Lords of the Fallen can be an overwhelming experience for new players, throwing a multitude of mechanics and challenges at you right from the start. From understanding character attributes to learning combat strategies, resource management, and hidden mechanics, this guide will cover everything you need to know to survive and thrive in the world of Lords of the Fallen.

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Getting Started: Attributes and Stats

Your choice of attributes will shape your playstyle, and early investment in the right stats is crucial. Here’s what you need to prioritize:

1. Vitality Is King

Enemies hit hard in Lords of the Fallen, and Vitality increases your max HP, allowing you to survive longer. The Sanguinis healing item restores a percentage of max health, making higher health pools more valuable without diminishing healing effectiveness.

2. Strength, Agility, Inferno, and Radiance

• Strength and Agility scale poorly in the early game, so only invest as much as needed for weapon or shield requirements.
• Inferno and Radiance should be leveled only enough to meet spell requirements early on. Focus on Vitality firstbefore investing more into these stats.

3. Respec Your Build

If you make mistakes, you can respec your character at Peta in Skyrest Bridge using a Rebirth Chrysis item. These are found throughout the game and can also be exchanged at the Shrine of the Putrid Mother once you’ve unlocked the ability. Plan carefully, as respec opportunities are limited early on.

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Managing Vigor and Progression

4. How to Store Vigor (Your Currency)

Unlike most Souls-like games, you can store Vigor to prevent losing it on death. Visit Mouu in the Umbral Realm at Skyrest Bridge and purchase Vigor Skulls. These function like Sekiro’s Coin Purse, but keep in mind they cost more Vigor to purchase than they restore.

5. Understanding Enemy Weaknesses and Damage Types

• Gray damage numbers = Enemy resistant to your attack type.
• White damage numbers = Enemy neutral to your attack type.
• Red damage numbers = Enemy weak to your attack type.

Use elemental weapon buffs like Minor Fire Salts to add fire damage or defensive wards like Holy Ward to reduce incoming damage.

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Combat Mechanics: Mastering Posture and Grievous Strikes

6. How Posture Works

Posture is a stagger system in Lords of the Fallen.

• The ring around the enemy lock-on indicator shows their posture level.
• Deplete it by attacking, parrying, or using heavy attacks.
• Once broken, you can execute a Grievous Strike with a light attack near them.
• Follow up with extra hits while they recover for even more damage.

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Healing and Upgrade Strategies

7. Expanding Your Healing Capacity

You start with a limited amount of Sanguinis uses, but you can upgrade it by collecting Saintly Quintessence and giving them to Peta at Skyrest Bridge. These items are found in the Umbral Realm by Soul Flaying Umbral Tumors—often hidden and guarded by powerful enemies.

8. Equipment Upgrades and the Blacksmith

To improve weapons and armor, you need Deralium (upgrade material). You can find it, buy it, or farm it from enemies.

• Unlock the Blacksmith in Skyrest Bridge by rescuing her from a cell below the Bellum Vestige.
• She will also slot runes into weapons once you provide Rune Tablets.

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Magic and Spellcasting

9. How to Get More Spells

Each magic type has unique vendors:

• Radiance Magic → Exacter Dunmar (Skyrest Bridge)
• Umbral Magic → Mouu (Skyrest Bridge)
• Inferno Magic → Unlock Tortured Prisoner by completing a puzzle in Pilgrim’s Perch.

Many spells can also be found as treasure, and boss-related spells can be purchased from Mouu under Offer Remembrance.

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Boss Gear and Umbral Scourings

10. How to Get Boss Weapons and Armor

To obtain boss gear, you need Umbral Scourings, which are earned by:

• Defeating bosses
• Soul Flaying Stigmas (memories in the Umbral Realm)
• Buying them from Mouu

You only get 285 per playthrough, so choose wisely when purchasing boss weapons, armor, or spells.

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Vestige Seeds: Your Portable Checkpoints

11. How to Use Vestige Seeds

Vestige Seeds allow you to create temporary checkpoints in Umbral Flower Beds. However:

• You can only have one active at a time.
• Planting a new one removes the previous one.
• Seeds are rare early on, so use them strategically.

12. How to Get More Vestige Seeds

• Dropped by elite Umbral enemies (~15-20% chance).
• Purchased from Mouu.
• Dropped by bosses.
• Can be given to you by co-op partners.

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NPCs and Shrines

13. Interacting with NPCs and Quest Progression

NPCs function similarly to the Souls series, often moving to Skyrest Bridge after being helped. Always exhaust their dialogue and complete their requests to unlock shops and rewards.

14. Understanding the Three Shrines

There are three shrines in the game that provide special rewards:

1. Shrine of the Putrid Mother (Skyrest Bridge) → Trade Plucked Eyeballs for rewards
   • Earn Plucked Eyeballs by revenging fallen players (red lamp interactions).
2. Shrine of Orus (Skyrest Bridge, downstairs) → Trade Pilfered Coins for rewards
   • Earn Pilfered Coins by co-oping and helping other players defeat bosses.
3. Shrine of Aer (Fitzroy’s Gorge) → Trade Severed Hands for rewards
   • Earn Severed Hands by invading and killing other players in PvP.

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Final Thoughts: How to Succeed in Lords of the Fallen

This guide is meant to help you understand key mechanics without spoiling the game, allowing you to make informed decisions as you play. By following these tips and strategies, you’ll have an easier time navigating the dangerous world of Lords of the Fallen.

If you have additional tips or questions, drop them in the comments and happy hunting! Good luck, Lamp Bearer!