Learn Portuguese (Portugal): Mesmo que o caminho seja caótico, não percas a calma. - Even if the path is chaotic, do not lose your cool.

The phrase mesmo que (even if / even though) always triggers the subjunctive in Portuguese. It introduces an obstacle or condition that doesn't stop the main action. Because it inherently carries a sense of hypothesis or subjective feeling, it requires the present subjunctive seja rather than the indicative é.

Is percas also in the subjunctive?

Exactly. In Portuguese, all negative commands (telling someone not to do something) are formed using the present subjunctive. Não percas is the negative imperative for the informal tu. If you were giving this advice formally to você, it would be não perca.

Could I use embora instead of mesmo que in this sentence?

Yes, but there is a subtle difference in meaning. Embora usually translates to 'even though' and treats the chaotic path as an established fact. Mesmo que translates to 'even if,' which makes it sound slightly more hypothetical—the path might be chaotic, but regardless, don't lose your cool. Both conjunctions strictly require the subjunctive.

Since we are studying consecutive clauses like de tal modo que, how does a clause with mesmo que compare grammatically?