What the Mod Deck Builder changes
The GRAVHOUNDS Mod Deck Builder lets you choose the Mods that can appear during an expedition. In the October demo, you build a deck of 10 common Mods and up to two Showstoppers from your library; Reward Pods draw their Mods from that selected deck. That makes an expanding library more useful without forcing every unlocked Mod into the same reward pool.
The system was introduced after playtest feedback that additional unlocks diluted the pool and made desired combinations harder to pursue. It gives you control over the possibilities while keeping individual reward choices unpredictable.
How to put a demo deck together
The developer says the builder becomes available after you unlock a couple of Mods. It does not give an exact numbered unlock threshold in the devlog, so there is no supported requirement to buy a particular list first.
Once you have access:
- Review the Mods available in your library.
- Choose the deck's 10 common Mods.
- Include up to two Showstopper Mods.
- Take that selection into an expedition and see how its offers work for your approach.
- Change the deck between expeditions when you want to try another combination.
The official October GRAVHOUNDS devlog describes those limits and when the deck can be changed. It does not establish a mid-expedition editing procedure.
A chosen pool is not a guaranteed build
Restricting the pool does not mean every Reward Pod hands you the exact Mod you hoped to see next. The developer still describes adapting to the available choices as part of the experience.
Plan around useful possibilities rather than a promised sequence. For example, an approach built around mobility can favor the relevant options already available in your library, while a combat-focused selection can give you a different set of potential upgrades. The specific effects still need to be read on the actual Mods you have unlocked.
Nothing in the devlog provides draw probabilities, a guaranteed Showstopper schedule or a complete optimal deck. Those would be different claims from knowing the pool's composition.
Use each expedition to improve the next selection
After a run, consider which offers helped with the problems you actually encountered. Were you spending too much time reloading, struggling to move between defenses or trying to keep infrastructure alive? That gives you a concrete reason to reconsider your next selection, rather than changing the deck simply because a new unlock appeared.
Keep the version boundary in mind. This was the developer's first implementation of the builder for the October demo, and it invited feedback on how it felt. Its limits describe that implementation, not a guarantee about every later Early Access update.
FAQ
How many common Mods are in the demo deck?
The developer specifies a deck of 10 common Mods, alongside up to two Showstoppers.
When does the builder unlock?
The devlog says it becomes available after unlocking a couple of Mods. It does not identify a more precise threshold or mandatory purchase order.
Can I change the deck between expeditions?
Yes. The developer explicitly describes changing it between expeditions to try different strategies.
Does choosing a Mod guarantee the next pod will offer it?
No guaranteed order or probability is stated. Your deck restricts the possible Mod draws; it does not remove the uncertainty of individual offers.