | Notes |
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A Member of the Order of Those Who Will Not Be Caught Red-Handed | Affiliation | Submit Nightmares more than any other Menace to the Fool's Apostate, and receive this when the festival ends. | Better Affiliations are available quickly after becoming a A Person of Some Importance -, but early-game players may not have access to any at all. Matched by Newspaper and eventually surpassed by Seven of St Eligius' Very Own Beard Hairs and the Renown: The Great Game 40 item, The Great Game (Affiliation) | |
A Seat at the Bishop's Table | Affiliation | Submit Scandal more than any other Menace to the Fool's Apostate, and receive this when the festival ends. | Better Affiliations are available quickly after becoming a A Person of Some Importance -, but early-game players may not have access to any at all. Outclassed by A Salon and Membership of God's Editors. | |
Inducted into the Inverted Stalactite Society | Affiliation | Submit Wounds more than any other Menace to the Fool's Apostate, and receive this when the festival ends. | Dangerous Affiliations are a bit more difficult to come by, so this one lasts a bit longer than its competition. Eventually outclassed by The Crew of the HMS Ramillies. | |
A Member of the Crew of the St Elmo | Affiliation | Submit Suspicion more than any other Menace to the Fool's Apostate, and receive this when the festival ends. |
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Better Affiliations are available quickly after becoming a A Person of Some Importance -, but early-game players may not have access to any at all. Outclassed by Gang of Hoodlums and Lowell's Locks and Cages. |
No Stats[edit]
These items are difficult to recommend based on stats, even for earlygame players.
Note that if they are free, many of these are actually quite good in the earlygame and should be considered part of that tier, but if paying FATE, you should instead choose one of the options above which give +10 in multiple stats.
Item | Slot | Acquisition | Stats | Notes |
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Haunted Goldfish | Companion | Upgrade Cheerful Goldfish or pay 10 FATE |
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Many +2 BDR options available, the easiest being Unfinished Hat from a story in Polythreme. +3 BDR is available from this very festival and +4 with FATE. |
Weeping Doll | Companion | Upgrade the FATE-companion Watchful Doll or pay 10 FATE | Many +2 BDR options available, the easiest being Unfinished Hat from a story in Polythreme. +3 BDR is available from this very festival and +4 with FATE. | |
Rubbery Campanologist | Companion | Upgrade Rubbery Bellringer or pay 15 FATE |
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Many +2 BDR options available, the easiest being Unfinished Hat from a story in Polythreme. +3 BDR is available from this very festival and +4 with FATE. Persuasive stat is decent for early and midgame but eventually outclassed by The Minister of Culture |
Extravagantly-Titled Tigress | Companion | Upgrade Bengal Tigress or pay 25 FATE |
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Many +2 BDR options available, the easiest being Unfinished Hat from a story in Polythreme. +3 BDR is available from this very festival and +4 with FATE. Dangerous and Persuasive stats are decent for early and midgame but eventually outclassed by The Minister of Culture and The Minister of War |
Rubbery Herald | Companion | Upgrade Rubbery Bellringer or pay 20 FATE |
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Outclassed by its own alternate, the Rubbery Campanologist, who is 5 FATE cheaper to boot. |
