The Ultimate Guide to Lords of the Fallen
Lords of the Fallen, a game that, much like its Souls-like counterparts, is known for its challenging gameplay and intricate mechanics. As a newcomer to this unforgiving world, it's easy to feel overwhelmed and lost amidst the complexities it offers.
In this guide, we will delve deep into the various mechanics of the game that might not be immediately obvious to new players. We'll provide you with invaluable insights and practical tips to help you embark on your journey with confidence and skill. From understanding which attributes to prioritize, to learning how to respec your character for maximum adaptability, and discovering the art of early equipment upgrades, we've got you covered.
You'll also gain knowledge on how to discern whether your enemies are resistant or vulnerable to your chosen damage type, as well as unravel the mysteries of Vestige Seeds and how to obtain more of these valuable resources.
Let’s get right into it!
Conquering Lords of the Fallen
Starting your journey in Lords of the Fallen can be a daunting experience. This sprawling game world is not only vast but also bombards you with a wealth of tutorial information from the outset. The sheer volume of instructions can overwhelm even the most seasoned players, let alone newcomers.
As you progress, you'll find yourself left to your own devices, left to piece together the puzzle of the game's mechanics and nuances. Worry not, as we are going to provide you with the best tips that will help you understand the game and how to use different things to get the upper hand in the field. Let’s go through each of the essential things:
1. Mastering Attributes in Lords of the Fallen
Lords of the Fallen offers a formidable challenge, and as a novice, you'll quickly realize that enemies pack a serious punch, making survival a constant struggle. To help you navigate this harsh realm, here's a breakdown of how to prioritize your attributes and enhance your chances of surviving:
Vitality - Your Lifeline
Early on, your primary focus should be on Vitality. Increasing your Vitality is crucial to extending your life expectancy in the game. With higher Vitality, you won't succumb to enemy attacks as quickly, providing you with more opportunities to learn and adapt.
Maximizing Health for Effective Healing
In Lords of the Fallen, the healing item, Sanguinarix, restores a percentage of your maximum Health rather than a fixed amount. This unique healing mechanic eliminates the concern of having a high maximum Health but only healing a fraction of it with Sanguinarix. Therefore, prioritizing increased max Health through Vitality is a wise choice that won't hinder your healing capabilities.
Strength and Agility - Prerequisites First
While Strength and Agility can enhance your combat abilities, early on, their impact is limited due to the modest scaling of weapons in the game's initial stages. To ensure that you can wield weapons or shields effectively, allocate just enough points to meet their requirements. Then, channel your efforts into bolstering your Vitality for improved survivability.
Spellcasting: Inferno and Radiance
If you're inclined towards spellcasting, the same principle applies. Initially, invest only what's necessary to meet the requirements for your chosen spells. Once these prerequisites are met, focus on boosting your Vitality, ensuring you're sturdy enough to withstand the challenges that lie ahead.
2. Respecing Your Character in Lords of the Fallen
As you progress through the unforgiving world of Lords of the Fallen, you might reach a point where you wish to reallocate your attribute points to better suit your evolving playstyle. Understanding how to respec and the limitations involved is crucial. Let's explore the process and its nuances:
Location Matters: Pieta in Skyrest Bridge
The ability to respec your character in Lords of the Fallen is granted at the location known as Pieta, situated in Skyrest Bridge. Here, you'll encounter the "Reset Build" option, which allows you to redistribute your attribute points as needed.
Rebirth Chrysalis Item Requirement
To initiate the respeccing process, you'll require a specific item called the "Rebirth Chrysalis." Obtaining this item is essential for any attribute reallocation. Fortunately, you can purchase the Rebirth Chrysalis from Molhu, another character you'll find in Skyrest Bridge, after making some progress in the game.
Limited Availability
It's important to note that the Rebirth Chrysalis isn't a common commodity in Lords of the Fallen. You'll come across two more of these items as you delve deeper into the game. Once you've collected them, you can exchange them for additional Rebirth Chrysalis items at the Shrine of the Putrid Mother, also located in Skyrest Bridge.
Plan Accordingly
Given the limited availability of the Rebirth Chrysalis, respeccing your character is a resource-intensive process that becomes more accessible as you advance further in the game. Therefore, it's advisable to plan your attribute points carefully and consider respeccing only when you've progressed significantly in your journey.
3. Banking Your Vigor for Future Use
In the brutal world of Lords of the Fallen, safeguarding your hard-earned Vigor, the in-game currency, is crucial to ensuring your progress. Unlike many Souls-like games, Lords of the Fallen offers a unique mechanic that allows you to preserve your Vigor when you meet an untimely demise. This feature can be a game-changer for newcomers who struggle to hold onto their precious resources, especially when they are unsure about how to allocate them. Here's how you can do it:
Seek Out Molhu in the Umbral Realm Skyrest Bridge
Your journey to banking Vigor begins with a visit to Molhu, a character situated in the Umbral Realm version of Skyrest Bridge. Molhu plays a pivotal role in this unique mechanic, as he is the provider of Vigor Skulls, consumable items that enable you to stockpile your Vigor for later use.
