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Come find me on the other side of the party and I’ll give you that merit badge for real.

Milla Vodello

Merit Badges are hexagon shaped badges which allow the use of psychic abilities by the owner, and are given to Razputin in Psychonauts and Psychonauts 2 by various mentors. Not all psychic abilities require the acquisition of a merit badge (or even have merit badges), such as telepathy or mind reading.

Psychonauts[]

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Raz's backpack.

Merit Badges can be bound to keys and then by pressing the key Raz can do various activities, some of which are required to finish levels. Some Merit Badges are acquired by ranking up via finding PSI Challenge Markers in the world or making some using the machine. Rank up enough and Raz will get the gift of Pyrokinesis, Telekinesis, and Invisibility. Other Merit Badges are given to him by a staff members once he completes the courses in their mind. These are Basic Braining given by Coach Oleander, Marksmanship given by Sasha Nein, and Levitation given by Milla Vodello. The others Raz obtains while in the minds of Linda, Boyd and Edgar, as a way to get past certain obstacles. These are Shield given by the freedom fighters, Clairvoyance given by Boyd, and Confusion given by Dingo.

There are 8 total badges to collect:

Badge Name Effect Badge
Marksmanship Also known as PSI-Blast. It shoots a psychic beam at enemies and requires ammo at lower levels. PSI-Blast will chain to hit three targets at level 40. It chains to hit six targets at level 70. It does not require ammo at level 95.
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The Marksmanship merit badge.

Levitation Summons a ball of psychic energy that Razputin can ride, jump, and float with. The levitation ball can deal damage at high speeds at level 50 and can deal damage at low speeds at level 75.
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The Levitation merit badge.

Pyrokinesis Unlocked at level 10. Lets Raz set certain objects and enemies on fire. Pyrokinesis range increases at level 45.
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The Pyrokinesis merit badge.

Telekinesis Unlocked at level 20. Lets Raz move certain objects or enemies. Telekinesis range increases at level 65.
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The Telekinesis merit badge.

Invisibility Unlocked at level 30. Turns Raz invisible for a small amount of time. Invisibility lasts twice as long at level 60.
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The Invisibility merit badge.

Shield Protects Raz from attacks and can bounce back some attacks. The shield knocks back enemies that attempt melee attacks at level 55. The shield damages enemies it knocks back at level 80.
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The Shield merit badge.

Clairvoyance Lets Raz see through the minds of others.
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The Clairvoyance merit badge.

Confusion Makes enemies turn on their allies. Confusion duration doubles at level 85. It does not require ammo at level 95.
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The Confusion merit badge.

In addition to the main badges, there are a few badges that don't correspond to abilities but instead provide other benefits:

Badge Name Effect Badge
Basic Braining Allows access to the entire camp.
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Basic Braining badge.

Oarsman Allows the use of canoes on the lake.
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The Oarsman badge.

Mental Magnet Attracts mental items.
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The Mental Magnet merit badge.

Psychonaut Awarded to cadets that have earned the rank of Psychonaut.
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The Psychonaut badge.

Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin[]

The original merit badges on Raz's backpack from Psychonauts reappear in Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin, however due to psilirium poisoning Raz isn't able to use all of his powers. Raz doesn't earn any new merit badges in Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin.

Psychonauts 2[]

In Psychonauts 2, Merit Badges became a diamond shape on the HUD. Psychonauts 2 also added the ability to bind up to four PSI Powers to keys/buttons.

There are three new badges to collect:

Badge Name Effect Badge
Mental Connection Allows the user to make mental connections.
Img manual badge mentalConnection

The Mental Connection merit badge.

Time Bubble Allows the user to slow down time.
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The Time Bubble merit badge.

Projection Allows the user to make a paper clone of oneself.
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The Mental Projection merit badge.

In addition to the three new merit badges, there are five badges from the first game that make a return (though Marksmanship is renamed to PSI Blast):

Badge Name Badge
PSI Blast
A sewn-looking patch of a blue brain a red crosshair over it. It has a red background and a blue border.

The PSI Blast merit badge.

Levitation
A sewn-looking patch of a green silhouette of a person floating with a green arrow beneath them and pointing up. It has an orange background and a green border.

The Psychonauts 2 version of the Levitation merit badge.

Pyrokinesis
A sewn-looking patch of a red brain on fire. It has a dark red background and a yellow border.

The Psychonauts 2 version of the Pyrokinesis merit badge.

Telekinesis
A sewn-looking patch of a yellow cartoon hand gesturing to pick something up. It has an orange background and a magenta border.

The Psychonauts 2 version of the Telekinesis merit badge.

Clairvoyance
A sewn-looking patch of an open turquoise eye with a turquoise aura around it. It has a dark purple background and a lighter purple outline.

The Psychonauts 2 version of the Clairvoyance merit badge.

Unused Badges[]

There are many unused badges that didn't make into the final cut of Psychonauts and Psychonauts 2. Their purposes are unknown.

Psychonauts[]

Psychonauts 2[]

Gallery[]

Trivia[]

  • During the cutscene upon obtaining a merit badge in Psychonauts, the badge will always be signed "Ford Cruller," even though only five badges are actually obtained from Ford Cruller.
  • The merit badges in Psychonauts 2 are not signed by Ford Cruller but instead by Hollis Forsythe, Helmut Fullbear and Cassie O'Pia. They sign them for Mental Connection, Time Bubble, and Projection respectively.
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