Combat
Protocol Buffs
Activate protective buffs in combat that drain Protocol points each turn.
Table of Contents (5)
What Are Protocol Buffs?
Protocol buffs are combat abilities governed by your Protocol skill. When activated, they provide powerful defensive or offensive bonuses that persist until you deactivate them or run out of Protocol points. Points drain each turn while a buff is active — stronger buffs drain faster.
Types of Buffs
Three families of Protocol buffs are available:
Stat Boosts — Flat bonuses to a specific combat skill. Available in three tiers of increasing potency, each requiring a higher Protocol level to unlock.
Deflect Prayers — Powerful damage reduction effects that cut incoming damage significantly. Each Deflect targets a specific damage type (melee, ranged, or magic).
Overhead Protocols — Advanced multi-stat boosts that combine offensive and defensive bonuses. War Protocol empowers melee, Marksman Protocol empowers ranged, and Conduit Protocol empowers signal casting. Only one overhead can be active at a time.
Protocol Points
Each buff drains a set number of Protocol points per turn while active. When your points reach zero, all active buffs deactivate. Managing your point pool is critical — overcommitting to too many buffs at once will burn through your reserves quickly.
Restoring Points
Protocol points restore at campfires in the wilderness. Visit a nomad camp or rest tile to refill your reserves before heading into dangerous territory. Planning your route around campfire access is part of the strategy.
Training Protocol
Protocol XP is earned by burning signal fragments at the campfire — not through combat. Higher Protocol levels unlock more powerful buffs and increase your total point pool, letting you sustain buffs for longer fights.
More in Combat
Fighting Enemies
How combat works, loot drops, and enemy rarity tiers.
Combat Mechanics
How stats, weapons, and equipment translate into combat performance.
Boss Encounters
Summon and fight zone bosses for named trophy loot.
Scrap Crates
Randomized loot crates dropped by enemies — crack them open for rewards.
Combat Protocols
Automate consumable usage, skill forcing, and shard breaking with conditional rules.
Kill Streaks
Build momentum by chaining kills for escalating XP and scrap bonuses.
Elite Encounters
Dangerous ambush predators that attack you on sight in higher zones.