If you’ve ever found yourself one second away from glory in Vampire Survivors—only to be swallowed by the onslaught at minute 29—know that you’re not alone. It’s a game of massive chaos, punishing RNG, and deeply satisfying progression loops. Developed by indie mastermind Luca Galante, Vampire Survivors is a 2D action bullet hell that took 2022 by storm, racking up millions of sales with its deceptively simple formula. With 30-minute runs packed full of upgrades, intensity, and often heartbreak, the early game can be a steep hill to climb. So let’s flatten that curve with five crucial tips every new player should know—plus a bonus nugget for the truly committed.
1. Prioritize Targets—And Know What You’re Smashing
In the early game, every move counts. Many new players fall into the trap of wandering aimlessly, attacking whatever’s nearest. But there’s hidden value in being selective. First, seek out destructible objects like torches or lamps—smashing these not only grants extra coins but often reveals life-saving food tokens. In a game where health management can make or break a run, these drops can be clutch during those chaotic first 10 minutes.
Second—and far more critical—learn to focus your attacks on elite enemies. These baddies, either outlined in blue or presented as supersized versions of the wave’s fodder, are your golden ticket to game-changing loot. They drop chests, and these chests are your best shot at fast-tracking power. One chest might gift you a single weapon upgrade, another could grant you five. That randomness is influenced by your luck stat (more on that later), but regardless, elites are the gateway to your late-game firepower. Kill them early and often.
2. Weapon Evolutions Are Your Lifeline to Victory
Picking random weapons might get you through the first few waves, but if you’re serious about surviving the full 30-minute gauntlet, weapon evolutions are non-negotiable. A weapon evolution is essentially a supercharged version of a base weapon, unlocked when you pair that weapon at max level with its corresponding passive item—then grab a chest. The evolution won’t trigger until you have both parts fully leveled up, so planning is key.
This is where the in-game grimoire and tooltips come into play. Use the pause screen to inspect your gear and understand what combinations you’re aiming for. In your first 5-6 level-ups, try to grab weapons over passives if possible. This gives you a more readable build path and helps ensure you won’t miss that critical pairing when the opportunity comes. Mastering these evolutions turns your screen into a swirling vortex of death—a beautiful sight, and the only real shot you have at meeting (and maybe surviving) the final boss.
3. Learn to Use Choke Points to Your Advantage
The further you get into a run, the more you’ll realize positioning is half the battle. On open maps, you’re vulnerable from all angles, which can quickly overwhelm you. But certain parts of each level contain buildings, doors, or other structures that naturally funnel enemies into narrower approaches.
These choke points can be exploited to reduce the number of directions you have to defend. A solid choke can mean dealing with attacks from just 90–180 degrees instead of the full 360. That’s huge when your weapons have fixed arcs or patterns—like the whip, which attacks horizontally but leaves you exposed from above and below. Finding and fighting within these safe angles is a subtle skill that separates the frantic from the efficient.
4. Luck Isn’t Just RNG—It’s a Core Power Stat
Luck might feel like an intangible in many games, but in Vampire Survivors, it has very real implications. A higher luck stat affects the quality and quantity of your level-up options, the contents of chests, and even the likelihood of special drops from the environment.
Killing elite enemies with high luck gives you a better chance of scoring those coveted three or five-item chests, accelerating your build significantly. It also improves your odds of drawing the passives or weapons you actually need. For such a low-effort stat, investing in luck early pays back tenfold. It’s not just about gambling—it’s about controlling your run’s trajectory with a quiet but powerful influence.
5. Choose Your Characters Like You Choose Your Battles
Variety may be the spice of life, but in Vampire Survivors, early experimentation can hinder your progress. Instead of bouncing around the roster, stick to a core group of two or three characters as you learn the mechanics. Not all characters are created equal—some come with hard-to-master abilities or starting weapons that don’t synergize well in the early game.
Take Janaro and Morchio, for instance. Their extra projectiles provide a major advantage in crowd control and scaling damage. They’re intuitive picks that suit a wide range of playstyles, making them ideal for mastering the game’s pacing and systems. On the flip side, characters like Ramba, while undeniably cool, require you to adapt to a very specific playstyle that may not feel natural. Save the experimentation for later—early success starts with simplicity and consistency.
Bonus Tip: Refund Your Powerups and Respec for Success
Here’s something many players overlook: the ability to refund and reassign your meta-progression powerups. These permanent upgrades shape your runs more than you realize, and real power lies in tailoring them to your chosen character.
If you’re playing someone with strong area damage, max out area-related powerups from the get-go. If you’re relying on crits or chest rewards, go all in on luck. Mixing and matching based on who you’re running doesn’t just make the game easier—it lets you explore deeper strategies without being stuck with suboptimal builds. Refunds are free and unlimited, so experiment often.
Final Thoughts
Vampire Survivors may look like retro chaos, but beneath its pixelated surface lies a carefully tuned strategy game. These six tips—target prioritization, weapon evolution, choke point awareness, embracing luck, character selection, and powerup respecs—will elevate your play and turn frustration into triumph. Stick with it, build smart, and soon you’ll be watching Death himself fade into a cloud of glorious pixels.
Happy surviving!
My Gaming Tutorials 
Leave a comment