Curios are interactive objects that form one of the most important gameplay systems of Darkest Dungeon. They can either turn the tide in your favor or doom your party.

Every time you come across a curio, a prompt will appear to choose an item from your inventory. Using the correct item here will reward you with gold, gems, trinkets, positive quirks, or buffs. Using the wrong items, however, will trigger negative effects that may prove costly even if your heroes manage to complete the current dungeon run.

With close to a hundred different curios, it is impossible to remember which items to use in every case. This is why buying the best provisions for each location is important. If you know what curios a location spawns, you can save a lot of gold by only buying specific provisions from the Caretaker.

Hence, you need a cheat sheet that lists all curios and how to cleanse them in Darkest Dungeon. Keep this list open while playing the game because removing the curios prompt is the same as using no items, which has a chance of triggering negative effects.

All the curios below are ordered alphabetically for your convenience. That being said, pressing Ctrl + F in your browser to search for a curio would be much faster.

Darkest Dungeon - Best Team Comps
Darkest Dungeon: Best Team Compositions for Each Location

When venturing out in Darkest Dungeons, it's important to tailor your party to counter the environment and enemies you'll be fighting.

Curios Found in All Dungeons

Curio

Provision

Cleansing Effects

Non-Cleansing Effects

Crate
  • Heirlooms (75%)
  • Nothing (25%)

Discarded Pack
  • Gold, Gems, or Supplies (60%)
  • Scouting (20%)
  • Nothing (20%)

Eldritch Altar
  • Holy Water

  • Purge a Negative Quirk

  • +25 Stress (40%)
  • Purge a Negative Quirk (10%)
  • Nothing (50%)

Heirloom Chest
  • Antivenom
  • Skeleton Key

  • Heirlooms x3
  • Heirlooms x4

  • Heirlooms x2 (75%)
  • Bleed (12.5%)
  • Blight (12.5%)

Sack
  • Gold (75%)
  • Nothing (25%)

Sconce
  • Torch x1 (100%)

Shambler's Altar
  • Torch

  • Nothing (100%)

Stack of Books
  • Torch

  • Stress +100

  • Stress +25 (22.2%)
  • Positive Quirk (66.67%)
  • Negative Quirk (11.1%)
  • Light -25 (11.1%)
  • Journal Entry (16.7%)
  • Nothing (16.7%)

Unlocked Strongbox
  • Loot x2 (75%)
  • Blight (25%)

The aforementioned common curious can only be found in the four starting locations of Darkest Dungeon: Ruins, Warrens, Weald, and Cove.

Curios Found in the Ruins

Darkest Dungeon - Ruins Zone
The undead walk through the old Ruins in the Darkest Dungeon. 

Curio

Provision

Cleansing Effects

Non-Cleansing Effects

Alchemy Table
  • Medicinal Herbs
  • Torch

  • Gold or Gems
  • Light +100

  • Blight (50%)
  • Gold or Gems (25%)
  • Nothing (25%)

Altar of Light
  • Holy Water

  • Damage +30% Until Camp

  • Damage +20% Until Camp

Bookshelf
  • Scouting (20%)
  • Stress +15 (20%)
  • Positive Quirk (13.3%)
  • Negative Quirk (6.7%)
  • Journal Entry (20%)
  • Nothing (20%)

Confession Booth
  • Holy Water

  • Stress Heal 30

  • Stress +15 (50%)
  • Gold or Trinket (25%)
  • Purge a Negative Quirk (25%)

Decorative Urn
  • Holy Water
  • Shovel

  • Gems or Trinket
  • Guilty Conscience Negative Quirk

  • Gems or Trinket (44.4%)
  • Blight (22.2%)
  • Creeping Cough Disease (7.4%)
  • Random Disease (3.7%)
  • Nothing (22.2%)

Holy Fountain
  • Holy Water

  • Stress Heal 20
  • Health Heal 12
  • Cure Status Effects

  • Stress Heal 10, Health Heal 5, Cure Status Effects (50%)
  • Gold or Gems (50%)

