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.
Hellslave features distinct areas with increasing difficulty. This guide covers every major location in progression order: what to do, what to get, and when to move on. For the step-by-step path, see our walkthrough.
Area Progression Order
| Order | Location | Difficulty | Key Rewards | Recommended Build |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Byleth | Opening act | Merchant stock, stash access, first crafting recipes | Beelzebub |
| 2 | Synok | Second half of the campaign | Late game merchant stock, quest NPCs, stash | Beelzebub |
| 3 | Tomb of Heroes | Early game, before Demon Form is reliable | Early relics, crafting materials, a recipe scroll | Lucifer |
| 4 | Troglodyte City | Mid to late campaign | Troglodyte Golden Axe materials and dense packs for Rage generation | Lucifer |
| 5 | Lair of Zarrak | Late campaign | Boss loot and story progress | Lucifer |
Byleth: Starting Area
The first of only two towns in the game, and the hub for merchants, the stash, crafting and quest NPCs through the opening act. There is no fast travel, so trips out are round trips.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Opening act |
| Key Rewards | Merchant stock, stash access, first crafting recipes |
| Recommended Build | Beelzebub |
| Key Equipment | Apocalyptic Choreography |
What to Do Here
- Learn the basics of Demonic pact instead of a class. This is where you practice without heavy punishment.
- Collect starting resources and your first equipment upgrade.
- Clear all main content before moving to Synok.
- If you're struggling, read our beginner's guide.
Synok: Early Game
The second and final town, unlocked once the story moves onto the later map. It carries the same functions as Byleth with higher tier merchant inventory.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Second half of the campaign |
| Key Rewards | Late game merchant stock, quest NPCs, stash |
| Recommended Build | Beelzebub |
| Key Equipment | Apocalyptic Choreography |
What to Do Here
- Focus on mastering Fatigue clock turn order. It's critical from this point on.
- Farm for Apocalyptic Choreography if you don't have it yet.
- Complete all objectives for maximum rewards.
- Prepare for the difficulty spike in Tomb of Heroes.
Tomb of Heroes: Mid Game
An early dungeon full of undead and one of the first places worth clearing fully rather than rushing. Its layout is where the game teaches demon shrines, traps and anomalies.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Early game, before Demon Form is reliable |
| Key Rewards | Early relics, crafting materials, a recipe scroll |
| Recommended Build | Lucifer |
| Key Equipment | Apocalyptic Choreography |
What to Do Here
- This is the main skill check. Bring an optimized build.
- Balam's Strike becomes accessible here. Prioritize getting it.
- Master Momentums and Postures for the boss encounters.
- Check our boss guide if you get stuck.
Troglodyte City: Late Game
A mid to late dungeon that lends its name to the Troglodyte Golden Axe recipe. Fights come in larger packs here, which is where an all enemy Momentum earns its slot.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Mid to late campaign |
| Key Rewards | Troglodyte Golden Axe materials and dense packs for Rage generation |
| Recommended Build | Lucifer |
| Key Equipment | Balam's Strike |
What to Do Here
- Full build optimization is expected by this point.
- Balam's Strike should be your primary, fully upgraded.
- Recipe scrolls and crafting mastery starts mattering here.
- Farm resources for the push into Lair of Zarrak.
Lair of Zarrak: Endgame
A named boss lair rather than a wandering dungeon, and one of the fights that punishes a half built skill tree hardest. Walk in with Demon Form charged.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Late campaign |
| Key Rewards | Boss loot and story progress |
| Recommended Build | Lucifer |
| Key Equipment | Balam's Strike |
What to Do Here
- This is endgame. Best-in-slot gear and a perfected build are mandatory.
- See our boss guide for endgame fight strategies.
- The reward loop: clear content → upgrade → push harder content.
- Experiment with Asmodeus for variety once you've mastered the meta.
Exploration Tips
- Clear areas in order: Byleth → Synok → Tomb of Heroes → Troglodyte City → Lair of Zarrak. Skipping areas means missing resources you'll need later.
- Check every corner: Hidden caches and secrets are often in non-obvious locations.
- Match your equipment: Some areas favor different equipment types.
- Read the walkthrough: Our walkthrough provides exact progression milestones for each area.
- Don't rush: Clearing an area fully gives more resources than speedrunning two areas.
More Hellslave Guides
- Hellslave Hellslave Overview
- Hellslave Best Builds
- Hellslave Tier List
- Hellslave Walkthrough
- Hellslave Beginner's Guide
- Hellslave Tips & Tricks
- Hellslave Weapons Guide
- Hellslave Combat Guide
- Hellslave Boss Guide
- Hellslave Crafting Guide
- Hellslave Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Hellslave, check out these related guides:
- Elden Ring Maps & Locations: rpg game with similar mechanics
- Baldur's Gate 3 Maps & Locations: rpg game with similar mechanics
- Cyberpunk 2077 Maps & Locations: rpg game with similar mechanics
