Special challenge path

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Special challenge paths are types of ascension runs that add variant rules and restrictions to the base game.

A new special challenge path debuts in the Spring, Summer, and Fall of each year. A challenge path is considered to be current or "in season" during its first three months.

Completing a special challenge path awards an additional 50 Karma for a Normal run or an additional 100 Karma for a Hardcore run, if the run started while the path was current. A run started outside of the initial season will earn an additional 50 Karma if it is a first of that path for a player (normal or hardcore). Additionally, a Thwaitgold statuette will drop from The Naughty Sorceress' final form or the equivalent final boss.

Playing the current special challenge path has additional restrictions and benefits:

• You are under standard restrictions, not allowed to use limited-time content that is older than January of (path's starting date's year minus 2). For example, in the Spring 2018 challenge path which begins February 15, 2018, and ends May 14, 2018, you are not allowed to use limited-time content from before January 2016.
  • Standard restrictions end when Ronin ends. Standard does not apply when a special challenge path is no longer current.
• For some paths, you will receive a special path-specific reward for completing a run (beating the final boss) while it is still current.

No.	Season	Path	Description	Reward	Aftercore differences
33	Fall 2020 August 15, 2020 to November 14, 2020	Grey Goo	A self-replicating mass of grey goo has invaded the Kingdom from the furthest reaches of space. Destroy as much of it as you can in three days!	Thwaitgold slug statuette inert grey goo ring (in-season reward only) Factoids	True Aftercore doesn't exist for this path Many zones remain inaccessible
32	Summer 2020 May 15, 2020 to August 14, 2020	Low Key Summer	Travel to out-of-the-way locations. Variety is key!	Thwaitgold keyhole spider statuette Manual of Lock Picking Stainless equipment (hardcore only)	No signficant Aftercore benefits
31	Spring 2020 February 15, 2020 to May 14, 2020	Path of the Plumber	Jump, Hammer and Fireball your way through the Kingdom. Just like a plumber! Play as a Plumber. No access to permanent skills.	Thwaitgold buzzy beetle statuette 2 Tattoos Factoids red coin (in-season reward only)	Aftercore class choice Liver remains open on final day
30	Fall 2019 August 15, 2019 to November 14, 2019	Kingdom of Exploathing	The Kingdom has been blown to bits! All Council quests are immediately available at the start of the run. Most optional locations/shops are unavailable	Thwaitgold bombardier beetle statuette Factoids The Imploded World (in-season reward only) Stainless equipment (hardcore only)	No signficant Aftercore benefits Many zones remain inaccessible
29	Summer 2019 May 15, 2019 to August 14, 2019	Two Crazy Random Summer	Items have random modifiers	Thwaitgold nymph statuette ring Additional random modifiers for your ring Stainless equipment (hardcore only)	No signficant Aftercore benefits All effects are lost upon prism break Can remain in path to access powerful effects and turngen, but still keeping the 1,000 meat drop cap
28	Spring 2019 February 15, 2019 to May 14, 2019	Dark Gyffte	Play as a Vampyre. No access to permanent skills. Skills cost HP and can be reconfigured throughout your run. Food and Booze are limited to those that can be crafted with blood bags.	Thwaitgold mosquito statuette Factoids 2 Tattoos Booke of Vampyric Knowledge (in-season reward only)	Aftercore class choice Organs remain open on final day Can remain in path as a powerful all-rounder class
27	Fall 2018 August 15, 2018 to November 14, 2018	Disguises Delimit	Wear a mask; swap masks with enemies wearing different masks.	Thwaitgold masked hunter statuette Masks for the public profile's avatar Stainless equipment (hardcore only)	No signficant Aftercore benefits
26	Summer 2018 May 15, 2018 to August 14, 2018	G-Lover	Items, effects, skills, and familiars without the letter G in their name can not be used.	Thwaitgold chigger statuette Garland of Greatness A tattoo Stainless equipment (hardcore only)	No signficant Aftercore benefits
25	Spring 2018 Feb 15, 2018 to May 14, 2018	Pocket Familiars	Instead of fighting monsters, pit your team of familiars against theirs! No access to permanent skills.	Thwaitgold metabug statuette Factoids Stainless equipment (hardcore only)	Keep Pokefam caps in aftercore: +100% item drop hat +4 elemental resistance hat +30 ML hat -15% combat frequency hat
24	Fall 2017 Aug 14, 2017 to Nov 14, 2017	Live. Ascend. Repeat.	Adventure encounters, item drops, and consumption results are deterministic rather than random.	Thwaitgold time fly statuette perfectly fair coin (in-season reward only) Stainless equipment (hardcore only)	No signficant Aftercore benefits Can remain in path to have predictable monsters indefinitely