Well-Scrubbed Urchin | Companion | Upgrade Grubby Urchin or pay 20 FATE |
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Strictly worse than the free Blemmigan Tourist. |
Skullduggerous Urchin | Companion | Upgrade Grubby Urchin or pay 20 FATE | Outclassed by other HALLOWMAS items. | |
Pious Henchman | Companion | Upgrade Devious Henchman or pay 20 FATE |
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Outclassed by other HALLOWMAS items. |
Faustian Henchman | Companion | Upgrade Devious Henchman or pay 20 FATE |
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Outclassed by other HALLOWMAS items. |
Esoteric Accomplice | Companion | Upgrade Alluring Accomplice or pay 20 FATE | Outclassed by other HALLOWMAS items. | |
Fabulous Accomplice | Companion | Upgrade Alluring Accomplice or pay 20 FATE |
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Outclassed by other HALLOWMAS items. This companion is also marriageable, see below for details. |
Utterly Livid Bat | Companion | Upgrade Sulky Bat or pay 15 FATE |
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Outclassed by other HALLOWMAS items. |
Sister Lydia, At Peace With Herself | Companion | Upgrade Sister Lydia from FEAST OF THE ROSE or pay 20 FATE |
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Outclassed by other HALLOWMAS items. |
Minacious Union-Rat | Companion | Upgrade Working Rat or pay 20 FATE | Outclassed by other HALLOWMAS items. | |
Illuminated Rat | Companion | Upgrade Working Rat or pay 20 FATE |
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Outclassed by other HALLOWMAS items. |
Meticulous Henchman | Companion | Upgrade Ruthless Henchman or pay 20 FATE | Outclassed by other HALLOWMAS items. | |
Suave Henchman | Companion | Upgrade Ruthless Henchman or pay 20 FATE |
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Outclassed by other HALLOWMAS items. |
Pernicious Primate | Companion | Upgrade Malevolent Monkey or pay 20 FATE | Outclassed by other HALLOWMAS items. | |
Murderous Monkey | Companion | Upgrade Malevolent Monkey or pay 20 FATE | Outclassed by other HALLOWMAS items. | |
Protective Mandrake | Companion | Upgrade Deshrieked Mandrake or pay 20 FATE | Just outclassed in general. | |
Senatorial Spider | Companion | Upgrade Fairly Tame Sorrow-Spider or pay 15 FATE |
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Outclassed by other HALLOWMAS items. |
An Assuming Judge | Companion | Upgrade Unassuming Judge or pay 20 FATE} | Many +2 BDR options available, the easiest being Unfinished Hat from a story in Polythreme. +3 BDR is available from this very festival and +4 with FATE. Outclassed by other HALLOWMAS items. | |
August Feline | Companion | Upgrade Wretched Mog or pay 15 FATE |
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Outclassed by other HALLOWMAS items. |
Princeling of the Wakeful Court | Companion | Upgrade Wretched Mog or pay 15 FATE | Outclassed by other HALLOWMAS items. | |
Spider of Silken Marvels | Companion | Upgrade Fairly Tame Sorrow-Spider or pay 15 FATE | Outclassed by other HALLOWMAS items. | |
Iconoclastic Cryptanalyst | Companion | Upgrade HALLOWMAS-only companion Sedulous Cryptanalyst or pay 20 FATE | Outclassed by other HALLOWMAS items. | |
Morally and Physically Flexible Rubbery Cat | Companion | Upgrade HALLOWMAS-only companion Rubbery Feline or pay 20 FATE | Outclassed by other HALLOWMAS items | |
Ex-Privateer Illuminator | Companion | Upgrade Ex-Privateer Charter Clerk or pay 15 FATE | Outclassed by other HALLOWMAS items. This companion can also be married, see below. | |
