![](/uploads/1/2/7/2/127204719/439768843.png)
Ahead of Salt and Sanctuary's release tomorrow, here is a short beginner's guide with 11 tips to help get you start in Ska Studios' Soulslike.
Posted: 17 AprilWas lured by the 'metroidvania' tag when the 'souls-like' tag wasn't a thing yet, Dark Souls is a franchise I respect but I personally do not enjoy at all. If you enjoy Dark Souls, this is basically 2D Dark Souls, but if you are like me that don't like these types of over the top difficult games, don't make my mistake and purchase it.
I can't recommend it becuse it's not my type of game, getting one shot is a very unforgiving and unrewarding type of mechanic I despise. I play games to have fun, and getting one shot is not what I consider 'fun'. Posted: 16 AprilThis is a Platformer + Soulslike game. If you like Darksouls, and if you like Good Old Times platformers this is exactly your game. However, this game can make you so frustrated that you'll rage quit the game multiple times.
I was nearly crying for a couple of times because I got so mad; trying the same thing and just couldn't pass a stage. It took me much more than 16h actually, I just carried my savegame from work computer so Playtime is incorrect. I can say minimum around 30-35 hours.First of all, the story of the game is 'interesting' and rather intriguing but the style if very philosophical.
There are really really very little text to read, no audio to listen. So it's a mystery how the hell they managed to tell the story in a total of 100 sentences, I don't know. But it was satisfying. Try not to 'skip' conversations otherwise the whole story will sound vague and you'll understand nothing.I finised the game at Level 96, with a 5th Class Heavy Armor and 5th Class Greatsword. I was mostly 1 to 2 hit killing every mob other than Bosses. However, the bosses in this game are so strong and so difficult, I was spending more time to watch 'How to Kill XXX' rather than actually trying to kill them.I also got lost millions of times and I had to go check maps in saltandsanctuary.wiki more times than I can remember.All in all, I had fun as much as I got frustrated and finishing the game felt like I achieved something impossible.
In my case, there's no replayability of this game because I can't handle a second run but I would wish to forget that I played and play again. Yeah, my feelings are very mixed right now.As usual, I'm ending my review with some tips:- Learn controls well! Check a guide or video before starting. I figured out the Jump-Dash move after around the half of the game.- Don't rush attack strong enemies and bosses. The whole game is about 'evading' or 'blocking' attacks.
So be patient; hit 2 times and get ready to evade. Otherwise you'll really regret.- If you find yourself dying to much, purchase the ring that shows where you drop salt. That's a life saver.- If you fall from a height and died, don't try to recover salts. Either you'll find them at the bottom later or you fell in an unreachable hell.- Read what NPC's say. Some of them give hints what to do next.- Save some torches, you'll need them.- Try to put a 'Guide' statue in every Shrine. This way you can fast travel between maps.- If you don't have a very important long term plan, always spend all your Salt before a new map. Losing salt when you die feels worse than losing your own soul.
And believe me, you'll die a couple of times every map.- Don't forget to upgrade your weapons early on. Upgrade changes the damage really much.- Give a couple of points to magic. Slow Fall spell is the 'most important spell' in my opinion.- Money is pretty useless at the end-game.
Buy bunch of salt with them and level up.- Learn how to transmute early- Don't be afraid to drink potions. Worst case you'll have to spend money to buy more. If you're dying, just use potions.- A Class 5 Greatsword Transmutation costs 100.000 Salts!!!Get ready before starting this game, it's gonna be hell of a journey. Literally, hell! Posted: 16 AprilSalt and Sanctuary is a 2D souls-like heavily inspired by Dark Souls with some original mechanics. Main differences are:1.
'Tree of skill' - instead of leveling up stats as you want there is a tree which you traverse by investing points. Leaves in the tree give you stat points and armor/weapon proficiency.
There are no stat requirements on weapons, instead you have to have a certain level of weapon proficiency leveled in the tree. Weapons/spells/armors proficiency that work well together are closer together in the tree but if you want you can build pretty much any combination of light/heavy armor and weapons/miracles/sorceries.2. Save points (sanctuaries) - each one is dedicated to a specific 'creed'. Creeds are guilds scattered around the world, they have different quests and bonuses so depending on your build you want to be in a specific creed for best results. You can also summon NPCs - vendors and others (max 4) to each sanctuary.