23	Summer 2017 May 15, 2017 to August 13, 2017	License to Adventure	Gain new secret agent skills, in addition to your permanent skills. You must clear out a super villain lair each day or face being disavowed by your superiors. You cannot eat, and booze is limited to martinis.	Thwaitgold bug statuette License To Kill (in-season reward only) Factoids Stainless equipment (hardcore only)	No signficant Aftercore benefits Stomach remains open on final day
22	Spring 2017 Feb 15, 2017 to May 14, 2017	Gelatinous Noob	Play as a new class, the Gelatinous Noob, a slime with aspirations of humanity. Absorb items instead of eating and drinking. Unique skills can be obtained when absorbing items.	Thwaitgold amoeba statuette 2 Tattoos Gelatinous Hubris Trophy	No signficant Aftercore benefits Organs remain open on final day Can remain in path for weird farming tricks
21	Fall 2016 Aug 15, 2016 to Nov 14, 2016	Nuclear Autumn	The rest of the planet was very recently destroyed by nuclear war, and the Kingdom is experiencing the very early stages of the apocalypse. New path-specific skills. Permanent skills are not available. Your diet is highly restricted. No campground access.	Thwaitgold cockroach statuette Stainless equipment (hardcore only) Adventurer bobblehead (in-season reward only)	Wrist-Boy holo-records can still be used, except +adv
20	Summer 2016 May 15, 2016 to Aug 14, 2016	The Source	New path-specific skills, in addition to your permanent skills. Most sources of stat gain are reduced. Fight wandering Source Agents to gain stats.	Thwaitgold moth statuette Factoids Stainless equipment (hardcore only) Bowl of Tastee-Wheet™ (in-season reward only)	No signficant Aftercore benefits
19	Spring 2016 Feb 15, 2016 to May 14, 2016	Avatar of West of Loathing	Play as one of three classes, Cow Puncher, Beanslinger or Snake Oiler. Each class has ten unique skills. New wandering monsters. Some dietary restrictions apply.	Thwaitgold scorpion statuette Factoids 6 Tattoos	Continue to be a Cow Puncher, Beanslinger, or Snake Oiler after breaking prism, keeping all of your AoWoL skills
18	Fall 2015 Aug 15, 2015 to Nov 15, 2015	Community Service	All council quests are gone Instead, 11 tasks of community service must be completed Each task takes 60 adventures, but that can be reduced by optimizing a related stat.	Thwaitgold termite statuette	No signficant Aftercore benefits, but is fast Many zones remain inaccessible
17	Summer 2015 May 15, 2015 to Aug 14, 2015	One Crazy Random Summer	Every monster has a Monster Modifier Dice gear is automatically free-pulled Runs are ranked by Fun instead of speed	Thwaitgold caterpillar statuette dice ring (for Seal Clubbers) dice belt buckle (for Turtle Tamers) dice-print pajama pants (for Pastamancers) dice-shaped backpack (for Saucerors) dice-print do-rag (for Disco Bandits) dice sunglasses (for Accordion Thieves)	No signficant Aftercore benefits
16	Spring 2015 Feb 15, 2015 to May 14, 2015	Actually Ed the Undying	Play as Ed the Undying! Gain Skill Points as you level up, and use them to progress in three different skill trees. Instead of familiars, servants are unlocked at certain levels, gaining new effects every 7 levels. Losing a fight takes you to The Underworld, where you can upgrade your body and buy special items for Ka coins, dropped by certain phylum of monsters. Immune to most HP Restorers; only a trip to The Underworld can heal you. You can't consume food or booze without buying the required organ, and your Spleen starts out small. No campground access.	Thwaitgold scarab beetle statuette Factoids 2 Tattoos still-beating spleen (in-season reward only) Can perm Mild Curse	Aftercore class choice Organs remain open on final day Can remain in path as a powerful all-rounder class
15	Winter 2014 Nov 15, 2014 to Feb 14, 2015	Picky	Pick only 3 familiars and 11 permanent skills.	Thwaitgold nit statuette Stainless equipment (hardcore only) picky tweezers (in-season reward only)	No signficant Aftercore benefits
14	Fall 2014 Aug 15, 2014 to Nov 14, 2014	Heavy Rains	The Kingdom is flooded! Each water level (up to 6) adds +10 ML, +5% chance of dropped items washing away, and various other difficulties New wandering monsters, varying by water level and zone type New path-specific skills cast with new resources Rain, Lightning, and Thunder (100 max, regained through various sources, filled to 100 each rollover) and learned with the items dropped from the wanderers at water level 6 Most ascension-relevant bosses are replaced with dangerous new watery versions of their old selves	Thwaitgold spider statuette Factoids Stainless equipment (hardcore only) beautiful rainbow (in-season reward only)	No signficant Aftercore benefits Can remain in path to keep powerful Thunder, Rain, and Lightning skills at cost of Heavy Rains washing away items
13	Summer 2014 May 15, 2014 to Aug 14, 2014	Slow and Steady	100 adventures each rollover, no adventure gains from other sources	Thwaitgold wheel bug statuette Stainless equipment (hardcore only) Bottled day (in-season reward only)	No signficant Aftercore benefits
