Welcome to Code Vein, a challenging action RPG where you play as a Revenant, a vampire with a thirst for blood and a lost memory. You'll explore the post-apocalyptic world of Vein, battling monstrous creatures called the Lost and uncovering the secrets of your past. Master the unique Blood Code system to customize your abilities and combat style, and rely on your AI companion to survive the brutal encounters.
This guide is here to help you conquer the toughest challenges Code Vein throws at you. We'll cover strategies for difficult bosses like Oliver Collins, efficient Haze farming methods to level up quickly, and how to navigate complex areas such as the Ruined City Underground. Whether you're aiming for all the Steam Achievements or just trying to survive, we've got you covered.
Walkthrough
Your friendly guide to Code Vein's character creation and the very start of your journey. Learn about customization and the first steps after the tutorial.
Alright, let's get you started with Code Vein! Before we dive deep into the walkthrough, I highly recommend checking out the game mechanics explanation. The in-game tutorial can be a bit light, and understanding the core systems will make things much smoother.
This walkthrough will cover the main story and all four endings. For boss strategies, I'll offer some effective tips for the initial playthroughs. However, be warned: New Game Plus (NG+) and beyond ramp up the difficulty significantly, especially for bosses. For those later stages, I really suggest looking up YouTube videos and just practicing those boss patterns until you get them down. The builds section can also be a lifesaver for NG+.
Important Note: As of version 1.20, Code Vein has seen some balance changes. Some strategies in this guide might not be as effective or relevant anymore, so keep that in mind.
Character Creation
Honestly, you could spend hours in the character creator – it's that deep! You can customize almost everything: hair, face, voice, clothes, mask, eyes (both individually!), eyebrows, physique, and gender. Plus, there's a huge range of accessories to play with. Version 1.20 actually added height and breast size customization, along with general body types, so you have even more options now!
Tutorial and Early Gameplay
Once you've crafted your perfect character and picked a name, the game will kick off with a tutorial covering the basic mechanics. This guide won't just repeat that info unless it's clutch for explaining other, less-obvious systems.
After the tutorial, you'll need to slowly make your way forward, following the girl who's with you. After a few cutscenes, you'll find yourself in a room with some NPCs you can chat with. When you're ready, head over to the desk to grab a mask. From there, you can either talk to the guy who was initially in front of you or head up the ladder to continue the story.
Next Up: Ruined City Underground (Act 1, Chapter 1)
Walkthrough (2)
Your friendly guide to Code Vein's Walkthrough (2), covering character creation, early gameplay, and setting you up for the Ruined City Underground. Learn mechanics and prepare for your journey!
Hey there! Head into the second part of our Code Vein walkthrough. Before we dive deep, I really suggest you take a peek at the guide's explanation of game mechanics. The in-game tutorial is okay, but it doesn't cover everything, and understanding these systems early will make your life a lot easier.
This section will focus on the main story progression and how to achieve the game's four different endings. Just a heads-up, boss strategies are usually most effective on a fresh playthrough (New Game). Things get way tougher in New Game Plus and beyond, so for those later stages, I'd recommend checking out YouTube videos to really nail down boss patterns. Also, don't forget to look at the 'Builds' section – it has some setups I used that worked well for me in NG+, but remember, what works for me might not be your perfect fit.
Warning: The game got some balance tweaks in version 1.20, so some advice in this walkthrough might not be as effective anymore.
Character Creation
Alright, let's talk character creation. If you're anything like me, you might spend a good chunk of time here – there are SO many options! You can tweak almost everything, though originally height and breast size were off the table (but hey, version 1.20 added those in!). You've got control over your hair, face, voice, clothes, mask, eyes (each one separately!), eyebrows, body type, gender, and a ton of accessories. Have fun making your unique Revenant!
Tutorial and Early Gameplay
Once you've crafted your character and picked a name, the game will kick off with a tutorial covering the basic mechanics. This guide won't just repeat all that tutorial info, but we'll touch on it if it helps explain some of the less obvious systems later on.
After the tutorial, you'll need to follow the girl who's with you. Just take it slow and steady. You'll see a few cutscenes, and then you'll find yourself in a room with some people you can chat with. Afterwards, head over to the desk to grab a mask. From there, you have a choice: you can either talk to the guy who was initially in front of you, or you can head up the ladder to keep pushing the story forward.
Ready to move on? The next step is the Ruined City Underground, which kicks off Act 1, Chapter 1.
Ruined City Underground (Act 1, Chapter 1)
Guide to Code Vein's Ruined City Underground (Act 1, Chapter 1), including Oliver Collins boss fight strategy and item locations.
- 1Advance forward from the first mistle (a point where you can save, level up, store items, or teleport).
- 2Pick up the Loss shard near a Lost body.
- 3Follow the path, fighting enemies and collecting items until you reach a split.
- 4Take the north path to a dead end, destroying boxes to find items.
- 5Return to the split and take the west path, defeating enemies until you reach a door.
- 6Be wary of an ambush near the door with 3 Lost; prioritize killing the Lost with a Bayonet first.
- 7Open the 2 chests down this path.
- 8Continue down the path, defeating enemies and collecting items, including slime-like enemies that fall from the ceiling. Use long-range gifts or a bayonet's strong attack to deal with them.
