I've been playing on insane since the second playthrough, and it's easier on mixed or resist runs due to the increased combat power. The best by far is 5/2, since the main selling point of Resist is the extra perk slot, and then only the 7th shard brings an useful, but niche ability (that also doesn't synergize well with the previous ones). So Embrace allows you to choose the better abilities for these slots - so you take the teleport dash, because it is by far the best combat dodge with it's increased invulnerability time and the ability to dodge environmental damage, and pick something else. Personally, I find the cannon (for changing the ranged playstyle) and the shield (which works better with melee crit builds that fit so well with Resist's early buffs. Hook is decently fun, too, but the basic mobility tools are good enough as it is.

Exactly what I needed before attempting Insane difficulty.
Tryign to figure out best resist \ corrupt combo.

Will go for 5 destroyed shards for 4 runes + dash (teleport) + hook.
4 runes are just too good, teleport will allow to skip few rooms on 3rd location, hook is just for mobility.

I had fun with my resist run more than the Corrupted one. I knew this info already but thanks for the guide.

Started the game recently. I didn't really know what i was doing when i entered the incinerator with finally an interrupter (first time i saw the room it wasn't there, i didn't have the shard i guess). It sealed my faith for a resist run. I then saw it'd allow me to get a 4th talent slot but wasn't aware it also gives the others notables. Thankgs for the info :p. I did see them on the tree though and took them (who would not considering their effects ?).
At some point in the exploration i was in the middle of a horde in a room where i could corrupt an ability, just in case i backed up the save files and good thing i did because i accidentally hit the corrupt skill icon. I was able to see what the corrupted air dash skill is and damn it's tempting, but for now i alt+f4 to restore the save files. I may redo a run later full corrupted ^^.

It doesn't happen automatically, you still need to actually hit the shrine, but yes, it's very easy to do so accidentally. Also I suggest you do a full Embrace run first and leave the easier Resist and mixed runs for later, and for when you learn the ropes of the movement.

@Rilne: Cool! Thank you for the response! I think you're right.

I was naturally assuming there would be some sort of button to hit or thing to destroy (as you mentioned above).

That said, I was, indeed, in the middle of a horde battle when I entered the shrine, so I probably did hit something (...without noticing it, of course...) and it seemed 'automatic'.

I'm just gonna start burning the shards immediately on my next play-through however, just so this doesn't happen again. "...The horde can appear at any time..."

Anyway, this game has been friggin' righteous! I'm really digging it, and I appreciate these guides that you have all contributed!

@Jay_for_short: at least the last time I did a run (and there haven't been any new patches since), you had to hit (ie. do damage to) the shrine to trigger corruption.
Now, that can happen by accident (or if you just think, as my little brother did, it's just a "weird shrine" and instinctively try to loot it), but you should still be able to ignore a corrupted shrine while carrying a shard (particularly if you're doing a mixed or full corrupt run and want specific abilities only/first).

Thank you for posting this!

I just started playing this game, and I learned something important. I got my first Shard and waited to decide what to do with it. Since I didn't burn it immediately, it got corrupted automatically when I went back into one of the shrine rooms.

I guess all I'm saying is, if you want to get this play-through, you might consider burning the Shards immediately after you receive them so they don't get corrupted while you're carrying them around deciding what to do with them. Just a thought.

I'll have to be more careful on my next play-through.

That could be fun. Might break the grid.

@Prolbo: ....I should test that for shits and giggles. I'd expect the abilities would work, but have no idea what ending you'd get.