Is there a challenge guide anywhere?

[Cyber Akuma]

I have no idea how to take on any of the challenges, even before the 4th level was added the challenge achievements were the only ones I did not have.

I was unable to do any of them except the first one of the first level. The second one seems impossible since just about anything that's not a boss dies in one hit (Am I supposed to remove all of my purchased upgrades in order to do this? Do I have to worry about what order I buy them back if I do like in Vampire Survivors or is it just a static cost and it does not scale from other purchases?)

That second level's 1HP one feels like I just have to get lucky and not run into anything.... which is a bit annoying with the bosses that spam beams everywhere or unkillable phantoms chasing you.

Anyway, basically, I am BAD at this. Are there any guides for the challenges to help me figure out how to even try taking them on?

[Highborne]

Before I respond in detail, how much Coins do you have for upgrades?

[Cyber Akuma]

113K, but I already have all the upgrades and all the unlocks except for one.

[Highborne]

Well you can't have all the unlocks with only 113k coins, but the primary ones.

Map 1 - Challenge 1
As you pointed out, easy challenge. I simply take all offense level ups, can ignore everything else. Don't move unless you go after a chest, stand still and everything dies. I have just recorded a low upgrade run (only exp bonus, pickup radius, and crit chance) with no Study levels, ending at level 70, with no risk.

Map 1 - Challenge 2
Choose Crusader Poxbringer
This is counter-intuitive, but you beat this by NOT upgrading Max HP and 100% not take any points into Retaliation (all other upgrades are perfectly reasonable)
The key here is to take all offensive upgrades (Crit, Damage, Ascension, duration, etc.) and HP Regen & Shield/Negate (evasion also not bad but enemies really should never actually touch you, I have won with 0 damage taken).
DO NOT TAKE: Size increase, Buckler/Defense, Max HP (if you can avoid it), any actual attacks, and 100% no Death Sting.
If you are leveling a lot pick up useless things, movement speed, pickup radius, etc.
Path wise, choose Left then Right paths (keep your Aura small)
Do not go for chests just stand in the middle and never move, you should win no problem.

Map 2 - Challenge 1
No real difficulty here, I suggest Knight (or Divine or Quickling) Void (or any background really) and simply win (can grab full defensive perks, mix in a few offensive ones). You can simply never move and win the challenge.

Map 2 - Challenge 2
More frustrating a bit, but I went Crusader Nomad, grab Shield/Negate as a priority (so you can take hits), otherwise, go full offense/size, grab either Bow or Glyph to 10 (I suggest Bow) so you have screenwide coverage. Takes 1-2 tries tops.

Map 3 - Challenge 1
I went (this sounds counter intuitive as well) Knight Berserker. Full defensive upgrades and offensive upgrades + Ascension. Nothing much to say to be honest, never had a problem.

Map 3 - Challenge 2
Crusader (I went Nomad, but also does not really matter much), no bosses, so you can do death sting stuff (Get death sting, max Glyph (and size) or Bow for screen wide coverage. Or grab offensive perks, doesn't matter.
Simply use your body to block the ghosts from touching the chest when they spawn. Can stand a bit above the bottom of the chest to block probably 80% of them. I end up with the chest at around 60-70% HP at the end. Easy enough.

Map 4 - Challenge 1
This is where challenges become difficult. The map itself is just hard...so I suggest you take Divine Void. Nothing is better than Divine Void. Max out your upgrades as much as possible, and learn how to not die. I suggest getting Evasion, SP Regen, and Death Sting as quickly as possible (Study/Exp also obviously useful). HP Regen is the second best defensive perk (then +Defense). Go White/Guardian for path.
As always, grab ascension; can win this map with Divine Void zero offensive level up choices, simply passives.
When I say grab passives, get all the offensive passives (damage, crit, chance, duration). Guardian also uses Amount, Projectile Speed, and Movement speed, so can get those as well. Also, ensure you grab at least 2 points in pickup radius relatively early (I'd probably max it out eventually).

Map 4 - Challenge 2
The easiest way, play on Normal Speed, take Merchant or Summoner heritage, the only difficult part is usually the first boss and if he spawns far away. Once he dies should be smooth sailing. Make liberal use of the screen scrolling on the left and right to avoid things as necessary.

[heidi]

For map 4 challenge 2 I go into one of the hedge sections, above where you spawn to the left - that way enemies only come at you from one direction. Then all you have to do is avoid ranged projectiles, which is easy enough.

[Cyber Akuma]

Originally posted by Highborne:

Well you can't have all the unlocks with only 113k coins, but the primary ones.

I'm not sure what you mean by this. As I mentioned, I already bought all upgrades and unlocks except for the one you get from clearing all challenges.

And I tried Level 1 Challenge 2 again several times with your advice, and I can't even survive more than 5 or so minutes. The best was when I attempted to avoid ANY weapon/damage upgrades whatsoever, but even with those I was eventually forced to upgrade a weapon and the second I did I did too much damage and died. Didn't even make it to the first boss. This is really starting to feel like a challenge where if you have upgraded yourself too much it becomes impossible to do.

[Johnny Thunder]

I went poxbringer crusader on map 1 challenge 2 but didn't take damage passives or upgrades. i also went hammers (avoid the second piercing hammer upgrade). also picked up magic missiles i think, just to have an easier time with bosses.

