Into The Depths Perks Guide: Best Perks & How to Unlock

Introduction to Perks in Into The Depths

Perks are powerful passive bonuses that can dramatically change how you play Into The Depths. Unlike active abilities or equipment, perks provide permanent buffs to your colony, your explorers, or your resource production. Understanding the perk system is essential for surviving the deeper caverns and building a thriving underground settlement.

Each perk you unlock stays with you across runs, making them a core part of your progression. As you explore deeper levels, you will unlock perk slots and discover new perks that synergize with your playstyle. This guide covers every perk type, how to unlock them, and which combinations work best for different strategies.

For a broader overview of game mechanics, check out our mechanics guide.

How to Unlock Perks

Perks are unlocked through two main methods: progression milestones and special events. You do not need to purchase them with currency — they are earned by achieving specific goals.

Progression Milestones

• Reach depth 50: Unlocks your first perk slot.
• Build a Forge: Unlocks the "Smelter's Boon" perk.
• Survive your first raid: Unlocks "Defensive Stance".
• Collect 5000 gold: Unlocks "Greedy Hands".

Special Events

• Defeat a boss: Each boss drops a unique perk.
• Complete a challenge run: Rewards exclusive perks.
• Find hidden caverns: Some perks are only found in secret rooms.

Perk Categories and Best Choices

Perks in Into The Depths fall into three main categories: Colony, Explorer, and Combat. Each category supports a different aspect of your gameplay.

Colony Perks

These perks boost your settlement's efficiency and resource production.

Perk Name	Effect	How to Unlock
Efficient Miner	+20% mining speed	Build 3 mines
Bountiful Harvest	+30% food production	Build a farm
Smelter's Boon	+15% metal output	Build a forge
Builder's Grace	-10% build time	Construct 10 buildings

Best Colony Perk: Efficient Miner is widely considered the top pick because mining is the foundation of all progression. Faster mining means more resources, which leads to faster upgrades.

Explorer Perks

These perks enhance your ability to explore the depths and discover secrets.

Perk Name	Effect	How to Unlock
Torchbearer	+2 vision range	Reach depth 100
Cartographer	Reveals 10% more map	Find 5 secret rooms
Swift Feet	+15% movement speed	Travel 10,000 steps
Treasure Hunter	+20% loot from chests	Open 20 chests

Best Explorer Perk: Treasure Hunter is excellent for mid-game when you need rare materials. Combine it with Cartographer to maximize loot.

Combat Perks

These perks improve your fighting capabilities against enemies and bosses.

Perk Name	Effect	How to Unlock
Defensive Stance	+10% damage reduction	Survive a raid
Sharp Blades	+15% melee damage	Kill 50 enemies
Arcane Shield	+20% magic resistance	Defeat a magic boss
Adrenaline Rush	+10% attack speed when low health	Reach 10% health in battle

Best Combat Perk: Defensive Stance is invaluable for surviving the deeper levels where enemy damage scales quickly. It provides consistent protection throughout your run.

Perk Synergies and Builds

Combining perks that complement each other can create powerful synergies. Here are two popular builds.

The Resource King Build

Focuses on maximizing colony output to snowball into late game.

• Efficient Miner + Bountiful Harvest + Smelter's Boon
• This trio boosts mining, food, and metal production simultaneously.
• Pair with Builder's Grace to construct buildings faster.

The Explorer's Fortune Build

Designed for players who want to discover every secret and collect maximum loot.

• Torchbearer + Cartographer + Treasure Hunter
• Increased vision and map reveal help you find hidden areas.
• Treasure Hunter ensures you get the best loot from every chest.

Advanced Perk Strategies

Once you have unlocked multiple perk slots, you can experiment with advanced strategies.

• Stacking bonuses: Some perks stack multiplicatively. For example, multiple mining speed perks can drastically reduce mining time.
• Perk reset: You can reset your perk loadout between runs for a small cost. Use this to adapt to different challenges.
• Hidden perks: Some perks only appear after you have completed specific optional objectives. Explore thoroughly to find them all.

For more detailed strategies, see our beginner guide and tips and tricks guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change my perks after a run starts? No, perks are locked for the duration of a run. Plan your loadout before descending.

How many perk slots can I unlock? You can unlock up to 6 perk slots through progression. The final slot is unlocked at depth 500.

Are there any perks that are universally bad? While no perk is completely useless, some are situational. For example, Adrenaline Rush is less useful if you rarely take damage.

Do perks affect all explorers or only the main character? Most colony perks affect your entire settlement. Explorer and combat perks usually only affect the character who has them equipped.