The best Halls of Torment build depends on your character, unlocked gear, and preferred damage style. In Pocket Gamer’s guide updated October 5, 2026 for version 1.1.1495, the five recommendations are a flexible beginner template, Swordsman, Archer, Exterminator, and Cleric. The Cleric build is about area, piercing, and attack speed—not critical hits; for crit-focused play, the Archer is the clearest fit.
These are the guide’s recommendations, not independently verified rankings. Treat item and ability choices as starting points: builds can be adjusted to your unlocks and difficulty, and balance changes may alter what works best.
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How to choose among the five builds
Choose by the kind of damage you want to build around, then check whether you have the equipment and progression needed. The beginner template is deliberately flexible; the other four lean on more specific items, marks, or ability combinations.
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- Want a forgiving starting point? Use the beginner template as a foundation and adapt it to your available upgrades.
- Want critical hits and projectiles? The Archer emphasizes critical chance and bonus, with Phantom Needles as its first suggested ability.
- Prefer close-range area damage? The Swordsman combines attack speed and area scaling with several offensive abilities.
- Want burn damage? The Exterminator centers on burn chance and fire-focused equipment.
- Want area and piercing rather than crit? The Cleric’s stated goal is to scale Radiant Aura and attack speed.
Mobility, survivability, item availability, difficulty, and the current game patch all affect how a build feels. The guide does not establish a universal winner or provide independently verified performance comparisons.
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1. Beginner template: build around what you have
The guide uses Exterminator as its example, but presents this as a flexible early-game template rather than a specialized endgame setup. It is intended for players who may not yet have the equipment, Blessings, or Compendium bonuses needed for more focused builds.
Starting equipment and abilities
Begin with Plated Boots and Plated Armor as a defensive foundation. The suggested abilities are Dragon’s Breath and Flame Strike.
What to prioritize
Develop burn chance and burn damage, then consider force and attack speed alongside movement and defensive stats. The guide identifies Dragon’s Breath burn as the main damage source in this example; its reported end-of-run damage should not be treated as a general expectation.
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This setup combines attack speed, damage, and area of effect. Wind Crown is the core helmet, and the guide’s equipment choices support offense while leaving room for survivability.
Equipment
- Wind Crown
- Collar of Confidence
- Blood-Soaked Shirt
- Quickhand Gloves
- Spike Boots or Berserker Boots
- Guiding Star with Echoing Band, or the guide’s listed alternatives
Abilities and priorities
The suggested abilities are Radiant Aura, Astronomer’s Orbs, Lightning Strikes, and either Flame Strike or Transfixion. Prioritize attack speed and area, then build crit, pickup range, and survivability to suit your run.
3. Archer: projectiles and critical hits
Of these five recommendations, Archer is the most direct choice for a critical-hit build. Its setup is designed around projectiles, critical chance, and critical bonus, with movement helping you kite groups and sustain.
Equipment
- Wind Crown
- Blood Catcher
- Blood-Soaked Shirt
- Quickhand Gloves
- Running Boots or Berserker Boots
- The guide’s listed ring choices
Ability order and priorities
Start with Phantom Needles, then add Lightning Strikes, Transfixion, and Flame Strike. Focus on critical chance and bonus, damage, attack speed, and force; movement speed supports the build’s kiting style.
4. Exterminator: make burn the centerpiece
Exterminator is the guide’s fire-focused option. The main recommendation builds around Flame Crown, Ring of Fire, and Flame Strike, with area and burn chance emphasized early.
Equipment and abilities
The equipment list includes Collar of Confidence, Blazing Shell, Sparking Tips, Firewalker Boots, and the guide’s listed ring and mark alternatives. Its suggested abilities are Dragon’s Breath, Flame Strike, Astronomer’s Orbs, and Lightning Strikes.
Burn-first, with a crit alternative
For the primary setup, prioritize area and burn chance to support its fire damage pattern. The guide also mentions Mark of the Arrow as an alternative crit approach; that is distinct from the core burn-first recommendation.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.5. Cleric: scale area and piercing, not crit
The Cleric entry is the “cool cleric” side of the title, but it is not a critical-hit build. Its stated aim is to scale area and piercing—especially through Radiant Aura—alongside attack speed.
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- Wind Crown
- Collar of Confidence or Jade Amulet
- Hunter’s Garb or Blood-Soaked Shirt
- Quickhand Gloves or Hunting Gloves
- Spike Boots or Electrostatic Treads
- Guiding Star or Seal of Rebirth
Abilities and priorities
Use Radiant Aura, Lightning Strikes, Phantom Needles, and Astronomer’s Orbs as the suggested ability set. Prioritize attack speed and damage, followed by area and range; force and pickup are also listed considerations.
What the October 2026 patch announcement means for these builds
Chasing Carrots’ October 5, 2026 announcement described changes on the experimental branch and said a main update was planned for October 22. The announcement said the branch would continue receiving updates before that release. Its proposed balance changes could affect how these recommendations perform, so experimental figures should not be read as confirmed main-branch values.
- Enemy health was set to increase by 50% in the announced experimental changes.
- Additional enemy health and defense per Torment level was proposed to rise to 10%, from 9%.
- Stage kill targets were proposed to increase from 12,000 to 30,000.
- Movement speed was proposed to rise by about 20% for most characters and about 10% for Norseman.
These figures are from the official experimental-branch announcement, not independently measured benchmarks or guaranteed current constants. Check the live game version before using them to judge a build.
Sources and scope
The build recommendations and version date come from Pocket Gamer’s Halls of Torment builds guide, updated October 5, 2026 for version 1.1.1495. The announced experimental changes are from Chasing Carrots’ official Halls of Torment announcement. Steam describes Halls of Torment as a game; these recommendations concern in-game equipment, not physical products or required peripherals.
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