Halls of Torment is a fast-paced, action-survival game that blends old-school RPG aesthetics with modern roguelite mechanics. Players are thrown into chaotic dungeons teeming with enemies, where surviving wave after wave of monsters requires skill, upgrades, and a solid understanding of each character and environment. With its procedurally generated runs, intense combat, and deep customization options, it can be overwhelming for beginners or even returning players. This guide provides a thorough breakdown of the game’s core mechanics, helpful tips for survival, and insights into optimizing your builds for success in Halls of Torment.
Understanding the Basics
Core Gameplay Loop
The main objective in Halls of Torment is to survive the increasing onslaught of enemies while collecting upgrades, leveling up, and ultimately defeating a powerful boss. Each run begins with selecting a character, entering a dungeon, and navigating through hordes of enemies. The game rewards players for staying alive, slaying enemies, and collecting experience orbs to grow stronger with every level.
Character Selection
You begin the game with a few unlocked characters, each with unique base stats and playstyles. Some focus on melee damage, while others specialize in ranged attacks or area-of-effect abilities. Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each character is key to mastering the game.
- Swordsman: Balanced and easy to handle, ideal for new players.
- Archer: Great ranged damage but lower defense.
- Cleric: Offers healing support and crowd control abilities.
- Warlock: High risk, high reward with summoning capabilities.
Progression and Upgrades
Experience and Leveling Up
During each run, you collect experience orbs by defeating enemies. As you level up, you choose from randomized upgrades that enhance your abilities. These can include weapon upgrades, passive bonuses, and utility skills. Picking synergistic upgrades is essential to surviving longer waves.
Gear and Equipment
Halls of Torment includes an equipment system where you can find gear that persists beyond each run. Equipment offers passive boosts such as increased critical chance, faster movement, or health regeneration. Collect gear during runs and equip your characters for stronger starts in future attempts.
Trait and Skill Trees
Outside of active runs, players can spend earned currency to unlock permanent traits and skills. These trees help improve base stats or unlock new abilities, adding an important layer of meta-progression that enhances replayability.
Dungeon Navigation and Enemies
Map Layout and Traps
Dungeons are procedurally generated but share similar layouts. Be mindful of environmental hazards like fire traps, spike pits, and collapsing floors. Using the terrain to your advantage can help control the flow of enemies and keep you alive longer.
Enemy Types
The game features a variety of enemy types, each requiring different strategies. Understanding their behaviors helps in crowd control and survivability.
- Swarmers: Weak but numerous. Use area attacks to clear them quickly.
- Chargers: Move fast and deal heavy damage on contact. Keep your distance.
- Casters: Attack from range. Eliminate them early to avoid surprise hits.
- Elites: Stronger versions with more health and special abilities.
Boss Encounters
At the end of each dungeon, a boss awaits. These powerful foes have unique attack patterns and require tactical movement and fully developed builds to defeat. Learn their phases and avoid staying in one place for too long during battle.
Tips for Beginners
Stay Mobile
Movement is crucial in Halls of Torment. Constantly circle around groups of enemies and use terrain features to funnel or block off waves. Avoid standing still, especially in later stages where projectiles and faster enemies appear.
Prioritize Survivability
While damage upgrades are tempting, never ignore health or defense enhancements. A balanced build with healing, damage reduction, or knockback can often be more successful than an all-offense approach.
Master the Upgrade Pool
Learning what upgrades are available and how they synergize is key to creating overpowered builds. Some combinations of attack speed, area size, and elemental effects can transform basic attacks into screen-clearing forces.
Use Environment to Your Advantage
Look for chokepoints, ledges, and hazards to control enemy flow. Leading enemies into traps or narrow corridors gives you the upper hand, especially in late-game chaos.
Advanced Strategies
Build Synergy
Focus on creating builds that support your main damage output. For example, a ranged character with projectile bounce and piercing upgrades can deal massive crowd damage. Pairing this with slowing or burning effects maximizes control and efficiency.
Boss Preparation
Save high-damage cooldowns and healing potions for boss fights. Maintain full health before the final encounter and clear nearby mobs to avoid distractions. Understanding the boss’s telegraphs and attack patterns significantly improves your chances of winning.
Upgrade Timing
Don’t always take the first available upgrade. Sometimes it’s better to wait for a level-up reroll to find a synergy that fits your current build. The patience pays off in stronger, more consistent late-game performance.
Unlockables and Hidden Content
New Characters and Classes
Throughout your progression, completing specific challenges or reaching milestones unlocks new characters with fresh playstyles. Experimenting with different characters keeps the gameplay exciting and allows for varied approaches to dungeons.
Secret Items and Lore
Halls of Torment includes hidden items, rare enemies, and environmental clues that reveal deeper lore and offer powerful unlockables. Paying attention to small details and exploring thoroughly rewards players with extra content and advantages.
Halls of Torment is a demanding yet rewarding experience for players who enjoy action-packed gameplay, thoughtful character progression, and strategic survival mechanics. The key to mastering the game lies in learning its systems, experimenting with builds, and staying adaptable as challenges escalate. Whether you’re clearing your first dungeon or grinding for high-end gear, every run brings new lessons and possibilities. With practice, patience, and the right approach, you can conquer the chaos and emerge victorious from the Halls of Torment.