Echo
SPOILER WARNINGThis section contains major plot details. If you have not made significant progress in the game, then it is recommended that you read no further!
SPOILER WARNING: DownpourThis section contains details concerning the Downpour DLC. If you have not yet completed the DLC, then read no further!
This page concerns the functions of Echoes. For their monologues, see Echo/Dialogue.
Echoes are the spiritual remnants of Rain World's previous civilized race, the Ancients. They are large, floating, black beings with golden scales on their long appendages. They are forever stuck between this world and transcendence.
Appearance
An Echo has a black body with a long, pointed head, a pair of limbs crossed at their front, and multiple flexible tendrils extending from their body. Their head, limbs, and tendrils are covered with golden scales. They appear to be curled up, with their body hunched over so that their head is below their limbs. They heavily distort visuals in a wide radius around them.
Function
When an Echo is present, the surrounding area grows darker and unique music plays. As Slugcat gets close, flecks of gold start raining down and blue light is seen slowly moving across the screen. Other creatures are typically not found during this time, and most creatures other than Slugcat in an Echo-affected area are pacified, falling limp to the ground. After encountering an Echo, Slugcat is teleported back to their previous shelter.[1] If Slugcat has the Mark of Communication, they receive a brief monologue from the Echo first. Otherwise, Slugcat is teleported back to their shelter almost immediately.
Upon being returned to their shelter, Slugcat's maximum karma tier is raised up to a maximum of 10, and their current karma level is set to its cap. If the player meets an Echo while their maximum karma is at 5, their maximum karma increases by 2; otherwise, it increases by 1. This can allow players to raise their karma to maximum without needing to interact with Five Pebbles. If Slugcat's maximum karma is already 10, the Echo sets their karma level to its cap with no other effect.
Encountering
Echoes are always found in a specific location but are not there every time. In order for 
Monk, 
Survivor, 
Gourmand, 
Rivulet, and 
Spearmaster to encounter most Echoes, they must visit the area where the Echo resides twice. The first time, a flash of blue light is seen when Slugcat enters the room, and gameplay continues as normal. If they visit the area on a following cycle with a high enough karma level (a requirement which changes depending on Slugcat's current maximum karma), the Echo appears.
This is not the case for Six Grains of Gravel, Mountains Abound; Two Sprouts, Twelve Brackets; or Twelve Beads among Burning Skies, who are all found on their first visit regardless of karma level.
As 
Hunter
As Hunter, it is not necessary to visit the location of an Echo twice, as they are always present as long as Hunter has the required karma. Visiting an Echo location with insufficient karma as Hunter for the first time instead triggers the same blue flash of light seen as other Slugcats.
As 
Artificer
As Artificer, in addition to needing to both trigger and then meet the Echo on two separate cycles as normal, they must also start the cycle with 
Karma Flower protection when below 5 karma in order to meet them.
As 
Saint
Saint can meet Echoes at any time with any karma level. Additionally, Saint has a unique trigger animation, which appears the first time they step into any room with an unvisited echo. This happens once every cycle; the only exception to this is on cycle 0, where Echoes do not spawn.
Locations
- Nineteen Spades, Endless Reflections, found at the highest point in
Chimney Canopy, near the gate to Sky Islands. (CC_C12) - Four Needles under Plentiful Leaves, found in a grotto underneath the eastern entrance to
Shaded Citadel. (SH_A08) - Droplets upon Five Large Droplets, found high up in
Sky Islands, above the yellow lizard infested tunnel near the gate to Farm Arrays. (SI_B11)
- A Bell, Eighteen Amber Beads, found in
Farm Arrays high above a patch of Worm Grass, near the entrance from Outskirts. (LF_B01) - Six Grains of Gravel, Mountains Abound, found atop The Wall in
The Exterior, close to 
Five Pebbles' access shaft. (UW_A14) - Two Sprouts, Twelve Brackets, found in
Subterranean from the Farm Arrays entrance, in a cave to the right. (SB_A10)
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The names of these Echoes are not listed anywhere within the game. This is because Echo names have previously only been revealed through achievements, and the console version has a limited number of achievements. However, they do have names that were originally intended to be used by the More Slugcats team.
- Twelve Beads among Burning Skies, found in Atop the Tallest Tower, high up near the center of
Metropolis. This Echo has dialogue exclusive to Artificer. (LC_highestpoint) - Distant Towers upon Cracked Earth, found at the top of
Looks to the Moon's Wall in 
Shoreline. This Echo is exclusive to Saint. (SL_WALL06)
- Rhinestones beneath Shattered Glass, found in the far left of
Undergrowth, near the entrance to Outskirts. This Echo is exclusive to Saint. (UG_C02) - Eight Spots on a Blind Eye, found in the
Auxiliary Transmission Array subregion in Submerged Superstructure. This Echo is exclusive to Saint and does not contribute to 
The Pilgrim. (MS_COMMS)
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Trivia
- It is possible to complete the game without going to Five Pebbles by visiting 4 of the Echoes. The first raises Slugcat's maximum karma by 2, and all subsequent Echoes raise it by 1. Reaching the maximum karma level this way earns the Pilgrimage achievement.
- An Echo is the result of a being with many vices attempting to transcend the cycle of reincarnation using Void Fluid and becoming stuck between this world and the next. Looks to the Moon notes that this is especially the case for those who are too arrogant or egotistical.
- Some sentient beings (possibly Scavengers) seem to have been aware of the Echoes at some point, as a 'ghost' symbol appears near many of the Echo locations.
- Echoes are known as "ghosts" in Rain World's source code.
The Pilgrim is a Passage which requires Slugcat to visit all Echoes in their campaign. Artificer and Saint each have an additional Echo in their Passage.
Notes
- ↑ If Slugcat has never hibernated other than by starvation before meeting the Echo, the campaign starts from the beginning without any changes.
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