Dichotomy Beta Test Guide
二律背反测试指南
Silver Palace's largest playable build so far. What was in the second closed beta, the systems it introduces, the 15-character roster, and what happens when it ends.
The "Dichotomy" Beta Test has ended. It ran from July 23 to August 13, 2026, and it remains the largest playable build of Silver Palace released so far: a male Detective option, 15 playable characters, previously locked districts of Silvernia, a reworked combat loop, and a set of investigation and lifestyle systems that did not exist in the first test. Elementa puts the build at over 40 hours of content.
This guide is the record of what was in that build, written for anyone deciding whether to follow the next test. That next test is the Dichotomy: Retrace Technical Test, recruiting on Android, iOS and PC until October 10, 2026. The beta sign-up guide covers how to apply.
If you are new to the game, Combat Mastery covers the fundamentals, and the System Requirements guide has the published PC specs for this exact client.
Quick Answer
The Dichotomy Beta Test was Silver Palace's second closed beta. It ran July 23, 2026 at 10:00 (UTC+8) to August 13, 2026 at 10:00 (UTC+8) on PC (Windows) only, with no in-game purchases and a full progress wipe at the end. You must be 18 or older. Recruitment closed on July 16, 2026 and both Twitch Drops raffle rounds ended on July 25, so there is no remaining way in.
Access is bound to the first device you log in with. Choose the machine you plan to use for the whole test, because switching later results in a ban.
What Is the Dichotomy Beta Test
Dichotomy is the second closed beta for Silver Palace, following "Monotype" in January 2026. Where Monotype was a deliberately narrow slice built to test the core loop, Dichotomy widens the scope across the story, the cast, the map and the moment-to-moment systems at once.
It is still a work-in-progress build rather than the finished game. It runs on PC (Windows) only, carries no in-game purchases, and wipes all progress at the end, so treat it as a chance to play and give feedback rather than to build a head start. Kit numbers, timings and balance in this build can all change before release.
Dates, Platform and Eligibility
The test window was short. Three weeks was enough to finish the main case and most side content at a steady pace, but not enough to leave it until the last weekend.
| Detail | Confirmed Information |
|---|---|
| Test dates | July 23, 2026 at 10:00 (UTC+8) to August 13, 2026 at 10:00 (UTC+8) |
| Recruitment | Closed July 16, 2026 at 23:59 (UTC+8) |
| Twitch Drops raffle | Both rounds ended July 25, 2026 |
| Platform | PC (Windows) only |
| Age requirement | 18 or older |
| In-game purchases | None |
| Progress | All progress is reset on August 13 |
| Device binding | Bound to your first login device |
Can You Still Get In
No, and it is worth being direct about that. The recruitment survey closed on July 16. Elementa then ran a Twitch Drops campaign where 30 minutes of watch time on a Silver Palace livestream earned a Beta Test Raffle Ticket, and demand was heavy enough that the first allocation of slots was claimed early and a second round was added from July 23 to July 25 (UTC-5). Both rounds have now finished.
If you see a site or seller offering Dichotomy access, it is a scam. Account sharing, resale and transfer are all prohibited and get the account banned. The legitimate way into the next test is the Dichotomy: Retrace recruitment survey, open until October 10, 2026 at 18:00 (UTC+8).
What's New in Dichotomy
Two Detectives
The headline addition is the male Detective. Players now choose their protagonist at the start rather than being locked to one option. The two leads carry different banners: the male build is The Raven's Beak and the female build, Munin, is The Raven's Claws. Both are fully playable in this test, and their paths through the city run separately before converging. Our Raven's Beak and Raven's Claws breakdown covers the sibling framing in detail.
Fifteen playable characters
The roster grows to 15 playable characters, 8 of them debuting in this test. The new arrivals include Gratia, a knight fighting with greatsword and shield; Rex, a young superintendent built around electric attacks; Red Rose, the dancer who also narrates the official showcase; and Bentham, Grimm, Gucia and Captain Kaboom. Every unit has a full page in the character database, and the Tier List ranks them on this build's data.
Reworked combat
Combat has been overhauled rather than tweaked. The loop now revolves around dodging, parrying, stamina management and a stun (groggy) buildup mechanic, with a higher skill ceiling than Monotype offered and finishing animations on boss encounters. A combat-assist system sits alongside it for players who want the fight without the execution demands. The Combat Mastery guide breaks down parry timing, the stun gauge, executions and stamina.
