All Infamy Edicts in The Blood of Dawnwalker are issued by Brencis every time your Infamy level goes up. There are 9 in total, and they stack — meaning the world gets permanently harder as you push through the story. If you want to plan ahead, this guide covers every Edict, when it kicks in, and what you should do before each one drops.
Before diving in, check out our Blood of Dawnwalker Prologue walkthrough if you’re just getting started, and our full review covering the time limit mechanic and open world to understand how the game’s core systems connect.
TL;DR – Infamy Edicts At a Glance
- There are 9 Infamy Edicts in The Blood of Dawnwalker, all issued by Brencis.
- Edicts do not activate instantly — they go live after one in-game day passes.
- They stack on top of each other, so restrictions keep building throughout the game.
- The biggest jumps happen at Levels 3, 6, 7, 8, and 9.
- Defeating each of Brencis’s 3 vassals raises your Infamy by a full level each.
- At Level 9, Svartrau’s city gates close — but Coen can still climb the walls at night.
What Is Infamy In The Blood of Dawnwalker?
Infamy is how the game tracks how much damage Coen has done to Brencis’s control over Vale Sangora. It is not a wanted meter that resets when you hide. It is permanent, and it grows as you progress the story.
Every time your Infamy hits a new level, Brencis responds by issuing a new law — called an Edict. These edicts change real things in the world: patrol counts, prices, who recognizes you, and eventually whether you can walk through a city gate.
The system unlocks after the Prologue through the Court menu. That is where you track your progress against Brencis and his three vassals: Ambrus, Bakir, and Xanthe.
Think of it less like GTA stars and more like a political response. You are dismantling a vampire regime, and the regime is fighting back.
What Raises Your Infamy Level?
Several things push your Infamy up. The biggest ones are tied directly to story progress:
- Defeating Brencis’s three vassals — each one raises Infamy by a full level
- Completing Court Activities across the map
- Clearing Soldier Camps in Vale Sangora
- Quest choices that openly oppose the Court
- Other actions that build Coen’s reputation as a threat
You cannot finish the game without raising Infamy significantly. Fighting Brencis means becoming someone his regime cannot ignore. That is by design.
For help taking on specific vassals and Court missions, see our guide to Ambrus’s dungeon quest.
When Do Infamy Edicts Actually Activate?
Here is something important that the game does not make obvious upfront: Edicts do not kick in the moment your Infamy level increases.
There is a delay. After your Infamy crosses a new threshold, the Edict only goes live once an in-game day passes. You then get a short cutscene where a herald reads the decree aloud in Svartrau City.
That window is valuable. Use it.
If your Infamy just ticked up, you have time before the next Edict takes effect. Finish shopping. Complete any NPC-dependent objectives. Move through areas that are about to get more guarded. That preparation time can save you a lot of headaches later.
All 9 Infamy Edicts In The Blood of Dawnwalker
Below is every Edict, its official name, and what it actually does in the world.
Edict 1 – On Protection of Habitations
Effect: Additional patrols appear in settlements.
This is the mildest change. You will start seeing more soldiers in towns and villages, but it is manageable. Movement is still relatively free at this point.
Edict 2 – On Increased Vigilance
Effect: Military checkpoints appear throughout Vale Sangora.
Checkpoints become a real nuisance because running into one can cost a time segment if you’re caught. Time is a resource in this game, so an inconvenient stop is more expensive than it sounds. Start thinking about patrol routes.
Edict 3 – On Prices and Tolls
Effect: Prices increase across the valley.
This is the first economic hit. Merchants across Vale Sangora charge more for everything. Buy gear, consumables, and supplies before you hit this threshold if you know what you need. Check our silver selling guide to make sure you have enough coin before prices jump.
Edict 4 – On Road Safety
Effect: More soldiers patrol the roads, and patrol commanders now recognize Coen.
The volume of enemies on roads goes up, but the bigger change is that commanders can now identify you. You can no longer walk casually through military-controlled territory. You have to pay attention to enemy positions.
Edict 5 – On Curfew
Effect: Fewer people remain outdoors between dusk and dawn.
Merchants and certain NPCs become harder to reach at night. This might sound purely atmospheric, but it has a practical side. Coen is stronger after dark as a vampire, but some errands are easier during the day. Finish nighttime NPC interactions before Level 5 if you can. You can read more about how romance and NPC dynamics work in our Lacra and Anca romance guides.
Edict 6 – On Civil Unrest
Effect: More checkpoints appear throughout the valley, and prices increase again.
Level 6 doubles down on two earlier problems at once. More checkpoints AND another price hike. This is the second shopping breakpoint. Make a supply run before this lands if your build still needs upgrades.
Edict 7 – On Public Enemy
Effect: Headhunters appear in the valley, and all soldiers now recognize Coen.
This is where the world stops being merely inconvenient and starts being actively hostile. Ordinary soldiers no longer need a commander to identify you — everyone knows your face. On top of that, Headhunters begin appearing. These are more dangerous than standard patrols and will actively pursue you. Settlements and roads become significantly more threatening. Before you hit this level, make sure your combat build and gear are in good shape. Check our guide on the best skills to level up to prepare.
