The Best Sins Doctrines In Cult Of The Lamb

Key Takeaways

• Cult of the Lamb
  uses Sin Doctrines to manipulate followers’ behaviors for the benefit of the cult and the Lamb.
• The Sin Doctrines fall into categories linked to sex or violence, complementing the type of cult players are creating.
• Various Doctrines, like Blind Allegiance and Rite of Lust, bring unique benefits and bonuses based on player choices.

Every cult needs a balance of shame, guilt, and pleasure to manipulate its adherents into submission and recruit new believers. Cult of the Lamb has a whole chapter of holy scripture dedicated to Sin Doctrines, which give players the power to accuse and absolve.

The Sin Doctrines are divided into two types that could be divided into either sex or violence, with some overlap, so choices may vary depending on the type of Cult players are building. At first glance, these are some of the most fun and interesting, with the best long-term and overall benefits depending on what other Doctrines the player chooses to complement them.

Updated on November 23, 2024, by Kristy Ambrose: The Sins Doctrines give the Lamb’s followers equal amounts of greed, lust, and devotion to better serve their dear leader. Various ongoing updates to the game have added some new options, and some of the doctrines can also be used to generate contributions and temple donations if the Lamb needs cash. Sin isn’t just a concept, it’s a currency in Cult of the Lamb that’s used to unlock Rituals, Traits, and other perks. Some Sin Doctrines have beneficial connections to Doctrines from other sections of the cult’s holy book of scripture, such as Sustenance or Possessions.

10 Blind Allegiance

Cultist From Birth

• Followers that are hatched in the Cult are born with a higher Loyalty level

Traveling the world and recruiting followers with Crusades and gold is dangerous and difficult. Why not do what so many other cultist leaders have done, and encourage Followers to have children that will grow up surrounded by the cult’s teachings?

That’s exactly why Blind Allegiance is one of the best Sins Doctrines to get and is held back until Tier 4. This unlocks a Follower Trait of the same name, which ensures that every new cultist hatched will be born with added Loyalty. These Followers are more difficult for Heretics to turn with their subversive teachings, but level up faster and more efficiently than those without Blind Allegiance.

9 Rite Of Lust

Make Love Not Wrath

• A lusty dance around a Mayflower totem that generates more Sin and gives the Cultists an egg-making holiday

A Doctrine that unlocks a sordid and salacious Rite that involves a naked dance around the central totem of the cult’s compound. It ensures equal amounts of nudity, lust, and vacation time to ensure Followers stay happy and full of valuable Sin.

When partaking in the Rite of Lust, all of the adult followers of the cult dance naked around the shrine, and the Lamb chooses their favorite to be the receptacle for some extra Sins. The still “skyclad” cultists are then allowed to take a day off to think about what they did.

8 Extort Tithes

Closely Related To Lust Is Greed

• Collect 2 coins from each follower every day

One of the Possessions Doctrines, Extort Tithes means more material goods and wealth in general for the Cult, which means more for the Lamb. It depends on the kind of cult that the player is building, so this Doctrine would fit more with a decadent type of cult than a strict or stoic one.

It can hurt the Follower’s morale to give away too much of their own money, and appeasing them is where the complementary Sin Doctrines come in. Blind Allegiance is one way to ensure Loyalty even in tough times, and the Rite of Lust is one way to distract Cultists from worrying about money.

7 Born Of Sin

For Those Born Into The Faith

• Followers hatched in the Cult have One Sin extracted from them

Cultists can start to contribute to the well-being and security of the cult from the moment they’re born thanks to this Doctrine. Every Follower hatched in the cult now has the Born of Sin Trait that contributes to their Sin from the moment they’re born, which is both convenient and profitable.

This is a Tier 4 Doctrine, which means it’s one of the last players can choose depending on previous selections. Whichever Tier 4 Doctrines they choose will depend on their previous choices and the type of cult they’re building.

