Difficulty Differences

# Confirmed Information from one of the Developer's (Canlin):

*(Will update if I get any more information)*

*(I've parahrased the original text for clarity)*

> For the Difficulty changes, the enemies do get stronger in Hard and Very Hard. I can't remember the exact value, but it's either 2x or 2.5x. I'll get it confirmed later.

> Lunatic does double both the Player and Enemy damage though.

> Enemy HP doesn't follow a formula (i.e a flat % increase) and instead has the enemies values set manually (for each enemy in the game).

> For example: Fat Zombie's HP is: 400 (Normal) / 600 (Hard) / 1800 (Very Hard)

# My Own (Probably Inacurate) Testing

*These tests are from NG+ and the very first enemies you encounter, therefore this is not a very accurate test, but there’s no way in hell I’m gonna play 4 different difficulties to the end game just to test the differences more accurately, so this will have to do for now.*

# **Difficulty Changes**

*The difficulty changes are written compared to Normal difficulty.*

**Hard**

- No changes found so far

**Very Hard**

- Enemy HP Increased: 2.5x

**Lunatic**

- Enemy HP Increased: 2.5x
- Enemy Damage Increased: 2x
- Player Damage Increased: 2x

How To Get The "True Ending"

# **Steam Guide by "Djinn Tonic" with a bit more in-depth:** https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1442894303 

*Play as you normally would until you get to campfire right before “Shroom Prime” boss in “Glizzian Territory”. It is important to not fight the boss yet, as if you kill it before getting the Acorn you can't get it anymore.*

**1.** Go into the hidden area in the room above and fight the Mini Boss to get the Acorn.
**2.** Play as Normal and continue into “The Void” until you get to the gate (Prior to the “Coffinhead” Travel Point). Upon trying to enter them it will tell you where to get the 3 keys (starting the questline).
**3.** Get the 3 Keys (in any order you desire) and defeat the 3 bosses.

- *Seudor’s Church = Club Key [Lord of Judgement]*
- *Throneroom = Heart Key [King of Flames]*
- *Bluereel Village = Diamond Key [Frozen Queen]*

**4.** Go back the gate in “The Void” and enter.
**5.** Explore the new area and kill the “Fallen Kumasith” (aka Mother Bear) boss.
**6.** That's it! Now just finish the game as normal by defeating the final boss!

Speed Measurements

# Flat Surfaces

**Area for Testing:**

- Brocleyshire, Beach Loading into Town > Across right town into loading screen at right side
**Timing Used:**
- 1st Frame Screen turns visible after loading

*(Keep in mind execution will vary, so movements such as Dash Attacks, Slide Jumps, Dodging, etc will differ if done better or worse. So don’t assume this list is conclusive and 100% accurate information. Also this is a flat surface and different terrain might change movement and timing, such as hitting enemies or objects, or if there’s drops which then makes Divekick superior, etc, etc)*

**Terminology**

- Fast Weapon = Sword of Verum
- Slow Weapon = Sword of Deception
- Speed Potion = Speed Potion G (30% Speed Increase for 30s)

*Note: Slide Jumps (especially when using Speed Potion) are sometimes easy to mess up, so there’s a risk-reward to consider there. Also the time it takes to use a Speed Potion (going into the menu, using it, closing the menu) needs to be taken into consideration as well. But this list isn’t whether an option is better, just strictly faster.*

# **[Youtube Playlist](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIu4Xm07NlVuZAZrCds4DbGOwhr66ze0A)**

- Speed Potion + Slide Jumps = 6.867s
- Speed Potion + Slide Jumps > Divekick = 7.084s
- Speed Potion + Shining Assault = 7.400
- Speed Potion + Light Dash Attack (Slow Weapon) = 7.766s
- Speed Walking = 8.283s
- Shining Assault = 8.484s
- Slide Jumps > Divekicks = 8.683s
- Speed Walking > Divekicks = 8.750s
- Slide Jumps = 9.050s
- Speed Potion + Sliding = 9.817s
- Speed Potion + Light Dash Attack (Fast Weapon) = 9.967s
- Sliding = 11.750s
- Light Dash Attack (Slow Weapon) = 12.616s
- Light Dash Attack (Fast Weapon) = 13.367s
- Dodge > Roll = 14.100s
- Dodging = 15.333s
- Dashing = 16.133s
- Walking = 31.916s

# Ledges/Slopes (Speed Extenders)

All depends on how much speed the action gives you. And I can’t really test this and compare but I will roughly rank them based on usefulness and speed. If you want more information about “Speed Extenders” check my document here:

# **https://docs.google.com/document/d/1h5-eD2edx5-oJJvvmd1HvUe5zpJpR2XgOjbcoz7tIV0/edit?usp=sharing**

*Note: Speed Potion will make all of these even faster!*

- **Shining Assault**
*Cost 125 Rage so use sparingly, or if on NG+ just use Rage Potions and go nuts.*
- **Dash Attack**
*Best used for a Speed Extender if you are far from the ledge.*
- **Dodge**
*Best used for a Speed Extender if you’re close to the ledge.*
- **Slide > Release Crouch**
*Awkward to use many times as you need to release Crouch in order to go off the edge*
- **Anything > Edge Cancels**
*Hard to do intentionally, but if you can pull it off it surely will make you save more time.*

