ULTRAKILL is a retro-styled FPS inspired by Quake, Devil May Cry, and classic arcade shooters. Set in the layers of Hell, you play as a machine fueled by blood, meaning aggressive play literally heals you. The style ranking system (D through ULTRAKILL) rewards varied combat, weapon swapping, and creative kills. Every weapon has multiple variants with distinct alt-fires, and the coin-flipping mechanic lets you redirect shots for trick kills. Currently in Early Access through Act 2, it's already considered one of the best boomer shooters ever made.
These tips go beyond the basics. They're the strategies experienced players use to play more efficiently, the hidden mechanics most people miss, and the optimizations that compound over a full playthrough.
Essential Tips
1. Core Eject swap-cancel: fire the shotgun, immediately switch weapons and switch back, fire again
Core Eject swap-cancel: fire the shotgun, immediately switch weapons and switch back, fire again. This bypasses the pump animation and doubles your fire rate.
2. Punching enemies with the Feedbacker (default arm) parries most projectiles back at the sender
Punching enemies with the Feedbacker (default arm) parries most projectiles back at the sender. Parried Mindflayer beams one-shot them.
3. Toss a coin, then shoot it with the Malicious Railcannon — the redirected beam deals 2x damage and auto-targets the nearest enemy's weak point
Toss a coin, then shoot it with the Malicious Railcannon — the redirected beam deals 2x damage and auto-targets the nearest enemy's weak point.
4. Slam (crouch in mid-air) then jump immediately on landing for a slam jump that gives 3x normal jump height
Slam (crouch in mid-air) then jump immediately on landing for a slam jump that gives 3x normal jump height. Essential for reaching secrets.
5. The Whiplash grapple has zero cooldown
The Whiplash grapple has zero cooldown. Use it to pull yourself toward enemies constantly — staying in the air makes you harder to hit.
6. Overheat nailgun alt-fire heats the nails
Overheat nailgun alt-fire heats the nails. Heated nails stick to enemies and can be detonated by any explosive or shotgun blast for bonus damage.
7. Fresh Weapon bonus gives +50% style points
Fresh Weapon bonus gives +50% style points. Cycle through all weapons in a fight rather than sticking to your favorite for maximum style rank.
8. Coins stay in the air for 4 seconds
Coins stay in the air for 4 seconds. Toss 4 coins, then shoot the chain — each coin redirects to a different enemy for multi-kills.
9. Ground slamming onto enemy heads deals 200 damage and bounces you upward
Ground slamming onto enemy heads deals 200 damage and bounces you upward. Chain head-slams in crowds for style points and blood healing.
10. P-ranking a level requires S style rank, no deaths, under time limit, and finding all secrets
P-ranking a level requires S style rank, no deaths, under time limit, and finding all secrets. Focus on one requirement per attempt rather than all at once.
Advanced Strategies
Role Optimization
The difference between an average build and an optimized one is massive:
For Shotgun Main (S-Tier):
- Focuses on the Core Eject and Pump Charge shotgun variants for close-range devastation. Core Eject swap-canceling produces the highest sustained DPS in the game. The bread-and-butter approach that works on every encounter.
- Core gear: Core Eject Shotgun, Pump Charge Shotgun, Whiplash, Knuckleblaster
- Stat priority: Close-Range DPS, Swap Speed, Blood Healing
For Railcannon Specialist (A-Tier):
- Uses Malicious and Electric railcannon variants to delete priority targets instantly. Railcannon shots bounced off coins deal double damage. Requires good target prioritization since railcannons have long cooldowns.
- Core gear: Malicious Railcannon, Electric Railcannon, Marksman Revolver, Coins
- Stat priority: Burst Damage, Cooldown Management, Target Priority
Mechanic Interactions
Understanding how ULTRAKILL's systems interact is where the real optimization lives:
style ranking system + blood healing: Every kill and action adds to your style meter from D to ULTRAKILL rank. Combined with blood healing, as a machine powered by blood, you heal by being splashed with enemy blood.
coin flipping + weapon swapping combos: The Marksman Revolver's alt-fire tosses a coin. When paired with weapon swapping combos, switching weapons mid-combat is essential for maintaining style rank and maximizing dps.
movement tech scaling: Bunny hopping, slam jumps (ground pound for height), dash chaining, and whiplash grappling form the movement system. Slam jumping off enemy heads gives massive height. Rocket surfing (shooting a rocket at your feet mid-air) provides emergency mobility.
