In the recent playtest and gameplay trailer, we introduced a key new feature in Fading Echo: the Perk System.
While combat in Fading Echo already leans into systemic interactions like elemental combos and environmental reactions, we also wanted to give you the tools to customize and upgrade One throughout her journey.
That’s where perks come in.
As you progress, you’ll be able to reconnect sources to the Bastion, each one unlocking new perk choices. But choose wisely: you’ll need to prioritize which perks to unlock first, shaping how you approach challenges in Corel.
🛠️ Everything is still a work in progress, so details may change as we continue development, but the core idea remains the same.
✨ How Perks Work
To unlock new perks, you’ll first need to gather Aetherfact Points, a special resource primarily earned by opening chests and beating ennemies scattered across Corel. Once you’ve earned enough, you can spend these points at the Bastion to activate new perks and build out your own way to play.
Changed your mind about a build? No worries, perks are fully refundable, so you can reset your choices and get your Aetheric Points back whenever you want to try a different approach.
Perks are divided into different categories, each supporting a different playstyle:
Defensive: Boost your health or defensive stats to stay in the fight longer.
Offensive: Unlock new attack combos or increase your raw damage potential.
Spell-focused: Modify how you use abilities like the Waterbomb or Wave casting.
Whether you're crafting a resilient tank, a spell-slinging glass cannon, or something totally in between, perks let you tune One's build to match your vision.
🌊 A New Way to Cast
One of the perks we teased in the gameplay trailer was a modification to the Wave spell and if you looked closely, you might’ve noticed something different.
This particular perk extends the range of Wave casting, letting you hit enemies from farther away. But there’s a trade-off: the width of the spell is reduced, meaning you’ll need to aim more carefully to land your attacks.
Here’s a quick comparison:
▶️ Original Wave Spell
▶️ Perk-Modified Wave Spell
This is just one example of how perks can fundamentally reshape your combat style. Do you prefer wide-area coverage or precise, long-range strikes? The choice is yours and it’s only the beginning.
🗝️ Not Everything Is in the Bastion
As we mentioned during the playtest: not every perk is unlocked by reconnecting sources to the Bastion.
Some perks are hidden throughout the world of Corel, tucked away off the main path, waiting to be discovered by the most curious and determined explorers. 🧭
So if you're aiming to build the strongest version of One, you’ll need more than just Aetheric Points, you’ll need to be a true explorer.
Keep your eyes open, trust your instincts, and maybe take that strange side path you ignored the first time around. Who knows what kind of powerful upgrades are out there, just waiting to be found?
🌊 Flow with us
✨ Wishlist Fading Echo
Steam | Epic Games Store | PlayStation Store | Xbox Store
💬 Join the Echoverse on Discord
And follow the adventure:
📝 Sign Up for the Alpha Playtest