Aethercrypt Halloween Map Unlock Guide, King of the Damned Pumpkins, Quest Board and Skins

To unlock the Aethercrypt Halloween map, defeat the boss of the second map. Update 1.0.2 added the event map, a new boss called the King of the Damned Pumpkins, a Quest Board with daily quests, and two Adventurer skins named Dark Red Hood and Ghost Pirate. However, the map and the special event quests close automatically on November 5 at 6:00 AM CET, which is 12:00 AM Eastern on November 5. Skins you unlock stay in your inventory permanently.

Summary: Aethercrypt Halloween map

• Update: 1.0.2, the Halloween Event update.
• Unlock: beat the boss of the second map.
• New boss: King of the Damned Pumpkins, with new monsters and new enemy cards.
• Skins: Dark Red Hood and Ghost Pirate for the Adventurer class.
• Quest Board: daily quests and special event quests that pay Aether.
• Deadline: the event map and event quests close on November 5 at 6:00 AM CET.
• Permanent: unlocked skins stay in your inventory.

What Aethercrypt Is

Aethercrypt is a party-based, turn-based roguelike deckbuilder from AtneGames. It launched on Steam on September 13, 2026 for $12.99. You pick one of four classes, which are Adventurer, Witch, Cleric and Guardian, and you build a deck as you win battles.

You can play solo or in co-op with up to four players, either online or over LAN. Because every run changes, the dungeon forces you to adapt your deck as you go.

The game also has a currency called Aether. According to the Steam page, you earn it by defeating bosses and spend it on cosmetics, titles, avatars and skins. That matters for the Halloween update, since the new skins and quests tie into the same economy.

Update 1.0.2 Patch Notes: The Halloween Event

AtneGames published the official notes, and SteamDB lists them as build 26000362. Here is everything the update adds:

The notes also list three things worth knowing. The event map and special event quests close automatically on November 5. Unlocked skins remain in your inventory permanently. And the studio calls the event experimental, so it asks you to report bugs in the feedback channel on the AtneGames Discord.

How to Unlock the Halloween Map

You cannot enter the Halloween map from a fresh start. The notes say it unlocks after you defeat the boss of the second map. Here is a simple plan:

1. Start a run. Pick any class you like, since the notes do not limit the unlock to one class.
2. Reach the second map. You must clear the first map to get there.
3. Defeat the second map’s boss. This is the condition that unlocks the event.
4. Look for the new content. The notification dots should point you to it.

The notes do not say whether the event appears as a portal, a menu option or a new node. So check the UI buttons for the new dots after your win. Also, the notes do not say whether the unlock lasts for your whole account or only for one run, so test it with a second run if the map seems to disappear.

If you want to prepare before you try it, see the tips section below. For another Halloween event with a clear deadline, take a look at our Dinkum Spooky Event guide, which shows how seasonal content can run through early November.

King of the Damned Pumpkins Boss Guide

The King of the Damned Pumpkins is the headline of the update. The patch notes describe him in one line: a new boss that comes with new monsters and new enemy cards.

That is all the studio has published. There are no health numbers, attack lists or phase descriptions in the notes, so I cannot give you a card-by-card guide. Here is what the description tells you:

• He brings adds. New monsters fight alongside him, so expect more than one target.
• He uses new cards. Enemy cards are new, so your usual read of the board may not apply.
• He is part of the event. He lives on the Halloween map, which closes on November 5.

Because I have no tested strategy, here are suggestions based on how deckbuilders generally work:

1. Treat the first attempt as scouting. Watch which enemy cards he plays and note the pattern.
2. Plan for multiple enemies. If you have cards that hit several targets, keep them in your deck.
3. Bring a balanced deck. Defense matters when a boss uses unknown cards.
4. Use co-op if you can. The game supports up to four players, which helps when adds appear.

These are general ideas, not confirmed counters. Once the community finds weaknesses, I would expect them to appear on the AtneGames Discord.

Quest Board, Daily Quests and Aether

The Quest Board is a new feature. It offers daily quests that earn Aether, plus special event quests. The notes do not list the quests, the rewards per quest or the daily limit, so I cannot give you numbers.

Here is what matters in practice:

Since Aether buys cosmetics and skins, the daily quests give you a steady way to save for the new Adventurer skins. In addition, the event quests expire with the map, so do them first. The daily quests are not described as time-limited, so they may stay after the event, but the notes do not confirm it.

Dark Red Hood and Ghost Pirate Skins

The update adds two skins for the Adventurer class, and both sit in the Shop. They are called Dark Red Hood and Ghost Pirate.

The notes say unlocked skins stay in your inventory permanently. That means you do not have to rush to buy them before the event ends, if they remain in the Shop, but the notes do not say whether the skins leave the Shop on November 5. Therefore, if you want them, buy them before the deadline to be safe. The prices are not listed, so check the Shop for the Aether cost.

Halloween Event Deadline in US Time

The event map and event quests close automatically on November 5 at 6:00 AM, Italian time, which is CET. The US clocks change on November 1, so on November 5 the East Coast is on standard time.

Because the closing falls on the evening of November 4 for most of the US, finish your last run on November 4 and not on the 5th. From October 17, you have about 19 days left.

Tips Before You Start

These tips are my suggestions, based on the update notes:

• Check the notification dots. They point to new content.
• Do event quests first. They expire with the map.
• Save Aether for skins. The daily quests help.
• Report bugs. The studio calls the event experimental and wants feedback on Discord.
• Finish by November 4. The US deadline falls before the 5th.

Common Mistakes

• Looking for the map on a fresh run. You must beat the second map’s boss first.
• Waiting until November 5. The event closes at 6:00 AM CET, which is the evening before in the US.
• Assuming boss guides exist. None are published yet.
• Skipping the Quest Board. It is the main new way to earn Aether.
• Ignoring Discord. Bugs and feedback go there.

Conclusion

The Aethercrypt Halloween map is a limited event that opens after you beat the second map’s boss, and it brings the King of the Damned Pumpkins, new monsters and enemy cards, a Quest Board and two permanent Adventurer skins. Plan your runs so you finish before the November 5 closing time, and use the Quest Board to build up Aether. Everything here is accurate as of October 17, 2026, based on the official 1.0.2 notes, and the studio may change details.

FAQs

How do I unlock the Aethercrypt Halloween map?

Defeat the boss of the second map. The notes do not describe a separate item or key.

What is new in Aethercrypt Update 1.0.2?

It adds the Halloween map, the King of the Damned Pumpkins, two Adventurer skins, the Quest Board and notification dots.

When does the Halloween event end?

The map and event quests close on November 5 at 6:00 AM CET, which is 12:00 AM Eastern on November 5.

Do I keep the Dark Red Hood and Ghost Pirate skins?

Yes. The notes say unlocked skins remain in your inventory permanently.

What does the Quest Board give you?

Daily quests that earn Aether, plus special event quests.

How do I report bugs in the Halloween event?

Use the feedback channel on the official AtneGames Discord.

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