Spirit Detective

Spirit Detective

Not enough ratings
Detailed Soul Dossier Guide
By 某某秃子
Introduction
Welcome to the world of Soul Dossier | 封灵档案 where closing doors behind you and running backward with a flashlight turned on means you are skilled.
Why would you like to play this game? Well...it is free, for a game from China you'll have a decent ping, and devs have their priorities straight.
If you are looking for English players to play with, you might be interested in joining this group:
Soul Dossier English.
Developers give us a lot of patches that might disable the server for an hour or a half (which is good because they are doing their work to make our experience better). For more info on when the next server downtime might happen, check here: SD News.
   
Award
Favorite
Favorited
Unfavorite
Things you might want to know before playing
Performance related:
  • Game is made on Unreal 4 engine;
  • Game can be played on both DirectX 11 and DirectX 12;
  • While game has a few bugs, it is quite stable (got 1 crash in 70h);
  • You'll probably have a high ping. The servers are located in Hong Kong i believe.
    Gameplay related:
  • Match is time limited (30min);
  • Agents have their own abilities, but most of their gameplay is defined by consumables found in
  • the match;
  • Fiend gameplay on the other hand is defined by his abilities(kit);
  • Audibles are the most important info(with aura reading items/abilities) to locate enemy/ies;
  • There are a few things that are annoying game-related (charm switching, opening doors, picking up things);
  • Hitboxes are terrible and many mind games uses exactly that flaw to be effective;
  • Comparing to DbD window vaults are not that effective since fiend can vault specific window at the same time, and make it even faster than agents;
  • Most loops rely on doors and holes in the walls where you need to crouch;
  • There is a report system in-game, but i haven't seen any reportable behavior yet;
  • Game is protected by EAC.
    Other:
  • This game is like a porcupine - every needle of this animal (game) is a different lootbox. Game is literally flooding with paid lootboxes that are filled (mostly) with oversexualized skins for female characters. This doesn't change how you play the game, just the looks.
  • You can obtain chest after a game - you open some of them with spirit coins;
  • There is 0 verbal toxicity - you can't be offended if you don't know what your teammates are saying;
  • There is built-in voice chat (as fiend you don't hear it(there is 1 instance where you can go into voip as fiend));
  • Only 1 agent and 1 fiend are free to play from the start (Luo Fang & Spectre);
  • There is a weekly rotation of characters to play even if you don't own them (5 agents and 2 fiends), however, they do not count towards ranked characters and you can't gain character/account exp while playing them (unless you bought them). Rotation changes between Monday/Tuesday (depends on time zone);
  • You unlock characters with spirit coins (280k-880k for 1 character - while there is no upper limit of how many you can gain per match, max i got was something around 3300);
  • Game rewards playing a bit everyday (easy daily quests, everyday login bonus, etc.);
  • Game is 5v1;
  • There are 4 maps so far (school, hospital, GKD office, and downtown);
  • If a game is beyond hope there is an option to surrender. As far as I experienced in my 200h, players don't abuse it and surr only if needed (E.g. 2 players did not connect to match, 1 DC'ed at the start, and one of the last 2 playing games got downed and even moried in the first minute). To successfully surrender all alive players of respective sides must agree (press F9 to agree).
  • Game is mostly written in Mandarin Chinese (with a bit of English translation here and there).
Guide dictionary
Words used in guide interchangeably, that has same meaning:
  • Ward - thing agents needs to repair
  • Spirit Coins - grindable currency
  • Invisibility (Cloak/Shroud) - ability or item that makes you invisible
  • Moni (Money) - either real money, or in-game currency
  • Spirit Stones (Gems/Paid currency) - currency obtained with real money
  • DbD (Dead by Daylight) - popular but neglected by developers game in the same genre
  • Mist Form (Ghost Fog) - Fiends ability to reduce size of their hitbox on demand
  • GKD (GKDID number) - in-game indentfication of your account
  • Mori (Execution) - perma death for agents
  • Terror radius (heartbeat) - sphere area around fiend where agents can hear certain sound
  • Ulti (ultimate ability) - in case of agents: active ability | in case of fiends: R/F4
  • LMB - Left Mouse Button
  • RMB - Right Mouse Button
Menus & options (updating)
Picture
Name
What it does
Menu
  • Back to menu/game quit this screen
  • Settings - in-game settings like graphics and key mapping
  • Customer support - support from staff if you know chinese
  • Key redeem - if you have key, redeem it here
  • Change password - self explanatory
  • Roadmap - devs should write here what are they planning to do in future updates
  • Bilibili - they show you videos of SD on Bilibili platform (Chinese "youtube")
  • Quit game - closes application and quit to desktop

