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Update 6.9
New Upgrades and badges, updates to Gauntlet, QoL improvements, and more.
Game guide
PURGATORY Guide: Two modes and what they ask of you
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About
OverviewPURGATORY is a 1–4 player co-op isometric action game where you fight through waves of enemies and boss battles, build powerful synergistic loadouts, and push toward purification. This guide covers the two main modes, how to build your character, co-op strategy, and the badges that show you what the game expects from skilled players.
What is on this page
Contents
01
Two modes and what they ask of you
Table
In short
Classic and Gauntlet test different things, so knowing what each demands helps you prepare.
The game has two modes: Classic and Gauntlet. Classic is where most players start, and completing it is the first major milestone. Gauntlet raises the bar by tracking your damage output — you need at least 30,000 damage to earn the top awards.
| Classic | the main mode; completing it earns the Graduate badge and is the foundation for harder challenges |
| Gauntlet | a harder mode that measures damage; 30,000 or more is needed for Champion, Undisputed, and Double Champ |
| Modifiers | optional difficulty layers you can stack on either mode for extra challenge and badge rewards |
| Corruption | a specific modifier for Classic that earns its own badge on completion |
| Hell | another Classic modifier with its own badge, separate from Corruption |
MetaNew Player Survey
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02
Building a strong loadout
TipsIn short
Synergy between your skills and items is what separates a weak run from a smooth one.
Your build is the combination of skills and items you carry into a run. The goal is to get pieces that reinforce each other rather than pulling in different directions. Soul Mastery Nodes are a named part of this system — you can equip them for extra power, or deliberately leave them all off if you are going for the Barebones badge.
Tips worth knowing
- Maxing out your Soul Mastery earns the Ascendant badge, so treating it as a long-term goal gives your progression a clear direction
- Completing the full Upgrades Index earns the Jack of All Trades badge, which rewards experimenting with many different options
- If you run without any Contracts equipped, you still qualify for the Unbounded badge — useful to know when planning a clean run
03 Live and upcoming events
Events
Events running now or coming soon. They have fixed dates, so check them first.
Upcoming
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04
Fighting smarter, not harder
TipsIn short
Timing your skills around enemy openings will carry you further than button-mashing.
Combat is built around skills rather than basic attacks. Bosses have readable attack patterns, which means the more times you face them, the easier they become.
Tips worth knowing
- Track the Mobs Index and Bosses Index — completing each one earns a badge and forces you to engage with every enemy type
- Under 10 hits in any mode earns Too Slick
- Under 8 minutes in Classic earns Speedrun
05
Co-op party strategy
Check
In short
A coordinated party with varied roles clears hard stages far more reliably than four players all doing the same thing.
Playing with others unlocks both tactical depth and several badges. Duo, trio, and full four-player parties each have their own no-death completion badges — Best Friends, Big 3, and Teamwork respectively. The Healer badge is earned by healing an enemy.
- For the Teamwork, Big 3, and Best Friends badges, nobody can die
- Join the community server linked on the game page if you need to find teammates
06
Badge milestones as a progression roadmap
SummaryIn short
The badge list maps out a natural difficulty curve from first clear to no-hit runs.
The 21 official badges outline exactly what the game expects at each stage of mastery.
- Graduate finish Classic once
- Champion finish Gauntlet with 30k damage
- Double Up / Hellbreaker / Anti-Corrupt add Modifiers to Classic for more challenge
- Undisputed / Double Champ bring Modifiers into Gauntlet while hitting the 30k damage mark
- No Enemies complete Gauntlet with no damage
- Double Digits complete any mode ten times
Glossary
Glossary- Classic
- The main game mode, completed by fighting through enemies and bosses to reach purification.
- Gauntlet
- A harder mode that tracks your total damage output, with 30,000 damage required for the top badges.
- Modifier
- An optional difficulty setting you stack onto a run; Corruption and Hell are two named examples for Classic.
- Soul Mastery
- A progression system with equippable Nodes that power up your character; leaving all Nodes off or fully maxing them each earn separate badges.
- Synergy
- When two or more items or skills combine to produce a stronger effect than either would on its own.
- Build
- Your chosen combination of skills and items for a run, ideally selected so they reinforce each other.
- Index
- An in-game completion log for Mobs, Bosses, and Upgrades; finishing each one earns a badge.
- Purification
- The end goal of a run, reached by clearing all stages in Classic.
Common questions
FAQCan I play alone?
Solo play is possible. If you need teammates, the community server is linked on the game page.
Do Modifiers make the game harder or easier?
Modifiers increase difficulty. Stacking two of them on Classic earns Double Up, and stacking two on Gauntlet while hitting 30,000 damage earns Double Champ.
How do co-op badges work?
Best Friends requires a two-player party with no deaths, Big 3 requires three players with no deaths, and Teamwork requires a full four-player party with no deaths. Everyone in the party must survive the entire run for any of these to unlock.
Updated Oct 28, 2026
Game updates can change what is on this page. If you spot something, get in touch and let us know.
Game updates can change what is on this page. If you spot something, get in touch and let us know.