Iron Maiden
  • Medicinal Herbs

  • Loot

  • Loot (40%)
  • Negative Quirk (20%)
  • Tetanus Disease (13.3%)
  • Random Disease (6.7%)
  • Nothing (20%)

Locked Display Cabinet
  • Shovel
  • Skeleton Key

  • Gold, Gems, or Heirlooms x2
  • Gold, Gems, or Heirlooms x3

  • Bleed (50%)
  • Blight (50%)

Locked Sarcophagus
  • Shovel
  • Skeleton Key

  • Gold, Gems, or Heirlooms x1
  • Gold, Gems, or Heirlooms x2

  • Bleed (50%)
  • Blight (50%)

Sarcophagus
  • Gold or Heirlooms (60%)
  • Thanatophobia Negative Quirk (20%)
  • Nothing (20%)

Suit of Armor
  • Dodge +10, Prot +15% Until Camp (75%)
  • Ruins Adventurer Positive Quirk (12.5%)
  • Ruins Tactician Positive Quirk (12.5%)

Some of the worst afflictions in Darkest Dungeon will force heroes to interact with curios automatically. This can be troubling in the case of Bookshelves, which you should generally try to avoid.

Curios Found in the Warrens

Darkest Dungeon - Warrens Zone
Overrun with Swinefolk, the Warrens is a filthy disease-ridden area in Darkest Dungeon.

Curio

Provision

Cleansing Effects

Non-Cleansing Effects

Bone Altar
  • Damage +15%, Accuracy +10, Critical +5% Until Camp (100%)

Dinner Cart
  • Medicinal Herbs

  • Food x3, Gold, or Trinket

  • Food x1, Gold or Trinket x1 (37.5%)
  • Blight (25%)
  • The Black Plague Disease (12.5%)
  • Nothing (25%)

Makeshift Dining Table
  • Medicinal Herbs

  • Food x2, Gold, or Trinket

  • Food, Gold, and Trinket (25%)
  • Blight (25%)
  • Tapeworm Disease (25%)
  • Nothing (25%)

Moonshine Barrel
  • Medicinal Herbs

  • Damage +30% Until Camp

  • Food, Gold, or Supplies (33.3%)
  • Blight (33.3%)
  • Tippler Negative Quirk (11.1%)
  • Nothing (22.2%)

Occult Scrawlings
  • Holy Water

  • Dodge -20%

  • Random Positive Quirk (33.3%)
  • Stress +25 (25%)
  • Random Negative Quirk (16.7%)
  • Nothing (25%)

Pile of Bones
  • Holy Water

  • Loot x2

  • Loot x2 (25%)
  • Random Disease (25%)
  • Bloodthirsty Negative Quirk (25%)
  • Nothing (25%)

Pile of Scrolls
  • Torch

  • Purge a Negative Quirk

  • Scouting (28.6%)
  • Stress +15 (14.3%)
  • Journal Entry (14.3%)
  • Random Positive Quirk (9.5%)
  • Random Negative Quirk (4.8%)
  • Nothing (28.6%)

Rack of Blades
  • Bandage

  • Food x1, Gold or Gems x2

  • Food x1, Gold or Gems x1 (40%)
  • Bleed (40%)
  • Nothing (20%)

Sacrificial Stone
  • Stress +50 (50%)
  • Purge a Negative Quirk (25%)
  • Warrens Explorer Positive Quirk (12.5%)
  • Warrens Scrounger Positive Quirk (12.5%)

The Warrens has several curios that let you remove negative quirks for free. There is also a chance to gain an excellent positive quirk at the same time.

Curios Found in the Weald

Darkest Dungeon - Weald Zone
Unnatural growth and a spreading corruption awaits you in the Weald.

