Ascension Update: Traits Overhaul, Frost & Volt Wrath, Two-Handing Bonuses!

WARNING: This update will reset ongoing roguelike runs due to the major changes to the traits system!!! It's available for all platforms, with Pico to follow soon.

Hi Hellsweepers,

Coming in hot from the Wrath Update earlier this year, we’ve got a bag of new goodies to keep your sweeps in hell frantic, formidable and FRESH!

The Ascension Update delivers the community-requested overhaul of the traits system, more elemental variants of Wrath, new ways to play melee and more! We’re able to keep updates coming because of your support. So, if you enjoy Hellsweeper, tell your friends, leave a positive review and most of all, have fun Hellsweeping!

Watch the highlights here:

P.S. We're also working on a new roadmap which we plan to unveil soon.
Watch on YouTube

UPDATED TRAIT SYSTEM

Let’s start with the big one. We’ve heard your pleas and by popular demand, equipping traits has been streamlined to make them more accessible yet impactful. This overhaul essentially -

• Reduces the need to memorize more complex recipes for forging stronger traits.
• Streamlines the number of UI panels during forging.
• Shifts some of the more fun traits into a new category so they can be equipped at the start of the run instead of having to forge them later or relying on RNG.

Traits are now also divided into four categories:

• Normal & Rare: Both types can be equipped at the start of the run but Rare traits are more powerful and sell for more obols.
• Forged: Functionality remains the same, but the recipes have been simplified.
• Special: Reserved for traits with conflicting effects (e.g. Pump Action and Lever Action for the Shotgun). These significantly modify skills, are not stackable, and have their own specified slot. They can be brought into the run if equipped.

We’ve also removed the trait limit because… there’s always room for chaos.

Lastly, you can now sell unwanted traits for Obols. There’s a lot you can do with a couple extra Obols in your pocket. ;)

TWO-HANDING BONUSES

With great power comes great responsibility, great enough to need both your hands to carry the sheer weight. We’ve made the Sword and Axe more deadly with some new two-handing bonuses!

Sword

Holding the Sword with both hands will increase the hit range of your blade, perfect for those enemies that are just a little out of reach.

Axe

Nothing strikes fear into demons like a spinning blade of death! Holding the Axe with both hands will now conjure a buzzsaw to cut through your foes.

NEW Elemental Variants: Wrath

We introduced Wrath in our previous update to round off the seven deadly sins. Now, it’s back with a vengeance! With new Frost and Volt variants, they’re deadlier than ever and seeking to throw a wrench into your runs.

bHaptics Integration

Get ready for some next-level immersion! With the integration of bHaptics on Meta Quest, as well as improved integration on Steam, your dangerous encounters with the demons of Hell are about to feel more real than ever before!

Patch 1.5 Ascension Update Patch Notes

⭐ Means this update was a Community Suggestion!

Main Gameplay Additions / Updates:

• Two-Handing Bonus for Axe and Sword
  --- Holding the Sword with both hands increases the hit range of the blade.
  --- Holding the Axe with both hands conjures a buzzsaw above the Axe.
• Added bHaptics Integration for Quest 2 & 3.
• Improved bHaptics Integration for PC.

ENEMY UPDATES:

• Added Frost and Volt variants of Wrath.

TRAIT SYSTEM UPDATES:

• ⭐ Forging Traits has been streamlined.
• ⭐ Infinite Traits are now allowed.
• ⭐ Added a new category of traits called Special Traits to allow more unique skill customization.
• Players can sell unwanted traits in the Shop for Obols.

NEW GUN TRAITS:

• Split Barrel (Guns) - Increases the damage of the gun but doubles the ammo per shot.
• Burst Trigger (Pistol) - Fires the Pistol in a short burst.
• Barrel Under Barrel (Pistol) - Attaches additional barrels to the Pistol.
• Secret Powder (Bullets) - Guns are repaired when manually reloaded.
• Cooling Agent (Tempest) - Tempest is immediately cooled with Frost when it overheats.
• Water-Colored Palette (Tempest) - Increases the damage of the Tempest during overheat.

