Why Rogue-like games like Undermine are my favorite genre: Exhibit A.

[seA]

I just killed a 10th ascension Ponzu when he has only ONE HEAD OUT.

You read that right. One head Ponzu. 10th Ascension.

I've just had the best run (for now). This is the second time I've experienced it, first with a perfect Clone run on EtG.

Those moments when the stars align? They're why I would spend hours meticulously grinding and manipulating RNG and maximizing efficiency to get the best combos for the most absurd synergies.

But before I got into the story of my current run, here's a bit of a tidbit:
Those strange crystal-like pedestal in the caverns that refracts beams and projectiles shot into it? They refract master pickaxe projectiles too in your favor.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1943546343

It first started with me getting into the Opulent Demon's lair and picking Glass Cannon. It increases my swing damage to 150, but reduces max health to 100. I played carefully, eventually getting an early Kurtz's stache and Inverter, allowing me to stack up curses and blessings. I also got Guidance and Lucky Charm along the way that allows me to clear mob rooms carefully, but the fun part was when I got the transmutagen bomb. That really allows me to find the relics I needed most, and so as the run progresses I focused more and more to swing-related and plus damage relics (including critical ones) like:

1. Iron Branch
   
2. Knight Pendant
   
3. Queen's Crown
   
4. Hyperstone
   
5. Queen's Crown
   
6. Demon Ring
   
7. Dillon's Claw
   
8. Shadow Fang

Ultimately however, what got me into absurd levels of damage are two relics:

1. Master Pickaxe
   
2. Keyblade

When I got master pickaxe, I knew I had to go for a keyblade, especially because that's not impossible with the transmutagen bomb. I was also stacking up on bombs and keys (Djinn really helped), eventually getting the potion to swap key and bombs around. I kept that potion until I got the bomb doubling potion, which lead me to getting around 80 keys. Which meant a +160 swing damage.

Before I jumped into Ponzu's lair, I checked my journal to see how much damage I make:

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1943571725
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1943571971

5 7 2 swing damage. Like, I knew it was gonna be good, but that's crazy. The next obvious thing to do is add more firepower (because why not?), so I chugged a berserker's brew and the alacrity potion. This is the result:

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1943547455
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1943547605
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1943547757

I dealt basically 690 - 800 damage, with a 1100-1200 critical damage, per master pickaxe projectile.

It was glorious. I fricked up a bit and got hit by that pesky ranged critter though, removing the master pickaxe buff, but the elixir I had topped me off and I proceeded to shred Ponzu to pieces.

After that run, honestly, I can't bring myself to play this game again until, like, next week or something (who am I kidding I'll be playing this tomorrow, I want that 30th ascension achievement.)

It's such a satisfying feeling to be able to get that many synergies together. Nothing beats the feeling of absolutely destroying one of the hardest boss in a few seconds.

I truly love this game. Thank you very much for the developer(s) on making this absolute beauty, it truly captured the spirit of the genre that I fell in love with so many years ago.

I'll be grinding for that 30th ascension stone, hoping all the while that I get another absurd run such as this, and hoping the next update, Gold Core, would introduce even more absurd relics and potions.

Cheers,
A fan.