How to Lower Infamy in Blood of Dawnwalker: Can You Reduce It?

The short answer is no — you cannot lower Infamy in The Blood of Dawnwalker. Once your notoriety climbs, it stays climbed. Edicts are permanent, and there is no mechanic to pay off your bounty, lay low until the heat dies down, or bribe a guard to look the other way.

But that does not mean you are helpless. The real skill is not lowering Infamy — it is controlling the pace at which it rises.

Why You Cannot Lower Infamy

The Infamy system in The Blood of Dawnwalker is designed as a one-way ratchet. Every anti-regime action feeds into a permanent meter, and the regime’s response (the Edicts) is equally permanent. This is a deliberate narrative choice: the game wants you to feel the consequences of your rebellion accumulating, not evaporating.

Mechanically, this means:

• No “pay fine” option at any guard post or court
• No “lay low” mechanic that reduces Infamy over time
• No quest or item that resets your notoriety
• No way to remove an Edict once enacted

If you are looking for a way to undo Infamy, you are looking for something that does not exist. The only way to “reset” is to load an earlier save.

How to Manage Infamy Growth

Since you cannot lower Infamy, the strategic question becomes: how fast do you want to climb?

Delaying Infamy (The Slow Play)

If you want to postpone Edicts and keep the world friendly longer:

1. Stop doing court activities — these are the primary Infamy driver. Without them, Infamy growth slows to a crawl.
2. Focus on non-Infamy quests — many side quests and exploration activities do not raise Infamy.
3. Avoid killing Boyars — each Boyar duel significantly spikes Infamy.
4. Explore and prepare — use the friendly world state to gear up, complete side quests, and map the valley.

This approach is useful for completionists who want to experience the world before it turns hostile. It is also the safest way to play if you are underleveled or undergeared.

Rushing Infamy (The Speedrun)

If you want to trigger the endgame quickly:

1. Complete every court activity you can find — the 41 activities are the fastest Infamy source.
2. Kill Boyars as soon as their duels unlock — each one is a major Infamy spike.
3. Push main story quests — key narrative moments against the regime raise Infamy.
4. Do not stop — the only way to reach Level 9 is to keep feeding the meter.

This approach is for players who are endgame-ready and want to reach Brencis as quickly as possible.

The Infamy Management Sweet Spot

For most players, the optimal strategy is a controlled climb:

Phase 1 (Early Game): Rush Infamy Levels 1-3 by completing low-risk court activities. The penalties are minor, and you want to unlock mid-tier progression.

Phase 2 (Mid Game): Pause Infamy growth. Focus on completing all three Boyar duels, gearing up, and finishing side quests. Stock up on consumables before letting Infamy climb further.

Phase 3 (Endgame): Push Infamy to Level 9 as quickly as possible. Complete remaining court activities, kill any remaining Boyars, and trigger the final confrontation.

The key insight: complete all Boyar duels before hitting maximum Infamy. This ensures you face Brencis with every advantage and no unfinished business.

What Happens If You Accidentally Trigger an Edict?

Nothing catastrophic. Edicts are penalties, not game-enders. Even Level 9 (Svartrau Defences) is survivable — it just makes the world much harder to navigate.

If you trigger an Edict earlier than planned:

• Level 1-3: Keep playing normally. The penalties are minor.
• Level 4-6: Adjust your routes, stock up on supplies, and avoid unnecessary travel.
• Level 7-9: Focus on endgame content. You are in the final stretch.

Infamy and the 30-Day Limit

Infamy management is directly tied to time management. Every court activity costs time segments, and every Edict makes travel more time-expensive. The two systems compound:

• High Infamy + Low Time = Desperate endgame scramble
• Low Infamy + High Time = Comfortable but underprepared
• Controlled Infamy + Planned Time = Optimal path

Plan your Infamy climb alongside your segment budget. Do not trigger Level 7 (headhunters + all soldiers hostile) when you have 3 days left and no fast travel options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you lower Infamy in Blood of Dawnwalker? No. Infamy is permanent and one-way. There is no mechanic to reduce it.

Is there a way to remove Edicts? No. Once an Edict is enacted, it stays in force for the rest of the playthrough.

What is the fastest way to raise Infamy? Complete court activities. They are the primary Infamy driver and the fastest way to climb levels.

Should I rush maximum Infamy? Only when you are endgame-ready. Complete all Boyar duels, finish important side quests, and gear up first.

Does dying lower Infamy? No. Dying has no effect on Infamy. It only costs you time if you reload a save.

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Source: TheBigLead, DawnwalkerDB, official game documentation. Community verification in progress.