LEVEL GUIDE: Mastering the toughest stages

This guide focuses on the toughest platforming stages we’ve heard about from players (4.4, 7.4, and 8.1).

You will find strategies and tips to help you overcome even the most challenging levels. Whether you're stuck on a tricky jump or can't beat a complex platforming, you'll find the solutions here.

Stage 4.4. Jungle of green chains.

Stage overview.

Inspired by Pitfall, the challenge of this stage is all about platforming with vines and branches. You’ll need to master the timing of your jumps and stay patient until you have the skill to keep your cool. The most important thing is not to rush your jumps.

Best characters to beat the stage.

• Sais: Choose Sais if your main issue is getting hit by enemies and knocked off the branches into pits. Sais has a 50% knockback reduction, making it harder for enemies to push you to an instant death.
  
• Kritias: Choose Kritias if your problem is grabbing onto vines or jumping between platforms. Kritias can jump farther than others when you jump while dashing. Plus, Kritias is the smallest character, making it harder for enemies to hit you. Don’t forget to use Crescent Slash to take out enemies attacking from above.

Gear.

In order of importance:

• Jump Boost.
  
• Zephyr Gloves.
  
• Ranged weapon or Familiar.

• To beat this stage, you need jump power and attack speed. Ensure you have Jump Boost and Zephyr Gloves equipped. Killing enemies from a distance will be really helpful, so try to equip a throwing weapon or a familiar (like Bubo, Flying Piranha, or Mechanical Hippocampus).

Vines.

• Press UP or UP DIAGONAL to grab onto vines. The best technique is to jump forward while holding UP DIAGONAL as you move through the air.
  
• Be careful, as you can’t grab onto vines while attacking in mid-air. Make sure to take out all nearby enemies before jumping onto a vine. Once you're holding a vine, you can attack, but you won’t be able to use consumable items.
  
• To jump between vines, you’ll need patience and good timing. Never jump when the vine you want to reach is closest to you because it will swing away by the time you reach it. Instead, jump when the vine is swinging toward you. Wait until your vine swings to the right and the next one just begins to move left. Be patient! Once you get the hang of it, it’ll be much easier.

Branches and enemies.

• Enemies can hit you and knock you into pits below the branches. Don’t rush toward them. Try to bait them into coming closer or kill them from a distance with throwing weapons or the help of familiars. Equip Zephyr Gloves for faster melee attacks so you can defeat them before they strike.
  
• And remember, Sais is harder to knock into a pit!

Boat.

• Stay in the middle of the boat; if you stand at the bow or stern, the piranhas can push you off. If you crouch while on the boat, your hurtbox will be smaller, making it harder for enemies to hit you.
  
• If you’re playing as Sais, remember that her normal attack also hits enemies coming from above. If you’re using Kritias, use Crescent Slash to take out enemies attacking from above.

Stay calm, watch the movement of the vines, and you’ll beat the stage with no problem!

Stage 7.4. The Sanctuary of the Sky.

Stage overview.

There are many challenges in this tough stage. The main one is the darkness, but after that, you’ll face Kekses, a powerful sorcerer. Luckily, you’ll have some help inside the sanctuary. Keep reading to finally conquer the Sanctuary of the Sky!

Best characters to beat the stage.

• Azaes: Choose Azaes if your main issue is defeating Kekses or escaping the collapsing bridge.
  
• Sais: Choose Sais if your main problem is getting hit by enemies and knocked into pits. Sais has a 50% knockback reduction.
  
• Kritias: Choose Kritias if your main problem is jumping between platforms.

Gear.

In order of importance:

• Jump Boost.
  
• Zephyr Gloves.
  
• Might of Atlas.
  
• Poseidon Bless.
  
• Golden Beetle.
  
• Ranged weapon or Familiar.

• To beat this stage, you need jump strenght, attack speed, attack power, and either throwing weapons or the Demon Summon scroll. Make sure to have at least Jump Boost, Zephyr Gloves, Might of Atlas, Poseidon Bless and Golden Beetle equipped. Defeating enemies from a distance will be crucial, so try to equip a throwing weapon, a Demon Summon scroll (Azaes) or a familiar (like Bubo, Flying Piranha, or Mechanical Hippocampus). These are many items, so make sure you buy the Discount first.

Platforms at night.

• For the platforming in this stage, patience is absolutely crucial. During the lightning section, make sure to kill all nearby enemies before jumping to the next platform. Before jumping, wait for a lightning strike to illuminate the stage. Pay close attention to the platform you're aiming for. Be patient—this stage is filled with the remains of impatient players.
  
• Never jump blindly into the darkness without first seeing where you're going!

Enemies.

• If you have throwing weapons, summons, or familiars, use them to kill enemies from a distance. Remember that the Golden Beetle increases your usage count or boosts the power of consumable items.
  
• The wavy-flying imps are very dangerous, as they can easily knock you into the void. Wait patiently for them to come close and kill them with one precise hit. Don’t jump to the next platform until all nearby imps are eliminated.

• If you're struggling with vulture-soldiers, remember you can use the Flying Piranha to attack them from a distance.

Inside the Sanctuary of the Sky.

• You'll be navigating in total darkness, so it's essential to open the purple chest and retrieve the familiar that will help light your way. Before jumping to a platform, wait for the familiar to get closer, as it will illuminate more to your right.

