Hey bud! Hope you are doing good ːyoyoː.
As mentioned last time, War Maiden Mode is about to drop. The new costumes had been ready for a while now, and War Maiden’s curses had also been programmed earlier for Clea’s Quest. This should have been the easiest update, yet it turned out to be a lot of work. Why is that?
You see, I had to test War Maiden Mode on every difficulty to ensure things did not go out of hand. At first? Things went completely off the rails. Dare I say the mode on Chaos+ was nigh unbeatable. I mean, not even chapter one.
A load of balancing took place, and at last, the mode is ready. Please let me be clear, though. This is still the final, ultimate test. It is by far the toughest challenge Clea players will face. I borderline advise against tackling this on Chaos+ difficulty. There will be deaths, and you will feel frustrated. But, if you are one of the rare few who do survive, I acknowledge you as a true Clea master.
To aid you on your journey, I have compiled some tips in this article. Good luck and have fun. While the mode has been balanced to ensure luck is not needed, it certainly would not hurt.
Now, on with the guide (please note all the screenshots are from Clea 1).
Candle usage:
I have seen many players in streams hoarding candles. The sentiment is understandable. After all, I too can be a hoarder when I game.
Alas, this is not the time to be saving up. When you feel pressured, it may be time to light that candle. You will be hunted endlessly, so get used to it. Originally, some candles were set to be hidden on Chaos+. I have opted to re-enable them in the next patch, because you will need every last one. This is the tier of madness we speak off.
At the highest skill level, candles can be used to manipulate enemy positions. Each time an enemy flees, they will run to a different area. Let’s say you use a candle, and your hunter runs to the left room, but you would rather he headed right. Well, remember how a candle stays on until you leave the area? You can always run around on the spot, lure the enemy back in, then see if they go right this time. Remember to be patient, and also, please note some foes are coded to roam within specific areas. If you cannot seem to persuade an enemy to run into a certain room, that could be why.
As you may know, unless you are on Light difficulty, or you have ticked infinite saves, each save is going to cost you a candle. It is not in my place to tell you how to play, but in War Maiden Mode on Chaos+, let’s just say there is no shame in playing with infinite saves. On the off chance you actually clear the campaign on Chaos+ with limited saves, you are officially more skilled than the game’s creator.
Chaos management:
War Maiden has a curse that will cause your chaos level to rise, as indicated by the scars on your character. Normally, it would be best to use a potion to heal up right away. In War Maiden Mode, you may wish to hold off. After all, if you have to venture back into the same room, you receive the curse again. Or, perhaps the next room you visit will have that curse instead. Still, no sense in holding out forever, so spend wisely.
What do the scars actually do? In Clea 1, Clea’s chaotic face will at times appear. In Clea 2, War Maiden may appear to stalk (but never kill) you. The effect is the same in both cases. When the curse triggers, enemies within the area will be alerted. Not exactly ideal when you are knee deep in War Maiden Mode.
Still, remember the curse timer resets each time you enter a room. This has two implications:
1. You can exit an area, then go back in, to reset the timer.
2. If you have already been in an area for a while, and you dread a curse may be coming, you may prefer to hide in a closet and wait for it to pass first.
Enemy control:
In War Maiden Mode, it is not enough to only know a foe has entered the adjacent area. Through audio cues, players must develop a telepathic sense of each enemy’s precise location. This guy is on the bottom floor, and that one is in the middle room. Okay, that means I have 10 seconds to go in here, grab this, and run out. This is the skill level we have now reached.
Also remember, there is no need to wait for an enemy to go a certain way. If they disobey, make them head where you want. Run to produce noise and attract your hunters. Use those sound makers (like the bathrooms). Employ balanced aggression.
Map knowledge:
Before you think about tackling War Maiden Mode, you may be wise to learn those maps back to front. In Clea 1, know the Whitlock Mansion like your own house. In Clea 2, every realm must become your second home. Each time you travel to another area, there is a chance a new curse will be afflicted. So, think twice before you enter a room. Maybe this area has items you can do without, or nothing at all. Tread with care.
Speaking of map control and movement, no sense in hiding the trick now. Yes, I am talking about the door swap move (the Logsync Swap) where you switch rooms at the same time as your hunter to evade them. For the sake of immersion, I advise against using this trick (unless you are speed running). Even War Maiden Mode has been designed to be beatable without this exploit. That said, War Maiden Mode on Chaos+? If you resort to this trick a time or two, no one will judge.
Final words:
To finish up, please let me reiterate. Yes, I have tested War Maiden Mode on Chaos+ to ensure it is beatable. Still, think twice before going in, because it will be hell and beyond. You know about the Master Levels in Doom Eternal? Recently, I had to train for about a month, running the map Taras Nabad over and over, before I was able to beat it on Ultra Nightmare. This is the level of dedication required to keep War Maiden at bay.
Hm? War Maiden Mode on Chaos+ with invisible foes? Okay, let’s not get too crazy.
See you soon, pal. War Maiden Mode is coming ːwhappyː.