While searching for engaging shoot ’em up bullet hell games reminiscent of Vampire Survivors, I stumbled upon Jotunnslayer: Hordes of Hel. This top-down survival RPG, influenced by Norse mythology, allows players to navigate through waves of enemies using an array of unique abilities while fulfilling various objectives. In this comprehensive guide, I’ll detail all the essential information a novice player needs to dive into Jotunnslayer.
Beginner’s Guide to Jotunnslayer: Hordes of Hel
Jotunnslayer: Hordes of Hel is currently in early access, providing limited content, yet the developers intend to release updates periodically leading to the full version. Players can acquire the early access game for $10 on both the Steam and Epic Games stores. Below, we’ll explore the game’s mechanics and gameplay details.
Character Classes in Jotunnslayer: Hordes of Hel
Currently, you can choose from four playable classes in Jotunnslayer Hordes of Hel: Berserker, Seeress, Flame Sister, and Revenant. Each character features distinct abilities termed Class Traits, which either activate automatically or become effective during gameplay. More classes are expected to be introduced in upcoming updates.
The Berserker wields an axe and thrives in close combat, while the Flame Sister utilizes a dagger for her agile attacks. In contrast, the Seeress and Revenant prefer ranged combat, employing a staff and bow, respectively. Consult the table below to see each character along with their Class Traits.
| Class | Class Traits |
|---|---|
| Berserker |
Rage: Unleashes full violent potential with attacks (HP Regeneration +3/s, Damage +20%) Hot Blood: Increased attack speed as health depletes (Attack Speed +0.5% per 1% health lost) Survivor: Enhanced resilience under duress (HP Regeneration +1/s, Max Health +100) |
| Seeress |
Eldritch Wards: Temporary invulnerability when shield charges are active (Charge Cooldown 35s, Invulnerability Duration 1s) Malicious Wisdom: Experience Crystals can damage nearby foes (Damage 5, Chance 25%) Fortune: Increases chance of a bonus skill or reward (Chance 25%) |
| Flame Sister |
Blazing Soul: Deals damage by bursting into flames (Damage 26, Heal 20 HP) Dasher: Escape danger with a bonus dash (Dash Charge +1, Evasion +20%) Inferno: Attacks have a chance to inflict burn damage (Burn Chance 15%) |
| Revenant |
Haunting Wolf: Summon a wolf spirit to tackle enemies (Damage 25, Cooldown 5s) Ethereal Arrows: Arrows may pass through enemies (Passthrough Chance 15%) Ghostwalk: Enter a protective ghost form momentarily (Damage Reduction 50%) |
Class Customization Options
Once you select a character, customization options are available. First, you can choose from an array of Weapons specific to your class. For example, the Revenant can utilize three distinct bows, each possessing unique Weapon Skills and abilities. Beginners should start with the default weapon, which is readily available, while others require unlocking through gems.
Next, consider selecting Skins for aesthetic personalization. These cosmetic options do not affect gameplay, but they allow you to enter battles with flair. For those willing to spend a little extra, the Odin’s Legendary Armor Pack offers attractive themed skins for all character classes.
Explore the Locations in Jotunnslayer: Hordes of Hel
Initially, adventurers can explore two worlds: Niflheim and Muspelheim. Niflheim is shrouded in chilling darkness, while Muspelheim presents a fiery expanse. Future updates will introduce additional realms like Jotunheim, Svartalfheim, and Helheim, each featuring unique challenges and monsters.
Customizing Locations
Before commencing a match, players have the ability to customize their location settings by adjusting Difficulty and Modifiers. The following table outlines the available difficulties in Jotunnslayer Hordes of Hel and their respective characteristics.
| Difficulty | Enemy Strength | Raid Duration (min) | Objectives to Complete | Resource Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easy | 100% | 10:00 | 3 | 0% |
| Normal | 150% | 15:00 | 4 | 35% |
| Hard | 200% | 17:00 | 5 | 70% |
| Insane | 250% | 20:00 | 6 | 120% |
To unlock higher difficulties, you must first complete the current level on a lower difficulty setting. Additionally, each world provides Modifiers, offering both advantages and disadvantages to tailor the gameplay experience to your preferences. The following table lists available Modifiers on Niflheim:
| Modifier | Attributes | Unlock Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Brave Chicken | Enemy Damage -30%, Objective Rewards -50% | Fall twice during Raid |
| Evil Dead | Invulnerability Duration 5s, Chance 5% Trigger: Death, Resource Bonus +30% | Defeat 150 Wraiths in Niflheim |
| Time Rush | Movement Speed +10%, Cooldown -10%, Attack Speed +10%, Resource Bonus +30% | Complete Niflheim with Evil Dead active |
| Greedy Masochist | Enemy Damage +30%, Resource Bonus +30% | Complete Niflheim on Hard Difficulty |
| Bad Cards | One less Skill or Reward, Resource Bonus +30% | – |
| Talentless Child | Experience Gain -25%, Resource Bonus +30% | – |
Attack Preferences in Jotunnslayer: Hordes of Hel
Once you finalize your character and location choices, grasping the Attack Preferences is essential before plunging into gameplay. This feature configures the mechanics of your attack actions. Here are your options:
- Attack Mode
- Smart: Automatically attacks when enemies are in range.
- Automatic: Continuous attacks irrespective of enemy proximity.
