Bastion
Bastion

Spirit Upgrades & Distillery — Bastion Guide

Enhance the Kid's abilities with Spirit upgrades at the Distillery in Bastion. Learn how these potent tonics can alter playstyle and help in combat.

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Spirit Upgrades & Distillery

The Distillery is your hub for enhancing the Kid's abilities through potent tonics known as Spirits. These aren't just minor buffs; they can fundamentally alter your playstyle, making difficult encounters manageable and turning the Kid into a true force of nature. To access the Distillery, you'll first need to rebuild it within the Bastion.

Rebuilding the Distillery

The Distillery is one of the essential structures you'll restore to the Bastion. Its core is found relatively early in your journey:

  • Distillery Core Location: The Distillery Core is located in the level "The Hanging Gardens." You'll encounter it after navigating through the initial sections and defeating the various plant-based enemies. Keep an eye out for a glowing, crystalline object – that's your core!
  • Restoration Cost: Once you've retrieved the core, return to the Bastion. Activating the Distillery will cost you a certain amount of Fragments, the game's primary currency. Ensure you've been diligently smashing environmental objects and defeating foes to accumulate enough.

Understanding Spirits

Spirits are passive buffs that you can equip at the Distillery. You have a limited number of "Spirit Slots" available, which increase as you level up. Each Spirit consumes a certain number of these slots. Experimentation is key to finding the combination that best suits your current weapon loadout and the challenges ahead.

Acquiring New Spirits

New Spirits aren't just handed out; you'll need to actively search for them across the shattered lands. They are often found in specific locations, sometimes requiring a bit of exploration off the main path, or as rewards for completing certain objectives.

  • "Black Rye" (1 Slot): Increases your maximum health by 25%. This is often one of the first Spirits you'll find, providing a solid early-game survivability boost.
  • "Stabsinthe" (1 Slot): Increases critical hit chance by 5%. Great for damage-focused builds, especially with fast-hitting weapons.
  • "Bullhead Brandy" (2 Slots): Grants a 10% chance to knock back enemies on hit. Invaluable for crowd control and creating space, particularly against melee-focused foes.
  • "Squirt Cider" (1 Slot): Increases the chance for enemies to drop Fragments. Essential for farming currency to upgrade weapons and purchase items.
  • "Leechade" (2 Slots): Heals you for 1% of damage dealt. This Spirit can significantly improve your sustain in longer fights, especially when paired with high-damage, rapid-fire weapons.
  • "Werewhiskey" (3 Slots): Increases damage by 15% when health is below 30%. A high-risk, high-reward Spirit for aggressive players.
  • "Lifewine" (2 Slots): Increases the effectiveness of health tonics by 25%. Makes your healing items more potent, allowing you to recover more health per use.
  • "Doppelganger Draft" (3 Slots): Summons a spectral ally to fight alongside you for a short duration after using a Secret Skill. Excellent for adding extra damage and drawing enemy aggro.

Strategic Spirit Combinations

The true power of the Distillery lies in combining Spirits to create synergistic builds. Consider these examples:

  • Tanky Brawler: Combine Black Rye, Bullhead Brandy, and Lifewine for maximum survivability and crowd control, allowing you to wade into groups of enemies.
  • Critical Assassin: Pair Stabsinthe with weapons like the Cael Hammer or War Machete, and consider Werewhiskey for high-risk, high-reward damage spikes.
  • Fragment Farmer: Equip Squirt Cider whenever you're revisiting levels or just looking to accumulate Fragments quickly.
  • Sustained Damage Dealer: Leechade combined with rapid-fire weapons like the Repeater or Army Carbine can keep your health topped off during prolonged engagements.

Remember to regularly check your Spirit inventory and adjust your loadout based on the challenges of the current level or boss fight. The right combination can turn a seemingly impossible task into a manageable one.