Starting Minecraft Dungeons 2 with some experience in the original game can give players a decent advantage. However, the sequel adds several new features that can easily overwhelm a player new to the dungeon crawler RPG genre. Now, the Overworld is an interconnected realm; there’s an entirely new ‘Sift’ dimension, new enemies, weapons, fast travel options, additional combat slots, and more. So, here’s a complete Minecraft Dungeons 2 beginner’s guide, where we share simple tips and tricks to help you out when you boot up the game.
What to Do First in Minecraft Dungeons 2
As you enter Minecraft Dungeons 2, the first objective should be simple: complete the tutorial and pay attention to the movement and combat. If you’re a complete newbie, I would recommend not sprinting past the tutorial, since the sequel has all-new gameplay mechanics, including a new jump feature.
Try the melee and ranged attacks to get an idea of your aiming and the distance you should be maintaining against the enemies.
Should You Choose Online or Offline Play?
One of the first meaningful decisions is to create an Online or Offline hero. If you’ve already called your friends to join an online party, or if you look forward to playing with others through the online matchmaking feature, make sure that you choose the Online mode.
The Online option is a more flexible setup because you can still play solo while also allowing that character into another player’s world later. On the other hand, offline play will restrict you to a single-player world limited to couch co-op in Minecraft Dungeons 2 on the same device.
Understand the Hotbar and Inventory
Have a look at the Minecraft Dungeons 2 HUD UI and its plethora of icons. We have explained each icon in the Dungeons 2 HUD here:
- The red heart on the left denotes your health.
- To the left of the health bubble, there’s a chest and a health potion icon.
- The blue hexagon on the right with a soul icon denotes the amount of Souls you have (or your mana).
- To the right of the Mana bubble is the teleport and the toggle-to-run button.
- Between the health and mana, you have three artifact slots in Minecraft Dungeons 2.
- Above the artifact slots is the number of arrows in your quiver.
- And finally, below the Artifacts is your XP bar.
These are several systems that you must notice and learn before heading off to take on enemies in Minecraft Dungeons 2.
As for the Inventory section, you can toggle on the mini-inventory via the Settings menu in Minecraft Dungeons 2.
There are melee weapons for close-range combat, many ranged weapons, armor pieces, artifacts, talismans, and other equipment that determine your character’s build. In total, you get 12 combat slots, so fill them carefully depending on your playstyle.
Key NPCs and Locations in Minecraft Dungeons 2
Once you arrive at Brave Haven, resist the temptation of jumping into a battle. Brave Haven is an important location early in the game, so stroll through the town once and check out the key NPCs and points of interest in this area.
Look around, and you will find the Town Merchant, Blacksmith, and Enchantsmith in Minecraft Dungeons 2.
- The Town Merchant provides several weapons and armor in the common, rare, and special categories whose stock refreshes every once in a while.
- The Blacksmith can help upgrade your weapons and armor or reroll their effects with ease.
- The Enchantsmith helps you apply various Minecraft Dungeons 2 enchantments to all your armor and weapons.
In addition to these NPCs, you will find a minecart station in each location that allows you to fast travel in Minecraft Dungeons 2. So, explore the regions, find out what those little icons mean on your minimap, and you’ll learn more about the in-game secrets and utility options.
How to Travel Through the Minecraft Dungeons 2 World
The Overworld might be one of the biggest changes for newcomers, because the previous version had mission-selection-based gameplay.
As you arrive at Brave Haven, you will unlock your first fast travel location. Here, you can use the minecarts to fast travel across large distances without the need to dash around.
The Minecraft Dungeons 2 map has several fast travel nodes that make it incredibly easy to travel between the regions of the Overworld.
Eventually, you might explore the map to find more unexplored areas and side quests. If you get lost after starting a quest, follow the Guidance Trail provided by the game that points toward the active quest objective.
Minecraft Dungeons 2 Combat Tips and Tricks
Combat becomes easier when you stop treating melee and ranged weapons in Minecraft Dungeons 2 as competing choices.
Use the ranged attacks whenever possible, because they can help weaken the enemies from a safe distance. At the same time, don’t stand still while firing, because eventually, the harder bosses will hit with massive AoE moves.
Jump attacks are one of the most important mechanics of this sequel, and the developers have heavily focused on this aspect throughout the promotions. The jump-based attacks deal heavier damage and can affect multiple targets, so consider using this as a crowd-control move.
Don’t Forget the Artifacts, Talismans and Enchantments
Artifacts in Minecraft Dungeons 2 can grant special abilities during combat, but they consume souls when activated.
Since souls regenerate every time you defeat enemies, don’t treat the artifacts as emergency buttons; rather, learn to use them in combat at the precise time.
On the other hand, the talismans in Minecraft Dungeons 2 can be equipped by your character to gain passive buffs. Whereas the Enchantments can provide new buffs to your weapons or armor. Adding these unique buffs and abilities will only improve your build.
Look for Hidden Areas with Chests and Emeralds
Keep your eyes open while travelling because not all rewards and valuables might be sitting directly in front of the main quest marker. You will need to venture beyond the obvious routes and look for environmental clues to find treasure items.
Look behind waterfalls, around the cliffs, behind structures, and spot chests. This will even help you find areas that lead to unique side quests that offer extra rewards.
Watch Out for Soul Corrupted Enemies and Ambushes
Among all the enemies out there, the Soul Corrupted enemies are stronger and can catch you off guard. If you notice a blue colored soul charged enemy in a group, keep your distance and do not charge at the mob directly.
Use ranged attacks and crowd control abilities to contain the other weaker threats before taking on the Soul Corrupted enemy.
Ambushes require a higher level of awareness as they can appear anywhere in the Minecraft Dungeons 2 Overworld or Sift dimension. The minimap can help you recognize whether you are entering a suspiciously enclosed area. So, if the path leads to an enclosed area, consider taking a detour if you’re low on health.
When Should You Enter the Sift?
The Sift in Minecraft Dungeons 2 is a separate dimension that adds a ton of new creatures, mobs, vegetation, and more. Throughout the Overworld, you will encounter Rifts at certain locations, and these portals will let you access the Sift in the game.
Before entering, you must check your health, review your equipped gear, and make sure the correct combination of Artifacts, Talismans, Enchantments, weapon, and armor is equipped.
When you first enter the Sift, its beautiful environment might catch your eye quickly; however, the area is filled with dangerous threats in every corner.
The time in Sift is divided into three phases: Flow, Thrive, and Endure, and the difficulty rises with each. So, if you’re not confident and lack better gear or items, consider The Sift next time.
What Happens When You Get Downed in Minecraft Dungeons 2?
Dying in the game can be frustrating because you return to the previous checkpoint, and all of the enemies you defeated end up respawning. So, you will need to replay the fight you were currently playing once again.
However, the bright side is that you do not lose any weapons, enchantments, or gear in this process. If you get transported far away, you can always use the teleport button to reach the same area.
Those are all the beginner tips and tricks you need to know before setting foot in the new Minecraft Dungeons 2 world. What other tips do you have in mind? Tell us in the comments below.