Techniques and Glitches

**Notations**
I will be using Fighting Game Notations (commonly known as “Numpad Notations) for writing directions in this guide. Below is a picture detailing what this means.

j. = Jump (aka Airborne)

https://i.imgur.com/HnkiJoE.png

# Speed Walking

**Notes**

- Speed Walking makes you stuck in the ground so “Speed Extenders” are impossible to do since you can’t go over ledges. (Obviously you can end the glitched state and then do “Speed Extenders” if so needed)
- It takes 1 Jump to “unstuck” you, and then another to actual Jump off the ground. (You still have 2 Jumps when you leave the ground like normal though).
- If you do 1 Jump to “unstuck”, you won’t be able to interact with anything, nor exit the current area. So you will need to 
- Dashing during the “Speed Walking” state does not affect the speed, it’s the same as walking.

**How To Enter The State**
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7cuVx3EfbQ

- 1. Crouch
- 2. Pause (this will make you stuck)
- 3. Unpause
- 4. Opposite direction of facing (this will make you unstuck and enter the “Speed Walking” state)

**How To Exit The State**

- Crouch
- Dodge / Air Dodge
- Skills
- Getting Hit

**How Much Faster Is This Than Normal?**
*Note: Take these numbers with a grain of salt. It’s just some basic testing on a long room, so the difference will vary depending on the size you measure. But at least you’ll get an approximate understanding of the speed differences!*

- You will move 4 times faster than normal walking.
- You will move 2 times faster than normal Dashing.

# Slide Jumps
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_381JzEoyFM
You get similar speed as from Speed Walking, although this is not as “free” as you need to time your Jump (it’s not that hard though). And you will probably end up being slower overall, but it might still have its uses.

**How To Perform It**

- Slide (2H/3H) > (Any direction except 1/2/3) > Jump (Aka “Slide Jumps”) > (Divekick) > …
The Divekick is an amazing finisher in the air as you dive down super fast and gain a lot of distance too! This works because after the Slide animation is finished, Vivian will keep sliding across the ground for a couple of frames, due to the momentum she has. And we then can just Jump while this momentum is still present and preserve it into the air!

# Speed Extenders

I won’t write every single move that can do it (as everything that moves you essentially can). But instead only add those of interesting and possible uses in an actual speedrun.
Note: You can use Air Attacks to delay the momentum.
Note #2: Using Air Dodge will kill your momentum.

The game preserves your momentum regardless while becoming airborne (example being Dashing into a Jump). Because of this we can use actions that either give us Horizontal or Vertical speed, then become airborne and we will soar across the screen at big speeds!

**How To Perform It**

- 1. Do an action that gives Horizontal/Vertical speed.
- 2. Become airborne shortly after.
- (Optional) Extend the speed by jumping in the air.

**Ledges/Slopes**
Note: You don’t actually need to Jump afterwards, but doing so lets you extend it for longer (due to getting more height from the Jump).

*Note: Speed Potion will make all of these even faster!*

- **Shining Assault (Skill)**
[Cost 125 Rage so use sparingly, or with Rage Potions you can go nuts]
Note: Cannot be delayed with Air Attacks without losing momentum.
- **Mirage Storm (Skill)**
Only the final hit actually moves you.
- **Light Dash Attack**
Best used for a Speed Extender if you are far from the ledge.
- **Slide > Release Crouch**
Can also be used to fall very fast without Jump Cancelling.
If you don’t release Crouch when doing it at a ledge, you won’t go over it and instead stop.
Awkward to use many times as you need to release Crouch in order to go off the edge
- **Dodge**
Best used for a Speed Extender if you’re close to the ledge.
Note: Cannot be delayed with Air Attacks without losing momentum.
- **Anything > Edge Cancel**
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWt0wnJ7YMU?t=3106
If you hit near the edge with momentum, whether from a previous Speed Extender or a Divekick, you can “Edge Cancel” and slide off since you have momentum and keep going for another Speed Extender!
Hard to do intentionally, but if you can pull it off it surely will make you save more time.

***Barely Any Momentum***

- j.Wyvern Strike > Edge Cancel
- Fierce Strike (5LLH / 6LLH)
- 6L, 6LL, 6LLL, 6LLLL
- Whirling Slash (6LH)

[section=Speed Extender Float Glitch]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQQqQ9osqi4
If you do a Speed Extender and just barely get onto a ledge, you will sometimes just float above the ground in the airborne animation state. So similar to Speed Walking although it’s very precise and not that useful.

# Rising Upper Dodge Cancel

- Rising Upper (5LLH / 6LLH) > Air Dodge [Extremely Difficult]
Extremely difficult (probably Frame Perfect?) and pretty useless, but if you want to style and do some cool combo it might prove useful!