Only-Semi-Retired Privateer Charter Clerk | Companion | Upgrade Ex-Privateer Charter Clerk or pay 15 FATE | Outclassed by other HALLOWMAS items. This companion can also be married, see below. | |
Nimble-fingered Intelligencer | Companion | Upgrade The Chap on the Corner or pay 20 FATE | Outclassed by other HALLOWMAS items. This companion can also be married, see below. | |
Consummate Wallflower | Companion | Upgrade The Chap on the Corner or pay 20 FATE |
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Outclassed by other HALLOWMAS items. This companion can also be married, see below. |
Dutiful Orphan | Companion | Upgrade Winsome Dispossessed Orphan or pay 20 FATE |
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Outclassed by other HALLOWMAS items. |
Unforgiving Urchin | Companion | Upgrade Winsome Dispossessed Orphan or pay 20 FATE |
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Outclassed by other HALLOWMAS items. |
Melancholy Monkey | Companion | Upgrade Malevolent Monkey or pay 15 FATE | Outclassed by other HALLOWMAS items. | |
Condolent Monkey | Companion | Upgrade Malevolent Monkey or pay 20 FATE |
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Outclassed by other HALLOWMAS items. |
A Venomous Caricaturist | Companion | Pay 20 FATE (former ELECTION item) | Outclassed by other HALLOWMAS items | |
An Enfranchised Anchoress | Companion | Pay 30 FATE at HALLOWMAS (former ELECTION item) Also available in Burrow-infra-Mump year-round for only 20 FATE. |
Outclassed by other HALLOWMAS items | |
A Redoubtable Dame-Harbinger | Companion | Pay 30 FATE (former ELECTION item) |
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Outclassed by other HALLOWMAS items. |
A Reactionary Tomb-Colonist | Companion | Pay 30 FATE (former ELECTION item) |
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Outclassed by other HALLOWMAS items. |
Cryptographic Chiropteran | Companion | Upgrade Sulky Bat or pay 20 FATE |
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Outclassed by other HALLOWMAS items. |
Nocturnal Tracklayer | Companion | Upgrade HALLOWMAS-only companion Untried Tracklayer or pay 20 FATE | Outclassed by other HALLOWMAS items. | |
Tough Tracklayer | Companion | Upgrade HALLOWMAS-only companion Untried Tracklayer or pay 20 FATE |
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Outclassed by other HALLOWMAS items. |
Obstinate Tracklayer | Companion | Upgrade HALLOWMAS-only companion Untried Tracklayer or pay 20 FATE |
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Outclassed by other HALLOWMAS items. |
Rubbery Yes-Man | Companion | Upgrade Rubbery Bellringer or pay 20 FATE |
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Outclassed by other HALLOWMAS items |
Formerly Talkative Bearer of the Sausage About Which Nobody Complains | Companion | Upgrade Talkative Rattus Faber with a Sausage About Which No One Complains, or pay 20 FATE. You monster. | Outclassed by other HALLOWMAS items. | |
Reptilian Darling of the Beau Monde | Companion | Upgrade Reprehensible Lizard or pay 20 FATE |
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Outclassed by other HALLOWMAS items |
Monastic Diatomist | Companion | Upgrade FEAST OF THE ROSE companion Cloistered Diatomist or pay 20 FATE |
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Outclassed by other HALLOWMAS items |
Ermine Assassin | Companion | Upgrade Araby Fighting-Weasel | Outclassed by other HALLOWMAS items |
Items Sorted by Use[edit]
Efficient Repeatable[edit]
These items unlock repeatable options that are much better than their evergreen alternatives.