Edict 8 – On Army Reform
Effect: All soldiers become stronger.
Brencis upgrades his entire army. Every soldier gets better at fighting. This sounds straightforward, but remember the context: you are now fighting buffed enemies in a world already full of extra patrols, double checkpoints, universal recognition, and active Headhunters. The stacking effect makes this genuinely tough. Make sure Coen’s combat skills can handle it — see our ability slots guide to check you’re fully loaded.
Edict 9 – On Svartrau Defences
Effect: Svartrau City’s gates are shut.
The final Edict locks down the city itself. Normal travel in and out through the gates is no longer possible. That said, Coen is not completely locked out — he can still climb over the city walls at night using his vampire traversal abilities. By the time you reach Level 9 you should already have useful waypoints inside Svartrau. Getting around is just less convenient than it used to be.
All 9 Edicts – Quick Reference Table
- Edict 1: Additional patrols in settlements
- Edict 2: Military checkpoints appear throughout the valley
- Edict 3: Price increases throughout the valley
- Edict 4: More soldiers patrol roads + patrol commanders recognize Coen
- Edict 5: Fewer people outdoors between dusk and dawn
- Edict 6: More checkpoints + further price increases
- Edict 7: Headhunters appear + all soldiers recognize Coen
- Edict 8: All soldiers become stronger
- Edict 9: Svartrau City gates are shut (walls climbable at night)
How To Prepare Before Each Edict Hits
Because Edicts only go active after a day passes in-game, you always get a short window to prepare once your Infamy ticks up. Here is when to act:
- Before Level 3: Stock up on gear, consumables, and supplies before prices rise
- Before Level 5: Wrap up nighttime merchant runs and NPC-dependent objectives
- Before Level 6: Do a final shopping run — prices jump again here
- Before Level 7: Upgrade your combat setup and learn patrol routes to avoid
- Before Level 8: Make sure Coen’s skills and gear can handle stronger enemies
- Before Level 9: Unlock Svartrau waypoints and scout alternative routes into the city
The time limit system in this game makes every wasted segment count. See our guide on how long it takes to beat Blood of Dawnwalker to understand the pacing.
Do Edicts Stack?
Yes — completely. Later Edicts do not replace earlier ones. They layer on top.
By the time you reach Level 8, you are dealing with all of the following at once: extra settlement patrols, checkpoints everywhere, double price increases, more road soldiers, a curfew, even more checkpoints, Headhunters, full recognition by every soldier, and a stronger army. Nothing gets removed. It only builds.
This is why the difficulty curve in later stages feels steep. It is not one big change — it is nine changes stacked on each other.
Can You Avoid Infamy Edicts?
Not really — at least not if you want to finish the game.
You can be cautious about unnecessary crimes and violent actions to slow Infamy slightly. But defeating Brencis’s three vassals is required for story progression, and each one pushes your Infamy up by a full level. You are going to hit high Infamy. The goal is to be ready for it, not to avoid it.
Does High Infamy Have Any Benefits?
Yes, actually. Infamy is not a pure punishment system.
NPCs who oppose Brencis can see Coen’s reputation as proof he is genuinely fighting the Court. A frightening reputation can also make intimidation more effective in certain situations. So Brencis fears you more — but so do some of the people you need to persuade. It cuts both ways.
This makes Infamy more interesting than just “higher number, worse game.” It is a reputation system, not just a difficulty slider.
Where To Buy The Blood of Dawnwalker
The game is available now on multiple platforms. Pick it up here:
- The Blood of Dawnwalker on Steam (PC)
- The Blood of Dawnwalker on PlayStation Store
- The Blood of Dawnwalker on Xbox
Before you buy, check the PC system requirements and the full editions and platforms guide to pick the right version. If you own the Eclipse Edition, see our guide on how to unlock Eclipse Edition DLC content.
Frequently Asked Questions – Infamy Edicts in Blood of Dawnwalker
How many Infamy Edicts are there in The Blood of Dawnwalker?
There are 9 Infamy Edicts in total. Each one is issued by Brencis when Coen reaches a new Infamy level, starting with extra patrols and ending with the lockdown of Svartrau City.
Do the Infamy Edicts in Blood of Dawnwalker stack or replace each other?
They stack. No Edict removes or replaces a previous one. Every restriction issued at lower Infamy levels stays active as you progress, so the world becomes cumulatively harder the further you go.
When does a new Edict take effect after my Infamy goes up?
Edicts do not activate immediately. They go into effect after one in-game day passes following the Infamy increase. You will see a cutscene where a herald reads the decree in Svartrau City. Use that window to shop or finish any time-sensitive tasks.
Can you still enter Svartrau City after Edict 9 closes the gates?
Yes. The main gates close, but Coen can still enter the city by climbing over the walls at night using his vampire traversal abilities. It is less convenient but the city remains accessible.
