Remnant: From the Ashes is an entertaining third-person shooter. It’s also a rather challenging game. Featuring vicious monsters and giant, lumbering bosses, Remnant’s trials aren’t to be taken lightly.
Don’t fret though. The horrors found in Remnant aren’t invincible; through sheer grit, we were able to overcome the game’s toughest enemies. That said, we did learn a tip or two along the way.
Below we share our most valuable lessons from our time in Remnant.
Learn to Dodge
In Remnant, most enemies are capable of knocking off chunks of health in a matter of seconds. This is especially true for the ones that like to rush in with melee attacks. This is where dodging and rolling comes into play.
Early on, the game will explain how rolling will keep you from being hit. It’ll also explain how doing so will take stamina. What’s interesting about Remnant is that rolling away from danger isn’t the only option. You can also dodge attacks. This is done by pressing the dodge button without also pressing a direction (which would normally make you roll).
When to Roll
It’s important to know when to dodge an attack and when to roll away from one. For instance, there are enemies that swing for the fences with every attack. They’ll either leap into the air, charge your position, or otherwise telegraph a powerful move before actually throwing a punch. In these instances, it’s good to roll out of the way right as the attack is landing to avoid any damage.
When to Dodge
That’s not the case when it comes to repeat attackers – the enemies that will swing two to three times after closing the distance. These enemies tend to roll in packs. Coming from all sides, their multiple strikes push you around. It’s in these instances that you’ll want to refrain from rolling, instead going for a dodge.
Trying to roll away from multiple, fast paced enemies is tough. For one, you’ll have to dodge more than once which results in less stamina needed to roll, dodge, or run away. You’ll also miss an opportunity to stop their barrage of attacks with one of your own.
If you dodge right as their first attack is about to land, before following up with a melee attack, you’ll cause them to stagger (halting their assault). The same can be done after rolling, but you’d most likely exchange blows instead of getting a clean hit.
Continue to swing at them and you’ll end up knocking multiple enemies off their feet. This, of course, will give you a little breathing room — to reload a weapon, check for any stragglers, etc. — as well as some extra stamina left in the tank.
Melee Attacks Save Ammo
Remnant is all about shooting monsters and such with cool looking weapons. That said, ammo is fairly limited. Sure, enemies will drop ammo from time to time. You might even find some in a random box or chest. Those aren’t dependable options though.
The last thing you’d want is to run out of ammo in the middle of a tough fight. Purchasing some ammo boxes whenever you can is a must. That said, when you’re in the thick of it, think about getting in close with your melee weapon.
There are a bunch of smaller enemies that can be dealt with this way. Of course, you’ll need to be able to dodge (not roll) properly when fighting.
Think Before Switching Weapons
It’s all about the loot right? You just defeated a giant tree monster. Go ahead and craft that special gun from his remains. Just be mindful of what it means to forgo a battle-tested weapon for a new one.
In most cases, you’ll have upgraded your weapons on your way to a given boss. Because of this, a lot of the weapons acquired from a boss or after completing a dungeon will be significantly weaker than what you’ve been using.
They may have some cool mods and/or a makeup that places them in their own class — like a gun fires a radioactive laser beam — but their attack damage will be low. And while it’s possible to upgrade them, the resources needed to do so could be used to further your current weapons.
That’s not to say that you should never change your loadout. Just that the time and effort it takes to build up a cool looking gun might not be worth it in the long run. Unless you’re looking to change course (become a close ranged gunner as opposed to a sniper), it’s probably best to stick to your guns.
Don’t Be Afraid to Change Mods
While I would be hesitant with changing my weapons, I recommend the total opposite for mods. This is because, for the most part, they aren’t tied to a specific gun or sword. There’s no harm in mixing them up.
It’s possible to get by using one or two mods. Being able to heal your group is a big deal. That said, there may be times when a different mod would be more useful.
Throw up a shield when battling a projectile throwing boss and you won’t have to worry about being attacked when trying to pick up fallen comrades. Using an area of effect mod (an explosive of sorts) will help in putting down groups. A protection mod might negate melee damage, sending some of it back to your attackers.
It’s easy to get stuck using the same mods for most of the game once you’ve found a groove. Just don’t forget to try something new. You might find something that’ll take the edge off of a tough fight.
Search Everywhere
Crafting materials, secret dungeons, powerful items – it’s important to make sure you’re actively searching for stuff whenever you’re out and about. Heck, even Ward 13 (the game’s one safe hub) has its own share of secrets.
This might seem obvious at first. The thing is, after dying multiple times, the only thing you’ll be concerned with is making it to the next checkpoint. It’s easy to pass up on loot when your ammo and health is low, especially if you consider how enemies respawn if you die or save (like in Dark Souls).
Still, you should at least make the effort to revisit areas. Maybe after you’ve leveled up a bit. Gotten better weapons. You’d be surprised how many needed bits of scrap or important items were missed because of how dangerous Remnant’s worlds can be.
Have fun
Work on your dodge skills. Try different mods. Invite your friends and/or open up your game to strangers if you need help. Take a break if you become frustrated. But whatever you do, make sure you’re having fun. That’s the best advice anyone can give.
Remnant: From the Ashes is one interesting title. Feel free to check back here for more guides on the game. And be sure to head over to our review to see why we think it’s a hidden gem.
For more tips and tricks, be sure to check out our Remnant guides hub.
- How to Trade Items in Remnant: From the Ashes
- How to See Boss and Item Rolls on PC
- Best Weapons Guide
- Unlockable Traits Guide
- How to Beat All Bosses