NEW MELEE TRAITS:

• Blood Thirst (Axe) - Increases damage and life leech.
• Knight Strike (Mace) - Enemies are knocked into the air when hit by a two-handed mace attack.
• Batter's Pride (Mace) - Increases size of two-handed attack AOE.

NEW MAGIC TRAITS:

• Chaos Unleashed - Further increases AOE damage.
• Feeding Chaos - Further reduces AOE mana cost.
• Time Warden's Kiss - Further increases magic infusion duration.

NEW BOW TRAITS:

• Overdraw - Increases arrow damage but increases mana cost per shot.

NEW COMPANION TRAITS:

• Hefty Meal - Further increases the health of the companion.

NEW SUPPORT TRAITS:

• Disciplined Fists (Unarmed) - Increases combo duration and damage.
• Gentle Fist (Unarmed) - Open-hand strikes will knock back enemies.
• Paranoia (Blast) - Moving the hand in the opposite direction when performing Concussive or Radial Blast will reverse the forces.
• Boom Da Beat Box (Blast) - Increases size of AOE and push force.
• White Cicada (Blast) - Reduces mana cost of Radial Blast.
• Little More Juice (Unholy) - Increase the number of projectiles conjured when using certain enemy weapons or limbs.

General Gameplay Updates:

• Added a slider to adjust the strength of Small Jump.
• ⭐ Added a slider to adjust the dash/jump indicator's distance.
• ⭐ Added a panel for Trophies at the Profile Canvas.
• ⭐ Added a panel for Achievements at the Profile Canvas.
• Added a Lore Codex page to the codex altar in the hub map.
• Increased the damage of the Rifle.
• ⭐ Reduced recoil of the Rifle.
• ⭐ Mana cost for each trait is now displayed with the trait's info.
• Moved the Training Room to the Tutorials section.
• ⭐ Option for Bladewave's aim-assist now affects weapons like Stone Fist and enemy weapons.
• ⭐ Raised the style points cap from 45000 to 60000.
• Reduced the conjuration cost of Melee weapons.
• Updated the center of mass for all objects for better handling.

Updates & Changes to Player Progression, Skills and Abilities:

• Haze Magic - Mirage Dragons now increases the chain count of the Haze Serpent's projectiles.
• Charge Magic - Healing Ward now increases the healing range of Magic Ward.
• Bullets - Smooth Rounds now repairs the gun's durability per shot.
• Bullets - Liberty now reduces the gun buff by a certain amount when equipped.
• Guns - Stacking Laser Sights now increases damage.
• Guns - Stacking Sweat & Iron now reduces mana cost.
• Levitation - Stacking King's Grave now increases the number of rocks created.
• Mace - Stacking Sight Guidance now increases damage.
• Unarmed - Gorilla God now only affects Stone Fists.
• Max blessings have been increased to 12.
• Hang Time is now activated by raising both hands above the player's head, replacing Somersault but retaining its bonuses.

Bug Fixes and Optimization:

• Fixed bug with the "Monster Hunter" Achievement not unlocking on the Oculus Quest.
• Fixed bug where "Secrets of Suffering" and "A Bloody Sweep" are not tracked properly.
• Fixed bug where the objective indicator on the HUD keeps appearing despite the option being disabled.
• Fixed bug where the timer for the style points is not resetting when enemies are hit.
• Fixed bug where Healing Ward does not heal companions.
• Fixed infusing the staff once in multiplayer being counted as infusing twice.
• Fixed casting Mega Laser burning the non-caster's mana.

Do you have Questions?

For those who might have questions regarding Hellsweeper VR, we have an FAQ section.

If you have a report or a bug you’d like to send us, Join our Discord: Please select the Hellsweeper role and open a thread under #support.

For broken saves, game breaking bugs, and any other similar issues, please send your save file to [email protected]. Your save file is located here:

C:\Users[username]\AppData\LocalLow\MixedRealms\HellsweeperVR\savefile

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Thank you for being part of this journey with us.

Crafted with Love,
The Mixed Realms team