The Wizardry Lab
Welcome, intrepid adventurer, to the Wizardry Lab – a realm of arcane experiments, bizarre contraptions, and formidable foes. This comprehensive guide will navigate you through its treacherous halls, ensuring you uncover every secret, claim every item, and conquer every challenge. Unlike earlier, less accurate accounts, the Wizardry Lab is accessed after successfully traversing the Condemned Tower and defeating its guardian. You will enter the Wizardry Lab from the Top of the Condemned Tower, not the Lost Village, marking a significant step in your quest to thwart the forces of chaos.
Accessing the Wizardry Lab and Initial Exploration
After defeating Malphas, the winged terror of the Condemned Tower, you will proceed through a door that leads directly into the Wizardry Lab. This area is characterized by its unsettling scientific equipment, crackling magical conduits, and a host of new, dangerous enemy types. Prepare yourself for a stark change in atmosphere from the gothic spires of the Condemned Tower.
- From the entrance (which serves as the exit from the Condemned Tower), head immediately to the right. You'll quickly encounter the first wave of new enemies: the gelatinous Slime, the projectile-wielding Skull Archer, and the notoriously agile Fleaman.
- Continue your eastward journey through a series of interconnected rooms. You will soon arrive at a vertical shaft that descends into the lab's depths. Exercise caution as you descend, as enemies may ambush you from above or below.
- At the bottom of this shaft, explore the pathways to both the left and right. To the right, you'll discover a crucial Save Room. Always prioritize saving your progress here before venturing deeper into unknown territory.
- To the left of the vertical shaft, you will find a Warp Room. Activating this point is essential for quick travel back to the Castle Corridor or any other activated warp locations, saving you valuable time and backtracking.
Navigating the Central Area and Key Discoveries
The Wizardry Lab boasts a complex, multi-layered layout with numerous hidden passages and elevated platforms. Your objective is thorough exploration to uncover all its secrets and discern the correct path forward.
- From the Save Room, retrace your steps back up the vertical shaft. As you ascend, keep a keen eye on the ledges. On one of the upper ledges, look for a suspicious-looking wall on the right. This is a breakable wall. Strike it with your weapon to reveal a hidden passage. Inside, you'll find a chest containing a valuable High Potion.
- Continue your ascent and then proceed to the right. You will enter a large, expansive area characterized by a high ceiling and multiple platforms. This zone is frequently patrolled by ethereal Ghosts and spell-casting Witches.
- In the upper-right corner of this spacious room, another critical breakable wall awaits discovery. Destroy it to unveil a secret chamber. Within, you will find the incredibly valuable Soul Eater Ring. This accessory is a game-changer, significantly boosting the drop rate of souls from defeated enemies. Equip it immediately to maximize your soul collection efforts!
- Proceed along the main path, which will generally guide you further into the heart of the lab. This often involves more vertical traversal and encounters with airborne Gargoyles and predatory Killer Mantises.
Enemies and Notable Souls in the Wizardry Lab
The Wizardry Lab introduces a diverse array of new enemy types, many of which yield highly useful souls. Prioritize farming these enemies for their unique abilities, as they can greatly enhance your combat prowess and exploration capabilities.
| Enemy | Soul Type | Soul Effect | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slime | Bullet | Slime Bullet: Fires a slow, bouncing blob of slime. | Low damage, but can hit multiple times on contact. Useful for hitting enemies on different elevations. |
| Skull Archer | Bullet | Skull Arrow: Fires an arrow straight ahead. | A basic projectile soul. Good for early-game ranged attacks. |
| Fleaman | Guardian | Fleaman: Summons a Fleaman to attack nearby enemies. | Can be useful for distracting enemies or adding supplementary damage. The Fleaman's erratic movements can be a nuisance to enemies. |
| Ghost | Ability | Ghost: Increases LCK by 5. | A passive boost to your luck stat, invaluable for increasing the drop rates of items and souls. Equip this when farming! |
| Witch | Bullet | Witch: Fires a homing magic missile. | An excellent bullet soul for consistent damage, especially effective for hitting enemies around corners, through walls, or in difficult-to-reach positions. Highly recommended for general combat. |
| Gargoyle | Guardian | Gargoyle: Summons a Gargoyle to protect you from projectiles. | Can block a limited number of incoming projectiles, offering a small defensive buffer. Has limited durability before disappearing. |
| Killer Mantis | Bullet | Killer Mantis: Performs a rapid, close-range slash. | High damage output for melee-focused builds, but requires close proximity to enemies. Excellent for quick bursts of damage. |
| Great Axe Armor | Bullet | Great Axe Armor: Throws a massive axe in an arc. | While not exclusive to the Wizardry Lab (found in Condemned Tower), its power makes it a notable soul to mention for this area's challenges. Deals significant damage, especially useful against larger, slower enemies. |
Important Note on Progression and Magic Seals:
- Magic Seal 2: This seal is obtained after defeating Balore in the Wizardry Lab.
- Magic Seal 3: This seal is found after conquering Malphas in the Condemned Tower.
