TUTORIALS
Master the mechanics and systems of Dead Cells
Beginner's Guide
Dead Cells is a challenging game that combines elements of roguelikes, Metroidvanias, and action platformers. Here's what you need to know to get started on your journey through the island.
The Basics
- •Permadeath: When you die, you start over from the beginning. However, you keep permanent upgrades and unlocked items.
- •Cells: The primary currency used to unlock permanent upgrades. Collected from defeated enemies.
- •Scrolls of Power: Increase your stats and make you stronger. Choose wisely based on your build.
- •Biomes: Different areas of the game with unique enemies, challenges, and rewards.
- •Runes: Permanent abilities that allow you to access new areas and shortcuts.
Combat System
Weapon Types
Dead Cells features a wide variety of weapons, each with unique attack patterns, damage values, and special effects.
- •Brutality (Red): Fast melee weapons like swords, daggers, and spears.
- •Survival (Green): Slower, more powerful weapons like hammers, shields, and heavy bows.
- •Tactics (Purple): Ranged weapons and traps like bows, crossbows, and turrets.
Weapon Affixes
Weapons can have special properties (affixes) that provide additional effects:
- •+% Damage: Increases the base damage of the weapon.
- •Causes bleeding/poisoning/burning: Applies damage over time effects.
- •+% damage to frozen/stunned enemies: Situational damage boosts.
- •Shoots an arrow/throws a grenade when: Triggers special attacks on certain conditions.
Progression Systems
Cells are the primary progression currency in Dead Cells. They drop from defeated enemies and must be delivered to the Collector between biomes.
The Collector uses cells to unlock:
- • New weapons, skills, and items for future runs
- • Permanent upgrades like the health flask
- • The Legendary Forge for weapon quality improvements
- • Mutation options
Important: Cells must be spent before leaving the area between biomes, or they'll be lost!
The Legendary Forge allows you to increase the quality of weapons that spawn during your runs. This is one of the most important long-term investments.
The forge has three tiers of upgrades:
- • ++ (blue) quality weapons
- • S (purple) quality weapons
- • L (legendary) quality weapons
Each tier increases the chance of finding better weapons with more affixes and higher damage.
Runes are permanent abilities that allow you to access new areas and shortcuts. They're essential for exploring the full game.
Vine Rune
Allows you to grow vines from special plants, accessing new areas and shortcuts.
Location: Promenade of the Condemned
Teleportation Rune
Allows you to use teleportation stones to quickly move around biomes.
Location: Toxic Sewers
Ram Rune
Allows you to break through certain floors by stomping down.
Location: Ossuary
Spider Rune
Allows you to climb walls, greatly enhancing your mobility.
Location: Slumbering Sanctuary
Video Tutorials
A comprehensive guide covering the fundamentals of Dead Cells for new players.
Learn advanced combat techniques, including parrying, dodge rolling, and combo attacks.
Learn how to create effective builds by combining complementary weapons, skills, and mutations.