Hellforged — Deep Dive Strategy Guide

Overview

Hellforged is a loot-driven, extraction bullet-heaven game from developer Moonpyre, published by Grindstone, planned for release in 2026 on Windows. It fuses the screen-clearing horde combat of Vampire Survivors-style bullet heavens with the risk-reward tension of extraction shooters like Escape from Tarkov and Hunt: Showdown. You are one of the legendary survivors of a shattered expedition into the demon-infested Blackpyre. Every run is a tense loot heist: fight through bloodthirsty demon hordes, capture locations, unlock chests, take on quests, and decide whether to extract safely with your gear or risk it all for greater rewards.

The game was announced in April 2026 with an IGN trailer and a playable demo. The core promise is control: you pre-craft your build before each run using the Arsenal deck system, handpicking exactly which upgrades and abilities will drop during the expedition. This turns the usually chaotic bullet-heaven build process into a deliberate strategy. IGN lists an initial release window of Q4 2026.

Who it's for: Bullet-heaven fans who want build agency, extraction shooter fans who want a faster, more chaotic loop, and anyone who enjoyed the loot-driven progression of games like Diablo combined with the horde-clearing power fantasy of Vampire Survivors.

Who it's not for: Players who want a chill, low-stakes experience. Hellforged is built on tension: extraction decisions, risk assessment, and the threat of losing gear. If losing loot on a bad run ruins your day, this genre will stress you out.

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Getting Started: Your First Runs

Before You Launch

1. Understand the extraction loop. You enter a demon-infested map, fight and loot, and choose when to leave. Extract safely to keep your gear, or push further for better loot at the risk of losing everything. This is the game's core tension.
2. Pre-craft your build in the Arsenal. Before every run, you build a deck that determines which upgrades and abilities will drop for you during the expedition. This is your most important pre-run decision.
3. Play the demo first. The demo is available now on Steam, giving you access to the core loop, several classes, and a feel for the extraction risk-reward before launch.

Your First 30 Minutes

1. Pick your class. Choose from distinct character classes, each with wildly unique and devastating powers. Don't overthink it; every class is viable, and you'll unlock more as you progress.
2. Run your first expedition. The tutorial map teaches the basics: move, attack, collect loot, manage your health, and find the extraction point.
3. Learn the capture system. Locations on the map can be captured for rewards. Capturing a location holds a position for a moment but pays off in resources.
4. Decide your first extraction. The first few runs, extract early. Getting gear home builds your camp and unlocks permanent upgrades. Dying with your first good weapon teaches you the wrong lesson.
5. Spend resources in camp. Every run brings back resources to rebuild the ruins of your camp. Unlock new ways to improve your character between runs.

Beginner Mistakes

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Core Mechanics Explained

The Extraction Loop

Every run follows the same rhythm: enter, fight, loot, extract. The map is demon-infested and full of points of interest:

• Locations you can capture for resources.
• Chests that unlock with keys or puzzle solutions.
• Quests that offer objectives with specific rewards.
• Rifts — risky captures that grant endgame resources.

The decision to extract is always yours. You can leave with what you have, or push to capture another location, open another chest, or take on a quest. The tension is the point: greater rewards require greater risk, and death means losing the gear you carried in.

The Arsenal Deck System

Before every run, you use the Arsenal to literally build your deck, handpicking which upgrades and abilities will drop for you during the expedition. This is the game's signature system. Instead of hoping for good random drops, you curate the drop pool:

• Include the upgrades that fit your class and playstyle.
• Exclude upgrades that don't fit your build.
• Build around a theme (fire, lightning, summons, etc.) so drops synergize.

A well-built Arsenal turns every run into a build coming online, instead of a scramble for useful pieces.

The Eternal Tree

Talent points from runs are spent in the Eternal Tree, a permanent progression system. Specialize in paths that perfectly synergize with your combat style. The tree rewards commitment to a build rather than spreading points thin.

Achievements as Progression

Hundreds of achievements are far more than cosmetics. They unlock new abilities, relics, and powers, alongside elusive secret achievements. Treat achievements as a progression system, not a checklist. Check their requirements before runs and build toward the ones that unlock power.