OLD GUI BELOW, IN PROCESS OF UPDATING.
Friends
You can see all your in-game friends here. You invite them via GKDID (GKD number is different from ID number). You can't "invite to the game" via Steam yet.
Characters
All available characters are here. Each character has its own bonuses to claim when you hit a certain level with it. You level up characters by playing them, and successfully ending matches.
Guilds
Fancy social feature. You can start clan with 1800 Spirit Stones.
Roadmap
You can see here overall goals devs have on their mind.
Events
Sections:
  • daily activities - small quests that resets everyday
  • 7-day login - one time 7-days login bonus
  • sign board - monthly login checkup - small rewards every now and then
  • novice bundle - buy thing with real moni and do quests to get more loot
  • growth bundle - buy thing with real moni and do quests to get more loot
  • heritage bundle - useless info
  • newbie task - one time scaleable tasks with decent rewards
Mail
There is something to claim here pretty much every day. On top of that, you will get notified when devs plan to make an update in near future(sadly it is only in Chinese). Check it often as well.

Game modes

Game modes:
  • Casual - Standard Soul Dossier experience.

  • Ranked - Standard ranking experience; unlock 2 fiends/6 agents to play it. You ban 1 character from opposite team before playing game (that is why you need at least 2 fiends). Agents have to pick different characters (that's why you need 6 agents unlocked). You can play ranked with temporary unlocked characters via coupon, but free rotation characters does not count. In rankeds, wards need 4 essence instead of 3.

  • Werewolf in sheep clothes(arcade) - 10 players, 8 agents & 2 fiends (disguised as agents), quite much going on in-game. Agents need to repair 6 wards 5 times. Yes, this mode has voting (like in First Class Trouble or Amoung Us) where they can kick out someone. When there is speaking phase (everybody freezes for up to 1200s and talk who to kick), don't forget to skip talking (midde bottom of the screen when there is your turn to speak).

Balance Restored mean agents won; Balance Broken mean fiend/s won.
Lobby
There are 3 addons categories:
  • Minor star Permament, non-consumed perks - you can equip 2. You unlock agents perk for everyone when you level it to level 10th and 20th. Agents can equip perks according to their element slots. This is to balance minor stars so they are not too OP in certain combinations.
  • Item You can equip charms and non equipment items here.
  • Equipment Slot for equipment, you can have a few on your toolbar, but only 1 equipped currently.
There are 3 addons categories:
  • Exclusive trickery Permament, non-consumed perks - you can equip 1. Fiends does not share perks yet.
  • Repair Addons that does something to wards or mechanics related to them.
  • Cursebringer Addons that disturb agents in other ways.

Post-game points

All boosters are applied to the numbers you see after game. If you got 350 account exp with 100% booster, without it you would get only 175.
Agents Consumables
They are add-ons that you can find in lockers or wardrobes or by grabbing and opening Paper Pigeons. They give various bonuses when used.
Name
Grid
Use
Paper Pigeon
X
There are plenty of them flying around the whole map. You open them for consumables or coins. Opening takes time and slows you down considerably.

Paper Pigeon
A1
Channel for 5s to be invisible for 35s.
Guardian Charm
A2
Cast on door. Instant. Prevents fiend (in/visible) from moving through that doorway for ~6s.
Flash Bomb
A3
Blinds fiend for 4s.
The-three-divine-bell
A4
Silence fiend for up to 5s.
All-seeing
A5
See aura of invisible fiend in 40m radius for 10s.
Garlic
A6
Create slow field.

