Overview
“If it is worth doing, it is worth doing to completion.” -Aphorisms 97
Introduction
This guide has Spoilers! (only warning)
Hello fellow Priesthood of Mars, welcome to my Ark Mechanicus! The Quest for Knowlegde brought you my guide as you search for perfection. This guide is written in non-binary so it can be understood by unaugmented humans. Feel free to use your Servo-skulls Pict Recorder [Ctrl+F] to search for particular achievements.
Does this game need an achievements guide?
The descriptions of most of the achievements are quite self explainatory. But maybe you need to know some specific details. Or you’re at the point where you ask yourself if you should complete the game with 100%, and need a guide to make a rough assessment of the work ahead. This guide provides you with all the information without having you to grind the steam discussions too much.
Minimum number of playthroughs?
In theory it should be possible to complete the game in 2 playthroughs (1 for Scaevola-ending / 1 for Videx-ending; while one of the runs has to be with the “ironman”-setting, so you can’t save/load for the alternate ending).
Unfortunately I wasn’t able to trigger Scaevolas 12th mission on my first playthrough, after I already completed Khepras and Tiresus questlines, so it took 3 playthroughs to 100% for me. Some players report about having a similar experience.
It might take some pressure off your runs if you spread the achievements to 3+ runs, but it will take considerably more time to complete.
Should I go for 100% on this game?
Completing the achievements will let you play every mission and experience all the lore. Also you will get a number of rare/shiny achievements, which is always nice. After your first playthrough the game might become a little repetitive. I suggest you play your first game the way you like to get to know the game (maybe just a few achievements along the way 🙂 and decide afterwards if you want to complete the achievements. If you feel at home in the Warhammer universe and enjoy leading your little Tech-Priests into battle you will probably enjoy the challenge the achievements provide.
I personally enjoyed every minute of the game and I found it most relaxing to play after work, when I was too tired for any fast-paced action games.
Thank you for reading my guide! Now go get yourself those achievements already! 😀
Heavy Grav-cannon goes brrrrr
Gameplay
Survive the first mission
This comes with natural progression. Play the first mission and survive if it’s the Omnissiahs will. You can connect this with the next achievement:
Complete a mission without using any Canticles
You can have Canticles selected, just don’t use them for an entire mission and you get the achievement. Doing so also gives you the Canticle “Cant of the craft” (The next Physical attack will deal +3/+6/+9 Physical DMG). Repeat for a total of three missions to get to Cantical lvl 3 (+9 Physical DMG).
You will get this achievement as natural progression when you aim for the achievement “No Omnissian Guidance”.
Reach 50% in the awakening gauge
This comes with natural progression on one of your playthroughs. The Necron Awakening progress on Silva Tenebris is shown in the top left corner on the bridge of the Caestus Metalican (the Ark Mechanicus, your ship). You can even click on the portrait of Magos Dominus Faustinius for a more detailed view. Just do missions until you get to +50% awakening.
On an earlier version of this game, every finished mission increased the awakening gauge with a minimum of +3 awakening. This is changed now and you can get out of missions with +/- 0 awakening if you play efficiently. So in theory this achievement might be missable.
“The circuits are complete. The engine of fate is primed. One turn of the cog remains, and the grand machine shall fulfill its purpose.” -Logistae Septimus, 21.4
Difficulty settings
Complete the game in hard mode
Complete the game in Very Hard mode
I can confirm, you will get both achievements if you finish a game on „Very Hard“.
If you play “Very Hard” on your second or third playthrough and know how the game works, you should be good, even if you don’t play perfectly. Combine this with a Scaevola/Videx-ending if needed. Although the games overall difficulty is very easy, I suggest you don’t try a “permadeath” run with this setting.
Alternative solution:
As suggested in the comments, you can play any other difficulty and change the difficulty setting to “very hard” just before the final mission or even load up an old save and change the difficulty setting.
