Bonfire
Relic- Role
- Same-Family stack
- Why early
- Free Max HP scaling — mono-Family anchor
Free Max HP scaling — mono-Family anchor
How Many Dudes? Relics
How Many Dudes relics guide: shop modifiers, Family tag pools, best early picks, trigger loops, and reroll rules for Tier 1–3 runs on Steam and mobile.
Full run showing Relic stashes, Merchant shops, Family pool control, and trigger stacking that wins Tier 3.
~10 min read
Sponsored
At A Glance
How Many Dudes relics are run-wide modifiers — hundreds of passives from shops, events, and stashes that rewrite combat triggers, economy, and stat curves. Unlike boss Trinkets, Relics are not bound to one Dude type; they stack on the whole roster until the run ends. This guide maps sources, Family pool rules, and the best early shop picks for Tier 1–3. Verified August 16, 2026 · Steam.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Scope | Run-wide — affects all five Dude Types on the roster |
| Sources | Merchant shop · Relic stash · Smuggler events · Scavenger loans |
| Pool control | 6 Families on roster bias which Relics appear |
| Stacking | Multiple Relics active; some are type-tagged, some are global auras |
| Exclusivity | Owned Relics removed from shop pool until run ends |
| Pair with | Trinkets (per-type boss mods) · builds |
| Count | Hundreds at launch — Dudex is the source of truth for exact text |
Boss rewards next
Matched by build plan, shared topics, and guide progression — not random related links.
How do Relics differ from Trinkets?
Relics and Trinkets both modify auto-battles, but they answer different questions. Relics ask: "What rules does this run play by?" Trinkets ask: "How does this one Dude type spike after a boss?"
| Layer | Relics | Trinkets |
|---|---|---|
| Binding | Whole run — any Dude can benefit | One Dude type on your roster |
| Drop source | Shops, stashes, events | Act bosses · Trinket stash events |
| Slots | Unlimited within shop/event grants | One Trinket slot per type per run |
| Replace rule | Keep all owned Relics | New Trinket destroys the old one on that type |
| Planning | Shop every few nodes | Route bosses toward your carry type |
Why both layers matter
A Wizard with Arcane Monocle (Relic) and ADHD (Trinket) is a different carry than a Wizard with only one layer. Relics supply stat auras and trigger rewrites; Trinkets add movement or proc spikes that no shop roll replaces. Build both from draft — see the beginner guide loop and tier list for who deserves the boss slot.
Sources come next: where Relics actually enter your run.
Where do I find Relics during a run?
Relics enter through four recurring node types. Merchant shops are the main sink for cash; stashes are free power spikes; event NPCs bend pool rules when you are willing to take risk.
| Source | Cost | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Merchant Dude shop | Gold per Relic + reroll fee | Three offers biased by roster Families; first restock sometimes free |
| Relic stash | Free pick (one of three) | Cheaper pool roll — good mid-run catch-up |
| Smuggler Dude | Temporary loan / gold trade | Off-pool or cross-Family Relics you cannot shop normally |
| Scavenger / Trainer events | Varies — often HP or cash | Bonus Relic, stat bump, or pool manipulation |
Shop restocks and loans
Launch-week runs show Merchant restocks dropping in price after Ranch upgrades — one clip notes the first restock free and later shops costing 25 gold less per tier invested. Smuggler events let you borrow Relics for several rounds and return them with a bonus pick if you survive the loan window — strong when you need a spike for one boss but cannot afford permanent ownership yet.
Stash timing
Relic stashes appear on the map like fights. They are not rerollable: pick one of three and move on. Because owned Relics leave the pool, a stash that offers your missing Bonfire or Bag of Bones is often worth skipping a safer cash fight — especially before Act 2 when enemy count jumps.
Family tags decide which three names the Merchant can roll — covered next.
How does the Family tag pool work?
