Hell Is Us: 10 Best Tips for Beginners

Something about stepping into a new world for the first time. The intense curiosity that consumes you to find out and discover every bit of lore and story. And for a long time, action-adventure games have regulated that curiosity with maps and quest markers. They tell you where to go, who to talk to, and essentially dictate every step you’re going to take to reach the end.

Hell Is Us, though, says, “to hell with all of that.” It tells you, hey, here’s a war-torn Polish world, with an oppressive atmosphere and story. The people here have been caught up in an endless civil war that is turning them into ghosts in their shells. It’s a dangerous world you’re about to jump into, and the best part is you’re going to have to do it all on your own. No maps, quest markers, way points, nothing.

Nervous yet? Don’t be. We’ve got you covered with our Hell Is Us: best tips for beginners, so you make the most of every perk and reward Hadea has to offer.

10. XP is Gained on Weapons

Swapping weapons is fun and all. But Hell Is Us is a little different. Rather than gain XP, your weapon is what levels up the more you use it. This means that, of the swords, greatswords, dual axes, and polearms you unlock, you want to quickly find one or two of your favorites and use them often to level them up.

But remember to also upgrade them whenever you hit the maximum level. That way, you can continue gaining XP on your weapon choice the more you play.

To quickly level up, you want to find an area like Acasa Marshes with a large stream of tough enemies to beat and close to a save point so you can find relief and respawn the enemies to farm them again. 

9. Equip the Right Defensive Armor

Make sure to have your defense covered by equipping the right armor. You can equip two at a time, and notice that some come with passive bonuses. Some boost your health points after an enemy kill, for instance, hitting two birds with one stone. You’ll be surprised how the right armor lengthens your combat just a little longer to finish off an enemy.

8. Make the Most of Healing Pulse

But the best protection of all is the healing pulse. It’s far more effective than consumables, which can be hard to find in Hadea. Essentially, the more successful hits you inflict on enemies, the more a white glow will begin forming around you. And when you press the respective button at the right time, it restores a percentage of damage dealt to your health. 

This means you can stay longer in battle, provided you land successful hits, and use the Healing Pulse ability on time. I focus on defense a lot because your health is tied to your stamina. If your health is running low, so is your stamina, reducing faster, and rendering you ineffective in battle.

7. Close the Timeloops

Supernatural phenomena are going on in Hadea, specifically timeloops, which respawn enemies even after you kill them. Therefore, you should definitely close the time loops to avoid repetitive battles. First, though, you need to find Gildas, who, in addition to lore and Good Deed side missions rewarding more items, will give you the Guardian Detector item to help close the timeloops. 

Mind you, some timeloops may require other items like an Amine Prism. So, do keep an eye out for those while exploring.

6. Boost Combat with Glyphs and Drone Modules

Glyphs are items you attach to your weapons to give them special abilities. And further, you can upgrade both your weapons and glyphs for more potent effects. Meanwhile, drone modules come in handy, equipping your drone companion with special moves, including direct attacks on enemies. You’re going to need all the help you can get to survive Hadea.

5. Take Notes or Screenshots

Taking notes or screenshots is a vital addition to Hell Is Us: best tips for beginners. There are simply lots of details you’ll discover that will seem small but prove important for solving puzzles or navigating Hadea. And while the mind map in-game can help highlight key points, it doesn’t record every code or hint you’ll need in the future. 

4. Talk to All NPCs When You Can

Nearly all of the NPCs in Hell Is Us have important information or items to share, which you only discover or earn from talking to them. What’s more? Some will need repeat visits to give you all the hints and items they hold.

3. Rely on the Compass

I mentioned how Hell Is Us gives you no sense of direction. So, the next Hell Is Us: best tips for beginners will have to be the compass. But first, you’ll need to pay attention to NPC conversations, and then follow the North, East, South, or West cardinal directions they give you for the next quest.

2. Complete Good Deeds

As with other games, side quests often prove important to progressing your character, weapons, and story. And Hell Is Us’ Good Deeds are pretty great places for leveling up. Completing them often rewards you with relics, weapons, and new skills. While at it, feel free to complete the time loops and mysteries, too.

1. Be on High Alert

Again, Hell Is Us is the kind of game you’re likely to get lost in. Even when you’ve paid attention to NPC conversations and environmental details, and you’ve taken notes and screenshots, you’re still likely to miss some things. Some new items you acquire will then unlock new conversations and quests with people and places you’ve already visited. Hence, the need to backtrack. 

The best way to go about Hell Is Us is to pay attention to every detail, item, document that you find exploring, random NPC, and so on. And as you keep track of all of these details, keep an eye out for the places or NPCs where they might be used or hold relevance.