Curio

Provision

Cleansing Effects

Non-Cleansing Effects

Ancient Coffin
  • Gold or Heirloom x2 (50%)
  • Weald Adventurer Positive Quirk (8.3%)
  • Weald Explorer Positive Quirk (8.3%)
  • Nothing (33.3%)

Beast Carcass
  • Medicinal Herbs

  • Food x2

  • Food x1 (42.9%)
  • Rabies Disease (9.5%)
  • Random Disease (19%)
  • Zoophobia Negative Quirk (14.3%)
  • Nothing (14.3%)

Eerie Spiderweb
  • Bandage

  • Gold, Gems, Trinket x2

  • Gold, Gems, Trinket x1 (40%)
  • Slow Reflexes Negative Quirk (10%)
  • Slowdraw Negative Quirk (10%)
  • Nothing (40%)

Left Luggage
  • Antivenom
  • Skeleton Key

  • Loot x3
  • Loot x2

  • Loot x4 (50%)
  • Blight (50%)

Mummified Remains
  • Bandage

  • Gold or Trinkets x2

  • Gold or Trinkets x1 (40%)
  • Blight (40%)
  • Nothing (20%)

Old Tree
  • Antivenom

  • Loot x3

  • Loot x2 (50%)
  • Blight (25%)
  • Nothing (25%)

Pristine Fountain
  • Holy Water

  • Stress Heal 30

  • Stress Heal 20 (100%)

Shallow Grave
  • Shovel

  • Gems or Heirlooms x3

  • Blight (50%)
  • Random Disease (50%)

Traveler's Tent
  • Gold, Supplies, or Heirlooms (37.5%)
  • Scouting (37.5%)
  • Stress +25 (12.5%)
  • Nothing (12.5%)

Troubling Effigy
  • Holy Water

  • Random Positive Quirk

  • Random Positive Quirk (18.8%)
  • Random Negative Quirk (18.8%)
  • Bleed (18.8%)
  • Blight (9.4%)
  • Stress +15 (9.4%)
  • Nothing (25%)

The Weald has several curios that reward loot. Take advantage of that by bringing an Antiquarian. Her passive lets you farm gold fast in Darkest Dungeon.

Curios Found in the Cove

Darkest Dungeon - Cove Zone
The water-logged caves of the Cove contain the Fishfolk in Darkest Dungeon.

Curio

Provision

Cleansing Effects

Non-Cleansing Effects

Barnacle Crusted Chest
  • Shovel

  • Loot x3

  • Loot x2 (50%)
  • Bleed (25%)
  • Nothing (25%)

Bas-Relief
  • Shovel

  • Stress +100

  • Random Positive Quirk (66.7%)
  • Random Negative Quirk (22.2%)
  • Random Disease (11.1%)

Brackish Tide Pool
  • Antivenom

  • HP Heal 5 (50%)
  • Stress Heal 5 (50%

  • Blight, Bleed, Disease, Debuff Resistances +33% Until Camp (75%)
  • Random Disease (25%)

Eerie Coral
  • Medicinal Herbs

  • Purge a Negative Quirk

  • Stress Heal 10 (50%)
  • Stress +25 (25%)
  • Nothing (25%)

Fish Idol
  • Holy Water

  • Damage +18% Until Camp

  • Damage -25%, Accuracy -10 Until Camp (50%)
  • Dodge -12 Until Camp (50%)

Fish Carcass
  • Medicinal Herbs

  • Gold, Gems, Supplies, or Trinkets x2

  • Gold, Gems, Supplies, or Trinkets x1 (16.7%)
  • The Red Plague Disease (16.7%)
  • Blight (11.1%)
  • Bleed (5.6%)
  • Nothing (50%)

Giant Oyster
  • Dodge +25 Until Camp
  • Gold or Trinkets x3

  • Gold or Trinkets x2 (40%)
  • Bleed (40%)
  • Nothing (20%)

Ship's Figurehead
  • Stress Heal 30 (66.7%)
  • Damage +20% and Speed +4 Until Camp (33.3%)

Darkest Dungeon - Beginners Guide
Darkest Dungeon: 17 Beginner Tips and Tricks

Darkest Dungeon can be a pretty harrowing experience for new players. For those struggling, here are some helpful tips to make things easier.

By 

Curios Found in the Courtyard

Darkest Dungeon - Courtyard Zone
The vampiric Courtyard is riddled with blood-sucking parasites and curses in Darkest Dungeon. 

