Hades

[Gold Ergo Sum]

I am trying to learn to use the dash more effectively; moving in and out rapidly for quick strikes and then getting out of danger seems to be vital.

Now if I can just get past Meg. Almost managed it last time, hopefully third try will be the charm.

Dashing is super important because it give you frames of invulnerability, so you can basically avoid taking damage even if things technically "hit" you if you time the i-frames correctly.

I recommend using the Bow early on, since it is so much easier to deal damage without taking damage from range.  Once you know the other enemies attack patterns better, it gets easier to use the melee weapons.

[haphazard1]

Dashing is super important because it give you frames of invulnerability, so you can basically avoid taking damage even if things technically "hit" you if you time the i-frames correctly.

Very useful to know, thanks.

I recommend using the Bow early on, since it is so much easier to deal damage without taking damage from range.  Once you know the other enemies attack patterns better, it gets easier to use the melee weapons.

I struggle very badly with the bow. So far I have found the spear or the shield easier to use, with a combination of melee and ranged capability. The sword is toughest, with only the cast for ranged attacks. I have not unlocked whatever is after the bow yet -- I am still very early on.

It probably does not help that this is the first game I have ever played with a controller. Long time mouse/keyboard gamer here. So I am learning a whole new set of reflexes, along with a new game. Lots of fumbling for the right button. But I wanted to learn to use a controller for other games (like Rogue Legacy 2), so I am climbing the learning curve. Slowly.

I think one of the biggest accomplishments of this game is that they managed to make it fun even for those who are terrible at it. From fellow struggler to fellow struggler - good luck!

A good point. I am having a good time, even with repeated terrible runs that don't get very far. And thanks for the kind thoughts -- I will need all the luck I can get.

[haphazard1]

I am slowly getting better -- or at least I am slightly less terrible. I have beaten the first boss twice now, and made it to the second boss with my latest run. I am having the most success with the spear so far. Dionysius' boon for the cast (explosion damage plus festive fog) was extremely helpful.

Now I have to figure out how to beat the second boss. Hmmm.

[El Grillo]

Glad to hear you're making progress If it's any reassurance, I think the second boss gets the most easier after repeated exposure.

[haphazard1]

Thanks, El Grillo! I am guessing that I fought the second boss entirely wrong. The mythology of the hydra is that killing the individual heads did nothing, as they just kept growing back. So running aroung smashing hydra heads was probably useless and I needed to be doing something else. No idea what would work, though.

[Gold Ergo Sum]

Thanks, El Grillo! I am guessing that I fought the second boss entirely wrong. The mythology of the hydra is that killing the individual heads did nothing, as they just kept growing back. So running aroung smashing hydra heads was probably useless and I needed to be doing something else. No idea what would work, though.

You have to kill the extra heads. The main head will not take damage until all the secondary spawns are removed. 

If you have some nectar, you might try gifting some to Skelly for the tooth, Cereberus for the extra health, or Eurydice for her acorn. They are not the strongest trinkets, but they might be the most useful to you when you’re starting out. The extra cash from Hypnos, the extended invulnerability window from Patroclus, and the extended encounters from Charon’s well are good options too for starting out. If you get the house contractor upgrade that lets you switch trinkets mid-run, you can equip the Hypnos one for 150 gold at the start and then switch after the first boss to a more effective one, and you don’t lose the gold.

[haphazard1]

Helpful to know, thanks. So far I have not made it back to the hydra, although I did get past the first boss with the shield. This produced another titan blood, not that I have any idea what it is used for just yet.

How the various different types of drops work is often very unclear. Titan blood seems to drop from the first boss, but only once per weapon? Nectar has shown up sometimes, but I have no idea what triggers it to drop. The gems, keys, and darkness are simple enough to understand at least.

On keepsakes I have been using Cerberus' collar for the extra health. I have considered Skelly's tooth for the extra death defy; I will need to rank that one up. Hypnos' pouch seems weak, as gold is very hit or miss on whether you get a timely chance to use it for something.

[Gold Ergo Sum]

Hypnos’s purse is weak until you can switch trinkets after bosses, and then it’s probably the most useful one in the game since you only have to wear it for any act and then switch.

Titan Blood is for leveling weapons. Eventually, all weapons have four “aspects” that change the way they work and TB levels them.

Nectar you get from choosing nectar doors, which are usually offered opposite darkness, gems, or keys, or trading for it in the lounge with the chef or the merchant.

You get Titans Blood every time you beat the first and fourth bosses with a weapon for the first time on any given heat level. You get a diamond for boss two and ambrosia for boss three. Once you have beat a boss with a weapon on any heat level, you get darkness the next time instead.

[haphazard1]

Thanks for the explanation, Gold Ergo Sum. The game could be clearer about a lot of these things.

[NobleHelium]

Someone posted this on one of my Discords:




Sweetest build I've seen so far.