The most important one by far is the Guide who allows you to fast travel to any other sanctuary.3. It has metroidvania like mechanics which block you from entering some paths until you find the skill that will let you pass.Overall gameplay mechanics are well thought through and work good together in my opinion.Bosses in the first half of the game are pretty much the same attack front - jump/charge loops without original skills/attacks. Later it gets better, there are some really interesting boss fights, it's a shame not every boss is highly unique.Unfortunately the implementation is buggy and lacking in quality of life.
I have fallen through the floor sometimes and successfully bugged some bosses which made them very easy to beat. But by far the worst offender is gripping on the ledges of terrain. I died NUMEROUS TIMES just because the game decided that I didn't really collide with the terrain to pull myself up and then died from falling.
It makes the platforming heavy sections of the map EXTREMELY frustrating.Some missing quality of life in my opinion are:1. Lack of in-game map, at least area contours, just something that will give me a clue where to go. The map is massive and there are no in-game indications, signs or dialogue that will tell you even remotely where to go. I ended up looking up the maps on the internet because I got fed up just walking around without clue.2. Better introduction to mechanics. My first 2 games I didn't even know that Guides existed so I was travelling around 'on foot' the whole time. I also had no idea what the creeds can actually give and you will also not find out until you are heavily invested in them which takes a lot of time.3.
I have only started a few playthroughs but in my opinion the in-world item placement is unbalanced. You can get a tier 2 greatsword 20 minutes in but I had trouble finding a tier 2 dagger after 3 hours of gameplay.I would really like to see an update to at least fix the platforming collisions. If the devs ever make a SnS2 I will give it a try but this game, as it is, I would recommend only to really die-hard fans of souls likes who will not get fed up with commonly occuring bugs.
Hi guys!This guide will help you to do SL1 run in Salt and Sanctuary. No blocking, parrying or weapon combos needed but you should expect a lot of half-naked rolling. Most parts of the game will feel comparable to and sometimes even easier than some normal runs (e.g. Witch of the Lake) until you meet the final boss. CreedChoose any Creed you want.
If you place a merchant here you can always buy their standard sortiment. Our final creed will be the House of Splendor which sells Pitchfire. I chose Devara for Blessed Pages but you can also join them in the next sanctuary.Devara's Light:. Lightvessel. Blessed Page.
has best healing item (defense up after use)The Three:. Officer Armor set (Class 0 Heavy Armor, Lighting defense). Pitchfire. Birian FirepotIron Ones:.
Shockstone. Pitchfire. Birian Firepot. Cleric (only usable if you switch back and forth between creeds later on) sells Warhorn (Staminaregen up). Things to Get. Black Pearl. Flanged Mace (on top off Bandit Pass sanctuary).
20+ Lightvessels (buy if you do not want tpo melee Queen of Smiles)Proceed from the Festering Banquet to the Devara's Light sanctuary and pick up the black pearl. Invest pearl in Potion skill.If you do not have a Devara merchant in the Festering Banquet join the creed here and place a merchant. If the you used thestone merchant previously join and buy items from the cleric instead (no longer possible if creed is left).Buy 20 - 30 Light vessels as soon as you have the money (possibly proceed to the Watching Woods sanctuary first and collect money). Things to Get.
50 Wraithfangs. Mossy Charm (Attack speed up).
Stone Blacksmith. Brightcoral Ring (Stamina up). Black PearlPick up Brightcoral Ring in the woods part and never take it off again (30 more Stamina!!).Join the Stone Roots. Place Stone Leader and exchange monster materials from the Festering banquet for 50 wraithfangs. If you play with mouse and keyboard change Mouse to enabled in the options to aim better. Kraeken CyclopsUse haymaker with blessed page and mossy charm. You can roll through his body and most attacks if you are below 25% equipment load or below 30-35% with the wrapped link ring.-Avoid Mad Jester room with the key drop from the Kraeken Cyclops and get upside down brand from jester NPC.Return to Festering Banquet.
Buy Lock of Hair upgrade materials and Stained Pages from merchant sitting in lower level. Use Vertigo brand in upper left part to get another black pearl. Invest in strength node above Pikeman 1. Kraeken Wyrm (challenging)Use Haymaker with mossy charm and Stained Pagesor Blessed page. If you have trouble with the boss place a stone guide (item discovery up) into the sanctuary, put the Jester's Crown and Kismet Stone on and farm Soldier's Poems upgrade materials off the Split Swordsman beneath the shrine on the right of the boss. Spice up your Blacksmith set and the Haymaker and try again.The fight can be really difficult due to the boss landing outside of the screen and other glitchy behavior.-Get brand, buy more Stained Pages or Soldier's Poems from the relocated merchant and gtfo. Tree of Men (challenging)Slap the Hanging Men with your Haymaker and Blessed or Stained buff.