Shop Relics filter through Family tags on your five Dude Types. Mono-Fantasy runs see more Wizard-tagged and Cleric-tagged names; a three-Family salad dilutes every tag. Flyers bias recruitment, which indirectly biases the pool for the next hour.
| Roster pattern | Shop density | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| 4–5 same-Family types | Highest on-tag rate | Tier 3 pushes, Star grinds, Ensemble pre-posts |
| 3 + 2 hybrid (e.g. Fantasy/Warrior) | Strong partial pools | Most launch-week clears |
| 5 mixed Families | Low synergy hit rate | Only if events grant broken globals |
Named Relics follow types
Many Relics name a Dude type in the tooltip — Arcane Monocle (Wizard), Bandoleer (Cowboy), Aspis (Spartan), Bonus Check (Manager). Those still require the type on roster; they do not force-recruit. Dudex lists preferred stats per type — match Relic text to those stats before you buy.
Which Relics should I buy early?
Acts 1–2 reward Relics that fix roster holes: taunt pulses, team healing, economy, or one carry spike. Rarity flavor text matters less than trigger completion before the first multi-target swarm.
| Relic | Tags / role | Why early |
|---|---|---|
| Bonfire | Same-Family stack | Free Max HP scaling — core mono-Family anchor |
 Ablative Shield | Knight / heal triggers | Temporary HP when heals land — stabilizes Cleric boards |
 Bagpipes | Knight taunt proc | Repeating taunt chance on Direct Damage |
 Arcane Monocle | Wizard crit/fireball | Crit damage + fireball aura — Fantasy carry spine |
 Bandoleer | Cowboy reposition | Lasso arrivals deal AoE — Action cleave enabler |
 Life Insurance | Economy | Cash on knockout — funds rerolls without selling Dudes |
 Bag of Bones | Undead revive | Thrall revive + Skeledude summon — death-loop starter |
 Bonus Check | Manager / Employed | Intern Attack Speed + Crit — economy burst |
- Do01Buy one defensive Relic (taunt, block, heal proc) before your second damage Relic
- Do02Take Bonfire or Belted Greaves when you already run 3+ same-Family types
- Do03Grab Life Insurance or Finance-friendly picks if Business Dude events appear
- Do04Skip duplicate low-impact stat sticks unless they complete a named combo
- Do05Reserve ~30% of cash for one reroll after a bad shop — not five empty rerolls
- Do06Open Dudex on any Relic mentioning Stored damage, Cleave, or Revive before you commit
Ab Roller
Relic- Role
- Knight / heal triggers
- Why early
- Temporary HP when heals land
Temporary HP when heals land
Bagpipes
Relic- Role
- Knight taunt proc
- Why early
- Repeating taunt chance on Direct Damage
Repeating taunt chance on Direct Damage
R Arcane Monocle
Relic- Role
- Wizard crit/fireball
- Why early
- Crit damage + fireball aura
Crit damage + fireball aura
R Bandoleer
Relic- Role
- Cowboy reposition
- Why early
- Lasso arrivals deal AoE cleave
Lasso arrivals deal AoE cleave
R Life Insurance
Relic- Role
- Economy
- Why early
- Cash on knockout — funds rerolls
Cash on knockout — funds rerolls
R Bag Of Bones
Relic- Role
- Undead revive
- Why early
- Thrall revive + Skeledude summon
Thrall revive + Skeledude summon
R Bonus Check
Relic- Role
- Manager / Employed
- Why early
- Intern Attack Speed + Crit burst
Intern Attack Speed + Crit burst
R Arsenal
Relic- Role
- Global crit
- Why early
- +Crit Chance/Damage team-wide
+Crit Chance/Damage team-wide
R Battle Hymn
Relic- Role
- Paladin bless
- Why early
- Blessing Attack Power + Run Speed
Blessing Attack Power + Run Speed
R Blaze Of Glory
Relic- Role
- Trooper orbital
- Why early
- Rewrites orbital strike cadence
Rewrites orbital strike cadence
R Alchemy Table
Relic- Role
- Assassin toxin
- Why early
- Extra toxin stack + spread
Extra toxin stack + spread
Act 1 vs Act 3 shopping
Act 1 shops want taunt + one carry Relic. Act 3 shops want storage, execute, and revive — Bag of Bones, Alchemy Table (Assassin toxin stack), Blaze of Glory (Trooper orbital rewrite). Do not reroll Act 1 shops hunting Act 3 names; buy stability, then specialize at bosses via Trinkets.
Family-specific spikes are indexed below if you already locked a spine from the families guide.
