After doing a few runs as an alchemist and playing around with monster infusions, I've come to feel that messing around with monster elements seems pretty futile. The monsters already have the elements they need for the attacks they already have, so there really isn't a reason to change the default elements.

It's unlikely that a monster will have attacks that require elements you can't afford, as every attack you unlock will use the elements that monster already has, so why would you change the element?

The exception, I realized is in the case where an element has a mechanical difference from the others, but I'm struggling to see what that difference is (besides some obvious stuff like how Burn is associated with Fire).

What are the mechanical priorities of each element, does someone have a list? And why else would someone change the elements of their monsters?

Good afternoon, everyone! Today we finally come to the end of our journey through the Alchemical Woods. It's had its ups and downs, but surely we are through the worst of it. Just have to survive one more champion... the Bronze Lion!

Base HP: 45

Aether: Earth / Water

Trait: Echoes of the Fallen): This monster starts with a random monster's soul bound to it, which can be changed at Monster Shrines. It gains the bound monster's first Perk and can use its Starting Actions as Free Actions, paying with Echo stacks instead of Aether; they count as Echoed Actions.

Types: Echo),) Power),) Purge)

Perks: Initial Echo +1, Debuff Mitigation +1, Health +5

Starting Actions:

Tonic): 1 Water. Heals target ally for 7. Applies Echo & Temporary Power to target ally.

Tremor Strike): 2 Earth. 3 x 3 Earth damage against target enemy. Purges 1 enemy Aether.

So, what does everyone think of the final member of the woods? Is it the pride of your run, carrying you to victory? Or are the fallen it's memorializing your other monsters as it lets you down time and again? Let us know in the comments below!

The EPIC Alchemical Woods Champion uses the Echo buff in an EPIC way by binding another monster’s soul to itself and using their actions without spending a turn!

I'm having a hard time moving away from my current Wild Aether team in the pic. Chereuf was my man with the staggering flames until I discovered the ridiculousness that is Star Child + Grimoire.

Do y'all have any suggestions on what to look forward to in the full version?

Good afternoon, everyone! Hope you all have your head on straight. We've finished the main monsters of the Alchemical Woods... and now an imposing foe blocks our path. So bring your cold iron, and avoid any deals or food... for now we deal with the Faerie!

Base HP: 30

Aether: Earth / Wind

Trait: Glamour): Aura: For every 15 healing this monster receives or applies to allies: Applies Force to self. At the end of your turn: For each ally, applies another stack of a random buff on that monster to that monster.

Types: Heal), Force), Dodge)

Perks: Healing +1, Evasion +20%, Heal Upkeep +3

Starting Actions:

Flutter): 1 Wind. Heals target ally for 2 x 5. Applies Dodge to target ally.

Tremble): 2 Earth. 3 x 3 Earth damage against target enemy. Applies Force to all allies.

So, how does everyone feel about this champion? Does it treat you fairly, offering the gentlest healing to your team? Or is that all just a trick of the fae, and this unseelie brings nothing but ruin to your runs? Let us know in the comments below?

My husband and I put hours into Aethermancer, trying out a lot of builds to devastating effects.

We started Monster Sanctuary and really like it but Aethermancer is so fast paced and unrelenting in a great way.

Are there games that scratch the same itch? We love turn-based combat and we love monster catching. Therefore we already know the big ones like Digimon but it's not as exciting as an Aethermancer run to us.

Happy for any recommendations. Thanks in advance.

Good afternoon, everyone! We're coming close to the end of our detour through the Alchemical Woods. But we're not quite done yet - there's still someone we've been waiting quite a while to see. Announced many years ago, it's finally time to meet Kullervo!

Base HP: 35

Aether: Fire / Wind

Trait: Sword Song): On Attack, if 3 or more Aether was consumed by it: Applies Echo to self and the Attack additionally counts as a Support Action.

Types: Echo), Force), Aether)

Perks: Aether +1, Crit Damage +2, Health +5

Starting Actions:

Glow): 1 Fire. Applies 2 Force to target ally. Generates Wild Aether.

Storm Slash): 1 Fire, 2 Wind. 3 x 3 Fire/Wind damage against target enemy. Applies 3 Force to self.

So, how has this wolverine been treating you? Is his song one of glorious triumphs as he hits like a truck? Or is he more of a background, occasionally dissonate piece in the harmony of your teams? Let us know in the comments below?

I stumbled across this game’s demo and it seems very cool. I’ve enjoyed the little I’ve played on Steam.

A quick google says this game was originally planning to release on switch with the official 1.0 drop.

Is that still the case? I’d much rather buy this on switch than on my Steam account.

Good evening, everyone! Hope I caught you at a good time. Today, we're going to step into the parlor and take about a monster who clearly would never so much as hurt a fly, Stiltskin!

