Introduction
Hey, welcome to my guide!
This is a big work-in-progress at the moment but as there is already some useful information here on the weapon stats etc, so I thought it would be a good idea to publish it despite having not too much content. I'll be adding to this continually over time and as the game receives new updates! I'm hoping to add a lot more stuff to this over the next couple of days :D
The aim of this guide is to provide details on the systems and mechanics of the game as well as a reference for weapon/item stats and usage, without being a full walkthrough - exploration is a big aspect of this game and I wouldn't want to spoil that with "go down this corridor, turn left, pick up the torch" etc.
Controls
Quick reference for game controls on keyboard and controller. Can also be found in-game by opening the menu and viewing the game manual.
This guide will use the keyboard controls occasionally when describing specific actions, though I'll be making an effort to refer to the "Action" rather than the "Key/Button" so its readable for both Keyboard and Controller users.
Movement [W][A][S][D] / Left Stick Look Around Mouse / Right Stick Attack ]LMB] / Right Trigger Block [RMB] / Left Trigger Jump [Space] / Button South Run/Walk Hold: [SHIFT] / Button East Open/Close Menus [TAB] / i / Select Button Use Left Magic Ring Hold: [C] / Left Bumper Use Right Magic Ring Hold: [V] / Right Bumper Swap Weapon [Q] / DPAD Down / Button North Interact [E] / Button West Use Quick Item [2] / Dpad Up Swap Quick Items [1] and [3] / Dpad Left and Dpad Right
Basic Mechanics
Attacking is relatively simple. Click [LMB] once to perform a quick attack immediately - these come out fast, but deal very little damage. Hold down [LMB] to charge up a swing - the weapon charge gauge in the top right of the HUD will fill as you do this, lighting up once you reach max charge. On release of [LMB] you'll swing and deal maximum damage. Ideally you'll keep your distance from the enemy, readying and charging your weapon and dashing in to deliver a powerful strike when you have an opening.
Guarding with your weapon reduces damage received from an enemy attack by a percentage value. This value is determined by the Guard stat on your equipped weapon. Click [RMB] once to toggle block on/off, or alternatively hold [RMB] to stop blocking on release.
If your equipped weapon has a Backstep stat value, your character will hop backwards a certain distance (determined by the stat) whenever you guard. You can use this strategically to try and avoid enemy attacks completely. whilst still reducing the incoming damage with a guard if you don't move back far enough to evade.
Upon leaving a level through a door transition or by warping via a Magic Crystal, all enemies and breakables will respawn. This keeps areas challenging and useful upon returning to them and allows you to farm XP and Materials infinitely.
Exploration
Many scenic objects found throughout the world can be broken to search for items within. Such breakable objects include specific plants, crates, coffins, urns, etc! As a general rule you should always break these as you make your way through the levels - it'll help you build up a great stash of Silver (for purchasing items at Sheryl's Shop) and Materials (for Alchemy with Etna).
Many of the locations within the Great Well can get pretty dark at times. There are usually destructible light sources that can help guide you through, but ideally you'll want to be equipping and using the Torch or making use of the Ghost Light magic ring.
The Torch doesn't cost any Mana but you'll have to put it away to properly engage in combat (you can attach with the Torch and it is capable of setting enemies alight, but it does very little damage overall). Be careful fighting nearby preset light-sources like lanterns and torches though, as they can be broken easily.
Sometimes you can encounter certain walls that look a little... suspicious. Perhaps the texture looks a little wrong, or there's a short offshoot corridor that ends in an abrupt dead-end. You might have just found yourself a Fake Wall.
*image should say "Temple of Silence"
These usually lead to something valuable, like a stash of restorative items or even Magic Rings and Weapons. Fake Walls aren't completely undetectable, and you can usually spot a slight seam or break in the wall texture - additionally, when facing a Fake Wall, a small "?" will appear in the bottom left corner of the screen prompting you to interact with it. Fake Walls will close automatically after a little while but you can always open them again.
