Jotunnslayer Hordes of Hel Beginner’s Guide

As I scoured for side-scrolling, fast-paced shooting games similar to Vampire Survivors, the game Jotunnslayer: Hordes of Hel piqued my interest. This top-down survival RPG is inspired by Norse mythology and features you battling waves of adversaries with your unique abilities while accomplishing given tasks. In this tutorial, I’ve gathered essential information for newcomers to quickly get started in Jotunnslayer.

Jotunnslayer Hordes of Hel Beginner’s Guide

As an enthusiastic supporter, I’m excitedly sharing that the thrilling game, Jotunnslayer: Hordes of Hel, is now in early access! While it boasts a modest amount of content at the moment, the dedicated developers have promising plans to roll out updates regularly until its grand launch. Fans can grab their copy for just $10 on Steam and Epic Games storefronts. Let’s delve into the captivating gameplay and mechanics!

All Character Class in Jotunnslayer Hordes of Hel

At present, you’ll find four distinct playable characters in Jotunnslayer Hordes of Hel: the Berserker, Seeress, Flame Sister, and Revenant. Each of these characters possesses a unique skill set known as “Class Traits,” which become active or are triggered during gameplay. Additional characters will be introduced to the game in upcoming updates.

As a passionate gamer, I’m particularly drawn to the Berserker, who, much like me when I’m immersed in a game, wields an axe for close-quarters combat – similar to the Flame Sister and her dagger. For those seeking a ranged playstyle, the Seeress with her staff or the Revenant with his bow offer the perfect fit. To explore each character’s unique traits, take a look at the table below.

ClassClass Traits
BerserkerRage: Attacks can trigger his full violent potential.
(HP Regeneration +3/s, Damage +20%)
Hot Blood: As the Berserker loses health, his attacks become increasingly faster.
(Attack Speed +0.5% per 1% of missing health)
Survivor: Berserker can withstand intense punishment.
(HP Regeneration +1/s, Maximum Health +100)
SeeressEldritch Wards: Shield charges give invulnerability when taking damage.
(Charge Cooldown 35s, Invulnerability Duration 1s)
Malicious Wisdom: Experience Crystals can inflict damage on nearby enemies.
(Damage 5, Chance 25%)
Fortune: You can see the future.
(Bonus Skill or Reward Chance 25%)
Flame SisterBlazing Soul: Ever-burning soul randomly bursts into nearby enemies dealing damage.
(Damage 26, Heal 20 HP)
Dasher: A bonus ability to escape from any danger.
(Dash Charge +1, Evasion +20%)
Inferno: A fiery attack with the potential to inflict burn damage.
(Burn Chance 15%)
RevenantHaunting Wolf: Release a wolf spirit to hunt down enemies.
(Damage 25, Cooldown 5s)
Ethereal Arrows: Arrows have a chance to transform into a pass-through version.
(Passthrough Chance 15%)
Ghostwalk: You enter a protective ghost form when dashing
(Damage Reduction 50%)

Class Customization

Once you’ve decided on which character you want to use, you can personalize your hero in several ways. Initially, you can choose from a range of armaments suitable for that role. For example, the Revenant offers three distinct types of bows, each with its own Special Skill and additional benefit. The basic weapon is ideal for beginners as the others require gems to unlock.

After that, you’ll be able to choose from various Skins to give your character a unique look. These are just cosmetic items and won’t affect gameplay, but they do allow you to enter the battlefield in style. If you have some extra funds, consider purchasing the Odin’s Legendary Armor Pack, which includes themed skins for all four classes.

All Locations in Jotunnslayer Hordes of Hel

To begin with, players will initially explore two distinct realms within Jotunnslayer Hordes of Hel: Niflheim and Muspelheim. Niflheim is characterized by its frigid darkness, whereas Muspelheim presents a scorching wasteland. In the future, additional realms like Jotunheim, Svartalfheim, and Helheim will be introduced progressively through content updates. These locations not only offer visually distinct landscapes but also harbor unique creatures native to each realm.

Location Customization

Prior to starting a game, you have the option to tailor the playing field by adjusting the Level of Challenge and Game Modifications. Here’s a list of all the difficulty levels available in Jotunnslayer Hordes of Hel and their respective characteristics.

DifficultyEnemy DifficultyRaid Time (min)ObjectivesResource Bonus
Easy100%10:0030%
Normal150%15:00435%
Hard200%17:00570%
Insane250%20:006120%

To advance to the more challenging levels, you need to successfully finish the current one at a lower difficulty level first. Each realm also provides various Modifiers, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. You can select some of these to tailor the gameplay to your preferred playing style. Here are the available Modifiers in Niflheim:

To unlock tougher levels, you must first beat the existing one on a lower setting. Each realm offers unique Modifiers with mixed benefits. Choose some of these to customize the gameplay according to your preferred approach. Here’s what’s available in Niflheim.)

