Combat
Besmirch’s combat is deliberate and slow. You don’t button-mash; you commit. This guide covers what you’re fighting and what to bring.
Bestiary at a glance
Beasts — Wolves, large cave-rats, and the occasional bear. Found mostly in Cave 1, Cave 2 entrance, and the wilderness. Take physical damage well; reach weapons (pitchfork, sickle) dominate.
Lesser demons — Begin in Cave 2’s deeper chambers and the sewer. Resist physical at half rate; vulnerable to holy. Travel in packs of 2-3 once you’re past the second chamber.
Greater demons — Cave 4 boss tier and below. Hit harder, take more damage, occasionally cast minor curses. The blessed cleaver halves your time-to-kill.
Spirits — Mansion, late sewer at night, Cave 4 deep chambers. Drift; cannot be hit by anything below the lantern spike. Holy weapons banish them in one or two hits; non-holy weapons waste your oil and your night.
The Baron — Endgame. Counts as a spirit-flavored greater demon hybrid. Bring all three consumables.
Weapon × enemy quick reference
| Weapon \ Enemy | Beast | L. demon | G. demon | Spirit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rusty pitchfork | ✅ ok | ⚠ slow | ❌ | ❌ |
| Iron sickle | ✅✅ | ✅ ok | ⚠ slow | ❌ |
| Lantern spike | ✅ ok | ✅ ok | ✅ ok | ✅ stagger |
| Blessed cleaver | ✅ ok | ✅✅ | ✅✅ | ✅✅ banish |
| Baron relic blade | ✅✅✅ | ✅✅✅ | ✅✅✅ | ✅ ok |
Damage numbers pending Phase 0 audit; matchup matrix above reflects effect categories.
”Lantern-spike trick”
If you swing the lantern spike at a spirit, the spike staggers; the light source momentarily intensifies. The next hit lands faster. Don’t rely on it as your only spirit answer — the cleaver is more reliable — but in a pinch it saves a run.
This behavior is documented from preview coverage (per Steam Community) and will be re-verified in the Phase 0 audit pass.
When to run vs fight
Run when:
- You’re below half oil and not at your origin zone
- Two demons of the same tier or higher than your weapon class spawn at once
- A spirit appears and your weapon is below T3
- The Baron speaks to you and you do not yet have the blessed cleaver
Fight when:
- The enemy is alone and your weapon matches its tier
- You’re tracking ichor for the Library or the Smith
- You’re chasing a story or combat achievement that gates progression
See also
- Items → Weapons for full weapon list
- Locations for per-zone enemy roster
- Night Survival for the surrounding logistics