QUICK Tips to Champion Level: Darkest Dungeon

[@striderfitzsimmons-sebring5761]

For me, most champion dungeons go like this. 4 rooms in: Okay we're doing pretty well, we had to use both campfires after those couple of fights but that's probably the worst of it. 6 rooms in: It's fine I only lost four lv6 heroes and a little bit of my sanity but we can recover from this, except my wallet after the therapy sessions.

[@HiDdeNSQuiDZGaming]

Haha yes indeed. Things can turn on you so quickly it's not even funny sometimes.

[@sebastiangibson9671]

“Overconfidence is a slow and insoudious killer”

[@GeraltofRivia22]

Eh, Ruins isn't that bad. Basicllly the place you train your level 5 heroes to level 6 before proceeding to get destroyed in the other 3 areas.

[@sebastiangibson9671]

@@GeraltofRivia22 tbf I kept getting random crits for no fucking reason and kept getting critter took my a while and the little piggies kept infecting my occultist and it was super annoying

[@milutinvasic4088]

I'm glad there is still someone i can go to for DD content.

[@HiDdeNSQuiDZGaming]

You are welcome! Plenty more to come

[@milutinvasic4088]

@@HiDdeNSQuiDZGaming Thanks for replying! May i suggest a team comp that i have been using for a while? It's 3 antiquarians and flagellant in front. All antiquarians just use Get Down and stack dodge, and flagellant slaps people with his whip. Throughout the battle antiquarians will get up to 120+ dodge, and they will tank most of the hits, since there are 3 of them. It's a great way to get money and its pretty safe. For trinkets, i use 3 fasting seals and 3 marbles for the antiquarians, and some damage or healing trinkets for flagellant.

[@Klaital1]

My best advice is, don't ever do warrens in champion level unless you have to (as in you want to kill the bosses in them, but after killing the champion flesh, I generally NEVER step foot in the warrens anymore after that) you have really good chance to get outright murdered there with the insane amounts of damage the swine can put out, between skivers, butchers, and the swinetaurs, and even those hook guys can hit insanely hard. It's the one dungeon where the main stress dealer enemy (the drummer) is pretty much the lowest priority to kill.

[@HiDdeNSQuiDZGaming]

I feel you on the warrens being brutal but for some reason the weald has my number. The number of heroes I have lost in there is so much more than any other dungeon.

[@sheenovh1182]

yeh warrens is brutal, and bad rng just makes it worse *glares at champion flesh death blowing my frontline in just round 2 with 3 crits + blight* by miracle i had a 38 weeks streak of not losing a hero, just to get critted the hell out of me by pure luck i got lots of crit on the way to the boss too (the only reason i had stress in that run lul) i started counting, and by the time i retired (bcuz no way im going to beat a full life flesh with just 3 people) i got around a total of 16 crits received in that dungeon, got 9 crits in 3 room battles and the rest just the flesh spanking my front liner + some more crits before i could take my turn and retire XDD*

[@FU6713]

@@sheenovh1182I had to cheat using cloud save to reverse my progress because of that dungeon

[@playmsbk]

I generally avoid dungeons larger than medium, but didn't ever find champion level dungeons to be so dramatically hard, but I guess I learned my lessons from the four deaths I had in lower levels. However I just did the first darkest dungeon, now that is an insurmountably steep difficulty curve.

[@HiDdeNSQuiDZGaming]

Definitely agree on the difficulty of the first level of the darkest dungeon. The second one is pretty darn hard as well.

[@c.a.1506]

I just started playing Darkest Dungeon two weeks ago after getting it in a steam sale. I tried my first champion level dungeon yesterday (Vvulf event in the Hamlet). I got my ass handed to me. This guide is much needed, thank you!

[@HiDdeNSQuiDZGaming]

You are welcome. Feel free to ask any questions.

