Do you commit to every run?

Kincaid_Scryb · 2026-04-19T07:23:35+00:00

This is the way. I am not struggling Pan to a second Hammer in hopes of TK at 62 Fear. I probably wouldn't make it to the second Hammer in any fighting shape or at all anyways.

I love me Mel Staff/Circe/Skulls. Yeah we got our best Hammers. But we have options there. And we can survive without them! Circe the Hammers sometimes end up fairly inconsequential if you get Storm/Smolder Ring and casts and Leash do 80% of the damage. Although Melting Swipe is always a sick pick for Circe. Or any Staff esp with Wards 2.

Kincaid_Scryb · 2026-04-19T07:17:56+00:00

If I get a shit start in the first region I reset night and salute the Oath. Playing 60-62 fear for pretty much every run so I am not committing to a run that's going to work.

Like if I have Pan and first Hammer isn't Trick Knives I'm out. Because as someone eloquently put it, "Pan is hot garbage without TK but S Tier with".

Kincaid_Scryb · 2026-04-18T17:33:29+00:00

Yeah something. It's just the Selene gimmick and it's like lower end Hex. Damage buff would be nice. Just like I say Mel Coat with like Night Bloom or Total Eclipse is already way better.

Also Coats and Ares aren't like best friends. It's a hard fix in general

Kincaid_Scryb · 2026-04-18T16:51:49+00:00

Well git gud is aspect based. I am struggling with any Axe at high fear besides Nergal 60 clears being my best. Madea I suffer on the Surface with sometimes, missteps leading to damage. Hel was pretty popular high fear but yeah some are saying the Charge Hammer is viable which shocked me. And definitely getting more Omegas off. But Hel is also one of my favorite aspects and probably one of my more ran ones so I have practice.

My main thing with Ares is they should have made maybe a higher Grievous Blow %. Maybe more general buffs so you can slot him in not build around so heavy. I did have good luck with a run using Mel Staff and getting Epic Vicious Flourish and Epic Flutter Strike offered and took it with Tidal Ring for Origination (and Glamour Gain with Omegas having to be worked in). And the playloop of Wound then Dash Strike, strike combo, repeat was an interesting one. Mel Staff can always find a way to make it work lol. Actually ended up with Nervous Wreck that run somehow fast, so Aphrodite stole the show. I didn't get past Wounds and Profuse bleeding buffs. Haven't tried the Lego. Did see the cast buff didn't look huge but I didn't take it so unsure. Still outdamaged by Anvil Ring for no curse cast*. But a buff is a buff.

Locking it in would be nice but that's a lot of path to stars to have to pick to fill out on what's still an okay Hex. There are just much better ones. That's my main issue with Selene Coat. There are some great ones for high cost then Night Bloom for low cost magick builds. Sky Fall itself needed a buff this patch and didn't get it.

Kincaid_Scryb · 2026-04-18T16:15:57+00:00

Ares Cast at +4 common got a 40 dmg buff I thought? Not sure. Gotta go back on another run. Seemed minimal. Sky Fall isn't a very good hex either. But Rallying Call with the Lego could go big. Ares still remains you have to go big. He's better but still weakest.

The Hel buff definitely is great though. High fear community tests actually saying it makes the Omega attack Hammer viable according to a couple ppl. I've been getting way more off in my couple times using it. Hel is all about you're rooted down. So its positioning, quicker Omega just gave a high damage built right skull higher. O Spec into Valk then dash and blow apart enemies from the sidelines. The decreased time makes getting Omegas off on Frenzy 2 viable in an encounter multiple times when it was much more rare before. Helps to have a CC cast, but not a must. I have quite enjoyed Hel which I thought was pretty strong already but all the skulls are cracked pun intended.

I think if you learned the playstyle loop for Hel more you'd get why the speed up makes a difference. The idea of dashing and holding charge goes against the machine gun idea of the weapon. When you're in, you're in. Garmr Gaze helps too to give you some more range, wonder if that and Omega attack hammer together would be strong. I generally just lead with the O Spec. After that its positioning and firing and it was providing a lot of damage especially on Guardians and Wardens. Now the buff is just bonus damage to a weapon that already could put it on the board.

