20XX Beginner Tips - Runs, Augments, Powers, and Boss Weaknesses

20XX by Batterystaple Games and Fire Hose Games is a roguelike action platformer built around fast runs, random stages, permanent death, powerups, and boss rewards. The main adjustment is that 20XX expects you to learn through repeated runs instead of memorizing one fixed stage order.

This guide focuses on first-clear fundamentals. It covers Nina and Ace, Soul Chips, augments, chests, Nuts, vending machines, core augments, powers, boss weaknesses, and co-op habits. It does not try to be a full boss script, challenge-route plan, achievement guide, DLC character build, or 30XX guide.

A note on difficulty: A failed run can still be useful if it unlocks better future options, teaches a boss pattern, or helps you recognize which pickups matter for your next attempt.

Essential Tips

1. Treat Each Run as Practice and Progress

Permanent death is part of the upgrade loop.

Death sends you back to The Ark, but the run is not wasted if you brought back Soul Chips, unlocked new item-pool options, learned a stage hazard, or reached a boss with more information than before. Early on, measure progress by what improves the next attempt.

2. Pick Nina or Ace by Range, Not Style

Nina is safer at distance; Ace rewards close control.

Nina starts with a forward-firing buster and can charge shots, so she is the cleaner first pick if you want space to read enemies and hazards. Ace starts with a saber combo and plays closer to enemies, which asks you to commit to positioning. Both can clear normal stages, so choose the range that fits your comfort level.

3. Do Not Depend on Mobility Upgrades

Every level piece is built to be possible without bonus speed or jump height.

Run speed and jump-height upgrades are excellent, but they are not mandatory keys. If a room looks impossible, slow down and look for the intended wall jump, platform rhythm, enemy timing, or dash route before assuming you need a specific pickup.

4. Unlock Item Pools with Soul Chips

Soul Chips are long-term run quality, not just a score.

Soul Chips unlock permanent upgrades and expand which augments can appear in normal runs. A short run that earns chips can still make future chests, shops, and boss rewards more useful. Spend them for survivability, damage, and a deeper item pool before narrow challenge ideas.

5. Read Augments Before Picking Them Up

Run-long bonuses define your current build.

Augments usually last until the end of the current run, and they are not collected automatically. Take the moment to check whether the pickup helps your current problem. Health, energy, armor, attack strength, power strength, run speed, and jump height all solve different issues.

6. Use Nuts for Survival, Not Greed

A shop or vending machine can save the run you are already winning.

Nuts buy help during a stage. Spending them on health or energy before a boss is often better than hoarding them and dying with a full wallet. Be especially careful with anything that trades HP away; extra currency is not worth ending a promising run.

7. Learn Chest Types as Shortcuts

Different chests point toward different kinds of rewards.

Golden Chests are a strong signal for regular augments. Diamond Chests point toward primary weapons. Core Chests point toward armor pieces. Bonus Chests reward fast boss clears. Once you recognize the chest type, you can decide whether a side route is worth the risk for your current health and build.

8. Build Core Augments Around a Role

Armor sets are easier to understand by purpose.

Core augments occupy body slots, so you cannot equip everything at once. Armatort leans defensive, Dracopent supports weapon attacks, Owlhawk supports powers, and Oxjack supports speed. A mixed set can still help, but a focused set makes your run easier to read.

9. Use Boss Powers for More Than Damage

Powers are tools, weakness answers, and stage problem-solvers.

Most bosses can reward a power, and powers can be carried in active and reserve slots. Keep your best combat options active, but remember that powers can also grab pickups, block shots, interrupt bosses, or cover angles your main weapon does not.

10. Reorder Powers Before You Panic

You can carry more powers than you can actively fire.

The active slots are limited, but extra powers can sit in reserve. Between hazards or before a boss, open the menu and move the relevant power into a comfortable slot. In online co-op, do this only when you are safe, because menu management can leave you exposed.

11. Use Weaknesses Without Forcing a Perfect Boss Route

The first eight bosses form a useful power loop.

