Charm build, tips and starts for Pantheon of Hallownest

[HBflis]

I'm going for all achievements and this together with 100% steel soul is all I have left. I would love to hear any tips, experiences charm builds and anything you have to say. Thanks so much!!

[Moh]

I won't call myself an expert on this as I have only just beaten the 5th Pantheon so my charm build may not be the best.
This is the charm build I used and it allow me to always heal damage

Start to Bench 3 - Unbreakable Strength, Quick Focus, Soul Eater, Thorns

Bench 3 to Bench 5 - Unbreakable Strength, Quick Focus, Soul Eater, Nailmaster's Glory (Used for Grimm and 2nd phase sly)

Bench 5 to Bench 6 - Unbreakable Strength, Quick Focus, Soul Eater, Thorns

Bench 6 to Bench 7 - Unbreakable Strength, Quick Focus, Shape of Unn (Used for Nightmare King to heal during fire bats/fire pillars), Soul Catcher, Grubsong

Bench 7 to End - Unbreakable Strength, Quick Focus, Quick Slash, Grubsong, Soul Catcher

I would surgest you do binding challenges for pantheons 1 and 2 to have 3 lifeblood masks when entering a bench room. If you can do binding challenges for pantheons 3 and 4 as well you get 5 lifeblood masks.

[Doctor Fetus]

Practice by heart every boss you struggle with before actually attempting PoH run. Especially the final boss of a Pantheon. Trying to beat it while being incosistent against some particular bosses is a waste of time.

There is no universal charm build, it shoud be changed depending on what bosses you will face next.

Pay a close attention for Markoth and Zote, this combo (and related part of PoH) is very tricky.

[Darth Revan]

I used a quick slash, long nail, mark of pride, unbreakable strength build until the last bench, then switched to an all spell build cuz spells melt radiance

[Syndiciate]

Required: Heart, Strength, Quick Slash.

Optional: Longnail and Grubsong / Mark of Pride / Quick Focus / Shaman Stone.

[ramonpontes]

It would be best if you tell us where do you reach in the Pantheon, so we can give more specific help.

Before starting, I advise that you try to beat the first three Pantheons with Bindings active. You can do one binding at a time. If you can clear 8 bindings, you will unlock the cocoon that gives you 3 blue health masks on the bench area between fights. Every 4 additional bindings you complete will grant you 1 more blue mask, with max being 5 blue masks.

This will help you granting some extra health on the battles, and most importantly, you will have extra training against those bosses.

In my first setup, I used the following charms:
UB Strength
UB Health
Quick Slash
Longnail
Dream Wielder

Feel free to try other combinations. This is just an example, and I was relying much more on my nail than on my spells with the build above. I actually use the following:
UB Strength
Quick Slash
Shaman Stone
Soul Catcher


Now for the fights:
Of course, you should prepare yourself against the bosses you can't consistently defeat, fighting them on the Hall of Gods (HoG). But this alone isn't enough. You should use some bosses to actually recover your HP and make the next fight easier.

I'm listing below the bosses and some general tips for each section.

VENGEFLY KINGS
GRUZ MOTHER
FALSE KNIGHT (heal)
MASSIVE MOSS CHARGER
HORNET PROTECTOR

In the first section, you can use the False Knight to heal as much as you can. Dream nail him when he is stunned, and heal, then continue the battle.
There is a pause after Hornet, without a bench to rest. You can heal here, if you have enough soul after the fight. If you're still low on HP, use the next fight to fully recover.

GORB (Heal)
DUNG DEFENDER
SOUL WARRIOR
BROODING MAWLEK (Heal)
BROTERS ORO AND MATO

Broodling Mawlek was the first point I was struggling. After some practice, I could really learn is movements, and use him to actually heal myself, after the previous set of fights.
Against Oro and Mato, you should be able to beat them without problem, if you're totally healed from the last fight. You can even tank them a bit, but I suggest training against them in the HoG previously.

Bench

XERO
CRYSTAL GUARDIAN
SOUL MASTER (Heal)
OBLOBBLES
SISTERS OF BATTLE

The Soul Master isn't a simple fight, but you must be able to master it before proceeding. You can leave this fight with full health, and try to not loose too much health against the Oblobbes. I was very satisfied if I could end the fight with three missing masks at most.
Against Sister of Battle, you should train on the HoG. A LOT. If you can get past this fight, I bet you will be able to reach very far in this Pantheon, since the next fights should be easier. When you battle the first sister alone, you can deal moderate damage, accumulating soul and healing when she is in the wall, throwing her scythe. Then defeat her and proceed to the second part of this fight.

Bench

MARMU
FLUKEMARM
BROKEN VESSEL
GALIEN
PAINTMASTER SHEO

The first two fights should be easy. Try to not lose too much health on Broken Vessel, and heal when he staggers, and at the end.
Against Galien, try to dispose him off as fast as possible with Abyss Shriek.
Paintmaster Sheo seems to be a tough boss, but if you have full health, max nail damage, and quick slash, you can even face tank him, and he will be defeated in no time. Anyway, train against him in the HoG to be sure you can get past him without problem.

