Reincarnation

What is Reincarnation
Reincarnation allows a character to "start again", in one sense or another, while maintaining a continuity with their past achievements. Usually (depending on the type of Reincarnation), this gives the reincarnated character a small advantage in their new life based on their "Past Life" (aka PL), and these advantages can accumulate into quite a powerful difference for that character.

The Basics
There are many details and differences between the various types of reincarnation (see quick summary, below), but a few ground rules will get you started to understanding them all and clear up some of the most frequently asked questions...


 * As far as options during reincarnation (and with a couple exceptions), the character's name is the only part that cannot be changed* - the rest can all be changed, exactly as if you are starting a new character. If you're doing any sort of "True" reincarnation (including Racial Reincarnation), you can change everything else. A "True" reincarnation resets you back to "new build" time - exactly the same choices as when you first created a new character, only the name is locked.
 * The 2 exceptions are the 2 forms of reincarnation which are not "True". These are 1) Lesser Reincarnation, which allows you to change many (but not all) of the current build-details of your character and continue from your current level, and 2) Epic Reincarnation, which simply resets your character from Level 30 to Level 20, as if they had just finished Heroic play and had not yet started Epic play, with no other changes. See articles for full details.


 * (* You actually can change a character's name, but that is separate from and has absolutely no effect on present, past or future reincarnations; the character carries on with all Past Life bonuses and benefits under the new name.)


 * All your money and gear is saved, stored in a special "reincarnation cache", although there are some limits on this storage. Your mail is also saved, and you do not lose Guild status. However, you enter the game world as "naked" as any new character, so have to access your Bank for any items you may have stored there.

Types of Reincarnation
The different reincarnation choices enable players to leverage their existing progress with a character and/or allow them to change certain decisions made during that character's advancement.


 * Lesser Reincarnation (LR) allows a character respec, retaining current character level
 * Heroic (HR), Racial (RR) and Iconic (IR) reincarnation allow the creation of a more powerful hero, starting from level 1 (as a non-iconic) or level 15 (as an iconic)
 * Epic Reincarnation (ER) provides more character power and allows a character respec in the current class, returning the character to level 20

HR, RR and IR are referred to as True Reincarnation (TR), as the character is completely reborn as a blank slate, with all Race, Class, Gender and Alignment options available to them. Any True Reincarnation resets all quest completions, favor and class advancement. Neither LR nor ER are "True Reincarnations", as both retain a character's progression in heroic levels, class choice, quest completions and favor.

All reincarnated characters will retain the name and items from the previous character incarnation:
 * If the character is performing a Heroic Reincarnation, Racial Reincarnation, Iconic Reincarnation or Epic Reincarnation they will acquire a Past Life feat
 * HR will grant a Past Life Feat based on the class that the character is reincarnating out of (or highest class if the character is multi-class)
 * RR will grant a Past Life Feat based on the race that the character is reincarnating out of
 * IR will grant a Past Life Feat based on the Iconic race that the character is reincarnating out of AND a Past Life Feat based on the class that the character is reincarnating out of
 * ER will grant a Past Life Feat based on the Epic Destiny Sphere the character selects during the reincarnation process
 * Lesser Reincarnation provides no Past Life Feats
 * All Lesser Reincarnations allow a character respec, changing feat, skill & spell choices
 * +1 to +20 Lesser Reincarnations allow a character to change classes as they re-level (explained in more detail on the Lesser Reincarnation page)

How to Reincarnate
The first thing to understand is that you don't choose the form of reincarnation based on your next build, but based on where your character is when you start the reincarnation process. You look at where you are, and that dictates your options - "What's the next race/class?" has no influence at all on your choice.

Also, as far as reincarnation choice is concerned, there are only 2 types of "race" - Heroic races and Iconic races. Heroic races are defined as any race that is not Iconic. Iconics use a special form of Reincarnation - but, as per the previous rule, it doesn't matter what your next race choice will be, only whether you current character is or is not Iconic. Iconic races use Iconic (or Epic) Reincarnation, Heroic races use Heroic/Racial (or Epic) reincarnation.

So, in a very real sense (and as a player who plans ahead), you determine the type of reincarnation when you first design your new character build, by choosing whether that character is a Heroic or Iconic race, and/or when you decide whether you will reincarnate at level 20 (which is not allowed for Iconics), or push on to level 30.


