Rate a relic with four questions
A practical relic score is not a tier letter. Ask how often the trigger occurs, how large or useful the payoff is, how much of the run the condition covers, and what you give up to keep it. The same relic can be excellent in one loop and nearly blank in another.
Write the answers in plain language. “Triggers on every reload and fixes downtime” is decision-ready. “Legendary and probably strong” is not. This habit prevents frame color from replacing an actual reading of the effect.
Filter by rarity, mechanic, and relationship in the Relics database when you need exact text rather than a generic ranking.
Trigger frequency determines how much text becomes real
Frequent combat triggers create steady coverage
Reload, First Shot, Final Shot, Transmutation, Smite, skill use, and health-state conditions can recur during combat. Their value depends on the weapon and hunter actually creating those events, not on how common the words are across other builds.
Stage triggers create fewer, larger decisions
Embarkation occurs when entering a new stage and Destination when battle ends. A stage trigger receives fewer opportunities than a per-shot event, but its effect may shape the entire next room. Compare coverage and purpose, not raw trigger count alone.
Dismantle triggers convert exit timing into value
Shatter occurs when the item is dismantled. It asks when ownership should end. A relic can be worth holding for its normal effect, worth dismantling immediately for tempo, or worth saving until another condition makes the Shatter more valuable.
Every bracketed trigger has a verified definition in the Mechanics glossary.
Read normal, hidden, forge, and Shatter text separately
The normal description is the owned effect. Hidden text may reveal a unique passive or a relationship to tarot or another item. A forge relation points to a separate destination record. Shatter is a dismantle-time effect. Each line becomes active under different rules.
When a relic looks unusually complex, create four rows in your notes rather than one total. That makes it obvious whether the current build receives immediate value or is carrying a future dependency.
The Forge and Shatter guide provides a keep, upgrade, or dismantle checklist.
Ten slots make every speculative relic expensive
A legal loadout has ten relic slots. Early in a run, carrying one speculative piece may be harmless. As the engine fills, every disconnected relic blocks a piece that could improve a frequent trigger, repair a weakness, or complete a verified relationship.
Audit the loadout after a major weapon change. If the old element, magazine rhythm, or health condition is gone, the relic that depended on it may now be a blank slot even though it was correct several rooms earlier.
Use the Build Planner to see all ten slots and identify which effects are unconditional, conditional, or inactive.
Rarity is a constraint and signal, not a final verdict
Rarity can affect effect scale, availability, forge expectations, and the temptation to hold an item. It cannot tell you whether your hunter, weapon, part, tarot, and current room state will trigger the effect. Let rarity break a tie between equally useful options; do not let it erase a large difference in coverage.
Frequently asked questions
How many relic slots are in a Pass the Fear build?
A complete legal loadout supports ten relic slots.
What makes two relics synergize?
They synergize when their triggers and payoffs reinforce the same repeatable action, element, state, or timing window without requiring incompatible conditions.
Can a lower-rarity relic be better than a Legendary?
Yes. A lower-rarity relic with frequent coverage in the current build can contribute more than a Legendary whose trigger is rare or inactive.