Weaknesses matter, but beginners do not need to restart every time the order is awkward. Learn the loop gradually: Flameshield helps against Twin Astrals, Boomerang Blade against Rollster Beta, Mortar against Death Lotus, Force Nova against Vile Visage, Shadespur against Eternal Star, Vera against Perforator Alpha, Quint Laser against Kur, and Splinterfrost against Shatterbeak.

12. Keep Co-op Simple

Two players should split jobs, not chaos.

In co-op, agree who leads through platforming rooms, who grabs which health pickups, and when to pause for shopping or power management. Both players can benefit from the same run knowledge, but sloppy pickup sharing and rushed menu use can turn an easy room into avoidable damage.

Combat Tips

1. Fight at your weapon’s real range: Nina can test enemies from safer distance, while Ace should commit only when he can enter, hit, and exit cleanly.
2. Charge when the room gives you time: Charged attacks help open fights or punish bosses, but holding a charge is not worth eating a hazard.
3. Clear small enemies before platforming through fire: Removing a turret or flyer can make the jump sequence simple instead of frantic.
4. Save energy for problems your main weapon cannot solve: A power is most valuable when it covers an angle, blocks a shot, or ends a boss phase safely.
5. Do not face-tank for damage races: Health is your route permission. Losing it early closes shops, side paths, and boss attempts.

Resource Management

Resource	What It Does	Beginner Habit
Soul Chips	Unlock permanent upgrades and item-pool options	Spend on broad future-run value before niche goals
Nuts	Buy health, energy, and shop items during a run	Convert them into survival before boss rooms
Health	Keeps the run alive	Protect it more carefully than currency
Energy	Fuels powers	Save enough for boss weakness or utility use
Augments	Add run-long passive bonuses	Pick for the current build and immediate weakness
Core Augments	Equip armor pieces by body slot	Build around defense, weapon, power, or speed roles
Powers	Boss rewards and utility tools	Keep active slots matched to the next room or boss

Hidden Mechanics

Mechanic	What It Does	How to Use
Reserve powers	Let you carry more powers than active slots	Rearrange before bosses or hard rooms
Online menu risk	Menu management can expose you in online co-op	Swap powers only in safe spots
Bonus Chests	Reward fast post-boss timing	Push for speed only when health is stable
Vitality Converters	Trade HP for Nuts	Avoid them unless you can survive the cost
Core set roles	Shape defense, weapon damage, power damage, or speed	Favor the role that supports your run plan
Mobility baseline	Stages are built to be clearable without mobility bonuses	Practice the route before blaming missing upgrades
Late boss caveat	The final stretch does not follow the same weakness certainty	Bring a rounded build, not only one counter power

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Do not pick Ace just because melee looks stronger - Close-range damage is only good if you can leave safely after swinging.

2. Do not ignore Soul Chips after a failed run - Future unlocks are one of the main ways early deaths become progress.

3. Do not grab every augment blindly - A pickup that does not fit your current weapon, power, health, or energy plan can be less useful than a safer choice.

4. Do not hoard Nuts through a dangerous boss door - Buy health or energy when it materially improves your chance to survive.

5. Do not spend HP for currency casually - Vitality trades can kill the run if you misjudge the cost.

6. Do not treat movement upgrades as required - Rooms have baseline solutions, even when speed and jump bonuses make them easier.

7. Do not leave the wrong power active before a boss - Rearrange your slots while safe so the weakness or utility tool is ready.

8. Do not overfit to one boss order - Weaknesses help, but survival, stage comfort, and current build quality still matter.

9. Do not open menus carelessly in online co-op - Power management can become damage if your partner keeps moving or enemies are still active.

10. Do not use 30XX advice as 20XX advice - The sequel changes enough systems that build and progression tips should stay separate.

Summary

Category	Top Tip
Character	Start with Nina for range or Ace for close-control practice
Progression	Treat Soul Chips as future-run strength
Augments	Pick bonuses that solve the current run’s weakness
Resources	Spend Nuts on survival before hard rooms and bosses
Cores	Build around defense, weapon, power, or speed roles
Powers	Keep weakness and utility tools in usable slots
Bosses	Learn the weakness loop without forcing a perfect route
Co-op	Coordinate pickups, movement, and menu moments