ModifierAttributesUnlock Condition
Brave ChickenEnemy Damage -30%
Objective Rewards -50%
Fall twice in Raid
Evil DeadInvulnerability Duration 5s
Chance 5%
Trigger: Death
Resource Bonus +30%
Kill 150 Wraiths in Niflheim
Time RushMovement Speed +10%
Cooldown -10%
Attack Speed +10%
Resource Bonus +30%
Complete Niflheim with Evil Dead activated
Greedy MasochistEnemy Damage +30%
Resource Bonus +30%
Complete Niflheim on Hard Difficulty
Bad CardsOne less Skill or Reward
Resource Bonus +30%
Talentless ChildExperience Gained -25%
Resource Bonus +30%

Attack Preferences Setting in Jotunnslayer Hordes of Hel

With the choice of characters and locations behind us, newcomers to Jotunnslayer Hordes of Hel should familiarize themselves with the “Attack Style” option before jumping into gameplay. This setting controls the manner in which attacks will transpire. Here’s a breakdown of the options and their functions:

1. Balanced Attacks: This style provides a well-rounded approach, offering a mix of speed and power.
2. Aggressive Attacks: If you prefer a more offensive strategy, this setting increases attack speed at the cost of damage.
3. Defensive Attacks: For those who prioritize defense, this option reduces attack speed but boosts the damage output.
4. Speedy Attacks: If quick attacks are your style, this choice focuses on speed, making each strike faster.
5. Powerful Attacks: For players who want more impactful blows, this setting increases the power of each attack at the expense of speed.

  • Attack Mode
    • Smart: Attack automatically only when there are enemies within range.
    • Automatic: Attack constantly even when the enemies aren’t around.
    • Manual: Press the attack button manually each time to attack.
  • Aim Mode
    • Automatic: Automatically aim at the nearest enemy.
    • Manual: You control the Hero’s aim using the mouse or the right stick on the gamepad.

I recommend setting the initial configuration for newcomers to include Smart Assault Mode and Autonomous Aiming Mode. This setup simplifies gameplay, allowing you to concentrate on navigating, dodging, and evading opponents. Once you’ve built up some expertise, consider experimenting with Manual Attack Options, which might offer additional excitement for players seeking a challenge and greater control over their character’s attack strategies.

Jotunnslayer Hordes of Hel Gameplay Explained

After being deployed into a challenging environment filled with adversaries, your mission is to endure and conquer while enhancing your character and achieving objectives. There’s ample time to accomplish these tasks, particularly for novice players who are set on Easy or Normal mode. Initially, your character will be equipped with the basic attack, characteristics inherent to their class, and a skill related to their weapon, as we’ve discussed before.

Keep a certain space or gap between you and the growing numbers of formidable foes, who become stronger with each passing raid moment. Defeated enemies leave behind precious Crystals that you must gather by approaching them closely; these Crystals are essential for leveling up your hero, granting new skills and powerful attack techniques.

Make sure to constantly monitor the health indicator, usually found in the bottom-left corner, and retreat when your survival is under threat. If necessary, let your health regenerate gradually or quickly restore it by consuming food dropped by enemies, which is represented by a meat symbol on the mini-map at the top right.

Be sure to gather Gold by slaying golden foes, vanquishing bosses, and accomplishing tasks. This can be utilized to acquire fresh weapons for your characters through the main interface. Continue enhancing your class, withstand waves of adversaries, and fulfill objectives within the specified time frame until the climactic battle against the final boss. Overcoming the Jotunn concludes the raid and grants access to the primary reward.

Objectives

In Niflheim, the goals given for Easy and Normal difficulty raids were quite clear-cut. Here are some examples of objectives from Jotunnslayer Hordes of Hel and their functioning:

1. Defeat a specified number of enemies – The objective here is to eliminate a specific quantity of foes in the battlefield.
2. Protect a particular location or character – This involves safeguarding a certain area or character from enemy attacks.
3. Collect a specific item – You must gather a particular object dropped by defeated enemies or found within the environment.
4. Reach a designated checkpoint before time runs out – This objective requires you to progress through the level and reach a specified location before the timer reaches zero.
5. Defeat bosses in a set order – The goal is to defeat bosses in a specific sequence, often indicated by their appearance or location within the environment.

  • Mushrooms: You have to collect eight fungi scattered across the map for this objective. Each mushroom is marked on the minimap and you stand atop each one for a second to collect them.
  • Graves of Chieftains: Summon the giant Chieftains by standing over their graves and defeat them to unlock rewards. These bosses are easy to kill, just make sure to keep some distance and dash to dodge their attacks.
  • Survive the Curse: The frozen world of Niflheim will see a one-minute blizzard in which your movement speed slows down but the enemies become agitated and attack in numbers. Make it through the curse period to complete the objective.

