ZEPHON: ZEPHON Achievement Guide

Hello there.My wonderful friend.How can I possibly.Assist you?

The purpose of this guide is simple – some of ZEPHON’s 66 achievements are tricky, or highly specific, or outright hidden in their unlock requirements. All this information is known, it just hasn’t been compiled.

That’s where I come in. Hi.

A word of warning: While I try not to reveal more than I need to in this guide, some spoilers are to be expected.

A word of further warning: The primary purpose of this guide is informative, rather than exact advice on how to get each individual achievement. I know I hadn’t. I will strive to give correct information, but I cannot verify all of it personally. Caveat emptor.

A word of ongoing warning: Several of the achievements require that you play in Ironman mode (one save per playthrough, cannot exit without saving). Conversely, several others are made much much easier if you don’t.

This section covers the most basic achievements and will be a kind of quick-fire round.

Win a game on the specified map size.

Little Wars
Win a game on a tiny map.

Space For Revelation
Win a game on a small, medium or large map.

Hair Carpet Maker
Win a game on a huge map.

Win a game on the specified game speed – this can be understood as how fast everything builds vs. how fast units move. Slower game speed means units get to do more between more being made.

Bullet Time
Win a game on slow or very slow speed.

Average Perfection
Win a game on medium speed.

Wizard Of Time And Space
Win a game on fast or very fast speed.

To get these achievements, you must construct each affinity’s ground titan – a powerful and expensive unit unlocked in Tier Nine of the respective affinity’s tree (tier ten if you don’t have matching affinity). Note that this has to be the ground titan, the flying ones don’t have achievements associated. You can get all three in one playthrough but it’s unlikely.

Mankind’s Last Hope
Produce an Atlas Tank.

A New Genesis
Produce a Seraphim Archangel.

Cage-Bearer
Produce a Vorodai’s Leviathan.

This one’s not tricky. It’s just very, very, slow.

Grimmer Darkness
Kill 40001 units.

Straightforward. Start up a game with no npcs or wildlife, one easy enemy, invite a friend and crush them.

Shared Hallucination
Finish a multiplayer game with another human player.

Okay, this exact achievement is half of the reason I made this guide.

Zhuko Was Here
Win a game as ZhukoDim, but without playing.

Although it’s not a secret achievement, the hint is entirely unhelpful. Here’s a more accurate one: Win the game as Spectator. While a bit nonsensical, there is a way – Spectator players can be on a team. Easiest way to get it is to start a match with fixed teams, no wildlife or NPCs, allied with two AIs against one, then just pass some fifty turns. Helps to turn on simultaneous turns and a turn timer.

We’re getting into the tricker achievements. Not neccessarily tricker to get, but tricker in their requirements. To start with, all of these require you to be in Ironman Mode. The achievements are

The CAPTCHA Test
Win a game on medium difficulty or higher in ironman mode against at least 1 AI player for each human player and without predefined teams.

The Turing Test
Win a game on hard difficulty or higher in ironman mode against at least 1 AI player for each human player and without predefined teams.

The Ebert Test
Win a game on very hard difficulty or higher in ironman mode against at least 1 AI player for each human player and without predefined teams.

The Voigt-Kampf Test
Win a game on ultra hard difficulty or higher in ironman mode against at least 1 AI player for each human player and without predefined teams.

The Final Test
Win a game on nightmare difficulty in ironman mode against at least 1 AI player for each human player and without predefined teams.

Unfortunately, the way ZEPHON does difficulty is crank up the numbers – while the AI is as inept as ever, at maximum difficulty all enemy units – neutral, npc and AI alike – basically deal 20% more damage, have 20% more health, and their cities produce 50% more everything. It’s not for everything. Which is why I suggest using

The Cheese Method is simple – start a game on your intended difficulty (the achievements require both the world and each AI to be that difficulty). Set the wildlife density to none. Set each of the NPC factions densities to none. You are now on a map where the only threats are abkhans and your lone AI enemy.

Now here’s the fun part – preferably, choose an AI which likes your chosen leader. There’s a chart showing who likes who but I’ll summarize it here:

(If there’s a *, you need to research your third unique tech, the global ability, for them to like you)

All you need to do is expand until you encounter your opposite number, then ply them with gifts until they agree to ally with you, scoring you an easy victory. This method is also great for unlocking achievements for world sizes and speeds you might not enjoy, as well as mutators and other things from leaders you don’t play (more on that later).

Aside: I don’t know if setting yourself to be higher difficulty would work. I hadn’t tried it.

We’re getting into the territory where we can no longer discuss achievements without spoiling at least some of what happens in the game. Reader beware.

Though not obvious at first (and unless disabled in the options), the game is on a timer. On standard speed settings, you’ll receive two reminder events (the radio and the space wrecks) around turns 35 and 65. Then, around turn 100, the five turn countdown to the Last Days of the Earth will begin.

