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Relics and Builds - Version 5 vs Version 6
Aug 6, 2026, 10:37 PM
Added a post-launch section covering relic path display fixes, restored rare relics, corrected runaway legendary trigger chances and the individual relic rebalances
Aug 6, 2026, 10:45 PM
Removed a screenshot that did not depict the topic and rewrote image alt text to describe what each screenshot actually shows
11Relics are the heart of the roguelite layer in Soulbound: Online. They are earned during a dungeon run, and each one warps your abilities, weapons, or stats. Stacking relics together is what produces the game's signature "100+ combinations" pitch, and the best builds are usually emergent rather than planned.22How Relics Work44As you progress through a run, you are offered relics to add to your build. Each choice branches your character in a new direction, layering onto the abilities you brought in. Because the build is assembled fresh each run, experimenting is the point: a relic you ignored last time can define your next run.76Early Access Relic Overhaul98For the Steam Early Access build the studio rebuilt the relic system in response to demo feedback. The earlier setup, where relics were a Phase I to VIII ladder that only nudged a single stat up one step at a time, was scrapped. In its place are more than 150 brand-new relics spread across every dungeon ability, each one distinct rather than a flat bonus. The design goal is role-based play: relics push you toward tank, damage, crowd-control, glass-cannon, elemental, or full-support directions, and they stack into builds that reach across both your abilities and your allies.1110A few of the new relics the studio has shown:1312RelicAbility or RoleEffectWormhole SingularityBlackhole BombOpens a black hole that pulls enemies into a vortex, then reopens on another target and chains again.Eternal WinterIce CubeTurns a freeze into a frozen domain that locks every enemy inside it; paired with the Frozen Bastion relic, each freeze also shields allies.Micro ExplosionsMachine GunAdds incendiary rounds to rapid fire for fast crowd-control on clustered enemies.FrostguardTankFreezes the room and converts the freeze into stacking shields for the party.Crit SnowballDamageRaises critical hit chance and refunds cooldowns, which leads to still more crits.Field CommanderSupportHeals and shields allies while making suppressed enemies take more damage.1514Synergy Examples1615ComboResultChain-lightning relic on PyrosphereThe mage ability arcs between enemies, melting packsLife-steal relic on a berserker's hammerArea damage also heals your party, turning offense into sustain1817These are the synergies the studio has demonstrated. They show the general design goal: relics should change how an ability behaves, not just add a flat bonus. Finer details from the earlier browser version, such as relic rarities and categories, are not confirmed for the Steam build and are left out here until shown.1918Builds Reset Each Run2120Relic builds belong to the run you make them in. Your lasting power comes from your gear, life skills, and base progression in the overworld, while relics are the in-run engine that makes each dungeon dive feel different.2322Relic Types2524Relics come in three forms. Passive relics raise raw stats or enhance your upgraded abilities; only four passives can be active at once, so picking the right ones matters. Weapon relics modify your equipped weapon. Ability relics appear only after an ability is unlocked during the run, so an early relic offer is usually one weapon relic and two passives.2726Relic Tiers2928Relics use a rarity scale, shown by color: Common, Uncommon, Rare, Epic, and Legendary. The relic options you are offered are shaped by your equipped weapon and its upgrade level, your equipped abilities and their tier, and the relics you have already taken. With everything fully upgraded, a run can stack a large pool of weapon, ability, and passive relics before options start repeating.3130Core Build Roles3332Although the game is classless, builds tend to settle into four roles, with hybrids in between:3534RoleFocusDPSStack Heavy Hit Chance and Critical Strike to clear enemies fast.HealerLean on Buff Power and healing abilities to sustain the party.TankBuild Health, Defense, and Crit to soak damage for the group.DodgeStack Dodge to avoid hits while still dealing damage.3736Your relic build lasts only for the run that made it. Lasting power comes from gear, life skills, and base progression, while relics and Yoku are the in-run engine.3837Relic types, tiers, and the passive cap come from the live browser build and may be tuned during Early Access.4039Post-Launch Relic Changes4241Relics have been tuned steadily since launch. A display bug that drew relic paths as one connected line was fixed so paths now stack separately with standalone relics shown beneath them, rare relics that had gone missing from selections were restored, and a handful of legendary items that could reach a 100% trigger chance and run away with a fight had their trigger rates corrected. Several individual relics were rebalanced at the same time: Duelist's Reach now grants range and cone breadth, Sweeping Form grants a larger share of both, Phantom Resonance on the chakram switched from ethereal to void damage, and staff relics moved off ethereal onto explosive damage.4443The relic pool you draw from is also shaped by permanent ability upgrades bought outside the run, so investing in an ability widens the relic options it can offer you later. Relic buffs themselves still last exactly one dungeon run.
