Things to Do First in The Stone of Madness

Summary

• Finish the prologue twice for two different campaigns.
• Rethink solutions – puzzles have multiple routes.
• Study books to level up quicker and transfer items wisely.

The Game Kitchen, the studio behind Blasphemous, has recently launched its latest action-strategy title, The Stone of Madness. Given the critical acclaim of their previous games, this new release is likely to attract plenty of beginners eager to try it out based on the developers’ reputation. With that in mind, we’ve compiled a list of ten essential beginner tips to help newcomers quickly grasp the gameplay and tackle puzzles like seasoned pros.

That said, Stone of Madness beginners should note that some of these tips may contain minor spoilers. While we’ve done our best to keep things spoiler-free, certain mechanics and story elements were unavoidable.

10

Finish Prologue Twice in Two Separate Save Files

There Are Two Campaigns

At the end of the prologue, which serves as the game’s tutorial, players will face a choice: give the Madness Stone to the corrupted priest or exchange it for a mysterious key. Each option leads to a distinct campaign with its own set of puzzles. The priest’s path is shorter, while the key’s path is slightly longer.

To avoid replaying the lengthy prologue, players should create two save files right from the start. This way, they can revisit this decision point later without repeating early sections. Additionally, players might forget the solutions to the prologue’s puzzles by the time they complete the game, which makes a separate save file a real time-saver.

9

There Is More Than One Solution to Puzzles

Being Creative Is Rewarded

The Game Kitchen’s new action-strategy title is far from a simple “go there, solve that, leave” experience. Each mission offers multiple paths, with puzzles featuring a variety of solutions. The game actively encourages players to get creative and experiment with unique approaches to each challenge.

Additionally, players can manipulate the game world before starting each day. For example, Alfredo can stop the Anima from spawning the following day, while Amelia can disable the guards’ rifles the night before. Agnes, on the other hand, can cast a spell to put all the guards to sleep. These mechanics open up unique ways to solve the game’s puzzles.

Many of the alternative puzzle solutions are intentionally designed, as the developers anticipated players might take different routes to progress. However, some solutions arise spontaneously due to the game’s dynamic mechanics. For instance, a player might successfully sprint through a group of guards simply because they happened to look away at the right moment, even though they normally shouldn’t.

8

Knowledge Is Everything

Study Books to Level Up

Alfredo can study books found by him and his companions, which increases the team’s “Knowledge,” a currency used to unlock new skills. Beginners should focus on collecting as many books as possible early in the game, as this is essential for upgrading characters and solving puzzles more efficiently.

Higher-value books that grant more Knowledge are often found in riskier chests and loot boxes, but they can also appear in random locations on the map. Players should stay vigilant, prioritize searching for them, and transfer them to the Cell Chest promptly to secure their progress.

Reading books consumes Action Points, so players should manage them wisely. A separate tip on efficiently farming Action Points can be found later in this post.

7

Transfer Items Using Cell Chests

Teleportation Is a Thing

In The Stone of Madness, there are moments when the team is split, with one group exploring a floor while the other waits for an item, like a key, to progress. In such cases, the group with the item doesn’t need to travel back to the other party. Instead, they can place the item in the floor’s Cell Chest, allowing the other group to retrieve it from their own floor’s Cell Chest.

Additionally, managing each character’s inventory is crucial. Characters can only use items that are in their own inventory. If a key item or piece of equipment is picked up by the wrong character, players must transfer it to the correct one. This can be done by having the characters approach each other and pressing the interact button.

6

Conceal Knocked Out Enemies

Hidden Guards Cannot Wake Up

Eduardo, Agnes, and Leonora have skills to knock out enemies, but these incapacitated guards will wake up after a short time, potentially causing issues during forbidden acts. To avoid this, players should drag the unconscious bodies and hide them in bushes, closets, or chests, as concealed enemies cannot wake up.

This strategy is especially important when Alfredo is in the party. His phobia of violence and dead bodies can create problems, so it’s best to keep him away from such triggers by hiding knocked-out or killed guards as soon as possible.

5

Don’t Let Insanity Turn Into Disorders

Disorders Are Not Easily Recovered

A standout mechanic in The Stone of Madness is the Insanity Meter. When a character is exposed to their fears or phobias, their Sanity gradually depletes, bringing them closer to total Insanity. If left unchecked, this can trigger a Shock phase, temporarily incapacitating the character and potentially giving them a new Disorder.

Disorders act as additional debuffs. For instance, Agnes might develop Rheumatism after a Shock, which slows her down and hinders sprinting. Unlike phobias, Disorders are not permanent and can be cured, but players must first unlock a specific skill in Agnes’ skill tree to do so.

4

Invest in Lockpicks

Always Have Some in the Inventory

Leonora’s lockpicking ability is essential for solving puzzles, but it’s also crucial for accessing treasure chests and hidden doors scattered throughout each map in The Stone of Madness. These locked areas can provide valuable rewards and shortcuts.

To be prepared, players should craft plenty of Lockpicks before entering each map, as they won’t always know when a treasure chest or hidden door will appear. For those unfamiliar, Eduardo can craft Lockpicks in the Cell as long as he has the necessary materials.

3

Get Leonora’s Gunshot Skill Early

She Can Shoot Pressure Plates

The Stone of Madness introduces some unique action elements, including the use of guns. However, Leonora is the only character who can shoot, and she can’t do so until the player unlocks her Gunshot skill. Once she gains this ability, Leonora can target not just guards but also certain puzzle elements, allowing players to solve puzzles from a distance—without having to deal with all the annoying guards and nuns.

Guns are loud, so it’s best to use them only when a clear escape route is nearby. Otherwise, the noise will quickly attract the guards, making it easier for them to track down Leonora.

2

Unlock Shortcuts on Each Floor

Makes Traversing a Lot Easier

Leonora and Eduardo can create shortcuts across the map to help the team navigate more easily. Leonora’s Rope with Hook skill lets her reach upper floors and platforms without needing stairs or conventional methods, which is especially useful for avoiding guards. Eduardo can drop logs in strategic locations, forming permanent bridges that the entire team can cross.

While most puzzles can be completed without shortcuts, unlocking them makes looting much easier. In The Stone of Madness, players can stay on each map even after solving all the puzzles, giving them the chance to explore and gather treasures. This is where shortcuts come in handy—they make it much easier to revisit areas without risking encounters with guards.

1

Farm Action Points by Praying

Saint Dympna Is the Player’s Best Friend

The holy statues found throughout the monastery have a secret ability: they can pass the time, which generates Action Points. Whenever players need extra AP for healing, crafting, or studying, they can interact with the Saint Dympna statue and select “Pray.” Doing this multiple times will end the day and replenish their Action Points.

Passing time in The Stone of Madness can also be helpful in solving puzzles. For example, at one point in the campaign, the player may need a room to be evacuated before they can explore it. Instead of waiting, they can pass the time until midnight, when The Curfew starts and everyone leaves.