Which Perks Should You Choose?
For a forgiving Probably Stolen opening, prioritize Savings and Vigilant; choose Proficient Scavenger for frequent scavenging or Sawyer's Crew for underground trading. For a water shop, I would favor Savings and consider Diplomatic to support reputation growth through trading.
Demo Perk Costs and Benefits
Positive costs spend perk points, while negative costs grant them. Starting perks modify your setup independently of your starting scenario. Use these demo values as a reference, then check the costs displayed when creating your run.
| Perk | Details |
|---|---|
| Savings (+1) | Adds 150 starting credits. A flexible choice when you want more cash available for the opening. |
| Vigilant (+2) | Prevents nighttime robbery. Prioritize it if protecting stock matters more to your plan than specialist bonuses. |
| Model Citizen (+1) | Adds 30 Security reputation and increases Wanted List reporting rewards by 50%. Fits a reporting-focused shop. |
| Well Connected (+2) | Adds 15 reputation with all factions. Consider it when you want broad starting relationships. |
| Sawyer's Crew (+1) | Unlocks the Underground Exchange immediately. Ordinary Janitorial Service is free; vandalism cleanup remains paid but costs significantly less. |
| Diplomatic (+2) | Increases reputation generated through trade by 33%. Favor it when repeated trading is central to your business. |
| Intimidating (+2) | Committed crimes generate 33% less available evidence. Useful for a risky trading plan, though contraband still brings raid risks. |
| Proficient Scavenger (+1) | Allows up to two additional Search actions per Dumping Grounds visit. Extra searches do not guarantee valuable finds. |
| Secret Admirer (+1) | Occasionally delivers random items when you open the store. Treat those gifts as a bonus when planning purchases. |
| Welfare Program (+1) | Opens the Commissary immediately. Monday Food Stamps depend on your total wealth, so do not budget around receiving them. |
| Colorful Character (+1) | Adds three starting perk slots. Choose it when slots limit your intended setup. |
| Tapehead (+1) | Starts with all available music cassettes inside the cassette player. Pick it when music access is your priority. |
Convict and Model Citizen cannot be selected together. For a reporting-focused build, I would also avoid Known Snitch because wanted customers never visit with that perk. Keep that practical conflict in mind when choosing drawbacks.
Negative Perks That Make the Opening Harder
| Perk | Details |
|---|---|
| Bad Lease (-1) | Raises starting rent by 40 credits. Be cautious about funding a comfortable opening with a larger rent burden. |
| Side Street (-1) | Removes one random customer each day. Consider the lost trading opportunities before taking it. |
| Convict (-1) | Adds -30 Security reputation and reduces Wanted List reporting rewards by 25%. Avoid it for a reporting-focused opening. |
| Known Snitch (-2) | Wanted-poster customers never visit. Starts with -10 reputation with both the Revolution and Black Market. |
| Minimalist (-3) | Reduces the main inventory to 20x10 from 24x10. Plan space for stock and equipment before accepting it. |
| Blackmail (-2) | Requires weekly payments to prevent exposure and a major one-time reputation loss across most factions. |
| Blabbermouth (-2) | Generates 33% more criminal evidence and grants 50% less reputation with the Black Market and Revolution. |
| Nicotine Addiction (-1) | Applies an 8% trading penalty without regular nicotine consumption. The addiction can be cured. |
| Narcotic Addiction (-1) | Applies an 8% trading penalty without regular narcotic consumption. The addiction can be cured. |
| Alcohol Addiction (-1) | Applies an 8% trading penalty without regular alcohol consumption. The addiction can be cured. |
| Gambling Addiction (-1) | Automatically buys Lottery Tickets when possible and unlocks lottery content immediately. The addiction can be cured. |
| Sentinel Collapse Disorder (-3) | Requires weekly Immunivax injections to survive and cannot be cured. Starts with one Immunivax Injector. |
| Degenerative Osteoarthritis (-1) | After a normal first week, loses one maximum scavenging attempt weekly. Scavenging stops below three maximum attempts. |
Substance withdrawal begins immediately. You receive a related starting item and can consume it or save it for later. Gambling Addiction also automatically buys scratch tickets, including a stack when possible.
Recommended Combinations by Shop Plan
| Option | Details |
|---|---|
| Beginner | Prioritize Savings + Vigilant for opening cash and nighttime theft protection. The trade-off is committing points that could support reputation or specialist perks. |
| Water trader | Consider Savings + Diplomatic for working cash and trade reputation. You still need to manage testing and purification; the Water Merchant demo scenario provides the starting kit. |
| Scavenger | Prioritize Proficient Scavenger + Savings. More searches support frequent trips, but valuable finds remain uncertain; avoid funding this plan with Degenerative Osteoarthritis. |
| Underground trader | Consider Sawyer's Crew + Intimidating for immediate exchange access, ordinary janitorial savings and reduced evidence generation. Both choices commit points to that route; avoid Blabbermouth's opposing penalties. |
Put Your Starting Build to Work
- Choose your main business, then check the displayed points and slots before selecting supporting perks. Drop optional bonuses before accepting a drawback you do not want to manage.
- Reserve rent money before restocking. Rent rises over time, and falling behind reduces shop attractiveness and customer traffic.
- For a scavenging build, use Proficient Scavenger's extra Search actions on Dumping Grounds visits. Bring your flashlight; leaving it at the shop does not provide its passive benefit.
- Before expanding, review any recurring burden you accepted. Keep Blackmail payments and required Immunivax supplied, and account for addiction needs when deciding what you can afford.
Demo Builds and the Full Release
These recommendations use demo perk effects. The full game is scheduled for October 28, 2026, with expanded difficulty choices announced for release. Apprentice is announced as the beginner-friendly generalist scenario.