Interrogation
Dichotomy introduces a structured interrogation interface. Talking to a suspect brings up their case file, carrying a five-axis radar chart of that character's traits and personality and five numbered response options for choosing how to question or pressure them. Reading the chart correctly is how you surface hidden information and expose inconsistencies in a story. See the Interrogation guide for the full breakdown. You can also photograph suspicious NPCs in secret to collect evidence.
Minigames and city life
A surprising amount of the build is not combat or casework. Dichotomy adds chess duels played from a first-person view against a match clock, card games at a four-player table, surgery and autopsy sequences where you select instruments and target areas on a body model, and urban horse racing through the city streets. The Minigames guide covers each one, and the poker roguelike gets its own deep dive in Scarlet Gambit.
A bigger Silvernia
Districts that Monotype kept locked are open in this build, filled with hidden treasures, puzzles, interactive objects and unscripted street incidents. Traversal has widened to match: the Silverium Pegasus is joined by vintage automobiles and large airborne vessels. The main story centres on the mystery of the Queen's death and a reporter whose life is in danger.
Monotype vs Dichotomy
The first closed beta, "Monotype", ran January 13 to 18, 2026 on PC and established the foundation Dichotomy builds on. It featured seven playable characters (Detective, Cinderella, Cynthia II, Argos, Alf, Lorin and Firtho), an urban slice to explore, the Real Estate Investment system, the Silverium Pegasus mount, and the Thought Experiment (then called Deep Cognito) and Case Simulation combat challenges.
Dichotomy roughly doubles the roster, opens more of the city, adds the second protagonist, and rebuilds the combat loop around stamina and stun. Five days became three weeks. For a full side-by-side, see Monotype vs Dichotomy.
Dichotomy vs Dichotomy: Retrace
The third test reuses this build rather than replacing it. Elementa describes the Dichotomy: Retrace Technical Test as a performance-optimised version of Silver Palace with content "largely consistent" with Dichotomy. What changes is where it runs and who can talk about it. Android and iOS join PC, saves carry across between them, and the whole test sits under an NDA. Recruitment opened on September 23, 2026 and closes on October 10. See what the Retrace announcement says for the full recruitment rules.
When the Test Ended
On August 13, 2026 the servers closed and every account was wiped: characters, progress, currency, all of it. Nothing carried into the next test or into launch. The in-test feedback survey was the qualifier: testers who completed Experience Survey (I), Experience Survey (II) and any one other survey by August 12 were granted access to the third beta test. Elementa opened an eligibility checker for that on August 26, 2026, and on September 23 named the test Dichotomy: Retrace. Qualified testers still have to submit its recruitment survey before October 10. See the beta sign-up guide for how to apply and check your result.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Dichotomy Beta Test?
The Dichotomy Beta Test has ended. It ran from July 23, 2026 at 10:00 (UTC+8) to August 13, 2026 at 10:00 (UTC+8), giving qualified testers roughly three weeks of play. Both cutoffs landed at 04:00 CEST in Berlin, Paris and Cologne, and 03:00 BST in London.
Can I still get into the Dichotomy Beta Test?
No. Recruitment closed on July 16, 2026 at 23:59 (UTC+8), and both rounds of the Twitch Drops raffle ended on July 25, 2026. There is no remaining route into this test. The next one, the Dichotomy: Retrace Technical Test, is recruiting until October 10, 2026 at 18:00 (UTC+8).
What platforms is the Dichotomy Beta Test on?
The Dichotomy Beta Test is PC-only (Windows). There are no in-game purchases and all progress is reset at the end of the test.
What is new in the Dichotomy Beta Test?
Dichotomy adds a male Detective option alongside the female lead, expands the roster to 15 playable characters with 8 debuts, opens previously locked districts of Silvernia, reworks combat around dodging, parrying and stamina, and introduces an interrogation trait chart plus chess, card, surgery and horse racing minigames. Elementa puts the build at over 40 hours of content.
Can I transfer my test progress to the full game?
No. All progress from the Dichotomy Beta Test is reset when the test ends on August 13, 2026. Test eligibility is also non-transferable. Testers who earned a place in the next test through the surveys must still submit the Dichotomy: Retrace recruitment survey to take it up.
Can I switch devices during the Dichotomy Beta Test?
No. Test access is bound to the device used for your first login. Logging in with a different device will result in an account ban and disqualification.
Dichotomy is the clearest picture yet of what Silver Palace will be at launch. The Combat Mastery guide and the Interrogation guide cover the two systems the build leaned on hardest, and the Tier List ranks the roster on its data.