Devil Contracts Guide
Complete guide to Devil Contracts: the core progression and economy engine. Master contract types, risk management, execution strategies, and advanced combinations.
TL;DR
- What: Contracts are the core progression engine - grant abilities but come with curses
- How: Collect 3 contracts from the same devil, then activate
- Key Principle: Reward-driven, risk-controlled, route-optimized, settlement-first
- Critical: Manage curses (≤2 concurrent contracts recommended)
- Strategy: Plan routes around contract targets, settle frequently
Overview and Core Principles
Contracts are the core progression and economy engine in Devil Hunter. They come with explicit objectives, rewards, and risks (notably curses).
Contracts are agreements formed with devils that grant you their unique abilities. By collecting three contracts from the same devil type, you can activate the contract and gain access to powerful abilities (Z/X/C keys).
📜 Contract Abilities
- • Z Key: Primary ability (offensive/utility)
- • X Key: Secondary ability (defensive/support)
- • C Key: Ultimate ability (high cooldown)
🔄 Fiend Transformation
Collecting three contracts from the same devil enables Fiend transformation. This is different from Hybrid transformation (requires Devil's Heart surgery).
Four Core Principles
🎯 Reward-Driven
Prioritize contracts that directly boost combat power or loop efficiency.
🛡️ Risk-Controlled
Limit concurrent contracts to avoid uncontrollable curse stacking (≤2 recommended).
🗺️ Route-Optimized
Plan your map run around contract targets to minimize backtracking and unnecessary fights.
💰 Settlement-First
Complete → return → turn in frequently so rewards are "banked" and not lost to death.
Recent Updates (January 2026)
• Devils may provide hints on how to obtain contracts
• Ghost Devil: Defeating grants contract immediately (no drop required)
• Ghost Devil now uses favor system - has 1 hour cooldown for knocked variant
• Low favor can cause contract loss - contracts properly terminate at low favor
• Resistance stat reduces damage done via contracts (new addition)
• Technique stat reduces cooldowns and increases range of grab moves (like Ghost contract)
• Curse Devil Quest is now repeatable (similar fix as Bat Devil)
• Contract giving completely fixed
• Contract Skill UI (Z/X/C) now dynamically updates to show variant names
Balance Changes (Jan 12, 2026):
• Curse Devil: Added global cooldown (0.5s) on proc attempt, 60s cooldown on crucify
• Zombie Devil: Fixed spawning multiple zombies, zombies now do damage, can no longer get epic+ zombies and bosses
• Tomato Devil: Added seed cooldown (10s) after reviving, seeds despawn at 150+ studs, improved grab animation/hitbox sync
• Angel Devil: Increased dagger crit cooldown to 8s minimum
• Ghost Devil: Added 1 hour cooldown on death variant
• Future Devil: Auto-dodges halt after 45 seconds, faster counter activation (1.35x speed)
• Leech Devil: Damage nerf
Balance Changes (Jan 19, 2026):
• Mantis Contract: Now parriable
• Tomato Devil revive: Cooldown +50%
• Tomato grab: Stun -37%
Contract Types and Roles
📦 Resource Contracts
Goal: Gather basic materials, currency, or general resources.
Traits:
- • Low-to-medium difficulty
- • Ideal for Day 1
- • Establish stable cash flow
- • Provide upgrade materials
Recommendation: Make this your first one or two contracts to reduce combat and curse pressure.
⚔️ Ability/Weapon Contracts
Goal: Unlock or enhance specific skills/weapon lines, or grant rare components.
Traits:
- • Higher risk
- • Strict conditions or strong enemies
- • Big power spikes in return
- • May involve combat challenges
Recommendation: Attempt after you have baseline survivability and mobility.
🗺️ Exploration/Location Contracts
Goal: Reach specific places, trigger events, or complete route checks.
Traits:
- • Combat can be controlled
- • Emphasizes map knowledge
- • Time/weather windows
- • Hidden interactions
Recommendation: Use to expand map knowledge, discover shortcuts/safe hubs, and stack with resource contracts.
💀 Elite/Hunt Contracts
Goal: Defeat particular demons/elites/bosses.
Traits:
- • High risk, high reward
- • Rare drops, major upgrade mats
- • Failure is costly
- • Requires preparation
Recommendation: Do when you have reliable DPS and crowd control; prep with exploration/resource contracts first.
Contract Cost Analysis
• DPS Contracts: Continuous health drain, resource cap reduction (-10%), increased cooldowns
• Survival Contracts: Reduced damage output, longer cooldowns, movement speed penalty
• Mobility Contracts: Increased resource consumption, reduced defense, shorter durations
Combo Rule: Avoid stacking similar costs (double health drain, double regen reduction). Prioritize complementary combinations.
Triggers, Acquisition, and Prerequisites
How Contracts Trigger
👤 NPC Handoff
Interact at a safe hub or specific spot. May require reputation or prior completion.