“No task that is easy is ever worthwhile.” -Amaranthine Verses 78.12
Unlock Troop units
Unlock Skitarii Ranger
Unlock Skitarii Ranger Alpha
Unlock Skitarii Vanguard
Unlock Skitarii Vanguard Alpha
Unlock Kataphron Breacher
Unlock Kataphron Breacher
You get additional troops as mission rewards. If you look for a particular troop unit, take a look at the preview of each missions rewards. The mission rewards seem to be semi-random for every player. However Khepra gives the most troop related rewards due to her position on the Caestus Metalican. If you miss a troop at the end of your last playthrough (very unlikely), I suggest to load up a save game on an easier diffiuculty and do all leftover missions until you find your troop.
There are two more troops in the DLC (see below).
“Blessed is he who, in death, does his duty.” -Conceptua Comprehensis
Bosses
Defeat Agrolekh
Defeat Ekropis
Defeat Ubjao
Defeat Mhelob
Defeat Neftusk
Defeat Szaregon
You will get these achievements by killing the bosses in Captrix missions. You need to play missions in the related sectors to unlock the sectors boss fight. If you missed any boss fight before the final encounter with Szaregon, all bosses you haven’t killed will appear in the final battle together with Szaregon (Mission: “Twilight of the gods”). I can confirm you still get achievements for killing bosses in the final battle instead of their own Captrix-mission.
“The xenos must be purged, for the stars are humanity’s birthright.” -Psalms Hermeticus 46
Defeat Szaregon before the final countdown
When the Necron Awakening progress on Silva Tenebris reaches 100% you will be locked out of every other mission than the final battle against Szaregon (Captix Mission: “Twilight of the gods”).
To get this achievement you can start the boss fight early (anytime before the Awakening progress reaches 100%). If you aim for one of the special endings, make sure to save your game before you start the mission so you can come back and do more missions.
“If His Will be done, let it be done quickly.” -Neodogmatics 71.90
Disciplines
Have a Tech-Priest unlock a full Discipline tree
Have a Tech-Priest unlock two full Discipline trees
Both achievements will almost surely come with natural progression in one of your playthroughs. If you only upgrade in two Disciplines you will get the achievement as soon as your Tech-Priest reaches Rank 19.
“A tech-priest does not have hunches. He immerses himself in vast knowledge that is the Omnissiah’s gift, and takes whatever course of action is revealed thereby. No matter how onerous it may be.” -Aphorisms 90
Questlines and endings
These achievements require you to play the different questlines given you by the NPC on the Caestus Metalican.
There are three possible endings for this game:
1. Neutral Ending
Don’t Side with Scaevola or Videx. This doesn’t give you any achievement, so I suggest to aim for a sided ending if possible.
2. Side with Scaevola
Play Scaevola’s 12th mission “The Verge of Omniscience” and defeat Szaregon afterwards.
3. Side with Videx
Play Videx 12th mission “Into the Breach” and defeat Szaregon afterwards.
Reach a four Tech-Priest cohort
Reach a six Tech-Priest cohort
To get these achievements you need to play Khepras questline, as she is the only NPC who rewards you with additional Tech-Priests. As rewards are semi-random, you will unlock your 6th Tech-Priest on any of her 11 missions.
When you’re already diving into Khepras missions, consider to finish the questline (11 missions) to unlock more of the troops units (see achievements above).
Find and unlock a hidden moment
To get this achievement you need to play Tiresus questline and defeat the secret boss on his 7th mission. To show this hidden NPC, press “Spacebar” (Noospheric View) on the bridge of the Caestus Metalican.
Side with Scaevola
To get this achievement you need to complete Scaevola’s questline and defeat Szaregon. Playing her 12th mission “The Verge of Omniscience” excludes you from Videx 12th mission. You can still play any of Videx other missions if you like, exept his 12th mission.
To be sure you get the desired ending, play the 12th mission right before the final bossfight.
“10001110101.” -Clutch
Side with Videx
To get this achievement you need to complete Videx questline and defeat Szaregon. Playing his 12th mission “Into the Breach” excludes you from Scaevolas 12th mission. You can still play any of Scaevolas other missions if you like, exept her 12th mission.
To be sure you get the desired ending, play the 12th mission right before the final bossfight.
“Enough fire in the right place can solve any problem.” -Colloquialisms of Metalica, Chapter 52
Additional settings
The following six achievements can all be done in one playthrough (plus a possible Scaevola-/Videx-ending if needed). Select a New Game in the menu. Although the overall difficulty of the game is easy, choose “casual” if you want to be save. Make your choices in the “Additional Settings” and the “Customise Difficulty” menu. The game tells you whether you’re able to get a new achievement or you locked yourself out of all achievements.
