Ori and the Will of the Wisps: Tips & Tricks to get started

In our tips guide to Ori and the Will of the Wisps we show you:

  • Which ghost shards you absolutely need
  • How to control Ori the right way
  • Where to get new abilities
  • How to unlock fast travel

In Ori and the Will of the Wisps you help a little ghost in his search for his owl friend Ku. The classic Metroidvania for PC and Xbox One () is packed with various quests, tricky puzzles and lots of monsters that want to get at you.

Find out which achievements you can expect in our achievement guide for Ori and the Will of the Wisps. Here in our tips guide we show you how to survive the mysterious land of Niwen and bring Ori home unharmed.

How do I save the game in Ori and the Will of the Wisps?

Manual saving is only possible in ghost portals. Ori and the Will of the Wisps saves your progress automatically. If you die, the game will send you back to the nearest area. This, however, can be unpleasant.

If you end up in an unfavorable environment, such as a hidden cave, from which you can't get out - don't worry! The game creates up to ten back-up saves in a game save in relatively short periods of time.

Go back to the main menu, continue the game and select the desired back-up save in your save game. There you will also find the menu item "DeepL Access", which will allow you to travel directly to the unlocked ghost races. You can read more about this in the last section of this guide.

What are Ghost Shards and where can I find them?

Ghost shards equip Ori with new characteristics and abilities. Some of them the little ghost masters automatically, others you have to assign to him. You can activate a total of three attack abilities at the same time using the ability wheel.

Ghost Shards represent the abilities of the little ghost in Ori and the Will of the Wisps.

In the Ghost Shard menu, you select Ori's properties. At the beginning, you can activate three different trait shards at the same time, but more later.

Ghost shards and abilities can be found in hidden places or by absorbing light from energy trees. Some are offered for sale by the merchants Opher and Twillen, or you can get them as rewards. In our Inkmoor quest guide for Ori and the Will of the Wisps, we'll soon show you how to get the first Ghost Shard expansion.

The most important spirit shards and tips for combat

Ori's first and most important melee weapon is the Ghost Blade. You can find it in Howl's lair in Ink Bog. When you meet Opher for the first time, he will offer you an ability at a special price - choose the Ghost Blade.

With the Ghost Blade, you'll be ready for melee combat.

These two melee weapons do not consume energy points. Energy weapons are useless once Ori's blue bar is depleted. However, if you activate the Spirit Shard "Life Pact", energy weapons will consume health points instead.

In addition to a powerful all-around strike, the Spirit Strike also has a powerful thrust attack. Hold down the attack key and the down direction key when you are in the air. With this attack, you can blast even fragile floors.

With the ghost bow you can defend yourself against flying enemies. Enhance it with the ghost shards "Split" and "Quick Shot" to fire multiple arrows at the same time with less reload time.

Ori can combine different attacks. Press the attack button several times and in different directions or while jumping. Use the environment and try to push enemies into spikes or energy bars. Armored opponents can be knocked out with the Spirit Strike.

Some enemies explode shortly after you defeat them. Be careful not to take any unnecessary damage. In the Ink Bog you will find an energy tree that equips you with the double jump.

Try it out right away and jump onto the platform at the top right. Hidden there is the ghost shard "Sticky", which Ori uses to stick to walls. With the "Triple Jump" and "Sprint" upgrades, you can reach almost every corner in Niwen.

How to jump, swim and swing with Ori through Niwen

Ori learns a lot during the course of the game. Skills such as "Sprint and Burrow" or "Poke and Grapple" are permanently available to you. You don't have to equip them like other ghost shards, and they are assigned fixed keys.

Once you've cleared the water, Ori may also submerge.

If you press the sprint button several times in a row, Ori will quickly roll along the ground. It's also great for dodging enemies. If you press it in the air - for example, after a long jump combination - you can also reach distant levels.

If you jump on sand and press the sprint key when landing, Ori burrows into it. Use the direction keys to move him around. Hold down the sprint button to speed up and jump when leaving the sand to make Ori launch himself high into the air. You can also use this ability on the hanging sandbags.

