Current Events > Any advice for playing Darkest Dungeon?

(+) Yeah! (+)

Recently got it on the Switch. I've only done a couple of missions, but it's fun when the controls aren't being finicky. You can tell it was designed for the PC with mouse controls in mind.

The game does kind of throw more information at you than I'm used to, and I'm a bit overwhelmed. Is there any advice I should be keeping in mind for the future?
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no.
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Have you played any games with perma death before?

Oh boy...

Biggest tip possible: Upgrade the stagecoach to deliver 4 new mercenaries per day. Then get comfortable with the idea of sending people to their doom. Don't get attached to ANYBODY, don't bother trying to fix their negative quirks, nothing. Let'em get fucked and send in the new replacements. Meanwhile, slowly keep an eye out for new recruits with extremely good positive quirks, such as ACCURACY BONUSES, CRIT CHANCE BONUSES, and especially SCOUTING BONUSES. Hold them out of missions and work on removing their negative quirks, locking in their top tier positive quirks, unlocking their best attacks and camp skills, etc. Once you get two squads of ballers you're ready to finally start the game.

One thing the game doesn't explain properly. CHARACTERS WHO HIT LEVEL THREE CAN NO LONGER DO EASY MISSIONS. Likewise, CHARACTERS WHO HIT LEVEL FIVE CAN NO LONGER DO EASY OR MEDIUM MISSIONS. So don't think you can just grind up one solid team to carry the entire game. You'll need at least two, probably with a few spares to rotate in when someone dies or gets too stressed out or something.

Running in zero light on short missions is a seriously good early game strat when you don't care if the team lives or dies. Get in, loot as much as possible, retreat when you're at risk of being completely wiped out, kick those fuckers to the curb. This isn't functional later for Medium or Long length missions because you'll find more loot than you can handle anyway. Likewise, it's not good on anything above Easy difficulty because you'll get murdered, but on Easy its viable.

Scouting is the best stat in the game, 100%. Anything you can do to get a Scouting buff is probably worth it. Camp skills that give Scouting buffs are extremely valuable. If you've scouted out a fight you will NEVER get ambushed by it and you'll have considerably higher odds of ambushing the enemies. Aside from that, it'll help keep you from going down paths with zero reward.

Welp, that's all I got for general tips. You probs need a bit more experience with the game for more specialized tips
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Get a refund is my advice
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agree with fire_bolt

addendum

1) when you start doing longer missions, the second best camp skill is anything that offers "cannot be ambushed at night"

it seems weak but it is NOT WEAK. camp ambushes will ruin you.

2) as you cease recruiting and ditching heroes and start to actually try to raise a quality team, you need to bring heavy firepower for hitting rear-line enemy units. these units do stress damage, which break heroes. hellion (iron swan+if it bleeds), grave robber (lunge), crusader (holy lance), arbalest (sniper shot), houndmaster, etc will be needed. not all of the above, but enough to wipe the enemy backline in one round, ideally before they act.

3) to heal in a fight, leave 2 enemies alive, and stun one or both repeatedly, or knock them to places where they can't attack/hurt you. do not try to heal up with 1 enemy remaining.
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oh, and the big one:

4) Learn how positioning and initiative affects attack options both for your team and the opposing team. One of the strongest teams is Hellion (front), Crusader (with several speed enhancing traits/items), Man-at-Arms, Graverobber. Why?

Because GR has ultra-high initiative, and using her lunge will kill or severely damage a backline enemy while pushing the Crusader back to slot 3, where he can use his holy lance to push himself forward and damage/kill a slot 3 or 4 enemy. The hellion can use iron swan or if it bleeds to damage/kill a slot 3 or 4 enemy, and the Man-at-Arms can use rampart to either finish a slot 3 enemy, or stun and push back a slot 1 or 2 enemy, potentially to a place where it cannot attack the next round.

The end result is often that only one of four enemies gets to attack on their first/second round, minimzing damage to the party, and affording a nice recovery period to fully restore that damage, as the crusader is a viable healer on his own.

Similarly, learn the same for enemies. Backline units are often unable to do anything up front; frontline enemies are often unable to do anything in the back. The bounty hunter's stun grenade (can't remember what it's called) and the Man-at-Arms' rampart will both move AND stun the opponent, potentially denying them 2 or more rounds of attacks.
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Ive put over 100 hours on this damn game. Gat dayng its addictive.