Two hits should kill each enemy. It can take a few tries to learn how to survive this phase since the Hanged men's pretty much one-shot you. Phase 2 gets easier. If you have trouble with wounding wear Ghastly Gourd (careful -heavy!) and Bandaged Ring. After phase 1 stay on the upper and middle plattforms on the left. Only focus on dodging. Whenever you are not in immediate danger toss wraithfangs.
The boss is will slowly die from the poison while you dodge. If the boss dies from the poison immediately after you there is a high chance that the game counts it as killed.-Find the House of Splendor Creed hidden behind a wall next to the three spinning wheels inside the red hall of cages.
Change creed! Buy Piychfire at merchant.Farm three drowned idols of Clay Phantom for later or go into the Hager's Cavern where they are lying around in the upper area. If you go to Hager's cavern you can also pick up the Whistlebone charm which reduces stamina cost for attacks but it is not very important to have.Leave the Red Hall of Cages/ hager's Cavern and proceed to Dome of the Forgotten.
Things to Get. 2 x Goldenwine.
Amber Idol. Goldenstone Ring. Hardlight BrandPlace stone leader in this or the Cran's pass sanctuary and level devotion up at least twice to get 2 Goldenwine (ups attack and defense).
You will have encountered 5 types of enemies that can be looted for devotion up till now. The Goldenwine consumable is insanely good and will more or less replace armor for the rest of the run.Transmute Amber idol and Kureioma to Shrouded Bulwark for later.Proceed through area to small shrine. Roll throught the enemies blocking the entrance to the Untouched Inquisitor after using undersight vial. The Whispermen will follow but stay on the very right side of the boss fight and can't move from there.
![Salt And Sanctuary Guide Salt And Sanctuary Guide](/uploads/1/2/7/2/127204719/836914014.jpg)
Untouched InquisitorUse Haymaker with Stained page. Not much to the fight.-The Third Lamb will be the last difficult fight you will have until the Unskinned and the Architect. feel free to place a blacksmith and alchemist in the sanctuary. I found the easiest way to get to the Third Lamb is going up the ladder in the inquisitor room and using the elevator from there. Third Lamb (challenging)You have to be able to roll through the boss a lot - so take of your clothes (except gloves) and put on the Wrapped Link for more rolling.
The boss is weak to slash and fire so your Haymaker with Pitchfire and Impen's Charm. Use Goldenstone Ring if you want a bit lightning defense (boosted by alchemist).-Use the newly obtained Hardlight brand to proceed right to the Ziggurat of Dust sanctuary.
Leave Ziggurat again to climb over it to unlock the Far Beach sanctuary and then take the boat to the Fort Beyond the Mire. Things to Get. 3 x Drowned Locket. 1 - 3 x Drowned Censer. Stone Charm (ups stagger).
Dart BrandFarm Lietch for Drowned Lockets and Drowned Censer. If they are to difficult you can also rowned Lockets from the easy Goaler enemy in the Red Hall of Cages. If you do not want to farm all censers now, they can be picked up in the Pitchwoods if you kill Carsejaw the Cruel.Spice up your Shrouded Bulwark to IV or higher.
It deals 'extra blunt' damage which the Dried King is weak to. Dried KingPut the Stone Charm on and use Shrouded Bullwark with Blessed Page.
The boss staggers so insanely easily that I didn't even get hit during the fight. Just time your stamina to regenerate enough for one hit and hit him when he is about to attack.-Grab the dash brand and proceed to Mal's Floating Castle above the red Hall of cages (Hardlight plattforms lead up to it). Things to Get. Lord's Orders. Drowned TomeFrom the Far Beach Sanctuary go down the ladder and dart jump to the Pitchwoods.
Upon arrival stay away from the Spindlebeasts on the left. Instead, unlock one of the gates between Siam Lake and here for later. Do the jump puzzle to open the gate to the shrine on the right side of the Pitchwoods. Pick up Lord's orders while running past the Impaled Horses.When the way to Carsejaw the Cruel is free, ignore him and go to the Spindlebeasts.