Soul Ressurection Orb
B1
Restores 30HP after use.
Requiem Charm
B2
You won't lose HP when hit, but you still lose psyche. Works for 2s. Blocks damage and CC's from abilities as well.
Smoke Bomb
B3
All agents gain stealth in smoke area. Works for ~23s.
Compass of Five Elements
B4
Reveal 3 random wards after use.
Paper Doll
B5
Make clone of yourself and gain invisibility for 2,5s.
Lover's Knot
B6
Use on other agent. You share damage when in proximity of 15m of each other.

Instant Noodle
C1
Restores 10HP after short *nom nom*. Can be used 6 times.
Root Charm
C2
Root fiend for 5s. Has a travel time and hitbox (can be missed).
Coke
C3
Regain 40HP after use.
The guardian emerald
C4
Prevents losing psyche for 1 attack.
Convalescence Charm
C5
You go to sleep for 18s. You can't be hurt by fiend (some effects can still be applied to you; BaChe hat or Yu Ji death mark). (RMB ends manually)


Speed Charm
D1
Increases movement speed by 80% for 6s.
Shield Charm
D2
Channel for 5s to get anti-attack field for 10s.
Taser
D3
Paralyze fiend 3 times for 1s.
The guardian emerald
C4
Prevents losing psyche for 1 attack.
Night-vision device
D4
When used, see invisible fiend for 25s when in your looking range. (it does not show aura; invisible fiend looks like a moving cloud)
Minor Stars


Metal (金)
Qíng Hóng
Eclipse
Gě Yǒngmíng
Widowed Night
Hé Ruòyáo
Bestowed Sealing
Sū Qīnglǐ
Climbing Saddle
Jiā Huì
The Leader
Niǎo Qīzhī
Sky
Áo Fēng
Hardened
Nìng Cǎichén
Gentle Assistance
Mànlín
Suting Rope



Water (水)
Luò Fāng
Dragon Pond
Qíng Hóng
The Void
Péng Gāng
Bestowed Sealing
Gě Yǒngmíng
Weeping Sky
Sū Qīnglǐ
Kindness of Light
Niǎo Qīzhī
Dying Air
Zhīqiū Yīyè
Sky Month



Wood (木)
Luò Fāng
Angel
Hé Ruòyáo
Lingering fortitude
Qín Qiáng
The Wealth
Shàng Xiāng
Good to help
Áo Fēng
Three Platforms



Fire (火)
Péng Gāng
The Shattered
Jiā Huì
Red Phoenix
Líng Zhèngyīng
Left to assist
Yān Chìxiá
Lonely Chen
Zhīqiū Yīyè
Eight Places



Earth (土)
Qín Qiáng
The Dilemma
Líng Zhèngyīng
Rightful stubbornness
Shàng Xiāng
Joined Smoke
Yān Chìxiá
Cockroach
Nìng Cǎichén
Master of Fate
Mànlín
Endurance
Lootboxes


Type
Sign
short description
item box
A1
Pay 1000 Spirit Coins to open (8888 if you are opening 10 in bulk). You get it for playing.
trickery box
B1
Pay 1000 Spirit Coins to open (8888 if you are opening 10 in bulk). You get it for playing.
blue box
A2
Free to open. You get it for playing normal games
yellow box
B2
Free to open. You get it for playing ranked games
violet box
A3
Free to open. You get it for playing werewolf mode(arcade)

ancient yellow box
A4
Buy for 200 Ancient Coins each (1800 for buying 10 in bulk)
spirit yellow box
B4
Buy for 1000 Gems each (9000 for buying 10 in bulk)
free to play, pay to skin box
A5
150000 Soul Coins each (1350000 for buying 10 in bulk)
*the way I named these boxes does not match the actual translation, but I chose this way to make them more recognizable for the English playerbase
**There are a few non-event, non-grindable time-limited chests either available for 400 or 1000 Gems. They are quite straightforward (buy chest, maybe get the skin you want [unlikely], repeat) so I won't add them to the guide.
Boxes without |BUY 10| option will increase their cost each time you buy one, but you can't get duplicates from that chest.
PvP Market


