The combat system in Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault marks a major departure (and dare I say, a major improvement) from the first game. The sequel shifts to full 3D, using an isometric camera and visuals not unlike those of the latest Zelda titles. With its more fluid, combo-oriented combat, you’ll want to master this system as soon as possible. And that’s where we come in, with our in-depth combat guide packed with essential tips and tricks.
Which Weapon Should You Craft First in Moonlighter 2
In our opinion, for the first dimension you visit, we recommend crafting and using the Merchant’s Sword. Your trusty broom is a weapon worthy of legendary stories, but you might want to put it to rest and get something a bit more suitable for the occasion. When you start your adventure, Andrei the Blacksmith will ask you to craft your first weapon in Moonlighter 2. You will be presented with four choices, each with its own unique pros and cons. Here's what each one does.
| Weapon | Pros & Cons | Special Attack | Crafting Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merchant's Sword | + Very versatile + Excellent AoE damage - Short range - Relatively weak damage | Whirlwind AoE attack that deals damage in a radius around you | 4x Sun Eater |
| Merchant's Large Sword | + Strong single-target damage - Very slow - Sharpness can be a liability if not managed well | A weaker attack that generates one point of Sharpness | 4x Sun Eater |
| Merchant's Spear | + A rather long range for a melee weapon + Excellent DPS + Great combo potential - Weak against multiple enemies | Normal attacks leave spearheads on the ground, which deal damage when you use your special attack. | 4x Sun Eater |
| Merchant's Gauntlets | Very fast DPS Insane combo potential - Hard to master - Weak against multiple enemies | It activates Bersker, which makes you even faster. | 4x Sun Eater |
As you can see, each of these unique weapons offers an interesting playstyle and serves a different purpose. However, as we’ve already mentioned, beginners should craft the Merchant’s Sword first and use it in the first dimension. The reason is simple: it’s the most versatile starting weapon, effective against both groups of enemies and single targets. No other early-game weapon has an AoE attack as strong as the Merchant’s Sword’s special.
Master Combo and Timings
The next thing you’ll want to learn regarding the Moonlighter 2 combat is how to master the weapon’s combos. On paper, it’s fairly simple: the sword’s whirlwind AoE attack becomes significantly stronger if you perform it after every third normal attack. Ideally, you’ll want to maintain this rhythm: three normal attacks followed by a special attack. However, in practice, you’ll need to pace your attacks for maximum efficiency.
Perfect Sword Special Attack
Don’t just waste your enhanced special for the sake of using it. Look for the right moment when you can deal the maximum amount of damage to the enemies around you. Close the gap on a larger ranged enemy, and lure smaller melee enemies toward you. Then hit the ranged enemy with three normal attacks, follow up with a special, and watch their health get decimated.
Moonlighter 2 Combat: Use the Gun to Your Advantage
Don’t forget that you have a very handy gun at your disposal (RB on Xbox or R1 on PlayStation). This gun auto-aims and recharges whenever you deal melee damage with your primary weapon. It’s a perfect opener when you enter a new area, and it fits smoothly into your combo routine. Here’s how it works in practice:
- Shoot at a powerful ranged enemy while closing the gap.
- Once you’re close, finish them off with a normal attack.
- Doing this will both recharge your gun and power up your special attack.
- Use your special attack to wipe out the enemies around you.
- Repeat the process as you move in on the next target.
Moonlighter 2 Movement Techniques
Probably the single most important thing in this game is your ability to roll. Rolling in Moonlighter 2 doesn’t consume any resources - there’s no Stamina or Energy bar that drains when you roll. You can roll constantly and as much as you want. That’s why I strongly suggest using rolling as often as possible during your adventures (RB on Xbox or R1 on PlayStation). Once you master rolling, your chances of clearing an entire run with ease will improve significantly. Here's how you should use it.
- Most of the attacks in Moonlighter 2 are telegraphed. Use rolling to quickly avoid attacks.
- Roll to close the gap and reach ranged enemies faster.
- Use rolling to reposition yourself before unleashing powerful AoE attacks.
- Use rolling for quick traversal, especially when crossing bridges and other tight areas where you’re vulnerable.
- Use rolling to dodge incoming ranged projectiles.
PRO TIP: Keep in mind that rolling always moves you a set distance. You’ll need to stay aware of this, because otherwise you’ll end up falling off the map often and unnecessarily wasting your health in the process.
Get More Healing Potions and Health
When you first started playing and immediately died a few times, you probably wondered how to get more Healing Potions in Moonlighter 2. The game doesn’t explain this right away, and you might expect enemies to drop potions as loot, but they don’t. To get more Healing Potions in Moonlighter 2, you’ll need to purchase an upgrade from Eris.
Specifically, the very first upgrade on the Arcanism page is called Extra Potion, and as the name suggests, it grants you a permanent additional potion charge. Along the same upgrade tree, you can unlock additional health, extra healing from potions, and other useful abilities that will help you survive long enough to finish your run.
Learn Enemy Patterns
As with almost any game that involves combat, learning how enemies behave (what moves they use and how they react) will go a long way toward mastering Moonlighter 2 combat. Most enemies in the first zone have specific movement patterns and behaviors. Their attacks are usually clearly telegraphed with various symbols, or you can predict their next move based on their animations.
Be very attentive during your first few runs. Observe what types of attacks different enemies perform, how they move, what they do before launching an attack, and whether they like to close the gap or run away from you. Every piece of information you learn will help you predict their next move and avoid taking damage.
Pick Perks That Fit Your Playstyle
We’ll have a separate guide on the best perks in Moonlighter 2. However, for the purposes of this combat guide, we just want to stress that the rarest perk is often not the best one, both in terms of raw stats and how well it fits your playstyle or the enemies you’ll encounter. If there’s an obviously good perk, pick it up.
However, if you’re unsure, don’t just pick a higher-rarity perk for the sake of it. Instead, try to understand how it fits what you’re trying to achieve with your weapons. Think about how you play, and whether that perk actually helps enhance your playstyle. If the answer is yes, choose that perk, even if it’s only a common one.
With that said, our beginner’s guide for Moonlighter 2 is complete. This is everything you need to know to set yourself up for success. Learning these basics will make your life so much easier, and you’ll be able to expand your skills even more as you master advanced techniques. And while you're here make sure to check out our other Moonlighter 2 guides.
Moonlighter 2 Combat FAQ
Not really, no. While there are some similarities, the combat is more akin to action platformers in terms of moves and the way it plays out.
The best early-game weapon in Moonlighter 2 is the short sword. It has AoE, a relatively easy combo to pull off, and it can handle both single targets and multiple enemies.
Gold in the game is used across many systems as a key currency, and you’ll need to make some decisions about how to spend it early on. However, we strongly advise unlocking health upgrades in Arcanism as soon as possible, since they make combat easier, which in turn helps you earn more Relics.
It’s more of a rogue-lite. If you die before completing your run, you have the option to retreat and keep all your Relics at half value. However, if you continue past that point, you’ll lose everything you’re carrying.
Will, the main character, doesn’t level up. However, all the gold you earn from selling Relics can be used to purchase various upgrades, both for Will himself and for the gear he uses (weapons, armor, gadgets).
The game is designed to be played with a controller. And while it fully supports mouse and keyboard, we strongly advise you to use a controller. Combat feels much more fluid and natural with it.
Nikola has been playing video games since his father bought him an NES and a Sega Mega Drive in the early 1990s. Over the years, he has mainly become a PC gamer with a love for narrative-driven RPGs, real-time strategy games, and psychological/survival horror titles. Still, he enjoys any game that’s worth his time.
