Tips and help for a amateur player?

[Papa]

So I've beaten the game, multiple times. But the problem is I can only do well on good setups, like getting brim or ipecac. I try remembering item names and I use the best of my knowledge to help me but it feels like I'm lacking in certain departments. I could really use some pro tips on how to stop taking damage on first floor mobs like an idiot... Maybe it's the way I dodge...? idk man

Just for info, I have all DLCs.

[Zero Grim]

My first tip would be play the easier characters to start with, Azazel can teach you some bad habits here or there but still teaches you to dodge, hes one of the easiest characters to gt wins with because hes very damaging right out the gate without too much downside on the defence.

Samson is also a very good character to play as because whenever you failed to dodge well....you meant to do that, just to buff yourself!

99% of character unlocks can be gotten on normal mode so I recommend playing on that until things feel comfortable than pushing up to hard mode when you feel you can take the extra challenge.

As for just tips on learning to dodge, there like a billion room layouts and what works in one is a bad idea to try in ten others, you mostly just want to practice practice practice, a good method for learning the enemies can be leaving one enemy alive and just letting it attack you for a minute or two, just get used to its speed and any variety in its attacks.

As for strategies that help get wins, remember this little phrase "cowards win", if you have a choice between an underhanded or cowardly tactic versus a brutal and risky one, go coward all the way, why risk your hearts when you can let your enemies die to your orbitals or something.

and last bit of advice early Issac playing me needed, check shops!, shops are really useful, especially in repentance given you get to go into the first shop for free!

[Misery]

May as well add some of my own:

1. Focus on learning enemy patterns. With the difficulty more balanced AND enemy shot speed being up in Hard mode, this is even more important than ever. But really, it's a major aspect of not just this game, but the entire genre. You want to really start to do well... you gotta learn what all those monsters are really capable of, and get a sense of how to deal with them.

2. Experiment. A lot. That item you picked up didnt seem so good? Try it again the next time it shows up. Particularly now that the rebalance happened. Some items can be darned good, but are also situational, and so you need to experiment with them to get a handle on just what they can and cannot do for you. Dont make assumptions about any of them. I've had some darned neat runs lately that focused entirely around items that previously didnt exactly leave much of an impression.

3. Play it slow. Yeah, I know, boss rush and all of that, but for the time being... slow down. Dont rush, and think out your moves before doing them. This is going to help you learn and adapt to things.

4. Dont play angry. If you feel like you're starting to get frustrated or whatever... take a break. You cant learn and improve in that state. Instead, it'll just make everything even worse. It's good to take breaks anyway.

5. Dont be afraid to go look at Platinumgod or the wiki. There's lots of things you can learn from those places. And they can be useful for checking what an item does before you pick it up. I say this as someone with a REALLY bad memory... even after 500+ hours I still cant remember these blasted things. Once modding is available again, consider getting the item descriptions mod. That way you dont have to alt-tab anymore.

[coyle's throat goat]

Originally posted by Zero Grim:

My first tip would be play the easier characters to start with, Azazel can teach you some bad habits here or there but still teaches you to dodge, hes one of the easiest characters to gt wins with because hes very damaging right out the gate without too much downside on the defence.

Samson is also a very good character to play as because whenever you failed to dodge well....you meant to do that, just to buff yourself!

99% of character unlocks can be gotten on normal mode so I recommend playing on that until things feel comfortable than pushing up to hard mode when you feel you can take the extra challenge.

As for just tips on learning to dodge, there like a billion room layouts and what works in one is a bad idea to try in ten others, you mostly just want to practice practice practice, a good method for learning the enemies can be leaving one enemy alive and just letting it attack you for a minute or two, just get used to its speed and any variety in its attacks.

As for strategies that help get wins, remember this little phrase "cowards win", if you have a choice between an underhanded or cowardly tactic versus a brutal and risky one, go coward all the way, why risk your hearts when you can let your enemies die to your orbitals or something.

and last bit of advice early Issac playing me needed, check shops!, shops are really useful, especially in repentance given you get to go into the first shop for free!

referring to the "cowards win" thing, i totally agree. my boyfriend got gnawed leaf and some orbital/turret friends, beat the corpse just by waiting it out LOL... im SO MAD at him, ive been working so hard to beat that stupid boss...

[Zero Grim]

Originally posted by pluto:

referring to the "cowards win" thing, i totally agree. my boyfriend got gnawed leaf and some orbital/turret friends, beat the corpse just by waiting it out LOL... im SO MAD at him, ive been working so hard to beat that stupid boss...

Haha yea, A friend of mine recently got way further than I did with an OP build, I've mostly stopped bothering to try for the key dumbness for now and focusing on filling out the completion marks.

[cuatroballena]

About dodging something that works for me is the tactic I use for shmups, try to focus more in the empty spaces you can run to and not so much the bullets. Also you gotta learn enemy patterns to be able to predict what they are gonna do.
If you are decent at dodging you can manage more when you are not having a good run.
Try playing a lot and don't get too mad If you lose. Good luck

[YCGTW]

Honestly I feel like this game becomes muscle memory the more you play it. I think my only real advice is to keep playing (you'll feel defeated for a lot of your early game play) and find how you like to play. It's a little far off, but once you unlock judas I suggest giving him a try. Having only one heart really helped me learn how to act quick on my toes and his damage is nothing to complain about either.