What are the best Relics by Family?
These how many dudes relics picks assume a mono or heavy hybrid board for that Family. Splash one off-tag Relic only when it fills a missing role (taunt, heal, cash).
| Family | Core Relics | Carry spike | Utility |
|---|---|---|---|
| Action | Bandoleer · Butterfly Stinger · Barrel of Oranges | Black Sheep (rear taunt) · Caged Tiger (KO crit burst) | Bite Stick (Cowboy fatal lasso heal) |
| Employed | Bonus Check · Boombox · Brilliant Smile | Construction hammer tempo · Electrician static | Life Insurance · Business event synergy |
| Fantasy | Arcane Monocle · Battle Hymn · Bear cluster (Druid) | Bass Drum (Bard evasion songs) · Alchemy Table (Assassin) | Ancient Idol (Explorer block) · Book of Life |
| Sci-Fi | Blaze of Glory · Beam Splitter · Antifragility Implant | Brain Implant · Bullet Time | Bonfire if stacking Cyborg/Trooper tags |
| Undead | Bag of Bones · Anubis Statue · Bat Wings | Blood Siphon / Blood Bag (Vampire) | Ancient Sword (taunt Skeledude summon) · Bean Burrito (KO gas) |
| Warrior | Aspis · Belted Greaves · Bagpipes | Blacksmith's Hammer (Knight temp HP crit) | Ab Roller (Spartan deflection) · Bamboo Dummy (Samurai deflect crit) |
R Bandoleer
Action · Core- Why
- Lasso arrivals deal AoE cleave
Lasso arrivals deal AoE cleave
R Butterfly Stinger
Action · Core- Why
- Crit and cleave tempo for Action carries
Crit and cleave tempo for Action carries
R Barrel Of Oranges
Action · Core- Why
- Pirate Rum and team opening burst
Pirate Rum and team opening burst
Black Sheep
Action · Spike- Why
- Rear-line taunt for cleave boards
Rear-line taunt for cleave boards
Caged Tiger
Action · Spike- Why
- KO crit burst on high-count packs
KO crit burst on high-count packs
R Bite Stick
Action · Utility- Why
- Cowboy fatal lasso heal finisher
Cowboy fatal lasso heal finisher
R Bonus Check
Employed · Core- Why
- Intern Attack Speed + Crit burst
Intern Attack Speed + Crit burst
R Boombox
Employed · Core- Why
- Employed tempo and shop synergy
Employed tempo and shop synergy
R Brilliant Smile
Employed · Core- Why
- Dentist and Employed DR stack
Dentist and Employed DR stack
R Life Insurance
Employed · Utility- Why
- Cash on knockout — economy snowball
Cash on knockout — economy snowball
Bonfire
Employed · Utility- Why
- Max HP if running 3+ Employed tags
Max HP if running 3+ Employed tags
Ab Roller
Employed · Utility- Why
- Temp HP when heals land on Medic boards
Temp HP when heals land on Medic boards
R Arcane Monocle
Fantasy · Core- Why
- Wizard crit/fireball carry ceiling
Wizard crit/fireball carry ceiling
R Battle Hymn
Fantasy · Core- Why
- Paladin Blessing Attack Power + Run Speed
Paladin Blessing Attack Power + Run Speed
R Bear Hug
Fantasy · Core- Why
- Druid bear form cluster anchor
Druid bear form cluster anchor
R Bass Drum
Fantasy · Spike- Why
- Bard evasion songs for backline
Bard evasion songs for backline
R Alchemy Table
Fantasy · Spike- Why
- Assassin toxin stack + spread
Assassin toxin stack + spread
R Ancient Idol
Fantasy · Utility- Why
- Explorer block for sustain flex
Explorer block for sustain flex
R Blaze Of Glory
Sci-Fi · Core- Why
- Trooper orbital rewrite
Trooper orbital rewrite
R Beam Splitter
Sci-Fi · Core- Why
- Extra beam targets for tech carries
Extra beam targets for tech carries
R Antifragility Implant
Sci-Fi · Core- Why
- Psionic deflect scaling
Psionic deflect scaling
R Brain Implant
Sci-Fi · Spike- Why
