Darkest Dungeon Curio Guide - Curios Interactions Cheat Sheet

Last Updated on August 10, 2026 by Samuel Franklin

This Darkest Dungeon curios cheat sheet details all interactions to remove the unknown and optimise your hero expedition. Use this page to claim the powerful positive effects with a specific provision or avoid the serious harm of failure.

This curio guide helps with the initial discovery and details the potential risks or rewards when you lack the required provision with all locations and potential outcomes. For beginners there are also several tips at the end of the page to optimise curios while adventuring.

Dungeon area quick links:- Common (All Locations) – Ruin – Warren – Weald – Cove – Courtyard (DLC) – Farmstead (DLC) – Unique

Darkest Dungeon Curio Guide & Interactions Cheat Sheet Chart

These are all the interactions you can make with each curio. The loot reward includes any lootable item such as gold, gems, food, heirlooms and in some rare cases trinkets.

Curio: The name and image of the curio.
Provision To Cleanse: The provision(s) required to activate the cleansed reward.
Cleansed Reward: The reward for cleansing the curio with one of the required provisions.
Non-Cleansed Reward: The reward if players do not use a provision with the percentage chance of each outcome.

Common Dungeon Curios

These common curios can spawn regardless of your Darkest Dungeon location, these generally have limited cleansing provision requirements and offer fairly positive non-cleansed rewards.

Curio	Provision To Cleanse	Cleansed Reward	Non-Cleansed Reward
Crate	N/A	N/A	Heirloom (75%) Nothing (25%)
Discarded Pack	N/A	N/A	Loot (60%) Scouting (20%) Nothing (20%)
Eldritch Altar	Holy Water	Remove negative quirk	+25 Stress (40%) Remove negative quirk (10%) Nothing (50%)
Heirloom Chest	Skeleton Key	Heirloom	Heirloom (75%) Bleed (12.5%) Blight (12.5%)
Sack	N/A	N/A	Loot (75%) Nothing (25%)
Sconce	N/A	N/A	Torch (100%)
Shambler’s Altar	Torch	Summon Shambler	Nothing (100%)
Stack of Books	Torch	+100 Stress	+25 Stress (22.2%) Positive quirk (22.2%) Negative quirk (11.1%) -25 Light (11.1%) Journal entry (16.7%) Nothing (16.7%)
Unlocked Strongbox	N/A	N/A	Loot (75%) Blight (25%)

Ruin Dungeon Curios

These curios only appear when adventuring in the ruins with holy water, skeleton keys and shovels being a recurring theme for cleansing.

Curio	Provision To Cleanse	Cleansed Reward	Non-Cleansed Reward
Alchemy Table	Torch Medicinal Herbs	100 Light Loot	Blight (50%) Loot (25%) Nothing (25%)
Altar of Light	Holy Water	+30% damage until camp	+20 damage until camp
Bookshelf	N/A	N/A	Scouting (20%) +15 Stress (20%)
Confession Booth	Holy Water	-30 Stress	+15 Stress (50%) Loot (25%) Remove negative quirk (25%)
Decorative Urn	Holy Water Shovel	Loot Negative quirk ‘Guilty Conscience’	Loot (44.4%) Blight (22.2%) Disease ‘Creeping Cough’ (7.4%) Random disease (3.7%) Nothing (22.2%)
Holy Fountain	Holy Water	-20 Stress, cure status effects and +12 HP heal	-10 Stress, cure status effects and +5 HP heal (50%) Loot (50%)
Iron Maiden	Medicinal Herbs	Loot	Loot (40%) Negative quirk ‘Claustrophobia’ (20%) Disease ‘Tetanus’ (66.7%) Random disease (6.7%) Nothing (20%)
Locked Display Cabinet	Skeleton Key Shovel	Loot Loot	Bleed (50%) Blight (50%)
Locked Sarcophagus	Skeleton Key Shovel	Loot Loot	Bleed (50%) Blight (50%)
Sarcophagus	N/A	N/A	Loot (60%) Negative quirk ‘Thanatophobia’ (20%) Nothing (20%)
Suit of Armor	N/A	N/A	+15% Protection and +10 dodge until camp (75%) Positive quirk ‘Ruins Adventurer’ (12.5%) Positive quirk ‘Ruins Tactician’ (12.5%)

Warren Dungeon Curios

These curios only appear when adventuring in the warrens with holy water and medicinal herbs being a recurring theme for cleansing.