Vigor Skulls - The Currency Safeguard
Vigor Skulls function as your ticket to securing your Vigor even in the face of death. These consumable items work much like the Coin Purse in Sekiro, allowing you to retrieve your Vigor after you perish. However, there's a catch – the Vigor Skulls cost significantly more Vigor to purchase than they yield when consumed (double the cost).
The Cost-Benefit Decision
When it comes to using Vigor Skulls, you'll need to make a calculated decision. You must weigh the pros and cons, considering whether it's worth sacrificing a portion of your Vigor to preserve the remainder for future endeavors. This choice hinges on your preferences and your comfort level with the trade-off.
4. Understanding Posture in Lords of the Fallen
In the realm of Lords of the Fallen, Posture is a crucial mechanic that holds the key to gaining the upper hand in combat. This stagger system enables players to execute what are known as Grievous Strikes against their foes once an enemy's Posture has been completely depleted. Let's delve into what Posture is and why it plays a pivotal role in your gameplay:
What is Posture?
Posture, in Lords of the Fallen, serves as a visual representation of an enemy's stability during combat. To observe an enemy's Posture, you can simply glance at the ring surrounding the lock-on marker. As you engage in battle, you'll notice that with every successful hit and parry, a portion of this ring gradually diminishes. The depletion of an enemy's Posture signifies their vulnerability to stagger and provides an opportunity for you to capitalize on this state.
Why is Posture Important?
Understanding and effectively utilizing Posture is vital for several reasons:
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Grievous Strikes
When an enemy's Posture ring is completely depleted, you gain the ability to execute Grievous Strikes. These powerful attacks deal substantial damage to your adversary, making them an excellent way to confront challenging foes. To perform a Grievous Strike, you can choose from options like parrying, delivering a Kick, or executing a Charged Heavy Attack while standing near the incapacitated enemy. The choice of which method to use depends on your preferred playstyle and the situation at hand.
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Efficient Enemy Takedowns
Grievous Strikes can be a game-changer, particularly when dealing with enemies that are resilient or challenging to defeat through conventional means. This mechanic allows you to deal significant damage and gain a tactical advantage in battles.
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Follow-up Attacks
After a successful Grievous Strike, enemies are often left vulnerable as they recover. This presents an opportunity to land additional attacks on them while they are getting back on their feet, enabling you to maximize your damage output.
5. Understanding Enemy Weakness and Damage
In the challenging world of Lords of the Fallen, discerning an enemy's weaknesses and the effectiveness of your damage type is a critical aspect of mastering combat. Unlike many Souls-like games, which often require extensive trial and error or reliance on external sources like Wikis to unveil these details, Lords of the Fallen offers a more straightforward system. This is how you can quickly gauge the effectiveness of your damage and leverage this knowledge to your advantage:
Color-Coded System
In Lords of the Fallen, enemies reveal their susceptibility to different damage types through a convenient color-coding system:
- Grey
When an enemy appears in grey, it signifies that they are resistant to the particular type of damage you are dealing. In such cases, your attacks may be less effective.
- White
A white indication suggests that the enemy is neither resistant nor weak to the damage type you are employing. Your attacks will have a standard effect.
- Red
An enemy displayed in red is vulnerable to the specific type of damage you are using. This is a clear signal that your attacks of this nature will be notably effective against them.
Strategic Weapon and Spell Selection
By observing these color cues, you can strategically modify your choice of weapons and spells when confronting different enemy types and formidable bosses. The goal is to target the red indicators, which indicate a higher level of damage. Adjusting your strategy based on these visual cues can significantly ease your journey through the game.
Weapon Buff Consumables
Lords of the Fallen also provides you with the option to temporarily enhance your weapon's damage type using consumable items. For instance, you can use items like Minor Fire Salts to add Fire Damage to your weapon, enabling you to exploit an enemy's weakness.
Damage Reduction Items
Conversely, if you recognize that an enemy is dealing Fire or Holy Damage, you can mitigate the damage you take by employing items like Holy or Fire Ward. This tactical approach not only protects you but can also make challenging bosses more manageable.
6. Obtaining More Healing Items - Sanguinarix and Briostone
For new players in Lords of the Fallen, the scarcity of healing items can be a significant concern. Fortunately, there are methods to increase your supply of healing items, namely Sanguinarix, and to use an alternative option like Briostone.