And the crimson curse is SO friggin annoying.

Flagellant is the best character in the game IMO.
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Ryven posted...

Flagellant is the best character in the game IMO.

eh, i disagree. he's a solid B-lister,B+ for short missions.

his human form is actually pretty good as it does solid damage with a stun if he doesn't kill. but he doesn't fit on crusader or vestal teams, and most teams want one of the two of them for anything medium or long.

houndmaster is definitely my vote for best character. solid against EVERY boss. best camp skills in the game. and you gotta see what that mass bleed does to the formless flesh...
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My current plan was to get at least 8 characters so I have two full teams, but judging by the tips I've received, is this a poor strategy?

If it helps, my current set-up is to have two damage dealers at the front (two of either Crusader, Highwayman or Hellion), a support in the third spot (Jester, Plague Doctor or Occultist) and a healer at the back (Vestal or Occultist).

I've also heard the Leper is one of the best characters in the game and I've been holding off my eighth slot for him, is this accurate or should I keep an eye out for someone else?
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you'll want to more or less fill all available roster space over time.

DK9292 posted...

I've also heard the Leper is one of the best characters in the game

i do not agree with this at all.

lepers can only hit the frontline, which is where the least significant threats are located.
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I have mixed feelings about the Leper. They have SIGNIFICANT drawbacks, but are also incredibly strong if used properly, but if even the slightest thing goes wrong they quickly become useless.

Short version is given some Accuracy increasing trinkets and quirks, you can let them completely DECIMATE the front two slots of enemies. I'm talking potentially one shotting both of them at the same time, moving the back rows forward. They're also extremely self sufficient.

Drawbacks are huge tho. They're extremely slow, extremely immobile if they get pushed back by anything, accuracy is trash early... Probably other stuff I'm forgetting about. Overall, they're situationally VERY strong but mostly a liability :/
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filthyrobot in YouTube has like some 10-15 minute videos on each class describing their strengths and stats, some good information
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Ah, I see. So don't bother hunting him down then.

Are there any other characters I should be looking for then? Darkman mentioned a specific combo of Graverobber > Man-At-Arms > Crusader > Hellion, but are there any characters that are suited to multiple situations/parties?
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houndmaster and hellion fit in nearly all parties

bounty hunter and arbalest too

and you can have a party of the four of those quite easily despite the arbalest's healing being fairly weak
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S tier mercs- Houndmaster, Grave Robber, Arbalest

A tier mercs- Hellion, Bounty Hunter, Man At Arms, Highwayman, Abomination

B tier mercs- Crusader, Vestal, Occultist, Plague Doctor

I need to round out a team tier mercs- Jester, Leper,

I need a ton of money fast tier mercs- Antiquarian (x4 for best results)

Never played with the DLC mercs.

Note that just because I've listed things further down the list doesn't mean they're ALWAYS worse than the ones above them. Every class has its time to shine. For instance, a team of 3 Crusaders and a Vestal with DESTROY pretty much anything in the Ruins, especially the first boss there.You can even add a Leper instead of the frontline Crusader and that team crushes Ruins fights hard. Holy Lance shuffling OP vs Undead.
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Holy shit, I was going to make this topic today.
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Remind yourself that overconfidence is a slow and insidious killer.
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my version, based more or less on % of groups that benefit from them:

S tier mercs- Houndmaster, Hellion (massive backline damage, stuns, special anti-boss tools, and high value camp skills...all in one)

A tier mercs- Grave Robber, Arbalest, Bounty Hunter, Man At Arms, Crusader (at least two of ability to oneshot the backline, high value camp skills, and healing)

B tier mercs- Vestal, Occultist, Plague Doctor, Abomination (at least one of the above, or a high value support skill)

C tier mercs- Jester, Leper (none of the above)

Only good for early game money: Highwayman, Antiquarian

Grave robber is basically the same moveset as highwayman, except also with lunge which is better than all of his moves.
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I don't know if I want to get the digital version or wait for the physical version later this month.
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I just had my first total party kill. :(

I know it's inevitable, but I still feel if I'd been better at the game I could have saved them.
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DK9292 posted...

I just had my first total party kill. :(

I know it's inevitable, but I still feel if I'd been better at the game I could have saved them.

Get used to this, it's going to happen more than once. Especially against some of the bosses you'll encounter if you're not prepared.
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What happens if you run out of money and can't afford any new mercenaries? Game over?
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