Overview
A collection of combat tips from my game experience to help you fight more effectively.
Introduction
After playing through Guacamelee! on both normal and hard modes, I learned a lot about the game’s combat system in doing so. I created this guide to share what I learned and hopefully help others fight more effectively and perhaps make it past a fight that feels impossible.
Moves
Basic moves:
Basic moves are always available (with the exception of double jump and dimensional shift which are unlocked through the story.)
- A: Jump. Double jump is also available later in the game.
- X: Punch. Your basic attack. Can be comboed up to 3 times with the third attack knocking weaker enemies back. When used in the air it prevents you from falling while attacking.
- Up+X: Luchador Lift. Sends weaker enemies up into the air. A second hit will knock the enemy back as well. This is your weakest attack and is very useful for building up your combo for combat challenges. Can only be used while on the ground.
- Down+X: Downercut. Sends an enemy down towards the ground. Useful for knocking flying enemies to the ground when they aren’t weak enough to throw. Can only be used while airborne.
- LT: Dodge. Dodges any non-fire attacks.
- RT: Dimensional Shift. Changes dimensions in order to hit targets in the other dimension. You can still be hit by enemies in the opposite dimension but you can’t hit them.
Special moves:
Special moves are unlocked through the story as you progress through the game. All special moves use one unit of stamina and will knock enemies back. Your character will turn red when out of stamina and be unable to execute special moves until some stamina regenerates.
- Up+B: Rooster Uppercut. Combines Jump and Luchador Lift to send both you and your target into the air. Useful for reaching platforms out of reach of jumping.
- B: Olmec’s Headbutt. The most powerful attack in your arsenal. Large knockback.
- Down+B: Frog Slam. A downward attack that continues until you hit the ground. Can only be used while airborne.
- Left/Right+B: Dashing Derpderp. Performs a sideways dash attack.
- Up+Y(on wall): Goat Climb. Performs an upwards attack until you hit the ceiling or lose contact with the wall. Very limited use in combat.
- Left/Right(away from wall)+Y(on wall): Goat Fly. Performs a sideways flying attack until you hit a wall. Limited use in combat.
Special throws
Special throws are unlocked through the checkpoint store. They are executed by pressing the button combination during a throw.
- Left/Right(opposite direction your character is facing)+B: Suplex. Slams your target into the ground, knocking other enemies down in a large AOE.
- Down+B: Piledriver. Does large damage to your target and knocks nearby enemies down.
- Left/Right(direction your character is facing)+B: Das Boot. Throws your target a long distance horizontally.
Basic Combat Tips
- Take out enemies with ranged attacks first. It will make the rest of the fight a lot easier.
- You are invulnerable while throwing. Use throws whenever possible.
- Aim your throws to knock other enemies down and utilize Suplex if they are on both sides. When enemies are knocked down they can’t attack you.
- Cacti can be defeated by throwing an enemy into them as well as their grenades. They are also the only enemy that cannot be dodged through or hit with melee attacks.
- Dashing Derpderp can be used to knock armadillos out of their fire attack.
- Use special moves to control large numbers of enemies. Special moves will knock back all enemies except giants.
- The giant’s pound attack counts as a fire attack even though it is green.
- Giants are vulnerable from behind while executing their pound attack.
- Enemies can be knocked back even when they have a shield active.
- Each special move can only be used once between touches of the ground (barring Goat Climb and Goat Fly.)
- Olmec’s Headbutt can be used to juggle enemies against a wall (even some bosses!)
- Don’t be afraid to interrupt a combo in order to dodge. It’s more important to save your health than do damage fast.
- In some situations, jumping is a better idea than dodging to avoid an attack.
- Dodging through an enemy can be a better idea than dodging away, such as for the jaguar skeleton’s fire attack.
- Use a special move in place of a third basic punch attack in a combo for extra damage. My favorite is Olmec’s Headbutt.
Advanced Combat Tips
- If your timing is right, you can chain a throw and a dodge together to prevent being hit when the throw ends.
- While executing a throw, perform a Dimensional Shift to throw your target into enemies in the other dimension.
- Dodge can be used to cancel special moves, allowing them to be safely used in tight spots.
- Dodge cancelling is also useful for speeding up special move impacts. For instance, hit dodge just before hitting the ground with Frog Slam to skip the impact animation.
- Juggle strong enemies in the air to keep them incapacitated using combinations of basic attacks and special moves. It is possible to defeat jaguar skeletons and skeleton priests without them ever being able to attack. This is not always possible when playing on hard mode since these enemies gain extra evasion skills.
Useful Combos
- Punch, Punch, Olmec’s Headbutt/Dashing Derpderp: Adds a bit of extra damage and knockback to your basic combo. Also useful when airborne for fighting enemies such as giants.
- Punch, Punch, Uppercut, Jump, Punch, Punch, Slam, Frog Slam: A quick juggle attack.
- Rooster Uppercut, Punch, Punch, Slam, Frog Slam, repeat: A good way to juggle strong enemies. Do not use basic attacks to start because you need to knock strong enemies down immediately. Throw when possible and use Piledriver, interrupting the combo if a throw is available.
Conclusion
I hope this guide was able to help somebody. If anyone has any additional tips I can add to the guide, let me know!