- 9Go up the ladder at the end of the path, collecting any items.
- 10After going up the ladder, purify the mistle to map the area. A path to your left leads back to the start, with a chest behind the stairs.
- 11Follow the path to the right of the purified mistle into a cavern-like area. Look for a place to drop down to find a chest.
- 12Drop down again and advance to a fork. One path leads back to the ledge you jumped from, the other to an open area.
- 13After a cutscene (scene), proceed on your own. Consider returning to the first mistle to level up.
- 14Follow the path, which splits. One path has normal-sized enemies, the other a slightly bigger enemy. Both paths lead to the same place.
- 15After the paths meet, you will find an unactivated mistle. Activating it will respawn (be brought back to life at a checkpoint after death) all killed enemies.
- 16Prepare for a large sub-boss enemy with long-range and close-range attacks. Use a long-range weapon like a bayonet's strong attack to chip away at its health from a distance, or lure it off the ledge.
- 17After defeating the large enemy, the area will be mapped. Advance north.
- 18You will encounter another Revenant who can join you as an ally. Keep pushing north.
- 19At a split path (one up, one down), take the lower paths first to defeat a slightly big enemy.
- 20Return to the upward path to ambush bayonet-wielding enemies.
- 21Face another large enemy similar to the previous one. Coordinate with your ally to take down the Bayonet wielders while your ally distracts them.
- 22Follow the path to a small room and watch a cutscene.
- 23Continue advancing, encountering slightly big enemies and slimes.
- 24Reach and purify another mistle to fully map the area.
- 25Head upwards towards the surface for the first boss battle against Oliver Collins.
- Items often appear as shiny objects dropped by enemies or found on the ground.
- The area has ledges you can fall from, which is a common way to die.
- If you die and revive at a mistle, enemies will respawn, and you will need to fight your way back. Collect any Haze (experience points) you dropped.
- The map is not fully detailed until you purify a mistle.
- For the large sub-boss enemies, using a bayonet's strong attack from a distance is effective, but be wary of their long reach and stomping attacks. Letting them fall off the ledge is also an option.
- Against Oliver Collins, plan your attacks carefully as he is slow but has strong swings. Use your ally as a distraction.
- When Oliver Collins reaches 50% HP, he becomes larger with increased attack damage. Avoid his swings and attack from a range or from his back while your ally draws his attention.
Home base and Ruined city Center (Act 1, Chapter 2)
Navigate Code Vein's Act 1, Chapter 2. Learn to manage your home base, unlock the Prometheus Blood Code, and conquer the Ruined City Center with this detailed walkthrough.
Walkthrough:
- Home Base Setup: After arriving, speak with Louis and Io. Talk to Louis twice more to unlock base shops and the Prometheus Blood Code. Check the basement for DLC and purchase the God Eater weapon set from Murasame's shop for 10 haze each. Sell any loss shards for haze.
- Teleport to Ruined City Underground: Use the Mistle to travel to the Ruined City Underground, Outer Crossroads.
- Ruined City Underground: Speak to Shang, who will give you a Depth Map. This map allows access to bonus dungeons called the Depths for rare materials. Shang also trades Old World Materials (gear-shaped items) for Valuables, which can be used to increase your allies' trading points for valuable items. You can return to base to use the Depth map or proceed north. Follow the underground corridors (no enemies here) until you find a fork. One path leads to a dead end with a corpse and another Depth map.
- Advance to Ruined City Center: Continue to the Mistle, watch a scene, and proceed to the Ruined City Center. It's recommended to complete the Den of the Dead map (and Den of Darkness if possible) beforehand to acquire a Vestige (Hermes I), which reveals Davis's memories and can unlock new gifts or blood arts.
- Ruined City Center Exploration: Head up the stairs, collect nearby items, and proceed north up a hill for another item. Continue north to a ledge, jump down, and collect Louis's Vestige.
- Westward Path: Follow the path west, collecting items and defeating enemies (note: enemies here are tougher and faster). Find a fancy cologne in a car. Be cautious in tight spaces and when outnumbered.
- Parking Garage: Reach the large parking garage. Break crates near the entrance to find a Vestige. Advance through the lot, being wary of enemies hiding behind cars. Defeat a large, fat enemy similar to Oliver Collins.
- Lower Floor & Base Return: Proceed to the lower floor for a scene. Activate the Mistle and map the area. Return to base. Speak to Coco to receive her Blood Code, Mercury. View the Hunter III Vestige to gain a new gift for the Mercury code.
- Mathew's Side Quest: Return to the Ruined City Center entrance. Speak to Mathew near the first Mistle for a small side quest. Defeat the enemy that appears on your map, then return to the garage Mistle.
- Descent and Ambush: Go down the ladder and advance, avoiding enemies including dog-like ones. In a small open area, three enemies are pretending to be dead; engage them to prevent an ambush. Break crates for a hidden item.
- Trial of Blood: Head west, then north, ignoring a group of walking enemies. You'll reach a chest that triggers an ambush (Trial of Blood). Defeat all foes to proceed. Collect the Vestige under the truck, which gets the Hunter Blood Code.
- Further Westward Exploration: You can either wait for enemies to come to you or continue moving. Head south, then west to a crossroads. Find a regen upgrade past an enemy. Continue south to a truck with more
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