- Stored DPS spike for Hacker
Stored DPS spike for Hacker
R Bullet Time
Sci-Fi · Spike- Why
- Interval nuke tempo
Interval nuke tempo
Bonfire
Sci-Fi · Utility- Why
- Max HP when stacking Cyborg/Trooper tags
Max HP when stacking Cyborg/Trooper tags
R Bag Of Bones
Undead · Core- Why
- Thrall revive + Skeledude summon
Thrall revive + Skeledude summon
R Anubis Statue
Undead · Core- Why
- Undead heal proc on death triggers
Undead heal proc on death triggers
Bat Wings
Undead · Core- Why
- Vampire lifesteal aura amplifier
Vampire lifesteal aura amplifier
Blood Siphon
Undead · Spike- Why
- Team drain on Undead loops
Team drain on Undead loops
Ancient Sword
Undead · Utility- Why
- Taunt Skeledude summon
Taunt Skeledude summon
Bean Burrito
Undead · Utility- Why
- KO gas swarm clear
KO gas swarm clear
R Aspis
Warrior · Core- Why
- Block stack for multi-Warrior lines
Block stack for multi-Warrior lines
Belted Greaves
Warrior · Core- Why
- Knight toughness team scaling
Knight toughness team scaling
Bagpipes
Warrior · Core- Why
- Repeating taunt proc on Direct Damage
Repeating taunt proc on Direct Damage
Blacksmith Hammer
Warrior · Spike- Why
- Knight temp HP + crit burst
Knight temp HP + crit burst
Ab Roller
Warrior · Utility- Why
- Spartan deflection temp HP
Spartan deflection temp HP
Bamboo Practice
Warrior · Utility- Why
- Samurai deflect crit chains
Samurai deflect crit chains
Hybrid bridges
Fantasy/Warrior hybrids often slot Battle Hymn (Paladin) plus Aspis (Spartan) without full mono. Undead/Sci-Fi can share Bonfire if you tag-count both Families on five types — rare but viable in Daily seeds. Cross-check Dude picks on the builds hub before you force mono for one Relic name.
Relics that need duplicates you cannot field
Regular Dude-centric Relics assume multiple Regulars — impossible under the five-unique-type rule unless events rewrite recruitment. Treat those as C-tier unless a Smuggler loan breaks the rule for one fight.
Reroll discipline matters once you know what you are hunting — next section.
When should I reroll the shop vs buy?
Gold funds both Relics and Flyer rerolls. One completed trigger loop beats three half-synergy stat sticks — but empty reroll streaks before bosses are how Tier 2 runs end.
| Situation | Buy now | Reroll instead |
|---|---|---|
| Shop has on-tag named Relic for carry | Yes — even if expensive | Only if you already own it this run |
| Missing taunt/heal and shop offers one | Yes — always | Never reroll past boss with zero front line |
| Three off-Family stat sticks | No | Reroll once if cash ≥ next node reward |
| One good + two bad offers | Buy the good one first | Then reroll with remaining gold |
| Pre-boss with full HP | Skip reroll if board stable | Reroll only for boss-specific spike |
Owned Relics shrink the pool
Each purchase removes that Relic from Merchant rolls for the rest of the run. Late shops feel "empty" because you already took the S-tier names — that is normal. Switch to Trinket routing or cash hoarding for Smuggler off-pool access instead of rerolling ten times for a Bonfire you grabbed in Act 1.
Loan events vs reroll
When Smuggler offers cross-Family loans, compare the temporary spike to two reroll fees. A borrowed Blaze of Glory for one Gorilla boss often beats gambling rerolls for a Trooper tag you never recruited.
Broken loops — when shop RNG and bosses align — are below.
Which Relics define broken trigger loops?
