I put this together to explain the core mechanics of the game in a simple way. If you’re new or confused about how certain systems work, this should help clear things up. I’ll go through materials, combat, rebirth, and then include a glossary for all the common terms you’ll see while playing.
Horripilant Beginner Guide & Walkthrough
Collecting materials is very straightforward. You simply click on them to gather them.
Every now and then you’ll see sparkles appear — when you click those, you instantly gain 500 times your current click value for that material.
Material Level
Each level multiplies all gain for that specific material.
For example:
If you’re producing 100 per second, reaching level 2 makes it 200 per second, and level 3 makes it 300 per second.
Upgrade Storage
This upgrade increases how much of a material you can hold. Each upgrade raises the capacity by a factor of ten.
Upgrade Click
This directly increases how much material you receive each time you click.
Hire Workers
Hiring workers gives you passive, automatic material generation without needing to click.
How Combat Works
Combat happens automatically based on your equipped gear. Your setup includes:
- Sword
- Helmet
- Chestplate
- Leggings
- Boots
- Familiar
All attacks occur automatically, but you can get extra attack attempts by clicking on enemy weak points.
Boons
After defeating a boss, you get to choose a boon.
Boons are temporary buffs that only last during your current combat run. Once you leave combat, they reset.
Familiar Damage Sharing
If you have a familiar, incoming damage is split evenly between you and your companion.
Combat Interface
Here’s what everything in the combat screen does.
Combat Log
This displays recent events like enemy spawns, defeats, experience gained, meat earned, and chosen boons.
Combat Buttons
These allow you to control how combat progresses.
Exit At
Lets you set a specific floor to leave combat automatically.
Floor Looping
This toggle makes you repeat the same floor continuously.
Leave After Current Fight
Only available on floor 1. Allows you to exit safely after defeating the current enemy.
Select Boon Automatically
Automatically picks a boon when prompted. Useful for idle dungeon runs.
Give Up
Immediately leaves combat, but counts as a death and causes you to lose some meat.
Depth Display
Shows how deep you currently are within the floor.
Weak Points
Clicking these gives you a chance to perform an extra attack.
Enemy Info Panel
This shows:
- Enemy level
- Name
- Health and health bar
- Damage stats
- Defense
- Evasion
There’s also a white bar beneath the health bar that indicates attack speed. When it fills, the enemy attacks.
Current Boons Display
Shows all active boon effects for the current run. If a boon’s text appears orange, it means it has reached its maximum limit.
How Rebirth Works
When you rebirth, almost everything resets.
The only things that remain are:
- Skills purchased in the rebirth tree
- Their effects
- Items and exploration progress
How Hemalith Is Earned
Hemalith is gained based on how deep you go in the dungeon.
The base rate is 1 Hemalith for each new deeper floor cleared.
This amount can be increased through boosts and rebirth skills.
Miscellaneous Notes
When you’re outside of combat, your health regenerates automatically.
At minimum, you regenerate 0.3% of your maximum health per second, meaning you’ll fully heal in roughly 30 seconds.
If your regen stat is higher than that percentage, the higher value is used instead.
Glossary
Here are definitions for common terms used in the game.
Boon
A temporary boost gained after defeating a boss during combat.
Click Power
The amount of material gained per click.
Critical Hit
An attack that deals increased damage.
Damage
The amount of harm inflicted on enemies during combat.
Defense
The percentage of incoming damage that gets reduced.
For example:
75% defense means you only take 25% of incoming damage.
Exp
Player experience points. Leveling up increases maximum health.
Evasion
The percentage chance that you or an enemy will miss an attack.
Familiar
A companion creature that fights alongside you.
Hemalith
The currency used for rebirth upgrades. Earned by progressing deeper in the dungeon.
Iron
The third material. Used for upgrading equipment and constructing dungeon features.
Item Slot
A slot that holds consumables such as healing potions or spiky bones.
Material
The main resource type used for upgrades and construction.
Meat
Obtained from enemies. Used to create familiars, increase storage, and purchase consumables.
Opportunity Attack
An attack triggered as retaliation after being attacked.
Reflection
When reflection triggers, part of the damage you receive is dealt back to the attacker.
Regen
Health regeneration over time.
Rebirth
The game’s prestige system. Resets stats but keeps rebirth upgrades.
Rock
The second material used for equipment upgrades and construction.
Storage
The maximum amount of material you can hold.
Vampire Hit
An attack that converts part of the damage dealt into healing.
Weak Point
Clickable enemy targets that allow extra attack attempts.
Wood
The first material used for equipment upgrades and construction.