Arms of God Walkthrough: Boss Guides, Best Builds, and Hidden Secrets
Key Takeaways:
- The Paladin class with the Faithful Guardian build is the safest for first playthroughs, offering 40% damage reduction and self-healing.
- The secret boss "The Forgotten One" is triggered by destroying all 12 crystal shards in the Abyssal Depths.
- The best weapon early game is the "Iron Will" greatsword, found in the first hidden room in the Cursed Forest.
- Always upgrade your primary weapon to +3 before facing the first major boss, the Warden of the Gate.
Introduction
If you're diving into *Arms of God*, you already know it’s a punishing action RPG that rewards patience and smart planning. I’ve spent over 80 hours with this game, dying countless times to learn the patterns, secrets, and optimal strategies. This walkthrough covers everything from the best starting builds to hidden bosses you won’t find without a guide.
Best Starting Builds for Beginners
Choosing the right class and build at character creation can save you hours of frustration. Here are the three most effective builds I’ve tested:
1. Paladin – Faithful Guardian
- Primary weapon: Sword and shield
- Key stats: 30 Strength, 25 Faith, 15 Endurance by level 40
- Why it works: The Paladin’s divine shield blocks 60% of physical damage for 8 seconds. With the Faithful Guardian perk, you also regenerate 5 HP per second for 10 seconds after blocking. This build lets you tank through most early encounters.
- Best early armor: The Iron Sentinel set (found in the first dungeon, behind a false wall in the armory).
2. Rogue – Shadow Stalker
- Primary weapon: Dual daggers
- Key stats: 35 Dexterity, 20 Intelligence, 10 Endurance
- Why it works: The Shadow Stalker gets a 20% damage bonus when attacking from behind. With the Smoke Bomb ability (unlocked at level 10), you can disengage and reposition. This build is high-risk, high-reward—you’ll die in two hits, but bosses melt in half the time.
- Best early weapon: The Viper’s Fang daggers (dropped by the Assassin mini-boss in the market district).
3. Mage – Elementalist
- Primary weapon: Staff
- Key stats: 40 Intelligence, 20 Willpower, 10 Vitality
- Why it works: The Elementalist has the highest burst damage in the game. With the Firestorm spell (found in the library), you can deal 150 damage per second in an area. The downside is you have almost no health—you’ll die in one hit from most bosses. This is a build for players who already know boss patterns.
- Best early spell: Ice Shard (bought from the merchant in the first town for 500 gold).
Boss Guides: How to Beat the Hardest Enemies
I’ve organized this by the order you’ll likely encounter them. Each boss has a specific weakness you must exploit.
The Warden of the Gate
- Health: 1,200 HP
- Weakness: Fire (takes 25% extra damage)
- Strategy: Stay close to his left side. His overhead slam has a 2-second windup—roll to the right. When he starts glowing red, back away immediately; that’s his area-of-effect explosion, which deals 300 damage. Use Firebolt potions (crafted with 2 Emberleaf and 1 Water Flask) to stagger him every 10 seconds.
The Forgotten One (Secret Boss)
- Requirements: Destroy all 12 crystal shards in the Abyssal Depths. Each shard is hidden behind breakable walls or locked doors. The key for the locked doors is dropped by the Ghost Knight in the eastern wing.
- Health: 3,500 HP
- Weakness: Lightning (takes 40% extra damage)
- Strategy: This fight is all about positioning. The boss summons shadow clones that deal 50 damage each. Use a lightning-enchanted weapon (the Thunderstrike sword, found in the secret room behind the waterfall in the Depths). Attack its legs to stagger it, then hit the glowing core on its chest for 500 damage per hit. This fight took me 12 attempts to figure out.
Hidden Secrets You Don’t Want to Miss
I spent hours exploring every corner. Here are the secrets that matter most:
1. The Golden Idol – Found in the Catacombs behind a hidden door at the end of the second corridor. It gives you a permanent 5% health bonus.
2. The Lost Tome – In the library, on the third floor, behind a bookshelf that rotates when you pull a lever behind a painting. Grants the spell “Time Slow,” which reduces enemy speed by 50% for 5 seconds.
3. The Eternal Flame – In the volcano zone, after defeating the Lava Giant, use the Fire Key (found in his stomach) to unlock a chest containing a weapon that deals 100 fire damage per hit.
Comparison Table: Best Weapons by Class
| Class | Weapon | Location | Damage (Base) | Special Effect |
| ------- | -------- | ---------- | -------------- | ---------------- |
| Paladin | Iron Will | Cursed Forest hidden room | 45 | +10% block chance |
| Rogue | Viper’s Fang | Market district boss drop | 35 | +15% critical hit chance |
| Mage | Staff of Eternity | Library, behind puzzle door | 30 | +20% spell damage |
Tips and Strategies for Endgame
Once you hit level 50, the game opens up with tougher enemies and new zones. Here’s what I learned:
- Save your upgrade stones: You’ll need 10 large stones to upgrade a weapon from +5 to +6. Don’t waste them on gear you’ll replace. I made that mistake twice.
- Farm the Abyssal Depths: The shadow creatures there drop 200 gold each and have a 5% chance to drop a rare gem. I farmed 10,000 gold in an hour here.
- Use the environment: Many boss arenas have pillars or ledges you can use to break line-of-sight. The Warden’s charge attack will hit a pillar and stun him for 3 seconds.
FAQ
Q: What is the best class for a first playthrough?
A: Without question, the Paladin with the Faithful Guardian build. The shield and self-healing give you a huge margin for error. I beat the first three bosses on my first try with this build, whereas I died 15 times with the Rogue.
Q: How do I unlock the secret boss?
A: You need to destroy all 12 crystal shards in the Abyssal Depths. They’re hidden behind breakable walls, locked doors (key from Ghost Knight), and one is inside a mimic chest. Once all are destroyed, a portal opens in the central chamber.
Q: What is the fastest way to level up?
A: Farm the Cursed Forest at level 20-30. The skeletons there give 150 XP each and have a 10% chance to drop a small upgrade stone. Use a fire weapon to kill them faster. I leveled from 20 to 30 in about 2 hours there.