Weapon Info
Each weapon you'll discover in the game has a unique set of stats. Whilst most are fairly self explanatory, this section will detail how the stats affect the weapon's handling.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stat Description Damage This stat shows the base damage of the weapon. Damage is further affected by your Character Stats. Speed This dictates how fast a weapon can be swung as well as how long it takes to charge up a max-damage weapon strike. Reach Essentially the length of the weapon, dictates the weapon's reach in a swing. The longer the reach, the further back you can hit an enemy from. Guard The Guard percentage represents the amount of damage reduction blocking an attack will provide. Backstep This stat dictates how much your character will move backwards when blocking. The backstep movement is pretty quick so it can be a good defensive technique on weapons with a high stat for it. Thrust The Thrust stat dictates how far forwards your character will lunge when performing a fully-charged attack. Weapons with high Thrust values can be a little tricky to get used to but allow you to begin the attack from a safer distance.
Through dealing damage to enemies or breakables, some weapons will gain Weapon XP. This is represented by a very colourful gauge below the weapon description. Once the Weapon XP bar is full, you can take the weapon to a Smith's Grave (found in Wing's Rest), interact with the grave and it will allow you to enhance the weapon into a new form!
It should be noted however that whilst these are typically just a straight upgrade, some stats may also decrease in exchange for boosting others. For example, the Rusted Sword has a Thrust stat of 80, but once you upgrade it to the Dark Greatsword, it only has a Thrust stat of 50. Despite any decreases, the boosts to Damage and Guard; 14 -> 28 and 60% - 70% respectively, are well worth it.
Wing's Rest
After fighting your way through the Hollow Basin at the start of the game and looping back to where you found the Replica Sword, you'll run into Demi. She kindly offers to warp you to Wing's Rest, accept her offer and you'll find yourself at the game's hub and safe haven.
There are several NPCs or points of interest found here and they offer a variety of services.
Shop ~ Sheryl the Crow
Sheryl runs a shop at Wing's Ruin where you can trade the Silver you find; scrounging and breaking pots out in the world, for various items and equipment. You should immediately buy the Enchanted Key item for 1 Silver to unlock the path to The Silent Church near the start of the game. Of particular note in her stock is the Crossbow, a powerful ranged weapon.
Alchemy ~ Etna
You can go to Etna to perform Alchemy, crafting items from Materials that you gather out in the worlds. For more information on Alchemy Recipes, visit the Item Reference section of the guide - or, just experiment yourself! You won't lose anything by trying out potential combinations, as the game won't let you complete it without a correct combo of items.
Rumours ~ Clive
Clive doesn't have any particular special function, but he does have a lot of gossip he's willing to share! He'll tell you more about the world you find yourself in, as well as the peculiar cast of characters down there with you. But take it with a pinch of salt... his memory's not what it used to be!
Weapon Enhancement ~ Smith's Grave
Some weapons have the potential to be enhanced to all-new versions once you've gathered enough XP with them. This is done at the Smith's Grave in Wing's Rest - for more information on Weapon Enhancement, check out the Weapon Info section.
Equipment - Weapons
Replica SwordThe first weapon you'll come across on your forced-adventuring through the Great Well. Stat-wise its... bad, but its just to get you started. If you kill every Snail and Shulker on your way through Hollow Basin, you'll have a full gauge of Weapon XP so you can get it enhanced to the Heritage Sword as soon as Demi warps you to Wing's Rest.
Description: An expertly sculpted piece of stone, made to resemble the steel longswords of the castle guard. Not an elegant weapon by any means, but better than nothing.
How to Obtain: Found right at the start of the game at the base of a statue, you really shouldn't be able to miss this one.
Upgradeable: Yes, -> Heritage Sword
Damage 6 Speed 25 Reach 3 Guard 40% Backstep 60 Thrust 5
Heritage Sword (prev. Replica Sword)Much improved in every way over the Replica Sword, the Heritage Sword is a good sword with a high Speed and decent Backstep. It has a medium Reach and Guard, with a minimal Thrust stat. This sword will serve you well!
