Crawl Walkthrough Guide: Master Both Hero and Spirit Roles

1. Game Overview

Crawl is a fast-paced, local multiplayer dungeon crawler in which one player acts as the hero exploring living dungeons while up to three others assume the roles of hostile spirits controlling traps and monsters. When a spirit kills the hero, that spirit becomes the new hero and the cycle continues as everyone competes for experience, loot, and the chance to face the final boss together. Matches typically last around 30 minutes, with each round offering unpredictable dungeon layouts, evolving enemy powers, and shifting alliances.

• Developer: Powerhoof
• Publisher: Powerhoof
• Release Date: April 11, 2017
• Platforms: Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
• Genre: Action, Brawler, Dungeon Crawler with roguelike elements
• Core Loop: Spirit players → possess traps and monsters → attempt to kill Hero → when Hero dies, killer becomes new Hero → Hero explores dungeon, fights monsters, gains XP and loot → reach level threshold and enter boss fight → match ends → repeat.

Quick Reminder: Always scout for corridors or tight chokepoints because fighting in open rooms invites flanking and chaos.

2. Core Facts Table (Quick Reference)

System	What it does	Player impact
Hero	Runs dungeon, collects XP/gold, buys gear, reaches level 10 to fight boss	Goal‑driven progression and resource management; primary win condition
Spirits	Float through rooms, possess traps and monsters, earn wrath to evolve monsters	Indirect control of dungeon threats; objective is to kill the hero and take over
Wrath and Evolution	Wrath currency allows spirits to evolve monsters between floors	Determines monster strength and options spirits have to pressure hero
Boss	Final multi‑limbed encounter controlled partly by spirits	Hero win requires destroying all limbs while spirits coordinate attacks
Vault & Unlocks	Persistent unlocks for monsters, items, deities and cosmetics	Long‑term goals that expand tactical variety and replayability

Practical Tip: Learn each monster’s attack patterns and weaknesses early because that knowledge dramatically improves your ability to counter them as a spirit.

3. Mechanics, Roles, and Controls

Hero basics

The hero explores procedurally generated dungeon rooms to gain XP and gold, buys items in shops, equips weapons, magic and relics, and levels up to ultimately reach level 10, which unlocks a portal to the final boss area. (When the hero reaches level 10 and enters the portal, they must defeat a boss whose limbs are controlled by the spirits.)

1. Core stats: Vitality, Strength, Agility. Vitality governs health, Strength boosts melee damage, and Agility affects attack/movement speed.
2. Leveling: XP is awarded for killing monsters, clearing rooms, or completing events. Upon reaching level 10, the hero may enter the boss portal.
3. Shop & loot: The hero spends gold in shops to purchase weapons, armor, consumables, and upgrades. Items obtained during a run are carried until death (i.e. it is “per run” progression), and some choices at shops are limited per run.

Spirit basics

Spirits move invisibly throughout the dungeon and can possess traps, monsters, or spawn points (spawners). Once possessing an entity, they act through that entity until it is killed or until possession ends.

1. Experience as spirit unlocks stronger monsters and options for possession.
2. The spirit who delivers the final blow to the hero becomes the next hero.
3. Between floors, spirits may influence which monster types appear (i.e. choose evolution or spawn upgrades) to increase challenge for the hero.

Controls and UI (local play)

CRAWL supports controllers and keyboard input. Local multiplayer assigns each player a separate input device. The HUD displays hero health, XP, gold and current floor. Spirit players get indicators for nearby possession targets and current wrath.

Resource Note: Use the Vault’s “practice mode” to try monsters you haven’t unlocked in live matches. It’s a safe place to get comfortable with their moves.

4. Dungeon Progression, Floors, and Boss Mechanics

Dungeon flow

Floors generate procedurally and include themed rooms, monster spawn points, event rooms, and a shop on each level. Clearing rooms gives the hero XP, gold, and loot; meanwhile spirits earn wrath and between floors use it to evolve monsters or unlock stronger variants to counteract the hero’s build and pace.

Boss mechanics and limb control

Once the hero reaches level 10, the portal to the final boss opens and entering it triggers a multi-limbed boss encounter. During the boss fight, spirits can possess or control boss limbs (or summon/control creatures or mechanisms tied to the boss) to harass and defend against the hero. The hero must destroy all limbs and then damage the core (or head) to win.

Boss Tip: In the Kourok fight, sending a grub into its open mouth exposes its brain briefly and disables its attacks. So, use that window to deal heavy damage.

5. Unlocks, Vault, and Deities

Vault and unlock system

The Vault records monsters, weapons, items, traps, and dungeon objects that you have encountered or used in matches. Monsters unlock in the Vault after you play as or encounter them. The Vault lets you revisit these unlocked monsters in a “practice mode” to test builds or understand mechanics.

Deities and their effects

At the start of each match, every player selects a deity to worship. Each deity gives a unique bonus or starting equipment and determines which monster types spirits can summon or control. Deities influence the monster pool, passive modifiers, and item availability, thus shaping both hero and spirit strategies.

Unlock Tip: As an unlockable option, a player may choose “No-one”, i.e. refuse to worship any deity, which triggers a taunt of a specific god. This imposes a deity-specific penalty (for example, weaker stats or restricted items) but also alters the monster set in unique ways

6. Beginner Roadmap (First 5 Matches)

Get comfortable with hero & spirit basics (Match 1)

• Play as hero: explore, fight simple monsters, get gear, learn movement.
• Play as spirit: try possessing monsters/traps and see how wrath builds.

