NIGHTMARE difficulty - Tips and Tricks

This is actually full guide for this game. Not a "playthrough" but a guide how to play this game efficently and with pleasure even on Nightmare difficulty which is really "Nightmare" if you don't know all tricks.

Well, here we go.
I recommend you to choose all attributes to "E" class at start. Basically we have all what we need for begining and this is more or less balanced way to start. Also I strogly recommend you to pick up "Dreamworld" and "Serendipity" as your first attunements. Why? First one can give us a second breath at start - you can escape through Dreamworld at anytime. And second - this one gives your much enough chances to find a good item(s) before your possible chances.

After you done with first bandit it's time to choose Magic Focus. Take Earth as your first element. Why? In face to face combat you have absolutely no chance against anything; no matter a weapon; I meant at start and before you'd find something that can give you a really good perks.

So Earth guaranteed a Surviving for you - "Tremor", which is 1st Earth elemental magic spell can stun enemies at small radius and damage them. From all of 1st class Magic "Tremor" has best damage. Also it is very usefull when you group your enemies at one pack and stun them at once as well as dealing damage. An example on screenshot - a real tough battle against Taimurian hordes. "Tremor" make it easier and efficent as well.



Why not other elements?...

1. Fire - useless thing against hordes of Taimurians and animals. Also you don't need Fire at start because you will find "Wooden Elemental Bough" at Vale of Tears soon enough to get a Fire 1st class mage.


2. Ice/Water - Can do some damage to a group of enemies but it's hard to use and not efficent. Also you will get "Water Mage Staff" (sorry, I don't remember exactly) as a reward for quest "Forest Guardian".



3. Air - Useless for dealing AOE damage which is necessary for begning. Also could be found as "Broken Claw" at the one first location which is Forest Edge during fights with animals or in the Vale of Tears which is the next one.

So we choosed our perks and Magic Element (which is Earth) and we started our journey. Before you arrive to Arathen you have to beat The Monastery - the map has small area to dodge and fight so you have to avoid all possible damage you may get. It is hardest part of the game because you don't have a build yet and you cannot "sleep" to recover your health.

So, I believe you have done well and you finished Monastery with success and arrived to Arathen. So here the fun begins. We have a camp to rest and recover health as well as change an attunements. Be carefull with Taimurians - they are all fighting with melee so group them in packs and use "Tremor".

Since we playing at Nightmare difficulty we should avoid all possible damage so you don't need an armor. But if you get lucky to find "Bandit's" gear you could "upgrade" it and get a "Luck of Rogue II" attunement which is very usefull at the begining.

Don't try to stay face to face against more than one enemy - you'll be ripped apart. Your power at speed - this is one of the reasons why you should avoid using Heavy Armor at Early game. Most enemies will annihilate you even if you're fully armored. Your best tactics by using Magic on range and (or) Ranged fight with bows.

That's interesting: sometimes you can play with enemies only using "Tremor" and by that dodging most of their attacks. You don't need to attack them with Focus-item. Just run and wait untill your cast is ready again.

Kult: Heretic Kingdoms is game about story and lore. But - loot is also very important aspect you should carry about.

First of all don't try to be "all in one" character - that doesn't working in this game. Choose some speciality.

Your Early game is all about "cast and run" tactics. And your best buddy is Magic here. When you came to "The Lost Canyons" you'll meet dozens of Taimurians. And most dangerous enemies in Early game are Taimurian Shamans. They cast 1st class Fire magic which is "Fireball" which instantly drops your HP more than at half, or even could immediatly kill you because of high damage.

Again your tactic by using "Tremor" when thay did a cast of "Fireball" at you. It can be easly avoided but watch for Taimurian Warriors - they can surround you while you playing with Shaman(s). But Shamans got a best Early Game drop - "Shaman's Staff". It's attunement is "Flame Blast".


VERY usefull 2nd class Magic especially against group of enemies. Also it's dealing very high base damage which can be increased by upgrading your "Focus" attribute.

That's interesing: If you go fully Fire Mage at your quest to stop Taimurians with Carissa you can easly destroy even Taimurian's Shadow boss. All you need is equip "Flame Aura" attunement which can be achieved with Fire Ring. You may find one at the chest at lower right part of map in Lost Canyons.

So this Boss attacking with Fire and "Flame Aura" grants immunity ro Fire-damage at you. But Boss itself has not an immunity and you can easly deal tonns of damage to Boss while you will be taking only 1 damage with any Boss's attack. So tune for Fire and "Flame Blast" with "Fireball" and let's go!