To trigger the starting point for the ultimate mission to vanquish the main adversary, also known as the ‘Jotunn’, you need to accomplish all three tasks in the Easy setting (or four tasks in Normal difficulty and so on).

Level Up – Choose Skill Type

When you advance to higher levels, a prompt will appear asking you to select your Skill Category from either Class, which aligns with the character you’re currently using in the game, or Deity, where you can choose from four options: Thor, Loki, Freya, or Odin. For instance, if you’re playing as Revenant, you’ll only see the option for the Revenant class.

Every time you level up by playing and gathering crystals, this menu pops up. Don’t fret about missing a certain power-up; there will be multiple opportunities to obtain it during the raid. Initially, I recommend picking a God Skill Type, as these abilities can give your character powerful attacks. Later on, you can unlock the Class Skill Type to enhance your hero’s fundamental skills.

With an increase in your Skill Level, you gain access to as many as 3 God-specific Autocasts and 2 Class-specific Autocasts. These are powerful moves that complement your hero’s regular actions. Additionally, you can secure up to 6 Passive abilities, which provide ongoing benefits. Both the Autocasts and Passives can be improved by leveling them up for enhanced effectiveness. If the Skill Type assigned to you isn’t favorable, utilize the Reroll feature to obtain different ones, or use Banish to eliminate them temporarily during this round.

Level Up – Choose a Subclass

As your character progresses through their journey of leveling up, you’ll encounter an opportunity to select a Subclass, rather than the standard Skill Type. Make sure to choose wisely based on your preferences and gameplay style, as this choice can bestow a potent advantage that surpasses typical passives. For example, I opted for Zealot when leveling my Berserker character because I had amassed numerous God Skills, and this Subclass noticeably reduced the cooldown on those abilities.

Treasure Chest

Occasionally, Treasure Chests will show up on your mini-map too. Don’t forget to check these out and open them whenever you can. They offer temporary yet potent abilities that can be incredibly helpful when confronting swarms or bosses (take a look at the second image above). Here are some frequently encountered rewards from Treasure Chests in Jotunnslayer Hordes of Hel:

From time to time, you’ll find Treasure Chests popping up on your mini-map. Be sure to open these when you come across them, as they contain temporary yet powerful abilities that can be incredibly handy when battling hordes or bosses (see the second image above for examples). Here are some common rewards from Treasure Chests in Jotunnslayer Hordes of Hel:

  • Elixir of Bloodlust: Critical Hit Chance +15%, Duration 70s
  • Valhallan Mead: Bless Damage +30%, Duration 70s
  • Elixir of Haste: Movement Speed +25%, Attack Speed +25%, Duration 70s
  • Urd’s Dice: +3 Rerolls
  • Magnet: Draw XP Crystals from further away
  • Charm of Giants: Max HP +100
  • Charm of Aesir: Damage God Skills +20%
  • Charm of the Elves: Movement Speed +7%

As a gamer, I’ve just learned that the next three perks I’ll be earning are straight from Freya’s Divine Treasure Chest. That means these bonuses will stick with my character forever, and if I get more than one, they’ll pile up, not interfere with each other!

Boss Fight

Previously stated, you can initiate the final battle only when all tasks have been accomplished according to your chosen level of difficulty. To call forth the Jotunn, simply position yourself at the indicated spot on the ground. Once there, check your minimap for a marker as this is where the monster will manifest following a brief cutscene (luckily, you can skip it).

In this game, the difficulty level you’re playing at will influence the health and attack power of the boss. Don’t fret if you’re a beginner, the monster isn’t overly challenging in Easy or Normal modes. Watch out though, as it may launch a powerful smash attack followed by a volley of rockets. The danger zone is marked with red, so stay clear to dodge any damage. When needed, you can use your dash to evade attacks. Focus on defeating the boss while keeping yourself safe to complete the mission and earn the rewards.

Jotunnslayer Hordes of Hel Skill Tree

In the game Jotunnslayer Hordes of Hel, what was previously known as Virtues has been transformed into a Skill Tree. While the process of unlocking ability boosts may no longer be as straightforward, this shift mirrors the popular skill tree system used in many other games. Each Class and God in the game now has its own unique skill tree. For novice players, it’s advisable to begin by enhancing the Skill Tree associated with your preferred divine power, which essentially means focusing on the God whose weapons you find yourself using most often. As you progress, you can concurrently level up and acquire skills for your favored Class to create a robust build suitable for challenging raids in Jotunnslayer.

If you’re well-versed with the game Vampire Survivors, don’t miss out on learning how to defeat Slogra and Gaibon in the Ode to Castlevania version of Vampire Survivors over at GamerTop.

Read More

2025-01-21 23:52