Camp Rebuilding

Every run brings back resources used to rebuild the ruins of your camp. The camp is your meta-progression hub: unlock new ways to improve your character, enhance equipment in various ways, and craft a combat style uniquely yours. A built-up camp makes every future run easier.

Synergies and Elements

The combat system rewards combining effects. Set an enemy ablaze, then strike with a lightning ability to trigger massive explosions that clear the screen, especially when combined with the correct talisman. Synergies are the difference between a decent run and a screen-clearing one. Learn which elements combo with which, and build your Arsenal to enable them.

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Advanced Tips

The "Extract Early, Scale Later" Meta Strategy

In the first few hours, the best strategy is boring: extract as soon as you have a decent haul. Camp upgrades are permanent and make future runs better. Every early death sets you back a full run's worth of resources. Once your camp is upgraded and your class build is online, start pushing deeper maps and riskier captures.

Synergy-First Arsenal Building

Don't fill your Arsenal with individually strong upgrades. Build around a combo: fire + lightning + the talisman that boosts explosions. A focused deck with 10 synergistic upgrades beats a scattered deck with 20 good-but-unrelated ones. The game explicitly rewards this: "Discover overpowered combinations through impactful synergies that dynamically shift your strategy."

Rift Timing

Rifts give endgame resources but are the riskiest captures on the map. Push rifts only when: (1) your build is fully online, (2) you have a clear escape route to extraction, and (3) you're willing to lose what you've gathered. The best rift timing is right before you plan to extract anyway, so you're not carrying rift risk for the whole run.

The Boss Summon Gambit

Channel your gathered chaos to summon devastating bosses that test your arsenal and reward greatly boosted loot. Summon bosses deliberately: when your build is at peak power, when the arena is clear, and when you're ready for a long fight. The boosted loot is worth it, but only if you can win.

Monthly Trial Prep

Every month, a new Trial puts your build through a different sin-soaked gauntlet, from greed to wrath and beyond. Trials test specific build types. When a Trial is announced, build a character specifically for it: check the Trial theme, build your Arsenal around the required damage type, and climb the live leaderboard for exclusive in-game titles.

Achievement-Driven Progression

Before each run, check your achievement list. If an achievement requires a specific relic or power, build toward it in the Arsenal. Since achievements unlock new abilities, this creates a progression loop: chase achievements, unlock power, use power to chase harder achievements.

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FAQ

What is Hellforged?

Hellforged is a loot-driven, extraction bullet-heaven game. Fight demon hordes, capture locations, collect gear, and decide whether to extract safely or risk everything for greater rewards.

When is the release date?

Q4 2026 per IGN. The demo is available now on Steam.

How much does it cost?

Price is TBA. The demo is free.

What platforms is it on?

Windows only at launch.

Is it multiplayer?

It's single-player, but features online leaderboards where you compete against friends and players globally.

What are the classes?

The game features distinct character classes, each with wildly unique and devastating powers. Full class list is TBA; the demo showcases several.

Is there controller support?

Full controller support.

How does the extraction system work?

You enter a map, fight and loot, and choose when to extract. Extract safely to keep gear, or push for better loot at the risk of losing everything.

What is the Arsenal?

The Arsenal is the pre-run deck-building system. You handpick which upgrades and abilities will drop for you during the expedition.

Are there system requirements?

Minimum: Windows 10 64-bit, AMD Ryzen 5 2600X, 8 GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960, DirectX 11, 5 GB storage. Recommended: Ryzen 7 3700X, GTX 1060. Requirements may change as development continues.

Is there a demo?

Yes, a playable demo is available on Steam.

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Final Verdict

Hellforged is the most interesting genre fusion in the bullet-heaven space right now. The extraction loop adds stakes that Vampire Survivors-style games lack, while the Arsenal deck system gives you build agency most roguelikes deny you. The synergy system rewards thoughtful deck construction, and the camp progression gives every run a purpose.

Buy it if you love bullet heavens but want more strategy and tension. Skip it if the idea of losing gear on a bad run makes you anxious. The demo is free, so there's no reason not to try the loop before launch.

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Last reviewed by Game How To Editorial. We play each game, verify controls against official sources, and update guides when game mechanics change.