At a glance
| Mode | Ouroboros (roguelite, added Dec 17, 2025) |
|---|---|
| Keep upgrades with | Cleanse (eligible upgrades only) |
| Contraband | Ouroboros-exclusive in the base game |
| Since update 1.6.6 | Cleansed upgrades arrive already unlocked |
| “Corrupted” | A search phrase, not an official rarity name |
What “corrupted items” means in Mycopunk
Mycopunk does not have an official rarity called “corrupted.” Players usually use the word for the strange upgrades that appear in Ouroboros, the roguelite mode added on December 17, 2025. In that mode a run rebuilds your upgrades, so the natural question is which of them survive once the run ends.
The official announcement answers this with two separate ideas. Cleanse is the way to retain upgrades permanently, and Contraband is a rarity that belongs to Ouroboros only. Oddity is yet another rarity category, distinct from Contraband, so it helps to read the rarity label on each upgrade carefully.
How to keep an upgrade with Cleanse
Cleanse is the built-in tool for taking an upgrade out of an Ouroboros run and keeping it. When an upgrade is eligible, cleansing it makes it a permanent part of your collection. The official Ouroboros trailer from Devolver describes the same idea: a run rebuilds your upgrades, and some of them can be retained.
Since update 1.6.6, released on January 20, 2026, cleansed upgrades arrive already unlocked. Older guides that tell you to pay another resource after cleansing describe the earlier system and are now outdated.
Costs have also moved around as rarity and pattern rules changed, so we do not quote prices from old player threads. Check the current cost directly in the Cleanse interface before you commit.
Cleansing is also the moment to think about your normal build. An upgrade that was excellent inside a run may not fit the limited grid space of your main loadout. Choosing upgrades that complement what you already use gets more value out of each Cleanse.
- Finish or reach the point in your Ouroboros run where Cleanse is available.
- Open the Cleanse interface and check which upgrades are marked as eligible.
- Cleanse the upgrades you want to keep; they become permanent and arrive unlocked.
Why Contraband cannot be kept in the base game
Contraband is defined by the developer as exclusive to Ouroboros. That means it is designed to exist only inside a run, and in the unmodified game it does not carry over afterwards. Players discussing this on r/MycopunkGame draw the same line between permanent cleansed upgrades and run-exclusive Contraband.
This is a deliberate design choice rather than a bug. Contraband lets a run feel different from normal missions without permanently changing the balance of your main loadout. If an upgrade carries the Contraband label, plan to enjoy it during the run rather than expecting to keep it. No official source checked for this guide announces a change to that rule, so treat Contraband as run-only until patch notes say otherwise.
The KeepContraband mod: a modded exception
On PC there is a mod called KeepContraband, made by WDIENAT and published on Thunderstore. According to its documentation, it changes the base-game restriction by adding eligible Contraband to Cleanse. That is modified gameplay, not a hidden option in the normal game.
If you are curious about mods, read our mods guide first. It explains the BepInEx setup and the fact that hosts can refuse modded players in multiplayer. We have not tested KeepContraband, so we cannot vouch for its compatibility with the current version.
Making the most of an Ouroboros run
Because only some upgrades can leave the run, it helps to decide early which ones matter for your normal build. If an eligible upgrade fits a loadout you already use, it is a good candidate for Cleanse. Interesting Contraband can still shape how you play the run itself.
Ouroboros also has its own shop currency, which players report comes from scrapping upgrades during a run. That currency is separate from what Cleanse uses, so spending it in the shop does not reduce your ability to keep upgrades. Our Black-Market Executive Permit page covers what is and is not verified about the related shop items.
Reading rarity labels during a run
Every decision about keeping an item starts with its rarity label. During an Ouroboros run, check whether an upgrade is marked as Contraband, Oddity or a normal rarity before you build around it. That one glance tells you whether you are looking at a run-only toy or a potential permanent addition.
Players who skip this step often end a run disappointed that a favourite item vanished. If a Contraband upgrade is carrying your run, enjoy it, but avoid planning your normal loadout around it. Eligible upgrades, on the other hand, are worth remembering so you can cleanse them when the opportunity comes.
Because eligibility rules have changed with updates, the Cleanse screen in your own game is the most reliable reference. Treat any list of “keepable items” from an old guide as a starting point, not a guarantee.
Does keeping items work the same in co-op and on PS5?
The sources behind this guide describe Ouroboros and Cleanse as game systems, without separate rules for solo or co-op. If you play with a crew, it is still worth checking the Cleanse screen yourself rather than assuming a teammate's result matches yours. Mods can change these rules on PC, which is another reason to confirm in your own game.
Mycopunk launches on PS5 on October 20, 2026 alongside the 1.0 update. We have not verified how Ouroboros behaves on PS5, and PC mods such as KeepContraband are a PC workflow only. Our PS5 guide collects what Sony has confirmed about the console version.
Common mistakes when trying to keep items
The most frequent mistake is assuming that everything unusual from a run can be saved. Read the rarity label: Contraband stays behind in the base game, while eligible upgrades can be cleansed. Mixing up Oddity and Contraband is another easy error because both look special.
A second mistake is following outdated instructions. Guides written before update 1.6.6 may tell you to unlock cleansed upgrades with an extra payment, which is no longer needed. Guides about corruption in other games, such as Path of Exile or Deadlock, also appear in search results and do not apply to Mycopunk.
Where to go next
Once you have kept the upgrades you want, fitting them into your loadout is the next step. The build guide explains grid placement, boosting and Pattern Infusion. If you need resources to boost upgrades, see the Yeuco guide.
Eligibility rules can change with updates, including the 1.0 release on October 20, 2026. The Cleanse interface in your own game is always the final word on what qualifies. If you are unsure whether an item is worth keeping, compare it with the upgrades already in your grid; a few well-chosen upgrades are usually more useful than cleansing everything eligible.
Sources and further reading
- Ouroboros update — official announcement (Dec 17, 2025)
- Update 1.6.6 — official announcement (Jan 20, 2026)
- KeepContraband — Thunderstore mod page (WDIENAT)
- Mycopunk | Ouroboros Update — DevolverDigital (YouTube, Dec 17, 2025)
- Can you cleanse Contraband upgrades from Ouroboros? — r/MycopunkGame
- Where do you get the purple roguelite currency? — r/MycopunkGame