📍 Map Interaction
Interact with objects/markers to activate a contract prompt.
🔗 Chain Tasks
Complete tier N to unlock tier N+1. Difficulty usually ramps up.
Prerequisites
Character State
Some require specific physiology/faction/skill levels.
Time/Weather
Certain contracts trigger or are best done at specific times or conditions.
Items/Resources
May require specific items to initiate or deliver.
Acquisition Tips
Day 1 Strategy
Pick repeatable, stable-yield contracts with low gates. Focus on resource contracts first.
Concurrency Management
Keep it to ≤2 simultaneous contracts to reduce conflicts and curse pressure.
Hunt Devils
Collect Three Contracts
Activate Contract
Manage Curses
Curses and Risk Management
Sources of Curses
Primary Sources
- • Signing contracts
- • Contract failures
- • Timeouts
- • Certain fights or environments
Ongoing Effects
- • Some contracts apply ongoing debuffs while active
- • Curse stacking from multiple contracts
- • Environmental curse sources
Curse Thresholds
Keep curse levels low on Day 1. Exceeding thresholds causes significant penalties:
- • Stat decay: Reduced effectiveness of abilities
- • Tougher encounters: Enemies become more difficult
- • Random punishments: Unpredictable negative effects
Critical Threshold
Removal and Mitigation
💊 Consumables
Carry 1–2 cleanse/reduction items as your "insurance."
Always keep these in your inventory before accepting high-risk contracts.
🏛️ Locations/Services
Safe hubs or special altars can clear or suppress curses.
Use safe hubs as start/end points for contract runs.
⏱️ Tempo Control
Insert "light task" windows in your loop to manage curses and restock.
Balance high-risk and low-risk contracts.
Quick Risk Assessment Model
1. Reward Evaluation
Does the reward directly serve your current goal (power/economy/map intel)?
2. Failure Cost Assessment
Is the failure cost + curse stack within your set limits? If not, stop early.
3. Resource Check
Do duration and route complexity fit your mobility and consumable reserves?
Reward Evaluation and Priorities
Immediate vs Long-Term
Early Game: Immediate Rewards
- • Direct upgrades
- • Supplies
- • Currency
- • Basic materials
Mid-Game: Long-Term Rewards
- • Weapon/skill unlocks
- • Rare components
- • Build-defining abilities
- • Advanced materials
Value Assessment Framework
Material Rarity & Market Value
Assess material rarity, market value, and build fit. Prioritize items that unlock weapon move sets over pure stat increases.
Core Gap Identification
Will the reward patch a "core gap" (mobility, control, key component)? Unlocking new capabilities is more valuable than +5% damage.
Synergy Planning
Example Synergy Loop:
Standard Execution SOP
Pre-Acceptance Check
📦 Weight & Inventory
Leave space for pickups. Check inventory capacity before starting.
💊 Anti-Curse & Healing
Carry at least 1–2 cleanse/heal. If short, buy first.
⚔️ Weapons/Skills
Ensure one stable DPS option and one control/survival tool.
Route Planning
Use an "outer ring (low risk) → mid ring (moderate risk) → core point (high reward)" loop.
Anchor runs from a safe hub to minimize risky returns. Plan your route to avoid elite patrol corridors.
Route Efficiency
Execution Tips
🔍 Recon
Scout enemy types, patrol paths, terrain hazards before engaging.
⚔️ Split Waves
Isolate fights; avoid stacked pulls; save control for elites.
⏰ Timing
Push key segments during low-activity times or when visibility favors you.
Turn-In and Settlement
Mid-Run Check
Monitor bag space and curse levels. Return to hub if needed before continuing.
Turn In Promptly
Turn in materials/task items promptly to lock in gains. Don't risk losing rewards to death.
Post-Run Review
Record route efficiency and pain points. Iterate and improve your next contract run.
Concurrency and Tempo Control
Concurrency Cap
Recommended: 2 simultaneous contracts maximum (1 main, 1 auxiliary for gathering/exploration).
This reduces conflicts and curse pressure. More than 2 concurrent contracts can lead to uncontrollable curse stacking.
Task Slicing
Break a contract into smaller milestones to reduce one-shot failure risk. Complete objectives in stages rather than attempting everything at once.
Pre-Set Stop-Loss
Curse Threshold
If curses exceed threshold, retreat and adjust immediately.
Resource Limit
If consumables plummet, set max attempts/time caps to avoid dragging down your overall run.
Map and Location Integration
🏛️ Safe Hubs
Use as start/end points. Provide resupply, curse cleanse, and possibly revive services.
Always plan your contract routes to begin and end at safe hubs whenever possible.
💎 High-Value Zones
Stronger foes and better rewards. Enter only with stable power and adequate preparation.
Don't venture into high-value zones until you've completed preparation contracts.
🗝️ Hidden Interactions/Shortcuts
Dramatically cut travel time or bypass elite patrols. Prioritize discovery during exploration contracts.
Exploration contracts often reveal shortcuts that make future contract runs more efficient.
