World Tendency

What is World Tendency?

World Tendency influences difficulty and controls additional events that occur in each world.

This mechanic is independent of Character Tendency (available HP is the exception).

  • Actions which affect World Tendency only have an effect on the world in which they occurred.
  • World Tendency changes only take effect upon returning to the Nexus. So, if World Tendency is Pure Black, everything will remain in that state until the player returns to the Nexus, when any events affecting World Tendency will register.
  • World Tendency carries over to New Game+.

World Tendency also controls how powerful the enemies are in a given world. In summary:

  • Pure White Tendency enemies are easier to kill, but drop fewer, less valuable items and hold the least number of souls. Healing items are dropped more frequently.
  • Pure Black Tendency enemies are tougher, but drop more valuable items in greater abundance. They hold the largest number of souls.

Earning all Trophies is only possible by manipulating World Tendency.

Online

Aside from a player's changes to their own worlds, a Global World Tendency exists. This Global Tendency is calculated accounting for a variety of events, these being:

  • Multiplayer sessions.
  • Blue or Red sign summoning.
  • Invasions (Old Monk included).
  • Player deaths
  • Boss kills.

As an example, if a large number of players are killing bosses in their worlds (something that will change their own World Tendency to White), then the Global Server Tendency will reflect this. Likewise for all White Tendency events.

While playing online the effect of the Global Tendency will be applied when you load the game. This becomes your starting point for World Tendency for this session. During the course of that particular game you can influence World Tendency events by your own actions. When you quit that game, your current World Tendency status is lost to you.

In the PS3/RPCS3 Private Server, it is possible to change your world tendency by using a message system. You can also find more info by joining the Demon's Souls Discord.

Offline

On starting a New Game offline, all worlds will be Neutral. World Tendency will then shift towards Black or White according to the player's actions.

The previously mentioned global tendency has no effect while playing offline. When you load a game, your World Tendency status will be exactly the same as when you last exit the game.

White World Tendency

White World Tendency has the following effects.

  • Decreases enemy HP, attack and defense stats.
  • Enemies drop fewer upgrade stones.
  • Enemies drop more healing items.
  • Attack power is increased in Soul Form. Increasing by 10% at White, and 20% at Pure White. Stacks with Character Tendency.

See the list of White World Tendency Events.

Black World Tendency

Black World Tendency has the following effects.

  • Increases enemy HP, attack and defense stats.
  • Enemies drop more Souls.
  • Enemies are more likely to drop rare items.
  • The Black Phantoms versions of enemies and NPCs appear in specific locations.
    • Black Phantom versions of normal monsters have a 100% drop rate for their primary items.
  • Primeval Demons appear in specific locations in each world. Note that Primeval Demons will appear slightly before a world is Pure Black, so this is not a good way to judge if you have achieved Pure Black World Tendency. This demon will still be there when the world is Pure Black.
  • Your character's maximum HP in Soul Form is reduced.

See the list of Black World Tendency Events.

What is it right now?

latria in white world tendency
Latria is in White World Tendency here

There are a number of ways to determine a World's Tendency.

  • From the menu, navigate to the World Tendency tab and check the images of the Archstone in question.
    It will range from bright white to neutral gray to pure black.
  • After entering the world, observe the top right of the screen. The circle in the corner displays the World Tendency, similar to the above example.
  • Keep track of the "score board" for a particular world (see below).


World Tendency Reference Pictures




How can it be changed?

This game is quite brutal and most players will probably struggle a bit on their first playthrough, so if players want to play through however they want, that works too. It may sound very demanding for a player to try to attain Pure White World Tendency during their first playthrough. It's not required by any means, but considering that New Game+ is significantly more difficult than a regular New Game, getting both White and Black world tendencies in the first playthrough is probably a good idea. Many players have no problem getting the White and Black tendencies in New Game+, so the decision is really up to the individual player.

Whenever playing online, the world tendencies will shift towards the Global Server Tendency. Because of this, it will make it hard to keep the Pure Black or White tendencies as desired, therefore it is strongly recommended to play in offline mode when controlling the world tendencies. These tendencies change on certain Holidays, such as Halloween.

Example: to achieve Pure White World Tendency (PWWT) in Boletaria: play in soul form (or in body form without dying); kill Phalanx (+60) in 1-1; kill the Red Dragon (+60) in 1-2; kill the Tower Knight (+60) in 1-2. This yields PWWT (+180) after you go back to Nexus. If you then kill Executioner Miralda (-180) you go back to Neutral.

In the PS3/RPCS3 Private Server, it is possible to change your world tendency by using a message system. You can also find more info by joining the Demon's Souls Discord.

Reference for World Tendency

The following reference is used for World Tendency throughout this wiki.

Assuming World Tendency is at the maximum possible Pure White World Tendency (+200). Every body form death in a world is a -60 decrease until the maximum possible Pure Black World Tendency is achieved (-200).

WT
reference
World Tendency Deaths
in Body Form
+200 Pure White 0
+140 White 1
+80 White 2
+20 White 3
0 Neutral
-40 Black 4
-100 Black 5
-160 Black 6
-200 Pure Black 7

Reference for World Tendency Thresholds

The following reference is used for World Tendency thresholds throughout this wiki.

WT
reference
World Tendency
+200 Pure White
>+180 Pure White
>+150 White
>+50 White
0 Neutral
<-50 Black
<-150 Black
<-180 Pure Black
-200 Pure Black

Changing World Tendency

Nomenclature

Each action below is followed by a positive or negative number.

  • Positive numbers shift the World Tendency towards White (e.g. +60 goes towards Pure White World Tendency)
  • Negative numbers shift the World Tendency towards Black (e.g. -60 goes towards Pure Black World Tendency)

Towards White

Note: If you want to maintain White Tendency after defeating a boss but you are unsure of your own abilities to avoid death while in body form, then go to the Nexus and commit suicide there. Death in body form in a world equates to a -60 shift towards Black Tendency, leaving you with only +30 net gain from the original +90 shift, or negating the change entirely in the Boletarian Palace.

Towards Black

No Effect

  • Suicide in the Nexus in Body Form.
  • Suicide in the Nexus in Soul Form.
  • Die in any world in Soul Form.
  • Kill the Vanguard in 4-1.
  • Defeat Black Phantom Ostrava in 1-4.

Effect of World Tendency on available HP

When in Soul Form the amount of health available correlates to Character Tendency and World Tendency.
The table below shows the maximum HP in Soul Form as a percentage of available health in Body Form (100%).

Character Tendency Pure Black
World Tendency
Black
World Tendency
Neutral
World Tendency
White
World Tendency
Pure White
World Tendency
Pure Black 40.5% 40.5% 45% 45% 45%
Black 42.75% 42.75% 47.5% 47.5% 47.5%
Neutral 45% 47.5% 50% 50% 50%
White 45% 47.5% 50% 50% 50%
Pure White 45% 47.5% 50% 50% 50%

Note: no Cling Ring equipped

Effect of World Tendency on enemy HP

Enemy stats, most noticeably HP, will change depending on your current World Tendency.
The table below shows the maximum HP enemies will have:

Tendency Value Enemy HP
+50-99.9 Down to 95%
+100-149.9 Down to 90%
+150-200 Down to 80%
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