The Exorcist Badge isn’t handed out for a few casual climbs. You need to track down a Big Ghost in the foggy swamps of the GLOOM biome and burn it to ash before it puts your whole team to sleep. This guide breaks down the fastest, most reliable ways to get that kill, whether you have a Candlestick on hand or need to improvise with the environment.
What You’re Actually Hunting For
GLOOM was added in The Final Ascent update, and it’s a different beast from the other biomes. Thick fog rolls through swampy lowlands, and the Big Ghosts that drift through it are the main threat. They float slowly, but they close distance faster than you’d expect, and if one gets within range of your party, it triggers a sleep effect that can end a run instantly.
The badge itself is tied directly to the kill. Burn one Big Ghost, and the Exorcist Badge is yours. That’s the entire objective, but the execution requires a specific tool or a bit of environmental awareness.
The Candlestick Method: Your Primary Weapon
The most straightforward approach is to find a Candlestick before you make contact. These spawn inside Luggage bags scattered across the GLOOM biome, so loot everything you come across as you climb.
Here’s the sequence that works:
- Listen for the ghost’s distinct audio cue — it’s a low, drawn-out wail that cuts through the fog.
- Once you hear it, immediately light your Candlestick. Don’t wait until you see the ghost; the wind-up takes a moment and you want the flame ready.
- Chase the ghost down and get close enough for the flame to catch it. The burn is fast — a second or two of contact and it’s done.
The Candlestick does double duty here. While lit, it protects you from the ghost’s sleep aura for roughly 30 seconds. That window is generous enough to close the gap and finish the job, but it’s not infinite. If you’re slow to engage, the flame sputters out and you’re back to square one, vulnerable to the sleep effect.
Tip: If you’re running with a team, have one player hold the lit Candlestick while another flanks the ghost. The sleep aura only affects the closest player, so the flame holder can tank the approach while the flanker gets the kill.
No Candlestick? Ring the Belltowers
Candlesticks aren’t guaranteed drops, and if the RNG isn’t in your favor, you don’t need to restart the run. Every GLOOM map has Belltowers scattered through the fog. These structures create safe zones in the mist, but they’re also your backup kill method.
Lure the ghost toward any Belltower, then ring it. The bell’s shockwave burns the ghost instantly, no Candlestick required. The range on the bell’s blast is forgiving, so you don’t need pixel-perfect positioning — just get the ghost within a few meters of the tower base.
The trade-off is speed. Ringing a Belltower takes a few seconds, and the ghost isn’t going to wait politely. You’ll need to kite it in a circle around the tower while a teammate triggers the bell, or time your own ring so the ghost is at the tower’s edge when the wave hits.
Faerie Lanterns: The Emergency Option
If you’re nowhere near a Belltower and your Candlestick is spent, there’s a third option. Faerie Lanterns drop from Ancient Statues and Ancient Luggage. They function identically to Candlesticks for the purpose of burning ghosts, but they’re rarer and less predictable to source.
This is a backup for a backup. Don’t plan your entire strategy around finding a Faerie Lantern — treat it as a pleasant surprise if you stumble across one while looting. The mechanics are identical: light it, chase the ghost, burn it.
What You Get for the Burn
Burning a Big Ghost unlocks three things at once:
| Reward | Type |
|---|---|
| Exorcist Badge | Badge |
| Gothic Outfit | Cosmetic |
| Gothic Hat | Cosmetic |
The badge itself is the main draw for collectors, but the Gothic Outfit and Hat are solid cosmetic bonuses that fit the GLOOM biome’s aesthetic. If you’re chasing completion, this is one of the more satisfying badges to earn because it requires actual engagement with the biome’s unique mechanics rather than just surviving to a certain floor.
Final Notes on the GLOOM Grind
The biggest mistake players make in GLOOM is treating it like a normal biome. The fog limits visibility, and the ghosts are silent until they’re close. Stay alert, keep your ears open for the wail, and don’t wander off alone without a lit Candlestick or a Belltower in sight.
If you’re also working on other badge challenges, the GLOOM biome has another one worth your time — the Ritual Dagger Guide covers a different approach to unlocking a second badge in the same area.
Once the ghost burns up, the badge is permanent. No repeat runs, no grinding the same kill. Just grab your rewards, swap on the Gothic Outfit, and keep climbing.
More Guides:
- PEAK Ritual Dagger Guide: How to Unlock the Last Resort Badge
- PEAK: The Anti-Zooka Guide
- PEAK: All Locations and Biomes Guide
- PEAK: The Rocketpack Guide
