Arms of God throws you into a brutal medieval world where divine weapons clash against unholy horrors. This action RPG combines deep character customization with punishing combat that rewards mastery over button mashing. The Steam Next Fest demo has players buzzing about its unique weapon blessing system and branching skill trees.
Table of Contents
- Core Game Mechanics
- Character Creation
- Weapon Systems
- Skill Trees and Builds
- Combat Basics
- Progression Systems
- Key Features
- Getting Started
Core Game Mechanics
Arms of God centers around its Blessing System, where weapons gain divine properties through prayer at scattered shrines. A blessed sword might deal holy damage to undead enemies, while a cursed dagger could steal health on hit. This system creates meaningful choices since you can only maintain three active blessings at once.
The game tracks your Faith Alignment through story decisions and combat actions. Mercy builds up Light Faith, brutality increases Dark Faith, and balanced play maintains Neutral Faith. Your alignment affects which blessings work best and determines available dialogue options with NPCs.
Stamina management matters more than most ARPGs. Heavy attacks drain significant stamina, leaving you vulnerable to counterattacks. Smart players learn enemy patterns to time their strikes perfectly rather than spamming attacks.
Character Creation
You'll choose from five starting classes, each with unique stat distributions and starting equipment:
| Class | Strength | Agility | Faith | Intelligence | Starting Weapon | |-------|----------|---------|-------|--------------|-----------------| | Paladin | 18 | 12 | 16 | 10 | Blessed Sword | | Assassin | 12 | 18 | 10 | 16 | Twin Daggers | | Monk | 14 | 14 | 18 | 10 | Prayer Beads | | Witch Hunter | 16 | 14 | 12 | 14 | Silver Crossbow | | Heretic | 10 | 12 | 8 | 22 | Cursed Staff |
Your background affects starting relationships with key factions. Former church members get better prices from holy vendors but face suspicion from underground dealers. Criminal backgrounds unlock unique questlines but make certain areas more dangerous.
Physical appearance customization runs deep, with 12 face types, 8 body builds, and extensive scarring options. Scars aren't just cosmetic. They tell stories and sometimes unlock special dialogue with NPCs who recognize your past battles.
Weapon Systems
Arms of God features seven weapon categories, each with distinct movesets and blessing interactions. Swords offer balanced offense and defense with reliable blessing compatibility. Daggers attack fast but require precise timing to maximize damage output through combo chains.
Hammers deal massive damage but consume more stamina per swing. They excel against heavily armored enemies who shrug off lighter weapons. Spears provide excellent reach and work well for defensive players who prefer maintaining distance.
Crossbows let you engage enemies safely but require expensive ammunition. Staves channel magical energies for ranged attacks but leave you vulnerable in melee. Shields can be wielded as weapons themselves, offering unique bash attacks and defensive counters.
The Weapon Mastery system rewards specialization. Using swords exclusively unlocks advanced techniques like the devastating Judgment Strike at mastery level 5. Mixed weapon users stay versatile but miss out on these powerful abilities.
Skill Trees and Builds
Four main skill trees shape your character's development. The Divine tree focuses on holy magic, healing abilities, and light-based attacks effective against undead. Profane skills deal with dark magic, life drain effects, and shadow manipulation.
Martial improves physical combat through weapon mastery, improved stamina efficiency, and devastating finishing moves. Arcane provides utility magic like teleportation, enemy detection, and environmental manipulation.
Popular builds include the Blessed Warrior combining Divine skills with sword mastery for maximum holy damage. Shadow Dancers mix Profane magic with dagger skills for hit-and-run tactics. Spell Swords balance Arcane utility with Martial prowess.
Each skill tree caps at 20 points, but you'll earn roughly 60 skill points through normal progression. This forces meaningful choices since you can't master everything. Check our Best Arms of God Builds for proven combinations that work well together.
Combat Basics
Arms of God rewards patience over aggression. Enemies telegraph attacks through distinct animations, giving you time to dodge, block, or counter. Learning these tells becomes crucial for surviving boss encounters where one mistake costs significant health.
Blessing synergy amplifies your effectiveness dramatically. The Righteous Fury blessing increases damage after taking damage, while Divine Protection reduces incoming damage. Used together, they create a risk-reward cycle that skilled players can exploit.
Environmental interactions add tactical depth. You can knock enemies off cliffs, ignite explosive barrels, or use altar fires to purify corrupted weapons. Some boss fights practically require environmental awareness to succeed.
Parrying works differently than most games. Instead of precise timing windows, you hold block and release at the right moment for a counter. This system feels more natural but still rewards good reflexes with guaranteed critical hits.
Progression Systems
Character advancement happens through multiple interconnected systems. Experience points increase your base level and provide attribute points to distribute among your four core stats. Weapon mastery improves through use, unlocking new techniques and passive bonuses.
Blessing discovery requires exploration and experimentation. Hidden shrines throughout the world offer unique weapon enhancements not available elsewhere. Some blessings only work with specific weapon types or require certain Faith alignment levels.
Reputation with various factions opens new questlines, vendor discounts, and exclusive equipment. The Church of Divine Light offers powerful holy weapons but refuses service to players with high Dark Faith. Underground merchants stock rare cursed items but charge premium prices to Light Faith characters.
Key Features
The game shines through its atmospheric presentation. Gothic architecture, dynamic lighting, and haunting musical scores create genuine tension during exploration. Voice acting brings key NPCs to life, though some minor characters rely on text-only dialogue.
Player choice consequences extend beyond simple good/evil splits. Supporting the church might provide holy weapons but alienate magic users. Helping underground factions could unlock powerful cursed items while making certain areas hostile.
Mod support launches alongside the full release, letting players create custom weapons, areas, and even completely new campaigns. The developer actively encourages community content creation through comprehensive modding tools.
Getting Started
New players should focus on one weapon type initially rather than spreading points across multiple categories. Specialization pays off through advanced techniques that dramatically improve combat effectiveness.
Explore thoroughly during early areas since later zones assume you've found most available equipment and blessings. Missing key items can make boss fights significantly more challenging than intended.
Our Arms of God Beginner's Guide covers essential early game strategies, while the Arms of God Walkthrough provides detailed area guides. For ongoing strategy discussion, check our Arms of God Tips and Arms of God Tier List to see how different builds stack up against each other.