Walkthrough Salt and Sacrifice - game guide

 

We tell you how to get through the final location, the Elder Grove, and complete the game on both endings

First of all, read our previous Salt and Sacrifice guides:

• Salt and Sacrifice Walkthrough - Ashbourne Village Guide
• Walkthrough Salt and Sacrifice - a guide to Bol Geran
• Walkthrough Salt and Sacrifice - a guide to Corvius Swamp
• Salt and Sacrifice Walkthrough - Dreadstone Peak Guide

After completing the four previous regions, at the end of Salt and Sacrifice, a fabulous old grove awaits you. This place will test all the skills that you have honed throughout the game. The area is divided into three separate parts: The Grove and the lake below it, two towers on either side and a central tower containing the final test.

How to get to the Old Grove

To get to the Elder Grove, all you need to do is hear the combination of runes from the talking tree at the top of the Shooting Star on Dreadstone Peak. To reach it, you need to defeat the magicians and gain access to the ship and then kill the dragon on the deck.

Elder Grove and Undefiled Lake

From the starting point, go west and jump down. Descend gradually, avoiding the spider mouth that loves to pin you to the ground. When you make your way to the west, jump onto the ledge with shimmering air. This is the starting point for hunting the kinetomancer. There are only two mages in this area and you will have to kill both of them. Read more about mages in a separate guide.

There is a door in the southwest corner of the Oldest Grove that leads to an obelisk. Use it and head east across the Undefiled Lake. A semi-hidden entrance under a second set of red stairs leads to a Beloved Idol in a sack and another obelisk. Use wall jumps, an ethereal arrow, and a grappling hook to get to the top of the platforms on the east wall and find the starting point for the hunt for the bibliomancer. From here head west and ignore the capture point under the platform. Instead, select the top path and use the lever to create a new grapple point that will create a short path. You don't have to repeat the steps.

Return to the capture point under the red platform and go through the gap. You will come to a building with a guard - the boss from the tutorial. If you can defeat him, get an ash brick, and behind it in a chest is a moss brick. Bricks are used to upgrade equipment items to the highest level. To access the central tower and complete the area, you'll need Essences of Sky and Fire. They are found in buildings on the western and eastern sides of the map. You can visit these places in any order, but Sky Citadel is a little easier, so let's start with it.

sky citadel

To get to this area, head west from the starting area on the top level of the Elder Grove. You need to grab and open the sealed door. There is loot in the bag at the entrance. Take it and use the updraft to get to the second level. Ignore the platforms that lead up and go through the door to the east instead. There is an obelisk here. If you go up a little, you will find the Royal Retinue. The servant of the king will give you the elixir of divine vision, which will allow you to "see the truth." If you drink it and then talk to the servant again, he will give you the elixir of peace. This elixir allows you to switch between "seeing the truth" and "disabling this feature", and you can always get more elixirs from the servant.

To see the effect of the Elixir of Divine Vision, absorb the magician and see how the animation has changed. Sky Citadel is a fairly simple area. Just keep going up the building - there are some pretty tough challenges that will make you use every tool. Yes, and the enemies here are cunning and dangerous. Watch out for grapple points that are very high up and remember that you can gain extra height by pushing off the wall. Eventually, you will reach the obelisk right below the platform. Climb up to meet the first boss of the Elder Grove.

How to defeat the Icon of Pandemonium

This terrible beast isn't that hard to defeat, but it may take a try or two before you learn its attacks. He has a lot in common with the electromancer, so if you have learned how to defeat this magician, you will have a huge advantage.

Basic attacks:

• Lightning Orbs: Icon summons several randomly placed orbs in the air that will fire lightning. It's hard to predict the direction, and quite difficult to escape, so it's probably best to block these attacks. At least they are not too powerful.
• Homing Lightning: Icon summons a single orb that flies towards you for a moment before splitting into several homing bolts of lightning. This attack is very similar to the one used by Electromancers. You can use rollover.
• Lightning Cannon: The Icon holds a sphere of light for a short time before firing a non-lightning bolt. Decent range but easy to dodge.
• Lightning Burst: The boss gathers energy before releasing it, which will result in an explosion. This attack is easy to spot and doesn't have a long-range. Just roll away from it or do a roll to immediately counterattack the Icon.
• Lightning Swarm: Rising high in the air, the Icon shoots two lightning bolts at the ground, which then separate and move down. These bolts can be rolled or even jumped over.
• Quick Swipe: Exactly what it's called, a very fast claw attack that Icon uses when you get too close. Deals little damage.

