Saros: Tips and Tricks to Help You Get Started

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I’m really loving Saros! The gameplay is intense – it’s a seriously challenging bullet hell shooter – but what’s great is that the developers clearly listened to players. They’ve added a bunch of accessibility options and quality-of-life improvements that make it way more welcoming than Returnal, which I also enjoyed but found pretty unforgiving. It’s still tough, but now it feels fairer and more people can jump in and have fun.

Let’s be clear: Housemarque has created a challenging game, especially for newcomers. Experienced players will find it demanding, and those just starting out should expect a tough learning curve, particularly in the first couple of areas.

I’m excited to share some Saros tips and tricks I wish I’d discovered earlier. I’ve earned the Platinum Trophy in both Returnal and Saros, and even set record times in Returnal’s Tower of Sisyphus, so these aren’t basic suggestions – they come from experience!

8. Use Your Power Weapons Generously

Your MVP During Cornered Situations

At the beginning of Saros, you’ll need to use your Power Weapon shots carefully because your character isn’t strong enough to use them often. However, as you improve Arjun’s Command skill, you should use your Power Weapon as much as possible, particularly when facing groups of enemies.

Also, remember your Shield can absorb enemy projectiles – blue ones easily, and even yellow ones if you time it right. Absorbing a lot of these projectiles will quickly fill your Power Weapon meter, so definitely use powerful weapons like the Prominence missile launcher when things get difficult.

7. Don’t Grab Every Single Artifact in the Early Game

Give In to the Illusion of Choice

Don’t feel like you have to collect every artifact you find, especially those with Eclipse effects that might not fit how you like to play. Early in the game, you won’t have many artifact slots anyway, so it’s better to be selective and only pick the ones that really help you.

Some of the downsides you can get on Artifacts during the Eclipse can be really tough, like losing energy when you get hit or enemies becoming more powerful with each attack. It’s often better to avoid these negative effects if you’re worried about staying alive during fights.

6. Be Mindful of Your Attributes

Your Arsenal Scales With Them

Remember that Arjun’s main strengths directly affect how powerful his weapons are. If you really want to use a weapon that relies on a specific strength, like Resilience, prioritize finding items during your adventures that increase that strength.

Even with powerful upgrades, remember that they can significantly raise or lower your stats. Focusing on which stats are most important will help you get the most out of your equipment.

When getting attributes from enemies or buying them with the Armor Matrix, focus on getting Resilience first, then Drive, and finally Command. Resilience will help you survive longer, and Drive increases the amount of Lucenite you earn from enemies.

5. Don’t Worry Too Much About Corruption

The Game Lets You Cleanse it in Different Ways

Saros can be really discouraging – the Corruption it causes lowers your maximum health and holds you back whenever you get hit by those yellow attacks during an Eclipse. But don’t worry! The game actually provides several ways to remove Corruption, so if you use them effectively, it won’t be a major problem.

The most important thing is to use your Power Weapon regularly. It slowly removes the Corruption. If you unlock certain upgrades in the Armor Matrix – like those for parrying to cleanse Corruption and your Shield to block corrupted damage – you’ll be able to stay at full health without much trouble.

4. Use The Carcosan Modifiers

They’re Actually Game-Changing

After beating the first two bosses in the Shattered Descent Biome of Saros, you’ll unlock Carcosan Modifiers at The Passage. These modifiers let you customize the game’s difficulty by choosing between Protections, which make the game easier, and Trials, which make it harder. However, you need to balance your choices carefully – selecting too many of either one will throw things off.

These upgrades each have a unique cost, but the ones that boost damage and armor are especially helpful if you’re finding the game challenging. Just remember to offset those benefits by also using some downgrades, such as Halcyon Removal or Lucenite Devaluation, to keep things balanced.

3. Always Tackle Nightmare Strands

The High Risk and Challenge is Worth It

If you played Returnal and faced the Containment Doors, get ready for another tough challenge in The Nightmare Strands of Saros. These optional portals appear during the Eclipse and send you to an arena where you’ll have to fight through three waves of enemies to survive.

These challenges are definitely difficult, especially the third wave which throws a lot of powerful enemies at you, leaving you with no time to rest. However, if you succeed in overcoming these Nightmare Strands, you’ll receive equally great rewards.

You’ll often find helpful rewards like Augment power-ups, which significantly boost your Power or HP. You might also get valuable Halycons, and sometimes even a good amount of Aether. It’s worth trying these challenges because they also test your skills and reflexes, acting as a way to see how well you’re paying attention and reacting.

2. Halycons Over Anything Else

Your Most Valuable Resources

Along with Lumenite, Halycons are a key resource that stays with you between runs. They’re much rarer than Lumenite, found sparsely throughout the world of Saros. Because some upgrades in the Armor Matrix require Halycons, you’ll need to use them carefully. A particularly valuable Armor Matrix skill is Second Chance, which gives you an extra life if you fall in battle.

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Whenever you’re choosing between items to collect, I highly recommend prioritizing Halycons. They’re limited in each area, so gathering them quickly will let you unlock more upgrades.

1. Adapt to the Environment

The Best Advice You’ll Ever Get

From my own experience, the key to success in both Returnal and Saros is really about using your surroundings and avoiding the habit of chasing enemies relentlessly.

When it comes to surviving, especially in the Nightmare Strands, use your surroundings to your advantage. Hide behind plants and obstacles to get around enemies. You can also use tools like a grappling hook to quickly move or create patterns to confuse them – think of how enemies are handled in zombie horde games. This will be a big help when you’re in a tough spot.

Always make sure to create distance between yourself and enemies. Don’t try to finish them off at the risk of taking damage. Create some space by quickly moving to the beginning of the area or finding a safer position. This will help you avoid damage and keep the valuable Aether you collect, turning it into Lumenite clusters.

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2026-05-07 00:40