# 0017: Bestiary Knowledge as Combat Gate

Status: Accepted

Date: 2026-05-25

## Context

The Hunter cell depends on preparation, investigation, alchemy, signs, and
knowledge. A pure damage-sponge model would miss the monster-hunter promise.

## Decision

V5 treats bestiary knowledge as a combat multiplier. Identifying a monster,
learning vulnerabilities, preparing oils, and selecting signs materially
increase damage and survivability.

## Consequences

- Monster contracts must provide discovery paths before combat payoff.
- Combat tuning must account for unprepared and prepared player states.
- Bestiary progression is gameplay-critical, not flavor-only codex text.