12	Spring 2014 Feb 15, 2014 to May 14, 2014	Avatar of Sneaky Pete	Play as a new class, The Avatar of Sneaky Pete. Gain Skill Points with each level up, and use them in three different skill trees. In place of a familiar, you have a talking motorcycle that can be upgraded. Your stomach is small, but your liver is legendary.	Thwaitgold dragonfly statuette Factoids 2 Tattoos Cool Guy Trophy	Can overdrink and be reduced to 14 drunk upon prism break Aftercore class choice Stomach remains open on final day
11	Winter 2013 Nov 15, 2013 to Feb 14, 2014	Class Act II: A Class For Pigs	You cannot use other classes' Guild skills or any Traveling Trader skills. You start with all Guild skills for your class. (Before May 14, 2014) Double stat gain from monsters, but most noncombat stat gains are halved. Monsters gain additional powers at higher +ML.	Thwaitgold ant statuette Stainless equipment (hardcore only)	No signficant Aftercore benefits
10	Fall 2013 Aug 15, 2013 to Nov 14, 2013	KOLHS	You must spend the first 40 Adventures of each day in high school. You may only drink illicit booze.	Thwaitgold bookworm statuette Factoids Upgradable Yearbook Club Camera Stainless equipment (hardcore only) Trophies: Purity of Essence, Ansel Adams Jr., Eleven Down, None to Go	No signficant Aftercore benefits Can remain in path to create powerful after-school items
9	Summer 2013 May 15, 2013 to August 14, 2013	BIG!	You start off at level 15, with 200 points in your mainstat, and 150 in each of your offstats. All the monsters have 150 additional attack, defense, and HP.	Thwaitgold Goliath beetle statuette Stainless equipment (hardcore only)	Finishes ascension with at least 200 mainstat and 150 offstats for aftercore purposes
8	Spring 2013 Feb 15, 2013 to May 14, 2013	Avatar of Jarlsberg	Play as a new class, The Avatar of Jarlsberg. Gain Skill Points with each level up, and use them to gain skills in four different skill trees. In place of a familiar, you may summon one of four Food Companions. Use your Cosmic Kitchen to cook up special food and weapons depending on the skills you unlocked. Your diet is restricted to food and drink from your Cosmic Kitchen.	Thwaitgold firefly statuette Factoids 2 Tattoos Cosmic Thing Trophy	Aftercore class choice
7	Winter 2012 Nov 15, 2012 to Feb 14, 2013	Class Act	You cannot use permed skills except those from your own character class.	Thwaitgold praying mantis statuette Stainless equipment (hardcore only)	No signficant Aftercore benefits
6	Fall 2012 Aug 15, 2012 to Nov 14, 2012	Zombie Slayer	Play as a new class, The Zombie Master. Unique skills can be obtained when defeating special monsters. Only unliving familiars can accompany you. Instead of MP, you have a Zombie Horde. Your liver is limited, and you can eat only brains.	Thwaitgold maggot statuette Factoids 2 Tattoos Talkative skull Familiar	Aftercore class choice Liver remains open on final day
5	Summer 2012 May 15, 2012 to Aug 14, 2012	Bugbear Invasion	The Lair of The Naughty Sorceress is replaced by the Bugbear Mothership. Bugbears appear in many locations in the kingdom.	Thwaitgold woollybear statuette Factoids	No signficant Aftercore benefits
4	Spring 2012 Feb 15, 2012 to May 14, 2012	Avatar of Boris	Play as a new class, The Avatar of Boris. Unique skills can be obtained for free when you level up. Your faithful minstrel Clancy accompanies you in place of familiars. The only weapon allowed is your trusty axe Trusty. Your liver is limited, but your appetite is legendary.	Thwaitgold stag beetle statuette Factoids 2 Tattoos Request Sandwich, from note from Clancy after getting 30 skills during a run And My Axe Trophy	Aftercore class choice Liver remains open on final day
3	Winter 2011 Nov 15, 2011 to Feb 14, 2012	Trendy	Cannot use any limited-time content that has been unavailable for more than one year. Skills, items, and familiars are all subject to being non-trendy.	Thwaitgold butterfly statuette Stainless equipment (hardcore only)	No signficant Aftercore benefits
2	Fall 2011 Aug 15, 2011 to Nov 14, 2011	Way of the Surprising Fist	Weapons and off-hand items may not be equipped. Meat gains from monsters, quests, and items are significantly reduced or non-existent. Items may not be auto-sold for meat, and meat cannot be pulled from Hagnk's. Special combat skills may be learned from certain zones.	Thwaitgold grasshopper statuette Factoids Stainless equipment (hardcore only) Can perm Master of the Surprising Fist Trophies: Mixed Martial Arts, Hadouken!, Good Will Punching	Keeping potentially powerful skills in Aftercore
1	Summer 2011 May 17, 2011 to Aug 14, 2011	Bees Hate You	Cannot use any items or familiars that have the letter "b" in them. Equipment with the letter "b" will cause you damage in combat. Bees attack you every 15-20 turns.	Thwaitgold bee statuette Factoids Stainless equipment (hardcore only) Reconstituted crow Familiar Buzzkill Trophy	No signficant Aftercore benefits

