To quote Nietzsche, “Battle not with monsters, lest ye become a monster, and if you gaze into the abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.”; some Skill Cards reflect the Slayer’s duality, and as you lean into the power offered by your hybridity, your humanity will wane. This page will cover how to unlock Autophage Skill Cards in Dead Island 2 and the effects of equipping them.
Autophage Skill Cards - marked by a skulldrop tear - give significant boons, at the expense of your humanity…
What are Autophage Skill Cards in Dead Island 2?¶
About midway through the story - after completing the main quest 
The Final Gauntlet, to be more specific - you’ll unlock Autophage Skills… not to be confused with Autophage Perks, which unlock earlier. Autophage Skill Cards are marked by an Autophage “teardrop skull” symbol on the bottom of the card, and while they can impart powerful bonuses - usually relating to the more unsavory abilities you’ve started to develop in HELL-A.
Autophage Skill Cards can be equipped like any other Skill Card, and they can be found in any Skill Card category. When equipped, you’ll gain the promised effects of the Skill Card, but you’ll also usually suffer some sort of downside while the Autophage Skill Card is equipped. In addition, equipping Autophage Skill Cards will increase your Autophage Tier, which has numerous effects - beneficial and baleful - regardless of what actually Autophage Skill Cards you have equipped.
For each Autophage Skill Card equipped your Autophage Tier will increase, giving you various boons and penalties.
Autophage Tiers and Effects¶
You can tap into the power provided by Autophage Skill Cards, but you do so at the expense of your humanity, becoming more monstrous the more you indulge. This is the lore explanation, but as far as gameplay is concerned, if you equip an Autophage Skill Card, you’ll increase your Autophage Tier. One card equipped - one Autophage Tier. This has various effects depending on your Autophage Tier (hence, how many Autophage Skill Cards you have equipped):
Autophage Tier #1 Effects¶
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Slay zombies for a boost to ATTACK SPEED | Reduced PEAK HEALTH |
| Minor FURY MODE duration increase | – |
| In FURY MODE, slay zombies to replenish minor FURY | – |
Autophage Tier #2 Effects¶
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Attack zombies after a kill to regain STAMINA | Reduced STAMINA regeneration |
| Moderate FURY MODE duration increase | – |
| In FURY MODE, slay zombies to replenish moderate FURY | – |
Autophage Tier #3 Effects¶
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Slay zombies for a boost to HEALTH and DAMAGE | No HEALTH regeneration |
| Major FURY MODE duration increase | Reduced HEALTH recovery from Med Kits, Energy Drinks and Protein Bars |
| In FURY MODE, slay zombies to replenish major FURY | – |
The effects of Autophage Tiers are cumulative, so if you equipped one Autophage Skill Card you’d gain the effects of Autophage Tier #1, if you equipped two you’d get the effects of Autophage Tiers #1 and #2. Generally, you’re trading Health and Stamina for offensive potency and Fury Mode boons.
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