Chapter 8 of 24 · Earn the first clear
Assemble the first clear build
Use the Witch's Staff and one ranged Special build from the first room to the final guardian.
Do these first
Full steps belowUse one Staff plan for the whole route
Later regions are within reach, but the run still needs one attack pattern you can repeat safely from the first room to the final guardian.
The starting Staff needs no unlock cost, keeps a ranged Special available, and lets you repeat the same plan before the first clear.
First-clear setup
Build the first available item on each line. Do not wait for rare synergy.
- Weapon
- Witch's StaffUse Cast, fire Special from range, then charge Omega Special only through an open lane.
- Arcana
- The Sorceress + Persistence + Death + The UnseenThis is the complete twelve-Grasp board. If it does not fit yet, remove The Unseen first and use Lucid Gain for recovery.
- Preferred Boons
- Nova Flourish + Lucid GainNova Flourish powers the ranged move without adding a timing condition. Lucid Gain restores the Magick used by Omega Special. The fallback line below keeps the build valid when either does not appear.
- Hammer order
- Rapid Moonshot, Shimmering Moonshot, Dual MoonshotRapid Moonshot speeds up the same ranged action without reducing its reach. Shimmering Moonshot adds crowd coverage. Dual Moonshot is last because its second projectile costs 40% of the Special's range.
- Keepsakes
- Harmonic Photon, then Luckier Tooth, then Knuckle BonesMake Apollo likely first. At the next keepsake cabinet, replace it after its god offer is consumed and its Rarify charge is spent. Switch earlier only when you intentionally abandon the unused Rarify benefit. Use Knuckle Bones for the last guardian only when ordinary rooms are already safe.
Know what each part of the build must solve
- The build is complete when its main move, Magick need, survival, and guardian plan are answered.
- Rare synergy is a bonus after the required pieces fit the run, not the definition of success.
- Keepsakes form a route sequence. One Keepsake is not expected to do every job.
Assemble the first-clear build in this order
- Use the Staff's ranged plan
Open with Cast, use Special from range, and charge Omega Special only while the line ahead is clear. Sprint to a new lane before repeating.
- Equip the twelve-Grasp board
Use The Sorceress, Persistence, Death, and The Unseen. If current Grasp is lower, keep that order and leave The Unseen out until it fits.
- Prefer Nova Flourish, then Lucid Gain
Nova Flourish fills the Special slot that carries this route. Lucid Gain sustains Omega Special. When either is absent, use the listed fallback instead of spending the whole night chasing one exact offer.
- Use the reliable fallback choices
If Nova Flourish is unavailable, take Volcanic Flourish or Wave Flourish. If Lucid Gain is unavailable, take Tranquil Gain. Keep the same Cast, Special, Omega Special sequence.
- Take the first top Special Hammer
Choose Rapid Moonshot first because its 25% speed increase keeps the full range and shortens exposure. Choose Shimmering Moonshot next for its two extra bounces. Choose Dual Moonshot after those because the second projectile also reduces the Special's range by 40%. If none appears, keep the build intact rather than changing to an Attack plan.
- Switch Keepsakes when their job ends
At the next keepsake cabinet, replace it after its god offer is consumed and its Rarify charge is spent. Switch earlier only when you intentionally abandon the unused Rarify benefit. Luckier Tooth is finished after its Last Stand triggers. Use Knuckle Bones only for the final guardian when normal rooms no longer need the Tooth.
If the exact Apollo choices do not appear
If Apollo cannot complete the build, use Volcanic Flourish or Wave Flourish with Tranquil Gain. Keep every later Pom and Hammer on Special. The fallback changes the gods, not the weapon plan.