Weapons Efficiency
| Weapon | Best Use Case | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Piercer Revolver | Coin Trickshotter, Railcannon Specialist | Charged shot that pierces through all enemies in a line. |
| Core Eject Shotgun | Shotgun Main | Fires normally, then alt-fire ejects the heated core as a bouncing explosive. |
| Attractor Nailgun | Nailgun Shredder | Alt-fire places a magnetic point on any surface or enemy. |
| Malicious Railcannon | Railcannon Specialist | Fires a beam that deals massive damage and creates an explosion at the point of impact. |
| Firestarter Rocket Launcher | Rocket Surfer | Rockets leave a trail of fire on surfaces, creating persistent damage zones. |
Location Efficiency
Limbo (Layer 1 (Beginner)): The first layer of Hell serving as the game's tutorial and early levels. Introduces basic enemies like Filth and Strays. The Cerberus boss at the end tests your dodging fundamentals. Clean, geometric environments with clear sightlines.
Lust (Layer 2 (Easy-Medium)): Second layer introducing water mechanics that affect nailgun behavior and electrical hazards. The Minos Prime secret boss is one of the hardest fights in the game. Egyptian-themed architecture with tighter corridors.
Gluttony (Layer 3 (Medium)): Third layer with poison hazards and the introduction of tanky Cerberus variants. Sewer environments limit movement options. The Gabriel boss fight tests your entire arsenal and is widely considered the first major skill check.
Greed (Layer 4 (Medium-Hard)): Fourth layer set in a massive Egyptian-themed city with open arenas and vertical combat. Introduces Mindflayers — the most dangerous standard enemy. Their projectiles must be parried or dodged. Contains extensive secret areas.
Wrath (Layer 5 (Hard)): Fifth layer with the most intense combat encounters and the toughest standard enemies. Lava hazards force constant movement. The Leviathan boss fight takes place inside its body. Peak difficulty that demands mastery of all mechanics.
Mistakes Even Veterans Make
- Playing passively and trying to dodge at range — ULTRAKILL heals through blood, meaning staying back slowly kills you while aggression sustains you.
- Never using coins because they seem gimmicky — coin shots are the highest-damage single-target attacks and are essential for P-ranks.
- Ignoring the punch/parry mechanic — the Feedbacker arm parries projectiles, breaks blue health bars, and splashes extra blood for healing.
- Sticking to one weapon the entire level — the style system actively punishes weapon repetition and rewards constant swapping.
- Not exploring for secrets — ULTRAKILL levels are packed with hidden areas containing weapon variants, challenge rooms, and lore.
Efficiency Quick Reference
| Aspect | Optimal Choice | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Role | Shotgun Main | S-tier, best overall |
| Starter | Railcannon Specialist | Most forgiving for learning |
| Weapons | Piercer Revolver | Best resource-to-power ratio |
| First area | Limbo | Core weapon unlocks, basic movement tutorials, Cerberus boss fight |
| Priority mechanic | style ranking system | Everything else builds on this |
Pro Quick Tips
- Core Eject swap-cancel: fire the shotgun, immediately switch weapons and switch back, fire again. This bypasses the pump animation and doubles your fire rate.
- Punching enemies with the Feedbacker (default arm) parries most projectiles back at the sender. Parried Mindflayer beams one-shot them.
- Toss a coin, then shoot it with the Malicious Railcannon — the redirected beam deals 2x damage and auto-targets the nearest enemy's weak point.
- Start with Railcannon Specialist, switch to Shotgun Main when ready
- Invest in Piercer Revolver above everything else
- Clear areas in order: Limbo → Lust → Gluttony → Greed → Wrath
- style ranking system + blood healing together are stronger than either alone
For full build details, check builds. For progression path, see the walkthrough.