Item | Acquisition | Unlocks | Notes |
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A Member of the Order of Those Who Will Not Be Caught Red-Handed | Submit Nightmares more than any other Menace to the Fool's Apostate, and receive this when the festival ends. | Equipping it allows you to draw A Shrouded Soiree with the Order of Those Who Will Not Be Caught Red-Handed in London, and unlocks an easter egg in The Dome of Scales, Adorned with Rubies. | Opportunity card allows you to generate Favours: Bohemian. |
Inducted into the Inverted Stalactite Society | Submit Wounds more than any other Menace to the Fool's Apostate, and receive this when the festival ends. | Equipping it allows you to draw Meetings of the Initiates of the Society of the Inverted Stalactite in London. | Opportunity card allows you to generate Favours: Rubbery Men. |
A Seat at the Bishop's Table | Submit Scandal more than any other Menace to the Fool's Apostate, and receive this when the festival ends. | Equipping it allows you to draw A Seat at the Bishop's Table in London. | Opportunity card allows you to generate Favours: The Church. A mechanically similar affiliation, Cross of Southwark, is available from playing the FATE story The Brass Grail. |
A Member of the Crew of the St Elmo | Submit Suspicion more than any other Menace to the Fool's Apostate, and receive this when the festival ends. | Equipping it allows you to draw Drink with the Crew of the St Elmo in London. | Opportunity card allows you to generate Favours: Criminals. A mechanically similar affiliation, The Thief-Oath of Tristram Bagley, is available for those who make certain choices during Ambition: Heart's Desire!. |
A Very Lenient Judge | Upgrade Unassuming Judge or pay 20 FATE apiece. |
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Snooping on the argument is a cheap way to train Mithridacy on a fairly common card. The barristering option lowers the prestige of a case, reducing difficulty reducing rewards. |
Assuming Judge | Upgrade Unassuming Judge or pay 20 FATE apiece. |
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Snooping on the argument is a cheap way to train Mithridacy on a fairly common card. The barristering option increases prestige of a case, increasing difficulty and rewards. |
Buccaneering Palaeontologist | Upgrade FEAST OF THE ROSE companion Debonair Palaeontologist or pay 20 FATE |
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The option for Palaeontological Editions is shared with her base form, but is quite powerful, as it gives an extra 13 x Survey of the Neath's Bones and 3 x Fin Bones, Collected for each completed Palaeontological Edition. This companion can also be married, see below. |
Rubbery Yes-Man | Upgrade Rubbery Bellringer or pay 20 FATE | Can serve on the Board of the Great Hellbound Railway. | He is highly useful as he loves to say yes to almost every proposal which doesn't negatively affect Rubbery Interests. The only regular board action this affects is removing the Tentacled Entrepreneur. |
The Pirate-Poet, Inscribed Anew | Upgrade FEAST OF THE ROSE companion The Pirate-Poet or pay 20 FATE |
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The monograph option is shared with her base form, and can also be unlocked by playing My Kingdom for a Pig. The Light Fingers option is also shared with the base form, and is a one-time savings of 575.00. |
Recalcitrant Sculptress | Upgrade Misplaced Ring or pay 30 FATE | Enlist expert assistance in the Jericho Library | The Jericho Library is fairly niche, however, it's notable that failing her option gives a Live Specimen, which can otherwise be fairly annoying to obtain. The check is difficult to fail with endgame stats, but there are ways around that. |
Clay Corroborator | Upgrade HALLOWMAS companion Acerbic Clay Man | An option on The Law's Long Arm that costs 1 and reduces Suspicion by 7 CP. | Does not affect and is not affected by Counting the Days, and is significantly better than Official incompetence. In terms of the other options, this is more than twice as effective as Lay a false trail, and as effective on average as Unleash Baseborn & Fowlingpiece and Make sure nobody is telling tales, though those options require specific levels of Counting the Days and either 10 x Infernal Contract or the right Closest To -, respectively. Infernal Contract are hard to come by and throwing your weight around in the underworld also gives 1 CP of Wounds, so this option is likely overall the best. Note also that 7 CP of Suspicion reduction is 1 CP more than you get from Dupe a friend into covering for you. This is certainly a better CP per echo ratio than sending Name Written in Gant and doesn't require knowing a Licentiate, albeit it is card based and the letter also reduces 6 CP of Scandal. |
Gravel-Voiced Gossip}} | Upgrade HALLOWMAS companion Acerbic Clay Man | An option on An Afternoon of Good Deeds? that reduces Scandal by 7 CP and gives 2 x Incendiary Gossip. | Does not affect and is not affected by Counting the Days. Strictly better than any of the other (free) options on that card, and a better EPA to boot unless you really want the Favours from CtD. Note also that 7 CP of Suspicion reduction is 1 CP more than you get from Use someone as your dupe. This is also a larger Scandal reduction than sending Name Written in Gant and doesn't require knowing a Licentiate, albeit it is card based and the letter also reduces 6 CP of Suspicion. |
Ermine Assassin | Upgrade Araby Fighting-Weasel | Attend with your Ermine Assassin on City Vices: a tournament of weasels! | Valuing Someone is Coming CP at 2 when cashing out with Raw material, this gives a fairly respectable 5.5 EPA on an otherwise terrible card. That jumps to 5.8 EPA if you redeem with A bag of jangling coins and you're willing to occasionally trek to Irem to redeem the Justificandes either at Of the Pillars or The Futures Market and trade the result in the Rat-Market. This card can also be avoided entirely with A Remote Address. |
Efficient Single-Use[edit]
These items unlock a one-time option that saves the player significant resources compared to the free alternatives.
