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Risk of Rain Returns is a roguelike game that challenges players to survive against hordes of enemies and bosses. One of the most difficult and rewarding features of the game is the Judgement trial, a secret stage that tests your skills and grants you a special skin for the character you use. However, unlocking and completing this trial is not easy.
You need to prepare well, choose the right items, and adapt to the changing scenarios. In this guide, we will show you how to beat the Judgement Trial in Risk of Rain Returns and claim your prize.
What is the Judgement Trial and How to Unlock It?
The Judgement Trial in Risk of Rain Returns is a hidden stage that only becomes available after you complete all the Providence trials in the game. Providence trials are special challenges that unlock alternate skills for each character. To access them, you need to find and activate a Providence shrine, which randomly spawns in each stage. Each trial has different rules and objectives, such as defeating a certain number of enemies, surviving for a set time, or collecting items.
To unlock the Judgement Trial in Risk of Rain Returns, you need to complete all the Providence trials for all the characters in the game. This means you need to play through the game multiple times with different characters and find the Providence shrines in each run. Once you do that, you will be able to access the Judgement trial from the main menu.
How to Prepare for the Judgement Trial in Risk of Rain Returns?
The Judgement Trial in Risk of Rain Returns is not like any other stage in the game. It has its own set of rules and restrictions that make it very challenging. Here are some of the things you need to know before you start the trial:
- You can only choose one character for the trial. You cannot switch characters during the trial.
- You cannot use any artifacts or modifiers for the trial. You have to play with the default settings.
- You cannot regenerate health during the trial. The only way to heal is by using health pickups, which are limited to five per stage.
- You cannot use drones or turrets during the trial. You have to rely on your own skills and items.
- You cannot use the teleporter during the trial. You have to clear all the waves of enemies in each stage.
- You cannot pause or quit the trial. If you die or exit the game, you have to start over from the beginning.
Given these limitations, you need to choose your character wisely. Some characters may have an advantage over others, depending on their skills and playstyle. For example, Huntress has high mobility and can dodge attacks easily, while Engineer has high damage and can deploy mines and shields. You should also consider the skills you have unlocked for each character, as some of them may be more useful than others.
Related: How to Preorder Your Risk of Rain 2 Acrid Plush.
How to Beat the Judgement Trial in Risk of Rain Returns?
The Judgement Trial in Risk of Rain Returns consists of 10 waves, each with different enemies, hazards, and rewards. You will face a variety of enemies, from basic ones like Lemurians and Wisps, to elite ones like Blazing and Overloading, to bosses like Cremator and Imp Overlord. You will also encounter environmental hazards like lava, spikes, and poison. You will need to adapt your strategy and tactics to each wave, as well as utilize the items you have chosen.
Here is a breakdown of each wave and how to beat it:
Wave 1: Survive with Guardian Heart
The first wave is relatively easy, as you only face basic enemies like Lemurians, Wisps, and Jellyfish. However, you need to be careful with your health, as you will not be able to regenerate it during the trial. The best item to choose for this wave is Guardian Heart, which grants you a shield that prevents you from taking fatal damage. This item will save your life many times during the trial, so make sure to pick it up.
Wave 2: Expand Your Arsenal
The second wave introduces more enemies, such as Golems, Clay Templars, and Elder Lemurians. You will also face your first boss, the Wandering Vagrant, which can deal massive damage with its explosions and shockwaves. The best item to choose for this wave is Hopoo Feather, which grants you an additional jump, increasing your mobility and allowing you to reach higher ground and avoid hazards.
You can also consider picking up Hardlight Afterburner, which reduces the cooldown of your abilities, or Gasoline, which sets enemies on fire when they die.
Wave 3: Freeze Time with Unstable Watch
The third wave adds more enemies, such as Bighorn Bison, Stone Golems, and Greater Wisps. You will also face your second boss, the Magma Worm, which can burrow underground and emerge with fireballs and lava trails. The best item to choose for this wave is Unstable Watch, which pauses time for 7 seconds, allowing you to deal damage to enemies without retaliation.
This item is useful for dealing with large groups of enemies and bosses, especially when combined with Backup Magazine, which grants you an extra charge of your secondary ability, Lens Maker’s Glasses, which increases your critical chance, or Rusty Knife, which causes your attacks to bleed enemies.
Wave 4: Choose Your Items Wisely
The fourth wave introduces elite enemies, such as Blazing, Glacial, and Overloading. These enemies have special abilities and effects that can make them very dangerous, such as setting you on fire, freezing you, or exploding on death. You will also face your third boss, the Colossus, which can stomp the ground and summon rocks.
The best item to choose for this wave depends on your survivor and strategy, but some good options are Scorching Shell Piece, which grants you fire immunity, Rusty Knife, which causes your attacks to bleed enemies, or Ukulele, which causes your attacks to chain lightning to nearby enemies.
Wave 5: Strike with Lightning
The fifth wave adds more enemies, such as Imps, Spitters, and Black Imps. You will also face your fourth boss, the Ancient Wisp, which can summon wisps and fire projectiles. The best item to choose for this wave is Ukulele, which causes your attacks to chain lightning to nearby enemies.
This item is great for increasing your damage output and clearing enemies faster, especially when combined with Lens Maker’s Glasses, which increases your critical chance, or Predatory Instincts, which increases your attack speed on critical hits.
Wave 6: Overcome the Hardship
The sixth wave is one of the hardest waves in the trial, as you face a large number of enemies, such as Hermit Crabs, Sand Crabs, and Boars. You will also face your fifth boss, the Imp Overlord, which can teleport, summon imps, and fire spikes. The best item to choose for this wave is Repulsion Armor, which reduces incoming damage by a flat amount.
This item can help you survive the onslaught of enemies and projectiles, especially when combined with Tough Times, which increases your armor, or Panic Mines, which drops mines when you are hit.
Wave 7-9: Face the Formidable Foes
The seventh, eighth, and ninth waves are the final waves before the Judgement boss, and they feature some of the most formidable foes in the game. You will face enemies such as Cremator, Frenzied Toxic Beast, and Providence himself, each with their own unique abilities and attacks.
You will need to use all your skills, items, and tactics to survive these waves, as well as utilize the health pickups that spawn between stages. Some of the best items to choose for these waves are The Toxin, which debuffs enemies with poison and weakness, Tesla Coil, which shocks nearby enemies, and Timekeeper’s Secret, which slows down time when you are in danger.
Wave 10: The Final Showdown
The tenth and final wave is the Judgement boss in Risk of Rain Returns, a powerful and mysterious entity that resembles a giant Imp Overlord. This boss has a lot of health and can deal a lot of damage with its attacks, such as summoning spikes, firing lasers, and creating shockwaves. The best item to choose for this wave is Rusty Knife, which causes your attacks to bleed enemies.
This item can help you deal consistent damage to the boss, especially when combined with Mortar Tube, which fires missiles on hit, or Hopoo Feather, which grants you an additional jump. You will need to target the boss after dealing with the other enemies and use your dashes and iframes to avoid its attacks. Once you defeat the boss, you will progress to the Providence fight, where you can claim your reward.
If you are interested in knowing more details about Switching Party Members, then read Switching Party Members Like a Pro in Super Mario RPG.
Conclusion
The Judgement trial in Risk of Rain Returns is a challenging and rewarding feature that tests your skills and knowledge of the game. By following this guide, you can prepare yourself for the trial, choose the best items for each wave, and adapt your strategy and tactics to each enemy and boss. The reward for beating the trial is a secret skin for the survivor you use, as well as bragging rights for completing the ultimate Providence challenge. Good luck and have fun!