Queen's Hand
Only Viceroys who have Reforged the Adamantium Seal on Prestige 20 gains access to the Queen's Hand.
Overview
The Queen's Hand is a new perma-death mode specially crafted for the most experienced Viceroys. In this mode, players have only one Cycle (92 Years) to reforge the Adamantine Seal. Viceroys need to have completed the Adamantine Seal on Prestige 20 to unlock this game mode. The trial is accessible via the Profiles button in the main menu, and contains 3 slots. These profiles are entirely separate from your Main Game Profiles.
These slots each have a unique seed map. Players can only reset the seed if they have won at least 3 settlements in that seed - so if they fail on the 3rd Settlement, they will not be able to reroll a seed upon resetting the profile slot.
If players abandon a settlement or fail to reforge the Seal in time, all unlocks are reverted and the whole meta progression resets. Those who emerge victorious will be awarded the title of Queen's Hand and will be granted a rare audience with the Scorched Queen herself.
Unlocked Upgrades:
All Buildings except Complex Housing (As essential Blueprints) and Field Kitchen
All Cornerstones
All Species
Consumption Control
Rainpunk
Timed Orders
Trade Routes, Trading and all Traders
Upgrades Menu
This game mode features a revamped Upgrade system, with Viceroys only being able to choose 25 Upgrades for the entire run. Two types of Upgrades exist, Re-Rollable and Fundamental. The Re-Rollable Upgrades will follow a tier-based system explained below. Each Fundamental Upgrade can only be upgraded once, meaning a Viceroy can for example, only choose "Blueprint Reroll" once, and "Cornerstone Pool Increase" twice.
Fundamental Upgrades
These upgrades can only be bought once per choice of Upgrade. Costs scales upwards with each Upgrade you acquire.
Re-rollable Upgrade Draw Pattern
The re-rollable picks will roll in the following Tier pattern:
There are 4 Tiers:
- Low
- Medium
- Intermediate
- High
Intermediate Tier Upgrades are much the same as Medium Tier Upgrades, but only appear in later Rolls to make sure Upgrade options are relevant to the Viceroys' needs in late-game stages.
Rolls and Tiers | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 |
Low | Medium | High | Low | Medium | High | Medium | High | Low | Medium | High | Medium | High |
14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | - |
Low | Intermediate | High | Intermediate | High | Low | Intermediate | High | Intermediate | High | Intermediate | High | - |
Re-rollable Upgrade Tiers
There are multiple Upgrades that can stack, for example the "+1 Embarkation" appears multiple times, as does "+5 Storage to all Buildings" etc. It is important to note that each Tier will have randomized picks within that Tier when they Roll. Please note, Faction-related upgrades will stop rolling after 4 successful settlements.
Low Tier Upgrades Cost: 20 ![]() |
---|
Brass Forge Expansion: +2% Global Production Speed |
Embarkation Bonus:![]() ![]() ![]() |
Embarkation Bonus:![]() |
Dim Square Expansion: +3% Trader Arrival Speed |
Embarkation Bonus:![]() |
Embarkation Bonus:![]() |
First Dawn Headquarters Expansion: +1% to Double Yields |
Embarkation Bonus:![]() ![]() |
Embarkation Bonus: Herbalists' Camp |
Embarkation Bonus: Small Farm |
Embarkation Bonus: Plantation |
Embarkation Bonus: Herb Garden |
Monastery of the Vigilant Flame Expansion: +2% Fuel Burn Duration in Hearth |
Embarkation Bonus:![]() ![]() |
Embarkation Bonus:![]() ![]() |
Embarkation Bonus:![]() ![]() |
Obsidian Archive Expansion: -2 Queen's Impatience Speed |
Embarkation Bonus: Foragers' Camp |
Embarkation Bonus: Trappers' Camp |
Vanguard Spire: +1 Charge to Resource Nodes |
Embarkation Bonus:![]() ![]() |
Embarkation Bonus:![]() ![]() |
Medium Tier Upgrades Cost: 35 ![]() ![]() |
---|
Brass Forge Expansion: +2% Global Production Speed |
Trade Route: Brass Order |
+5 Storage Capacity to all Buildings |
+1 Carry Capacity to All Workers |
Dim Square Expansion: +3% Trader Arrival Speed |
Embarkation Bonus:![]() |
+1 Cornerstone and Blueprint from Traders |
+1 Trade Route Slot |
10% Blueprint + Cornerstone Discount via Traders |
+20% Resources to Embarkation Resources |
First Dawn Headquarters Expansion: +1% to Double Yields |
Embarkation Bonus: Villagers |
Trade Routes: First Dawn Company |
Haulers in Main Warehouse Unlocked |
Haulers in Small Warehouse Unlocked |
Monastery of the Vigilant Flame Expansion: +2% Fuel Burn Duration in Hearth |
+10% Sacrifice Burning Time |
Embarkation Bonus: +5 ![]() |
Pioneers Gate Expansion: +2% Villager Speed |
+2 Embarkation Point |
+20% Resources to Embarkation Resources |
Increased Town Vision Range |
+10% Villager Speed |
+2 Embarkation Point |
Vanguard Spire: +1 Charge to Resource Nodes |
Embarkation Bonus: +5 ![]() |
Newcomers brings more Resources |
Trade Route: Vanguard of the Stolen Keys |
Intermediate Tier Upgrades Cost: 35 ![]() ![]() |
---|
