Trail - Revision history

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← Older revision		Revision as of 21:01, 9 September 2026
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	~~<div class="pi-pageimage" style="display:none">[[File:Icon-glyph-footprints.png\|128px]]</div>~~
	'''The Trail''' is the way an [[Expeditions\|expedition]] run is shown to you: instead of a single result, each run plays out as a '''four-stage gauntlet''' across the [[Biomes\|biome]], fronting the wild [[Creatures\|creatures]] that live there and, on a Guardian run, ending at the boss itself. The Trail is how expeditions are presented and narrated — the outcome of a run is still one combat resolution.		'''The Trail''' is the way an [[Expeditions\|expedition]] run is shown to you: instead of a single result, each run plays out as a '''four-stage gauntlet''' across the [[Biomes\|biome]], fronting the wild [[Creatures\|creatures]] that live there and, on a Guardian run, ending at the boss itself. The Trail is how expeditions are presented and narrated — the outcome of a run is still one combat resolution.

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	[[Category:Expeditions]]		[[Category:Expeditions]]
	[[Category:Trail]]		[[Category:Trail]]
			<div class="pi-pageimage" style="display:none">[[File:Icon-glyph-footprints.png\|128px]]</div>

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	At each stage a wild creature from the biome steps up. Early stages tend to front the biome's weaker species; the Showdown leans toward its strongest. On a Guardian run, the final stage shows the boss instead of a wild creature.		At each stage a wild creature from the biome steps up. Early stages tend to front the biome's weaker species; the Showdown leans toward its strongest. On a Guardian run, the final stage shows the boss instead of a wild creature.

	== Wins~~, losses,~~ and flees ==		== Wins and flees ==

	* '''Win''' — you clear all four stages and take the run's loot.		Since [[Expeditions#How an expedition works\|v0.39.0]] there's no coin flip and no outright loss: a run you're strong enough to attempt always finishes as a win eventually, clearing all four stages and taking the loot. Coming in under-geared doesn't fail the run — it just runs longer (more exchanges, more food burned), and grinding it out well past the intended gear line can leave your survivor injured even on a win.
	* '''Loss''' — the run is turned back at one stage, weighted toward the later stages, so most defeats come at the Clash or the Showdown for extra drama. A loss may leave your survivor injured.
	* '''Flee''' — ~~breaking off~~ a ~~run~~ (~~helped by~~ swiftness~~, and by a Scout in~~ your party~~) exits at~~ the ~~current stage with the run's~~ flee ~~result~~.		* '''Win''' — you clear all four stages and take the run's loot. The normal outcome.
			* '''Flee''' — not a choice to bail on a losing fight (there isn't one); it's the automatic swiftness-boosted escape your party attempts when you'd otherwise run out of food mid-fight. If the flee itself fails, you die instead (see [[Expeditions#Death and reclaiming gear\|Death and reclaiming gear]]).

	== Guardian bosses ==		== Guardian bosses ==
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	You can assign each companion in your party a role that shapes how the Trail resolves:		You can assign each companion in your party a role that shapes how the Trail resolves:

	* '''~~Vanguard~~''' — takes point on more stages and counts for extra party strength.		* '''Attack''' — takes point on more stages and counts for extra party strength.
	* '''Guard''' — reduces the damage your survivor takes each fight.		* '''Guard''' — reduces the damage your survivor takes each fight.
	* '''Scout''' — improves flee chance and raises the [[Expeditions\|Trail Cache]] drop rate.		* '''Scout''' — improves flee chance and raises the [[Expeditions\|Trail Cache]] drop rate.
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	* '''Auto-eat.''' During a run your survivor automatically eats your best food to stay in the fight. You can toggle auto-eat off, and you can "Eat now" to heal manually whenever your health is below full. These controls appear on the encounter panel for both hunts and expeditions.		* '''Auto-eat.''' During a run your survivor automatically eats your best food to stay in the fight. You can toggle auto-eat off, and you can "Eat now" to heal manually whenever your health is below full. These controls appear on the encounter panel for both hunts and expeditions.
	* '''Battle report.''' ~~After~~ a ~~run~~, ~~an expandable report recaps each stage: who took point~~, the ~~wild creature (or boss) faced, damage taken, any flee or injury~~, and the ~~loot found~~.		* '''Battle report.''' A collapsible panel above the action list keeps a running tally of your recent fights — wins, losses, the pack that fought, and everything they've brought home — rather than a per-run recap. See [[Battle Log]] for the full breakdown.