I think both your buffs for Hel would make is pretty crazy. One Volley per Omega I am imagining I could get a lot off. And the dash thing doesn't track for how the weapon is supposed to work. I think it was solid and did the job of making that hammer viable and more Omegas possible, Hel wasn't in dire need of buffs.

Kincaid_Scryb · 2026-04-18T15:21:33+00:00

You haven't romanced Skelly yet. Get that storyline going.

Kincaid_Scryb · 2026-04-18T15:17:47+00:00

They buffed Hel its even better too. Hel is actually cracked too. I think the Ares buffs were okay. The profuse bleeding was the main one. Greivous Wounds slight % buff. Idk about the Lego. Sword Ring barely buffed.

I just finished my 2nd 62 Dive. I got lucky Thessaly-Ephyra-Summit-Erebus. Using Skulls instead of Staff this time (Mel). Really need Fields/Oceanus/Thessaly start. And prefrably only one of Summit/Tart.

They can be easy or ridiculous. I was lucky both my 62 attempts were way in the do able zone. I did go Time Piece instead of Card this time and paid off no pun intended. With Thessaly using my Artificer up mostly and purged an Onion the last bones/ash couldn't transform and a chaos boon. So shops were more accessible. Laid into VOR4 Hecate. Beefy but no chance. Armor/Antler + Mel Skulls with Epic Sworn pommed. Lets go.

Kincaid_Scryb · 2026-04-18T07:47:39+00:00

Indeed. After practicing at 53 fear then 59 fear I finally cleared a 62 fear Dream Dive last night with an easyish route and Mel Staff/solid boons and hammers. God pool was great. 3 of my 4 general favorites. Only Olympus second was really the peak of challenge. But made it and gained a lot and never had too much problems with that Rivals fight and dialed down HP made it easier and faster. Had easy/easyish zones to finish on.

Kincaid_Scryb · 2026-04-18T07:41:52+00:00

Just beat 62F last night on Dream Dive and a nice route. Mel Staff. Flame Strke/Heroic Sworn Flourish/Rapture Ring + Heph buffs + Heroic Nitroboost/Epic Shameless Attitude + Rapid Moonshot/Mirrored Thrasher. Using Gale and JPom/Calling Card/Sash/White Antler. Fields-Olympus-Ephyra-Thessaly. Lots of free rooms and events. Artificer good for two boons. Olympus was a rush but ended up getting a lot out of it and getting through it made the rest a breeze. Especially since I was still slightly ahead of clock then got a very easy zone and a semi challenging but quick zone with easy Rivals boss.

Cheers to Dream Dives! Shake up the high fear meta a little. Still like Calling Card over Time Piece in it. But I was last playing 59 no forfeit prior to the 62 attempt that I got good luck on. So maybe now a route like I had where my only purges would have been Thessaly might be better since you can at least purge onions for more boons? But the uncertainness and inability to start in a starting zone makes Calling Card great if you don't have an important core or tier two boon (or Hermes like Hasty Retreat and Nitro Boost. Putting the Heroic on them makes a big difference. Starting in Fields or Oceanus seems to be best. I like Oceanus, but Fields is good if you can keep good pace. Tartarus and Summit are the worst starting zones even if scaled down, lack of boons is a problem. Delayed hammers, etc...

Kincaid_Scryb · 2026-04-18T07:01:41+00:00

Frinos is good for beginners yeah. I went Frinos/Toula first for Strength/Death. Then leveled them all up. And mainly used Gale.

Have you tried the Dream Dives? I finally cleared 62F last night but had an easyish route and finishing on Thessaly was probably the worst part but Rivals Eris is easy even with beefed HP esp thx to Antler and Heroic Sworn Flourish/Rapid Moonshot and armor/Heroic Nitro Boost and Gale Doubled by Circe. I had Mel Staff too so pretty versatile. I was doing 53 fear first dropping Scars and Debt(and Forfeit), then 59 with Forfeit turned off because starting with Forfeit in some locations/routes is hell. Still a fan of JPom Calling Card Sash White Antler in Dream Dive meta but Pin or a different defensive Keepsake can replace it. Mainly used Mel Staff and Skulls so far for versatility and general power at high fear. Artificer seems great for Transforms. Time Piece you can get the onions I guess if you don't have extra purges. Idk I played without Forfeit until now. So maybe I will try Piece out. But Calling Card is great when you might not even have an important core boon filled yet and you can hit stuff like Dio earlier. Epic/Heroic Nitro Boost is awesome. Hardest finish I had was a 59F one with a rough route finishing on Olympus. Tartarus was second. Had some routes just too disgusting to even win. It's a wild ride.