Focus on build planning and risk management (Match 2)

• As hero: balance offense + defense; avoid risky fights early.
• As spirit: focus on evolving monsters that give you leverage against the hero.

Experiment with deity synergies and monster evolutions (Match 3)

• Try a different deity; adapt strategy to what monsters appear.
• Push toward level 8-9 before boss to learn how progression feels.

Push for a boss run (Match 4)

• Build up stronger equipment, use shops more, plan for boss mechanics.
• Spirits coordinate: use evolved monsters that disrupt hero pacing.

Refine strategies and aim for full boss victory (Match 5)

• Try for the full boss fight: destroy limbs then core.
• Use everything you learned: positioning, resource use, evolution choices.

Quest Tip: Some achievements require you to kill as a specific monster or under special conditions. So, plan a run around those unlocks when you’re comfortable with core play.

7. Advanced Tactics (Hero and Spirit)

Advanced Hero Tactics

1. Route planning: Study shop and event placement frequencies to chart efficient paths through floors rather than exploring blindly.
2. Item synergy: Combine weapons, spells, relics and temporary buffs so you can control crowds or burst down limbs when they expose weakness.
3. Zone control: Force fights through chokepoints so you face fewer directions of attack and avoid getting flanked by multiple threats.
4. Boss engagement timing: Delay entering the boss until you have mobility, escape options, and tools to kite or reposition. So, don’t rush a pure DPS showdown.

Pro Spirit Tactics

1. Wrath economy: Invest wrath to evolve monster types that counter the hero’s build or favored playstyle (e.g. use ranged monsters vs melee heroes). Monsters evolve along paths using wrath.
2. Trap or monster coordination: Use traps in tandem with evolved monsters to form ambushes or block hero movement, denying healing or safe room transitions.
3. Boss limb priority: Secure and occupy limbs that grant crowd control or area denial first to restrict the hero’s mobility during the final fight.
4. Variation and unpredictability: Change your evolution choices across floors so the hero can’t predict or reliably counter your monster lineup.

Survival Tip: Buff yourself early and often. Buffs don’t help when you’re dead

8. Local Multiplayer, Bots, and Practical Session Tips

Session setup

1. Assign controllers ahead of time and confirm mapping for possession and menu inputs for each player.
2. Use bots to let newcomers practice; bots provide predictable, lower‑skill behavior for learning possession and spells.
3. For remote play, use low‑latency streaming tools (Parsec) to host local sessions for remote friends; expect slight timing differences that affect precision possession timing.

Balanced match advice

1. Rotate hero frequently to keep sessions varied and ensure everyone learns both roles.
2. Use match settings and Deity selection to house‑rule easier or harder sessions depending on group skill.

Pro Tip: Rotate hero and spirit roles regularly. This ensures everyone learns both sides, and lets you spot synergy and counter strategies you might otherwise miss.

9. Achievements, Challenges, and Completion Advice

Crawl has 45 achievements. The achievements cover a wide variety of goals: spending gold, killing monsters, discovering vault entries (weapons, items, etc.), boss-fights, doing specific feats with monsters, or avoiding dying in certain ways. The game includes a “Vault” feature with monster challenges. You can pick a monster and attempt to kill a number of AI controlled heroes (adventurers) with that monster. The AI gets harder and better equipped in higher challenge levels. These challenges help you practice with different monsters and learn their capabilities.

Completion Advice (Going for 100%)

Here are tips to help you unlock achievements and tackle challenges more efficiently:

1. Play regularly in both roles (Hero & Spirit)
   Many achievements require doing things as the hero (e.g. killing monsters, surviving, items) and as the spirits (winning as monsters, etc.). Switching between roles gives exposure and progress toward many goals.
2. Work on the Vault & Monster Challenges early
   Since Vault entries unlock via encountering or playing monsters, doing monster challenges helps you unlock entries you may otherwise only get late in runs or rarely. Also, practicing via these challenges builds skill with monsters you might need later in a more difficult scenario.
3. Focus on cumulative achievements
   There are achievements for “regaining humanity” multiple times, spending so much gold total, killing many monsters across runs, etc. Even failed runs contribute. So aim for consistency.
4. Plan for “special condition” achievements
   Some achievements require unusual conditions: “Defeat a boss while nauseated,” “Win a game without ever dying,” “Pass all vault challenges,” etc. Save these for when you’re more comfortable with the mechanics, or when you can tailor your build/items/deity to make those conditions easier.
5. Use easier settings / bots where appropriate
   If you find your runs failing too often, using easier or more forgiving conditions (bots, practice in Vault, less aggressive monster evolutions) helps you build confidence, get vault entries, and accumulate gold/XP. Then gradually increase difficulty.
6. Track progress via Vault & Stats
   Use the Vault and game statistics to see which achievements are closest and which monster entries you’re missing. This helps you choose which run to attempt next (e.g. pick monsters you haven’t used, target particular feats).

Combat Tip: If approaching the boss melee, use a fast weapon with hit-and-run tactics or switch to ranged/aoe tools. Staying in close too long invites punishment

10. Conclusion

By following this guide from fundamentals to advanced strategy, you will build confidence in both hero and spirit roles. Victory in Crawl comes from adaptability, timing, and understanding your opponents, not raw power. Use early runs to experiment, pick deities and build paths that suit your style, and push steadily toward full completion. Over time, you will shift from learning to perfection!