Item | Acquisition | Unlocks | Notes |
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Pious Henchman | Upgrade Devious Henchman or pay 20 FATE, either at Hallowmas or in Burrow-infra-Mump | One of several options for Appointing a Parish Clerk in Burrow-infra-Mump | All the options for Parish Clerk are seasonal companions. See A Church in the Wild (Guide) for more details. |
An Enfranchised Anchoress | Pay 30 FATE at HALLOWMAS (former ELECTION item) Also available in Burrow-infra-Mump year-round for only 20 FATE. |
Can be used to progress Parabolan Defences in your Base-Camp, a one-time savings of 687.50. One of several options for Appointing a Parish Clerk in Burrow-infra-Mump |
All the options for Parish Clerk are seasonal companions. See A Church in the Wild (Guide) for more details. |
Roseate Antagonist | Upgrade Countess of Thorns from FEAST OF THE ROSE or pay 15 FATE | Can be used to progress Parabolan Defences in your Base-Camp, a one-time savings of 687.50 | None. |
Vial of Cantigaster Venom |
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Skip a heist during the Last Constable and Cheery Man story | Saves somewhere around 10-15 actions, depending on your playstyle. |
Niche Repeatable[edit]
These items unlock repeatable options that are either equivalent to or outclassed by their evergreen alternatives.
Item | Acquisition | Unlocks | Notes |
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Pay 30 FATE during years where the relevant Menace can be submitted | Lets you access the relevant Masques during HALLOWMAS without needing to get the free version. | There's nothing preventing you from also grabbing a free mask if you have the permanent one. | |
Upgrade Rubbery Bellringer or pay 15 FATE for the Campanologist, 20 FATE for the Herald | With both companions, unlocks a unique option in The South Parlour of Helicon House that gives 3 Fitting In. | Several other options that give +3 Fitting In, the most accessible of which requires Rubbery Euphonium. | |
Esoteric Accomplice | Upgrade Alluring Accomplice or pay 20 FATE | Gain +5 Investigating... when brought as as a companion to Helicon House | Investigating has very finite uses in the endgame, and if you need a large amount, it's better to just use Oneiropompery |
Fabulous Accomplice | Upgrade Alluring Accomplice or pay 20 FATE | Gain +5 Fascinating... when brought as as a companion to Helicon House | Fascinating can eventually be cashed out with Attract a companion for the rest of the evening. This companion is also marriageable; see below for details. |
Minacious Union-Rat | Upgrade Working Rat or pay 20 FATE | Introduce him to Furnace Ancona | Just a text-only easter egg. Doesn't even cost an action! |
Morally and Physically Flexible Rubbery Cat | Upgrade HALLOWMAS-only companion Rubbery Feline or pay 20 FATE | Can be used to gain Casing... in Helicon House. Both the upgrade and base item can be introduced separately for A Cub's Education (Guide) |
The Rubbery Casing grind was once a fairly good way to earn scrip, but there are now better options even for players without a very advanced Railway. |
A Venomous Caricaturist | Pay 20 FATE (former ELECTION item) | An option when shaping dreams for the Sculptress (see Oneiropomp (Guide) | Economically equivalent to the free options, but can be a decent midgame source An Identity Uncovered! and Venom-Ruby |
Ursine Honey Connoisseur | Upgrade Honey-Mazed Bear or pay 15 FATE | With Honey-Mazed Bear and A Gazebo! from SUMMER, Design a bear show on the Theme of the Surface Navy in Ealing Gardens | The card is bad and you will generally want to avoid Ealing's cluttered deck anyway. |