[Highborne]

Originally posted by Cyber Akuma:

Originally posted by Highborne:

Well you can't have all the unlocks with only 113k coins, but the primary ones.

I'm not sure what you mean by this. As I mentioned, I already bought all upgrades and unlocks except for the one you get from clearing all challenges.

And I tried Level 1 Challenge 2 again several times with your advice, and I can't even survive more than 5 or so minutes. The best was when I attempted to avoid ANY weapon/damage upgrades whatsoever, but even with those I was eventually forced to upgrade a weapon and the second I did I did too much damage and died. Didn't even make it to the first boss. This is really starting to feel like a challenge where if you have upgraded yourself too much it becomes impossible to do.

Here is my clear.

https://youtu.be/COnzkHOZBCY

No risk at all, only took a few upgrades (and pet passives since I think those are not turned off in challenges...not sure TBH). Could probably ignore duration, cooldown, amount; in fact I could probably ignore all of them.

Literally, zero risk, didn't move.

[Highborne]

Just did another run. Zero upgrades.

https://youtu.be/9r7nlbGJRb0

No risk at all of dying. The challenge is about as easy as can be really.

[Cyber Akuma]

Originally posted by Highborne:

Just did another run. Zero upgrades.

Wait, do you need to refund all your upgrades first in order to be able to do this? Since all of my upgrades are maxed out.

[Bearis]

here's my suggestion for map 4 challenge 1 if you're still struggling. take raccoon and whatever character you like since it doesn't matter. Early game pick whatever damage actives the game throws at you without rerolling and prioritize new actives instead of leveling existing ones. The reason is that if your meta progression is capped out each individual active should be extremely effective early game just with one point. You also wanna pick up Miniaturize since its the best defensive as well as one point of Shield. Once you feel like you have enough level 1 actives and a couple Miniaturize to easily survive start using your rerolls to look for Spectral Bow, once you get level 10 Spectral Bow you should be powerful enough to stand still and just focus on dodging projectiles till you win. From here you can level up passives that enhance Spectral Bow damage, crit, size, ect. As well as whatever other actives you feel like since it shouldn't matter anymore. You don't need Study but more chances for Spectral Bow is nice. Also you should hang out in one of the hedges to funnel enemies.

[Highborne]

Originally posted by Cyber Akuma:

Originally posted by Highborne:

Just did another run. Zero upgrades.

Wait, do you need to refund all your upgrades first in order to be able to do this? Since all of my upgrades are maxed out.

? No, i refunded by upgrades (there is a button at the bottom of screen to do this). The only upgrades you DO NOT WANT is Retaliation. Max HP is also a net negative but shouldn't affect the run if you have it.

[Axetwin]

For the second challenge on map 1, I used Quickling and Voidwalker. DO NOT MOVE. Then it's just a case of picking nothing but defensive passives. And that's it. The only non-passives you want is Ascension up to level 2 for the HP regen.

[Cass]

yes, the KEY to map 1, challenge 2, is to spec out of your upgrades. in particular, max hp. but, item drop bonus can be dangerous. as well as any of the damage bonuses, and size.

you heal a flat 5 hp, on kill. and TAKE 5% of your max hp on kill. default that is 1000hp, for 50 hp taken on kill.
If you have 1750hp from max hp upgrades, you will heal 5, and take 87hp/kill.

At 1000 hp, if you take 50/kill, if you kill 20 units at ONCE. you will instantly die. regardless of regen. (im not sure if the 5hp heal on kill is simultaneous or subtracted. It might be 23 units.)

So this is why you also do not want to take offensive skills, or even really too many damage upgrades. you want to kill slowly. root and cloak should be good. knockback, very.

I failed an a pox crusader run at 20 min, cause i thought it would be ok to take purifying flames at rank 1... nope. died with "0 damage taken". every time it proced, my hp will dip, till eventually hit too many units and killed me outright.

[Highborne]

Originally posted by Cass:

yes, the KEY to map 1, challenge 2, is to spec out of your upgrades. in particular, max hp. but, item drop bonus can be dangerous. as well as any of the damage bonuses, and size.

you heal a flat 5 hp, on kill. and TAKE 5% of your max hp on kill. default that is 1000hp, for 50 hp taken on kill.
If you have 1750hp from max hp upgrades, you will heal 5, and take 87hp/kill.

At 1000 hp, if you take 50/kill, if you kill 20 units at ONCE. you will instantly die. regardless of regen. (im not sure if the 5hp heal on kill is simultaneous or subtracted. It might be 23 units.)

So this is why you also do not want to take offensive skills, or even really too many damage upgrades. you want to kill slowly. root and cloak should be good. knockback, very.

I failed an a pox crusader run at 20 min, cause i thought it would be ok to take purifying flames at rank 1... nope. died with "0 damage taken". every time it proced, my hp will dip, till eventually hit too many units and killed me outright.

That is certainly one way. I take full offensive skills and ignore defense. Works either way.

[Axetwin]

Originally posted by Highborne:

That is certainly one way. I take full offensive skills and ignore defense. Works either way.

You take full offensive skills in a challenge where killing enemies damages you? And the faster you kill them, the faster you take damage?