How do you survive Hardcore mode?

[AnAngeryGoose]

I've gotten good enough at the game that I can beat it fairly regularly*, but I can barely ever get to the jungle with Hardcore mode turned on. I've tried playing cautiously and can trade blows pretty well, but it just seems impossible.

*I play with Minotaurs, Hunger, and Traps turned off. They clash with my more methodical playstyle and were just too much when I first started.

[Caliđa Myriad]

Originally posted by Silverstream:

I've gotten good enough at the game that I can beat it fairly regularly*, but I can barely ever get to the jungle with Hardcore mode turned on. I've tried playing cautiously and can trade blows pretty well, but it just seems impossible.

*I play with Minotaurs, Hunger, and Traps turned off. They clash with my more methodical playstyle and were just too much when I first started.

It seems like alot of trial and error, was well as persistence and not giving up, I would love if enemies had new attacks, instead of just boosted stats, I would play it more if that was so.

But hey, you made it about as far as I did, before I save scummed to see what later levels were like.

Well, I made it to The Laybrinith, actually... But, uh, I died instantly. Scorpion hordes are fun.

[AnAngeryGoose]

Apparently, trial and error really works. So far, I've made it to the end of the Jungle and am doing well. It's difficult, but not absurd like the first zone.

[Caliđa Myriad]

Originally posted by Silverstream:

Apparently, trial and error really works. So far, I've made it to the end of the Jungle and am doing well. It's difficult, but not absurd like the first zone.

Yep. Goblins give it to ya' if you aren't careful. It's a big game of learning, and presevering.

[SquarePlayGaming]

play a monk.. they can run pretty fast. not that strong but if you attack turn away and run you are usually fast enough to not even get hit

[SquarePlayGaming]

you just gotta deal 2-4 more strikes that way

[SquarePlayGaming]

or play ranged class

[AnAngeryGoose]

Playing as a warrior, the Beginnner rank one, I managed to beat classic mode in hardcore. Once you get to the jungle, and especially the Egyptian area and beyond, the game becomes hard but manageable.

[Gogo9001]

sexton is the way to go, with sleep and throwing weapons it's OP, I beat the whole thing with sexton

[fishwizard17]

play cleric just trust me they are overall one of the best especially becuase they are good at pretty much everything but thier skills are low enough that you gain xp much faster and your starting ac is one of the best as well

[Caliđa Myriad]

Originally posted by fishwizard17:

play cleric just trust me they are overall one of the best especially becuase they are good at pretty much everything but thier skills are low enough that you gain xp much faster and your starting ac is one of the best as well

Cleric is a great starting class, though I would advise picking up another class not long after using Cleric.

Cleric is good fun, tho.

[Gogo9001]

Just set the hardcore record with 1:50:57 on hardcore with warrior, utilize shields and shielding with torches.

[Cat]

Shielding isn't viable early game unless you get a lot of them, because they will break. However, throwing weapons let you cheese your way through until you build up the sats and gear to enter melee combat. Sexton gives you reliability early on, but I prefer choosing Warrior and just waiting for RNG to give me a good set of throwing Gear, because it's just faster late-game. It's a good idea to stockpile your potions and crystal shurikens for the final boss fight, and make sure to have plenty of anti-magic gear.

[Gogo9001]

Boi I have won hardcore 3 times now 2 of them in under 2 hours, using blocking as warrior, there are very few viable strategies, but blocking is amazingly useful early and mid game, as well as against the twins

[Caliđa Myriad]

Originally posted by Gogo9001:

Boi I have won hardcore 3 times now 2 of them in under 2 hours, using blocking as warrior, there are very few viable strategies, but blocking is amazingly useful early and mid game, as well as against the twins

This.

Blocking is god-tier in any situation, you can even use lanterns or torches to block.
I always make use of it when I can, solely for extra XP, less damage (Maybe even none), and the fact it usually is only one extra item, that usually won't be too heavy.

[Gogo9001]

Yeah dude, torches + warrior early game is the best combo