As you can notice at my screenshot I played with that build for a long time. But how about anything else?



So we came to another part of the game - Ranged Mid Game.

When we came to Kyalisar we are will be very weak and very strong at the same moment. This is game-breaking moment. Check the Traders in City. One of them has in his inventory an "Imperial Bow"s with all elements and without element. Buy all of them.

Why?

Imperial Stormbow - your best DPS in midgame. "Chaing Lightning" can do tonns of damage to any enemy. Also it's Air Elemenat so you can use that with "Fleet of Foot" which grants to you really high run-speed. Very usefull in any situation.


Imperial Earthbow - 2nd usefull thing. "Grasping Roots" will be very hepfull on Gladiatory Arena because enemies there are fast and Roots slows down them before they get to you. And you can deal Crit Damage without risk to been catched. Also it could be combined with "Survivor" attunement which decreases ammount of lost blood when you using healing items.



Imperial Longbow - Your Core at this build. "Deadeye II" is your main perk for dealing damage. It gives to you just too high Crit damage and Crit Chances bonuses. You should not ignore it.

Imperial Firebow - not THAT usefull thing but it has DOT (damage over time) attunement which can usefull agaisnt stunned enemy who you shooting at. For example - some bosses at Gladiatory Arena or slow enemies which could be burned.

Imperial Icebow - it's attunement is almost similar to Earth and Fire. It's slow down an enemies but it is DOT (damage over time). Situational, not as strong as previous ones.

With one of that weapon-build you can annihilate actually anything. Just keep your distance and don't get surrounded.

As example of what Bows can do check this video below.

This is interesting... In most times Lord Valkarin will destroy you in seconds. His Inferno which is 4th Class Fire Magic is extremely powerfull. This way of fighting him just makes this battle not "easy" but super easy.

You may ask me - why should I use only Magic or Bows? Is there no Melee or Heavy weapons?

Well - Melee damage is based on Normal and Heavy weapons. Most of them aren't usefull in 80% situations at Nightmare difficulty because of damage. For example - you will not survive at Gladiatory Arena or Red Cliff Mines by using Melee-build. There tonns of heavy enemies which can kill you in seconds.

BUT it's not that bad.


Look at the map - at right part of the map there's Red Cliff Mines. A Real treasure-hunting place where you will find many different weapons and gear. Your goal is - almost speedrun your way through the Mines. At 4th level of Mines you will find in a piles of bones. In one of them you will find this cape.



This is your RAGE MODE. "Berserk" grants to you 100% Crit Chance while "Berserk" activated. When you deal first Critical hit your "Berserk" is activated. This is the way to start your Melee build. Or... continue Bow's build. For example - with "Sura's Longbow" which is non elemental, you can deal a huge damage under "Berserk" mode.

This is interesting... As you can see "Berserk" can rip through anything - Ironclad Zombies has immunity to Critical Damage. Basicaly you cannot perfom Crit Damage against them. But when you activate Berserk Mode by killing other enemy and shoot to Ironclad Zombie - it keep dealing Crit Damage!

As example of Melee build watch this video below. Actually ii's ending as well so if you are new and do not want to spoil anything stop the video after 2 minuts 45 seconds.

This is not the guide like "You should play like this because I said so" or whatever like that. I found this way as best to play on Nightmare difficulty. Also some new players may found this information usefull. Perhaps some old players wanna check this guide and would play this great game again.

If you have any questions - just ask. Maybe i missed some info. If I did - write in comments below, I'll update information. But I know this game perfectly well and this guide is not about "playthrough" but tricks and tips in general.

If you like this guide give it a like and sub. Much apreciated =)

[Apollyon. Black Edition.]

Sorry for such late answer - If you using Magic --> spent points to Magic, right?

[Hemsworth]

how to distribute points when im using magic and bow?

[Apollyon. Black Edition.]

Thank you!

No, you could just give him crystals for money (or not? I don't remember). He is useless mostly, better sell stuff in Kyalisar.

[Vir'dra]

Nice guide, do you know if there is a reward for giving saphires to the dwarf in the camp before the mine? I gave him around 12 saphires and got nothing in return.

[Apollyon. Black Edition.]

Welcome

[NISAN]

thank you! very helpful guide!

[WackyDarky]

+

[Apollyon. Black Edition.]

I glad that was helpful! I guess I missed some tactics... If I'd update guide I'll write about that in comments.

[Trance]

Very helpful! TY!
All hints are good for beginners too. Gives some idea what to start with and which aspects to look at.