Ancients occupy the opening node of each act and offer relic choices. Neow begins the run. Later acts draw from other Ancient pools, so the reward selection is different from the original game’s boss-relic screen.
| Act | Ancients to expect |
|---|---|
| Act 1 | Neow. |
| Act 2 | Pael, Tezcatara and unlocked Orobas. |
| Act 3 | Nonupeipe, Tanx and Vakuu. |
| Later acts, after unlock | Darv can appear in Act 2 or Act 3. |
Ancient tradeoffs
Some Ancient rewards alter cards, hands or the starter relic as their price. An extra resource can be less useful when the payment removes the effect that made the existing deck function.
A starter-relic replacement deserves a direct comparison. Losing healing, an opening-hand benefit or a character resource changes every later combat. Compare the new effect with the one you give up, then ask whether your current deck can use the replacement immediately.
Neow examples
The first card rewards arrive before most of the deck exists. Neow’s Fishing Rod upgrades a random card every three normal combats, so its value depends partly on taking those combats. A route that avoids them also delays the next upgrade.
Kaleidoscope gives two rewards drawn from other characters’ cards. Access to another character’s pool does not guarantee the resources their cards need. Inspect costs and enabling mechanics before treating an unfamiliar rare as a finished strategy.
Silken Tress enchants the first card reward with Glam and removes your starting Gold. That changes the opening shop budget. A route planned around purchasing removal immediately may need to change after taking it.
Healing at the act boundary
Ancient visits restore health, but Weary Traveler at Ascension 2 reduces recovery to 80% of missing HP. A damaged deck still enters the new act below full health. Evaluate an optional last fight before the transition using that recovery, not an assumed complete reset.
Unlocks and shared choices
A new profile does not have every Ancient available. Orobas follows playing with every character, while Darv follows encountering the others. The Timeline explains those prerequisites.
In co-op, compare rewards with the party’s needs but remember that each player makes an individual Ancient choice. A teammate choosing an offensive relic does not remove the need for your deck to handle its own incoming damage.