At the Last Days of the Earth, ZEPHON and the Acrin (as represented by the Anchorite) gear up for one final confrontation, each deploying powerful titans – three, plus one for each of their allies. Yes, even if they were wiped out before that. Every player (human or AI) will be given a choice which of the two powers to join (which requires a non-hostile standing), breaking any existing treaties to join two large alliances.

There is a third option, always chosen by the Chieftess – remain independent, and fight for humanity’s survival. Independent factions aren’t automatically allied, but they should, for their own safety.

ZEPHON or the Acrin achieve victory if all the enemy titans are destroyed, along with any independent upstarts. The Independent win if all titans are destroyed.

In addition to other options that come up later, each option has an associated achievement.

A Canticle For The Anchorite
Win a game by joining Anchorite in The Last Days of Earth on very hard difficulty or higher in ironman mode against at least 1 AI player for each human player and without predefined teams.

War Games
Win a game by joining ZEPHON in The Last Days of Earth on very hard difficulty or higher in ironman mode against at least 1 AI player for each human player and without predefined teams.

Our Independence Day
Win a game by staying independent in The Last Days of Earth on very hard difficulty or higher in ironman mode against at least 1 AI player for each human player and without predefined teams.

As before, you need to be in Ironman Mode and both the world and the AIs have to be on Very Hard.

Also, while it’s not relevant to this guide, it’s fun to realize that many other minor events will also give you bonuses when the Last Days of the Earth begin – unique units, free Phenaris Epicureans, a free tactical nuke, stuff like that.

The next eleven achievments are simple, but I describe them here because there are two ways to get them – either strike the killing blow yourself (or, I believe, one of your allies does it), or you can simply achieve victory during The Last Days of the Earth while that faction is on the other side. Easiest to do by just going independent.

Heh. Easiest.

Peace At Last
Defeat Emulated Mind.

I Won’t Stay Dead, You Know
Defeat Fallen Soldier.

My Sisters
Defeat Furtive Tribunal.

Perfection Is Impossible
Defeat Heartless Artificer.

A Last Morsel, I Beg You
Defeat Honorable Aristocrat.

The Art Of Dying Well
Defeat Practical Romantic.

Last Offer!
Defeat Rogue Operative.

I Shall Rise Again!
Defeat Untold Prophet.

To Fear What Is Beyond Foresight
Defeat Anchorite.

Got Me, Good One
Defeat Chieftess.

Closing Chat Window
Defeat ZEPHON.

These are hidden achievements, and this area might be considered spoilers. Each of the leaders has an associated quest, easily recognized by using your leader portrait as their art. Resolving these leads to certain ingame rewards (which vary from literally nothing to insanely powerful) – in addition, each quest has a “correct” solution. It might not be the one that gives the best result, not always, not by a long shot, but it’s the one that will award the achievement (and lead to others)

Important notice: However “I have other ways to deal with this” the last option in the first stage of the quest may sound will cancel the quest. Do not make my mistake.

Form, Function
Finish the Emulated Mind quest, choosing to trust IronFeather and use its final reward. You will need to choose a seemingly glitched option.

Meet Your Maker
Finish the Fallen Soldier quest, choosing to hold your fire. Note that the alternative gives a much better reward (+1 healing, vs. +6 research), and that choosing the Cr’la option will require you to unlock, build and train Voice technology.

The Pulled Thread
Finish the Furtive Tribunal quest, choosing to harvest your enemies. Note that choosing your own people will result in no reward whatsoever.

Perfection From Beyond The Stars
Finish the Heartless Artificer quest, without losing either critical unit. Note that the more expensive option will just increase the HP of the critical unit.

The Price Of Honor
Finish the Honourable Aristocrat quest, choosing to have others do the work for you.

Thicker Than Water
Finish the Practical Romantic quest, choosing to kill Arshem.

The Dead Hand Of Capitalism
Finish the Rogue Operative quest, choosing to kill Phinnicus.

Whispers Of A False Prophet
Finish the Untold Prophet, choosing to repair the False Speaker.

A semi-easy way to get these is to use the Cheese Method and wait until you’re done with the quest before finishing. A notable exception is Furtive Tribunal which requires you to kill 10 enemies – in their case just set the AI to be inept and farm their troops. Or just play normally.

Mutators are special modifiers which can be applied to a session, but they need to be unlocked first. The way you unlock them is obscured, and the other half of the reason why I made this guide (though I want to thank Apollysis for putting the information together first). The reason I repeat this information is, well, each mutator also awards an achievement.

The way you unlock every mutator is the same – you need to finish the game. Immediately after your victory, you are taken to the Deep, where you get to ask one question. Each question unlocks the same named mutator.

However, not all questions are available – most require unlocking in that playthrough, either by completing your leader’s quest (and it has to be the “correct” IE achievement-granting way – see the previous section) or by choosing a particular side in the final conflict.