Sanguinarix Enhancement with Saintly Quintessence
To enhance your Sanguinarix, granting it more uses and improving its effectiveness, you'll need to locate Saintly Quintessence items. Take these items to Pieta, who is located in Skyrest Bridge. Pieta will require an increasing number of Saintly Quintessence items to further upgrade your Sanguinarix, so you'll need to gather a substantial quantity of them.
Where Do You Find It?
You can find Saintly Quintessence in the Umbral Realm. Look for Soulflaying Umbral Tumors hanging from walls. These are easily overlooked if you don't frequently switch to the Umbral Realm. Be prepared to face formidable Umbral enemies guarding these valuable resources. Utilize your lamp to not only assess whether it's worth transitioning to the Umbral Realm but also to identify potential threats.
Briostone Consumables
As an alternative to Sanguinarix, you can use Briostone consumable items. These items gradually restore your Health over time, providing a valuable means of recovery. You can purchase Briostone from Stomund, a character located in Skyrest Bridge. These items are particularly useful when you find yourself struggling during boss fights or challenging sections of the game, offering an additional layer of healing and resilience.
7. Upgrading Equipment and Finding the Blacksmith
Enhancing your equipment is a crucial aspect of your journey. To embark on this path of improvement, you'll need to seek out a Blacksmith and gather upgrade materials called Deralium. Here's how to get started with equipment upgrades and locate the Blacksmith:
1. Gathering Upgrade Materials - Deralium
Upgrade materials, known as Deralium, can be found throughout the game world. They may drop from defeated enemies or be available for purchase from certain merchants. Collecting these materials is essential for enhancing your equipment's performance.
2. Rescuing the Blacksmith
To unlock the services of the Blacksmith, you'll first need to rescue her from her cell below the Bellroom Vestige. This rescue mission should occur naturally as you progress through the game. It's common not to encounter her for the initial few hours of gameplay, so keep advancing through the story.
3. Finding the Blacksmith
The Blacksmith is located in a cell guarded by a formidable jailor. Defeating this jailor can be a challenging task, but you can make it easier by performing a plunging attack on him. Once the jailor is defeated, use his key to open the Blacksmith's cell. Ensure you exhaust her dialogue to initiate the necessary interaction.
4. Rest at the Bellroom Vestige
After rescuing the Blacksmith, make your way to the Bellroom Vestige and rest there. This action will prompt the Blacksmith to return to Skyrest Bridge, where you can then access her services to upgrade your weapons and armor. Additionally, her cell contains valuable upgrade materials, so be sure to retrieve them after her rescue to aid your progression.
5. Rune Tablets and Further Enhancements
The Blacksmith offers more than just equipment upgrades. As you advance in the game, she will also accept Rune Tablets. These tablets allow her to sell you Runes and insert them into your weapons, enhancing their effectiveness and providing additional bonuses to your gear.
8. Acquiring More Spells in Lords of the Fallen
If you're playing a mage-type character in Lords of the Fallen and seeking to expand your arsenal of spells, you'll be pleased to know that there are several ways to do so. You can use the following methods to gain more spells in the game:
Radiant Magic - Exacter Dunmar
Exacter Dunmar, located in Skyrest Bridge, is your source for Radiance Magic. If you're interested in Holy Magic or simply wish to incorporate Radiance spells into your repertoire, he's the vendor to turn to. To unlock his services and access Radiance spells, be sure to exhaust his dialogue. This will allow you to purchase spells from him to enhance your magical abilities.
Umbral Magic - Molhu
For Umbral Magic, head to Molhu in Skyrest Bridge. Molhu sells Umbral spells, which add a different dimension to your magical abilities. Note that Umbral spells typically require both Inferno and Radiance to cast, making them more challenging to meet the requirements for in the early stages of the game.
Inferno Magic - Tortured Prisoner and the Searing Accusation Inferno Catalyst
To access Inferno spells, you'll need to embark on a quest. Proceed through Pilgrim's Perch, located outside Skyrest Bridge, and reach the elevator found on the platforms outside. This will lead you to an area with a locked door. To obtain the key for this door, swap to the Umbral Realm and Soulflay an Umbral Tumor in the area. You'll discover a puzzle in the Umbral Realm. Solve it to obtain the Searing Accusation Inferno Catalyst.
Deliver this catalyst to the Tortured Prisoner and rest. After resting, she will have vanished, only to reappear near the dead Fire Giant in the vicinity of where you fought Pieta earlier in the game. Now, you can purchase Inferno Spells from her to bolster your magical repertoire.
Treasure and Bosses
Throughout the game world, you can uncover many magic spells as treasure. Additionally, after defeating specific bosses, you can purchase spells from Molhu under the "Offer Remembrance" option, allowing you to expand your magical abilities further.
