Code Vein 2 Fading Bonds Guide: Who To Save and How To Do It
You are going to regret ignoring these side quests when you realize you locked yourself out of the best Blood Codes in the game.
The timeline in Code Vein 2 is a disaster. I spent hours running back and forth between eras trying to figure out why certain NPCs were giving me the cold shoulder or why a bridge suddenly ceased to exist. It turns out that the Fading Bonds system is the gatekeeper for almost all the late-game content that actually matters. If you ignore these, you are essentially playing a hollow version of the game. I went through every single timeline shift to see what happens so you don't have to waste your time guessing. Here is the breakdown of who you need to save, how to find their specific items, and the loot you get for being a hero.
The Noah Decision: To Save or Not to Save?
This is the big one because the game presents the choice regarding Noah fairly early on, and honestly, the consequences of this single decision ripple through the rest of your playthrough more than anything else.
Why You Should Absolutely Save Noah
Look, I usually like to play devil's advocate, but there is almost zero reason to let Noah die unless you are speedrunning or just hate convenience. Saving Noah triggers the Timeline Shift Decision: Noah. When you pull this off, you get Frantz's Blood Code, which is fantastic for caster builds.
More importantly, Noah becomes a partner. Having him as an active ally is useful, but the real utility is that he sets up shop in MagMell in the present day. This opens up gift exchanges and weapon requests. If you skip this, you are missing out on high-tier gear upgrades that are a massive pain in the ass to farm elsewhere.
The Consequences of Letting Him Die
If you decide to be heartless and don't save him, the bridge to the mainland never gets built. It’s that simple.
Without the bridge, you are forced to take the scenic route. You have to go to the MagMell Island Pier south of where the bridge should be and grab your motorcycle. Then you have to chat with the Ferryman to get to the Sunken City. It adds friction to your travel and locks you out of the Noah-specific questlines. Just save the guy.
Fixing Holly's Fading Bond
Holly’s situation is tricky because it’s a prerequisite for another character later down the line, so if you mess this up, you are ruining two questlines for the price of one.
Locating Camillo's Remnants
To interact with Holly's bond, you need two specific items called Camillo's Remnants. You can't just buy these. You have to hunt down specific enemies that look like Revenants wearing creepy Victorian doctor masks.
I found the first one in the Ruined Town and the second inside the Sanatorium. The drop rate seems to be 100% on the specific mobs, so if you see a doctor, kill him. Once you have both remnants, the game lets you trigger the bond.
Rewards for Saving Holly
Saving Holly unlocks the Timeline Shift Decision: Holly. This isn't a walk in the park. It throws three boss fights at you. However, the payout is massive. You get Camilo's Blood Code and Lost Camilo's Blood Code.
You also get Idris's Talon, a two-handed sword that hits like a truck. But the most critical item you get is Lise's Hair Ornament. You find this in the lobby of the Sanatorium on a counter after you beat Camillo Asturias and cleanse the area. Do not sell this. You need it for Josee.
Rescuing Lyle from the Corroded Scar
Lyle is my personal favorite just for the sheer amount of lore and loot you get out of his timeline correction, plus fixing his bond saves another character by proxy.
Finding Lyle's Rusted Sword
You can't start this without Lyle's Rusted Sword. This took me a while to find because the game is vague about "Forward Base One."
Here is the exact method. Go to Corroded Scar in the present era. You need to have already defeated One-Armed Hero Lyle. After that fight, go to the Free Roam Era version of Forward Base One and talk to Lyle. Then, immediately warp back to the Present era version of Forward Base One. Check the graves. The sword will be stuck in one of them.
Why Lyle is Worth the Trouble
Completing Timeline Shift Decision: Lyle is a loot piñata. You walk away with three Blood Codes: Craig's, Hero Lyle's, and Pioneer Queen Imogen's.
The narrative bonus is that saving Lyle allows Craig to survive in the present. Craig then becomes available as a partner. Like Noah, he starts handing out Requests, which means more XP and more materials for you.
Restoring Josee's Bond
This is the end of the chain, and you cannot do this if you didn't finish Holly's questline, which is why I told you to keep that hair ornament.
Using Lise's Hair Ornament
To repair Josee's Fading Bond, you simply need to have Lise's Hair Ornament in your inventory. Again, this is found in the Sanatorium lobby after completing Holly's shift. If you have it, you can enter Timeline Shift Decision: Josee.
The Beureau Castle Unlock
The boss fights here are tough, but the rewards are best-in-slot for certain playstyles. You get the Hero Josee Blood Code.
The biggest change to the world state, however, is the unlocking of Beureau Castle. This is a massive area that you can't access otherwise. Additionally, if you save her, you can find Josee hanging out in the dining room at the back of MagMell in the Free Exploration Era. Talk to her and select "Catch Up" to unlock her specific request board.
