Actions that raise Karma
Exploration, challenges, and collection milestones add levels. rndThursday’s update guide lists these examples:
| Action | Increase listed in the guide |
|---|---|
| Complete a Halcyon Shrine | +1 |
| Loop | +1 |
| Collect at least 3 lunar items | +1 |
| Collect at least 50 items | +1 |
| Defeat False Son | +2 |
| Complete Void Fields | +2 |
A regular Shrine of the Mountain is not the same as a Halcyon Shrine. Do not assume every action can add levels indefinitely when repeated.
Track progress and unlock a starting level
Look for the Karma icon near the difficulty display in the upper-right HUD. Completing the game after earning Karma unlocks that level as a starting choice for future runs. Challenges can still unlock with Karma enabled.
Complete the moon battle and escape with that level, then check the survivor-selection screen. A fresh save does not start with level 8 available.
Prepare for the moon
Karma adds challenge to the final moon confrontation; it is not simply the normal difficulty selector switching to Monsoon. Check your current level and build enough damage, mobility, and recovery for the final fight.
For the ordinary moon route without Karma, switch it off before starting. To limit growth while it is enabled, skip known milestone branches. Item collection can also raise it, so avoiding DLC bosses alone does not prevent every increase.