Ars Goetia's dark fantasy dungeon crawler released on 26 May 2022 through Dear Villagers, and it asks you to pick which of six demons your character serves before the first fight. That pact is the class system: Lucifer, Beelzebub, Baal, Satan, Asmodeus and Leviathan each hand you a different skill tree, different stat growth per level and a different Demon Form. Combat is turn based on a fatigue clock rather than a strict you go, I go order, so cheap actions can chain before an enemy ever moves.
Picking the right build determines how your experience plays out. These builds are ranked by overall effectiveness, factoring in damage, survivability, gear requirements, and how well they scale into endgame. New to the game? Start with our beginner's guide first.
Quick Rankings
| Build | Tier | Playstyle | Core Gear |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lucifer | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Beelzebub | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Baal | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Leviathan | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Asmodeus | A | Balanced | Best available |
For detailed meta rankings, see our Hellslave tier list.
A-Tier: Lucifer
Lucifer is a top-performing option in Hellslave.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Balam's Strike | Deals double melee damage in one action, the cleanest damage Momentum in the melee trees. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Demonic pact instead of a class | You pledge to one of six demons at the start, and that choice sets your stat growth, your Demon Form and your entire skill tree. |
How to Play Lucifer
Lucifer focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Balam's Strike does the damage and Demonic pact instead of a class keeps it running, which is why this sits at the top of the list. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Highest overall performance
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Popular pick, resources may be contested
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Beelzebub
Beelzebub is a strong option in Hellslave.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Apocalyptic Choreography | Hits every enemy on the field for heavy damage but fires only once, recharging when your Demon Form triggers. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Fatigue clock turn order | Every action costs time on a fatigue bar instead of simply ending your turn, so cheap skills can fire several times before an enemy acts. |
How to Play Beelzebub
Beelzebub focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Pair Apocalyptic Choreography with Fatigue clock turn order and the build stops depending on a good start, so it holds up across most content. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Most versatile option
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Lower peak damage than S-tier
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Baal
Baal is a strong option in Hellslave.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Wound Aggravation | Doubles all poison and bleeding stacks on every enemy at once. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Momentums and Postures | Momentums are the active abilities on your battle menu and cost Mana or Rage. |
How to Play Baal
Baal focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Momentums and Postures covers the gap Wound Aggravation leaves open, so the build stays usable even when a fight goes badly. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Best survivability
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Slower clear speeds
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Leviathan
Leviathan is a specialized option in Hellslave.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Time Warp | Adds 7 seconds of fatigue to every enemy, which on the fatigue clock is close to skipping their turn outright. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Demon Form charged over five fights | Your Demon Form charges across five fights, and several of the strongest abilities only recharge when it triggers. |
How to Play Leviathan
Leviathan focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: This one leans on Demon Form charged over five fights rather than raw numbers, and Time Warp is what makes that trade pay off. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Strong in group/team content
- Straightforward gearing path
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- Weaker solo performance
- Requires deep game knowledge
A-Tier: Asmodeus
Asmodeus is a specialized option in Hellslave.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Destruction | Cannot miss, adds 30 percent damage, and stacks another 20 percent for every critical you have already landed in the fight. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Recipe scrolls and crafting | Crafting recipes appear as floating scrolls inside dungeons and cannot be bought from a merchant. |
How to Play Asmodeus
Asmodeus focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Destruction and Recipe scrolls and crafting pull in the same direction here, which separates this from the safer picks above. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Unique, rewarding playstyle
- Straightforward gearing path
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- High skill floor, punishing when misplayed
- Requires deep game knowledge
Build Progression Path
- Start with Beelzebub: the most forgiving option for learning the game
- Transition to Lucifer once you understand core mechanics and have access to Balam's Strike
- Keep a Baal setup for content that keeps killing you
- Try Asmodeus for a fresh experience once you've mastered the basics
Follow our walkthrough for the optimal progression path through each area.
Gearing Tips
- Invest in your primary equipment first, since it gives the biggest power spike. See our weapons guide for rankings.
- Read the demon description before you pick. There is no way to change pact mid run, and each of the six lays its skill tree out differently even where the abilities overlap.
- Postures do not appear until character level 6. If you have been ignoring that tab, open it the moment you hit level 6 because they are free passive buffs.
- Don't spread upgrade resources across multiple builds until endgame
More Hellslave Guides
- Hellslave Hellslave Overview
- Hellslave Tier List
- Hellslave Walkthrough
- Hellslave Beginner's Guide
- Hellslave Tips & Tricks
- Hellslave Weapons Guide
- Hellslave Combat Guide
- Hellslave Boss Guide
- Hellslave Maps & Locations
- Hellslave Crafting Guide
- Hellslave Classes & Characters
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