[@kingdedede8064]

I'm sure there'll be some who disagree, but I've always found the Leper to be OP in the Champion Weald. Give him Focus Ring and Debuff Amulet. His Purge can corpse-clear to prevent the necrotic fungus, and his Intimidate being spammed on the Corrupted Giant can reduce his damage by 99% for stress healing. Only downside to that method is confusion spores _(...unless you bring 4 Lepers)_ tl;dr Leper is a viable support class in Weald

[@endyourway8751]

you are right also intimade can reveal Stealth enemies(learn this mechanic also could save you a lot), for example I learned the bad way that it is a bad idea to take highwayman pos 1 with point blank shot in ruins bc Bone Soldier they almost always play in pos 1-2 with stealth and so you must spend valuable turns changing order or using a skill not very good for your initial strategy. In that dungeon i lost my highwayman but i learn a lot.

[@akaroth7542]

Intimidate is wonderful. As soon as I get some plus acc trinkets, that leper is getting sent in

[@locomike102]

Rando saying "That kind of roll is really outside the realm of possibility." Me: "So you've never played Darkest Dungeon?"

[@HiDdeNSQuiDZGaming]

Once you play a little of the darkest dungeon, you understand to prepare for the worst and accept it as well.

[@otaku-thing2927]

The only champion levels I never beat are the champion level Warrens dungeons. The corpse eaters kept using “Munch” and were tearing up my highwayman, they killed him recently, probably shouldn’t bring him.

[@HiDdeNSQuiDZGaming]

Munch is such a strong ability that sneaks up on me too.

[@Nocure92]

Swine Skivers.....

[@adrianovasco3096]

Thank you so much. I realize I have been neglecting negative quirks. I did not realize how important they are.

[@HiDdeNSQuiDZGaming]

Negative quirks add up so quick. That getting rid of crippling ones or fight oriented ones is crucial.

[@randyrockholt834]

I know this is way late, but here are some stats I gathered that hopefully everyone will find interesting/helpful. I did 4 dungeon runs apiece in each of the 4 main areas (Ruins, Warrens, Weald, Cove) and kept track of every attack on my party that had a single target only. I did not factor in any enemy attacks that had multiple targets. All 16 runs were champion level runs. Here are the results by row- Row 4: 29 attacks- 9.96 % Row 3: 56 attacks- 19.24 % Row 2: 89 attacks- 30.58 % Row 1: 117 attacks- 40.20 % I was attacked a total of 291 times, so I took an average of 18 single attacks per run. Also, I used a different party composition in all 16 runs and used every class in the game except the arbalest (I used the musketeer)

[@HiDdeNSQuiDZGaming]

I do think this game will be more up front in lore and relationships which is a cool path to go down.

[@skyisclear8461]

That's a good guide as ever. It's not a step up in difficult as much as a cliff wall isn't it. It's very hard to prep for the new parties you face. One of the trickier parts is how the new mini-bosses are guarded and/or supported by enemies that weren't troublesome at lower difficulties but are now. The cumulative drain on stress can be really wearing.

[@HiDdeNSQuiDZGaming]

I would agree. Once, you reach things you do not know, and you have to learn the maximum party compositions and maximum stress intake, it can derail a run quickly.

[@A129WOLFY]

I have had DD for a while, but only started getting to late game recently as I've had a lot of time to play it lately. your channel has been a life saver. thank you I lost 2 heroes in my first champion dungeon and 1 in my second, they r brutal

[@unknownkingdom]

Well said at the top about how most of the game is really preparation and management. With a lot of RNG thrown in. That's why the PVP is. a little lackluster since it's just one off fights. Though a nice free gift for the fans.

[@HiDdeNSQuiDZGaming]

I agree about the butchers fights being mostly one offs. It's so hard to predict and prepare.

[@Klaital1]

I would disagree a bit on that you absolutely need stress healer always. As long as you can do good damage to the back line, you don't really need stress healing, since you can kill those stress damage dealers quickly. It also varies a bit by dungeon, like for example, in the Warrens there is very little stress damage (but really nasty physical damage), whereas in the Cove it's the opposite, as long as you bring a plague doctor to remove the big bleeds, the only enemies that do dangerous levels of physical damage are the pelagic piranhas, whereas there is generally lot of those shamans spamming stress wave on you, and possibly madmen and cultist witches added to the mix, and of course the ghasts too.

