Exploring the Chaotic World of Cult of the Lamb’s Sins of the Flesh Update
5 min readThe much-anticipated Sins of the Flesh update for Cult of the Lamb, developed by Massive Monster and published by Devolver Digital, was released on January 16, 2024, bringing a multitude of new features to the game. This update, which has been highly requested by fans, adds a form of in-game sex to the game, but it is so much more than just that. In this article, we will delve into the various aspects of the Sins of the Flesh update, from the poop update to the fashion update, and everything in between.
To access the majority of the new content, players must have progressed far enough in the game. The new spiritual currency, Sin, and the experiences that come with it all unlock after defeating the third Bishop. For new players starting with a fresh save file, it may take some time before they encounter most of the new material. However, the poop element is present from the beginning, with followers producing various colors and quantities of excrement.
The poop update adds six new styles of poop, each with its unique power. For instance, golden poop comes with coins when found and can be used as fertilizer to grow coins and gold bars alongside crops. Rainbow poop makes plants ready for harvest instantly, which is useful when followers are starving. Players will also receive upgrades for brooms as they clean up followers’ excrement, making chores more efficient.
The chaos that ensues from the poop element is just the beginning. In the hours spent with the new content, players will experience numerous disruptions in their cult. Followers, intoxicated by Brog Brew, will get into fights that players must break up. They may profess their love or heckle the player. Some followers will eat their fellow acolytes whole, while others will dissent and steal from the cult.
Sin, a new form of currency, can be spent on follower experiences, including sex, and temple decorations. Similar to Loyalty, each follower has a Sin meter, which they accumulate through rituals and immoral activities. There are new, Sin-based doctrines to shape the cult’s dogma and rituals that go all-in on followers’ wickedness.
Performing the Rite of Wrath will unleash mayhem upon the commune, destroying decorations and having followers beat each other up. Engaging in the Gluttony of Cannibals ritual will result in one follower being eaten by the group. The Rite of Lust will have followers dance naked around the flower-adorned shrine.
Designating specific followers to receive Sin is necessary but careful not to overdo it. Once a follower has taken on too much Sin, they will become damned and leave the cult. However, they are not gone forever. Damned followers can be encountered during crusades, and once they have been killed three times, they can be brought back with the resurrection ritual. Dissenters, too, now appear as fightable enemies in the dungeons, providing an opportunity for players to take revenge on them.
New structures, such as the Drinkhouse and the Mating Tent, tie directly into the arrival of Sin. At the Drinkhouse, followers can consume various beverages, including Brog Brew, Juniper Drink, Grape Nectar, Eggnog, and Poop Juice. The resources needed for beverage brewing, like hops and grapes, can be found during crusades or purchased as seeds from Rakshasa.
The drum circle is a new structure where players can play a rhythm game to generate Sin in a follower of their choice. It is a simple mini-game that adds variation to the day-to-day cult gameplay without feeling out of place. For those looking for a quick way to generate Sin, the drum circle comes in handy.
The Mating Tent is the star of the Sex Update. Not every character can partake in the activities that take place at the mating tent, and those who can have the agency to reject a mating opportunity if they’re not interested. Players cannot mate with followers, nor can relatives, such as the Bishops, mate with each other. Once a compatible pair is chosen, players can pick traits from each follower to be carried over to their offspring. Then, the followers will seal the deal with a big smooch and enter the tent.
After the mating is over, followers will come out exhausted and present the player with an egg. Players can choose to either crack the egg and feed it to a follower or tend to the egg daily at the Hatchery, a structure that is unlocked at the same time as the Mating Tent. If players go the cannibalism route, a yolk meal can be used as a youth elixir to give an elderly follower more time among the living. Alternatively, players can make Eggnog. If they decide to hatch the egg instead, they will have to nurture the child until it reaches adulthood.
The Tailor building is also unlocked with the update, allowing players to craft new outfits for their followers. During crusades, players will find cotton to use for garment-making and meet the silkworm NPC, Berith, who will have the blueprints for clothes. This will allow players to customize their followers’ appearances and, by consequence, the overall aesthetic of the cult a little more. Unfortunately, only one follower can wear each outfit at a time.
Tidbits of lore are now scattered throughout the dungeons, and players will have a new weapon, the Blunderbuss, to fight with. Although the Blunderbuss is not everyone’s favorite weapon, weapon choice is subjective, and there are probably some who love it. It is capable of rapid firing to some degree but requires players to take reloading time into account.
There are also new follower forms, including snake, worm, and a shaggy dog. The last form was made in honor of the Art Director’s deceased pet, which is both heartbreaking and heartwarming. Additional follower traits have added depth to the cult members themselves, revealing that some of them are absolute cowards.
In conclusion, the Sins of the Flesh update for Cult of the Lamb is not just the sex update; it is the poop update, the fashion update, the personality update, the lore update, and the absolute chaos update. It brings a new level of depth and excitement to the game, keeping players engaged and entertained for hours on end.