- Manual: Requires pressing the attack button to engage each time.
- Aim Mode
- Automatic: Automatically targets the nearest enemy.
- Manual: Use your mouse or right stick to aim manually.
I recommend sticking to the default settings for new players: Smart Attack Mode and Automatic Aim Mode. This strategy keeps the gameplay simple, allowing you to concentrate on movement, dodging, and avoiding enemy attacks. Once comfortable, consider experimenting with Manual Attack Preferences for those who seek more control and a challenge.
Understanding the Gameplay of Jotunnslayer: Hordes of Hel
Your primary objective in Hordes of Hel is to endure waves of enemies while leveling up your character and accomplishing objectives. Fortunately, beginners playing on Easy or Normal settings have ample time to meet their goals. Initially, your character will have basic weapons, Class Traits, and Weapon Skills as discussed above.
Maintain a safe distance from enemy hordes, as their strength and numbers escalate over time. Defeated foes drop Crystals, which you need to collect to enhance your hero’s capabilities and unlock new skills.
Pay close attention to the HP Bar at the lower left corner. Backtrack when your health is low to let it regenerate or consume Food dropped by enemies for immediate restoration. Look for food icons on the minimap located at the top right corner.
Also gather Gold, which is awarded for defeating golden enemies, completing objectives, and vanquishing bosses. You can spend this currency on new weapons for your characters in the main menu. Progress through leveling, fend off enemy waves, and complete objectives within the allotted time to face the final boss, the Jotunn, for substantial rewards.
Key Objectives
In Niflheim, the objectives I encountered during Easy and Normal difficulty raids were straightforward. Below are some examples:
- Mushrooms: Collect eight mushrooms scattered across the map. Each fungus will be marked on your minimap, and you can collect them by standing over them for a brief moment.
- Graves of Chieftains: Stand over specific graves to summon and defeat giant Chieftains, unlocking valuable rewards. These bosses are generally easy to defeat; just remember to maintain distance to avoid their attacks.
- Survive the Curse: During a one-minute blizzard in Niflheim, your movement slows, but enemies will attack in greater numbers. Surviving this period completes the objective.
Successfully accomplishing all provided objectives on Easy (and four on Normal difficulty, etc.) will allow you to access the portal for the final mission to summon and defeat the Jotunn.
Level Up – Choosing Your Skill Type
Upon leveling up, you will be prompted to select a Skill Type—either Class or God. The Class type will remain associated with the hero you selected, meaning you’ll be presented with skills only available to that character. On the other hand, the God options may include Thor, Loki, Freya, and Odin.
This selection occurs each time you gain a level, so rest assured that you’ll have numerous chances to acquire the powers you desire throughout your gameplay. Initially, I recommend opting for a God Skill Type, as their powerful abilities can significantly influence your combat effectiveness. Later, you can explore Class Skill Types to further bolster your hero’s core abilities.
Upon leveling, you can unlock up to 3 God Autocasts and 2 Class Autocasts—attack moves that work in tandem with your hero’s basic attacks. Additionally, you can earn up to 6 passive skills that provide various buffs. As you progress, Autocasts and Passives can be leveled up to enhance their potency. If you wish to reconfigure your Skill Type during the selection, use the Reroll option for new possibilities or Banish to discard undesirable options for that run.
Level Up – Choosing a Subclass
As your character continues to level up, you will eventually have the opportunity to choose a Subclass instead of the typical Skill Type. Select this option wisely according to your playstyle, as it grants powerful bonuses beyond basic passive skills. For instance, I chose Zealot for the Berserker class, which significantly reduced the cooldown of my God Skills, enhancing my combat effectiveness.
Treasure Chests
Throughout your adventures, Treasure Chests will occasionally appear on your minimap. Keep an eye out for these valuable finds, as opening them provides temporary yet impactful abilities that can be critical when battling hordes or bosses. Some of the common rewards from Treasure Chests include:
- 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 distances
- Charm of Giants: Max HP +100
- Charm of Aesir: Damage God Skills +20%
- Charm of the Elves: Movement Speed +7%
The last three rewards listed above originate from the divine Freya Treasure Chest, resulting in permanent buffs that are stackable.
Boss Fight
As previously mentioned, players can only start the final boss fight after completing all objectives based on the selected difficulty level. Stand on the designated area to summon the Jotunn, which will be indicated on the minimap. A short cutscene precedes the encounter, but you can skip it if desired.
The difficulty level you choose influences the boss’s HP and attack intensity. However, new players need not worry, as the Jotunn is relatively manageable on Easy or Normal settings. Be mindful of the boss’s smash attack and barrage of rockets, which are highlighted in red. Use dashing to avoid damage while focusing on defeating the boss to conclude the raid and collect rewards.
Jotunnslayer Hordes of Hel Skill Tree Overview
What was formerly categorized as Virtues in Jotunnslayer Hordes of Hel has evolved into a full-fledged Skill Tree system. While the ability upgrades are less linear than before, this shift aligns with standard RPG mechanics, borrowing the classic skill tree format prevalent in many games. Each Class and God has its own dedicated skill tree. For beginners, I recommend focusing on upgrading the God Skill Tree that aligns with your preferred powers, allowing you to simultaneously build up your Class skills for more robust raid performance in Jotunnslayer.
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