Pacifist Ghost — Never Seen, Never Heard
The Pacifist Ghost build challenges you to complete Gloomwood without killing any enemies. This is the ultimate test of stealth knowledge and route planning.
Core strategy is avoidance. You need to know every enemy patrol route, every hiding spot, and every alternate path. The key items are the "Shadow Cloak" (reduces detection range by 50%) and the "Silent Boots" (eliminates footstep noise). Both are found in the early game — the Shadow Cloak is in the mansion's master bedroom, and the Silent Boots are in the guard barracks.
Route planning is everything. Every area has a pacifist route that avoids all enemies. The mansion can be completed by using the rooftop paths. The streets can be navigated through the sewer system. The factory has a series of maintenance tunnels that bypass all guard posts. Learn these routes and you can complete the game without a single kill.
Tools of the trade. Bottles and coins are your primary tools for creating distractions. Use them to lure enemies away from your path. The "Lockpick" is essential for accessing alternate routes. The "Crowbar" opens shortcut doors that let you bypass dangerous areas. Always carry at least 3 bottles, 5 coins, and 2 lockpicks.
Gunslinger — Maximum Firepower
The Gunslinger build focuses on revolver combat. You are loud, aggressive, and deadly — the opposite of stealth.
Revolver mastery. The revolver deals 80 damage per shot and has a 6-round cylinder. Reloading takes 3 seconds. The key is to never let the cylinder run empty — reload when you have 2 shots remaining. This gives you a safety buffer if enemies appear during the reload. The "Speed Loader" item (found in the police station) reduces reload time to 1.5 seconds.
Ammo management. Ammo is scarce in Gloomwood. You need to conserve shots. Never waste a bullet on a body shot — always aim for headshots, which deal 2x damage (160 damage) and kill most enemies in one shot. The "Gunpowder" item lets you craft ammo, but the recipe is expensive. Prioritize headshots over volume of fire.
Equipment synergy. The "Gunslinger's Hat" (increases revolver accuracy by 20%) and the "Bandolier" (increases ammo capacity by 6) are essential. The "Earplugs" item (reduces hearing damage from gunfire) lets you fire without temporary deafness. With all three, you are a walking arsenal.
Trap Master — Let the Environment Fight
The Trap Master build uses environmental hazards and traps to eliminate enemies without direct confrontation.
Trap types. There are three trap types in Gloomwood: Bear Traps (deal 60 damage and immobilize), Tripwires (trigger alarms or explosions), and Explosive Barrels (deal 100 damage in an area). Bear Traps are found in the hunting lodge. Tripwire materials are in the hardware store. Explosive Barrels are scattered throughout the factory.
Trap placement strategy. Place traps at choke points — narrow corridors, doorways, and staircases. Enemies follow predictable patrol routes, so place traps along their path. The optimal placement is just around a corner, where enemies cannot see the trap until they step on it. Combine traps with sound luring to guide enemies into your kill zones.
Advanced trap combos. Place a Bear Trap in front of an Explosive Barrel. When an enemy steps on the trap, they are immobilized and take 60 damage. Then shoot the barrel to deal an additional 100 damage. This combo kills any non-boss enemy instantly. The "Trap Master's Gloves" (increases trap damage by 30%) are found in the factory foreman's office.
Melee Only — Close Quarters Dominance
The Melee Only build restricts you to the sword and other melee weapons. No guns, no traps — just steel and skill.
Sword techniques. The sword has three attack types: quick slash (fast, low damage), heavy slash (slow, high damage), and thrust (medium speed, medium damage, good range). The thrust is the most versatile — it has good range, decent damage, and can be followed up quickly. Use quick slashes against fast enemies and heavy slashes against slow enemies.
Parry mastery. Parrying is essential for melee-only runs. The parry window is 10 frames at the start of your swing. Practice on the training dummy in the mansion's courtyard. Once you master parrying, you can defeat any melee enemy without taking damage. The "Parry Dagger" (increases parry window by 5 frames) is found in the mansion's armory.
Mobility is key. Without ranged options, you need to close distance quickly. Use sprint to close gaps, but be careful — sprinting makes noise. The "Swift Boots" (increase sprint speed by 20%) are found in the athlete's house. Combine with the "Shadow Cloak" to close distance while staying undetected.
Speedrunner — Minimum Time, Maximum Efficiency
The Speedrunner build optimizes for completion time rather than safety or loot. Every second counts.
Route optimization. The optimal speedrun route skips most optional areas. The critical path is: Mansion > Streets > Factory > Cathedral. Each area has a specific sequence of key items and shortcuts. Learn the exact order of operations for each area. The "Map" item (shows all key locations) is essential for route planning.
Movement techniques. Sprint-jumping preserves momentum and is faster than running. Bunny-hopping (jumping repeatedly) is faster than sprinting on flat ground. Wall-running (jumping off walls at an angle) lets you reach elevated areas without climbing. These movement techniques shave seconds off your time.
Skip strategies. Certain sections can be skipped entirely. The mansion's basement can be bypassed by using the rooftop entrance. The factory's second floor can be skipped by using the elevator shortcut. The Cathedral's puzzle can be solved in 30 seconds if you know the solution. Learn every skip to minimize your completion time.