[@HiDdeNSQuiDZGaming]

I understand the offensive side of things for sure, and when I mean stress healer it doesn't need to be a jester. However, someone like the houndmaster or crusader can really help save you from surprise trap stress damage and if you do get surprised. Once again, more offensive strategies will allow you to deviate from the jester and stop stress from happening which is better in my book. Thank you for posting!

[@HiDdeNSQuiDZGaming]

First Off, Time stamps are in the description. This video and audio are a little older and were done prior to my pc change. However, I stand behind these reasons, and I think practicing these thoughts in battles and out of battles should help reduce hero death, infliction statuses, or backing out of dungeons early. If you want to expand on some of these topics, I do have party composition videos, and battle tactics for the ruins, cove, and warrens as of now. I am currently playing through a new campaign as well if you want to see how I am doing these skills at low levels.

[@spearsharp]

New to this channel and seeing 0:30 is a bruh moment, Two turns you could've saved that BH, Either by healing in Musketeer's turn, Or houndmaster guard

[@HiDdeNSQuiDZGaming]

First off, welcome! If I remember this intro, the footage is about 2 years old and I was somewhat trying to have someone die. I save it as reliable footage to show someone dying to place into intros or points I make about death. But yes the death was avoidable, and if you watch my new run throughs in either stygian or non, there is much better gameplay.

[@spearsharp]

@@HiDdeNSQuiDZGaming Well that make sense now :D Though it always breaks me to see a hero die despite who or what level the hero is and in any situation

[@michaelcoffey1991]

I liked this some very good stuff for anyone new to thie game and these are things i WISH I had knowledge of before playing lol. Fun watch too :) Enjoy your weekend Hidden Squidz

[@HiDdeNSQuiDZGaming]

Yeah I'm a wee behind the darkest dungeon world lol.

[@Kewryn]

Well I've already got a glimpse of what horrors await on champion level by RNG alone; on Veteran dungeon where I've kept the torchlight above 75 ALWAYS, in three consecutive encounters my party got surprised and shuffled in the worst, possible way for them. Cost me my healer just before the boss fight and that is skipping enemies with several less points in speed going before my heroes and the healer dying from the first attack after reaching "Death's Dorr" despite have over 90% Deathblow resist due to trinkets and quirks x.x But I still remember my first venture into Champion level with not entirely upgraded party... probably none died only because I initiated town event that got me extra damage in Ruins for that mission... yeah, not going to champion level dungeons without full upgrades again :D

[@HiDdeNSQuiDZGaming]

Very big power spike from veteran to champion level for sure. Even with all my hours in the game, if I do not take it seriously and max out equipment I can die as well.

[@churchofmagic3733]

0:17 the absolute balls to not heal a Bounty Hunter on death’s door with an afflicted vestal coming up and two enemy actions

[@mildlymaliciousbanana2700]

Champion dungeons be like: wow the player is doing really good, let’s stress nuke their highest stress target, and keep going on the others, get their front liners to deaths door, and DOT everyone! Then, give them insanely bad luck when they finally reach the last room!

[@HiDdeNSQuiDZGaming]

The transition from veteran to champion level is indeed shell shocking. It really makes you play entirely different almost from the first 2/3s.

[@mildlymaliciousbanana2700]

Yeah, even when prepared my leper was just destroyed, I camped before h Th r boss which triggered ambush which proc’d 3 afflictions, got to hag, a few lucky crits an into the pot and a meat tenderizer got my leper down

[@rob5541]

Great video man. Now do one on how to keep a shield breaker alive. I swear she can't make a death save for her life lol. I can't get own to live past lvl 2, which is crazy cause as a damage dealers they're awesome!