	== Trail Caches ==		== Trail Caches ==

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← Older revision		Revision as of 00:26, 27 July 2026
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	<div class="pi-pageimage" style="display:none">[[File:Icon-~~grasslands~~.png\|128px]]</div>		<div class="pi-pageimage" style="display:none">[[File:Icon-glyph-footprints.png\|128px]]</div>
	'''The Trail''' is the way an [[Expeditions\|expedition]] run is shown to you: instead of a single result, each run plays out as a '''four-stage gauntlet''' across the [[Biomes\|biome]], fronting the wild [[Creatures\|creatures]] that live there and, on a Guardian run, ending at the boss itself. The Trail is how expeditions are presented and narrated — the outcome of a run is still one combat resolution.		'''The Trail''' is the way an [[Expeditions\|expedition]] run is shown to you: instead of a single result, each run plays out as a '''four-stage gauntlet''' across the [[Biomes\|biome]], fronting the wild [[Creatures\|creatures]] that live there and, on a Guardian run, ending at the boss itself. The Trail is how expeditions are presented and narrated — the outcome of a run is still one combat resolution.

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← Older revision		Revision as of 23:15, 26 July 2026
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			<div class="pi-pageimage" style="display:none">[[File:Icon-grasslands.png\|128px]]</div>
	'''The Trail''' is the way an [[Expeditions\|expedition]] run is shown to you: instead of a single result, each run plays out as a '''four-stage gauntlet''' across the [[Biomes\|biome]], fronting the wild [[Creatures\|creatures]] that live there and, on a Guardian run, ending at the boss itself. The Trail is how expeditions are presented and narrated — the outcome of a run is still one combat resolution.		'''The Trail''' is the way an [[Expeditions\|expedition]] run is shown to you: instead of a single result, each run plays out as a '''four-stage gauntlet''' across the [[Biomes\|biome]], fronting the wild [[Creatures\|creatures]] that live there and, on a Guardian run, ending at the boss itself. The Trail is how expeditions are presented and narrated — the outcome of a run is still one combat resolution.

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	* [[Biomes]] — the regions and their Guardians.		* [[Biomes]] — the regions and their Guardians.
	* [[Creatures]] — the species you meet and tame.		* [[Creatures]] — the species you meet and tame.

			{{Nav}}

	[[Category:Expeditions]]		[[Category:Expeditions]]
	[[Category:Trail]]		[[Category:Trail]]

