I’ve completed a tier-3 run with one challenge (https://lemmy.world/post/18859193) and a tier-2 run with no challenges (https://lemmy.world/post/19011489). The idea is to play without ever using or equipping any items (armor, melee or thrown weapons) above the specified tier.
Since then, I’ve been trying to complete a tier-1 run, without success. Since tier-1 armor is laughable, I think there are two feasible strategies: (1) avoid getting hit, and (2) be able to take a lot of damage.
In my experience, strategy (2) is not really viable. Melee heroes (duellist and warrior) cannot really sustain the damage taken in the jail. A Monk or a Berserker might conceivably win the game with tier-1 items, but the problem is getting past Tengu. Also, they can normally rely on high-tier thrown weapons.
Going back to strategy (1), I had more success with a Rogue, making it to the first level of the dwarven city without too much trouble. I never made it past level 16, though. The ghouls hit too hard! Also, when facing four ghouls, the Rogue is just not quick enough to kill them before they revive and hit again.
This left me with one option: the Sniper. There is one problem, though: the sniper needs a thrown weapon (not her bow) to activate her lethal volleys. However, the only one tier-1 thrown weapon that the sniper can get is uncoated darts, and they cannot be upgraded nor transmuted!
My conclusion is that it is impossible to win the game with only tier-1 equipment. So I relaxed the challenge to using only tier-1 armor and melee weapons, and allowing one tier-2 melee weapon. With this combination, I was able to win the game!
I had a very lucky run with good wands, and found a couple of shurikens early on. These are ideal to avoid damage, since the sniper gets effectively four shots (one shuriken and three arrows) before the enemy can reply. Nothing except a boss can survive those four shots. I also got a projecting bow early on (just like in my tier-2 run). Projecting bows are so awesome!
Still, the run was super difficult, since at times I couldn’t avoid melee combat. A succubus could take me from full health to almost dead in three hits, and dying in the demon halls is all too easy even with high-tier items.
Regarding my claim that a 100% tier-1 run is impossible, I’d love to be proven wrong. I’m pretty sure someone with more skill than I can probably do it.
I have a run 2 challenge run
That might be able to come close on 2 challenges right now. I haven’t been playing it as an equipment restricted challenge, but this build feels insane and only really relies on darts, free-runner talents with the cloak, and the ring and wands. Plus seeds to tip the darts. Most of the kills are “shoot corrosion, freerun and/or stealth and/or blast wand away, finish kills with darts after letting the orange cloud of death do its work”. The armor doesn’t matter because you never get hit and the upgrades I spent on the crossbow could go into the ring or the wand if you were planning it from the start. MDV-GYJ-SFX if you wanna try it, on shattered. The challenges are hostile champs and badder bosses
Nice!
I’ve been trying to complete a 100% T1 run after reading some comments here. I’ve done two runs, and died on levels 23 and 24. So frustrating…
Hell yeah! Can’t wait to see your post when you pull it off. I lost that freerunner on f23/24 to a misjudged blast wave that knocked me down the chasm into a big room with a scorpion out of vision. I still think it could be a winning seed if not for my skill issue lol
Thanks for the encouragement!
I’ve done the exact same thing with a blast wave wand on the demon halls. They’re powerful, but a slight miscalculation and down you go.