Overview
A short guide on robbing shopkeepers in the two most reliable ways I’ve found
How to rob the first shop
To kill the shopkeep, stand on top of the second item from the shopkeep as seen in the picture above. You need to be as close to the center of the item as possible. If you’re skewed too much to one side it can mess up the timing, so try to be as centered as you can. After that, TAP the jump button and bomb button at the same time. It’s important that you TAP the jump button and not hold it, if you hold it you’ll jump too high and this will not work. Assuming you TAP jump and throw a bomb, you should get just enough height to dodge the shopkeep’s bullets while also landing on his head as he runs under you.
After you land on his head you’ll have just a few seconds to react before he gets back up so you’re gonna have to be quick. While the shopkeep is unconscious, run and pick up his shotgun and blast him until he’s dead. You should get some distance before you do this so he can’t hit you while you’re trying to kill him. Items such as bombs and jetpacks may explode if shot with the shotgun or blown up by bombs so take that into consideration before robbing.
You can also use certain items from the shop for an easier kill. Items such as the freeze ray, shotgun, and metal shield can all be used to kill the shopkeeper without using any resources. Be careful with the shield though, you can use it to squish the shopkeeper but it will also squish any items between your shield and the wall. You don’t wanna lose out on that extra loot and bombs will explode when squished.
How to steal explosive items (Or anything, without using a bomb)
As I previously mentioned, certain items such as bombs and jetpacks will explode if shot or hit with a bomb. I’ve found a new way to rob shopkeeps of these items without blowing them up, and it may even be a better choice depending on how many ropes/bombs you have. To start, enter the shop and pick up the explosive item you want to steal. Next the shopkeeper will walk towards you, when he’s on the same tile as you, use a rope. Again, this will knock out the shopkeeper long enough for you to quickly pick up his shotgun and finish him off. Because the item was in your hands, it should instantly equip or go into your inventory the second the shopkeeper is damaged. If you’ve got more ropes than bombs or would rather spend a rope than a bomb, this method works better than the first one. It is also generally easier and less potentially explosive.
That’s about it, using these methods you should have no problem robbing shopkeeps. It may take some practice but eventually you’ll get the hang of it. Keep in mind though, that after this you’ll be hunted by shopkeeps until you die, so watch out for them at the level exits.