Kingdoms of Amalur Reckoning: Beginner's Guide KoA: Reckoning Guide

Last update: 19 January 2023

On this page of our game guide to Kingdoms of Amalur Reckoning you can find a set of starting tips and hints. They were addressed to players who are just starting their adventure with this action RPG and are planning to complete the campaign for the first time.

• Choose normal or high difficulty level right away
• Save your progress as often as possible
• Help yourself in combat by frequently using the Reckoning Mode
• It's worth learning how to parry attacks in melee combat
• Avoid attacking enemies that have a much higher level than the hero
• Character development system provides you a lot of freedom
• It's worth sneaking around and setting up traps
• Keep a lot of health potions in your inventory
• Try to open every chest
• Repair your equipment on a regular basis
• Try to thoroughly explore all newly visited lands
• Buy backpacks that may extend your inventory
• Select persuasion option whenever possible
• Search for hidden secrets and containers

Choose normal or high difficulty level right away

Kingdoms of Amalur is not an extremely demanding production even on the highest difficulty level. However, it forces you to know the combat system well and have a large amount of health potions. Only one trophy is associated with a high level of difficulty. Thus, to earn a platinum trophy you have to play-through the game just once. If you can't make any progress at some point and get stuck, then the game will suggest you to lower the difficulty level in order to continue the story.

Save your progress as often as possible

This can save you from many problematic situations, such as consuming too much healing supplies, making a bad decision while completing a quest, or getting caught after committing a crime. In the latter case, it is useful to rely on the technique of saving the game. Always make an attempt to rob an NPC and then load the earlier save in case you have failed.

Help yourself in combat by frequently using the Reckoning Mode

It allows you to slow time and to eliminate opponents more effectively. It can primarily be useful while fighting groups of strong enemies and bosses.

It's worth learning how to parry attacks in melee combat

This is done by pressing the appropriate key just before the opponent's attack reaches the hero. A successful parry will not only protect you from injury, but also allow you to launch a counter-attack against your enemy.

Avoid attacking enemies that have a much higher level than the hero

The exception is the situation where you want to earn the Out of Your League trophy and just kill a single stronger opponent. For most time of the game, try to attack enemies who have a similar level of experience to your character. This will reduce the chance that a particular battle may overwhelm you.

Character development system provides you a lot of freedom

First of all, you don't have to specify the exact character class at the beginning of the game. Kingdoms of Amalur also allows you to reset your spent skill points. Therefore, you can undo your decisions if you're not happy with them. You don't have to start a campaign all over again to create a different character.

It's worth sneaking around and setting up traps

The hero can go into stealth mode after pressing the right key and this is an excellent opportunity to sneak up on the opponent and back-stab him. Traps work well in those locations where you can spot your opponents and you have some time to prepare for a fight. There is a good chance that skillfully placed traps will seriously weaken your enemies or even kill them immediately.

Keep a lot of health potions in your inventory

In the early stages of the game you have to rely on replenishing your supply of healing items by trading with vendors. Fortunately, some other opportunities become available in the later part of the campaign.

Try to open every chest

They have been divided into two main groups - chests that can be opened with lockpicks and chests which have magical protection, the so-called wards. Wards can be removed by playing a special mini-game. Initially, focus on opening chests with low security, but as the game progresses, try opening the ones that have better wards (because they contain more valuable loot).

Repair your equipment on a regular basis

The hero's equipment is progressively loosing durability as more battles are taking place. Unfortunately, this is a process that cannot be completely stopped. Items used by your character can be repaired by using special repair kits (bought or found in the game world) or by visiting blacksmiths and paying them for repair services.

Try to thoroughly explore all newly visited lands

This will allow you to receive new side quests. By completing secondary missions you will make your character stronger. Also, you will be able to join one of the in-game factions and receive unique rewards. Remember to search for Lorestones while exploring the maps. Finding sets of these boulders allows you to permanently increase hero stats.

Buy backpacks that may extend your inventory

During the main campaign of the game you can acquire a total of five backpacks and each one adds 10 new inventory slots. This will allow you to carry more items found in the game world. In other words, you won't have to frequently return to places where you can get rid of unnecessary loot.

Select persuasion option whenever possible

The dialogue options associated with persuasion may appear during various quests. Remember to save your progress before choosing such a dialog option, as any attempt of using persuasion has a % chance rate of success. Successful attempts may result in, for example, completing a quest in a different way or receiving additional rewards from the NPC.

Search for hidden secrets and containers

You can easily notice that they're in the vicinity, because the controller will start vibrating a bit if you get near any secret. Examine the area thoroughly, for example, by checking every pile of stones. A successful search may get you some unique loot.