Use the platforms and dart jums to get over them into the Ruined Temple. Proceed to Siam Lake Sanctuary and claim it.Now go to the Betrayer's Creed on the right of the Siam Lake sanctuary.
Drop down between the gates and follow the water. Roll on the wood plattforms to the Betrayer guy. When the plattforms are restored dart jumpo to the left to get a Drowned Tome. Use it to max upgrade you Shrouded Bulwark and either engage the Witch of the Lake or go to Hager's cavern for some optional bosses to get a King's Orders. Things to Get. Mossy RingDart jump makes the area easy. Lepris doesn't stand a chance against the Bulwark and Goldenwine.
You can use your creeds Cleansing Cloth consumable if poisoned.With Lepris ears you can max out your Creed Devotion but it is not necessary because you will probably never need more than 4 Lilywine, 2 Goldenwine and 1 Cleansing Cloth (Devotion 4). Witch of the LakeThe fight is unexpectedly easy.
Use Shrouded Bulwark VII with Pitchfire or Blessed Page. Despite her resistance to blunt damage you will kill her in 5, or at most 6 hits. If you wear only the Blacksmith Gloves VII and the Defender's Ring you are below 50% equip load so that you can roll through her and still won't get one-shoted by her melee.
Instead, her strike will cause you to fall down which then makes her to miss with the second melee attack. When she does her magic barrage you have enough stamina to get behind her and hit her twice in a row. Do that twice and hit her once when she is in melee mode. Finished.-Proceed to Salt Alkymancery. Things to Get.
King's Orders. Stone Alchemist (mimic, pretty central in area)From the Sanctuary go upwards for a while, jump to the right over platforms.
Follow platforms outside and find Mimic with King's orders in the next area. Upgrade either your Blacksmith Gloves or the Haymaker to maximum.Place a Stone Alchemist into the sanctuary because the Architect hits hard. The Unskinned and the Architect (challenging)The first boss who doesn't immediatley crumble under your Bulwark. The Bulwark is pretty heavy which makes it difficult to roll through the Unskinned attacks so use the Wrapped Link. If you touch one of the Architcts traps you'll most likely die and the Unskinned loves to kick you right into them. Kill the Architect first to get rid of them.
My best tip is to use the Bulwarks range which allows you to often hit the Architect and Unskinned simulatneously for good damage. Both are weak to Arcane so bring Stained pages.-Proceed to Crypt of Dead Gods. Kraeken Dragon SkourzhSkourzh is really fat so you want to be light and use the Wrapped Link to roll through as best as possible. Use your Haymaker VII with any buff you want. Take off armor except gloves.
Stamina regen can be upped by the Mossy ring. Be agile and hit the electric bolts if they block your way to the boss.-Buy lots of Salt Pouches and proceed onwards to the final stage! Nameless God (very challenging)Sadly, the Nameless God packs quite a punch and is the only boss that makes you really feel that you are SL 1. No other options than to learn all his moves.
Use your Bullwark, any buff and wear only your Blacksmith Gloves or the Haymaker with any kind of armor you want to wear. With Goldenwine buff and the Blacksmith gloves alone you cwill survive 1 of his standard sword attacks and the grab but it will wound you.If you get killed by him use a Salt Pouch to re-enter the fight with the Silversalt Charm buff. The charm only needs 5 salt per hit so the smallest Salt item suffices. While it is possible that the Redhair Charm (Attack up at low heath) adds higher damage but it is annoying to get your character to low health for every attempt and you won't be ble to take any hits.Try to stay in the middle of the arena, he seems to do his magic attack less often if you are close to him. You primarily want to attack him when he is projectile casting his sword somewhere into the arena. Run away from the sword and him once. Dodge immediately because he always gets the sword back instantly and then swings forward (even if you are standing behing him).Your second best option is to hit him after he charged at you.
With the Bulwark it is difficult to roll through him though and you have to practice the timing well. He often does 3-4 sword hits in a row and then pauses long enough to be hit. When he is pausing or walking backwards is a good time to reapply your buff.If he starts casting magic don't dart jump on the wall until the projectiles start moving or else you have no jumps left to avoid them.
When the magic shoots at you wall jump upwards twice to avoid it all and then jump over the Nameless god who will come charging into the wall. Sometimes the boss fight intro will play again if you get too high up but it doesnot stop his attack.Good luck!-Buy his armor at the merchant in the Castel of Storms for the looks and enjoy the ending.Thanks for reading!
![](/uploads/1/2/7/2/127204719/439768843.png)