🌅 Time and Environment
Night/bad weather is riskier but sometimes more rewarding. Attempt with cleanses and control ready.
Alternate "daytime light tasks—nighttime focus tasks" to balance safety and yield.
Build Synergies
⚔️ DPS Builds
Prioritize hunt/weapon contracts to snowball kill speed.
Recommended:
- • Elite/Hunt contracts
- • Ability/Weapon contracts
- • High-damage combinations
🛡️ Survival/Control Builds
Stack mobility, defense, and control rewards first; then tackle elites.
Recommended:
- • Exploration contracts
- • Resource contracts
- • Mobility/control contracts
💰 Economy-Oriented
Focus on repeatable resource contracts for stable cash flow; later pivot to power contracts.
Recommended:
- • Resource contracts
- • Repeatable stable missions
- • Low-risk, high-yield contracts
Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them
⚠️ Signing Too Many High-Risk Contracts
Taking multiple high-risk contracts simultaneously leads to curse spikes and failures.
Solution: Limit to ≤2 concurrent contracts, with at least one being low-risk.
🗺️ No Routing Strategy
Constant backtracking and wandering into elite patrol zones wastes time and resources.
Solution: Plan routes around contract targets using the outer→mid→core loop structure.
📦 Mismanaging Inventory/Weight
Can't pick up key items because inventory is full or over-encumbered.
Solution: Always check inventory space before accepting contracts. Turn in items frequently.
💊 No Cleanse/Heal Reserve
One mistake snowballs into disaster without proper consumable reserves.
Solution: Always carry 1-2 cleanse/heal items as insurance before high-risk contracts.
🎯 Chasing Off-Build Rewards Early
Pursuing rare but off-build rewards early wastes resources and stalls progression.
Solution: Focus on rewards that directly serve your current build goals. Save rare off-build items for later.
Practical Tips and Tricks
Layer Tasks
Skill Discipline
Observe Spawns
Keep Buffers
Run Logs
Focus Strategy
Advanced Strategies (Mid/Late Game)
🔗 Chain Contracts
Plan linear/tree progressions. Prep resources and build needs for the next tier in advance.
Complete tier N contracts to unlock tier N+1. Prepare for difficulty ramps by ensuring adequate power and resources.
🎯 Contract Sets
Choose complementary rewards to form a "resources → power → map intel" compounding loop.
Example Set: Resource contract (materials) → Ability contract (convert materials to power) → Exploration contract (discover shortcuts for future efficiency)
💀 High-Difficulty Hunts
Once you master enemy mechanics and terrain leverage, schedule focused pushes for rare drops.
Only attempt elite/hunt contracts after completing preparation contracts and having reliable DPS/control.
💰 Economic Loop
Establish repeatable "cash-flow" contracts. Use the surplus to push power ceiling.
Prioritize stable, repeatable resource contracts early to build economic foundation before pursuing high-risk, high-reward contracts.
Execution Checklist
✅ Before Accepting
🗺️ Routing
⚔️ During Execution
💰 After Settlement
Recent Balance Changes (Jan 26-31, 2026)
Balance Patch Updates
Buffed Contracts
- • Mantis: Not blockable anymore (reverted to original state)
- • Snake: Windup decreased
- • Bat: Windup decreased
- • Mold: Windup decreased
- • Zombie: Now deals damage (fixed), ragdoll time reduced
Nerfed/Adjusted Contracts
- • Shark: Cooldown starts after (fixed exploit)
- • Eternity: CD starts after duration, duration decreased
- • Zombie: Summoning cooldown added, zombies no longer drop health packs
Bug Fixes (Jan 31)
- • Fixed Zombie Contract not dealing damage
- • Fixed Zombie Contract zombies no longer dropping health packs
- • Fixed being able to obtain Octopus Contract multiple times
- • Fixed not being able to eat Mantis Devil arm
- • Added prevention for Gun Devil Fragment voiding
Special Contract Guides
Contract-Specific Guides
Octopus Devil Contract
Learn how to obtain the powerful Octopus Devil Contract. Includes location guide, battle strategy, quest requirements, and debuff selection tips.
Update 1 Phase 1: Dynamic questline for obtainment. Includes Base Skill, Block Variant, and Evolved Variant.
→ View Complete GuideShark Contract
New contract added in Update 1 Phase 1. Dynamic questline for obtainment with powerful ranged abilities.
Abilities: Base Skill and M2 Variant (includes two skills). Excellent for ranged combat and crowd control.
New in Update 1
Related Guides
- → 📺 Phase 2 Contract Tier List Video Guide (NEW)
- → Octopus Devil Contract Guide (Complete Walkthrough)
- → Fiends Guide (Contract → Fiend Transformation)
- → Devils Database (Find Contract Sources)
- → Hybrids Guide (Alternative Transformation)
- → Tier Lists (Best Contracts Ranking)
- → Beginner Guide (Complete Progression Guide)