Endgame how many dudes relics combos hinge on shared triggers: Heal, Knockout, Death, Crit, Taunt, Move, and Stored damage. These clusters show up in launch clears and healing-loop runs — not datamined DPS, but repeatable win conditions.
| Loop | Relics involved | Dude spine |
|---|---|---|
| Infinite heal sustain | Ablative Shield · Bandage · Bloody Talisman | Cleric + Medic + Frankendude |
| Skeledude wall | Bag of Bones · Ancient Sword · Book of Shadows | Necrodude + Lich + Zombie |
| Crit cleave | Arcane Monocle · Arsenal · Glass Cannon Trinket pair | Wizard + Ninja + Pirate |
| Stored damage bomb | Alchemy Table · Bad Credit Trinket pair · Manager expel | Manager + Warlock + Lich |
| Economy snowball | Life Insurance · Bonus Check · Business Dude events | Finance + Manager + Employed stack |
| Taunt immortality | Bagpipes · Belted Greaves · Therapy Trinket on General | Knight + General + Spartan |
R Ablative Shield
Infinite heal sustain- Spine
- Cleric + Medic + Frankendude
Infinite heal sustain
R Bandage
Infinite heal sustain- Spine
- Cleric + Medic + Frankendude
Infinite heal sustain
Bloody Talisman
Infinite heal sustain- Spine
- Cleric + Medic + Frankendude
Infinite heal sustain
R Bag Of Bones
Skeledude wall- Spine
- Necrodude + Lich + Zombie
Skeledude wall
Ancient Sword
Skeledude wall- Spine
- Necrodude + Lich + Zombie
Skeledude wall
Book Of Shadows
Skeledude wall- Spine
- Necrodude + Lich + Zombie
Skeledude wall
R Arcane Monocle
Crit cleave- Spine
- Wizard + Ninja + Pirate
Crit cleave
R Arsenal
Crit cleave- Spine
- Wizard + Ninja + Pirate
Crit cleave
Tr Glass Cannon
Crit cleave- Spine
- Wizard + Ninja + Pirate
Crit cleave
R Alchemy Table
Stored damage bomb- Spine
- Manager + Warlock + Lich
Stored damage bomb
Tr Bad Credit
Stored damage bomb- Spine
- Manager + Warlock + Lich
Stored damage bomb
R Bonus Check
Stored damage bomb- Spine
- Manager + Warlock + Lich
Stored damage bomb
R Life Insurance
Economy snowball- Spine
- Finance + Manager + Employed stack
Economy snowball
R Bonus Check
Economy snowball- Spine
- Finance + Manager + Employed stack
Economy snowball
Bonfire
Economy snowball- Spine
- Finance + Manager + Employed stack
Economy snowball
Bagpipes
Taunt immortality- Spine
- Knight + General + Spartan
Taunt immortality
Belted Greaves
Taunt immortality- Spine
- Knight + General + Spartan
Taunt immortality
Tr Therapy
Taunt immortality- Spine
- Knight + General + Spartan
Taunt immortality
Diminishing stats still stack triggers
Block Chance, Evasion, and Toughness diminish — but trigger procs (heal on taunt, summon on KO) do not. A loop built on Heal triggers outscales raw +Attack Power sticks after Tier 2 when enemy DPS scales faster than linear stats.
When to stop stacking Relics
Five Relics deep with no boss Trinket on your carry loses to three Relics + ADHD on Wizard or Therapy on General. Plan boss order on the enemies guide and trinkets matrix once your shop spine is online.
How Many Dudes? relics FAQ
How many Relics exist in How Many Dudes?
Hundreds at launch — exact count grows with patches. Dudex in-game lists every owned and discovered Relic with full effect text.
Can I equip multiple Relics at once?
Yes. Every Relic you buy or pick from stashes stays active for the run. There is no small equipment slot cap like Trinkets.
Do Relics persist between runs?
No — Relics are run-bound. Ranch meta unlocks new Relics into the discovery pool and widens shop options over time.
Why did a Relic stop appearing in shops?
Owned Relics are removed from the Merchant pool until the run ends. Smuggler events can still inject off-pool copies temporarily.
What is the best Relic in How Many Dudes?
No universal best — Bonfire and Arcane Monocle win often, but Knight taunt Relics save unstable boards. Match Family and missing role first.
Relics vs Trinkets — which layer first?
Shop Relics from Act 1; boss Trinkets from Act 1 onward. See Trinkets for per-type picks.
What should I read next?
Trinkets for boss rewards, then best builds to wire both layers into five-Dude teams.
Last verified?
August 16, 2026
Related pages
Matched by build plan, shared topics, and guide progression — not random related links.