Comments on: Some Hoplite tips

By: Darius Kazemi

Darius Kazemi — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 18:53:13 +0000

Thanks so much!!

By: Brad

Brad — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 00:57:38 +0000

Thanks for this article. After I read it, I finished Speed Run, Demon Partisan, and Pacifist within about an hour. I’d previously thought those to be (nearly) impossible. It’s amazing how just small mental changes can make a big difference. I’d like to contribute by posting my builds for Hoplite Master (must complete all other achievements first).

Dundarian (3 Hearts)
* Quick Bash
* Rapid Bash
* Mighty Bash
* Sweeping Bash
* Greater Sweeping Bash
* Slashing Lunge
* Greater Throw (Beam)
* Wizard Beam
* Shielding Bash
* Regeneration
* Herculean Bash
* Fortitude x4
I did this one first, because if you don’t get Wizard Beam as an option, you’re kind of sunk. The strategy is basically bash, beam, repeat (each has a 1 turn recharge). There’s no jump skill and no energy boosts, so STAY ON YOUR FEET. Also, remember that you’re protected by Shielding Bash and Regeneration, so don’t be afraid to take some hits. Leave off Herculean if you’re uncomfortable with only 3 hearts.

Aria (5 Hearts)
* Greater Energy
* Greater Throw
* Bloodlust
* Greater Bloodlust
* Deep Lunge
* Winged Sandals
* Surge
* Follow
* Fortitude x7
“I’d kill Geoffrey with a chicken-bone if I had to.” (And bloodlust)
Use everything at your disposal, this build relies on your core skills and bloodlust. Just keep jumping and lunging, letting bloodlust and serge refill your energy. Remember that you don’t have to kill every enemy on every depth, sometimes jumping straight to the stairs is the best way forward.

Oberyn (7 Hearts)
* Swift leap
* Sword lunge
* Recall
* Agility
* Greater throw
* Greater throw II
* Greater Energy
* Fortitude x8
This is my favorite of the three to play because it’s so elegant. Jump into danger and then skate out, and combo with agility for up to three free moves in a row. Also, don’t be afraid to throw that spear! You’re using sword lunge. You shouldn’t need that many hearts, so feel free to add whatever else you like, but honestly you don’t need any other skills either.

Best of luck!

By: Vacc

Vacc — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 14:31:53 +0000

Thanks for the tips, working on Atheist all day. Was kicking myself trying to think where I knew your name from, then I remembered, EJ Blood Bowl league! Small world.

By: Darius Kazemi

Darius Kazemi — Mon, 21 Jul 2014 22:40:59 +0000

Matt, to use achievement abilities you still have to buy them at altars, and they may not show up all the time. So Bash doesn’t immediately shield you; you have to buy Shielding Bash when you get the chance.

The achievement just unlocks it so that it can sometimes appear in the altar store.

By: Matt

Matt — Sun, 06 Jul 2014 20:39:49 +0000

Good guide. I don’t under how achievement abilities work, e.g. Shielding Bash. I unlocked it, but using Bash doesn’t give me a shield as indicated. I unlocked a couple of others (Recall, Superior Throw) but no idea how to actually use them.

By: Michael Leonard

Michael Leonard — Sun, 15 Jun 2014 07:05:44 +0000

I like your summary. I would have added that winged sandals + protection is a great combination for getting to a deep level as you can easily jump to the exit and take up to 1 hit because you get 1 heart regenerated each level. If you also combine it with shielding bash, that gives a great option for avoiding damage while trying to reach the exit. I have only made it to level 53 whilst also returning the fleece … but this set of abilities has a lot of potential.

By: Iggles

Iggles — Sat, 24 May 2014 21:46:53 +0000

Thanks for writing this article, I found it very helpful when going through the game. At a few points I despaired of completing an atheist run (most notably when i’d made it to L16 without losing any health and still died) but eventually got there.

I just managed 306 at L49. I xould have possibly gone further but was in a risky position.

For the build I found it really useful to have both bash time upgrades, wizard beam, shielding bash and winged sandles. This mesnt I had a few options in most situations. I found regeneration a lot more useful than surge. Maybe because I also used 2 energy upgrades so effectively had at least 3 jumps per level. But if I’d lost 2 of my 3 hp I had a chance of getting one back if the level worked out well.

By: Darius Kazemi

Darius Kazemi — Mon, 19 May 2014 14:23:14 +0000

I made all that in MS Paint. I just googled a hex grid and then did a lot of cut/paste!

By: Darren Torpey

Darren Torpey — Sat, 17 May 2014 15:32:32 +0000

Thanks, Darius! This has been really helpful and got me to try the game which is now one of my favorites, too!

I’m curious about how you make the hex diagrams for this. What tools do you use for your visual aids? They’re great!