I remember booting up Avowed last year and spending way too long in the character creator. The big question staring at me wasn’t about class or attributes – it was whether my Envoy should flaunt those weird, mushroomy Godlike features or just look like a regular elf trying to pay off a gambling debt. Now, a year later in 2026, I’ve replayed the game enough times to have some thoughts. So here’s my insider’s guide to that one cosmetic toggle that Obsidian tucked into their Pillars of Eternity spin-off, and why I think it matters more than you’d expect.
Let me set the scene for anyone who hasn’t lived in Eora lately. In this world, a Godlike is somebody whose soul got a divine high-five before they were even born. They’re marked – literally – with physical signs of that blessing. Some look like they’ve got a small botanical garden growing on their cheekbones, others rock full-blown antler-like structures or phosphorescent fungal blooms erupting from their skull. 
The game doesn’t lock you into a specific god’s flavor either; your divine patron stays mysterious, and you just pick from a shared pool of these organic-looking attachments. Think of it as nature’s very aggressive take on contouring.
But here’s the twist: you can turn it all off. One toggle, boom – you’re back to looking like a standard-issue mortal. No bark, no petals, no questions asked. When I first saw that option, I thought, “Oh sweet, I’ll just make a normal dude and dodge all that weird attention NPCs give you.” But that’s exactly where the game pulls a fast one. Let’s dig into why.
🎮 Does Toggling Godlike Features Change Gameplay? Absolutely Not.
This is the part that surprised me, and honestly, it’s the core of the whole discussion. Whether you look like a walking terrarium or a guy named Steve who sells pottery, the world of Avowed doesn’t care. Every NPC, every faction leader, every random street urchin will still instantly recognize you as a Godlike. The dialogue doesn’t branch; the stats don’t shift; no secret ending unlocks because you kept the leafy eyebrows. Obsidian was very clear about this back in the dev diaries, and my own testing confirms it. I even ran two identical builds side by side – one full-on forest spirit, one utterly unremarkable – and the reactions were carbon copies. 
This decision, I think, was both pragmatic and smart. It means nobody gets an advantage in combat or diplomacy by hiding their divine marks. No stealth bonus for blending in, no penalty for scaring children. The game treats your Godlike nature as an invisible ID card that everybody can read regardless of your appearance. It’s a bit like walking into a bar where everyone magically knows your name – even if you’re wearing a paper bag on your head. Unrealistic? Maybe. Liberating for roleplayers who hate feeling punished for aesthetic choices? Definitely.
👁️ Why I Always Keep the Godlike Features On Now
After a year of messing with different looks, I’ve settled into a firm “on” stance, and here’s why: immersion. Bear with me – I know that word gets thrown around like confetti at a game dev conference – but in this specific case, it’s real. When NPCs call me “Envoy” with a mixture of awe and suspicion, and I’ve got these luminous green tendrils curling out of my temples, it feels right. There’s no dissonance. My look matches the lore. If I hide the features and still get the same dialogue, a tiny voice in the back of my head keeps whispering, “How do they know?” It’s a minor crack in the fourth wall, and over a 60-hour playthrough, minor cracks add up.
Plus, leaning into the weirdness helps Avowed stand out in a sea of medieval fantasy RPGs. I’ve made a thousand gruff mercenaries and brooding elf mages over the years. But a blue-skinned islander with literal mushrooms sprouting from her collarbone? That’s a protagonist I won’t forget. The Godlike option ties your character directly to the mysterious flora of the Living Lands and hints at a deeper connection to the region’s wild heart. Even if the game never fully spells out that link, it’s a visual storytelling tool that you carry with you every step of the way. I’d argue that skipping it is like playing a vampire RPG and choosing to look exactly like a farmer – you’re missing out on some of what makes the world unique.
🕹️ But What If You Prefer a Clean, Classic Look?
I get it. Not everyone wants to stare at a character whose face looks like a forgotten corner of a greenhouse. There are moments when a more subdued aesthetic just fits the vibe you’re going for. Maybe you’re roleplaying a Godlike who’s ashamed of their nature and tries to pass as ordinary – even if the game won’t mechanically support that fantasy, it might still feel true to you. Or maybe you just want your Envoy to resemble you, and you don’t happen to have bioluminescent freckles in real life. That’s completely valid.
The beauty of Avowed’s approach is that nobody is forced to choose between “looking cool” and “being effective.” The toggle is there for you, guilt-free. I have a friend who turns the features off purely because she finds the larger growths distractingly moist in cutscenes, and I can’t even argue with that. Aesthetics are deeply personal, and Obsidian respected that. No one’s going to slide into your DMs to say you played the game wrong for going featureless.
🧬 A Quick Godlike Field Guide for New Players
Since I’m throwing around terms, let me give you a rapid-fire breakdown of what these features actually look like, because the variety surprised me. You’ve got:
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Understated: small patches of moss or tiny leaves around the eyes, maybe a few vine-like accents. 🌿
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Moderate: coral-like or fungal growths across the forehead or jawline, some with soft glowing elements. 🍄
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Grand: massive branching structures that could double as chandeliers, intricate root systems framing the entire head. 🌳
None of these align with a specific god, so you’re free to mix and match without worrying about lore penalties. I love that the team at Obsidian drew inspiration from the Nature Godlike of Pillars of Eternity but then went wild with the flora of the Living Lands. Some designs look almost alien, others hauntingly beautiful. Experiment. Take a screenshot. Then decide whether you want to live with them for 40+ hours.
🧩 The Verdict After 12 Months
If you ask me today, in 2026, whether you should display your Godlike features, I’ll say: yes, at least for your first playthrough. Keep them on. Let the world react to your divine strangeness while you can actually see that strangeness in every dialogue close-up. It grounds the narrative in a way that a hidden toggle can’t replicate. Your Envoy is a legend – a being touched by something unknowable walking through a land that’s just as untamed. Let them look the part.
But if you’ve already beaten the game five times and you’re goofing around with a new character just to explore every nook of Shatterscarp? Turn ’em off. Make a bald dwarf with no eyebrows and a perfectly normal nose. The system won’t punish you, and you’ll still get to enjoy one of the finest action RPGs of the decade.
At the end of the day, the Godlike toggle is a tiny symbol of what makes Avowed great: it gives you freedom without judgment. For some, that freedom means embracing the bizarre beauty of Eora’s divine biology. For others, it means saying “no thanks” to facial foliage and getting on with the adventure. Both ways are correct. The only wrong move is not playing at all.
Whether you're diving into Avowed for the first time or returning for another playthrough, it’s always worth keeping an eye out for ways to make the experience even more accessible. If you’re looking to snag the game or any of its expansions at a great price, there are tools out there to help you track discounts effortlessly. Exploring Eora shouldn’t break the bank, after all.
One resource that gamers swear by is this steam deal finder, which lets you uncover the best prices on your favorite titles across various sales. It’s a great way to ensure you’re getting the most value for your gaming library while preparing for your next epic adventure. Happy exploring, both in-game and in the marketplace!