In Dark and Darker, quests often push players to master different aspects of dungeon survival, from combat proficiency to environmental awareness. Boom Goes the Bad Ones is a unique quest that blends enemy elimination with deliberate trap interaction inside the Goblin Cave dungeon. While the objectives may seem straightforward, careless execution can quickly lead to unnecessary deaths and lost gear.

 

This guide explains how to complete Boom Goes the Bad Ones efficiently, minimize risk, and turn the quest into a profitable learning experience rather than a punishing chore.

 

Quest Overview

 

Unlike traditional kill-only quests, Boom Goes the Bad Ones forces players to engage with dungeon hazards as part of the objective. It encourages understanding trap mechanics while fighting one of the more aggressive goblin enemy types.

 

Quest Tasks:

 

Kill Beast Goblin in Goblin Cave dungeon – 25x

 

Interact with Axe Traps in Goblin Cave dungeon – 10x

 

Interact with Flame Spouts in Goblin Cave dungeon – 10x

 

All objectives must be completed specifically within the Goblin Cave, making repetition unavoidable but predictable.

 

Quest Rewards

 

Completing Boom Goes the Bad Ones grants the following rewards:

 

1000 Experience

 

Emote: "Falling Apple"

 

While this quest does not directly award currency or gear, the experience gain is substantial and helps speed up progression. Additionally, Goblin Cave runs provide plenty of opportunities to collect sellable Dark and Darker Items, indirectly boosting your Dark and Darker Gold income.

 

Understanding the Objectives

 

Each part of this quest serves a different purpose:

 

Beast Goblins are aggressive melee enemies with unpredictable attack patterns.

 

Axe Traps swing in fixed intervals and are commonly placed in narrow corridors.

 

Flame Spouts emit bursts of fire and punish careless movement.

 

Importantly, "interacting" with traps does not mean triggering them with your body. You can safely activate them using weapons, thrown items, or careful timing.

 

Efficient Strategies for Beast Goblin Kills

 

Since Beast Goblins make up the largest time investment, optimizing these kills is essential.

 

1. Learn Their Attack Rhythm

Beast Goblins tend to overcommit to swings. Dodging once and counterattacking is safer than trading hits.

 

2. Use Terrain to Your Advantage

Corners, doorways, and elevation changes allow you to isolate individual goblins rather than fighting groups.

 

3. Avoid Overextending

Completing 25 kills doesn't need to happen in one run. Spreading progress across multiple dungeon entries reduces gear wear and prevents costly deaths.

 

As you fight, be sure to loot fallen enemies. Even common drops count as Dark and Darker Items that can be sold or reused later.

 

Safely Interacting with Axe Traps

 

Axe traps are designed to punish rushed movement, but they're also predictable.

 

Watch the swing pattern before interacting.

 

Activate the trap with a long weapon or projectile.

 

Step back and let it complete its cycle before moving on.

 

Many players complete these interactions early in a run, then focus on enemy kills afterward.

 

Managing Flame Spout Interactions

 

Flame spouts are more dangerous due to their damage-over-time effect.

 

Trigger the spout, then immediately step out of range.

 

Avoid interacting while enemies are nearby.

 

Use healing items sparingly to recover chip damage.

 

Completing flame spout interactions in low-traffic areas helps prevent being caught off guard.

 

Loadout and Preparation Tips

 

Boom Goes the Bad Ones rewards preparation over power.

 

Equip mid-tier gear you can afford to lose.

 

Bring extra healing to counter trap damage.

 

Maintain enough inventory space to collect loot.

 

Every successful extraction filled with sellable loot contributes to your long-term Dark and Darker Gold reserves, even if the quest itself doesn't provide direct currency.

 

Why This Quest Is Worth Completing

 

Although the rewards may seem modest, Boom Goes the Bad Ones teaches crucial survival skills. Understanding trap behavior and enemy aggression significantly improves performance in harder dungeons. The experience gained also accelerates access to better gear and more profitable content.

 

Additionally, repeated Goblin Cave runs naturally generate valuable Dark and Darker Items, turning the quest into a steady gold-making opportunity over time.

 

Common Mistakes to Avoid

 

Triggering traps while enemies are nearby.

 

Attempting all objectives in a single run.

 

Overgearing and risking unnecessary losses.

 

Ignoring extraction timing after making progress.

 

Patience and discipline make this quest far easier than it initially appears.

 

Conclusion

 

Boom Goes the Bad Ones is less about raw damage and more about dungeon mastery. By pacing your progress, respecting trap mechanics, and maintaining consistent extractions, you can complete the quest safely while improving both your skills and your economy. While the quest rewards focus on experience and cosmetics, the real value lies in the Dark and Darker Gold and Dark and Darker Items you gather along the way, making this quest a worthwhile step in any adventurer's journey.