[@HiDdeNSQuiDZGaming]

They are super squishy. Basically, be careful of high damage people followed up by DOT damage. They can actually make it through just raw high damage with serpent sway but the DOT will get them most times. Have either holy waters or people who can heal blights and bleeds.

[@ShinraSetora]

It's an old vid and a good one too, but my two cents on what I learned from DD, it's like xcom, avoid playing the rng as much as you can, which is for me, hitting and depending on crits or raw dmg, if it's difficult I always use dots, you can use bleed/blight and have evades twinkles on your characters, you never need stress heals, barely heal, and you can use this on pretty much any bosses as well, I really love damage over time party, makes everything easier!

[@HiDdeNSQuiDZGaming]

Damage over time is amazing for sure. Goes through protection, takes away bodies, and does damage while you heal and stress heal.

[@BlizzardAcolyte]

Well, I guess a tips video focusing solely on the Radiant Four/Big Bads/Faces of Death(blows) is in order then...

[@HiDdeNSQuiDZGaming]

Haha we will see about how many extra videos I make. There is so much in this game, I could go down the rabbit hole forever.

[@rcu1995]

I was thinking of doing a Champion Level Dungeon to kill the Necromancer Lord and I can tell I am def not ready for Champion Level Dungeons lmao

[@HiDdeNSQuiDZGaming]

It is a huge power spike for the enemies. You may get punched in the face the first couple of times do to the different dynamics mostly on the stress side.

[@exocakes4587]

Haven't done Champion level Necromancer yet, but I expect it would be an somewhat easy fight. ... Although, getting to the Necromancer is a different story.

[@PolandDoge]

In my first stygian champion quest a swine skiever got 3 crits and 3 deathblows with the blight, on the first round in the first battle...

[@HiDdeNSQuiDZGaming]

That is definitely unfortunate. Those guys do have the highest burst potential outside of a corrupted giant. Sorry to hear.

[@nickelpickle1134]

Im here cause I had a crusader and leaper in the front, and everyone died except the leaper

[@HiDdeNSQuiDZGaming]

It is okay. My first couple champion level runs ending in many heart attacks and afflictions myself. It is a new game to get used to for sure.

[@gtaakuma4514]

Im not on champion yet i fought a boss in the ruins and had a good lineup i thought all mission until i hit the boss who was at tile 4 with 3 pieces of wood stuck in front of him with progressivily higher health (they drop if u break them after the fight) but yeah my main damage dealers couldnt reach so i ended up losing my favorite plague doctor😢

[@HiDdeNSQuiDZGaming]

Like most boss fights in this game, the wrong party composition really stinks. You got it next time!

[@Ruin_Lance]

are you using a mod to make it so that abom can be paired with vestal?

[@HiDdeNSQuiDZGaming]

I do believe those changes were made post color of madness update/dlc. They can now coexist which is nice!

[@FU6713]

3:11 I’ve got nothing maxed out 💀 Edit: I lucked out after my leper got a virtue and came back safe

[@HiDdeNSQuiDZGaming]

Awesome to hear!

[@rodriqcc]

Most of your tips seem to be just general tips! I want Champion level tips. Which trinkets should I prioritize? Which mobs change from veteran levels? This is what i want to know. Not about 2min of stress management; I already know!

[@VoicesOfNihil]

