Dialogue Minigame
Gift of Gab Guide
Master the persuasion minigame. Choose the right debate style, manage your Inspiration, and win dialogue duels against NPCs.
What Is The Gift Of Gab?
Card-Based Debate
Use dialogue cards to reduce opponent's Mental Focus to zero
Inspiration Resource
Spend Inspiration to activate cards; regenerates automatically over time
Timed Rounds
No time pressure—play at your pace while managing resources
Gift of Gab is a persuasion minigame where you engage in dialogue duels with NPCs. Instead of traditional combat, you win by strategically using dialogue cards to wear down your opponent's Mental Focus. Each debate requires you to manage your Inspiration (the resource that powers your cards) and make tactical choices about which cards to play and when.
In-Game Interface
Fast Win Checklist (Gift of Gab Where Winds Meet)
- ✓ Let the game suggest the optimal style; it counters the NPC.
- ✓ Open with cheap cards to conserve Inspiration; burst when their Mental Focus is low.
- ✓ Hit every Trash Talk QTE for free damage/utility.
- ✓ Focus defensive cards early—lost Mental Focus cannot be recovered.
- ✓ Upgrade Scholar mastery to raise Inspiration cap and card effectiveness.
Two Types Of Gift Of Gab
Free Persuasion
Chat directly with an AI chatbot. Make your own arguments in real-time. Useful for practicing rhetoric but inconsistent results.
Rhetoric Duel (Main Mode)
The standard mode. Use dialogue cards and manage Inspiration. Choose your debate style (Bluster, Provocation, Rebuttal, or Filibuster) at the start.
How To Play Gift Of Gab
Choose Your Debate Style
Pick one style at the start. You cannot change mid-debate. Each style counters one other style in a rock-paper-scissors pattern.
Bluster
High-damage aggressive rhetoric
Beats: Filibuster
Weak to: Provocation
Provocation
Emotional attacks & silence
Beats: Bluster
Weak to: Rebuttal
Rebuttal
Logical defense & blocking
Beats: Provocation
Weak to: Filibuster
Filibuster
Sustained damage & durability
Beats: Rebuttal
Weak to: Bluster
Core Mechanics
📊 Mental Focus (Health Bar)
You have a Mental Focus bar (lower left). Opponent has one (upper center). First to zero loses. You cannot recover lost Mental Focus—play defensively.
✨ Inspiration (Resource)
Use Inspiration to activate dialogue cards. Regenerates automatically over time. Weak cards cost less; powerful cards cost more and take longer to recharge.
🃏 Dialogue Cards
Cards deal damage, provide defense, lower opponent's defense, or heal Inspiration. Different styles have different card effects. You'll acquire more cards as you level up Scholar.
💬 Trash Talk (Free QTE)
Timed button prompts appear during debates. Press the button for free bonus effects—damage, defense, or utility. No cost, no cooldown. Never ignore these.
Dialogue Cards Reference
Browse all 20 dialogue cards across 5 styles. Cards show their cost, effect, and rarity.
Dialogue Cards Reference
Browse the complete collection of dialogue cards across all debate styles. Each card has a unique cost and effect.
Bluster Cards
Bold Assertion
common
Make a confident statement that shakes the opponent's resolve
Deal moderate damage to opponent's Mental Focus
Overwhelming Confidence
rare
Exude such confidence that the opponent doubts their own arguments
Deal high damage and slightly reduce opponent's inspiration regeneration
Dismissive Wave
common
Wave away the opponent's argument without proper consideration
Deal low damage, costs minimal inspiration
Unwavering Stance
uncommon
Stand firm against all counterarguments
Reduce incoming damage by 30% for next 2 turns
Provocation Cards
Cutting Remark
common
Make a personal jab that frustrates the opponent
Deal moderate damage and provoke emotional response
Emotional Explosion
rare
Trigger such a strong reaction that the opponent loses focus entirely
Deal very high damage but reduce your own inspiration regeneration next turn
Mocking Laugh
uncommon
Laugh at the opponent's argument, leaving them speechless
Deal minimal damage, silences opponent for 1 turn
Personal Attack
uncommon
Attack the opponent's credibility rather than their arguments
Deal damage proportional to opponent's current Mental Focus deficit
Rebuttal Cards
Logical Counter
common
Systematically dismantle the opponent's argument with facts
Deal moderate damage and expose opponent's logical fallacy
Irrefutable Evidence
rare
Present overwhelming evidence that cannot be disputed
Deal high damage and reduce opponent's next card cost by 50%
Point of Order
uncommon
Use parliamentary procedure to invalidate the opponent's argument
Negate opponent's previous attack and reflect 50% as damage
Perfect Defense
uncommon
Construct an airtight logical defense against all counter-arguments
Block next opponent attack and gain 1 temporary defense
Filibuster Cards
Endless Monologue
common
Talk continuously without letting the opponent speak
Deal moderate damage per second for 3 seconds, opponent cannot respond
Wall of Words
rare
Create such a deluge of words that the opponent cannot find an opening
Deal high cumulative damage, reduce opponent's damage output by 40% next turn
Rambling Tangent
uncommon
Go off on a tangent that confuses the opponent's strategy
Deal damage and gain additional card draw next turn
Verbose Shield
uncommon
Use flowery language to delay the opponent's attacks
Increase your Mental Focus recovery by 15% and gain 20% damage reduction
Universal Cards
Composed Response
common
Take a moment to regain your composure
Restore 10% of your Mental Focus
Inspiration Surge
uncommon
A moment of clarity restores your mental energy
Recover 5 inspiration points immediately
Brilliant Riposte
rare
Turn the opponent's own argument against them
Deal damage equal to opponent's last attack damage × 1.5
Silence
rare
Literally leave the opponent speechless
Completely silence opponent for 2 turns, prevent card use
Note: Card effects scale with your Scholar level and attribute upgrades. Universal cards work with any debate style and can provide healing, inspiration recovery, or powerful utility effects.
