The Exorcist badge in PEAK unlocks the moment you destroy a Big Ghost with fire inside the GLOOM biome. These large round spirits chase you through the mist and explode on contact, dealing heavy cold damage, so burning one before it reaches you is the whole task.
Quick answer: Reach the GLOOM biome after ALPINE, wait for the Big Ghost’s sound cue, then ring a Belltower (hold E) or light a Candlestick when the ghost is right beside the flame. It burns up on contact and the Exorcist badge unlocks instantly.
Where the Big Ghost appears in GLOOM
The GLOOM biome sits after ALPINE and was added with The Final Ascent update. Head into the swamp area hidden below the mist. This region applies constant sleep damage while you stand in it, so you need to act quickly.
Plenty of small ghosts drift through the fog, but those are not your target. The badge only counts the Big Ghost, a much larger round spirit with black “X” eyes and a wide mouth. It spawns on its own once you linger in the foggy swamp, and background music kicks in to signal its arrival. Follow that audio cue and get moving toward a flame source.
The Big Ghost can fly straight through trees, rocks, and terrain, so hiding does nothing. Your only reliable option is to put an active flame between you and it.
Three ways to burn the Big Ghost
Any active flame will destroy the Big Ghost when it enters the fire’s radius. Three sources do the job, and each one also clears the sleep effect around it.
| Burn source | How to get it | How it works |
|---|---|---|
| Belltower | Scattered stone towers around GLOOM; no item needed | Ring with E to create a flame zone; the ghost burns when it enters |
| Candlestick | Found randomly inside Luggage bags in the swamp | Light it for about 30 seconds; portable flame burns the ghost and blocks sleep |
| Faerie Light | Obtained from Ancient Idols or Ancient Luggage | Its flame radius burns the ghost on contact |
The Belltower route is the most dependable because it does not rely on a random drop. If you already have a portable flame in hand, use it instead of forcing a tower setup. The target stays the same either way, which is getting the Big Ghost into an active flame before it explodes into you.
Belltower method (no item required)
E only when the Big Ghost is directly beside the tower. The chime fires a purple flame from the top, and the ghost catches inside that radius, disintegrating into particles.Tip: Ringing all five Belltowers in one expedition also earns the Bellringer badge, so this route can hand you two rewards on the same run.
Candlestick method (portable flame)
Confirming the unlock and its reward
The badge unlocks the instant the Big Ghost disappears into the flame. You do not need to reach the top of the mountain first, and only one Big Ghost has to be burned. The Exorcist badge also unlocks the Frog Hat cosmetic in the badge and outfit collection.
Why the badge fails to trigger
- You burned a small ambient ghost instead of the large Big Ghost. Only the big round spirit counts.
- You rang the bell too early, while the ghost was still outside the flame radius, wasting the chime.
- You waited too long and the ghost reached you first, exploding for cold damage instead of burning.
- GLOOM sleep damage knocked you out before the setup finished. Light a Candlestick early or bait the ghost on a shorter path near the tower.
Keep the flame between you and the Big Ghost, watch the interaction prompt, and time the ring for the moment it arrives. Get that timing right once and the Exorcist badge is yours.