Pretty much all enemies do new stuff. Im not really sure what exactly, Ive been playing champion for too long to remember the difference haha. Do whatever trinkets you feel like doing, I use only very rare or higher ones, just beware that most of them give a stress amplifier, so be ready to counter that. The best advice I can ever give for champion dungeons is to prepare the best you can, and, this is key, KNOW YOUR ENEMIES. Once you get on champion difficulty you cant afford to be blind. You have to know what you are going against, and pick your heroes, skills, trinkets and provisions accordingly. Unless you are a really hardened veteran, bring enough torches to light up everything. Sometimes heroes like vestal or crusader are good to illuminate too. Even if you want to farm loot, you want to be as prepared as you possibly can. I tend to loot as much as I can before leaving a dungeon, but that can be a pretty risky thing to do. Information and control are your best allies in this fight. No one is going to blame you for using the wiki. I actually encourage it a lot. Do it blindly a couple times, enjoy the game and discover it the hard way. But eventually you are going to want to be using that thing. Planning for bosses? Knowing the chances of a curio? The wiki is probably your best ally. Also, I always bring a vestal in pretty much any party composition. Occultists are great, but you dont wanna rely on rng, specially when your heroes are on the death door. Unless you are in a short dungeon, you ALWAYS want a vestal with you, even better if you also bring another support healer. Stress heal is also going to be a really good ally, so have at least one hero for it, and boof it with trinkets. One of my favorites is Crusader + Holy Orders + Ancestor's Scroll, giving it a nice ¿40%? + stress heal.

[@LucianC137]

How is this comp: vestal, abomination, grave robber(shadow fade /lunge), hellion?

[@HiDdeNSQuiDZGaming]

It has nice damage (lunge and hellion), great stuns in their with manacles, dazzling light, and barbaric yawp, and good heals. I would make sure you take out high stress damage dealers first though because stress heals is the weakest portion of this party. Not a problem but a weakness to identify for sure.

[@LoliShepherd]

Hey HiDden. You said you maybe wanna try new games. Did you see the MISTOVE game that just came out? It's kinda difficult like darkest dungeon with anime graphics (dunno if you are into it). I tried it and to be honest i spent just 3 hours when i first tried it and it's pretty fun so if intrested would be nice to see you play it :v

[@HiDdeNSQuiDZGaming]

I'll look at it tonight and tomorrow. It would be fun to change it up a little!

[@LoliShepherd]

@@HiDdeNSQuiDZGaming just a change in my comment. its MISTOVER not MISTOVE my bad sir :v

[@unknownkingdom]

Cove is harsest at apprentice but easiest at champion

[@HiDdeNSQuiDZGaming]

I would agree with that statement. The cove becomes very safe and useful in champion.

[@Chikanuk]

Gosh, you literally kill this BH yourself. Painful to watch. Video good in general, but imho here is best to make emphasis on most important things (they kinda blend with general info). Like: 1. ACC+SPEED DA BEST! For everyone. 2. ALWAYS bring bandages and antivenom. No dungeon without it. Bandits, cultist and spiders can be met everywhere. 3. Dodge suck unless you cheeze it. 4. NEVER! Never ever ever ever EVER go without heal. Occult alone is not a heal. Food is not a heal. 5. Focus fire. 6. Stuns 2 win. Dots too, but not that much. 7. Dont go for money and resources to lvl 5 dungeons unless you really have no options. For farm you have low lvl dungeons. 8. Vestal is the best girl. 9. Torches for weaklings. 10. Kill Wilbur first.

[@HiDdeNSQuiDZGaming]

Well I needed footage of someone dying so... and I do all my own footage. However, I definitely should have healed. Thank you for adding some tips for the community and yes definitely kill wilbur first. That little bugger.

[@TITANia69420]

How 2 Grave Robber

[@HiDdeNSQuiDZGaming]

Hello there! I want to clarify, do you want a video on the grave robber? I can put that as priority for near the end of October.

[@TITANia69420]

@@HiDdeNSQuiDZGaming i...didn't expect it to get this far O_O But yeah, sure. A comprehensive vid would be really helpful.

[@HiDdeNSQuiDZGaming]

I'll see what's coming up but I can definitely do a character review after the man at arm's video.

[@scarafereastra]

i mean if its your first darkest run and you can afford wasting weeks cause you dont havea time limit just play around and dont abandon your shit get new heroes if they die upgrade ur stage coach so u get higher levels and keep at it until you get the hang of champion. my biggest issue is providing accuracy to counterract the high dodge the mobs tend to have in lvl 5+

[@HiDdeNSQuiDZGaming]

Getting enough accuracy is always a nightmare. It's a fine balance between damage speed and accuracy