Enter the Gungeon: Beginner's Guide & Best Tips

Introduction – Welcome to the Gungeon

Yeah, this game can be brutal at first. Let me just say that upfront. Enter the Gungeon is a bullet-hell roguelike that doesn't hold your hand, and if you're reading this because you're stuck on the first floor for the tenth time, or you can't even make it past the second boss, I get it. I've been there. Hell, I spent my first three runs trying to stack poison damage with the Hunter's crossbow and got absolutely obliterated by the Bullet King before I even knew what dodge rolling did.

What makes this game special isn't just the puns—though the gun that shoots bees or the one that fires actual sharks is peak comedy. It's the moment when it clicks. When you stop panicking and start weaving through bullets like a ballet dancer with a shotgun. When you realize every death taught you something, even if it felt like bullshit at the time. This guide is me sitting you down, handing you a controller (or keyboard), and saying, "Here's what nobody tells you, and here's how to stop dying like an idiot."

Why Players Struggle (Pain Points)

Let's be real: if you're stuck, it's probably one of these specific problems. I've scoured Reddit, Discord, and my own salty game sessions to find the things that make players want to throw their monitors. Here's exactly what to do for each.

Pain Point #1: "I keep dying on the first floor"

You're not alone. The first floor—the Keep of the Lead Lord—feels unfair because enemy patterns aren't obvious, and you have zero items. Here's the fix: stop trying to kill everything fast. Prioritize dodging over damage. Every room has a rhythm—watch the bullets, not your crosshair. Focus on learning the attack patterns of the Shotgun Kin (the blue guys with shotguns—they pause before firing) and the Bullet Kin (red ones shoot straight, white ones shoot in a spread). Once those become muscle memory, you'll clear the floor with full HP.

Pain Point #2: "I cannot dodge roll worth a damn"

Here's a secret that took me 50 hours to learn: you don't need to dodge roll everything. Dodging rolls have invincibility frames (i-frames), but they also lock you into a path. Overusing the roll will get you cornered or roll you into a bullet you didn't see. Instead, walk sideways to dodge most attacks. Only roll when you're trapped or facing a massive burst—like the Lead Lord's spinning attack or the Gorgun's petrification wave (roll behind her when she screams). I've avoided so many deaths by just moving perpendicular to bullets.

Pain Point #3: "I never have enough keys or ammo"

This is the #1 complaint, and it's a resource management trap. You don't need to open every chest. In fact, ignore brown chests after floor 2 unless you've got a ton of keys. Green chests are okay, blue ones are better, and red/black are your goal. Here's my rule: keep one key for the shop—shops sell items that are often better than chest loot. As for ammo, don't hoard your best gun. Use your starter weapon (the Marine's sidearm or the Pilot's default) for weak enemies, but when a room has three or more shotgun guys or a jammed enemy, bust out the big guns. Ammo drops scale with how many enemies you kill, so using strong guns wisely actually increases your ammo economy.

Pain Point #4: "Bosses are impossible"

Bosses feel like walls because you're trying to kill them too fast. Every boss has a tell. The Bullet King? He slams the ground before his bullet ring—roll into him. The Gorgun? She shoots a heart-shaped burst that means she's about to charge. The Trigger Twins? They telegraph their jumps. I spent my first 20 deaths on the Ammoconda because I panicked. Then I realized: stand still and watch for two seconds before moving. That pause lets you identify the attack pattern. Also, always kill the adds (small enemies) the boss spawns immediately—they're the real run-killers.

Getting Started / First Steps

If I could go back and whisper in my noob self's ear, here's what I'd say. These aren't "git gud" tips—they're the things the game literally doesn't teach you.