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	! Biome !! Guardian		! Biome !! Guardian
	\|-		\|-
	\| Grasslands \|\| Thunderfoot Matriarch		\| {{Icon\|grasslands}} Grasslands \|\| Thunderfoot Matriarch
	\|-		\|-
	\| Redwood Wilds \|\| Old Growth Tyrant		\| {{Icon\|redwood-wilds}} Redwood Wilds \|\| Old Growth Tyrant
	\|-		\|-
	\| Murkwater Swamp \|\| Murk Sovereign		\| {{Icon\|murkwater-swamp}} Murkwater Swamp \|\| Murk Sovereign
	\|-		\|-
	\| Cavern Depths \|\| Hollow King		\| {{Icon\|cavern-depths}} Cavern Depths \|\| Hollow King
	\|-		\|-
	\| Scorched Badlands \|\| Scorched King		\| {{Icon\|scorched-badlands}} Scorched Badlands \|\| Scorched King
	\|-		\|-
	\| Coral Shallows \|\| Tide Leviathan		\| {{Icon\|coral-shallows}} Coral Shallows \|\| Tide Leviathan
	\|-		\|-
	\| Frozen Wastes \|\| Frostmaw		\| {{Icon\|frozen-wastes}} Frozen Wastes \|\| Frostmaw
	\|-		\|-
	\| Ashen Peaks \|\| Ash Tyrant		\| {{Icon\|ashen-peaks}} Ashen Peaks \|\| Ash Tyrant
	\|-		\|-
	\| Skyreach Plateau \|\| Sky Sovereign		\| {{Icon\|skyreach-plateau}} Skyreach Plateau \|\| Sky Sovereign
	\|-		\|-
	\| the Sundered Vale \|\| The Sundered One		\| the Sundered Vale \|\| The Sundered One
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	! Biome !! Wild creatures (weaker → stronger)		! Biome !! Wild creatures (weaker → stronger)
	\|-		\|-
	\| Grasslands \|\| Terror Bird, Raptor, Gastornis, Triceratops		\| {{Icon\|grasslands}} Grasslands \|\| Terror Bird, Raptor, Gastornis, Triceratops
	\|-		\|-
	\| Redwood Wilds \|\| Megaloceros, Dire Wolf, Stegosaurus, Allosaurus		\| {{Icon\|redwood-wilds}} Redwood Wilds \|\| Megaloceros, Dire Wolf, Stegosaurus, Allosaurus
	\|-		\|-
	\| Murkwater Swamp \|\| Dimetrodon, Baryonyx, Kaprosuchus, Sarcosuchus		\| {{Icon\|murkwater-swamp}} Murkwater Swamp \|\| Dimetrodon, Baryonyx, Kaprosuchus, Sarcosuchus
	\|-		\|-
	\| Cavern Depths \|\| Giant Bat, Forge Salamander, Doedicurus, Cave Bear		\| {{Icon\|cavern-depths}} Cavern Depths \|\| Giant Bat, Forge Salamander, Doedicurus, Cave Bear
	\|-		\|-
	\| Scorched Badlands \|\| Moros, Ankylosaurus, Carnotaurus		\| {{Icon\|scorched-badlands}} Scorched Badlands \|\| Moros, Ankylosaurus, Carnotaurus
	\|-		\|-
	\| Coral Shallows \|\| Archelon, Plesiosaurus, Dunkleosteus		\| {{Icon\|coral-shallows}} Coral Shallows \|\| Archelon, Plesiosaurus, Dunkleosteus
	\|-		\|-
	\| Frozen Wastes \|\| Elasmotherium, Woolly Rhino, Smilodon, Woolly Mammoth		\| {{Icon\|frozen-wastes}} Frozen Wastes \|\| Elasmotherium, Woolly Rhino, Smilodon, Woolly Mammoth
	\|-		\|-
	\| Ashen Peaks \|\| Ceratosaurus, Spinosaurus, Tyrannosaurus		\| {{Icon\|ashen-peaks}} Ashen Peaks \|\| Ceratosaurus, Spinosaurus, Tyrannosaurus
	\|-		\|-
	\| Skyreach Plateau \|\| Pteranodon, Argentavis, Hatzegopteryx		\| {{Icon\|skyreach-plateau}} Skyreach Plateau \|\| Pteranodon, Argentavis, Hatzegopteryx
	\|-		\|-
	\| the Sundered Vale \|\| Titanoboa, Therizinosaurus, Quetzalcoatlus, Giganotosaurus		\| the Sundered Vale \|\| Titanoboa, Therizinosaurus, Quetzalcoatlus, Giganotosaurus
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	! Biome !! Amber pile !! Relic pool		! Biome !! Amber pile !! Relic pool
	\|-		\|-
	\| Grasslands \|\| 150 \|\| Wayfarer's Saddle		\| {{Icon\|grasslands}} Grasslands \|\| 150 \|\| Wayfarer's Saddle
	\|-		\|-
	\| Redwood Wilds \|\| 250 \|\| Wayfarer's Saddle		\| {{Icon\|redwood-wilds}} Redwood Wilds \|\| 250 \|\| Wayfarer's Saddle
	\|-		\|-
	\| Murkwater Swamp \|\| 350 \|\| Wayfarer's Saddle		\| {{Icon\|murkwater-swamp}} Murkwater Swamp \|\| 350 \|\| Wayfarer's Saddle
	\|-		\|-
	\| Cavern Depths \|\| 450 \|\| Wayfarer's Saddle, Sunfeather Saddle		\| {{Icon\|cavern-depths}} Cavern Depths \|\| 450 \|\| Wayfarer's Saddle, Sunfeather Saddle
	\|-		\|-
	\| Scorched Badlands \|\| 600 \|\| Wayfarer's Saddle, Sunfeather Saddle		\| {{Icon\|scorched-badlands}} Scorched Badlands \|\| 600 \|\| Wayfarer's Saddle, Sunfeather Saddle
	\|-		\|-
	\| Coral Shallows \|\| 750 \|\| Sunfeather Saddle, Stormfang Barding		\| {{Icon\|coral-shallows}} Coral Shallows \|\| 750 \|\| Sunfeather Saddle, Stormfang Barding
	\|-		\|-
	\| Frozen Wastes \|\| 900 \|\| Sunfeather Saddle, Stormfang Barding		\| {{Icon\|frozen-wastes}} Frozen Wastes \|\| 900 \|\| Sunfeather Saddle, Stormfang Barding
	\|-		\|-
	\| Ashen Peaks \|\| 1100 \|\| Stormfang Barding, Bulwark Barding		\| {{Icon\|ashen-peaks}} Ashen Peaks \|\| 1100 \|\| Stormfang Barding, Bulwark Barding
	\|-		\|-
	\| Skyreach Plateau \|\| 1300 \|\| Stormfang Barding, Bulwark Barding		\| {{Icon\|skyreach-plateau}} Skyreach Plateau \|\| 1300 \|\| Stormfang Barding, Bulwark Barding
	\|-		\|-
	\| the Sundered Vale \|\| 1600 \|\| Bulwark Barding, Stormfang Barding		\| the Sundered Vale \|\| 1600 \|\| Bulwark Barding, Stormfang Barding

