This is a traceable player route, not an in-house test or an official recommendation. Use it as a route to verify in your own run.
Start with a coherent route
The most concrete recent discussion recommends committing to a damage engine instead of collecting disconnected upgrades. Lightning Crossbow and lightning-or-cold Sword and Shield are named as workable directions by players, not as official balance conclusions.
Practical run checklist
Decide the weapon plan early, take survivability when it preserves the run, and compare every pickup with the engine you already have. If the required pieces do not appear, pivot before the build becomes too diluted.
- Choose one weapon and damage engine
- Protect consistency before chasing a rare combination
- Read current tooltips because community routes may predate balance changes
Evidence limit
This guide has not yet been reproduced by our editors across hard-mode levels. It is a sourced starting point for experimentation, not a guaranteed clear route.