With the new ROOTS update for PEAK, the challenges increase as it introduces new areas, features, and achievements you can unlock. One of those achievements is the Applied Esoterica Badge, which can be unlocked pretty easily if you know what to do.
The Applied Esoterica Badge symbolizes “knowledge used for forbidden means.” In gameplay terms, you earn it by using the Book of Bones to bring a dead teammate back to life
To get the badge, you will need to revive your fallen teammate with the help of the Book of Bones.
How to Get Book of Bones in PEAK
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Game Mode | Co-op or multiplayer (minimum 2 players) |
| Biome | Roots Biome (fungal forest area) |
| Item Needed | Book of Bones (Mythical rarity) |
| Condition | One teammate must fully die (not just downed) |
| Trigger Action | Use the Book of Bones on your teammate’s corpse |
Getting this mystical item can be a little tough, as it can only spawn in Ancient Luggage or as a reward from the Ancient Statue if all players manage to survive and reach the campfire alive. The chances of getting this are random, so if you get it, you are better off using it.
It’s not easy to find, but there are several known drop sources:
- Ancient Luggage: Rare chests scattered in the Roots biome.
- Ancient Statues: Breakable relics that occasionally drop high-tier mystical items.
- Elite Enemies: Some players report drops from glowing fungal giants and necrotic cultists.
After getting the Book of Bones, you can either revive a player and bring them back as a skeleton or use it on yourself to become a skeleton if no one in your team is dead. Let’s take a look at the outcomes of both decisions.
What Happens if You Use the Book of Bones on Yourself
You can only use the Book of Bones on yourself if all your teammates are alive. When you do, you will become a skeleton, but at the cost of being more fragile. You also get some benefits, which I have stated below.
- No need to worry about effects like Hunger, Burn, Frost, Poison, Sleepiness, and Spores.
- Takes double fall and explosion damage.
- Stamina and item weight remain unchanged.
Just be careful not to jump off high heights, or your run might end.
What Happens if You Use the Book on Bones on a Dead Teammate
However, if you decide to use the item on a dead teammate, you will get the Applied Esoterica badge, and your ally will live to see another day as a skeleton. Here’s how to revive your teammate using the Book of Bones:
- Make sure you have the Book of Bones.
- Once a teammate dies, approach their corpse.
- You will see an option to revive.
- Hold your interact key (default is E), and your teammate will be revived as a skeleton, rewarding you with the Applied Esoterica badge.
Keep in mind that if your teammate has fainted but not died, the Book of Bones will be used on you and turn you into a skeleton, so keep an eye out for that.
Aside from just the achievement, you will also get the Skeleton Top cosmetic.