In-Season Rewards

These are special rewards given to those who complete a special challenge path while it is in-season.

• This reward is given only if the run is started while it is still current. That means as long as the path is current when started, you will receive the in-season reward.
• If your run exceeds 1000 turns in a normal ascension and breaks ronin you are released from standard restrictions, but you can still get the in-season reward.

Commendations

Challenge Path Commendations are special rewards given to players whose ascension is listed on an in-game challenge path leaderboard (either Normal or Hardcore) at the end of that path's season. These commendations appear on a player's profile, and are awarded based on placement within the leaderboard:

Leaderboard Position	Commendation
#1 (1 per season)	Gold Star
#2 - #12 (11 per season)	Silver Moon
#13 - #35 (23 per season)	Bronze Button

Commendations are accompanied by a message from the Leaderboard Robot (#3737):

Dear <playername>,
Your position on the final <pathname> <ascension type> leaderboard entitles to you to a <commendation type>.

Now everybody that looks at your profile will know how awesome you are. Or were, at the end of the <pathname> season.

Love,
The Magical Mystical Mighty Meritorious Misanthropic Masterful Magnanimous Masticating Muhahahahah-ing Leaderboard Robot

There is one new adjective on the last line each season, added onto the other ones. The earliest recorded was "Magical Mystical" when Avatar of Boris was the current path.

For either Sneaky Pete or Slow and Steady "Muhahahahah-ing" was removed and replaced with "Meddling." Also, line breaks were added to the format. As of Avatar of West of Loathing, "Maddening" has been replaced by "Maniacal Much-Loved".

Dear <playername>,
Your position on the final <pathname> <ascension type> leaderboard entitles to you to a <commendation type>.

Now everybody that looks at your profile will know how awesome you are. Or were, at the end of the <pathname> season.

Love,
The Magical Mystical Mighty Meritorious
Misanthropic Masterful Magnanimous
Masticating Meddling Marauding Maudlin
Malingering Metamorphic Maniacal
Much-Loved Mind-Bending Majestic
Masochistic Majesty's-Secret- Service-Serving Monotonous Monotonous Monotonous
Merry-Making Mechanical Merry-Crimboing Much-Belated
Machiavellian
Leaderboard Robot

Commendations may not be received immediately following the end of a path; some manual intervention by KoL's admins is required. Because faster runs of a given ascension type (Normal or Hardcore) "overwrite" slower runs by the same player, it is not possible to get more than one commendation per path per ascension type. It is possible, however, to get a commendation for both Normal and Hardcore in a given path. In challenge paths with multiple classes (eg Class Act-types with 6 classes × 2 formats = 12 boards or subsequently Avatar of West of Loathing with 3 classes × 2 formats = 6 boards), being on multiple boards for the same ascension type only yields 1 Commendation.

Having a commendation allows access to the /challenge chat channel.

Ascension Paths
Boozetafarian	Teetotaler	Oxygenarian
Special Challenge Paths
Spring Summer Fall Winter 2011 None Bees Hate You Way of the Surprising Fist Trendy 2012 Avatar of Boris Bugbear Invasion Zombie Slayer Class Act 2013 Avatar of Jarlsberg BIG! KOLHS Class Act II: A Class For Pigs 2014 Avatar of Sneaky Pete Slow and Steady Heavy Rains Picky 2015 Actually Ed the Undying One Crazy Random Summer Community Service None 2016 Avatar of West of Loathing The Source Nuclear Autumn None 2017 Gelatinous Noob License to Adventure Live. Ascend. Repeat. None 2018 Pocket Familiars G-Lover Disguises Delimit None 2019 Dark Gyffte Two Crazy Random Summer Kingdom of Exploathing None 2020 Path of the Plumber Low Key Summer Grey Goo None 2021 You, Robot Quantum Terrarium Wildfire None 2022 Grey You Journeyman Fall of the Dinosaurs None 2023 Avatar of Shadows Over Loathing Legacy of Loathing A Shrunken Adventurer am I None 2024 WereProfessor 11 Things I Hate About U Avant Guard None 2025 Z is for Zootomist Hat Trick 11,037 Leagues Under the Sea None