In a throwback that pays homage to horror games of decades past, Chasing Carrots' new rogue-like titleHalls of Tormenttakes players straight to hell. With several options of playable characters and a wealth of items and upgrades at their disposal, gamers are tasked with surviving a brutal 30-minute battle with some of the most gruesome creatures of the underworld.
The first character available for players to try out inHalls Of Tormentis the Swordsman. This player class is a perfect introduction to the game and profiles a well-rounded playing experience. With moderate attack strength and speed, the Swordsman is a great way to learn about the game and discover what playing style is preferred.
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Overview
The Swordsman is the defaultcharacter class inHalls Of Torment, so it is guaranteed to be played to a certain level of familiarity by all players. It is a well-rounded class that doesn’t excel in any particular area, but doesn’t lack in any either.
The Swordsman, as the name would suggest, uses a blade to protect himself against the hordes of hell. Attacks are relatively powerful, and the base attack speed is certainly a good starting point, making this class one reliable when trying to run the 30-minute gauntlet.
While the Swordsman is a solid class inHalls Of Torment, that’s not to say that it will survive on its base skills alone. Here are the recommended upgrades and abilities for the knight that will give players the best chance of survival.
Recommended Gear
Headwear: Wind Crown
The Wind Crown is a pretty-looking tiara that can increase the player’s attacking speed for a limited time. Itincreases attack speedby 1% for 5 secondsand can be stacked if quick kills are made in succession, until it reaches its cap of 50%. This is an ideal item for Swordsman players. His melee combat means enemies will always be close by, and can be picked off quickly to get an abrupt and effective increase in the speed of the sword’s swing.
Gloves: Thornfists
Designed forclose-quarters combat specialists, the Thornfists will actively punish any adversary foolish enough to put their hands on players. With this item equipped,any enemies that hurt the player will be on the receiving end of a critical hit in response,which can result in their own demise. This is a perfect accessory for the Swordsman, given how high the risk is of being hit while engaged in such close-range combat.
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Necklace: Collar of Confidence
A true master of the blade cannot reach their full potential without plenty of confidence. This makes the Collar of Confidence a fitting addition to the Swordsman’s loadout. When wearing this necklace, players receive a5% bonus in their damage rating for every enemy that is in their pickup range,which will go as high as 50%. Given the Swordsman is not particularly effective from long-range, this itemsuits the character’s combat style perfectly.
Footwear: Spike Boots
Much like the Thornfists, the Spike Boots exist for the pure malicious purpose of punishing anyone who lays a finger on the wearer. When these boots are on the player’s feet, theyrelease 10 painful spikes around the wearer anytime they are attacked.These tacks can cause significant damage to players and require only 4 seconds to cool down. When the Swordsman is being surrounded and is not quite fast enough to dispatch all foes in the 360-degree circle, the Spike Boots will help to manage the hordes.
Garment: Blood-Stained Shirt
While players speculate whose blood is on the shirt and how sanitary this item is, there is no denying that the Blood-Stained Shirt is one of the better garment options inHalls Of Torment. The wearer of this shirt will receive a very useful health boost, as it gives players a3% chance of restoring a health point every time they kill an enemy.While this may not sound like much, in the context of a game that will see players kill thousands of foes per run, there are more than enough chances to regain some much-needed HP.
Rings: Necromancer’s Clutch & Ring of Fire
Rings are the only items inHalls Of Tormentwhere more than one can be equipped. This opens up a realm of possibilities for different ring combinations that can be used to establish a significant advantage in battle. For the Swordsman class, the Demonic Band and Ring of Fire are ideal candidates for dishing out the most pain at a low cost. The Demonic Band is one of threerings that can summon underworld forcesto fight alongside the player. With this ring, askeleton warrior will be summoned to fight for 15 secondsin support of the Swordsman. The Ring of Fire is also a great addition to the player loadout, as it turns the sword into a fire weapon, giving the Swordsman a15% chance of burning their victims.
Recommended Traits
Players can equip a multitude of traits within a run inHalls Of Torment.These should be obtained as a priority.
Metabolism
Health is the most important factor in any run inHalls Of Torment,because without it, the game is over. Given the Swordsman is often in the thick of the action and diving head-first into combat, having a traitto help regenerate lost healthis a crucial element. This can be made a reality with the Metabolism trait, which can be acquired as high as level five. This trait will increase the health regeneration rate from 0.1 to 0.2 points per second,which can be stacked to recover more than 1 point every second.
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Quick Hands
With a blade in hand and a horde of underworld creatures closing in, the speed at which the Swordsman unleashes their attacks can be the difference between triumph and failure. With this in mind, the Quick Hands trait is one of the most valuable for the Swordsman. It willincrease the player’s attack speed by 10%each time it levels up.
Strength
Perhaps the most valuable trait across any class inHalls Of Torment, the Strength trait directly affectshow much damage a character can inflicton their foes. With high-level Strength, players will be able to quickly dispatch weaker foes in a single strike, while also making a mockery of bosses in quick succession. The traitincreases the damage rating for all weapons and abilities by 10% at each leveland can be stacked up to a staggering 50% bonus.
Recommended Abilities
Dragon Breath
Every character inHalls Of Tormenthas a front-facing attack that will produce a cone in front of them, causing damage to any foe in its path. Given all attacks are in the same direction regardless of character,the Dragon’s Breath ability is a top candidateno matter who players use in the Halls. This ability casts a wall of fire directly in front of them, causing additional damage and a chance of inflicting burn effects. Adding a wall of fire to an already potent sword attack will make it far easier for the Swordsman to clear a path ahead of them.
Radiant Aura
Another ability that thrives in protecting characters at close range, the Radiant Aura ability casts a flash of energy in a circle around the player, causing damage to any who are within its radius. This ability is perfect for the Swordsman as it provides a 360-degree attack to support their close-range combat specialties.