Tips & Tricks

*These are just some random notes, tips and tricks I’ve written down during my casual playthrough of the game. So I decided it might be of use so I’ve compiled and organized everything as best as I can!*

*Note: Some of these aren’t conclusive or 100% certain of how it works as I don’t have time to confirm them all right now. So feel free to correct me if I’m wrong or just haven’t fully explained everything in detail.*

# General

- **Save + Load respawns enemies/items:** If you want to farm something you need to reload the save after saving, or the rooms won’t go back to normal afterwards.
- **Movement during screen transition:** For a couple of frames you can actually start moving even as the screen is black.
- **Speed Potions increase Attack Speed:** You might think it makes you move faster, but it actually makes you attack faster!
- **Speed Potions also affects Skills**
- **Potions can be used at any time:** It doesn’t matter if you’re attacking or getting hit, knocked down, etc, you can always use it!
- **Weapons have different attack speeds:** Usually stronger weapons are slower but have more damage, meanwhile faster weapons have less damage but are faster. You can’t tell until you really use the weapons though.
- **A and B can both skip text:** If you use both you can skip texts faster, but be careful as you sometimes will get an accidental B Skill if you’re not careful with knowing when the text is finished.
- **You can buy up to 999 Potions:** The game actually allows you to buy more than 99!
- **Cooking Buff only counts base stats:** Since the buff only takes into account your base stats (i.e no equipment) it’s not that useful to boost your ATK or DEF, so instead opt to boost your HP, Rage or Luck.

# Movement

- **Dash is always bufferable:** It doesn’t matter if it’s in the air, during an attack, etc, you can always input a Dash and as long as you keep holding it, then it will come out as soon as possible.
- **1 Jump in air only:** Even if you run off a ledge with both jumps unused, you still can only use one in the air.
- **Air Dodge gives a bit of extra height:** If you need just an extra bit of height you can use Air Dodge.
- **Jumping from beneath a platform pushes you up:** If you try to jump onto a platform from the sides, you sometimes just barely can’t make it. But if you try it from underneath it will sometimes push you up.

# Combat

- **Dodge can cancel any action:** This is true for the startup, during the attack as well as the recovery. It’s also the same while in the air. Anything can basically be canceled, except Dodge itself and Skills.
- **Holding Forward during attacks makes you move:** This makes it easier to chase opponents if they’re just outside your range. And vice versa if you want to stay still you keep your Control Stick neutral.
- **Enemies are invulnerable after knockdowns:** Because of this you want to avoid knocking down enemies most of the time. (Although it seems that some enemies might not be invulnerable when knocked down or if certain attacks only can hit them? Not sure yet…)
- **Dash Attacks only need you to be dashing:** You actually don’t need to do the Forward > Forward > Light/Heavy Attack in a quick succession to do it. All you need is to attack while you’re dashing. This is actually also possible when knocked down!
You can change direction mid-strings: Just turn after your attacks and you will turn around, even if you’re mid-string!
- **Dizzy and Petrified Status Effects can be mashed out:** If you mash during these you will escape faster. (I think the Control Sticks helps too, although unsure of what the optimal mashing technique would be)
- **Random Fights aren’t required to kill all enemies (?):** It seems that sometimes the blue barriers go down even if there are enemies still alive. (I’m unsure if you sometimes only need to kill some enemies or if a random bug or something. Maybe some rooms are different? I don’t know…)
- **Hitting multiple enemies/objects extends your attack:** Have you ever felt the game feeling “laggy” when you hit a lot of stuff? Well it’s because your attack remains out, which makes it possible to hit a lot of those that otherwise wouldn’t be possible since the attack “keeps going”.
- **Successful Dodges has specific voice lines from Vivian:** If you Dodge (i.e use the Invincibility Frames from a Dodge to avoid an enemy attack or hazard) Vivian will either say “こち” (Kochi) or “こちら” (Kochira).
- **Skills have Invincibility Frames:** If you’re ever in a bad situation and can’t dodge an attack, use a Skill and you’ll go right through them just fine!
- **You can Dodge periodical effects:** If you’re afflicted with the Lightning Status Effect that makes periodical lightning strikes come down and stun you, it’s actually possible to time a Dodge and avoid it! (Might be doable with more effects as well, but I haven’t tested it yet)
- **You can chain Light Dash Attack into another Light:** For some reason if you time it right you can cancel the ending recovery of a Light Dash Attack into a normal Light attack.
- **Fights are random:** There’s no forced fights, they’re all random (I think?), so if you’re lucky you can manage to avoid fights!
- **You only get knocked down in the air:** If you stay on the ground and get hit, you will still stand on the ground, but if you get hit in the air you will fall.
*Note: There’s exceptions to the ground rule as some enemies' attacks will still knock you down (usually bigger enemies and bosses, etc).*

Name	Author
Difficulty Differences	Nordanix 2 years ago
How To Get The "True Ending"	Nordanix 2 years ago
Speed Measurements	Nordanix 2 years ago
Techniques and Glitches	Nordanix 2 years ago
Tips & Tricks	Nordanix 2 years ago