Bench

HIVE KNIGHT
ELDER HU (Heal)
THE COLLECTOR
GOD TAMER
TROUPE MASTER GRIMM

If you don't know how to deal with the hive Knight, just defeat him as fast as possible, even taking damage, and use Elder Hu to heal. Don't kill him, unless you're already at full HP.
The Collector is really easy with the Pure Nail. Try to not lose HP against him, and heal at the end, if necessary.
God Tamer also isn't very hard, but sometimes he can be a pain. I usually keep pogoing over the beast, and dodge the God Tamer itself when he jumps. There is a huge window for healing at the end of this fight.
TM Grimm shouldn't be a problem, but he comes after a long string of fights. You should be careful, and don't take unnecessary risks if you're not confident enough against him.

Bench

WATCHER KNIGHTS
UUMUU (Heal)
WINGED NOSK
NAILSAGE SLY
HORNET SENTINEL

The Watcher Knights can be annoying sometimes, if you struggle too much against them, you should learn how to deal with Uumuu, and finish his fight with full health.
Nosk too, you should aim to not loose to much HP, and heal as much as you can at the end of the fight.
Sly is the next. He is tough, but with some training at HoG, you can beat him taking very little damage. You have a good window for healing at the end of the fight, and you can even dream nail him for more Soul.
Hornet Sentinel isn't harder than Sly, but you should train against her in the Hall of Gods as well.

Bench

ENRAGED GUARDIAN
LOST KIN
NO EYES (Heal)
TRAITOR LORD
WHITE DEFENDER

Deal with the first two bosses, then use No Eyes to heal yourself. If you have problem navigating through the screen with all those ghosts, stay at the bottom, and dodge from there, waiting her approach your position.
Traitor Lord deals 2 masks of damage with his attacks, so training against him in the HoG is extremely advised.
White Defender isn't the hardest boss of this set, but you may have little HP when reaching him. Again, if you have problems with Him, train in the HoG.

Bench

SOUL TYRANT
MARKOTH
GREY PRINCE ZOTE
FAILED CHAMPION (Heal)
NIGHTMARE KING GRIMM

This is the hardest set of bosses since Sisters of Battle.
Against Soul Tyrant, you should aim to finish the fight with full HP. You will need it for the next two fights.
Markoth is my personal nightmare. I can't give any better advice than training more and more against him.
GP Zote is also hard, so you need to train against him in the HoG as well. Remember that Descend Dark is very useful in this fight, specially when he dives through the ground and appears above you.
Failed Champion should be the boss you use to heal and recover Soul. You will certainly need it for the next fight. Don't underestimate him, he is not so easy, and he deals 2 masks of damage.I like to have the Dream Wielder in this fight, because it allows you to Dream Nail him faster, an recover twice the amount of Soul. This will allow you to fully recover at the end of the fight. Don't be greedy in the middle of the fight. If you need healing, when he is stunned, Dream Nail once, and heal twice. You have a huge window at the end to fully heal and steal more soul from him.

Bench

PURE VESSEL
ABSOLUTE RADIANCE

Those are the two final fights of this Pantheon, and they deserve a section of hints each one. If you reach this point, you should train, train and train more. You should be able to consistently defeat them in the HoG before attempting this fight in the Pantheon.


Sorry for the extensive text. I hope that this may help you. If there is any specific point you want to ask for hints, let us know.

[HBflis]

Originally posted by ramonpontes:

It would be best if you tell us where do you reach in the Pantheon, so we can give more specific help.

Before starting, I advise that you try to beat the first three Pantheons with Bindings active. You can do one binding at a time. If you can clear 8 bindings, you will unlock the cocoon that gives you 3 blue health masks on the bench area between fights. Every 4 additional bindings you complete will grant you 1 more blue mask, with max being 5 blue masks.

This will help you granting some extra health on the battles, and most importantly, you will have extra training against those bosses.

In my first setup, I used the following charms:
UB Strength
UB Health
Quick Slash
Longnail
Dream Wielder

Feel free to try other combinations. This is just an example, and I was relying much more on my nail than on my spells with the build above. I actually use the following:
UB Strength
Quick Slash
Shaman Stone
Soul Catcher


Now for the fights:
Of course, you should prepare yourself against the bosses you can't consistently defeat, fighting them on the Hall of Gods (HoG). But this alone isn't enough. You should use some bosses to actually recover your HP and make the next fight easier.

I'm listing below the bosses and some general tips for each section.

VENGEFLY KINGS
GRUZ MOTHER
FALSE KNIGHT (heal)
MASSIVE MOSS CHARGER
HORNET PROTECTOR

In the first section, you can use the False Knight to heal as much as you can. Dream nail him when he is stunned, and heal, then continue the battle.
There is a pause after Hornet, without a bench to rest. You can heal here, if you have enough soul after the fight. If you're still low on HP, use the next fight to fully recover.

