Revised October 2025
Following Jotunnslayer: Hordes of Hel’s official release and its expansive 1.0 update, this overview details all fresh features and adjustments.
For enthusiasts of intense survival shooters akin to Vampire Survivors, Jotunnslayer: Hordes of Hel delivers a Norse-inspired challenge. This top-down action RPG pits players against ceaseless enemy waves, requiring strategic use of divine powers to survive. Below, find essential insights for newcomers diving into the complete edition.
Selectable Heroes in Jotunnslayer
Six warriors now stand ready in Jotunnslayer’s 1.0 edition: Berserker, Seeress, Flame Sister, Revenant, Warden, and Kinslayer. Each boasts distinct passive abilities that trigger dynamically during combat.
| Class | Class Traits |
|---|---|
| Kinslayer | Soul Remnant: Cursed attacking fragment of corrupted soul. (Dmg 20, Curse Chance 20%) Maiming: Attacks may impair enemies hit. (Cripple Chance 50%, Trigger: Critical Hit) Wing Beat: Jump farther and knockback enemies. (Dash Distance +20%, Knockback: Weak) |
| Warden | Ground Smash: Dash is replaced with a shield smash. (Damage 20, Knocback: Medium) Tower Shield: Stops attacks. (Block chance 25%) Iron Within: Warden has max HP +200 |
| Revenant | Haunting Wolf: Release a wolf spirit to hunt down enemies. (Damage 25, Cooldown 2.5s) Ethereal Arrows: Arrows have a chance to transform into a pass-through version. (Passthrough Chance 15%) Ghostwalk: You enter a protective ghost form when dashing (Damage Reduction 50%, Trigger: Dash) |
| Flame Sister | Blazing Soul: Ever-burning soul randomly bursts into nearby enemies, dealing damage. (Damage 26, Heal 20 HP) Dasher: A bonus ability to escape from any danger. (Dash Charge +1, Evasion +20%) Inferno: A fiery attack with the potential to inflict burn damage. (Burn Chance 15%) |
| Seeress | Eldritch Wards: Shield charges grant invulnerability against incoming damage. (Charge Cooldown 35s, Invulnerability Duration 1s) Malicious Wisdom: Experience Crystals can inflict damage on nearby enemies. (Damage 5, Chance 25%) Fortune: You can see the future. (Bonus Skill or Reward Chance 30%) |
| Berserker | Rage: Attacks can trigger his full violent potential. (HP Regeneration +3/s, Damage +20%) Hot Blood: As the Berserker loses health, his attacks become increasingly faster. (Attack Speed +0.5% per 1% of missing health) Survivor: Berserker can withstand intense punishment. (HP Regeneration +1/s, Maximum Health +100) |
Personalizing Your Warrior
Each warrior offers distinct playstyles through weapon selection. The Revenant, for example, starts with a basic bow but can unlock enhanced variants using in-game currency. Cosmetic skins provide visual flair without affecting gameplay mechanics.
Available Realms
Five distinct battlegrounds await: Niflheim, Jotunheim, Muspelheim, Svartalheim, and Helheim. Each realm introduces unique environmental threats and enemy variants.
Tailoring the Challenge
Adjust difficulty and modifiers to shape each run’s challenge. Higher difficulties demand prior completion of lower tiers but offer improved rewards. Modifiers introduce beneficial/malicious effects trade-offs.
| Difficulty | Enemy Difficulty | Raid Time (min) | Objectives | Resource Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Endless | 250% | Infinite | Infinite | 90% |
| Insane | 300% | 20:00 | 6 | 170% |
| Hard | 250% | 17:00 | 5 | 110% |
| Normal | 200% | 15:00 | 4 | 75% |
| Modifier | Attributes |
|---|---|
| House Always Wins | No Banishes, Rerolls, Seals, and Blasphemies Allowed Resource Bonus +30% |
| Windy Day | Chance +100% Resource Bonus +30% |
| Time Rush | Chance +70% Resource Bonus: |
| Child Ration | Chance +70% Resource Bonus +30% |
| Fizzled Magic | Chance +10% Resource Bonus +30% |
| The Gathering | Additional Elites Interval 120s Resource Bonus +30% |
| Death’s Toll | Mithril Prices +30% Resource Bonus +30% |
| Limited Fortune | Fade Time 20s Resource Bonus +30% |
| Aimless | Resource Bonus +30% |
| Inevitable Fate | One Less Torment Choice Chance 50% Resource Bonus +30% |
| Smothering Misery | Torment Interval -20% Resource Bonus +30% |
| Brave Chicken | Enemy Damage -30% Objective Rewards -50% |
| Evil Dead | Invulnerability Duration 5s Chance 5% Trigger: Death Resource Bonus +30% |
| Time Rush | Movement Speed +10% Cooldown -10% Attack Speed +10% Resource Bonus +30% |
| Greedy Masochist | Enemy Damage +30% Resource Bonus +30% |
| Bad Cards | One less Skill or Reward Resource Bonus +30% |
| Talentless Child | Experience Gained -25% Resource Bonus +30% |
Combat Configuration
Newcomers should leverage default control schemes:
- Attack Modes
- Smart: Auto-engages enemies in range
- Automatic: Continuous strikes
- Manual: Button-press attacks
- Aim Styles
- Automatic: Locks onto nearest targets
- Manual: Full directional control
Core Mechanics Overview
Survival hinges on strategic positioning and resource management. Collect XP crystals from fallen foes to strengthen abilities, and use gold for post-run upgrades. Monitor health carefully—retreat when overwhelmed, utilizing dropped food for recovery.
Mission Types
- Fungal Harvest: Gather eight marked mushrooms
- Chieftain Trials: Defend against summoned bosses
- Blizzard Survival: Endure movement-impairing storms
Expanded Bestiary
Version 1.0 adds an enemy database tracking encountered foes, aiding in tactical preparation for subsequent runs.
Progression Systems
Upon leveling, players select between class-specific upgrades or divine boons from deities like Thor or Loki. Divine abilities typically offer greater immediate power, while class upgrades enhance core traits. Rerolls allow reshaping your build mid-run.
Advanced Specializations
Mid-campaign progression unlocks subclass options that synergize with acquired skills. For example, the Zealot subclass enhances divine ability cooldowns for Berserkers leaning on godly powers.
Reward Caches
Map-marked chests grant temporary advantages:
- Bloodlust Elixir: +15% crit chance (70s)
- Aesir Charm: +20% divine skill damage (permanent)
- Haste Brew: +25% movement/attack speed (70s)
Climactic Encounters
Final battles against colossal foes like Nidhogg test your build’s effectiveness. Master dash timing to evade area attacks while maintaining offensive pressure.
Progression Trees
Both divine and class-specific upgrade trees allow deep customization. Prioritize deity trees initially for versatile power spikes, then invest in class enhancements for specialized builds.