Regretful Sceptic | Upgrade Dashing Debunker, available with certain choices from the FATE story Noises from Upstairs, or pay 30 FATE | Invite a Regretful Sceptic to test some handcuffs on Lowell's Locks and Cages (Card) | The option is not that good, and you likely don't want to draw the card anyway. Mechanically identical to the option provided by the base form. |
Portable Fingerking Moot | Upgrade Forty-Nine-Voiced Warbler or pay 30 FATE | Give the Jovial Contrarian a worthy debating partner in the Railway Board | The Contrarian's vote is not difficult to obtain anyway, but this can be helpful in situations where some board members automatically cast their votes, such as The Viscountess when you Propose you deploy your train in the Parabolan War. |
The Stormy-Eyed Scoundrel | Upgrade Starry-Eyed Scoundrel or pay 20 FATE | Bring him with you to Helicon House | Provides no special benefits whatsoever when invited to Helicon, though he does have his own unique text variants. |
The Prescient Automatist | Upgrade FEAST OF THE ROSE companion Genre Painter or pay 20 FATE | Bring him with you to Helicon House | Gives +1 Fitting in at Helicon House. |
Vial of Cantigaster Venom |
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Use it to gain both Research and Wounds on Lab projects with Toxicological Focus. | This option is slightly more efficient than the others on that card, although the Wounds likely even it out. Several one-time story research projects have Toxicological Focus, along with the repeatable Study the properties of Attar, which is one of the cheaper ways to raise Kataleptic Toxicology that doesn't require social actions. |
Niche Single-Use[edit]
These items unlock a one-time option that is either equivalent to or outclassed by the evergreen alternatives.
Item | Acquisition | Unlocks | Notes |
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Haunted Goldfish | Upgrade Cheerful Goldfish or 10 FATE | Can be used to gain Piscine Research during one non-repeatable lab experiment. | The option isn't as good as the other Airs-dependent ones. You can also spend non-seasonal fishy items like Live Specimen or Deep-zee Catch for progress, in addition to other seasonal fish. |
Upgrade Wretched Mog or pay 20 FATE apiece | Can all be introduced separately for A Cub's Education (Guide) | None. | |
Midnight Matriarch of the Menagerie of Roses | Upgrade Midnight Matriarch or 25 FATE |
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Several of its uses are shared with the unupgraded version. Do not waste the Hallowmas companion on the Light Fingers option, use the Bazaar-buyable one instead. Does not trigger the undesirable Like rats and cats card. |
Feline Pariah | Upgrade FRUITS OF THE ZEE companion Inquisitive Lamp-cat or pay 20 FATE | Can be introduced for A Cub's Education (Guide) | None. |
Sister Lydia, At Peace With Herself | Upgrade Sister Lydia from FEAST OF THE ROSE or pay 20 FATE | One of several options for Choosing a Lay Minister in Burrow-infra-Mump | Her base form is mechanically identical as far as Burrow is concerned, and also available during that part of the story for 15 FATE regardless of the time of year. The other two options are both free and non-seasonal, though one does require Renown: Bohemians 25. See A Church in the Wild (Guide) for more details. |
No Uses[edit]
These items do not unlock any additional actions.
Hallowmas Spouses[edit]
Several Hallowmas companions can be married, and the final quest upgrades to these are often quite powerful. As each player can only have one Spouse[1], most of these options are not of interest to most players, and so are discussed here instead.
- ↑ That is, one item equipped in the Spouse slot. That may or may not represent multiple individuals. And, for that matter, might not represent a Spouse at all, but instead a close platonic companion. It's quite straightforward, really. Even if that's the only type of straight it is.