Welcome dear reader. If you're hunting for more information about playing Darkest Hunters, then I hope you will find something of value in this quick guide. I know getting started was pretty easy as the game play is mostly straight forward, but I had a couple questions about certain features early on. Maybe you have those same questions and I can answer them for you.

Regardless, I thank you for taking the time to check out this guide. I am still playing my way through the various levels so this guide will be a work in progress until I complete the game, so check back every so often for more updates.

Inventory space is unlimited, so don't be in a hurry to sell off what seems like low-level gear, at least right away. Because you will gather additional equipment from chests or the shop, you may be able to level up a lower end item to hold you over until you find a better replacement. You can sell it later so don't be in a hurry to get rid of it. If you need some gold, go farm a low level map.



Need to kill that pesky enemy with a bow in order to complete a gold star, but they keep getting up close and personal? No problem. You can manually opt to use the bow for your next attack by selecting it from the HUD along the left edge. You have to manually select it each attack if the enemy occupies a token next to you.



As stated above your inventory is unlimited, so use that to your advantage. Keep at least one set of armor (or at least a chest plate) for protection from each type of element. Scorpion poison, for example, can take you out quickly if you are not prepared. You can change equipment any time you want during a level.

The same holds true for weapons and bows. Keep at least one weapon per element so that you can switch weapons based on the enemy. Obviously you don't need to switch gear constantly if you are grinding on a lower level map where you over power all enemies present.



Certain gold star "quests" require you to "finish" an enemy with magic or a specific spell. This can be a minor annoyance when the enemy has just a small amount of health more than the amount of spell damage, as a direct attack with your weapon may kill the creature, but using the spell may not. In that case just make a short chain of tokens, so as not to make a special crystal, which the creature may run into and kill itself, but that will keep you within their striking range, which allows the creature to attack you and take a small amount of counter attack damage. Then finish it off with the magic spell!

You might also be able to downgrade your weapon to avoid killing the creature with a direct attack, then finish it with the magic spell. Or you can use a 1st level special crystal to reduce the creature's health, depending on how much health they have.


You will have plenty of opportunity to upgrade equipment, but each upgrade costs an increasing amount of gold, quickly sapping any reserves. Buying spells is costly as well but tied to a Steam achievement so you may want to save gold for that. If you selectively upgrade equipment as needed, you will spend less time grinding for gold. You will eventual get "set" pieces that you may want to upgrade once you get a full set. Even here do not go crazy as a better set may show up later.

I have only reached map level 42 thus far but gold is constantly in short supply so money does not become worthless in this game. Grab as much gold as you can while making your way to the map exit once you've cleared all enemies.

This guide is not going to cover the basics, like what is a token, what the token color means, or how to chain the tokens together; however, there are a few tips and tricks around "special crystals" that I want to cover.

Special crystals as the game calls them are created by connecting tokens of the same color together. Connecting as few as 5 tokens together in a single move will create a level 1 special crystal, 10 tokens will create a level 2, 15 tokens a level 3 and 20 or more tokens will create a 4th level special crystal. I have not been able to verify if you can create a 5th level crystal as usually you cannot see that many crystals at once.


Figure 1: 1st Level Special Crystal

The level 1 special crystal once created, will destroy tokens/damage enemies in a horizontal or vertical direction based on the indicator shown. This is important if you are attempting to destroy ice blocks or a specific enemy. Pay attention to which way the icon is pointing as you create it. The 2nd, 3rd and 4th level special crystals all impact 4 of more directions so it is not really important.


Figure 2: 2nd Level Special Crystal

You can lure enemies onto special crystals to damage/kill them. Unleashing a special crystal will add all destroyed tokens to your resources, unless already maxed out. For the most part just create as many special crystals as you can to complete gold star quests, to lure enemies into, to quickly collect needed resources, or to unleash when needed.


Figure 3: 3rd Level Special Crystal



Figure 4: 4th Level Special Crystal

The other great feature of special crystals is that you can "carry" them with you, but only for a single chain. In Figure 5 below, you can see the chain includes an existing 1st level special crystal, and also will create a 2nd level special crystal. Upon completion of this chain, the carried 1st level special crystal will detonate on the last token in the same directions it was pointing when carried, as seen in Figure 6. Again, direction is mostly a concern for 1st level special crystals.


Figure 5: Carrying a Special Crystal



Figure 6: Unleashing a Carried Special Crystal

You can open access to hidden areas by moving over the proper token. You do not have to land on the spot by exact count, if you will. Some hidden areas are obvious because you get a star for finding the entrance. However, there are other hidden areas on different levels as well.

** This section is in progress. I have screenshots of where the entrances are that I will get to soon. **



Level 7 is the first map with a hidden area. The yellow square indicates the "trigger" point that opens the secret area.





The lower left edge of level 10 is where you can find the secret area.




Lower left as shown below:





Along the west edge as seen here:



















Take the left-most portal to where the secret chamber is located.



Top of the map.

Well, that's the end of this simple guide. I hope you found at least some small tidbit useful or of interest.

I have created a decent collection of guides at this point, from tips and tricks to jokes and stories across numerous games. You can check them out here if you so desire: Taskmaster's Guides!

I appreciate any feedback you wish to leave about this guide, a rating is appreciated, or if you have found a secret area that I missed. I will certainly give credit where credit is due!

Thanks for stopping by!