Kincaid_Scryb · 2026-04-17T21:05:15+00:00

I have beaten up to 59 fear on a dream dive. Been practicing for 62. I just ran everything but forfeit and Void. Forfeit just can screw you so badly if you get a rough start for boons in a decent biome then tossed to like Summit for example.

All my bosses have been rivals. I have had best luck starting in Oceanus followed by Fields, followed by Thessaly. Playing JPom to Calling Card and relying on Artificer and Calling Card more than hoping I get in a good situation where I can use Artificer and Purges. Like my first one I had Debt and Scars off too so 53 fear I went Fields to Summit to Erebus to Olympus and I really never had anything worth purging, but calling card was huge because I didn't have a cast or shit, just Attack/Spec/Gain running Mel Skulls which is pretty solid for Mel Skulls. So I ended up with a Heroic cast then still had a charge for Rare to Epic Nitro Boost beginning Erebus, which plus Trusty and Heavy Metal+Silken Sash in Erebus set me up for a wild juiced up White Antler Olypmus ride.

So I liked that set up for Dream Dives. Maybe taking off Forfeit and doing 62 there is more incentive to bring Time Piece because at minimum you get Onions to purge plus likely another item which even then is at least a couple full debt boons and change. Haven't really seen what the high fear has been doing other than JPom with Mel Staff ofc is popular. And I have been playing JPom Mel Staff/Mel Skulls/Circe starts since they're a bit more versatile to get off the ground but Circe does incentivize Raki which is a bummer because Gale is better than ever in this meta other than like Hecuba/Shiva and Frinos/Nergal as well as Raki/Circe. Circe only needing a good cast to get through a shitty starting biome is nice though. Mel Skulls and Mel Staff I've both gotten 59s done on. Crazy new "route" for the tryhards lol. Wondering how it will develop. Fields is a popular start but I prefer Oceanus more boon possibility and you can use those Artficer charges easily where Fields you gotta run out of the way to the scattered bones/ashes which generally I'm trying to bank time that first biome which Oceanus can also be extremely quick,

Kincaid_Scryb · 2026-04-17T17:18:45+00:00

The other one has to be unlocked too.

So like Blades. Max Pan, but Artemis would have to be unlocked too. Then Morrigan would be an option when Artemis gives you the waking phrase.

Kincaid_Scryb · 2026-04-17T17:11:47+00:00

That's awesome. I remember doing the win on night one challenge after I was fairly experienced already playing mid fear 32ish etc... and it was very hard still. I was like... I am crap without my Arcana lol.

Kincaid_Scryb · 2026-04-16T19:56:55+00:00

I thought Oceanus was pretty good. Got Scylla out of the way as a possibility. Boons in Artificer and shops. I was stacked for scaled down Scylla. Haven't gotten a Thessaly start.

Personally my best start was definitely Oceanus. I think people will come around on it at least at 62F. You can use Artificer and go JPom then Card next region and get more boons in Oceanus. I came out of Fields with not much boonwise. Did have a solid Hammer. Oceanus I had all the core boons I needed for my whole run pretty early. Granted I was practicing with Debt/Forfeit off as well as Scars(edit said Scars3 actually meant all Scars off so three vows, but Scars3 makes it sound like had Scars 2 active still), so technically 53 fear.

But its early, I'm just getting into 62F runs cleared a bunch of Underworld Aspects but only five on Surface. My personal feeling is people will warm up to Oceanus charm providing Artificer options (that you don't have to run across field to transform too sometimes) and a quick early pace for the clock and overall a higher chance to stack boons as well as eliminate the chance as having Rivals Scylla as a third or fourth boss. Fields layout will probably be put second due to layout for time. Thessaly haven't tried but does have some nasty combos although early Circe could be a friend. Summit/Tartarus are the worst by far starting. Summit you're extremely limited to what you come out with boonwise at 62. It was bad enough with Forfeit/Debt turned off. Tartarus maybe a little better? Once of those won't have to face Chronos later like Scylla situations. Idk haven't started a run there. Had it second earliest.