Combat strategy.

Icon's lightning attacks deal light and cold damage, so consider wearing the best armor that will protect against these elemental elements. Moreover, some of the boss's attacks are very difficult to dodge. The boss hitbox is actually a bit bigger than it looks. Don't be fooled into thinking that you should aim for the center of the creature with the big eye - you can also attack the wings. Don't get greedy trying to land a lot of airstrikes; otherwise, the boss will use a quick swipe. Go to the door that the boss was guarding. There you will find Sky Essence and Frospear Brick. Here you need to make a series of difficult upward jumps that lead to the victim for a new hunt. From the ledge behind the boss arena, use the pulleys to create a shortcut to the top of the tower. Pick up a shimmering bud along the way.

Temple of Embers

Temple of Embers is located opposite the Sky Citadel, east of the region's starting point. The first part of the temple is similar to the citadel. Make your way gradually upward, getting used to incredibly annoying enemies. Floating, chair-armed Confessors can teleport you to the chairs and deal a lot of damage, but they are easy to counterattack. Take plenty of ammunition with you in case they fly out of range. There are two doors outside which you will find on the west side of the building. The first is on the other side of the capture points and leads to a slice to be unlocked, while the second, which is higher, leads to another slice. Using the pulleys to get down to the cut, pick up the shimmering bud in the chest.

Return to the highest door that was opened from the outside and go up the stairs. Return to the temple and continue climbing. Soon you will find an obelisk and an updraft. Be sure to take this obelisk as there will be a difficult and dangerous climb ahead. Be careful of the Candle Bearer at the top of the updraft - he likes to shoot exploding orbs that knock you down before you can get to the platform itself. And then there's the boss.

How to defeat the Undying Worm

Of the two bosses you've fought so far, the Worm is the most difficult. He uses devastating fire attacks that are reminiscent of the pyromancer you fought at the very beginning of the game.

Basic attacks:

• Eruption: After a fire attack that you need to avoid, the Worm will create a very large bright seven-pointed star behind him. Flashes of flame will shoot out in a horizontal line from the location of the Worm. Dodging this attack requires precise timing. It's much safer to just get out of the attack range completely.
• Lava Geysers: After attacking with a fire jet, the Worm will summon several fire geysers that will continuously erupt for some time. At first, it only summons two geysers, but as the Worm's health drops, it will summon three, and then four at the same time.
• Meteorites: By throwing some fire into the sky, the Worm summons a black hole that shoots small fireballs at you. The attack can be tracked moments before the fireballs start flying, so it's easy to dodge.
• Scythe Combo: This is a simple two-hit melee attack with a scythe.
• Deceit Jump: The worm jumps high into the air as if about to use an attack similar to many other bosses in the game. It will then hover for a second before falling off. This move serves to take you by surprise and use whatever techniques you have learned against such moves. The worm only seems to use this attack after you've drained about a third of its health.

Combat strategy.

The three fire attacks the Worm uses can be identified by how it moves the jet of flame at the start of its movement. Remember them. The easiest way to deal with damage is during an attack with meteorites. As time goes by, this fight becomes more and more dangerous: the fire damage is cumulative, and with the addition of more lava geysers, more dangers appear. Rolling in a panic, you are more likely to take damage, so try to plan your dodges. It goes without saying that a fire-resistance build is a great way to last longer in this fight. Pay attention to the set of armor and the necklace, which can be crafted from Pyromancer materials.

Exit the door behind the boss arena to find Essence of Fire. Use the updraft above the boss arena to reach the new obelisk and loot bag. There is another updraft here that leads to Inquisitor Amben. As soon as you talk to him, he will attack.

How to defeat Inquisitor Amben

Inquisitor Amben is an aggressive but rather fragile opponent. Once you learn how to dodge his attacks, he will stop being so powerful.

