How it works
This original Volpedia walkthrough breaks the route into five practical stages. Leave King’s Pass for Dirtmouth, listen to Elderbug, then descend to Forgotten Crossroads. Explore a little instead of immediately charging through every branching tunnel. The early goal is not to clear the entire kingdom: it is to find safe benches, learn the basic Nail and gather enough Geo to begin mapping. Pay attention to Cornifer’s humming. When you buy the first map, return to Iselda for a quill and, if navigation is difficult, Wayward Compass.
Practical strategy
Follow the paths that open toward Greenpath, buy Cornifer’s local map and learn how plant enemies behave near acid. The first major Hornet encounter rewards patience: observe the lunge and aerial patterns, then strike after a committed movement. After obtaining Mothwing Cloak, revisit early gaps that required a dash. Record other inaccessible passages for later rather than forcing jumps that are not yet possible.
Common mistake to avoid
Once you reach City of Tears, meet the Nailsmith and consider the first Nail upgrades. Collect Mask Shards and Charms as you discover them; put together a build that fits your mistakes rather than a theoretical damage ranking. Learn how normal death and Shade recovery work before carrying large Geo reserves into a new boss region. The goal is a repeatable exploration loop: visit an unfamiliar area, map it, secure a bench, learn its hazards, and return with a new ability.
Complete Beginner Walkthrough
Your first bench and map
Leave King’s Pass for Dirtmouth, listen to Elderbug, then descend to Forgotten Crossroads. Explore a little instead of immediately charging through every branching tunnel. The early goal is not to clear the entire kingdom: it is to find safe benches, learn the basic Nail and gather enough Geo to begin mapping. Pay attention to Cornifer’s humming. When you buy the first map, return to Iselda for a quill and, if navigation is difficult, Wayward Compass.
Learn SOUL and Vengeful Spirit
Use the Nail on manageable enemies to gather SOUL, then choose whether to heal with Focus or cast a spell. The early Ancestral Mound sequence teaches Vengeful Spirit. Notice why range matters against an enemy blocking a tight passage. Practice attacking once, stepping away, then casting only when the line is clear. Avoid spending all SOUL before an unexplored room if you are still learning safe healing positions.
Greenpath and the first dash
Follow the paths that open toward Greenpath, buy Cornifer’s local map and learn how plant enemies behave near acid. The first major Hornet encounter rewards patience: observe the lunge and aerial patterns, then strike after a committed movement. After obtaining Mothwing Cloak, revisit early gaps that required a dash. Record other inaccessible passages for later rather than forcing jumps that are not yet possible.
Mantis Claw and the wider kingdom
Move toward Fungal Wastes and find Mantis Village. Mushroom pogo mechanics and its enemies are a good way to practise spacing. Getting Mantis Claw opens wall climbing, which in turn unlocks far more routes than any one optional fight. From this point the adventure becomes deliberately non-linear. Use the world map, Stag Stations and benches to choose routes instead of looking for a single mandatory order.
Build confidence before the late game
Once you reach City of Tears, meet the Nailsmith and consider the first Nail upgrades. Collect Mask Shards and Charms as you discover them; put together a build that fits your mistakes rather than a theoretical damage ranking. Learn how normal death and Shade recovery work before carrying large Geo reserves into a new boss region. The goal is a repeatable exploration loop: visit an unfamiliar area, map it, secure a bench, learn its hazards, and return with a new ability.