Beginner’s Guide#

Basic Controls#

Keyboard and Gamepad#

Controls are the foundation of the experience. Here are the default mappings:

Adjust the bindings in the settings menu to suit your habits. On gamepad, enabling vibration adds to the immersion.

Forgotten Crossroads#

Starting Area Overview#

The Forgotten Crossroads is the game’s first area and where you learn the basic mechanics. Enemies here are relatively weak and the map is fairly linear — ideal for getting comfortable.

Main enemies:

Buying Maps#

Map advice:

• Buy the map and Quill as soon as possible to mark explored areas
• In every region, look for Cornifer first — his humming and the drifting paper trail
• The map only updates your position after you sit on a bench

Survival Tips#

Geo Management#

How to earn Geo:

1. Kill enemies
2. Break chests and breakable objects
3. Dig up glowing mounds
4. Trade with merchants

How to keep Geo:

• Spend your Geo before you risk dying
• Buy important items first (the lantern, charm notches)
• Geo left on the ground disappears when you change areas

The Importance of Benches#

1. Fully restore your health
2. Refill your SOUL
3. Save your progress
4. Update your position on the map
5. Reset the position of most enemies

Bench strategy:

• Always find the nearest bench before challenging a strong enemy
• Some benches require interacting to sit (not automatic)
• Benches in some areas are well hidden — explore carefully

Early Charms#

Recommended Base Charms#

Early on, charm notches are limited — picking the right charms matters.

Recommended early loadout:

Practical Techniques#

The Pogo#

The downward strike (pogo) is one of the most important techniques in the game. Hold down while attacking in mid-air to bounce off enemies, spikes and certain objects. Before you get the Mantis Claw, this is the required way to cross certain areas.

Pogo practice:

• Practice on the easy enemies of the Forgotten Crossroads
• Learn to pogo over spike traps
• Pogoing off enemies keeps your height over deep pits
• Chained pogos are called “pogo jumping” — an advanced technique

SOUL Management#

SOUL is the shared resource for spells and healing. Hitting enemies gathers SOUL — 11 points per normal hit (more with the Soul Catcher charm).

SOUL strategy:

• Each healing Focus costs 33 SOUL to restore one mask of health
• Decide flexibly in combat whether to heal or cast
• Don’t waste SOUL — at full SOUL, hits gather nothing more
• Vessel Fragments increase your SOUL capacity

Early Route Advice#

The recommended newcomer exploration route:

1. Find Cornifer and buy the map
2. Defeat False Knight to earn the City Crest
3. Return to Dirtmouth and talk to the cartographer’s wife
4. Head into Greenpath to continue the adventure

Remember: don’t fear death. Every death is a lesson. Every corner of Hallownest hides a secret — stay curious and keep exploring.

Early Boss Priority#

Early Geo Spending#

Opening Route in Detail#

What to Do in the First Two Hours#

The first two hours set the pace for the whole run. Follow this order:

1. Prepare before leaving Dirtmouth — buy the map and Quill, and the lantern too if your Geo allows
2. Survey all direct routes in the Forgotten Crossroads and beat Gruz Mother first for the Vessel Fragment
3. Challenge False Knight for the City Crest and the ability to attack downward
4. Return to Dirtmouth to trade the City Crest for the lantern, and upgrade your nail
5. Push through Greenpath and beat Hornet for the Mothwing Cloak

Route Branches#

• Route A (safe): explore the Fungal Wastes first for the Mantis Claw, then enter the City of Tears — more health and charms banked.
• Route B (speedrun): go straight through Greenpath into the City of Tears for Desolate Dive, then backtrack to the Fungal Wastes. For players comfortable with boss rhythms.

Newcomers should take Route A — the extra region’s upgrades noticeably lower Soul Master’s difficulty.

Geo Sources in Detail#

Main Early Geo Sources#

Efficient Geo Farming Spots#

• The bug nest in the Forgotten Crossroads: break the nest and the small bugs keep spawning — pair with Gathering Swarm for auto-pickup; about 500 Geo per ten minutes.
• Lower City of Tears: the guard enemies here have a high drop rate, and it’s next to a Stag Station — farm and return quickly.
• The Colosseum of Fools: every Trial pays out Geo — clearing Trial one is one of the safest early money farms.

Geo Spending Priority#

1. Map and Quill (buy in every region)
2. Lantern (1,800 Geo — essential for dark areas)
3. Charm notches (the earlier, the better the value)
4. Simple Key (unlocks Zote’s area, the tool room, and more)
5. Nail upgrades (only after you have enough Pale Ore)

Early Upgrade Priorities#

Recommended Upgrade Order#

Key Milestone Reminders#

• The first nail upgrade happens at Dirtmouth’s tool shop for 250 Geo plus Pale Ore — affordable early on.
• Mask Shards can be bought in both Dirtmouth and the City of Tears early — prioritize completing them.
• Pale Ore is scarce — don’t waste it on low-tier upgrades; save it for when you can jump two tiers at once.
• Spell upgrades come from the Soul Sanctum in the City of Tears — grab Desolate Dive first for puzzle-solving and crowd clearing.