PEAK Caldera and Kiln Guide: Lava, Condors and the Final Climb

Overview

The Caldera lava lake seen from above · PEAK Wiki (CC BY-SA 4.0)

The Caldera (region four) and the Kiln (region five) always come as a pair. They are one of two possible endings for the island; the other is the Gloom and the Citadel. In the current pool, the Caldera route appears on 104 of 208 days.

The Caldera

Chains linking the Caldera rock towers · PEAK Wiki (CC BY-SA 4.0)

A lake of lava broken up by tall rock towers. Chains between the towers work like vines in the Tropics. At the far end, a temple holds an Ancient Statue and luggage, and a bridge leads into a tunnel where lighting the campfire earns Volcanology.

Hazards

A condor circling the towers · PEAK Wiki (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Tips

The temple at the end of the Caldera · PEAK Wiki (CC BY-SA 4.0)

• Time the lava. Plan while it is high, move the moment it drops.
• Drinks help with Heat. Energy and sports drinks take the edge off.
• A Glider lets you float over the lava floor.
• The Book of Bones makes most heat hazards trivial, and invincible scouts can walk through lava.
• Use the temple statue wisely. It is the last one on this route; see how to revive.

Luggage is sparse: about 3.5 regular, 4.2 big and 0.9 explorer’s luggage per Caldera, and no clown luggage. Patch 2.04.a cut one box at the statue but made the rest better.

The Kiln

Screenshot: PEAK on Steam © Aggro Crab & Landfall

A vertical climb up the inside of the volcano, with small rocks on the walls, rock bridges carrying luggage, and a bridge at the top leading to the Peak. There is no campfire and no natural food, only packaged food in luggage. From Peak difficulty upward, lava rises from the bottom in place of the fog.

Hazards

A petrifying stone in the Kiln · PEAK Wiki (CC BY-SA 4.0)

• Hot rocks and lava rivers (Heat and Injury).
• Hot rock bridges (added in 2.04.a).
• Petrifying stones, which inflict 2 Petrify per second and cap your bonus stamina (added in 2.04.a).

What to bring

• Chain launchers: three or four usually get the group up.
• Pitons, anti-rope spools and anti-rope cannons.
• A Rescue Claw works similarly but is riskier.
• Food from the Caldera temple, since there is nothing to eat inside.

Explorer’s luggage carries most of this gear; the luggage types guide lists what each box can hold. The Kiln itself has about 3 regular, 3 big, 1.9 explorer’s and 0.8 clown luggage per run.

Finishing the run

The flag at the Peak · PEAK Wiki (CC BY-SA 4.0)

At the Peak, a crate of flares sits by the flag (empty on Ascent 4 and up, but the Crash Site always has one). Light a flare anywhere on the Peak and an orange rescue helicopter arrives. After a 10-second countdown (30 seconds if not everyone is up), the run ends; scouts only need to be on the Peak, not holding the rope.

If you are carrying the Ancient Idol from the Tomb, throw it into the Kiln’s lava first for the 24 Karat badge.

History

Today’s Caldera map and Kiln map show where every box and statue is on today’s island.