  • (unsure) You can sell only permament items you didn't use yet (they exist in equipment, but you can't equip them (Which indirectly means you need to buy some lootboxes anyway(damn free to play games with cash grabs from mobile games FFS)))
  • All buy/sell orders are available ONLY in premium currency.
  • A tax of 15% will be deducted from total amount of shards you made with selling item (after successfully selling it). If you sold item for 10000 shards, you'll get only 8500. #capitalism
  • Item names are available only in chinese (a few of them have english signs, but you probably won't be interested in them anyway)*

How to look for sexy overpriced skin you don't have enough shards to buy (image version for kindergarten):
Name
Find skin you are interested in - make sure it is not available in ancient coin store, and it is not a consumption point skin either. Hover your mouse over it (not over tiddies...over box with skin name >__> ) - you can see 2 parts, first one is character name and second is a skin name. We're interested in that second part.*
John
Go to google translator (there are more tools like that, but google has advantage of not paying attention to number and order of strokes in sign writing - more noob friendly). Using your advanced sensory input (eyes) try to recreate signs used for skin name, in same order. You can write sign by sign, or whole sentence in one-go, both are fine.
Gitte
When you are done with translation, copy-paste that chinese characters into game pvp market (god bless it supports that!) and pray that some horny wankers didn't buy all available skins you are interested in.
Currencies
(these 2 currencies are ONLY visible when you navigate to wardrobe/exchange store)
I. Consumption coins (You get this when you buy things with spirit shards(1:1 ratio) and you can buy hairs that boost exp in-game)
II. Chips of Jade (Obtained via dismantling coupons/skins, very hard to grind - there is a special section at the exchange store for this currency; dismantling permament skins gives the most chips)


From the left:
-spirit shards* (paid currency)
-spirit coins (bloodpoints)
-ancient coins (other currency used interchangeably with spirit shards to buy cosmetics (it has a separate tab in wardrobe), but it is obtained via quests)
-[removed, needs updated image]

*Recharging an account with paid currency (soul stones) supports Steam Wallet. You go to the wardrobe and look at the top right corner. Blue shards currency has a small "+" sign on the left. When you click it, you can pick whatever amount you want to purchase, and then you'll be redirected to the steam purchase window (i believe you need to turn on steam overlay in-game to do that).
Skins
Skin Parts:
You can check how many (and which) slots suits take by looking what icons are greyed out.
Skin Bonuses:

S.C. = Spirit Coins Boost (always buy skins with highest bonus in this category (i think 21% is the most for suits and 8% for 1-piece clothing (max bonus you can get now is 37% with Su Qingli)
Acc. = Account exp bonus (so far account level has no bonuses for it - worthless bonus)
Char. = Character bonus exp (more xp points for characters you play - since they arew capped at 50th (in the future it will be 100) this is a diminishable bonus in long-term)
Skin aquisition:

Chinese
Translation
Description
宝匣获取
Tresure Box
Most nice skins are available to buy with gems chests (definitely not gambling)
皮肤宝匣获取
Tresure Box
I think this relates to grindable chests (ancient coin included)
古币
Ancient Coins
FTP friendly shop
灵石商城获取
Lingshi Mall?
Also grindable shop?
商城
Mall
Ancient coins/gems
碎玉商城售卖
Exchange Shop/Broken Jade fragments
Maybe you'll get it in a year or two...
消费积分兑换
Exchange Shop/Consumption points
Exclusive to hair. Maybe you'll get one in a year or two...

Generally, it is not worth buying lootboxes - RNG is against you. Odds are 99:1; 98:2; 95:5 or 90:10 against you (paid chests have better odds). If you are patient, buy clothes from the ancient coin market that rewards you with the highest spirit coins (yu ji outfit for example has 21%). Grind spirit coins while using them, then buy other characters faster. Exp them to get ancient coins character affinity rewards (up to 1500/character). Repeat.
*note* You can buy clothes for characters you do not own (useful for sales).
For some time now, ancient coin mall have skin rotation, which means only some skins are available at any given time, unlike previous system where you could buy what you wanted, when you wanted.