• Pick the Marine first. The Marine starts with a military-grade sidearm that has tight accuracy, a +1 armor (so you can take one extra hit), and a supply drop active item that reloads your current gun instantly. That reload is a lifesaver against bosses. The Pilot has better item synergy but is trickier because his starter gun does low damage.
• Learn to "blank" on purpose. You start with two blanks per floor (unless you're the Marine, who has one). Blanks clear all enemy bullets in a radius and reveal secret rooms. Don't save them forever. If a room is overwhelming—especially one with lead maidens or mimics—pop a blank. You get refilled at the start of each floor, so use them.
• Always check for secret rooms. After you kill a boss, the reward room might have a wall that crackles if you shoot it. That's a secret room entrance. Use a blank on it and you'll find free chests, items, or the Oubliette entrance (the hidden second floor). To find them without wasting blanks, look for walls that don't have background details (paintings, etc.) in rooms like the shop, elevator, or chest rooms. Shoot the wall—if it cracks, blank it. Easy free loot.
• Don't pick up health unless you need it. If you're at full HP, a heart pickup turns into a +1 armor instead of healing you. This is huge. Wait until you have at least one heart of missing HP before grabbing that red heart. Similarly, if you have a full ammo count, ammo boxes give you a partial refill for your active weapon—but it's still better to use them when you're low.
• The elevator shortcut is a trap for beginners. You can unlock shortcuts by giving materials to the blacksmith, but doing so locks you out of floors and items. Don't bother until you've beaten the game a few times. The full run is how you learn.

Expert Tips & Tricks

These are the things you only learn after 100+ hours. I'm sharing them because I wish someone had shown me.

Mastering the Dodge Roll

The dodge roll is not a get-out-of-jail-free card. It has a startup animation where you're still vulnerable, and a recovery animation. Use it to pass through thin bullet walls (like the ones the High Priest fires) or to avoid explosions (the red blast wave from a dead grenade guy). But for tight streams? Walk between the gaps. I practiced this by standing in the Bullet King's ring attack without rolling. You'll be amazed how much you can dodge with just movement.

Gun Synergies That Win Runs

Not all guns are created equal. Some combine with items to become game-breaking:

• Flamethrower + Oil Rounds: The Flamethrower does 45 base DPS but ramps to 120 after 3 seconds of continuous fire. Oil Rounds make enemies take extra fire damage and leave flammable puddles. This combo melts bosses in seconds.
• Shotgun + Anything that increases fire rate: The Shotgun has spread, but with Bouncy Bullets (shots ricochet once) or Silver Bullets (+100% damage to jammed enemies), it becomes a room clearer. I once got Bouncy Bullets + the Shotgun and cleared floor 4 without ever switching weapons.
• Beholster's Eye + Any charge gun: The Beholster's Eye gives you a free charged shot every few seconds. Pair it with the Rad Gun (which has a long charge but high damage) and you'll never have to reload.

How to Farm the Perfect Run

If you want to beat the game consistently, you need to optimize your floor progression. Here's my route:

1. Clear the entire first floor for money and keys. Check every room.
2. Buy the Crest from the shop (if it appears) and take it to the Oubliette (the hidden floor). The Crest gives you an extra heart container if you survive the Oubliette's boss.
3. Don't open chests on the Oubliette unless you have 3+ keys. The Oubliette's chests aren't special—save keys for later floors.
4. Floor 2: Go to the Mine Flayer's arena via the secret path (shoot the fireplace in the first room of floor 3, then ride the hidden lift). The Mine Flayer drops an item that increases drop rates.
5. Floor 3 and beyond: Save your strongest ammo for the boss. You should have at least one A-tier gun by now (like the Fightsabre or the AK-47).

The Secret to the Forge

Getting to the Forge (floor 5) is the goal. But the Forge has a secret shop behind a waterfall. Walk through it and you'll find the Blacksmith, who can craft items if you have the right materials. The game doesn't tell you this, but the Blacksmith also sells a passive item that doubles your ammo drops for one run. Grab it if you can.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

I've made every single one of these mistakes. Don't be like me.

