With the console release of Skul: The Hero Slayer looming on the horizon, there’s never been a better time to dive into this slick, skeleton-smashing roguelite. Whether you’re brand new to the world of Skul or returning after a long break, this guide offers a detailed breakdown of how to get your bones in order. These 10 (well, 11) essential tips will give you a crucial edge, helping you progress further and smarter, one bone toss at a time.

1. Progress Over Farming: Go Deep, Not Wide

One of the biggest mistakes new players make is trying to farm early levels for Dark Quartz. While it might seem tempting to beat the Act 1 boss repeatedly and restart, it’s a slow and inefficient way to accumulate resources. Instead, commit to your runs and push as far as possible. You’ll earn significantly more Quartz and gain valuable experience with late-game enemies and bosses. For perspective: one early run may net you around 240 Quartz, but a full-game clear brings in over 7,000. This approach trains you and pays you — a double win.

2. Witch Traits First: The Real Upgrades Begin Here

If you’ve played any roguelite like Hades or Undermine, you’ll know the power of permanent upgrades. In Skul, your Quartz should go to the Witch’s traits before anything else. Prioritize unlocking Reassemble, which revives you with up to 60% HP — essentially a second life — and Ancient Alchemy, which lets you convert unwanted items into gold. These upgrades not only boost survivability but also set the foundation for a strong economic game. Money talks in Skul, and with the right traits, you’ll be fluent.

3. Don’t Hesitate to Buy a Second Skull Early

It might seem contradictory after tip #2, but it’s worth spending 10 Quartz before your run to snag a second skull from the fox NPC. He’ll already give you one freebie, but a second chance at a rare skull — even for just 10 Quartz — can kickstart your build and provide bone fragments to strengthen your arsenal later. It’s a small investment for a big potential payoff.

4. Double Down on Items Too

The ogre NPC mirrors the fox in how he functions: first item’s free, second costs 10 Quartz. While this may seem like a low-impact purchase, it becomes game-changing once you’ve unlocked Ancient Alchemy. Even a useless item can be scrapped for gold to spend later, essentially giving you a head start on shops and mid-run purchases. The economic loop in Skul rewards proactive planning — so plan to profit early.

5. Understand the Power Skull Playstyle

Power Skulls are brutal, but they come with unique risks. Unlike most skulls with multiple dashes, Power Skulls usually only have a single, damage-dealing dash. This limits your evasiveness and reduces invincibility frames. Mastering Power Skulls means precision dodging and smart cooldown management. Don’t mash blindly — learn the rhythm. Heavy-hitters come with heavier costs if misplayed.

6. Study Your Enemies – Especially the Tough Ones

When a specific elite or adventurer is giving you a hard time, don’t brute force it. Instead, slow down and study their patterns. Let them attack, watch their animations, and listen for sound cues. Many enemies signal their attacks clearly — a raised axe, a shoulder lurch before charging, a distinct grunt. Learning these tells allows you to react rather than panic. This technique applies to every major fight, from Act bosses to elite rooms. Observation is often more valuable than aggression.

7. Defensive Items Can Carry Runs

Skul isn’t just about offense — defense wins runs. A few standout items to keep an eye on include:

• Warrior’s Pauldrons: Creates a forward-facing shield for 5 seconds.
• Knight’s Determination: Reduces damage when low on HP.
• Dark Priest Robe: Generates a damage-absorbing shield at low health.
• Priest Staff: Heals over time when HP is low, synergizing perfectly with the two above.
• Wind Armor: Grants a chance to reset dash cooldowns after each dash, allowing for dodge spamming and more i-frames.

Get a few of these working together, and you’ll become shockingly tanky without needing to sacrifice offensive output.

8. Use Rookie Mode to Learn, Not Cheat

Rookie Mode is an often-overlooked feature that reduces incoming damage by 50%. Far from being a crutch, it’s a powerful learning tool. Enemies stay just as tough, but you’ll live longer — long enough to actually learn their patterns, test builds, and practice boss fights. It’s training wheels that don’t compromise game integrity. Toggle it in the options and turn frustration into education.

9. Pick the Right Door for Your Goals

Every door in Skul tells a story: will it be gold, an item, or a new skull? The optimal path depends on your goals. Want to level a skull fast? Prioritize green skull doors. Looking to build out your arsenal? Chase item rooms early. And once you’ve unlocked Ancient Alchemy, gold rooms become secondary to item rooms — because even a bad item can become good gold. Be mindful of your build and adapt your choices accordingly.

10. Don’t Underestimate Little Skul Himself

The default character, Little Skul, is far from weak. His basic attacks are solid, and his head toss deals strong magic damage. What really shines is the ability to rapidly toss and retrieve his head for fast cooldown cycles. While he can’t be upgraded by Arachne (as of now), smart itemization can still carry him to victory. Look for Mage’s Necklace and Mana Bone to boost his magical output. Just because he’s the starting point doesn’t mean he’s not an endgame threat.

Bonus Tip #11: Know Your Damage Types

Skul operates on two damage types: physical (orange text) and magical (blue text). Matching items and skulls to their respective damage type will exponentially boost your effectiveness. Pay attention to your item pickups and skill descriptions. Watching colored damage numbers fly off enemies isn’t just satisfying — it’s a strategic insight into how your build is scaling. Hybrid builds can work, but synergy always beats scattershot.

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Skul: The Hero Slayer is deep, creative, and endlessly replayable. With a bit of preparation and smart decision-making, you can turn even the worst run into a showcase of skeletal supremacy. Keep these tips in your back pocket, stay flexible with your builds, and above all — keep swinging.

See you on the battlefield, boneheads.