 * In order to reincarnate, a character needs to speak with the Life-Shaper in the Halls of Heroes
 * The Life Shaper is located in the Reincarnation Grove on the lower floor of the Hall of Heroes, accessed through a door on the North Wall of the Eastern Chamber, and appears as a Lantern Archon (a glowing ball of light)
 * The Character requires a certain type of Heart of Wood in order to reincarnate:
 * Lesser Reincarnation requires a Lesser Heart of Wood (+0 for no class changes, +1 to +20 if class changes are required)
 * Heroic Reincarnation requires a Heroic True Heart of Wood
 * Racial Reincarnation requires a Heroic True Heart of Blood
 * Iconic Reincarnation requires an Iconic True Heart of Wood
 * Epic Reincarnation requires an Epic Heart of Wood
 * The Life Shaper guides the character through the relevant Reincarnation process
 * After speaking to the Life Shaper the Character should log off, and the Reincarnate option becomes available on the login screen
 * On choosing the Reincarnate option, characters go through the Character Creation Menu, as with initial character creation
 * Characters undergoing Heroic, Racial or Iconic Reincarnation can now log in to play
 * Characters undergoing Lesser or Epic Reincarnation can now log in, but will arrive on some rocks floating in space in a place between
 * The Life Shaper, now appearing as a blonde human woman, will meet the character in the place between and guide them through the leveling up process
 * For both Lesser and Epic Reincarnations, the character has to speak to the Life Shaper for each level to open the menu, then select options as if they were talking to a class Trainer
 * If the character is changing classes (with a Lesser Heart +1 to +20), they have to immediately make that selection as they level up, or else are stuck with their previous class choice(s)
 * Only once the character has leveled up to their current level can they leave the place between and continue adventuring

How to get a Heart of Wood/Blood

 * A +0 Lesser Heart of Wood is given to every character on first login after initial character creation
 * Lesser Hearts of Wood can drop in chests (extremely rare drop rate)
 * All Hearts of Wood & Blood can be purchased in the DDO Store
 * Heroic True Hearts of Wood and Heroic True Hearts of Blood can be earned by trading at Lahar outside the Tower of the Twelve
 * Iconic True Hearts of Wood and Epic Hearts of Wood can be earned by trading or HS 42
 * Double click the Commendations or Heart Seeds to bring up their respective barter menus

Warning regarding reincarnation!
It is perfectly legal to perform an Epic Reincarnation (from Level 30 to 20), followed immediately by a Heroic or Racial Incarnation (from Level 20 to Level 1 (new heroic) or 15 (new iconic)), HOWEVER, a bug has been observed to occur which can erase much or all of that character's inventory, tomes, etc!
 * To avoid this bug, it is currently advised that you
 * LOG OUT COMPLETELY after speaking with the Life Shaper, closing down the game
 * Wait a few minutes, giving the game time to update any relevant details
 * Use the Reincarnate option to recreate your character
 * LOG OUT COMPLETELY after character generation, closing down the game
 * Wait a few minutes, giving the game time to update any relevant details
 * Log back in and continue
 * There currently is not 100% proof that this will prevent this bug, but a considerable amount of anecdotal evidence points in that direction

Likewise, it is recommended that you DO NOT log out in the middle of any individual reincarnation (only after it is complete)
 * Allow yourself ample time, especially if you need to re-build a complex character

Quick summary
Appearance, abilities, enhancements, feats, skills, and selected spells1 are reset for all types of reincarnation. For those types of reincarnations that allow, alignment can only be reset within the limits of the first class taken*, at level 1.


 * (* Players who plan to multiclass a character should choose their alignment with limitations of future classes in mind!)

Veteran Status is only for new characters, and so has no effect on any Reincarnation. All newly reincarnated Heroic races start at Level 1, regardless of any Veteran status for the account.


 * See individual articles on the different specific types of reincarnation for full information.


 * 1 On Lesser/Epic Reincarnation Wizards and Artificers will keep their spell books. They cannot select new/different spells when leveling up. Any additional spells desired need to be learned through scrolls. All other spell casting classes get to re-select spells on Lesser/Epic Reincarnation. For Heroic, Racial and Iconic Reincarnation, spell books will be fully reset, irrespective of class before and after.
 * 2 Due to Drow racial inherent stat bonuses, reincarnations into Drow will only yield 30 point builds (not 34) on 1st reincarnation and 32 (not 36) on 2nd (and higher) reincarnations.
 * 3 If a character/account has achieved Champion status, non-Drow 28 point builds will become 32 point builds on Lesser/Epic reincarnation, otherwise they will remain 28 point builds
 * 4 Adventurers (28 point builds) who Heroic/Racial/Iconic Reincarnate before the account has achieved Champion (32 point build) status will become 34 point builds on 1st Reincarnation and 36 point builds on 2nd; This applies only to those characters and does not grant Champion status to the entire account for new builds if it has not been earned or bought.
 * 5 Reaper XP is not lost during any Reincarnation, but persists and accumulates through every successive life of the character.