6 Feasting Ritual

Followers Must Be Fed

• Ensure followers stay fat and happy for several days

This Doctrine is one of the earliest that the Lamb can unlock. It’s a Ritual, which means the Lamb will need to gather their flock in the temple and spend 75 bones on a great feast. Their hunger will be sated by the Feasting Ritual and the Lamb will gain an additional +30 Faith from their increased loyalty.

There’s a scripted Famine event that takes place in Anura, one of the first four Crusades, and this is one of the Rituals that can help alleviate its effects. The alternative Doctrine, Ritual Fast, keeps the followers from being hungry for three whole days and can be used to plan ahead if the Lamb decides to go on a long Crusade.

5 Gluttony Of Cannibals

Even Better With The Cannibal Trait

• A Ritual in which one Follower is chosen to be eaten by the other Cultists

The Gluttony of Cannibals Doctrine unlocks a Ritual of the same name in which a single follower is chosen to be devoured by the rest of the congregation. This gives the cult full Sin, but the cost is 40 Faith unless the player has the Cannibal Trait, one of the Sustenance Doctrines.

Lust and gluttony go so well together that they’re almost the same thing. The Gluttony of Cannibals Doctrine fits nicely with the Cannibal Trait, which is one of the Sustenance Doctrines. It gives a Follower +5 to their loyalty and allows them to eat Minced Follower Meat without getting sick.

4 Loyalty Enforcer

A Shepherd When The Lamb Is Absent

• The Lamb holds a Ritual and appoints their emissary

Whether the player’s cult of choice is one of pleasure or pain, Loyalty isn’t just a way to retain the congregation after using the Sin Doctrines to add new followers. It’s also an important currency that the Lamb can use for other projects, such as adding new buildings and decor to the Cult compound.

The Lamb uses this Ritual to choose one of their trusted Followers to act as their official Loyalty enforcer. They’ll collect Loyalty in the Lamb’s stead when the Dear Leader is running Crusades, fishing, or playing Knucklebones.

3 Violent Extremist

More Benefits To Crusading

• Collect Sin from bosses by slaying bosses in Crusades

This unlocks a Trait that benefits the Lamb directly while they’re crusading. When the Lamb has to fight and kill a more powerful enemy of the faith, there’s a chance they’ll drop some Sin when they die. Please note that this doesn’t apply to opponents they fight in Purgatory, however.

Every different Crusade dungeon has a boss guarding it, and although they may speak to the Lamb or even appear to them in the dungeon, they usually don’t appear until the very end. Make them pay for their blasphemy and cleanse them of Sin with the Violent Extremist Doctrine.

2 Belief In False Idols

Impress The Cult With Seductive Decor

• After the main structures are done, it’s time to show off

Listed second in the Possessions Tier of Doctrines, Belief in False Idols is a Trait that is automatically given to every active cult member when it unlocks. Whenever the Lamb builds a structure that only has a decorative function, it increases the amount of Faith gained from followers, altars, and other structures.

This is a better Trait to have later in the game after the cult compound already has all of its essential structures, such as a farm, graveyard, places to refine resources, and homes for followers. When it’s time to beautify the cult’s living spaces, the Lamb can do so more freely and creatively, and generate more Faith overall as a result.

1 Sinner’s Pride

Punish Their Love

• A practice which is also known as “scapegoating” but this time, Absolution is possible.

Sinner’s Pride unlocks a Tier 2 Ritual that’s an alternative to the Gluttony of Cannibals Doctrine. Just like the other Doctrine, the ritual begins when the Lamb chooses a Follower, but instead of being eaten, the cultist takes on the Sin of all their peers.

This gathers a nice reward of Sin from the whole congregation, which players can use to unlock other Temple perks. However, the chosen Follower may be discontent with the amount of Sins they take on, and it will drive them out of the cult. Ensure that this Follower is Absolved as soon as possible to keep them as a spiritual slave and continue to enjoy their undying love and devotion.