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New page

'''The Trail''' is the way an [[Expeditions|expedition]] run is shown to you: instead of a single result, each run plays out as a '''four-stage gauntlet''' across the [[Biomes|biome]], fronting the wild [[Creatures|creatures]] that live there and, on a Guardian run, ending at the boss itself. The Trail is how expeditions are presented and narrated — the outcome of a run is still one combat resolution.

== The four stages ==

Every expedition run advances through four stages as its timer fills, with one of your [[Creatures|companions]] taking point at each stage:

'''Patrol runs:'''
# Approach
# Skirmish
# Clash
# Showdown

'''Guardian runs''' swap the finale for the boss's own stand:
# Territory's Edge
# The Roar
# The Rampage
# ''[the Guardian's name]''

At each stage a wild creature from the biome steps up. Early stages tend to front the biome's weaker species; the Showdown leans toward its strongest. On a Guardian run, the final stage shows the boss instead of a wild creature.

== Wins, losses, and flees ==

* '''Win''' — you clear all four stages and take the run's loot.
* '''Loss''' — the run is turned back at one stage, weighted toward the later stages, so most defeats come at the Clash or the Showdown for extra drama. A loss may leave your survivor injured.
* '''Flee''' — breaking off a run (helped by swiftness, and by a Scout in your party) exits at the current stage with the run's flee result.

== Guardian bosses ==

Each biome's Showdown is ruled by one Guardian. Defeating a Guardian unlocks the next biome; they remain repeatable afterward.