Basic attacks:

• Lesser Feather: Amben shoots two bursts of feathers into the sky, which then fall to the ground very quickly. Both feathers fly in your direction, so roll over Amben to avoid this attack.
• Great Featherfall: Amben causes a rain of feathers from the sky. This is a very broad attack.
• Charge: Assuming a quick stance, Amben rushes forward. Roll over this attack.
• Feather Dash: Amben leaps into the air and dashes forward, leaving a trail of feathers in his wake. These feathers then quickly fall to the ground.
• Clap: A simple weapon strike. A very fast attack that is hard to predict.
• Somersault Kick: After jumping into the air, Amben lands with a somersault and then immediately attacks with a sword in your direction.

Combat strategy.

Like Inquisitor Selet, Amben is easy to deal with once you get used to his attack timings. He is an aggressive opponent, but his attacks are well known. It's hard to counter-attack during a big drop, but it's a good opportunity to get out of range and start healing. Amben recovers rather slowly after using melee attacks. Try to roll over these attacks towards him and hit him once or twice before the next attack occurs. For defeating Inquisitor Amben, you will receive an armor set.

imperfect temple

You can enter this place with either Sky Essence from the west or Fire Essence from the east. The easiest way is to use the grappling hook above the Royal Retinue in Sky Citadel. Climb up and go to the east exit. Here you can open a shortcut to the grove. However, at the western exit, you will find an NPC that hints at the true nature of mages and what is at the top of the Imperfect Temple. Start climbing the temple using the essences to open the doors. Talk to the NPC on the way to the top to find out more, and soon you will come across an obelisk (after a series of updrafts). This is the last obelisk in the game. Climb to the very top of the temple, ignore the figure stuck to the tree, and collect the bag behind it - it contains the Sky Blue Tome of Fates. Now interact with the figure. This is the final boss. Once you defeat the final boss, the credits will begin. If you want to do something else in the current playthrough, do it now. Then just New Game+.

How to defeat the Unfinished Sacrifice

Here is the final task of the game. This is definitely one of the hardest bosses in Salt and Sacrifice.

Basic attacks:

• Scythe Combo: Basic melee combo. It starts with two overhand strikes, followed by an uppercut and a clap that causes the scythe to get stuck in the ground. When the Victim pulls the scythe out of the ground, a large shockwave is emitted.
• Submerged Scythe: The boss rises into the air and then descends on you, releasing a shockwave on contact. This attack is usually followed by a scythe combo with a quick first hit. When the boss is low on health, the first shockwave will be followed by a second scythe and another shockwave.
• Flying Knee: The boss lunges forward with an outstretched knee. If it hits you, you will be pinned to the ground, and it will step on the hero twice before knocking up and scythe. You need to use a rollover.
• Spinning Uppercut: A melee attack that starts with the scythe piercing the air and then spinning.
• Branch Eruption: The victim spins their scythe in the air for a moment before slamming it into the ground. It then summons a constant stream of thorny branches from the ground right under your feet. Both the hit and the branches deal a lot of damage, so it's best to roll over the initial attack and then stay on the move.
• Branch Volley: This attack summons a swirling mass of branches above the boss's head, which then fanns them out at you. Easy to roll over. One of the best moments for your attacks, because if you roll for the boss, not a single branch will hit you.

Combat strategy.

This boss uses the classic strategy of getting more and more aggressive as his health decreases. One of the main things you'll notice is that it completely replaces the slower version of the scythe combo with the fast one. Being close, be careful and attentive. The only truly safe time to attack the boss is after going through a volley of branches. You can also land one or two hits during the Branch Eruption if you have a fast weapon, or after the shockwave of the Sinking Scythe's attack by rolling over it. When he starts using two shockwaves per Plunging Scythe attack, try to attack him only after the second one.

Ranged attacks will be useful in this fight as the boss doesn't have any moves to close the distance quickly. It also means that it's pretty easy to find a moment to heal. After you defeat the Sacrifice, there will be a choice. Interact with the tree and you can either climb it or consume it. This will end the game.

You will be able to load a pre-made save file and start New Game Plus, which will keep most of your items and equipment and increase the difficulty.

You'll get an achievement depending on which choice you choose, but there's an easy way to get both achievements without having to play through the whole game twice. First, create a backup. Once this is done, you can defeat the boss and get any desired ending. Now load your backup save and defeat the boss again with a different ending.