Windblown: Essential Tips and Tricks for Beginners

Windblown is a dynamic roguelite game developed by the same talented team behind the acclaimed Dead Cells. The game offers a rich array of weapons, trinkets, boosts, and gifts that empower players to craft unique builds during their randomized runs. For newcomers, navigating the early stages can be overwhelming. Here’s a collection of valuable tips to help beginners get started and enhance their gaming experience.

Prioritize Defensive Play

Surviving should take precedence over dishing out damage in Windblown. This approach not only enables players to advance further in their runs but also helps in gathering resources for upgrades. Enhancing your abilities opens new gameplay avenues, increasing your enjoyment of the game. Focus on evading danger first; deal damage only when the opportunity arises. Being overly aggressive in seeking extra hits can lead to significant health loss and potentially disastrous encounters with tougher enemies.

Seek Out Hidden Treasures

Exploring for loot is a thrilling aspect of roguelike games, and Windblown is no exception. The game is filled with secret areas that can significantly improve your success rates. Since each run presents different layouts, develop a habit of investigating corners and off-path locations.

Be on the lookout for environmental features like waterfalls; dashing through them can reveal hidden treasures. Additionally, try maneuvering around corners to uncover concealed areas. Keep in mind that some secrets may guard strong foes or challenging gauntlets that must be overcome to claim valuable rewards.

Make Upgrades Between Runs

As players progress, they'll accumulate various currencies that can unlock a multitude of upgrades. Rather than hoarding these resources, make a point to spend them after each run. Investing in upgrades not only reveals new gameplay strategies but also enhances your effectiveness during future runs.

For instance, you can unlock bonuses for dealing increased damage when attacking enemies from behind—a significant advantage that isn't available at the start. Some upgrades are particularly impactful, such as enhancing health flasks or securing a new weapon for future runs.

Build Synergistic Strategies

Unlike simpler roguelites, Windblown allows players to create intricate builds from numerous components throughout their journeys. While you may not always predict what items you'll find, aim to assemble synergies that enhance your chances of success.

As you discover weapons and boosts that favor ranged combat, consider how they can complement other elements of your build, such as critical hit potential. Acquiring early upgrades can also help diversify your playstyle, allowing for greater mastery of the game’s mechanics. With access to two weapons, utilizing a melee and a ranged option can increase your adaptability and enhance your mid-run strategies.

Weapon synergies also play a crucial role, especially with the Alterattack mechanic, which lets players execute powerful finishing moves based on their second weapon choice. While it’s tempting to focus solely on weapon synergies for Alterattacks, prioritize creating a harmonious build overall.

Combos and Dashes

Some players might assume that certain weapons require complete combos to be effective, but this isn't necessarily the case. For example, if a weapon’s third hit grants a critical strike, you can still achieve this bonus by dashing out of harm's way before landing that hit. You could perform two slashes, recognize an incoming attack, and then dash behind your opponent to trigger a guaranteed critical strike.

Once you return to the Ark, practice this technique on the training dummy with your Fishing Knife to refine your timing and maintain your combos even after executing a dash.

Focus on Valuable Gifts

The best roguelite games often incorporate passive buffs, and Windblown features a variety of Gifts that enhance gameplay. When selecting Gifts, prioritize those that improve your survivability. For instance, opting for abilities that restore health when defeating enemies or provide a second chance after death can make a significant difference. Given the limited health recovery options during each run, maximizing your healing potential allows you to conserve flasks for tougher battles.

Additionally, players will encounter Boosts that offer minor enhancements to attributes like damage, critical hit damage, and health. While Boosts are helpful, Gifts provide more substantial benefits and can significantly alter gameplay dynamics. Since you're limited in the number of Gifts you can carry, be strategic about which ones to keep or exchange when visiting vendors during your runs.

With these tips, beginners can find their footing in Windblown and embark on an exciting journey through its fast-paced world. Happy gaming!