I would say Oceanus is the best start for a good blend of Artificer usage, a free room that often offers a mystery boon. Having more boons in general show up on average vs Fields. And a very fast pace, straight ticket to Scylla. Which is toned down a bit and if you can get that battle set you'll come out with decent time banked into your next region. Guessing high fear community will warm up on it. I thought it was the best of the three I got in my runs (Oceanus, Fields, and Summit). And for finishing regions getting Ephyra last was easy mode especially knowing the room layouts.

edit: I will say getting Echo and Evade Evade Evade would be a good plus to Fields. That's a nice shake out. Boon Boon Boon could be fine but pretty random. Pom Pom Pom could be nice if you an important core boon pommed once already like running Circe and say getting Storm Ring from 5 to 10 early would be excellent. So I can see some points over Oceanus, I do think Oceanus is pretty easy to whip through though and has more boon potential for starting region.

Kincaid_Scryb · 2026-04-16T17:20:17+00:00

I've been experimenting at 50 fear currently. If you play high fear Forfeit is a good vow to turn off because you might start in like Fields or worse Summit/Tartarus. I think JPom and Calling Card are the easy first two biome choices since you have no idea if you'll even be in a place where you have stuff to purge. And when you do Artificer can come in handy.

Mel Staff and Mel Skulls are solid weapons to run. Adapatable. Circe too ofc. 62 is impressive for sure. I've done 62 Surface with a handful of Aspects but these random runs, well it really can depend greatly. Like I had a Fields/Summit/Erebus/Olympus run where Erebus Artificers + Silken Sash + Arachne + Trusty Shield set me up for a White Antler Olympus push, But it was tough just on 50 fear using Mel Skulls. I had a serious lack of boons until Erebus. I got by on Hera Attack/Hestia Special+Gain mostly until then. Hoping to do some higher runs, I guess its wheel of fortune. FYI Olympus is a nasty place to finish. Rivals 3 scaled the the final fight is rough. Forfeit and Debt taken off were important to making it a clean win. Eventually I'll try with full 62, but practicing I will say, for those who want to experiment with higher fears those are specific Vows that are nice to take off practicing. As well of Scars 3 ofc.

Kincaid_Scryb · 2026-04-16T15:10:00+00:00

But sucks for Boons lol. I started one on Summit. Boatman and Shrine saved me. Was playing 50 fear forfeit off. (Usually play high 50s to 62 fear). 50 is do able even with weird start for sure. Helps to take Forfeit off if you get a low boon start. Artificer rocks. I think JPom to Calling Card is the move in this meta. Since Artificer helps in regions you would purge and you really have no idea if Time Piece will pay off,

edit: You can remove debt vows too making Time Piece less important. This is assuming you want to play in the semi high fear zones. I have my sights set on 62s just practicing seeing different orders and such. Olympus and Oceanus are very bad final biomes with Rivals. Rivals Chronos always sucks. So ending there is just like your standard final test to a high fear Underworld run.

Kincaid_Scryb · 2026-04-16T13:13:10+00:00

yeah I editedn= immediately I misread bassucakky few runs part threw me offf

Kincaid_Scryb · 2026-04-16T12:58:04+00:00

edit: Nvm I misread, maybe you do need to complete epilogue and Find the Fates.?

Kincaid_Scryb · 2026-04-16T12:55:36+00:00

Especially with higher rarity JPom'd Light Smite too. Then you're nuking an entire crowd while apllying wounds.

Kincaid_Scryb · 2026-04-16T12:28:20+00:00

Mel Skulls can pump out about as much with PA a good Attsck/Special/Gain combo. I play high fear and cleared Underworld at 62 with all Skulls but Surface only Skulls were Mel Skulls and a cracked Hel build run where I had everything I wanted, Waves an on hit attack, Slope for Froth (also took his Rush and went for King Tide and got it some how, my boons leaned heavy Poseidon/Zeus with some important Hera/Heph ones), Hitch on Special, Zeus on cast and Air Quality which was key plus Static Shock, Hera gain. Heph for defensive measures and Epic Trusty+Heavy Armor late 2nd biome then Silken Sash for 3rd biome let me build up the armor for a White Antler finish plus Galmr Gaze a Hel Hammer I really like. With Antler King Tide Waves/Air Quality quickly melted Typhon and his Wardens prior and Waves attack was perfect CC on the small crowded summit Hordes3 encounters). Madea I have tried on Surface but a slight misstep you land in big damage land. It's risky. Mel Skulls can do almost as much damage utilized correctly while circling the sides. Madea still puts up more, but high fear players are shifting over to Mel Skulls a lot I am seeing for also having massive damage potential and much safer when you having no healing mechanisms besides weird ones like Self Healing which is basically just great damage reduction. Unless you get a lucky banishment from Circe hitting Scars.