Agents suits are less rewarding, but overall they have more wardrobe parts and you can get higher bonuses. Qing Hong is a good example - you can get 25% boost for 17850AC (5-parts, without sale). This means you'll get 1% spirit coin increase for every 714 ancient coins spent. If you buy all parts with 20% discount this will drop to 571,2 (14280/25%) or 535,5 with 25% discount (13387,5/25%).

Table with few examples (prices does not include sale):
Piece
Cost(full price)
A.C. cost per 1% S.C. boost (full price)
A.C. cost per 1% S.C. boost (20% discount)
A.C. cost per 1% S.C. boost (25% discount)
Yu Ji yellow suit
13900
661,9
529,52
496,43
Niao Qizhi 2-piece suit
10900
681,25
545
510,94
Spectre blue dress
8900
593,3
474,67
445
Doppelganger horned skin
6900
985,71
788,58
739,29
Su Qingli skirt (3% boost)
2800
933,33
746,67
700
Ge Yeongming dragon jacket (1% boost)
5600
5600
4480
4200
*A.C. = ancient coins
*S.C. = spirit coins

|x=s/b
|x - equation for A.C. cost to 1% S.C. boost
|s - actual skin price
|b - % set bonus (written without percent symbol, to get cost instead of percent)
|20% discount Yu Ji skin (21% boost) A.C.-S.C. ratio = (13900*80%)/21 = 529,52


[As you can see it is more lucrative to buy cosmetics when they are discounted.][knowyourmeme.com] Also, pay big attention to the price/boost ratio as sometimes its value may be illusory. Unless you buy skins only for $W4G. Generally, 8% for 1-piece and 21% for suits is the highest available bonus now.

*note* Currently the highest (at least by my research) yielding cosmetics for free players is Ge Yeongming doctor "set" with 3% katana. It is 5-piece clothing that costs 20400(full price) A.C. and gives 35% S.C. boost. Without discount ratio is around 582,86 (437,14 with 25% discount). While it is not the prettiest set of cosmetics, this character is very good for ranked and you may consider buying it just for hardcore grinding purposes. (this does not include 25% hair, which is not available to buy with ancient coins)

*note* Overall suiting for looks is a better option - hardcore grinding without any other purpose (and with ugly skin on top of that) will make you bored with game very fast.

Daily quests

There are 11 tasks that you can do everyday thet rewards you with small amount of spirit coins (they reset at the same time every day (5PM, GTM 0) - same time globally, but different local time (Monday)). For each task done you claim points which rewards you with bigger rewards (points are auto claimed after clicking daily activities tab but rewards do not auto claim, so they can be lost at reset if not taken manually with claim button).

They go as follows:
  • (5p) open item chest
  • (5p) open trickery chest
    you open this chests at wardrobe/tresure box/ red boxes at top right
  • (10p) play 1 ranked as Agent (doesn't matter if you win, but you can't AFK)
  • (10p) play 1 ranked as Fiend (doesn't matter if you win, but you can't AFK)
  • (10p) login in game
  • (15p) win 2 matches as Agent
  • (15p) win 1 match as Fiend
  • (15p) get MVP title in match
  • (15p) play 2 games
  • (25p) play 5 games
  • (30p) play 10 games

You can score 155 points each day. They stack up to 1085 (7*155), but you need only 900 points to get all weekly rewards (130/day). This is the most reliable way to grind, so i encourage you to do them if you have spare time. Also, you can get up to 5000 Spirit Coins for them.

Rewards:
  1. [150p/155p]1*compass; 10*ancient coins; 500*soul coins
  2. [300p/310p]1*jade stone; 10*ancient coins; 500*soul coins
  3. [450p/465p]1*compass; 50*ancient coins; 1000*soul coins
  4. [550p/620p]1*night vision; 50*ancient coins; 1500*soul coins
  5. [700p/775p]3*compass; 80*ancient coins; 3000*soul coins
  6. [800p/930p]1*jade stone; 100*ancient coins; 3500*soul coins
  7. [900p/1085]1*coupon; 3*compass; 5000*soul coins

In total, claiming every weekly reward you'll get: 8*compass; 2*jade stones; 1*night vision; a 7-day coupon; 300*ancient coins; 15000*soul coins. Kinda garbage rewards, but grinding ancient coins that way is your fastest and most reliable way to get nice skins.

