How Conviction and Alignment Work in Warhammer 40K: Rogue Trader

Do you truly believe in your cause? How steadfast is your loyalty to your sworn tenets? To defeat your enemies requires more than just combat prowess and lucky skill checks. Here’s our guide on how the conviction and alignment system works in Warhammer 40K: Rogue Trader.

How to Use Conviction and Alignment in Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader

The Warhammer 40K: Rogue Trader conviction and alignment system has three distinct tenets: Dogmatic, Heretical, and Iconoclast. From time to time, you’ll see dialogue options that allow you to respond based on these ideals. Choosing one adds a certain number of points toward that conviction, and each rank/tier you reach grants a permanent passive trait.

What Are the Dogmatic, Heretical, and Iconoclast Beliefs?

Here’s what you can expect from each belief system:

• Dogmatic — This pertains to an unwavering belief in the holiness of the Emperor of Mankind, as well as the rigid doctrine of purging those who might be considered the enemies of humanity.
• Heretical — This tenet represents servitude to the Chaos Gods. In some cases, it’s almost akin to trolling, where your character just happily kills people for no reason.
• Iconoclast — This is the middle ground which relies on pragmatism and the good of all. It can sometimes even be antithetical to the Imperium’s tenets.

These three belief systems and tenets encompass the broad spectrum of your dealings throughout the Warhammer 40,000 Rogue Trader campaign. I would even go so far as to state that Dogmatic and Heretical are both evil due to how you treat other people. As such, I opted for the Iconoclast option when necessary.

How to See Character Conviction and Alignment Values

You can find your conviction or alignment in Warhammer 40K: Rogue Trader by opening the character menu (i.e. default “C” key). The summary panel shows a circular graph, as well as the points that you’ve earned so far in your campaign.

I should also note that certain companions already have alignments by default, while others don’t even make use of this mechanic. The decisions that you make only affect your character’s values, not those of your party members.

Companion Beliefs and Tenets

All Dogmatic Bonuses

• Tier 1 (15 points): Grim Determination — +10% chance for the team to survive with +1 HP instead of falling unconscious.
• Tier 2 (75 points): Absolution — During the first round of combat, all critical hits by your team inflict burning; +1 fire damage for each additional Dogmatic rank.
• Tier 3 (150 points): Path of Redemption — Reduces all momentum usage cost by -20%.
• Tier 4 (300 points): Piercing Resolution — Once per battle, you can choose any character whose attacks ignore enemy armor.
• Tier 5 (600 points): Instrument of His Will — Become immune to all attacks from daemons and xenos (who will consider you a priority target); can only be used once per battle.

All Heretical Bonuses

• Tier 1 (15 points): Resource Preservation — +20% chance to save a Medkit or stimulant when used.
• Tier 2 (75 points): Destroy the Weak — During the first round of combat, gain a +25% chance to regain +1 AP when you kill an enemy, but this automatically manifests a psychic phenomena.
• Tier 3 (150 points): Gifts of the Warp — Psychic phenomena increase your party’s momentum.
• Tier 4 (300 points): Daemonopathy — Once per battle, choose any character who will gain +20 to their characteristics for two rounds; fall prone when the effect ends.
• Tier 5 (600 points): Power From Beyond the Veil — All weapons become Warp-imbued for one round; gain bonus damage and armor penetration based on veil degradation level; can only be used once per battle.

All Iconoclast Bonuses

• Tier 1 (15 points): Above Thundering Guns — The Rogue Trader and two random allies start the battle with temporary HP equal to their resolve.
• Tier 2 (75 points): Master of Command — During the first round of combat, the party gains additional movement points based on the Rogue Trader’s Iconoclast rank.
• Tier 3 (150 points): Courage and Steel — The party needs -30 less momentum to activate a heroic act.
• Tier 4 (300 points): Transcend the Potential — Once per battle, choose any character who will immediately use their heroic act without spending any momentum.
• Tier 5 (600 points): Excellence — All attacks from allies that might otherwise hit another teammate will be dodged. Any attack ability that has a resistance test will be automatically passed by allies.

As you can see, there are several powerful boons to gain depending on your alignment or conviction in Warhammer 40K: Rogue Trader. The choice is entirely up to you if you want to follow an Iconoclast playthrough like I did, or if you prefer to mix and match based on the circumstances involved. Who knows? There might be choices that are more worthwhile outside of extra points.

That’s everything you need to know about alignment and conviction in Warhammer 40K: Rogue Trader. Since you’re curious about obtaining more buffs in combat, you might want to know how to get more action points (AP). For other tips and tactics, you can check out our WH40K: RT guides hub.