Explorer rank
Completing contracts raises your explorer rank, and rank is the spine everything else hangs on. The cap is 30 — the Tempered by Madness achievement marks it, with waypoints at 10 (Proven in the Field) and 20 (Scarred but Standing). Higher-tier contracts pay more and ask more; the achievement ladder (Basic → Mid → Advanced → Legendary) is the difficulty curve in miniature. The cap is worth reaching for more than the achievement: the rank-30 reward ring trims isolation-driven sanity buildup by about 20% (community-measured in the demo).
The armory: rank locks
Shop weaponscarry rank locks: rank 1 opens the matchlocks and the polehammer, rank 2 the conquistador side sword, crossbow and recurve bow, rank 3 the flintlock pistol — the rain-proof gun, priced accordingly. Confirmed for launch on top of the demo's shop: token-based weapon upgrades, a weapon blocking system, and melee durability that scales with rank— the developers named all three in pre-launch notes, and we'll document each the day they're measurable.
The roster: rescue to recruit
New playable explorers join by rescue: complete rescue-type contracts or carry found survivors home and they become selectable. Filling the roster earns Seven Willing Souls. It's progression you can see standing on the deck — the Tempestad gets more crowded as you get better at the job.
The reliquary: saints and cosmetics
The woodworker carves one sacred figure per commission — all nine earns Nine Guardiansand a full spread of blessings to pick from. Weapon and trinket cosmetics unlock through play, and the Deluxe Edition's packs add cosmetic explorers and Cthulhu-engraved gear skins on top — paid shortcuts to nothing, which is the right kind of deluxe.
Progression questions
What is the max rank in The Mound?
Rank 30 — the Tempered by Madness achievement marks the cap, with waypoints at rank 10 and 20. Ranks come from completing contracts.
How do weapon unlocks work?
Shop weapons carry rank locks (rank 1–3 in the demo): matchlocks and the polehammer at rank 1, the side sword and crossbow at rank 2, the flintlock pistol at rank 3. Token-based weapon upgrades are confirmed for launch on top.
How do you unlock new characters?
Rescue survivors — rescue contracts or survivors found mid-run join your playable roster once brought home. Unlocking the full roster earns the Seven Willing Souls achievement.
Is there gear score or loot rarity?
No — progression is rank locks, coin and unlocks, not randomized loot. Your power comes from what you can buy, what you've learned, and who you've rescued.