Softlocks
Under certain circumstances, it is possible to reach a game state in which it is no longer possible to make progress. The common term to describe such situations is softlock.
This article details ways in which the player may become softlocked during the course of a game. We distinguish between three different kinds of softlocks:
- Full softlocks: it is no longer possible to perform any actions at all (outside of perhaps saving and quitting the game). The player is permanently stuck.
- Partial softlocks: the player can still perform actions but is no longer able to act productively, i.e. they can no longer change the game state in a significant way. For example, the player is no longer able to leave their current zone. Generally the way to escape a partial softlock is to force the player character to die.
- Quest softlocks: the player can still perform productive actions but is no longer able to progress in the main questline.
Most softlocks are easily preventable, or can be resolved using wishes (with a few rare exceptions). If you are okay with using wishes, the two most important wishes for solving softlocks are
goto:JoppaWorld.11.22.1.1.10: teleports you to
Joppa.swap: allows you to swap into the body of a different creature. You will most likely first need to wish for the creature that you want to swap into.
See the wishes page for more information. The remainder of this article will focus on non-wish-based techniques to prevent softlocks from occurring.
Full softlocks
| Method | Notes |
|---|---|
Entomb yourself in the Tomb of the Eaters while in a powered vehicle such as a  temple mecha mk Ia. Once in the Thin World, remove your own power core or move around until you run out of energy.
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This is caused by a bug[1] that causes the player to occupy the body of their piloted mecha when they cross over to the Thin World. |
Partial softlocks
| Method | Notes |
|---|---|
Become an immobile creature (e.g. a  brooding rosepuff), a water-bound creature (e.g. a  glowfish), or a wall-bound creature (e.g. a  livid creeper).
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This method also requires that you cannot switch into a different body. In the case of occupying such a body through a waking dream, you must occupy a creature that doesn't hunger or thirst, and which does not have any enemies in range for you to level up. |
Become stuck in Tzimtzlum permanently by killing all of its  giant clams, preventing you from returning to Qud.
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Quest softlocks
| Method | Notes |
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Softlocks that have been patched out
Several softlocks have existed throughout the history of the game that have since been patched out.
| Method | Softlock Category | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Possessing an inactive  crypt sitter via a waking dream would cause the player to pass turns indefinitely, until another creature came within the player's vision.
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Full | Fix in game version 204.102. |