The Ritual Dagger is the strangest item in PEAK, and the only one that lets you kill a friend to save yourself. It’s a rare co-op drop that turns a teammate into stone in exchange for a full heal, curing every ailment and granting bonus stamina. But here’s the catch: if you want the Last Resort badge, you need to be below 25% health before you stab. This guide covers where the dagger spawns, how to use it without ruining your run, and the exact method to trigger the badge consistently.
What the Ritual Dagger Does
The dagger is a rare co-op only item. You cannot use it in solo runs, and it appears randomly from Ancient Idols or Ancient Luggage. Your odds improve significantly in later biomes, specifically Gloom and the Citadel, so don’t waste time farming early zones if you’re hunting for it.
| Property | Detail |
|---|---|
| Rarity | Rare |
| Mode | Co-op only |
| Source | Ancient Idols, Ancient Luggage |
| Best Biomes | Gloom, Citadel |
| Effect | Sacrifice teammate for full heal, cure, and stamina boost |
The dagger’s core mechanic is simple: you sacrifice a living teammate. They turn to stone and die. You get everything back. It’s brutal, but in a game about climbing with friends, it’s also the ultimate clutch tool.
How to Use the Dagger
Executing the sacrifice takes about three seconds, but timing matters. Here’s the exact sequence:
- Equip the dagger once it’s in your inventory. It takes the weapon slot.
- Sneak up behind a living teammate. Position matters — the prompt won’t appear if they’re facing you or too far away.
- Hold right click when the sacrifice prompt appears. This starts the animation.
- Watch them turn to stone. The kill is instant once the animation completes.
- Collect your rewards: full health, all ailments cured, and bonus stamina.
Warning: The prompt only appears on living teammates. If your teammate is already downed, the dagger is useless. Save it for a healthy squad member.
The stamina bonus is the hidden gem here. It’s not just a heal — it’s a sprint boost that can carry you through a tough climb section. Use it right before a difficult ascent to maximize the value.
Unlocking the Last Resort Badge
The badge requires your health to be below 25% before you use the dagger. Since the heal restores you to full, a single use at that threshold heals over 75% of your damage. That’s the trigger.
The easiest method is to create controlled fall damage:
- Find an Ancient Idol — they’re the most reliable dagger source, and you’ll want one nearby anyway.
- Take a fall that drops you below 25%. A drop from a high ledge or cliff works best.
- Stab your friend while you’re still low.
- Revive them immediately after the sacrifice. They’ll respawn at your location, and you can keep climbing together.
Tip: Coordinate with your squad before attempting this. A teammate who doesn’t know they’re about to be sacrificed might panic, dodge, or run — which ruins the whole sequence. Tell them the plan first.
The key is doing this near an Ancient Idol. You get the dagger spawn, the fall damage source, and the revival point all in one area. It’s the most efficient loop for farming the badge.
Why This Matters for Your Run
The Last Resort badge isn’t just a trophy. It proves you understand the dagger’s risk-reward dynamic — that you can use a team-kill mechanic without actually ending the run. That’s a skill that carries over to high-difficulty climbs where a full heal at the right moment saves the entire squad.
Pair the badge with the stamina bonus from the sacrifice, and you’ve got a combination that turns a losing run into a record attempt. Just remember: the dagger only works once per run. Use it when it counts.
More Guides:
- PEAK: How to Earn the Exorcist Badge (Burn Ghosts in the Gloom Biome)
- PEAK: The Rocketpack Guide
- PEAK: The Anti-Zooka Guide
- PEAK: All Locations and Biomes Guide
