Best Tips and Tricks for Caves of Qud

As a seasoned adventurer who has delved into the mysterious depths of Qud for countless years, I can confidently say that this guide is a treasure trove for any newcomer or veteran alike. From the wise words on healing and identifying artifacts to the cheeky tips about growing extra arms and turning oneself into a door, each piece of advice in this guide serves as a beacon guiding us through the labyrinthine world of Qud.

It’s common knowledge that the game, Caves of Qud, isn’t a walk in the park. What makes it even more remarkable is not just the myriad ways players can meet their demise, but also the countless strategies they can devise to counteract danger. While these solutions aren’t simple or effortless, they are always available as an option.

However, before you can start performing jedi mind tricks or creating a warband of trigger-happy maniacs, you’ll first need to grasp the very basics of Caves of Qud. This isn’t like any of the typical Roguelike games out there — it won’t hold your hand, and you’ll probably die a lot, so here are a few tips and tricks you can use to make the starting experience a little smoother.

Learn The Controls

Check your keybindings to see if you need to replace anything.

In the game “Caves of Qud”, nearly everything has a degree of complexity, and this even extends to its default control scheme. Although many aspects of the game can be controlled with a mouse, for maximum efficiency, it’s beneficial to familiarize yourself (or possibly reassign) the keyboard controls. Here are some crucial default keybindings as a point of reference:

Movement: Arrow Keys/NumPad
World Map: Numpad – (return to your character via NumPad +)
Attack: Smack into an enemy with movement keys
Force Attack: Ctrl + any movement key
Ranged Attack: F, cycle targets with movement keys, then Space to fire
I: Inventory
L: Look (examines objects in the world)

Absolutely, there’s a wealth of crucial knowledge out there waiting for you to explore. You can uncover these gems on your own as time goes by.

What Is The Goal In Caves Of Qud?

There’s a main questline, but players aren’t bound to it.

In the game Caves of Qud, players find themselves in a vast, open-ended playground, free to explore and engage in activities as the game permits. Unlike games like Hades with a defined objective, Caves of Qud does not have a set goal. However, for those intrigued by the main storyline, there’s an overarching narrative to follow. To initiate it, interact with all the NPCs in your starting town and complete two quests. This process will eventually guide you towards a quest named “More Than A Willing Spirit”.

Get Wayfaring Skills

Wayfaring skills prevent you from getting lost, potentially saving your run.

If you prefer creating your own character class in Caves of Qud, it would be beneficial to start with at least 19 Intelligence points. This will enable you to acquire the Wayfinding skill, which is crucial for navigating the game world swiftly without getting lost. Aim to get the “Mind’s Compass” and relevant “Wilderness Lore” skills for the region you’re exploring. This combination should help you move around more efficiently.

To avoid ending up in potentially hazardous locations, try not to excessively rely on the World Map for movement unless you possess the necessary abilities or skills.

Always Have Water

Water is needed for trading and to stave off dehydration.

In the world of Caves of Qud, running low on water can be a death sentence for my character. Fortunately, water serves not just as a means to quench thirst but also acts as the game’s primary currency. When I’m out exploring and happen upon unnecessary items or trinkets, it’s wise to sell them to traders to ensure I have enough water on hand.

Remember that because water is a tangible item that you must transport, it should be stored in containers such as waterskins. This limitation implies that the quantity of water you can carry is dependent on your capacity to carry it.

Look Before You Fight

Press L to examine creatures and assess the situation.

In Qud, it’s not a pleasant environment, and it seems reasonable to suspect that anything giving you a strange look might be hostile. If you’re unsure about a creature’s intentions, press the L key to examine it more closely. This will display a small window showing its attitude towards you and its strength.

When encountering something new, such as a plant, an animal, or anything else that appears potentially harmful, it would be wise to observe it carefully before taking any action, as the first step should always be understanding what you’re dealing with.

When In Doubt, Run Away

You can use Sprint to run away from danger.

In most cases (except possibly for characters lacking limbs), the Sprint ability allows them to flee from peril. This is particularly beneficial when encountering adversaries stronger than yourself, such as a band of hostile Putus Templars. Keep in mind that Sprint will continue to function for several rounds before requiring a cooldown period, so use it sparingly and strategically. If you initially spawn as a Mutant within the game ‘Caves of Qud’, you can develop additional legs or wings to facilitate even quicker escapes from danger.

Find and Hunt Snapjaws

Snapjaws are weak and plentiful, making them great sources of early XP.

In simpler terms, Snapjaws are aggressive beings that tend to attack immediately upon sight. They’re not particularly strong (except for their special versions), making them suitable for collecting loot and experience points, which I like to call “experience piñatas”. If you’re looking to quickly increase your character level at the start, fighting a group of Snapjaws is often an easy way to do so.

Snapjaws are often discovered when venturing through untamed wilderness, but for a more straightforward search, start from Joppa within the game ‘Caves of Qud’.

How to Recover Health

Apart from Bandages, players can use Witchwood Bark to heal up.

In simpler terms, your Health Points (HP) automatically increase as you explore or carry out actions away from battle. This natural healing process can be enhanced by certain abilities like the Regeneration mutation, but if you find yourself low on HP during combat, you can use Bandages and Witchwood Bark to recover. These items are relatively inexpensive, so it’s a good idea to buy some whenever you come across a trader.

Keep in mind that Witchwood Bark has a chance to cause Confusion, which will turn your screen into a garbled mess for a few turns. Before consuming Witchwood Bark, make sure to take note of enemy positions and possible escape routes.

Identify Weird Artifacts

Weird Artifacts are often useful or expensive items, but they need to be identified first.

During your journey, you often encounter peculiar items known as Artifacts, which can be obtained through quests such as ‘What’s Eating The Watervine’. At first glance, these items may appear worthless, but they actually have hidden properties. To discover their secrets, open your inventory and choose the Examine option on the artifact of interest. Simply press the Space bar, then select Examine. If your character is unable to recognize the item, take it to a Tinker in any nearby village for identification.

Be Creative

If you think it works, it probably will.

As a gamer immersed in the world of Caves of Qud, I find myself astounded by the boundless freedom to shape my character and experiences. Sure, combat skills and weapons are at my disposal, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. The game invites me to push boundaries and unleash creativity, allowing me to grow extra arms to wield four weapons, become immune to fire and incinerate entire landscapes with grenades, batter through mountains with my fists, or even transform myself into a portal. The possibilities are endless, and I’ve come to expect the unexpected from this game.

2024-12-06 09:34