9. Acquiring Boss Weapons, Spells, and Armor
If you've successfully defeated some formidable bosses and obtained Remembrances, you might be wondering how to obtain the sought-after Boss gear. In Lords of the Fallen, you can acquire these valuable items using Umbral Scourings. These unique items can be obtained as you progress through the game and are crucial for unlocking boss-related items. Here's how you can obtain Umbral Scourings and use them to acquire Boss gear:
Obtaining Umbral Scourings
You can acquire Umbral Scourings through various means:
- From Stigmas
Stigmas are memories of previous events that you find in the Umbral Realm. To obtain Umbral Scourings from Stigmas, you must Soulflay them to trigger the collection.
- From Defeating Bosses
Each time you defeat a boss in Lords of the Fallen, you'll be rewarded with Umbral Scourings, further encouraging you to overcome these challenging adversaries.
- Purchase from Molhu
Some Umbral Scourings are available for purchase from Molhu, a character in Skyrest Bridge. As you progress in the game, you can buy these items from him.
Using Umbral Scourings to Acquire Boss Items
Umbral Scourings are primarily used to purchase items related to the major bosses you have successfully defeated. To access the selection of available Boss items, interact with Molhu and navigate to the "Offer Remembrance" option. Once you've selected the Remembrance related to the specific boss, you can view the Boss weapons, armor pieces, and spells that are available for purchase.
Limited Resource
It's important to note that Umbral Scourings are a limited resource in Lords of the Fallen. You will only gain a fixed amount of Umbral Scourings per playthrough. This means that if you desire all the Boss items, you may need to embark on multiple playthroughs with the same character. In one playthrough, you can collect a total of 285 Umbral Scourings. This figure serves as a reference to help you decide which Boss items to acquire based on your preferences and priorities.
10. Understanding Vestige Seeds: What They Do and How to Obtain More
In the challenging world of Lords of the Fallen, Vestige Seeds play a pivotal role, serving as temporary Vestiges or checkpoints, allowing you to perform essential functions you would at any other Vestige. Here's a detailed look at what Vestige Seeds are, their purpose, and how to acquire more of them:
What are Vestige Seeds and Their Function
Vestige Seeds are consumable items that offer a unique functionality. When you encounter Umbral Flowerbeds as you journey through the game, you can use Vestige Seeds to create Vestige Seedlings. These Seedlings act as temporary Vestiges, similar to checkpoints. They enable you to save your progress, rest, and access other crucial functions, enhancing your overall gameplay experience.
Management of Vestige Seeds
One essential aspect to keep in mind is that Vestige Seeds are consumable, and you'll come across more Umbral Flowerbeds than you will have Vestige Seeds, particularly in the early stages of the game. Additionally, you can only maintain one Vestige Seedling at a time. Planting a second Vestige Seed in a different Umbral Flowerbed will cause your previous Vestige Seedling to disappear. Consequently, prudent management of your Vestige Seeds and strategic placement of them is key to optimizing your progress and minimizing potential setbacks.
Acquiring More Vestige Seeds
To replenish your supply of Vestige Seeds, you can obtain them through various means:
- Dropped from Elite Umbral Enemies
Elite Umbral enemies, with the exception of Umbral zombies, have a 15-20% chance of dropping Vestige Seeds when defeated. Engaging these formidable foes can be a rewarding way to accumulate Vestige Seeds.
- Purchase from Molhu
Molhu, a character in Skyrest Bridge, offers Vestige Seeds for purchase. The availability of these seeds is seemingly unlimited, making it a convenient source for stocking up on Vestige Seeds as needed.
- Dropped from Bosses
Some bosses in the game may drop Vestige Seeds upon their defeat, providing another potential source of these valuable consumables.
Remember, maintaining a stock of Vestige Seeds can significantly enhance your exploration and survival in the game. It's advisable never to let your supply drop to zero. If you find yourself in need, you can also receive Vestige Seeds from a summoned co-op partner to assist in your journey.
Conclusion
Lords of the Fallen offers a challenging and immersive gaming experience, complete with intricate mechanics and valuable resources that are essential for your character's growth and survival. This ultimate beginner's guide has delved into various facets of the game, providing insights into attributes, respeccing, posture, enemy weaknesses, healing items, equipment upgrades, spell acquisition, boss items, and the significance of Vestige Seeds.
Knowledge and strategic decision-making are your greatest allies. Prioritize your attributes wisely, adapt your playstyle to enemy weaknesses, and manage your resources efficiently. Acquiring new spells and boss items through Umbral Scourings is a testament to your growth as a player, as you become better equipped to face the daunting challenges ahead.
This game rewards your dedication and offers a gratifying gaming experience. Embrace these insights, adapt your strategies, and face the darkness with confidence.