Brass Forge Expansion: +2% Global Production Speed |
Trade Route: Brass Order |
+5 Storage Capacity to all Buildings |
+5 Storage Capacity to all Buildings |
+1 Carry Capacity to All Workers |
Dim Square Expansion: +3% Trader Arrival Speed |
Embarkation Bonus:![]() |
+1 Cornerstone and Blueprint from Traders |
10% Blueprint + Cornerstone Discount via Traders |
10% Blueprint + Cornerstone Discount via Traders |
10% Blueprint + Cornerstone Discount via Traders |
+1 Trade Route Slot |
+1 Cornerstone / Blueprint slot from Traders |
+20% Resources to Embarkation Resources |
First Dawn Headquarters Expansion: +1% to Double Yields |
Embarkation Bonus: Villagers |
Trade Routes: First Dawn Company |
Haulers in Main Warehouse Unlocked |
Haulers in Small Warehouse Unlocked |
Monastery of the Vigilant Flame Expansion: +2% Fuel Burn Duration in Hearth |
+10% Sacrifice Burning Time |
Embarkation Bonus: +5 ![]() |
Pioneers Gate Expansion: +2% Villager Speed |
+2 Embarkation Point |
+2 Embarkation Point |
+2 Embarkation Point |
+2 Embarkation Point |
+2 Embarkation Point |
+2 Embarkation Point |
+2 Embarkation Point |
+20% Resources to Embarkation Resources |
+10% Villager Speed +2 Embarkation Point |
Vanguard Spire: +1 Charge to Resource Nodes |
Embarkation Bonus: +5 ![]() |
Newcomers brings more Resources |
Trade Route: Vanguard of the Stolen Keys |
High Tier Upgrades Cost: 8 ![]() ![]() |
---|
Brass Forge Expansion: +2% Global Production Speed |
Hearth Upgrade: Neighbourhood |
Mine Upgrades Unlocked |
Hearth Upgrade: District |
![]() +1 Trade Routes with Neighbours |
Beaver House Upgrades Unlocked |
First Dawn Headquarters Expansion: +1% to Double Yields |
![]() Highlight Nearest Soil |
Human House Upgrades Unlocked |
+1 Farm Range (All) |
Monastery of the Vigilant Flame Expansion: +2% Fuel Burn Duration in Hearth |
+1 Cornerstone reroll per Settlement |
![]() 10 ![]() |
+1 Cornerstone reroll per Settlement |
+1 Cornerstone reroll per Settlement |
Lizard House Upgrade Unlocked |
Obsidian Archive Expansion: -2 Queen's Impatience Speed |
+10% Citadel Resources after Settlement |
+10% Citadel Resources after Settlement |
+10% Citadel Resources after Settlement |
Field Kitchen Unlocked |
+1 Caravan Choice on Embarkation |
Last Stand Unlocked |
Last Stand +30 seconds |
Last Stand +30 seconds |
Pioneers' Gate Expansion: +2% Villager Speed |
![]() Nearest Geyser Location |
Fox House Upgrades Unlocked |
Vanguard Spire Expansion: +1 Charge to all Nodes |
Human House Blueprint |
Beaver House Blueprint |
Lizard House Blueprint |
Harpy House Blueprint |
Fox House Blueprint |
![]() 50 ![]() |
Harpy House Upgrades Unlocked |
Lori Dialogue
Aunt Lori's dialogue changes when attempting the Queen's Hand. She becomes strangely hostile and melancholic during conversation. This could be because of her tragic history. Speak with her to find out more.
Meeting the Queen
After reforging the Seal, Viceroys should visit the city and enter the Citadel to meet the Scorched Queen.
Unique Achievement
After meeting the Queen, Viceroys will achieve a new Steam Achievement and unique in-game decoration for their Home. This achievement can only be won by those who have ventured and proved their worth.
Strategy
Viceroys are advised to follow the following guidelines when attempting the Queen's Hand:
- Map out settlements and calculate the years you have for each settlement.
- Treat reserve Embarkation Points sparingly, as you will always find yourself short.
- Do not attempt to embark new settlements on the highest difficulty, look at difficulty vs rewards. Higher Prestige is not always worth it.
- Be very cautious when attempting world events, not all world events will be achievable with the years you have left.
- There are 4 seals per map, when attempting to re-do a seed map, you do not have to follow the same path.
- Don't give any traders arms or legs in a trade, you will need them when you meet the Queen.
Queen's Hand Trials
On Dec 4th 2023, the Queen's Hand Trials were announced. Running from December 4 - 8 2023, this competition was created to showcase the release of Version 1.0 of Against the Storm. 13 Content creators entered the trials to see who could achieve becoming the Queen's Hand first.
Prizes included Steam Decks for the first 5 winners, if 5 winners could not be achieved, their Seal Fragments would be counted and a winner would be selected from the creator with the highest amount of fragments at the end of the competition.
The Queen's Hand Trials Announcement Video
The Winners were as follows:
- RonEmpire (Completed)
- TSM_TheOddOne (Completed)
- TrumpSC (Completed)
- ZazunoTV (Completed)
- Wintergaming (Not Completed, win by Fragment Count)
Video of Results: https://www.twitch.tv/videos/2001975606
References
Thank you to Erbamat, Jhazrun, KushMaster and RonEmpire for the help in setting up this page, as well as Tel Hurin!
Trivia
The first person to lose the Queen's Hand trial, as confirmed by the devs, was Discord user Doomleika.