Debate Styles Deep Dive
Debate Styles Detailed Comparison
Compare the four debate styles head-to-head to understand their matchups, strengths, and optimal play patterns.
🎭Bluster
Strengths
High burst damage, overwhelming confidence
Weaknesses
Vulnerable to Provocation that triggers doubt
Card Types
Best Against
Filibuster
Weak Against
Provocation
Inspiration Cost
Moderate to High
Defensibility
Low
Play Style
"Aggressive, direct, high-risk high-reward"
⚡Provocation
Strengths
Emotional damage, silencing effects, momentum building
Weaknesses
Easily countered by logical Rebuttal
Card Types
Best Against
Bluster
Weak Against
Rebuttal
Inspiration Cost
Moderate
Defensibility
Very Low
Play Style
"Chaotic, personal, high variance"
🎯Rebuttal
Strengths
Logical damage, defensive blocking, evidence-based
Weaknesses
Slow-paced, vulnerable to Filibuster's endless talk
Card Types
Best Against
Provocation
Weak Against
Filibuster
Inspiration Cost
Moderate
Defensibility
High
Play Style
"Methodical, controlled, consistent damage"
📢Filibuster
Strengths
Sustained damage, overwhelming volume, recovery
Weaknesses
Cannot counter Bluster's direct assertions
Card Types
Best Against
Rebuttal
Weak Against
Bluster
Inspiration Cost
High
Defensibility
Moderate
Play Style
"Tanky, endurance-focused, attrition warfare"
Rock-Paper-Scissors Meta
How To Improve Your Performance
Scholar Legacy Career
Unlock and level the Scholar career to unlock powerful Gift of Gab talents and stronger cards. Scholar mastery directly raises Inspiration cap/regen and card damage, so leveling it is the fastest power spike.
- Unlock: Reach Level 13+ and complete "Legacy: Scholar's Path" quest
- Level Up: Earn Scholar Notebook pages from dialogue wins or seasonal shops
- Unlock Talents: Upgrade attributes to unlock Scholar talents that boost card effects
- Upgrade Cards: Improve individual card damage and effects with upgrade materials
- Gift of Gab Mastery: Spend points to increase Inspiration maximum and reduce card cooldowns
Pro Tip: Prioritize talents that increase Inspiration maximum and regeneration speed. These directly improve your ability to chain powerful cards together and mirror the advice from top guides like GameRant/TheGamer.
Key Strategy Tips
- ✓ Pick the recommended style. The game suggests the optimal choice for each opponent.
- ✓ Play defensively early. Don't lose Mental Focus too fast—you can't recover it.
- ✓ Wait for Inspiration. Don't waste it. Hold expensive cards until you have enough Inspiration.
- ✓ Grab free damage. Always activate Trash Talk QTE prompts.
- ✓ Finish with burst. As the timer runs low, use your strongest damage cards.
Video Guides
Watch these embedded tutorials to see Gift of Gab gameplay, strategies, and progression in action.
Gift of Gab Complete Guide
Learn all debate styles, card strategies, and how to win every persuasion battle
Debate Strategies & Card Combos
Master advanced tactics and card combination techniques for each debate style
Scholar Career & Gift of Gab Leveling
Complete guide to unlocking and upgrading the Scholar career for powerful advantages
Privacy Notice: These videos use YouTube's privacy-enhanced mode (nocookie), which doesn't set cookies or store your watch history unless you click "Watch on YouTube."
Quick Reference
Gift of Gab FAQ
How do I increase Inspiration?
Level Scholar mastery and spend points in the Profession menu; both the cap and regen speed scale with Scholar upgrades.
Which style should I pick?
Use the game’s recommended style—it is tailored to each opponent. Bluster beats Filibuster, Provocation beats Bluster, Rebuttal beats Provocation, Filibuster beats Rebuttal.
Can I heal Mental Focus?
No. Mental Focus can’t be restored, so open defensively, then burst with high-cost cards when you have Inspiration.
Why are my cards weak?
Card damage scales with Scholar mastery and card upgrades. Farm dialogue wins for Notebook pages and upgrade materials.