Upgrade strategy

[MistrBill]

I've fired the game back up since 1.0, and it feels a LOT harder than I remember.

One thing I'd really like to clear up- I know that 1) some resources are finite and can be used up, at least in the early/mid game, and 2) Some encounters are beastly hard even if you're well equipped and know what you're doing. (I'm not, and I don't.)

So it appears that it's entirely possible to hose yourself by using upgrade resources on the wrong things and being unable to pass certain game challenges as a result. I've got some brittle quartzite but I'm afraid to use it.

Anyone have non spoiler advice about this? What to go ahead and use and what to hoard? Only upgrade some weapons and armor, and not others?

Even reading the combat advice, about timing and blocking and so on, I'm finding that I really stink at the combat. Anything to help me get a leg up would be appreciated.

[Padgey]

Well I guess a simple bit of advice right is the levels of each tool and weapon, so for example there is a level 1 2 and 3 axe so why upgrade the level 1 axe at all knowing there is better, for me since they made the stuff finite the best way I do it is the early weapons and armours I don’t upgrade at all as I know at some point I’m getting better stuff and I will never use them again, just upgrade things you know your gonna use, also once you unlock the recipe to make the 1-5 stones then you can at least make the mid level items level 5 quality

[pcdeltalink]

I started a new playthrough on Whoa! difficulty for 1.0 and didn’t know about the finite resources at first so ended up wasting a bit but the game gives you a decent amount exploring that you should be ok to upgrade some stuff. I would recommend saving it for Tier 2 gear though and not wasting it on Tier 1 weapons or armors…like I did…

At this time I’m working with Ladybug armor and Ant Club and that alone is carrying me ok, have cleared Hedge, Pond, and Haze lab just with that.

I don’t know what difficulty you are on but I do recommend practicing perfect blocking. Just save, try some combat out, reload if you die.

[The Talented Wilford Brimley]

Combat is rough because hit boxes are kinda awful. It seems enemy hitboxes are tiny, but their range is exaggerated. I know that eventually I will get used to it, but for how polished the game seems so far, it was a bit jarring to be taking damage from enemies with a clear gap between us but my spear was not long enough to return damage.

[pcdeltalink]

Originally posted by The Talented Wilford Brimley:

Combat is rough because hit boxes are kinda awful. It seems enemy hitboxes are tiny, but their range is exaggerated. I know that eventually I will get used to it, but for how polished the game seems so far, it was a bit jarring to be taking damage from enemies with a clear gap between us but my spear was not long enough to return damage.

It’s more noticeable on the big enemies, like spiders, but yeah most targets have further reach than they appear. Always good practice to block even if you think you’re not in range.

[blackphoenixx]

Originally posted by MistrBill:

So it appears that it's entirely possible to hose yourself by using upgrade resources on the wrong things and being unable to pass certain game challenges as a result. I've got some brittle quartzite but I'm afraid to use it.

You'd have to go out of your way to waste them.

You get more than enough to upgrade 4-5 weapons and armor sets just picking up what you find while doing the story, and pretty much every cave, ravine or little nook has a few too so if you like exploration you'll be drowning in brittle quartzite and marble in no time.

Not to mention that by the time you hit late tier 2 you'll be able to craft them anyway so saving them that long is pointless. Just stock up on larva spikes until then.

So if you're struggling early on upgrading your favorite weapon and armor is fine, you'll find enough as you progress to upgrade your next gear set too.

I definitely recommend upgrading the stinger spear, insect axe and insect hammer and either ladybug or koi armor when you get them, they'll make your journey through tier 2 and early tier 3 content a lot easier.

The higher tier mats are rarer and require some thought on what to spend them on, but up until level 5 you can do one of each weapon and armor set easily enough.

[GAMING_Alligator]

Originally posted by pcdeltalink:

I started a new playthrough on Whoa! difficulty for 1.0 and didn’t know about the finite resources at first so ended up wasting a bit but the game gives you a decent amount exploring that you should be ok to upgrade some stuff. I would recommend saving it for Tier 2 gear though and not wasting it on Tier 1 weapons or armors…like I did…

I did the same thing on normal difficulty and I wish the game had somehow communicated to me that this was a really stupid thing to do. Some consideration would have been helpful for new players here. I now have tier 2 stuff but, having cleared the hedge, pond, haze and red ant chips mostly on level 1 tech, I'm not finding much upgrade material anymore.