Importantly, while you’re limited to asking one question, nothing is stopping you from reloading a save game and choosing a different one – nothing, of course, except for if you’re on Ironman Mode…

What Are You?
Can only research technologies with your affinity or no affinity.
Unlock: always available.

Where Are We?
All tiles are explored form the start.
Unlock: always available.

Was I Truly Human?
Damage is divided between all adjacent allies of the target unit.
Unlock: complete Emulated Mind quest.

Did Our Unification Matter?
Non-Deformity biological units that die become neutral Deformities.
Unlock: complete Furtive Tribunal quest.

Did My Death Mean Anything?
Doubled morale change from death.
Unlock: complete Fallen Soldier quest.

Was Perfection Worth It?
Duplicate units cost +20% resources.
Unlock: complete Heartless Artificer quest.

Did Honor Balance Greed?
Whenever you cancel any agreement, become Untrustworthy forever.
Unlock: complete Honorable Aristocrat quest.

Can Love Be Moral?
Breaking a unit’s morale captures it.
Unlock: complete Practical Romantic quest,

What Price For Liberty?
Leaders have no research affinities.
Unlock: complete Rogue Operative quest.

Are You The Great Speaker?
Doubled loyalty effect.
Unlock: complete Untold Prophet quest.

Did Our Sacrifice Mean Nothing?
Non-neutral units lose 5% hitpoints each turn when outside of allied cities or outposts.
Unlock: side with Acrin during The Last Days of the Earth

Was ZEPHON Truly Alive?
Unlimited tile acquisition range.
Unlock: side with ZEPHON during The Last Days of the Earth

Why Did Humanity Die Alone?
Killing decreases morale.
Unlock: remain independent during The Last Days of the Earth

Deep statements are another layer of the nested unlock achievements – these are special comments you can make during the conversation in the Deep, which require you to fulfil the requirements for unlocking a mutator while playing with said mutator.

I—She—Felt Again
Unlock: complete Emulated Mind quest while Was I Truly Human? (Damage is divided between all adjacent allies of the target unit) is active.

From Death To Eternal Life In Some Abominable Form
Unlock: complete Furtive Tribunal quest while Did Our Unification Matter? (Non-Deformity biological units that die become neutral Deformities) is active.

I Carry Them With Me, Always
Unlock: complete Fallen Soldier quest while Did My Death Mean Anything? (Doubled morale change from death) is active.

Better To Innovate Than Replicate
Unlock: complete Heartless Artificer quest while Was Perfection Worth It? (Duplicate units cost +20% resources) is active.

One Lie And They Shunned Me
Unlock: complete Honorable Aristocrat quest while Did Honor Balance Greed? (Whenever you cancel any agreement, become Untrustworthy forever) is active.

Nobody Can Make It Out Here Alone
Unlock: complete Practical Romantic quest while Can Love Be Moral? (Breaking a unit’s morale captures it) is active,

Total Freedom Differs Little From Rolling A Die
Unlock: complete Rogue Operative quest while What Is The Price For Liberty? (Leaders have no research affinities) is active.

When The Masses Stood With Me, I Was Invincible
Unlock: complete Untold Prophet quest while Are You The Great Speaker? (Doubled loyalty effect) is active.

A Fine Peaceful People, Wasted On A Mistaken Prophecy
Unlock: side with Acrin during The Last Days of the Earth while Did Our Sacrifice Mean Nothing? (Non-neutral units lose 5% hitpoints each turn when outside of allied cities or outposts) is active

Just Infinite Suffering
Unlock: side with ZEPHON during The Last Days of the Earth while Was ZEPHON Truly Alive? (Unlimited tile acquisition range) is active

We Took No Pleasure In Our Victory
Unlock: remain independent during The Last Days of the Earth while Why Did Humanity Die Alone? (Killing decreases morale) is active

We Have Been Human, Acrin and Machine
Unlock: Unclear. Best guess: Finish the game while Did Our Sacrifice Mean Nothing?, Was ZEPHON Truly Alive? and Why Did Humanity Die Alone? are all active.

The final two achievements are bad. Don’t do them.

No seriously, save yourself.

You insist? Fine.

Strange Loops
Win a game with all mutators active in ironman mode against at least 1 AI player for each human player and without predefined teams.

Multiverse of Madness
Win a game on nightmare difficulty with all mutators active in ironman mode against at least 1 AI player for each human player and without predefined teams.

Obviously, to even attempt those, you need to unlock all the mutators first. Then it’s a matter of turning them all on and wait why are all my units suddenly neutral?

Welcome to the combination of you kill an enemy, he turns into a deformity, you kill the deformity, you lose morale that the morale loss makes half your army change allegiance to neutral. Maybe this can be cheesed. Probably. I can’t imagine playing this seriously. I won’t even attempt it for a good long while. Either way, good luck. I need a few tenthousand kills more to grind first.