The Blood of Dawnwalker

The Blood of Dawnwalker punishes you for playing it in the obvious order. Loot scales to the level you are when you pick it up, so the legendary you grab early is weaker for ever; several of the best items sit behind quests the game never marks; and the day and the night want different builds out of you. Our coverage runs to every trophy, every missable, the undetected routes through the towers and the lairs, and the prologue items most people walk past.

Common questions

How many towers are in The Blood of Dawnwalker?

Eleven. Every one of them can be cleared without being seen, and our tower guide walks the undetected route for all eleven in order.

Should you pick up legendary items as soon as you find them?

Leave them until later. Loot in this game rolls against the level you are when you collect it, so a legendary taken early is locked to weak numbers for the rest of the run. The same chest is worth far more a few levels on.

Which skills should you take first?

Haste and Shapeshift. Haste carries the daytime, where you are moving and talking, and Shapeshift carries the night, where you are hunting. Taking one of each covers both halves of the clock instead of leaving you strong for only half the game.

Which trophies can you miss in the prologue?

Untouchable and Realmwalker are both available in the opening minutes and both are easy to walk past. Untouchable is done inside the first five minutes, and Realmwalker asks you to beat Brencis in phase one of a fight the game intends you to lose.

What is missable in The Blood of Dawnwalker?

Vrakhir's Treads, the Together Forever ending and the Like Father and Like Son quest are the three that catch most players. The boots are tied to Xanthe, the ending is a secret one you can lock yourself out of, and the quest carries the Charge Manual with it. Each has its own guide here.

Can you kill Xanthe early?

Yes, and it changes three things later in the run. There is also a route that gets you Blood Surge early without fighting Xanthe at all, which is the one to take if you want the Make It Rain trophy and the fight left open.

How many villages, banners and Artery Strike manuals are there?

Eight villages for the Tour Guide trophy, five Brencis banners for Capture The Flag, and three Artery Strike manuals for Better Safe Than Sorry. Each has a location guide here with the full route.

What is the best gear in the prologue?

The Polished Long Cleaver for the weapon and the Scarlet Knightly Gambeson for the armour, with the Sturdy Battlesword sitting in a secret chest nearby. The Broad Swing Manual is also reachable before the prologue ends and carries a 300% weapon damage ability.

How do you solve the Cycle of Love lantern puzzle?

The lanterns have an order, and one of the doors in that room will shut behind you and trap you if you take it at the wrong point. Our puzzle guide shows the order and which door to leave alone.