Curio	Provision To Cleanse	Cleansed Reward	Non-Cleansed Reward
Bone Altar	N/A	N/A	+15% Damage, +10 accuracy and 5% critical until camp
Dinner Cart	Medicinal Herbs	Loot	Loot (37.5%) Blight (25%) Disease ‘Black Plague’ (12.5%) Nothing (20%)
Makeshift Dining Table	Medicinal Herbs	Loot	Loot (25%) Blight (25%) Disease ‘Tapeworm’ (25%) Nothing (25%)
Moonshine Barrel	Medicinal Herbs	+30% Damage until camp	Loot (33.3%) Blight (33.3%) Negative quirk ‘Tippler’ (11.1%) Nothing (22.2%)
Occult Scrawlings	Holy Water	-20% Dodge	Random positive quirk (33.3%) +25 Stress (25%) Random negative quirk (16.7%) Nothing (25%)
Pile of Bones	Holy Water	Loot	Loot (25%) Random disease (25%) Negative quirk ‘Bloodthirsty’ (25%)
Pile of Scrolls	Torch	Remove negative quirk	Scout (26.8%) +15 Stress (14.3%) Journal entry (14.3%) Random positive quirk (9.5%) Random negative quirk (4.8%) Nothing (28.6%)
Rack of Blades	Bandage	Loot	Loot (40%) Bleed (40%) Nothing (20%)
Sacrificial Stone	N/A	N/A	+50 Stress (50%) Remove negative quirk (25%) Positive quirk ‘Warrens Explorer’ (12.5%) Positive quirk ‘Warrens Scrounger’ (12.5%)

Weald Dungeon Curios

These curios only appear when adventuring in the wealds with holy water, antivenom and bandages being a recurring theme for cleansing.

Curio	Provision To Cleanse	Cleansed Reward	Non-Cleansed Reward
Ancient Coffin	N/A	N/A	Loot (50%) Positive quirk ‘Weald Adventurer’ (8.3%) Positive quirk ‘Weald Explorer’ (8.3%) Nothing (33%)
Beast Carcass	Medicinal Herbs	Loot	Loot (42.9%) Disease ‘Rabies’ (25%) Random disease (19%) Negative quirk ‘Zoophobia’ (14.3%) Nothing (14.3%)
Eerie Spiderweb	Bandage	Loot	Loot (40%) Negative quirk ‘Slow Reflexes’ (10%) Negative quirk ‘Slowdraw’ (10%) Nothing (40%)
Left Luggage	Skeleton Key Antivenom	Loot Loot	Loot (50%) Blight (50%)
Mummified Remains	Bandage	Loot	Loot (40%) Blight (40%) Nothing (20%)
Old Tree	Antivenom	Loot	Loot (50%) Blight (25%) Nothing (25%)
Pristine Fountain	Holy Water	-30 Stress	-20 Stress (100%)
Shallow Grave	Shovel	Loot	Blight (50%) Random disease (50%)
Traveller’s Tent	N/A	N/A	Loot (37.5%) Scout (37.5%) +25 Stress (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%) +15 Stress (9.4%) Nothing (25%)

Cove Dungeon Curios

These curios only appear when adventuring in the coves with medicinal herbs and shovels being a recurring theme for cleansing.

darkest-dungeon-curio-barnacle-crusted-chest

Curio	Provision To Cleanse	Cleansed Reward	Non-Cleansed Reward
Barnacle Crusted Chest	Shovel	Loot	Loot (50%) Bleed (25%) Nothing (25%)
Bas-Relief	Shovel	+100 Stress	Random positive quirk (66.7%) Random negative quirk (33.3%)
Brackish Tide Pool	Antivenom	+5 HP heal (50%) -6 Stress (50%)	+33% Debuff resistances (75%) Random disease (25%)
Eerie Coral	Medicinal Herbs	Remove negative quirk	-10 Stress (50%) +25 Stress (25%) Nothing (25%)
Fish Idol	Holy Water	+18% Damage until camp	-25% Damage and -10 accuracy until camp (50%) -12 Dodge until camp (50%)
Fish Carcass	Medicinal Herbs	Loot	Loot (16.7%) Disease ‘Red Plague’ (16.7%) Blight (11.1%) Bleed (5.6%) Nothing (50%)
Giant Oyster	Shovel Dog Treats	Loot +25 Dodge	Loot (40%) Bleed (40%) Nothing (20%)
Ship’s Figurehead	N/A	N/A	-25-30 Stress (66.7%) +20% Damage and 4 speed until camp (33.3%)

Courtyard Dungeon Curios (Crimson Court DLC)

These curios only appear when adventuring in the courtyard with the blood, holy water, torches and shovels being a recurring theme for cleansing.

