ULTRAKILL Walkthrough — Start to Endgame

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.

This walkthrough takes you from your first session to endgame content. Each phase has specific goals, priorities, and milestones. Follow this path to avoid common traps that stall most players.

Quick Progression Summary

Phase 1: Getting Started — Limbo

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.

Level/Difficulty: Layer 1 (Beginner) Key Rewards: Core weapon unlocks, basic movement tutorials, Cerberus boss fight

What to Do in Limbo

1. Learn style ranking system. Every kill and action adds to your style meter from D to ULTRAKILL rank. Spend your first session getting comfortable with this.
2. Pick Railcannon Specialist as your starting role. It's the most forgiving option.
3. 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.
4. Acquire your first weapons upgrade — Core Eject Shotgun or whatever's available.
5. Clear all main content before moving on.

Phase 1 Checklist

• Understand style ranking system fundamentals
• Railcannon Specialist selected and functional
• Limbo main content cleared
• Ready for Lust

Phase 2: Early Game — Lust

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.

Level/Difficulty: Layer 2 (Easy-Medium) Key Rewards: Nailgun variants, Minos Prime secret fight, water combat mechanics

What to Do in Lust

1. Work on blood healing. As a machine powered by blood, you heal by being splashed with enemy blood. This system becomes critical from here on.
2. Farm for Core Eject Shotgun if you haven't already. It's the key upgrade for this phase.
3. Punching enemies with the Feedbacker (default arm) parries most projectiles back at the sender. Parried Mindflayer beams one-shot them.
4. Complete all objectives before pushing to Gluttony.
5. Consider whether Shotgun Main might suit your playstyle better than Railcannon Specialist.

Phase 2 Checklist

• blood healing integrated into gameplay
• Core Eject Shotgun acquired
• Lust fully cleared
• Ready for Gluttony

Phase 3: Mid Game — Gluttony

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.

Level/Difficulty: Layer 3 (Medium) Key Rewards: Railcannon unlock, Gabriel boss fight, poison enemy variants

What to Do in Gluttony

1. Master coin flipping. The Marksman Revolver's alt-fire tosses a coin. This unlocks a new layer of gameplay.
2. Start working toward Piercer Revolver. It's the best weapon and becomes accessible around now.
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.
4. This area is the main skill check. If you can clear it, you're ready for late game.
5. Start investing in weapon swapping combos for the tactical depth you'll need going forward.

Phase 3 Checklist

• coin flipping mastered
• Piercer Revolver acquired or in progress
• Gluttony fully cleared
• Ready for Greed

Phase 4: Late Game — Greed

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.

Level/Difficulty: Layer 4 (Medium-Hard) Key Rewards: Rocket Launcher, V2 rematch boss, Mindflayer encounters, numerous secrets

What to Do in Greed

1. Finalize your build. You should be running Shotgun Main or Railcannon Specialist with optimized gear.
2. Piercer Revolver should be your primary. If you don't have it yet, prioritize getting it.
3. Slam (crouch in mid-air) then jump immediately on landing for a slam jump that gives 3x normal jump height. Essential for reaching secrets.
4. movement tech optimization starts here. Small improvements compound into massive advantages.
5. Farm this area for the resources needed to push into Wrath.

Phase 4 Checklist

• Build fully optimized
• Piercer Revolver upgraded to max
• Greed fully cleared
• Ready for Wrath

Phase 5: Endgame — Wrath

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.

Level/Difficulty: Layer 5 (Hard) Key Rewards: Final weapon variants, Leviathan boss, endgame challenges, P-rank attempts

What to Do in Wrath

1. Wrath tests everything. Come prepared with your best build and gear.
2. The Whiplash grapple has zero cooldown. Use it to pull yourself toward enemies constantly — staying in the air makes you harder to hit.
3. The endgame loop: run Wrath, optimize gear, push harder content.
4. Experiment with Rocket Surfer for a fresh take once you've mastered the standard builds.
5. This is where movement tech mastery separates good players from great ones.

Phase 5 Checklist

• Endgame content on farm
• Best-in-slot gear acquired
• Wrath fully cleared
• Ready for challenge content

Common Progression Mistakes

• 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.

Key Tips for Smooth Progression

1. 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. 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.
4. 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. Use it to pull yourself toward enemies constantly — staying in the air makes you harder to hit.

For detailed build optimization, see ULTRAKILL builds. For quick wins, check tips & tricks.