Complete the game with the setting “AoE weapon” disabled at the start of a game
No AoE weapons in the loot pool with this setting. This is irrelevant if you go for the “Melee Only” achievement anyway.
Complete the game with the setting “Melee Only” selected at the start of a game
I really enjoyed playing with this setting! A four Tech-Prist cohort on “casual” is overkill.
Skills: Build your healer and your cognition generator Tech-Priests as usual and then go for the Traveller skill for Explorators. Build a Secutor Tech-Priest for additional troops (yes, troops can still shoot).
Gear: Guns are disabeld and taken from the loot pool, so you get to the good Axes really fast. Look out for mission rewards that upgrade your Axes, Cognition Gauge, Curatio Mechadendrite and Power Field Generators. Use Infestus Mechadendrites for death blows so you don’t have to use your main weapons.
Playstyle: Just boost your Priests with Field Generators and make maximum use of Opportunity Attacks. Troops are nice for damage from distance.
Complete the game with the setting “Canticle number” equals 0 at the start of a game
Set “Maximum Canticles per mission” to 0. You can still earn Canticles, but you will not be able to select them for a mission. Canticles from your Tech-Priest’s disciplines (like the Tech-Auxilium’s “Bless”, or the Secutor’s “Command”) can still be used. If you play on casual difficulty, you will not really miss anything with this setting activated.
Complete the game with the “Ironman” mode activated
The setting “Enable Ironman” means you can’t save the game. The game still autosaves, but better don’t rely on that. If you have to interrupt your sacred duty in the name of the Omnissiah, you can “Continue” your game from the main menu. I wouldn’t risk to load any other saved games during this playthrough.
Complete the game with the “Permadeath” mode activated
With the setting “Enable Permadeath”, dead Tech-Priests are not revived after a mission and stay dead. Use Servitors to shield your Tech-Priests from damage in the first missions. Bring some Curatio Mechadendrites and Curatio Claws if you can. If you play on “Causual” your Tech-Priests can tank almost anything themselves. Careful with DLC-missions though! Better avoid the DLC in the early and mid-game just to be save.
Complete the game after starting with 0 Blackstone
Go to “Customise Difficulty” and set “Starting Blackstone” to 0. You still get the +200 Blackstone from selecting “Casual” difficulty.
DLC Heretek (hidden achievements)
You can activate the DLC-content in the “Additional Settings” when starting a new game. Doing so gives you access to 5 new missions given to you by the new NPC Magos Xerxetes.
Unlock Sicarian Infiltrator
Unlock Sicarian Rustalker
Just like in the vanilla version you can get the additional troops as mission rewards (any mission, not just Xerxetes questline).
Complete the game with the Heretek content activated
Kill Epsilus Dammek-Yoth in Xerxetes 5th mission and finish the game afterwards (Kill Overlord Szaregon in “Twilight of the Gods”). I can confirm you can still get a Scaevola/Videx-ending after killing the DLC-boss.
The description for this achievement says: “Complete the game with the Heretek content activated”. This implies that you don’t have to complete Xerxetes questline to get the achievement. Can someone confirm this in the comments? However, the final batte of the DLC is pretty cool, so I suggest to play it anyway 😀
The achievement description is hidden until you earn it. “Purge the Heretek” suggests you have to kill the DLC-boss. But as confirmed in the comments, you only have to finish a game with DLC content activated, just like the description says. No need to play any of Xerxetes missions.
“Obliterate his words, cut out his tongue, put to fire all wrought by his hand, and the heretic shall cease to exist.” -Gathalamorians 714.5
Guide recommendations
“Inefficiency is a slope whereupon one slides ever downwards, by degrees, until one reaches the nadir of unknowing.” -Canticles Borealis, 6.15
I highly recommend these Steam Community guides for more efficiency on the missions map:
[link]
[link]
Give those guys a thumbs up for their great guides!
Thanks again for reading and have some fun getting yourself those shiny achievements!
*warp jumps away*