For clarity, you will defeat Malphas (Condemned Tower) first, acquiring Magic Seal 3. Then, you will proceed to the Wizardry Lab and defeat Balore, acquiring Magic Seal 2. The game's seal numbering does not always strictly follow the order of acquisition, but rather the complexity of the seal itself.
Path to the Boss: Balore
After thoroughly exploring the Wizardry Lab and collecting its treasures, you will eventually discover the path that leads to the next major boss. This path typically involves ascending a large vertical shaft or navigating a series of complex platforms, culminating in a chamber designed for a monumental confrontation.
- Continue progressing through the Wizardry Lab, generally moving upwards and to the right on your map. You'll encounter increasingly challenging enemy formations and environmental puzzles.
- You will eventually reach a large, open chamber that serves as the arena for the boss. This chamber is almost always preceded by a convenient Save Room and a Warp Room, providing you with ample opportunity to heal, save, and adjust your equipment before the impending battle.
Boss: Balore
Balore is a colossal, cyclopean demon that serves as the formidable boss of the Wizardry Lab. He is a truly imposing foe who demands precise positioning, keen observation of his attack patterns, and strategic use of your acquired souls.
Location: The large, open chamber at the easternmost end of the Wizardry Lab, directly before the entrance to the Demon Guest House.
Balore Strategy
Balore is a massive, mostly stationary boss, but his sheer power and range of attacks make him incredibly dangerous. The key to victory lies in exploiting his singular weak point and expertly dodging his devastating area-of-effect attacks.
- Weak Point: Balore's sole weak point is his giant eye. This is the only part of his body that takes significant damage. It will open and close, requiring you to time your attacks carefully.
- Recommended Loadout:
- Weapon: A fast-hitting weapon is ideal for maximizing damage during the brief windows when his eye is open. Swords like the Broadsword or Cutlass are good choices. If you have a powerful spear (e.g., Lance), its reach can also be beneficial.
- Bullet Soul: The Witch Soul (homing missile) is exceptionally effective here, as it can consistently hit Balore's eye even when it's partially obscured or you're focusing on dodging. The Great Axe Armor Soul (if acquired from the Condemned Tower) can deal massive damage if aimed precisely at the open eye. The Killer Mantis Soul offers high burst damage if you can get close.
- Guardian Soul: The Flying Armor Soul (allows you to float for a short duration) or the Bat Soul (allows full flight) are invaluable for reaching Balore's eye, especially when it's high up. If you don't have these, the Gargoyle Soul can offer some limited protection from projectiles.
- Accessory: Equip accessories that boost your primary attack stat (STR for physical weapons, INT for magic souls). The Red Scarf (STR) or Talisman (LCK, if you need to farm souls later, but less useful in the fight itself) are good options. The Brawler's Ring (STR) or Sorcerer's Ring (INT) are also excellent if you have them.
- Attack Patterns:
- Eye Beam: Balore will charge and fire a powerful, wide laser beam horizontally across the screen. This is his most dangerous attack. When you see his eye glow intensely, quickly move to the opposite side of the screen or use a Guardian Soul to fly over it. The beam often sweeps, so be prepared to adjust.
- Ground Slam: He will periodically slam his massive fist onto the ground, creating a localized shockwave. Jump over these shockwaves. This attack often leaves his fist vulnerable for a brief moment.
- Energy Orbs: Balore can summon several slow-moving energy orbs that drift across the screen. These are easily destroyed with a single hit from most weapons or bullet souls. Prioritize destroying them to clear the screen.
- Body Slam (Rare): Occasionally, he will lift his entire body and slam it down, causing significant damage and screen shake. This is a rare but devastating attack.
- Tactics:
- Prioritize Dodging: Balore's Eye Beam is lethal. Your primary focus should always be to avoid this attack. Learn its charge-up animation and react swiftly.
- Exploit Open Eye: When Balore's eye is open, unleash your most powerful attacks. If you have a flying soul (Flying Armor or Bat), use it to get directly in front of his eye for maximum damage. Otherwise, rely on jump attacks or homing bullet souls like the Witch Soul.
- Counter Ground Slam: After he performs a ground slam, his fist remains on the ground for a short time. This is a safe opportunity to get a few hits in, especially if you're using a melee weapon.
- Clear Orbs: Don't let the energy orbs accumulate. Destroy them quickly to prevent them from becoming a distraction or an obstacle during his more dangerous attacks.
- Soul Management: Keep an eye on your MP. Use your most powerful Bullet Souls strategically when his eye is open, and conserve MP otherwise.
- Healing: Don't hesitate to use potions or high potions if your health drops below 50%. Balore's attacks can be unpredictable, and a single mistake can be costly.
- Magic Seal: After defeating Balore, you'll need to draw Magic Seal 2. This seal is a moderately complex pattern. Take your time, trace it accurately on the touch screen, and ensure you complete it within the allotted time to successfully seal the demon.
Upon defeating Balore, you will acquire the powerful Balore Soul, which allows you to unleash a devastating punch attack. This soul is incredibly useful for breaking certain environmental objects and dealing heavy damage to enemies at close range. With Balore defeated, you will then gain access to the next challenging area: the Demon Guest House.