GORB (Heal)
DUNG DEFENDER
SOUL WARRIOR
BROODING MAWLEK (Heal)
BROTERS ORO AND MATO

Broodling Mawlek was the first point I was struggling. After some practice, I could really learn is movements, and use him to actually heal myself, after the previous set of fights.
Against Oro and Mato, you should be able to beat them without problem, if you're totally healed from the last fight. You can even tank them a bit, but I suggest training against them in the HoG previously.

Bench

XERO
CRYSTAL GUARDIAN
SOUL MASTER (Heal)
OBLOBBLES
SISTERS OF BATTLE

The Soul Master isn't a simple fight, but you must be able to master it before proceeding. You can leave this fight with full health, and try to not loose too much health against the Oblobbes. I was very satisfied if I could end the fight with three missing masks at most.
Against Sister of Battle, you should train on the HoG. A LOT. If you can get past this fight, I bet you will be able to reach very far in this Pantheon, since the next fights should be easier. When you battle the first sister alone, you can deal moderate damage, accumulating soul and healing when she is in the wall, throwing her scythe. Then defeat her and proceed to the second part of this fight.

Bench

MARMU
FLUKEMARM
BROKEN VESSEL
GALIEN
PAINTMASTER SHEO

The first two fights should be easy. Try to not lose too much health on Broken Vessel, and heal when he staggers, and at the end.
Against Galien, try to dispose him off as fast as possible with Abyss Shriek.
Paintmaster Sheo seems to be a tough boss, but if you have full health, max nail damage, and quick slash, you can even face tank him, and he will be defeated in no time. Anyway, train against him in the HoG to be sure you can get past him without problem.

Bench

HIVE KNIGHT
ELDER HU (Heal)
THE COLLECTOR
GOD TAMER
TROUPE MASTER GRIMM

If you don't know how to deal with the hive Knight, just defeat him as fast as possible, even taking damage, and use Elder Hu to heal. Don't kill him, unless you're already at full HP.
The Collector is really easy with the Pure Nail. Try to not lose HP against him, and heal at the end, if necessary.
God Tamer also isn't very hard, but sometimes he can be a pain. I usually keep pogoing over the beast, and dodge the God Tamer itself when he jumps. There is a huge window for healing at the end of this fight.
TM Grimm shouldn't be a problem, but he comes after a long string of fights. You should be careful, and don't take unnecessary risks if you're not confident enough against him.

Bench

WATCHER KNIGHTS
UUMUU (Heal)
WINGED NOSK
NAILSAGE SLY
HORNET SENTINEL

The Watcher Knights can be annoying sometimes, if you struggle too much against them, you should learn how to deal with Uumuu, and finish his fight with full health.
Nosk too, you should aim to not loose to much HP, and heal as much as you can at the end of the fight.
Sly is the next. He is tough, but with some training at HoG, you can beat him taking very little damage. You have a good window for healing at the end of the fight, and you can even dream nail him for more Soul.
Hornet Sentinel isn't harder than Sly, but you should train against her in the Hall of Gods as well.

Bench

ENRAGED GUARDIAN
LOST KIN
NO EYES (Heal)
TRAITOR LORD
WHITE DEFENDER

Deal with the first two bosses, then use No Eyes to heal yourself. If you have problem navigating through the screen with all those ghosts, stay at the bottom, and dodge from there, waiting her approach your position.
Traitor Lord deals 2 masks of damage with his attacks, so training against him in the HoG is extremely advised.
White Defender isn't the hardest boss of this set, but you may have little HP when reaching him. Again, if you have problems with Him, train in the HoG.

Bench

SOUL TYRANT
MARKOTH
GREY PRINCE ZOTE
FAILED CHAMPION (Heal)
NIGHTMARE KING GRIMM

This is the hardest set of bosses since Sisters of Battle.
Against Soul Tyrant, you should aim to finish the fight with full HP. You will need it for the next two fights.
Markoth is my personal nightmare. I can't give any better advice than training more and more against him.
GP Zote is also hard, so you need to train against him in the HoG as well. Remember that Descend Dark is very useful in this fight, specially when he dives through the ground and appears above you.
Failed Champion should be the boss you use to heal and recover Soul. You will certainly need it for the next fight. Don't underestimate him, he is not so easy, and he deals 2 masks of damage.I like to have the Dream Wielder in this fight, because it allows you to Dream Nail him faster, an recover twice the amount of Soul. This will allow you to fully recover at the end of the fight. Don't be greedy in the middle of the fight. If you need healing, when he is stunned, Dream Nail once, and heal twice. You have a huge window at the end to fully heal and steal more soul from him.

Bench

PURE VESSEL
ABSOLUTE RADIANCE

Those are the two final fights of this Pantheon, and they deserve a section of hints each one. If you reach this point, you should train, train and train more. You should be able to consistently defeat them in the HoG before attempting this fight in the Pantheon.


Sorry for the extensive text. I hope that this may help you. If there is any specific point you want to ask for hints, let us know.

This is some excellent advice thanks so much, i do get stuck on sly and uumuu i suspect Markoth is the true nightmare king if you know what i mean. I will use this advice. Thanks again for taking the time to write this!