Description: A steel longsword typically given to the castle guard. Though the castle fell long ago, these swords remain as a testament to the quality of the Royal Armory and have been passed down for generations.
How to Obtain: Enhance the Replica Sword at a Smith's Grave.
Upgradeable: No
Damage (6 ->) 24 Speed (25 ->) 33 Reach 3 Guard (40% ->) 50% Backstep 60 Thrust 5
Torch~
Description: Crude Torches like these are common within dark tunnels. It seems for long as recorded history people have sought to drive away the darkness that surrounds us.
How to Obtain: Hollow Basin - Past the Enchanted Gate in the Hollow Basin, follow the stream that runs down the pathway ahead and you'll find the Torch where it ends, on the rocks. Very hard to miss.
Ritual Dagger~
Description: A strange wicked looking instrument. Seems to not do much damage, as it was intended to make victims suffer by inflicting tiny piercing wounds which got infected from a poison coating the blade.
How to Obtain:Temple of Silence - Found on a stone table just before the room containing the lever that opens all the metal gates in the temple. Very hard to miss.
Wooden Shield~
Description: A typical Wooden Shield, normally used in the offhand and paired with a sword or thrusting weapon. Provides ample defence if timed well.
How to Obtain: Temple of Silence - Found by a skeleton along a passage behind a fake wall - in the area to the east of the room that contains a short jumping puzzle to collect a Health Vial.
Equipment ~ Magic Rings
Summon SnailSummons a Snail ally that will follow you around and attack enemies. Doesn't do that much damage but can be surprisingly helpful early on when it isn't getting underfoot.
Description: Summons a Snail as a temporary familiar. Prevalent in moist areas, these snails have grown larger from the seeping moonlight. Although fairly useless in a fight, some magical practitioner thought of a use for them.
How to Obtain: Random drop from killing snails. You monster.
Type Conjuring Cost 25 Mana Cast Time 2.65s Damage N/A - but summoned Snail-bro does attack for low damage
Ghost LightSummons a floating ghost orb that will follow the player and help light up their immediate surroundings. A cheap spell that can help whilst navigating dark areas - though its best use is providing a light source whilst in combat (outside of combat its much more resource efficient just to have the Torch equipped).
Description: Summons a spectral orb of light that follows the caster for 45 seconds. Useful for illuminating the depths of the well.
How to Obtain: Hollow Basin - Found in the flooded areas of the Hollow Basin, guarded by a Shulker.
Type Conjuring Cost 10 Mana Cast Time 1.29s Damage N/A - 0
Flame SpearFires a javelin of fire directly ahead, a simple but useful ranged spell. Sacrifices damage for being easy and relatively safe to use from range.
Description: Fires a flaming javelin. A weaponized form of pyromancy created by the Fire Witch Ashley.
How to Obtain: Hollow Basin - Found in a treasure chest at the end of the Hollow Basin area, just before meeting Demi for the first time.
Type Agressive Cost 10 Mana Cast Time 1.29s Damage 14 (Fire)
Lithomancy~
Description: A forbidden Blood Magic that gives life to the inanimate. Unable to comprehend existance, the objects only scream. Created by Mad Wizard Abdul before his exile. It is unknown what the purpose of this spell was.
How to Obtain: Temple of Silence - Found within a Treasure Chest in the room containing the lever that opens all of the metal gates in the area.
Blood Strike~
Description: A weaponized form of Blood Magic. Some warriors sought these forms of magic to rely on their vitality rather than magical power.
How to Obtain: Temple of Silence - Travel through the area to the east of the room that contains a short jumping puzzle to collect a Health Vial, go through a Fake Wall there and continue onwards in the newly opened route. To the east of a more open room is another Fake Wall, behind the second fake wall is a short corridor leading to the magic ring.
Item List And Alchemy Reference
If you're specifically looking for materials and alchemy recipes, please check out Reniachii's guides!
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2779752825
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2779749928
Source: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2779976795