Challenge list
| Challenge | Category | Requirement | Reward |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Beat | Idol | Land 50 Perfect hits across the Arora fight. | 1 Harmony Point. |
| Hemlock Hush | Idol | Defeat Hemlock without taking damage in P1. | Punk Leather lapel variant. |
| Six-String Surgeon | Idol | Parry every String Volley in Dex P1 (a perfect 9/9). | Air Guitar dance move progress. |
| Off-Beat Theory | Idol | Trigger Prophet’s Verse Lock without losing a single combo segment. | Off-Beat Bonus accessory unlock. |
| Mirror Match | Idol | Hit the correct mirror in Dancer P2 five times in a row. | Mirrorball Shard. |
| Speed Demon | Idol | Reach Blood P4 with ≥2 Specials banked. | Skull Mic skin progress. |
| Conductor’s Cut | Idol | Clear Strings P3 without using Auto-Combo. | Cadenza Free Play unlock. |
| Encore Marathon | Infinite Disco | Survive 30 waves in a single run. | Endless Disco plaque + 1 HP. |
| Top of the Charts | Infinite Disco | Score top 1% on any global leaderboard. | Leaderboard division swap + Gold Mic. |
| Perfect Set | Infinite Disco | Finish a 20-wave run with ≥80% Perfect hits. | Crystal Mic skin. |
| Open Mic | Free Play | Play 25 songs in Free Play. | Headbang emote. |
| Sandbox Critic | Free Play | Build and publish a custom Free Play challenge with ≥50 wishlists. | Custom Wave editor skin. |
| Sold Out | Hard | Clear Story Mode on Hard. | Sold Out plaque + alternate cosmetic re-rolls. |
| Roadie | Hard | S-rank every Hard-Mode Idol. | Roadie trophy + Founder’s Signature. |
| Encore Wall | Encore | Collect all 18 memorabilia. | Reunion Photo plaque + Charlie Drumkit outfit. |
| Drumkit Restoration | Encore | Talk to Charlie’s bandmate 12 times with memorabilia ≥12. | Charlie Drumkit outfit (full set). |
| Photo Op | Encore | Take a Photo Mode shot of every Idol mid-fight. | Photo Op badge + Polaroid mic skin. |
5 star / S-rank requirements (per Idol)
The S-rank gauge in Dead as Disco watches three numbers simultaneously: Combo Meter %, Perfect Rate and Miss count. All three must clear the per-Idol threshold below at fight end. Time-signature exceptions for Strings are handled by the Tempo Mastery ability.
| Idol | BPM | Combo meter | Perfect rate | Misses | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arora | 124–132 | ≥90% full at fight end | ≥70% Perfect | ≤2 Miss judgements | Easiest S-rank in the game; ideal practice run. |
| Hemlock | 160–172 | ≥85% full | ≥72% Perfect | ≤3 Miss | Fan adds count toward Miss if they hit you. |
| Dex | 180–200 | ≥80% full | ≥75% Perfect | ≤2 Miss | Failing a String Volley parry breaks meter — practice in Sectional Loop. |
| Prophet | 140–150 | ≥85% full | ≥73% Perfect | ≤3 Miss | Verse Lock counts unintended inputs as Miss — be patient. |
| Dancer | 118–128 | ≥88% full | ≥75% Perfect | ≤2 Miss | 8-count parry chain awards a bonus +5% multiplier toward threshold. |
| Blood | 195–215 | ≥75% full | ≥70% Perfect | ≤4 Miss | P4 forgives one Miss thanks to the high BPM modifier. |
| Strings | Variable 80–180 | ≥80% full | ≥70% Perfect | ≤3 Miss | Time-signature changes do NOT count Off-beat as Miss if Tempo Mastery is unlocked. |
Scoring formula
Final score = (Perfect × 100) + (Good × 30) + Combo Multiplier bonus − (Miss × 50). The Combo Multiplier scales 1.0x → 4.0x with consecutive on-beat hits. S-rank requires the multiplier to peak at ≥3.0x for at least one full phase.
FAQ
How do you get 5 stars / S-rank in Dead as Disco?
Maintain combo meter above the Idol-specific threshold (75–90%), hit ≥70% Perfect, and keep Miss judgements within the cap (2–4 per fight). Exact thresholds per Idol are in the table above. The HUD shows a live S-rank gauge — if it dips below the bar at fight end, you drop a tier.
How is score calculated in Dead as Disco?
Final score = (Perfect hits × 100) + (Good hits × 30) + Combo Multiplier bonus − (Miss × 50). The Combo Multiplier scales from 1.0x to 4.0x based on consecutive on-beat hits. S-rank requires the multiplier to peak at ≥3.0x for at least one full phase.
What is the difference between 5 stars and S-rank?
In Dead as Disco they are the same threshold. The HUD shows a 5-star scale during the fight and converts to the S/A/B/C letter on the post-fight screen. Both are gated to the per-Idol thresholds in the table above.
How many challenges are there in Dead as Disco?
17 tracked challenges in the v0.1.x EA build across five categories: Idol (7), Infinite Disco (3), Free Play (2), Hard (2) and Encore (3). Brain Jar has stated more will arrive in Q3 2026.
Do challenges award Harmony Points?
Two challenges award Harmony Points directly — First Beat (Arora) and Encore Marathon. The rest unlock cosmetics, accessories or trophies. Challenges + Idol clears together generate enough HP to fill the 12-ability skill tree by the end of Hard Mode.
Can you S-rank with Auto-Combo on?
Yes for Arora, Hemlock and Dancer. No for Dex P3, Prophet P3, Blood P4 and Strings P3 — Auto-Combo caps per-hit damage at 75%, which makes the Combo Multiplier ceiling unreachable. Veteran S-rank chasers play with Auto-Combo off.
Is there a 5-star Hard Mode challenge?
Yes — the “Roadie” challenge requires an S-rank on every Hard-Mode Idol clear. It awards the Founder’s Signature memorabilia and the Roadie trophy. Most players need 3–5 attempts per Hard Idol on their first Roadie run.
See also: all unlocks · how to unlock Hard Mode · Harmony / skill tree · scoring deep-dive.