Nexus
The Nexus
The Nexus is the main hub in the game. Players will first find themselves here upon starting a new save file and between runs. The Nexus features many features for players to use.
The Ember Tree
The Ember Tree is the main source of power in The Nexus. At the Ember Tree players can spend Embers to unlock various upgrades.
The Compendium
The Compendium is a large book that offers players various information. The Compendium initially isn't available, but is restored to a working state after a few runs. The Compendium features 7 tabs (The Secrets Tab is hidden to begin with, press Q on the first tab to unlock it). In order, the tabs are: Skills, Relics, Enemies, Levels, History, Profile, Secrets.
The Skills, Relics, Enemies, and Levels tabs show all Skills, Relics, Enemies, and Levels respectively.
The History tab shows up to 10 of your most recent runs. It includes information about run time, Relics, Weapons, Skills, victory/defeat, and what killed you (if you were defeated),
The Profile tab shows: Total percentage of game completion, total enemies defeated, total games played, total deaths, total clears, fastest clear time, your longest run, total gold spent in shops, most rooms cleared in a run, your most used skills, your most used relics, and your Nemesis (which enemy has killed you the most).
The Secrets tab shows all current Secrets in the game, as well as hints to unlock them.
Esper
Esper is the main NPC of The Nexus. Esper guides the Ember Knights in their quest to defeat Praxis. Whenever a Relic Orb is discovered, Esper can identify it for the player, turning it into a brand new Relic. He appears to be an old wizened Steward.
Evee's Lab
Evee is an NPC located in The Nexus. Evee sends the player Care Packages when they clear an area quickly, as well as identifies Skill Tablets for the player.
Arlan's Ember Shop
After beating the game and encountering Arlan again in Wightsbury, Arlan will set up shop in The Nexus. The shop offers 4 different items, a mix of Skills and Relics, for purchase at the cost of Ember. The shop can be rerolled by talking to Arlan and spending some ember.
The Ember Pit
The Ember Pit is a small area in The Nexus that allows the players to freely change their player color.
The Ember Pit is unlocked By obtaining a new Ember Knight color. These can be found in secret rooms during a run or through other means.
Training Dummy
The Training Dummy is a dummy that lets players test their damage with the various Weapons provided nearby.
Difficulty Modifiers
The difficulty of the game can be modified using the rift After beating Netherra (Area 5) for the first time. Settings you can modify include:
| Icon | Name | Effect | Values |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Hulking | Increase Enemy HP | 110% 130% 150% 200% |
|
Haste | Increase Enemy Move Speed | 125% 175% 225% 300% |
|
Bane | Increase Enemy Damage | 125% 175% 225% 300% |
|
Onslaught | Increase Enemy Attack Speed | 125% 150% 175% 200% |
|
Horde | Increase Enemy Count | 125% 175% 225% 300% |
|
Malice | Deadlier Enemy Encounters | More Elite Enemies
Add Champion Enemies |
|
Pantheon | Add Boss Variants | Scoggfirth Steadfast Citadel Wightsbury Anville |
|
Challenger | No Full Heal After Bosses | Full Heal Disabled |
|
Doused | Disable Ember Tree Revives | Ember Tree Revives Disabled |
|
Fragile | Start with 1 Max HP | 1 Max HP Start Enabled |
|
Sealed | Disable one Skill Slot | One Skill Slot Disabled |
|
Inflation | Increase Shop Prices | Fewer Shops Appear Shop Prices Increased 50% |
|
Blitz | Add A countdown Timer Per World | 10 Minute Timer 9 Minute Timer 8 Minute Timer 7 Minute Timer 6 Minute Timer |
|
Aficionado | Max Relics Limited | 8 Relic Limit Enabled 6 Relic Limit enabled 4 Relic Limit enabled |
|
Shared Fate | All Players share Healing and Damage |
All Players share Healing and Damage |
Depending on how high you've turned up the difficulty, you enter increasing levels of named difficulty, each giving an extra +25% Bonus Ember. In order, the difficulties are: Default (0), Advanced(1-3), Hard(4-7), Expert(8-11), Insane(12-14), Doom(15) and DEMONS(79). (DEMONS is all modifiers turned up to max). To reach the True Ending of the game, you must defeat Praxis on Doom difficulty.
Weapon Area
The Weapon Area is located close to The Tear and allows the players to select a Weapon. On each weapon stand, players can press a certain keybind (depends on controller/keyboard) to open up more details about that weapon.
The Tear
The Tear is a large rift at the edge of the Nexus. Players can enter The Tear to start a run and chase down Praxis.
Stewards
Stewards are diligent and playful beings that clean and maintain the Nexus. They can be attacked but will always regenerate. They come in three colors: Red, Blue, and Green.
You can press E(Keyboard) or RB(Xbox) on a Steward multiple times to blow it up like a balloon and eventually pop it. After popping a Steward you unlock the Steward's Gift relic.