*note*
Daily quests that refer to play/win can be done only at normal or ranked mode (or ranked only in case of 2 quests). Also game that was lost due to surrender vote, also count as game played (but not won).

*note*
You don't need to play any rankeds to get all weekly rewards.
If you'll do all other tasks which give 945(135*7) points all together, you will still be able to get all weekly rewards without need to rush to buy characters (so you can play rankeds).
Sign board


In-game calendar that resets every day at the same time. You click highlighted day for x days to get rewards shown on the right. While they are written in Chinese, you can see arabic letter and how many days you need to obtain them.

Your daily streak is shown as number in red circle between board and rewards column (you don't need to claim them everyday, just enough each month).

Rewards reset each 1st of the month, and you can score them again repeating the process.
Agents mechanics


You can press TAB (by default) to show this overlay in-game.

Souls(Health)
Behind HP bar stands numbers (not sure how much HP you have, but you'll get downed around 3rd hit). When you are downed other agents can heal you so you can get downed again. While downed you can crawl, and you do not bleed out, which means you will be crawling until someone heals you up, or fiend mori you (they tend to do it ASAP if they can, so intentional slugging is not a common practice). Agents can be moried 2 ways:
-If they have the corresponding element when downed (Metal→Water→Wood→Fire→Earth[Agents can be executed in this order, but they gain elements in random order, can be wood, can be earth, can be metal but each agent has only 1 element predefined when game starts, but they are not shown])
-If all their psyche points are drained (this is only case when they can be executed out of order)

Stamina
You use it for running, sliding, and sprint jumping (you jump higher when sprinting). Slow vault, crouching, or walk-jump does not consume any stamina.

Ultimate
Shows you a cooldown on your active ability (every agent has only one).

Item
Most often compass - you use it without consuming, but there is waiting time between uses.

Flashlight
It is infinite, and it slows(?) fiend when you light it on him. You can flashlight flick tho (it is much slower than in DbD).

Map
Not shown in the tutorial level, but useful for beginners to get around more easily.

Ward progress
Shows you which ward is repaired and how much.

Essence stored
You can store up to 2 essence - they are for repairing wards.

Debuffs (Psyche?)
When red, you are afflicted by specific debuff.

There are 7 of them:

  • [Fú Shī] | 伏失(head) - you will lose sight and see only a small area around you periodically.
  • [Fēi Dú] | 非毒(throat) - chance to lose 2 psyche points instead of 1 when attacked.
  • [Tūn Zéi] | 吞贼(lungs) - unable to be healed by teammates.
  • [Què Yīn] | 雀阴(elbow) - increase time to repair generator and open paper pigeons.
  • [Chú Huì] | 除秽(pelvis) - HP won't regen automatically, but can be healed with items.
  • [Shī Dǒu] | 尸狗(hand) - can't be revived for 20s after knockdown.
  • [Chòu Fèi] | 臭肺(knee) - reduced movement speed.



Wards (generators)
This is your goal to repair them. They have different models and a bit different light color which makes it easier to differentiate one from another. One essence can repair only its respective ward (and trigram ward which accepts every essence). It takes 20s to repair it (or more), and you lose whole progress when canceled(by any means). You need to do it three times for 3 different wards to win a game. Fiend will always see your aura when you are in process of repairing ward even when cloaked by charm or ability.

Elements
They are used for few things so try to remember them ASAP (because proper english translation might take a while).
Element
Sign
Phonetical
Metal
jīn
Water
shuǐ
Wood
Fire
huǒ
Earth


Shards - phase 1
You search the whole map for floating blue shards. You need to open it, to get 1 random essence token. There are a few at the same time around the map. Not picking Shards for some time makes it despawn. You can see a message "abandoned shard is fading away". Your aura is not shown to the fiend while you are opening up the shard.
Age
Shards - phase 2
When you find and absorb the shard, you pick up the token. When one shard is opened or despawned, another one spawns immediately somewhere else.
65
Shards - phase 3
You can store up to 2 tokens. Use them to repair wards.
40