You can use the throwing hook to hook onto blue plants and push off of green lanterns. Once you are in range, a blue circle will appear on the plant. Press the hook/push button and Ori will pull himself to his target. If you jump at a green lantern, an enemy or a projectile, hold down the same button.

Use the throwing hook to swing around in Ori and the Will of the Wisps.

A white arrow appears, which you can turn in any direction. Release the button and Ori will push off. You can also use it to direct projectiles into crumbling walls or push enemies into deadly spikes.

You'll soon learn where to find the grappling hook in our Wellspring Quest Guide to Ori and the Will of the Wisps. We will also show you how to solve the puzzle of Tokk's stone notes in the Midnight Caves.

If you dive under with Ori, a white air bar will appear above his head. Use the sprint button to swim faster. However, you can only safely enter the waters in Niwen once you have driven the rot out of the well spring.

The most important NPCs in Ori and the Will of the Wisps

Opher deals with various skills and weapons. For example, you can get the Spirit Strike or the ability to breathe under water from him. Twillen sells and refines spirit shards.

The friendly characters in Ori and the Will of the Wisps support you as much as they can.

Some of his enhancements you'll unlock in the course of the game before you can buy them. He is also an expert in gems. If you find a rough diamond, bring it to Twillen.

Lupo will give you the maps of the sections where you will find him. Once you have freed the water from the rot, you can visit him in his house in the Fountain Spring Glade.

You can find Lupo's houseyou can get to the right by jumping off the bridge next to Tokk, swimming to the right, and surfacing in the second underwater cave. There he offers you enhancements that reveal ghost shards, energy and life cells on the cards.

The friendly bird Tokk, like Lupo, Twillen and Opher, appears in various places in Niwen. You'll also meet the Moki again and again. Tokk and the little forest dwellers will help you with clues or offer you side quests.

Grom builds up the clearing and keeps the buildings in good condition. Bring him Gorlek ore and he will repair a destroyed ghost portal for you, among other things. Motay will show you all your stats and Tuley is responsible for reforesting the clearing. If you find unusual seeds, bring them to him.

Keep Ori fit with these items

In Niwen you can find various items that you need to survive. Ori has two status indicators: A green bar for his health and a blue one for energy. Both bars have blue and green orbs for restoration.

Fragments permanently expand Ori's health and energy bars

You can find them in green hanging fruit and blue crystals. If you have the Spirit Shard "Regeneration" Ori can use energy to replenish his life bar. If you find two fragments of a life or energy cell, the respective value will permanently increase by one point.

Spirit lights are the currency in Niwen. You can exchange them at the merchants Opher, Twillen and Lupo for new abilities, traits or improvements. You can find small and large spirit light vessels in hidden places, in sand or water. They often serve as rewards in quests.

Defeated enemies drop small amounts of ghost lights, energy and health orbs. With the Ghost Shard "Magnet", Ori automatically attracts these orbs. You can have the range improved by Twillen.

Fast travel, ghost races and battle shrines in Ori and the Will of the Wisps

You can only open ghost gates if you find the corresponding keystones. They are always hidden in the immediate vicinity of the gates. At ghost g ates you save the game and at the same time fully recharge your health and energy. You can also travel back and forth between already discovered portals.

Battle shrines reward you with powerful spirit shards

If you find the start and end points of a ghost trial, you'll be allowed to run a ghost race. In ghost races, you compete against other real players in a race to the finish line. The ghost of the fastest on the course is projected into your race.

The high score and your ranking will be displayed at the beginning and end of the race. Memorize the course well, you'll receive a hefty ghost light reward for a win.

If you find a battle shrine in Ori and the Will of the Wisps, you'll face off against a variety of opponents. In several rounds you'll encounter waves of monsters that are characteristic of each map area.

If you defeat them all in one go, you'll be rewarded with a spirit shard. Don't be afraid to activate a battle shrine more than once. You will receive Ghost Lights for each additional successful run.

More guides to Ori and the Will of the Wisps

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