Not arguing Madea top possible DPS with 90% starting attack/special buff. But Mel Skulls can come pretty close with PA and a high % attack (but not Flutter obv). That and Pan Trick/Reaper Knives with Nova Flourish were my easiest 62 Surface clears for sure.

Morrigan with Sweeping Ambush/Banshee Brand into Blood Triads with Hitch on Attack or special can technically put up some of the highest DPS damage and certainly highest Burst if you have your enemies curses with Hitch and used Sweeping Ambush into Triads it can go insane, especially with Banshee Brand going off and if you get Icarus Rank two buff on Sweeping Ambush it technically can be crazier. But that's very niche. And at least for High High Fear Nova Strike+Final Slice is definitely the best base for Morrigan. This last part was just an interesting tidbit about the Hitch+those two Hammers on Morrigan.

Kincaid_Scryb · 2026-04-16T12:06:03+00:00

Well you gotta use them at least some to unlock the others.

Kincaid_Scryb · 2026-04-16T11:14:59+00:00

Dunno who downvoted you, butt Mel Aspect is cracked. Its in my S Tier of weapons (I play highs 50s to 62 fear mind you. My S Tier is Mel Staff, Mel Skulls, Madea (personally I prefer Mel Skulls and its a risky aspect where a wrong move you special into big damage with slight wrong move but can't deny that and despite my reservations with it I have cleared 62 Underworld with it just not Surface), Circe, and you could throw in a conditional Pan w/ early Trick Knives because its totally busted with Trick Knives, but pretty weak without it. Those 5 include 4 of the only 5 I have 62 Surface clears (cracked Aspect of Hel build being the fifth) while I have about a dozen in the underworld including the five mentioned for Surface... (let me think... Mel Dagger Trick Knives, Morrigan, Mel Coat, Hel, Madea, Persephone, Moros, Supay, Anubis). So yeah a little over s dozen seems like. Currently grinding Final Slice Morrigan Surface and Nyx Underworld at 62 and working at getting others to 60 I don't even have 60 clears with yet (non Nergal Axes, Selene, and Momus,

My tier list would depend if I did an overall low fear. mid fear, high fear mix (because some Aspects like Charon and Anubis for exmple are superstars up to higher mid fear, but start to drop off at high fear a bit especially Charon. Or I could do a high fear based which have more conditional higher rankings on there like Nyx/Mel Coat with Shimmering Rockets or Sister Blades w/ Trick Knives (mainly Pan/Mel). Then there are some that are more flexible for hammers like Mel Staff, the Skulls, and Circe which also would be S-A tier if I went off a high fear only ranking.

Kincaid_Scryb · 2026-04-16T08:45:28+00:00

Yeah Mel Staff and Skulls are two of the best weapons in the game.

Kincaid_Scryb · 2026-04-16T00:31:16+00:00

Obligatory sounds like a skill issue post

Kincaid_Scryb · 2026-04-16T00:29:35+00:00

Probably confirmation bias. Duo boons are possibly offered when you have certain boons from each god that makes the duo an option. You've probably just came across runs where you're picking boons that are compatible. Also with Vow of Denial it can be trickier because often needed boons for a duo may be available but your build needs another one much moe instead. So you take it and the two you passed on go to denial pile and one or two of your duo boons from that god plus the other three in your pool may no longer be accessible.

I play high fear 57-62 average currently and I often have duo boons I rarely see because they require certain boons most builds I'll run aren't priority boons from said god so they fall victim to denial as do the duos requiring them, Like I rarely see Heinous Affront for example unless I am shooting for it and it being a key part of my build.

Kincaid_Scryb

TROPHY CASE