What are the best builds for anyone looking to enter Salt and Sacrifice?
After the success of Salt and Sanctuary in 2016, Ska Studios decided to release a follow-up to their Soulslike/Metroidvania hit named Salt and Sacrifice.
Essentially, the game thrusts players into this dark and gothic world where they must take on bosses called Mages. When they take on mages, they get to devour Mage hearts and start Mage hunts, resulting in them getting unique armor and weapons from each fallen enemy.
Though complicated side-scrollers are a dime a dozen, Salt and Sacrifice sets itself apart with its complicated customization system. Players are granted a very extensive skill tree in which they can improve on specific skills they would like to enhance; plus, there are multiple items and weapons in the game, each with unique effects that could either make or break a player’s main character build.
Not to mention, Salt and Sacrifice has also added a multiplayer element to the game, so you can pretty much test your character builds among other players and their customized avatars as well.
Available Character Classes
Like every modern Soulslike, Salt and Sacrifice also comes with a variety of character classes, with each one emphasizing a particular skill or two. Depending on the user’s play style, they can pick out heroes proficient in either melee or ranged attacks, defense or offense, magic or brute force.
The game has eight character classes, each having a specific stat focus. Here’s the breakdown:
– Assassin (Stat Focus: Dexterity, Willpower) – Assassins move very quickly and are great at dodging; they are considered to be very skilled when it comes to dealing out damage; the downside with this class is that they have an indigent defense. For a class with poor blocking, it’s suggested that you increase their dexterity extensively to make your Assassin an absolute powerhouse as you progress in the game.
– Cleric (Stat Focus: Conviction, Resolve) – The Cleric is said to be great at casting and melee attacks, but what sets it apart from the Sage is that they also have great support skills; Clerics can heal themselves pretty well in the game, but they are pretty weak when you start with them. It’s best to focus on getting some light armor to increase his chances of survival.
– Fighter (Stat Focus: Strength, Endurance) – Considered to be one of the slower classes in the game, the Fighter is essentially a tank with great stats to focus on dealing with and absorbing damage. They are great at blocking but very heavy and slow, so it’s suggested that you try to build their endurance to balance out survivability on the battlefield.
– Duelist (Stat Focus: Dexterity, Luck) – A fast and agile class that makes use of a rapier and a crossbow; the Duelist is good for fighting in close quarters and easily dodging away from enemy attacks. With their focus on luck, they can also increase the chances of gaining great loot and dealing long-range attacks.
– Highblade (Dexterity, Willpower, Vitality) – Essentially the game’s version of a Samurai class, the Highblade is great for anyone looking to focus on playing offensively. This class is known to be very fast, so they can deal a lot of damage and get away before an attack, but you will have to focus on their stamina.
– Paladin (Conviction, Vitality, Endurance) – This class is considered pretty tanky, emphasizing that The Paladin is very good for defensive players. Still, it’s suggested that players try their best to increase their willpower when using this class.
– Ranger (Dexterity, Endurance) – Equipped with a spear and bow, the ranger is considered a well-rounded class for short and long-range battles. With their high endurance, they also come with a bunch of gear that makes good use of their stamina.
– Sage (Arcana, Resolve) – The Sage class is said to be the main caster class of the game, but they also have great melee ability, making them good for close and long-ranged fighting. The character is somewhat squishy, so it’s best to invest in light armor for his build.
Progressing with Your Salt and Sacrifice Build
With all the strengths and weaknesses of the classes laid out, you should get a good idea of which class would be the best fit for your playstyle. It’s just a matter of defining exactly how you want to play Salt and Sacrifice; do you want to be quick and offensive? Or do you want to keep yourself in a safe distance, casting magic at your enemies?
Though it is possible to increase the stats of your character in areas where they are pretty low, the skill tree is designed so that you should just improve on the abilities that already play to their strengths; you could end up wasting your effort if you want to try and up the stats that weren’t even the focus of your chosen class in the first place.
What’s great is that Salt and Sacrifice is versatile in customization, not just with your skills but with the abilities of the in-game items. Not only are you trying your best to jump around and damage enemies, but you’re also playing this complicated puzzle in your head where you must ensure that all the items and skills you’ve equipped play to your character’s strengths.
Remember not to get too attached to any item because there’ll always be something with better stats.
