Within PEAK’s fungal forest biome introduced in The Roots Update (November 5, 2025), the Tread Lightly Badge challenges explorers to ascend through hazardous terrain while maintaining spore contamination below 25% on their stamina gauge. Success grants the distinctive Plague Doctor Attire – a hat and outfit symbolizing mastery over toxic environments.

Strategies for Securing the Tread Lightly Badge

Initiate your climb in the Roots biome’s humid, overgrown terrain. Assess your environment immediately: opt for routes with stable footing like ancient roots or stone outcroppings rather than fungal patches. Spores permeate pink fog, ruptured pods, and infected wildlife, gradually filling your contamination meter.

When encountering drifting spore clouds, delay movement until they disperse. Engage hostile creatures in cleared spaces to avoid residual toxins. Sudden gusts may destabilize climbers – secure yourself to fungal shelves or tree bark until winds subside.

Fortified Milk, found in abandoned supplies, offers brief spore resistance and is the optimal consumable. Healing items mitigate accumulated contamination but don’t prevent new exposure. Manage stamina carefully, pausing at safe spots to restore health before advancing.

Attaining the campfire summit with ≤25% contamination triggers automatic badge acquisition. This achievement unlocks exclusive plague-themed cosmetic rewards for character customization.