A Plague Tale: Innocence combines all the horror of the Black Death and the Hundred Years' War into one package. As Amicia de Rune, English soldiers and legions of feral rats aren't the only things the player needs to keep an eye on during their travels. Amicia's young brother Hugo needs to be looked after throughout the siblings' trials and tribulations.
Players may be a little lost when attempting the game for the first time. Since Amicia isn't a trained soldier, a mixture of stealth, combat, and strategy must be implemented in every encounter. As such, having a few useful tips under one's belt can almost guarantee a much smoother experience.
Updated August 14, 2021 by Mark Hospodar: A Plague Tale: Innocence was met with positive reviews when first released in 2019. Fans of the game received welcome news in June 2021 with the announcement of a sequel, A Plague Tale: Requiem. So far, concrete details regarding the plot are sparse. The game is set to continue the story of Amicia and Hugo as they once again contend with the harsh realities of the medieval world. The siblings must embark upon a "new quest for hope" as a "terrifying curse hunts them down." Only time will tell what sort of fresh danger awaits the brother-sister duo. In the meantime, as more gamers pick up the first game for the first time, here are some tips to help on their journeys.
15 Never Leave Hugo Unattended For Too Long
Part of Amicia's job in A Plague Tale: Innocence is caring for Hugo. However, in certain situations, that's a little easier said than done. When things start to get hectic, losing track of Hugo can happen in an instant. When he's abandoned, Hugo starts to freak out and draws the attention of nearby enemies.
With that in mind, players should never stray too far from him. Hugo will let Amicia know when she starts to get too far out of range. When that happens, return to him immediately, or else the situation will start to get much worse.
14 Use Distractions Often
Tangling directly with enemies typically results in a quick death. In most cases, Amicia will have to sneak past enemies rather than fight them. Luckily, there exists in the environment a variety of objects that will distract enemies long enough to avoid them.
Look for metallic objects that can be struck with a rock from Amicia's sling. The resulting sound will draw enemies away in a different direction. Failing that, other objects such as pots can be picked up and thrown. The sound they make hitting the ground will achieve the same result.
13 Collect As Many Crafting Ingredients As Possible
Crafting materials play a huge role in the game. Powerful alchemical projectiles can't be made without the proper ingredients. Always be on the lookout for items such as alcohol, leather, fabric, and other materials that can be used later for crafting.
If the player is diligent about combing a particular area for items, then finding enough crafting materials shouldn't be an issue. Upgrading Amicia's Pockets at one's earliest convenience is highly recommended. More complicated ammunition requires greater quantities of materials. These upgrades prove very important, especially by the late game.
12 Search For Tools
Alongside crafting ingredients, Tools are another resource that players should collect wherever possible. Tools allow Amicia to make various upgrades to her equipment, as well as her attributes. They are rare and easy to miss, so keep your eyes peeled.
Or, if scouring every inch of the map is too tedious, this exhaustive guide will really come in handy. Every Tool in each of the game's chapters is accounted for, so locating these valuable items won't be a problem anymore.
11 Find The Alchemist Carts
The game becomes much more difficult whenever Amicia runs low on crafting materials. When she's unable to craft special ammunition for her sling, her offensive capabilities are severely curtailed. Finding Alchemist Carts, however, can go a long way toward making sure Amicia is well-stocked with the things she needs.
Like the Tools, finding Alchemist Carts isn't always a straightforward endeavor. Players s ometimes need to go out of their way to locate these valuable caches. Once again, this nifty guide will undoubtedly save players a lot of time when it comes to searching for these treasure troves.
10 Always Keep Ignifer Handy
The first, and most important, ammunition type Amicia learns is Ignifer. This is the primary weapon with which Amicia must utilize against the rats. However, it's essential to keep in mind that Ignifer needs a light source to work properly, such as a torch or a campfire. Just flinging it at a group of rats won't work.
Players should always keep plenty of crafting materials handy for Ignifer. During certain sequences, it's common for swarms of rats to ambush the player. Ignifer needs to be equipped and fired at an appropriate light source to ward off unexpected danger.
9 Make Tactical Use Of Extinguis
Whereas Ignifer starts fires, Extinguis snuffs them out. Since rats are kept at bay by light sources, there's often an opportunity to rid oneself of troublesome guards. Study surroundings carefully to take advantage of this ammunition type.
When rats and guards are near each other, capitalize on the situation by extinguishing a nearby source of light. Sometimes, even multiple enemies will be devoured once their protection has been removed. Be careful, however. Don't extinguish a light source close to Amicia, or else the same will happen to her!
8 Use Somnum As A Last Resort
One of the most powerful mixtures Amicia can craft is Somnum. It can put an enemy out of action immediately so long as Amicia can sneak up behind him. Later, after some upgrades, Somnum can also be used as a projectile, which increases its usefulness.
Nevertheless, Somnum is very expensive to craft. As such, Amicia can't stockpile mountains of the stuff. Keep it as a weapon of last resort for when no good distractions may be available. It can also be used to avoid an instant death when a guard starts to close in.
7 Keep The Sling Accurate
Using Amicia's sling takes a bit of finesse, but the player should get the hang of it relatively quickly. The important thing to remember is that the sling takes time to charge. Firing it too early will result in an inaccurate shot.
The center of the crosshair will turn yellow when aimed at a potential target. Amicia must then prime her sling, which will take about a second or two. To fire the perfect shot, wait until the crosshairs align in the center.
6 Strike Enemies In The Head
Amicia's only form of offensive weaponry is her sling. It's useful but needs to be utilized properly to down an enemy. First off, the head is almost always the prime target. Enemies wear thick metal armor on the rest of their bodies, rendering the sling obsolete.
When aiming for a headshot, the enemy should ideally remain unaware. This will grant Amicia enough time to charge her shot and aim properly. Enemies that are alerted can close the distance quickly. Once they reach Amicia, it results in an instant death.