Base HP: 30

Aether: Earth / Wind

Trait: Tripwire): On Dedicated Support Action: Applies 1 Dodge to target ally. Whenever an enemy misses a Hit: Applies Tether to them.

Types: Dodge), Sidekick), Critical)

Perks: Crit Chance +25%, Evasion +20%, Initial Sidekick +1

Starting Actions:

Pitfall Trap): 1 Earth. Applies Sidekick to self. Target ally gains: "Retaliate: Triggers a 1 x 6 Earth damage attack against the enemy."

Strangling Threads): 2 Wind. 1 x 10 Wind damage against all enemies. Applies 2 Tether to all enemies.

So, what does everyone think of the spider? Does it catch you off guard just how effective he is? Or does picking him feel like too much of a trap with no payoff? Let us know in the comments below?

I am really enjoying the amount of customization and control I can now put into my random teams, so many possible combinations and it adds even more of a draft like feel to the run. If I get a roll that isnt that good or interesting to me I can steer it any which way and thats just really nice and great for game longevity. I just wanted to make an appreciation post because ive been having a blast after recently switching full on to alchemist, it was hard to give up the cushiness of the base class with that 1st death safety feature but Im now a believer in alchemist. I highly recommend trying them out if you havent yet.

Im curious about others experiences with it too or what other class ideas you maybe got. Cheers.

step 1 - record yourself doing a movement

step 2 - make amazing pixel art out of it

Good afternoon, everyone! Hope everyone successfully slept off the spores last week. I assure you, this week there will be no spores, fumes, or any other form of mind-altering substances... mostly because I'm not really sure whether there's anything here to have a substance. Has anyone actually peaked beneath the helmet of a Living Armor to confirm?

Base HP: 30

Aether: Fire / Wind

Trait: Cursed Armor): Aura: Whenever an ally gets attacked, if 7 or more damage gets absorbed or prevented: Applies 1 Echo to that ally and breaks 1 poise on the attacker.

Types: Echo), Shield), Weakness)

Perks: Shield Upkeep +5, Weakness Reduction +1, Shielding +1

Starting Actions:

Singe): 1 Fire. 2 x 3 Fire damage against target enemy. Applies 3 Weakness to target enemy.

Wind Mark): 2 Wind. Shields target ally for 2 x 5. Applies Redirect to target ally.

So, what's everyone's opinions on the sentient metal? The perfect defensive option for all of your runs? Or does it feel like a curse when you randomly start with him? Let us know in the comments below?

I just played the demo and discovered that I missed the sale by 1 week. Now I am not sure if EA is worth playing or is it better for me to wait for the full release.

How is balance and game content compare to 1.0 and how long until 1.0?

Wanted to share this rather ridiculous fight against Khepri using a Heal/Regeneration team (615 Heal Pact with Force!). The fight was brutally trivial with how quickly Heal Pact ramped up. Even after all the nerfs, Heal and Regeneration types are still insanely powerful, if you ever need to cool down and just win a run, I highly recommend it.

... or “back when Khepri’s visuals weren't done”

This run was possible one of my fastest runs yet. Flame Skewer is insanely powerful on Kullervo due to his passive. Almost felt bad for Khepri from just how quickly I rammed down his health (Extra tip- having Naga with redirect for this fight is incredibly silly, seeing as how the Flame Bolt ended up being eaten by Naga's guaranteed dodge.

Caduceus was also a particularly strong highlight against Khepri, its passive easily wiping out the fire stacks before Khepri could ever hope to apply them.

My first run with Ranger went swimmingly. Khepri stood no chance against his own medicine.

Good afternoon, everyone! We're finally past all the shenanigans with finding a monster to interview. Now, we can sit back, relax, and try not to breathe too deeply... Ettin's spores are a LITTLE too potent for that!

Base HP: 45

Aether: Earth / Water

Trait: Earthbound): At the start of your turn: Applies Echo and Weakness to self. Whenever Echo triggers on this monster: Applies Redirect to self. This monster cannot learn any Attacks.

Types: Echo), Tank), Weakness)

Perks: Initial Affliction +3, Damage +2%, Weakness Reduction +1

Starting Actions:

Budding): 1 Earth. Heals self for 2 x 5. Applies Weakness to all enemies.

Mud Trap): 1 Water, 1 Earth. Shields self for 2 x 4. Retaliate: Triggers a 2 x 4 Earth/Water damage Attack against the enemy.

And, because Ettin is unique, he has a replacement for the basic attack:

Basic Retaliate): Retaliate: Triggers a 2 x 3 damage attack against the enemy. Generates Earth/Water Aether.

So, what's everyone's opinions on the shroom? Always a fun guy to run in your teams? Or a little too mellow with his refusal to stack to be worth it? Let us know in the comments below?

Anyone know the odds?