• Mistake #1: Obsessing over curse. Curse is a hidden stat that increases with certain items (like the Sixth Chamber or picking up a Jammed Bullet). High curse makes jammed enemies appear more often (they're faster and tougher), but it also increases drop rates. I used to avoid curse like the plague. Now I happily take it to 5-7 curse for the loot, and I'm experienced enough to handle the jammed enemies. Don't fear it—manage it.
• Mistake #2: Selling everything to the sell creep. The sell creep (the goblin in the elevator room) gives you coins for items. But it's a trap if you sell good guns. Only sell items you'd never use like the Sawblade (slow, clunky) or Witch Pistol (low damage). Never sell a gun that has synergy with your items.
• Mistake #3: Hoarding blanks for the final boss. The Dragun (floor 5 boss) is tough, but you don't need 6 blanks for him. Use blanks on floors 3 and 4 to clear tough rooms or find secret chests. The Dragun's patterns are learnable—watch his flame breath and the knife attack. I'd rather have 2 blanks for the Dragun than die on floor 4 because I was saving them.
• Mistake #4: Not using your active item. Every character has an active item (like the Marine's supply drop or the Hunter's dog). I forgot about my active item for the first 40 hours. The Supply Drop is especially good because it reloads your current gun and all other guns you have. Use it when you're about to empty a clip on a boss.
• Mistake #5: Ignoring the ammonomicon. The ammonomicon (press Tab on PC or Select on console) tells you what each item and gun does. I used to think the Box was useless because it just spawns a companion. But the Box can be used to block bullets in a pinch. Read the ammonomicon every time you pick up something new. Knowledge is literally power.

FAQ – Questions We All Asked

Q: "Which character should I play first?"
A: Marine. Hands down. The +1 armor and supply drop are forgiving. The Hunter is second best because her dog can dig up items, but her crossbow is tricky to aim. Avoid the Convict—her passive (rage) is hard to use without dying.

Q: "How do I unlock the Bullet?"
A: The Bullet (the secret character) is unlocked by defeating the Dragun with the Red Caped Bullet Kin. These rare enemies appear randomly—you have to let them live, and they'll follow you to the boss room. It's a pain in the ass. Honestly, I wouldn't bother until you've beaten the game with the main characters. The Bullet has a passive that makes him take damage on contact, which is weird for new players.

Q: "What's the deal with the rat?"
A: Oh, the Rat. The Resourceful Rat is a hidden boss that steals from you if you don't stop him. If you find a small, brown chest that runs away (it's a trap), chase it into a secret room. You'll fight the Rat, and if you beat him, you get a key that unlocks a safe in the Oubliette. He's tough—save this for after you've beaten the Dragun a few times.

Q: "I'm dying to the Kill Pillars. Help?"
A: The Fourth Wall (the killing room with the pillars) is a gear check. You need a gun with piercing or high DPS. Focus on one pillar at a time—kill the red one first (it shoots homing bullets). Use blanks if you get cornered. The good news? Once you kill two, the room becomes much easier because you can dodge the remaining projectiles.

Q: "Is the game better with a controller?"
A: I prefer keyboard and mouse because you can aim precisely with the right click. But controller is fine—just remap the dodge roll to a bumper (L1/R1) instead of the face buttons so you can aim while rolling. The game works on both, but keyboard gives you a slight edge in bullet-hell sections because you can stop on a dime.

Q: "How do I beat the Lich?"
A: The Lich is the secret final boss (after the Dragun). You need to find the Bullet That Can Kill the Past in the Forge and then bring it to the Gun That Can Kill the Past on floor 2. That's the "true" ending. The Lich himself has three phases. Phase 1: dodge his bullet rings by standing close to him. Phase 2: he fires a giant laser—roll through it. Phase 3: chaos. Bring a gun with stun or high accuracy (like the Gunderfury). I beat him on my 150th try—you can too.

Q: "Why do I keep getting the same items?"
A: Because the game has a pity system for new players. It wants you to learn the basic guns first. As you unlock more items (by completing challenges and finding Hegemony Credits), the pool expands. Keep playing—you'll eventually see wacky stuff like the Lich's Eye Bullets or the Bouncy Shotgun.

Final thought: This game hates you, but it loves you too. Every death is a lesson. I've died more times than I care to count—but I still come back. Now go clear that Gungeon, you magnificent bastards.