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Biome !! Guardian
|-
| Grasslands || Thunderfoot Matriarch
|-
| Redwood Wilds || Old Growth Tyrant
|-
| Murkwater Swamp || Murk Sovereign
|-
| Cavern Depths || Hollow King
|-
| Scorched Badlands || Scorched King
|-
| Coral Shallows || Tide Leviathan
|-
| Frozen Wastes || Frostmaw
|-
| Ashen Peaks || Ash Tyrant
|-
| Skyreach Plateau || Sky Sovereign
|-
| the Sundered Vale || The Sundered One
|}

== Wild creatures on the Trail ==

The creatures you meet along the Trail are the feral cousins of that biome's tamable species.

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Biome !! Wild creatures (weaker → stronger)
|-
| Grasslands || Terror Bird, Raptor, Gastornis, Triceratops
|-
| Redwood Wilds || Megaloceros, Dire Wolf, Stegosaurus, Allosaurus
|-
| Murkwater Swamp || Dimetrodon, Baryonyx, Kaprosuchus, Sarcosuchus
|-
| Cavern Depths || Giant Bat, Forge Salamander, Doedicurus, Cave Bear
|-
| Scorched Badlands || Moros, Ankylosaurus, Carnotaurus
|-
| Coral Shallows || Archelon, Plesiosaurus, Dunkleosteus
|-
| Frozen Wastes || Elasmotherium, Woolly Rhino, Smilodon, Woolly Mammoth
|-
| Ashen Peaks || Ceratosaurus, Spinosaurus, Tyrannosaurus
|-
| Skyreach Plateau || Pteranodon, Argentavis, Hatzegopteryx
|-
| the Sundered Vale || Titanoboa, Therizinosaurus, Quetzalcoatlus, Giganotosaurus
|}

== Party roles ==

You can assign each companion in your party a role that shapes how the Trail resolves:

* '''Vanguard''' — takes point on more stages and counts for extra party strength.
* '''Guard''' — reduces the damage your survivor takes each fight.
* '''Scout''' — improves flee chance and raises the [[Expeditions|Trail Cache]] drop rate.

== Feeding and the battle report ==

* '''Auto-eat.''' During a run your survivor automatically eats your best food to stay in the fight. You can toggle auto-eat off, and you can "Eat now" to heal manually whenever your health is below full. These controls appear on the encounter panel for both hunts and expeditions.
* '''Battle report.''' After a run, an expandable report recaps each stage: who took point, the wild creature (or boss) faced, damage taken, any flee or injury, and the loot found.

== Trail Caches ==

Roughly one expedition win in a handful turns up a '''Trail Cache''' (a Scout in your party raises the odds). A cache pays out one of:

* '''Craftable companion gear''' tiered to the biome — saddles and bardings (most common outcome).
* '''A pile of [[Items|Amber]]''', scaling up with the biome.
* '''A relic gear piece''' (rare) — Wayfarer's Saddle, Sunfeather Saddle, Stormfang Barding, or Bulwark Barding, which appear only from caches and shift from saddles in the early biomes to bardings later.

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Biome !! Amber pile !! Relic pool
|-
| Grasslands || 150 || Wayfarer's Saddle
|-
| Redwood Wilds || 250 || Wayfarer's Saddle
|-
| Murkwater Swamp || 350 || Wayfarer's Saddle
|-
| Cavern Depths || 450 || Wayfarer's Saddle, Sunfeather Saddle
|-
| Scorched Badlands || 600 || Wayfarer's Saddle, Sunfeather Saddle
|-
| Coral Shallows || 750 || Sunfeather Saddle, Stormfang Barding
|-
| Frozen Wastes || 900 || Sunfeather Saddle, Stormfang Barding
|-
| Ashen Peaks || 1100 || Stormfang Barding, Bulwark Barding
|-
| Skyreach Plateau || 1300 || Stormfang Barding, Bulwark Barding
|-
| the Sundered Vale || 1600 || Bulwark Barding, Stormfang Barding
|}

== See also ==

* [[Expeditions]] — how runs are chosen and resolved.
* [[Biomes]] — the regions and their Guardians.
* [[Creatures]] — the species you meet and tame.

[[Category:Expeditions]]
[[Category:Trail]]