This guide is for anybody struggling to beat Volgarr who has thought any of the following to themselves:

• Volgarr is too hard for me to complete
  
• This game is random and artifically difficult
  
• I can't beat levels consistently
  
• The game feels like trial and error
  
• I must be missing something because I have played for several hours and am still struggling
  
• I feel like I could use some pointers that would help me to not die so much as I go through the game

This guide will give you easy, actionable steps to becoming a viking master without spoiling anything.

There is a tiny percentage of players who might never be able to beat Volgaar. I am willing to bet you aren't one of them. Proceed with confidence- you can get the job done. Volgaar is a highly rewarding game because your character doesn't get better- YOU get better. It took me over an hour to beat the first level. I can now beat the game in less than that. You will be the same way once you dig into the game.

Each encounter (part of a level) should be treated as a puzzle. There is a correct way to get through without getting hit, and it will work every time. This is the biggest thing new players need to overcome.

Beginning Player Mindset:
This area is tough. I hope I can get through without being hit.

Correct Mindset:
If I do X, Y, and Z, I will get through here without getting hit.

Each time you get to a new encounter in a level, don't just think about getting through it. Think about how you can do it in a repeatable way that you can do it every single time. In Volgaar you should not be thinking "if I get lucky, I won't get hit here." You should be thinking "if I execute what I know I can do, I won't get hit."

Plan what you will do next time when you reach an encounter. Think about where you might try throwing a spear or jumping, and then do it. If it works, stick with it. if it doesn't try something new next time. If it is a platforming area, consider the natural consequences of your planned actions- if I jump here, do I have a safe place to land or will I fall down a pit?

With very few exceptions, Volgaar is a static game. The enemy placement doesn't change and neither does the AI. If you can jump attack to kill a monster the first time, it will work every time. Once you pick a strategy that sees you through an encounter without getting hit, do the same thing each time.

There is a grand secret to almost all 2d platforming/action games- going reasonably fast is often easier than going slower. There is a game design reason for this.

Games like Volgaar are designed so that the best solution is usually one that:

• Looks cool
  
• Is fast
  
• Has a good "feel" to it

If you see an enemy dead ahead of you, chances are he is probably easier to defeat by walking toward him and attacking than trying to wait him out. This doesn't mean you need to bumrush everything, but hunkering down for long periods of time is usually riskier and slower than just walking forward.

The game is designed so that if you are constantly moving forward you can beat nearly every obstacle with only rare moment where you have to wait. In contrast, waiting adds a lot of randomness- enemies may jump to strange places or spawn from behind. You are best off pushing forward as fast as you can without being reckless. The very first part of Volgaar demonstrates this well. If you advance slowly, you will eventually get hit by respawning enemies on both sides. if you keep moving forward and attacking, you will get through no problem.

When you reach a new daunting area, dare to simply march forward and attack when the enemy is close. You will be surprised how much better this often works that waiting for the enemy to come to you.

The game plays very differently once you have the fire sword. It makes many enemies easier to deal with and lets you solve encounters in new ways. As you get better, you will have the fire sword more often. Keep track of the areas where you think an extra hit could make a big difference if you had the sword, and try them out the next time. Try getting a firesword early in level 1 and note how it changes how you get through the level!

A few tips on the fire sword

• It actually hits many small enemies- no need to duck to hit chests and spiders!
  
• Your attacks hit further when you have the sword (it extends your damaging hit box.)
  
• Having a firesword can make otherwise challenging bosses a push over.

Movement/Exploration:

• You can roll off an edge and still double jump.
  
• Rolling makes you immune to the BODY of the enemy but not any weapons they are swinging. If an enemy is in your way, consider rolling through them and pushing onward rather than killing them.
  
• If you are at the top of a rope with a knot, you won't jump as far. Go down the rope a little bit and then jump and the knot won't interrupt your jumping.
  
• Use the look ahead any time you are in a new area. This is now a toggle in the options menu, so enable this if you feel so inclined.
  
• Each level contains two hidden hammers (one in each half of the level). These let you take a hit without losing any equipment. A sword hilt embedded in the ground means a hammer is in the area, so try slashing nearby walls when you see one.

Attacks:

• Your sword swing hits above and behind you, and THEN in front of you. That means you can use the sword backswing to hit enemies approaching from behind or standing above you on a spear.
  
• The charged spear goes a lot further than the normal one. Consider zooming out and launching a spear to kill enemies before they can see you.
  
• The downward attack has a huge hitbox- don't be afraid to try hitting enemies with it even if they aren't directly under you.

General tips when dealing with a new boss or enemy type.

• Focus on learning how they attack first. Normally, the first of an enemy you encounter is easy to kill because they are isolated. Take the time to learn their attack patterns and how you can counter them. Once you have them figured out, you will have a much easier time each time you meet them in the level.
  
• Evasion first, damage second. Especially true of bosses. Once you learn how to evade their attack, you can focus on finding the best opportunities to attack. In Volgaar, you should NEVER think about trading with an enemy. If you can't hit them without being hit, don't hit them!
  
• Many advanced bosses and enemies cover wide areas- try to identify safe zones or tactics to use for certain attacks and see if they work. If it does, repeat it each time to see if it always works. If it doesn't try a new strategy.
  
• Many advanced enemies and a few bosses attack by ramming into you (not swinging a weapon.) Remember that you can roll through such attacks without being hurt.
  
• Many enemies and bosses become trivial with the fire sword.
  
• Your shield blocks a lot of stuff. Experiement to learn exactly what it can block.

Take a deliberate, thoughtful approach to each encounter in Volgaar and you will be well on your way to becoming a viking master. Final words of advice as you go to lay down the law in Midgard.

• Use the guide on hidden hammer locations if you need a little help. Hammers give you a free extra hit, and are quite handy.
  
• Once you beat a level a few times, I recommend watching a speed run of the level. What did they do in the level that you didn't? How did they beat the boss? Try replicating their tactics.
  
• Take a break after an hour or two. Don't worry about having to go through the first few levels again. You can always skip back to that level by continually going left at the start of each stage. More importantly, as you get better going through the beginning levels you will be able to get through them in short order. It might take you an hour to beat level 1 now, but once you can get through it in four minutes, this will give you a lot of confidence for level 2.

Hope you find this helpful in your own viking journey!