Curio

Provision

Cleansing Effects

Non-Cleansing Effects

Bloodflowers
  • Holy Water
  • Shovel
  • The Blood

  • Stress +15
  • Gems, Heirlooms, or Loot x2
  • Nothing

  • Stress +15 (38.5%)
  • Scouting (23.1%)
  • Loot x2 (15.3%)
  • The Blood (16.7%)
  • Tetanus Disease (5.1%)
  • Random Disease (2.5%)
  • Nothing (15.3%)

Damned Fountain
  • Holy Water
  • Torch

  • Stress Heal 30
  • Stress +5

  • Bleed (60%)
  • Crimson Curse Disease (20%)
  • Loot x2 (20%)

Disturbing Diversion
  • Shovel

  • Heirlooms x3

  • Stress +25 (40%)
  • Random Positive Quirk (15%)
  • Random Negative Quirk (15%)
  • Loot x2 (10%)
  • The Blood x2 (16.7%)
  • Nothing (20%)

Forgotten Delicacies
  • Medicinal Herbs

  • Food x2, Gold or Supplies x1

  • Gold or Supplies x4 (20%)
  • The Blood (25%)
  • Stress Easter Negative Quirk (20%)
  • Blight (20%)
  • Crimson Curse Disease (13.3%)
  • Random Disease (6.7%)
  • Nothing (20%)

Hooded Shrew
  • The Blood

  • Trinkets x2

  • Stress +15 (42.8%)
  • Loot x1 (28.5%)
  • Random Disease (7.6%)
  • Nothing (14.2%)

Pile of Strange Bones
  • Bandage
  • The Blood

  • Loot x1 (50%)
  • The Blood (16.7%)
  • Summon a Supplicant, Sycophant, and Esquire

  • Bleed (50%)
  • Loot x2 (20%)
  • The Blood (16.7%)
  • Crimson Curse Disease (10%)
  • Nothing (20%)

Throbbing Coccoons
  • Torch

  • Stress Heal 30

  • Summon a Supplicant, Sycophant & Esquire (75%)
  • Loot x3 (12.5%)
  • The Blood (16.7%)
  • Nothing (12.5%)

Thronging Hive
  • Torch

  • Loot x3
  • The Blood (16.7%)

  • Loot x2 (75%)
  • The Blood (20%)
  • Bleed (25%)

Wine Crate
  • Antivenom
  • Shovel

  • Stress Heal 30
  • Firewood (For Camp)

  • The Blood x2, Loot x1, Gold or Supplies x4 (41.7%)
  • Tippler Negative Quirk (16.7%)
  • Crimson Curse Disease (16.7%)
  • Scouting (8.3%)
  • Bleed (8.3%)
  • Nothing (8.3%)

Wizened Shrew
  • The Blood

  • Trinkets x3

  • Random Disease (7.6%)
  • Scouting (50%)
  • Random Reward (33%)
  • Nothing (25%)

Darkest Dungeon is one of the hardest indie games out there. The Courtyard takes this difficulty ceiling up by another notch. Make sure to bring healing supplies.

Curios Found in the Farmstead

Darkest Dungeon - Farmstead Zone
Something alien has fallen from the skies onto the Farmstead. 

Curio

Provision

Cleansing Effects

Non-Cleansing Effects

Corrupted Harvest
  • Stress Heal 60 (Party)

Fresh Harvest
  • HP Heal 90% of Maximum Health

Gleaming Shards
  • Shards x15

Mildred
  • Mildred's Locket (First Encounter)
  • Trinkets and Shards (Following Encounters)

Miller's Hearth
  • Camp

Plentiful Bounty
  • HP Heal 65% of Maximum Health (Party)

Rotted Flare
  • Stress Heal 100

Stockpile
  • Skeleton Key

  • Food x12, Supplies, and Trinkets

  • Food, Medicinal Herbs, or Laudanum (66%)
  • Nothing (33%)

The Farmstead relies more on its unique shard mechanics than curios to shift the tide in your favor. You will need a good team composition for the Farmstead in order to survive the endless horrors.

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Darkest Dungeon
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9 /10
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Released
January 19, 2016
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WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL
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Developer(s)
Red Hook Studios
Publisher(s)
Red Hook Studios
Genre(s)
RPG
Platform(s)
PS4, PS Vita, Xbox One, Switch, PC, iOS