• Inside the sanctuary, there will be enemies moving in the darkness. Before jumping to a platform, watch carefully to see if any enemies are patrolling. If it's an imp, wait for it to approach and kill it. If it's a lizard, wait for it to turn its back or eliminate it from a distance. If you play with Azaes, use the demons.
  
• Never jump onto a platform if there's an enemy near the edge, as they will knock you into the void!

• Midway through the sanctuary, there's a chest containing either throwing weapons or the Demon Summon Scroll. Don't forget to pick it up—it's a key aid in defeating Kekses.

Kekses.

Kekses, the powerful sorceror, has three types of attacks:

• A magical beam that covers the entire screen horizontally. He will point his staff forward when preparing this attack. Jump to an upper platform to dodge it.
  
• A vertical geyser that erupts directly beneath your character. When Kekses strikes the ground with his staff, move from your spot immediately to avoid it.
  
• Teleportation. When he teleports, his wings can hit you as he appears or disappears. Don’t approach until his body has fully materialized!
  
• Tip 1: If you hit him before he casts a spell, you'll break his concentration, and he won't be able to cast it. He'll try to teleport to another spot. Be patient, and strike him as soon as he fully reappears.
  
• Tip 2: Save at least one throwing weapon or scroll and wait until his health is low. Finish him off when he appears on the left side of the screen because, before he dies, he will destroy the bridge. If you kill him while he's on the left, you'll have more time to escape.

Collapsing bridge.

• If you've followed Tip 2, this part will be easier. Move as quickly as you can to the right, avoiding enemies. Don’t stop to collect chests—greed will be your downfall.
  
• Wait for Roc (the giant eagle) when you're at the edge of the bridge. Don’t jump too early!
  
• This section is perfect for Azaes. Kill the first enemy you encounter and absorb its soul. From there, use Flame Assault to dash forward while killing enemies along the way.

Follow these tips, and don't let the darkness intimidate you!

Stage 8.1. Within the canyon's jaws.

Stage overview.

This stage is challenging due to tough enemies and dangerous platforming, where you can fall into the void if you lose your patience. Keep reading to learn how to traverse the canyon and ascend to the mouth of the volcano!

Best characters to beat the stage.

• Sais: Choose Sais if your main issue is getting hit by enemies and knocked into pits. Remember to always use her shield to parry ranged attacks. Sais has a 50% knockback reduction. She’s also a great choice if you’re struggling with spinning gargoyles or the golem that shoots missiles.
  
• Kritias: Choose Kritias if your main problem is jumping between platforms. Remember, if you jump while dashing, you'll cover more distance. This small jump boost can be vital for your survival.

Gear.

In order of importance:

• Jump Boost.
  
• Might of Atlas.
  
• Zephyr Gloves.
  
• Belt of Fury.
  
• Poseidon Bless.
  
• Aegis Armor.
  
• Ring of Mestor (Sais or Kritias).
  
• Ranged Weapon or Familiar.

• To beat this stage, you need jump strenght, attack power, and stamina. Make sure to equip Jump Boost, Might of Atlas, Zephyr Gloves, Belt of Fury, Poseidon Bless, and Aegis Armor. If you are playing with Sais or Kritias, using your skill gauge frequently will be crucial, so also get the Ring of Mestor for faster recharge. Defeating enemies from a distance is advantageous, so try to acquire a throwing weapon or a familiar as well with Divine Bet if you have any orichalcum left. There are many items to collect, so remember to buy the Discount first!

Enemies.

• Use Sais's shield to take down tougher enemies.
  
• With the shield, you can stop the spinning of the gargoyles and stun them. Wait for them to start spinning, stop them, and quickly counterattack.
  
• Also, remember you can dash while shielding. This is an optimal tactic for getting close to the fire-spewing heads.
  
• If you’re playing as Kritias, flying birds can be defeated with a single hit of Crescent Slash.

Gravolith.

• Get close and attack him as quickly as possible.
  
• Watch out for the rocks falling from the ceiling and find a spot where you won’t get hit.
  
• If he throws a boulder, dodge it; it will transform into a small stone golem. Try to defeat the small golem as quickly as possible to avoid having them pile up on the screen!

Moving columns.

• Always stay crouched to avoid being hit by the spikes above.
  
• TIP: Be patient when moving from one column to another. If you’re at the top and the other column is rising, you can Dash instead of jumping to expose less of your body to the spikes.

Flying mechanical platforms.

• If you’re playing as Sais, remember you can use your shield to block ranged attacks from flying monsters.

• If you’re playing as Kritias, the advantage of your Dash Boost skill will be crucial for reaching certain platforms. Press jump while dashing to cover more distance and reach a little farther. This slight advantage can save your life when jumping between platforms.

• To successfully jump to a moving platform, you must be patient. First, defeat any nearby monsters. Then, observe the movement of the platforms for a while to get familiar with their patterns. Don’t jump blindly!
  
• To reach a moving platform, jump when the platform is approaching you. Don’t jump when it’s right next to you, as it will swing away while you’re in the air. Watch its movement several times, and when you see it coming closer, jump.

Stay focused to avoid vertigo, and you’ll conquer this challenge!