Tunic is a very opaque game that doesn't hold the player's hand as they make their way through its clever puzzles and punishing boss battles. Even basic systems aren't clearly explained; instead, they're cryptically alluded to via the scattered pages of a retro guidebook. One such system is how players can improve Tunic's base stats, such as attack and defense.
The method for doing so isn't all the hard, but it can be tricky to figure out if players haven't found the right guidebook page. Tunic cleverly hides the mechanic in plain sight, but most players won't discover it exists until a few hours into the game. For anyone who wants a bit of a head start, here's how to improve stats in Tunic.
How To Improve Tunic's Stats
Throughout the world of Tunic, players will find different fox shrines where they can pray, to save the game and heal their wounds. Similar to the Sites of Grace in Elden Ring, using a shrine will also bring any defeated enemies back from the dead. What players might not realize, though, is that, also like a Site of Grace, each shrine allows Tunic to level up his stats if he has the proper offerings.
To purchase an upgrade, players simply have to follow these steps:
- Open the inventory screen when standing in front of a shrine (on an Xbox controller, this is mapped to the LB button).
- Select one of the special, upgrade items located on the bottom right side of the inventory screen.
- Pay the required fee for the upgrade.
That's all there is to it. The steps are fairly straightforward, but acquiring all the necessary ingredients is anything but. Each upgrade for a stat costs more currency than the previous tier, and the upgrade materials are some of the most well-hidden collectibles in the game.
Upgrade Materials
With six total stats in the game, there are six corresponding upgrade materials for players to find throughout the world. Here are the six different materials and the stat they correspond to:
- Monster Tooth - Attack
- Fox Statue - Defense
- Flower - Health Points
- Medicine - Potion Healing
- Leaf - Stamina Points
- Blue Mushroom - Magic Points
These resources are often hidden in obscure locations, so players will need to search every area thoroughly to find them all. While using these materials isn't necessary to beat the game, utilizing them to boost Tunic's stats makes the game's tougher bosses much more manageable. Taking the time to scour this world for its best-kept secrets is part of what makes Tunic such an enjoyable experience.
Tunic is available now for PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox Game Pass.