To traverse the GLOOM in PEAK, bring a candlestick, torch, or other flame source, keep it lit while crossing the purple fog, and conserve its fuel carefully because the fog starts dealing sleep damage as soon as the flame goes out.
The GLOOM is a low-visibility swamp and forest stretch where your real timer is the flame in your hand. You are not trying to fight the fog; you are trying to spend your light only when it matters, then keep moving before your candlestick or torch burns out.
How flames keep you alive in the GLOOM
Candlesticks, torches, and other flame-making items let you pass through the purple fog by clearing space around you while they are active. When the flame is off, the fog returns immediately and starts applying sleep damage.
Key That makes every crossing a fuel-management problem. Leave the flame on too long and the item burns out before you reach safety; turn it off for too long and sleep damage can overwhelm you in the fog.
Ghosts are tied into that pressure too. When your flame goes out or is extinguished, the fog becomes far more dangerous because hostile ghosts can show up while you are already losing ground to sleep.
How to cross the GLOOM in PEAK
Use the candlestick or torch in short bursts, saving fuel whenever the route gives you enough room to breathe.
STEP 1/6
Find a flame source
Pick up a candlestick, torch, or another item that can make flames before committing to the purple fog.
STEP 2/6
Light the candlestick
Press Q to ignite the candlestick and create a safe pocket through the fog.
STEP 3/6
Move while the flame is active
Push through gates, rocks, forest paths, and other visible openings while the flame is lit.
STEP 4/6
Extinguish it only briefly
Turn the flame off with Q when you can spare a moment, but expect sleep damage to start immediately.
STEP 5/6
Relight before sleep takes over
Reignite the flame and keep advancing as soon as the fog pressure becomes dangerous.
STEP 6/6
Keep progressing before it burns out
If the candlestick runs dry in the GLOOM, you can be left stranded inside the fog.
Video help
Candlestick controls in the GLOOM
| Control | Action |
|---|---|
| Q | Light or extinguish the candlestick |
| F | Drop the held candlestick |
| RMB | Throw the held candlestick |
The candlestick prompts are simple, but they matter because one wrong input can waste fuel or leave the item behind. Use Q as your main survival button, then treat dropping or throwing the item as emergency handling rather than part of the normal crossing rhythm.
Plan your route before entering the fog
The GLOOM can spin you around fast because the fog cuts visibility and the terrain is broken up by islands, ledges, fences, and dense tree lines. Before you leave solid ground, face the next visible island or landmark and hold that direction in your head.
Use rock ledges, fence lines, and tree lines as rails when the fog gets thick. These features are easier to follow than open water, and they reduce the chance that you burn candle fuel wandering in circles.
Point yourself at the next island before you enter the GLOOM, then use short candle bursts to stay on that line instead of steering by foggy visuals.
Helpful GLOOM tools and objectives
| Item or objective | Use |
|---|---|
| Candlestick or torch | Creates the flame needed for fog traversal |
| Belltowers | Help stop or ward off sleep pressure while crossing the biome |
| Jetpack | Lets you glide over foggy stretches, but uses the backpack slot |
| Parasol | Helps you glide before dropping into dangerous low areas |
| Energy Drink | Helps cover a big stretch quickly, but can build up sleep risk |
Flame sources are still the main answer, but the GLOOM is easier when you pair them with sleep control and mobility. Belltowers are worth using as secondary objectives because they help manage sleep pressure, while movement items can shorten exposed crossings.
Use those tools to support the flame plan, not replace it. A fast movement item can get you across a gap, but it does not solve the moment you land in thick fog with no light left.
GLOOM mistakes that end runs
The easiest way to die in the GLOOM is to burn your candle like a flashlight instead of a limited survival tool. Keep it active while crossing the fog, then extinguish it during short safe windows so you still have fuel for the next stretch.
Do not enter with only one fragile plan. If you have no backup light source and the candlestick burns out, you can be trapped in the fog with sleep damage ticking and no clean recovery path.
Direction loss is just as dangerous as damage. Players who rush into open fog without lining up a landmark often waste their best flame time correcting course, then hit chokepoints or threats while already low on options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you cross the GLOOM after the candlestick burns out?
Usually, no. Once the candlestick burns out inside the fog, you lose the protection that lets you keep moving safely, so you need another flame source or a nearby escape route.
Do ghosts appear when the flame is extinguished?
Yes. Extinguishing the light can expose you to ghosts in the fog, which is why candle-saving should happen in short, controlled bursts instead of long dark runs.
Does the GLOOM lead into The Citadel?
Yes. The GLOOM leads to a final campfire that sends the run onward into The Citadel. The broader late-game rotation is still treated differently by players, with GLOOM and The Citadel described either as day-by-day alternates or as replacements for Caldera and The Kiln on some maps.
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