Curio	Provision To Cleanse	Cleansed Reward	Non-Cleansed Reward
Bloodflowers	The Blood Holy Water Shovel	Nothing +15 Stress Loot	+15 Stress (38.5%) Scout (23.1%) Loot (15.3%) Disease ‘Tetanus’ (5.3%) Random disease (2.5%) Nothing (15.3%)
Damned Fountain	Holy Water Torch	-30 Stress +5 Stress	Bleed (60%) Disease ‘Crimson Curse’ (20%) Loot (20%)
Disturbing Diversion	Shovel	Loot	+25 Stress (40%) Random positive quirk (15%) Random negative quirk (15%) Loot (10%) Nothing (20%)
Forgotten Delicacies	Medicinal Herbs	Loot	Loot (20%) Negative quirk ‘Stress Eater’ (20%) Blight (20%) Disease ‘Crimson Curse’ (13.3%) Random disease (6.7%) Nothing (20%)
Hooded Shrew	The Blood	Loot	+15 Stress (42.8%) Loot (28.5%) Random disease (7.6% Nothing (14.2%)
Wizened Shrew	The Blood	Loot	Random disease (7.6%) Scout (50%) Nothing (58.3%)
Pile of Strange Bones	Bandage The Blood	Loot (50%) / The Blood (50%) Summon a Supplicant, Sycophant and Esquire	Bleed (50%) Loot (20%) Disease ‘Crimson Curse’ (10%) Nothing (20%)
Throbbing Cocoons	Torch	-30 Stress (Courtyard only)	Summon a Supplicant, Sycophant and Esquire (75%) Loot (12.5%) Nothing (12.5%)
Thronging Hive	Torch	Loot	Loot (75%) Blood (25%)
Wine Crate	Antivenom Shovel	-30 Stress Firewood	Loot (41.7%) Negative quirk ‘Tippler’ (16.7%) Disease ‘Crimson Curse’ (16.7%) Scout (8.3%) Bleed (8.3%) Nothing (8.3%)

Farmstead Dungeon Curios (Colour of Madness DLC)

These curios only appear when adventuring in the farmstead with only the skeleton key used for cleansing.

Curio	Provision To Cleanse	Cleansed Reward	Non-Cleansed Reward
Gleaming Shards	N/A	N/A	Shards
Fresh Harvest	N/A	N/A	+90% HP heal
Stockpile	Skeleton Key	Loot	Loot (66%) Nothing (33%)
Rotted Fare	N/A	N/A	-100 Stress
Miller’s Hearth	N/A	N/A	Activate camping
Corrupted Harvest	N/A	N/A	-60 Stress (party)
Plentiful Bounty	N/A	N/A	+65% HP heal (party)
Mildred	N/A	N/A	Mildred’s Locket trinket or trinket/shards after initial encounter

Unique Dungeon Curios

These curios only appear during unique situations with only the skeleton key used for cleansing.

Curio	Provision To Cleanse	Cleansed Reward	Non-Cleansed Reward
Ancestor’s Knapsack (Darkest Dungeon or Wolves at the Door)	N/A	N/A	Loot
Trinket Chest (Boss Quest Courtyard)	Skeleton Key	Loot	Loot
Forgotten Strongbox (Boss Quest Courtyard)	N/A	N/A	Coloured key
Ancient Artefact (Secret Rooms)	Skeleton Key	Loot	Loot

Curio Overview & Tips

Curio are interactable objects of curious nature that players encounter on expeditions within rooms and hallways. The expedition location you select will impact the random curios you encounter although some common types are found across all locations. Players can decide to interact with these curio or not and select provisions from their inventory that may cleanse the curio for an added bonus which once discovered will show an icon in your inventory when interacting with that curio next time. For example the gold icon is shown underneath the shovel in the screenshot below for the shallow grave curio while other provisions show a question mark.

Players also need to be careful of negative hero quirks that may force heroes to activate the curio automatically when in range. This is particularly dangerous as it removes the option to select an item for the cleansed effect and some of these negative quirks result in complete loss of the items as they are stolen by the recruited Darkest Dungeon hero.

Players should always opt for the cleansed reward if you have the provision available although where you lack the particular provision it will be a judgement call. Given every Darkest Dungeon expedition is different I recommend based on my experience that players consider the following when deciding to interact with a non-cleansed curio:

How likely the negative outcomes are compared to any positive outcomes.
The strength of any potential positive outcomes and if the benefit outweighs the potential risk of negative outcomes.
How permanent the negative outcomes are, for example a negative quirk can be expensive to remove and is more disruptive compared to bleed or blight status.
The current status of your expedition and heroes including the expected length remaining, goal of the expedition, health and stress levels.

Written by

Samuel Franklin

Samuel Franklin is the founder and lead editor of the Games Finder team and enjoys video games across all genres and platforms.

Darkest Dungeon is the most played roguelike game in Sam’s gaming library as he regularly returns for the dark atmosphere, hero party mechanics and brutal difficulty that it offers. The Crimson Court holds no secrets for Sam as he has plundered every corner through countless expeditions full of twisting corners and eldritch horrors. He favours a team of safety through healing, stuns and stress management where his stalwart hero choices use calculated strategies during their expedition. His achievements include fully upgrading Hamlets in normal mode to defeating the Darkest Dungeon terrors in the terrifyingly difficult Bloodmoon mode.