[MistrBill]

Thanks for the advice. I figured waiting for Tier II was smart, but didn't know how selective I needed to be. Sounds like, as long as I don't try to upgrade EVERYTHING, it'll be all right. Now if I can just stop sucking at the blocking game...

[blackphoenixx]

Originally posted by MistrBill:

Thanks for the advice. I figured waiting for Tier II was smart, but didn't know how selective I needed to be. Sounds like, as long as I don't try to upgrade EVERYTHING, it'll be all right. Now if I can just stop sucking at the blocking game...

Pick up koi armor if you don't already have it - it looks a little goofy but the piece bonus makes learning how to parry a whole lot less painful, and the set bonus rewards you for it by increasing your damage after a parry.

There'll be a period after switching back to other armors where you have to adjust to the shorter parry window (because with koi it's extremely generous) but it lets you get down the general timing without constantly dying to missed parries.

Ladybug may let you survive mistakes, but koi teaches you not to make them.
It's probably the best designed set in the game when it comes to promoting player skill and rewarding you for it.

[pcdeltalink]

Originally posted by Bookworm:

Originally posted by pcdeltalink:

I started a new playthrough on Whoa! difficulty for 1.0 and didn’t know about the finite resources at first so ended up wasting a bit but the game gives you a decent amount exploring that you should be ok to upgrade some stuff. I would recommend saving it for Tier 2 gear though and not wasting it on Tier 1 weapons or armors…like I did…

I did the same thing on normal difficulty and I wish the game had somehow communicated to me that this was a really stupid thing to do. Some consideration would have been helpful for new players here. I now have tier 2 stuff but, having cleared the hedge, pond, haze and red ant chips mostly on level 1 tech, I'm not finding much upgrade material anymore.

There are eventually recipes to craft the things but those come from later chips. For now, I have to figure out how to deal with the Assisstant Manager on Whoa difficulty with crappy gear...I'm not yet sure how I'm going to beat him.

[Mrayse]

I just used my Red Ant Club +5 for Assistant Manager on Whoa.
It deals decent dmg and 3 shots the adds with 1 combo.
I haven't found the game hard at all to be honest and the 1.0 release is my first time playing it.
Anyone that is struggling on Solo Woah, feel free to add me and i'll give you lots of tips with progression and whatever you're struggling with at the time.

[MistrBill]

Since posting the OP, I've used the upgrades on Ladybug armor and the Red Ant Club. Combat's not too difficult if you pay attention to the way the game handles blocking- it saves a lot of grief if you time your attack and defense instead of just going in swinging. Multiple opponents are still a problem for me.

I haven't faced the assistant manager, I've just read that he's a big step up in difficulty when you get to him. Fingers crossed.

[Jynn]

my strategy solo is:

Get ladybug armor, tier 2 axe and hammer, mosquito needle, weevil shield

- Defeated Assistant manager using ladybug armor, shield, and tier 2 hammer

Then get Black ant shield, black ant sword, ant lion armor

After that i go to Upper yard and work on Roly Poly armor, tier 3 axe and hammer, and salt mace

With the new content, i've gone Fire ant armor, fire ant shield, toenail scimitar, rusty spear

[blackphoenixx]

You should try to get a black ant sword before going to the haze if at all possible, since pretty much everything there except the ladybugs is weak to slashing.

The black ant armor should also not be discounted. The set piece and sleek effects for extra crit and hyperstamina on block make it a really good dps armor for a solo once you no longer need ladybugs defensive benefits to survive.

[pcdeltalink]

Originally posted by Red:

I just used my Red Ant Club +5 for Assistant Manager on Whoa.
It deals decent dmg and 3 shots the adds with 1 combo.
I haven't found the game hard at all to be honest and the 1.0 release is my first time playing it.
Anyone that is struggling on Solo Woah, feel free to add me and i'll give you lots of tips with progression and whatever you're struggling with at the time.

This is reassuring as I was wondering if I could handle him with current gear (Ant Club, Ladybug Armor +5 on both).

I was debating on scouting the upper yard (just running away from stuff if I couldn't kill it) to grab what Milk Molars that would be easily obtainable.

[Jaggid Edje]

@Wolfenstin, Don't the recipes to make the plating and whetstone in order to even go beyond level 5 also require that same lab? Or am I remembering wrong.