I have to say, going for a non-sex run (0 sex, so 0 losses and never using the brothel or service) required quite a bit of clever looping.
Start with Bootleg card, and try to win or buy a second Bootleg card after the first fight.
On later fights, set up your discard pile so that when you play Bootleg you can dupe the discarded Bootleg + Pickpocket + whatever else to stay alive, then slowly grind for cash until you have enough to buy anything from the shop after winning.
I don't recommend the Cookies that increases your draws per turn because that messes up the looping setup too much.
Start with Bootleg card, and try to win or buy a second Bootleg card after the first fight.
On later fights, set up your discard pile so that when you play Bootleg you can dupe the discarded Bootleg + Pickpocket + whatever else to stay alive, then slowly grind for cash until you have enough to buy anything from the shop after winning.
I don't recommend the Cookies that increases your draws per turn because that messes up the looping setup too much.
Last edited:
- Mar 5, 2021
- 157
- 46
Dead End City Guide
This is a great game, but viewing some of the comments makes me realize that there's some important information that the player should know before playing. This won't be a walkthrough, but will give tips on things to keep in mind and some good cards.
- There's no virgin/no sex ending, Go nuts.
- This is a "fail upwards" game. Outside of intentionally sabotaging yourself or doing a virgin/no sex run, you will eventually win simply by buying stuff in the store and using the powerful bonuses you get from the sex jobs (card removal, -1 energy cost, and card reserve). You can "lose" as many times as you like and you just get stronger as long as you can beat the first crab.
- Card draw, like many card games, is an extremely powerful ability. A deck with nothing but zero cost "High Kicks" could win the game without your opponent ever getting to move. Since that would take a long time to make, just remember to always pick up "Beta Blocker" if you aren't sure. As long as you use it when you draw it, it literally will never hurt you and can only help you.
- Speaking of "High Kick", its better then the basic attack card in every way and probably the best card in the game. Always get at least two. "Warning Shot" is the more defensive version.
- Its entirely possible to beat the game without restarting, I did it without even meaning to.
- Defense is more important then offense. The enemies have a lot of HP, so trying to rush them doesn't work. That said, a few enemies constantly get stronger, so you'll need to eventually beat them in a timely fashion. The mushroom or cards like belligerence can help a defensive deck do good damage. A "Liver Blow" also helps. "Neckbreaker" combines offense with defense by dealing damage and stripping your opponents moves.
- The two best rares are "The Zone" and "Neckbreaker". You don't want to fill your deck with these, but getting one of each makes things significantly easier. They are also excellent choices for sex job buffs.
- Only some cards that buff you are worth it. I wouldn't bother with stuff like "Power drink", "Overdose", and "Tranquilizer". They aren't bad per se, but they take a while to bring online and the negatives can get you killed. "Energy drink" on the other hand is great.
- "Shotgun", "Knife Slash", and "Magnum" are all pretty bad attack cards. If an enemy has Ire, the first two will buff your opponent too much, while "Magnum" is not as good as "Headshot" despite being a rare.
- 0 cost cards are pretty good. They won't win you the game but can help. Just don't fill your deck with just them unless you know what you are doing and have multiple "Bootlegs".
- "Hide" is pretty awesome if you reduce its cost or put it on reserve and have the store item which reduces cost of reserve cards over time. Even without doing that, its essentially a 1 cost 12 block.
- Speaking of reserve, having "Neckbreaker" or "Flashbang" on reserve will make some fights much easier when they lose half health. (Drug Lord, Manager, Police come to mind)
Finally, just relax, the game isn't difficult, you are probably just pushing too hard to win quickly. Your "reward" for winning is having to start all over again with none of your cards or upgrades, so do it once, then play to lose after getting the sex job upgrades each run, you'll enjoy the game more.
This is a great game, but viewing some of the comments makes me realize that there's some important information that the player should know before playing. This won't be a walkthrough, but will give tips on things to keep in mind and some good cards.
- There's no virgin/no sex ending, Go nuts.
- This is a "fail upwards" game. Outside of intentionally sabotaging yourself or doing a virgin/no sex run, you will eventually win simply by buying stuff in the store and using the powerful bonuses you get from the sex jobs (card removal, -1 energy cost, and card reserve). You can "lose" as many times as you like and you just get stronger as long as you can beat the first crab.
- Card draw, like many card games, is an extremely powerful ability. A deck with nothing but zero cost "High Kicks" could win the game without your opponent ever getting to move. Since that would take a long time to make, just remember to always pick up "Beta Blocker" if you aren't sure. As long as you use it when you draw it, it literally will never hurt you and can only help you.
- Speaking of "High Kick", its better then the basic attack card in every way and probably the best card in the game. Always get at least two. "Warning Shot" is the more defensive version.
- Its entirely possible to beat the game without restarting, I did it without even meaning to.
- Defense is more important then offense. The enemies have a lot of HP, so trying to rush them doesn't work. That said, a few enemies constantly get stronger, so you'll need to eventually beat them in a timely fashion. The mushroom or cards like belligerence can help a defensive deck do good damage. A "Liver Blow" also helps. "Neckbreaker" combines offense with defense by dealing damage and stripping your opponents moves.
- The two best rares are "The Zone" and "Neckbreaker". You don't want to fill your deck with these, but getting one of each makes things significantly easier. They are also excellent choices for sex job buffs.
- Only some cards that buff you are worth it. I wouldn't bother with stuff like "Power drink", "Overdose", and "Tranquilizer". They aren't bad per se, but they take a while to bring online and the negatives can get you killed. "Energy drink" on the other hand is great.
- "Shotgun", "Knife Slash", and "Magnum" are all pretty bad attack cards. If an enemy has Ire, the first two will buff your opponent too much, while "Magnum" is not as good as "Headshot" despite being a rare.
- 0 cost cards are pretty good. They won't win you the game but can help. Just don't fill your deck with just them unless you know what you are doing and have multiple "Bootlegs".
- "Hide" is pretty awesome if you reduce its cost or put it on reserve and have the store item which reduces cost of reserve cards over time. Even without doing that, its essentially a 1 cost 12 block.
- Speaking of reserve, having "Neckbreaker" or "Flashbang" on reserve will make some fights much easier when they lose half health. (Drug Lord, Manager, Police come to mind)
Finally, just relax, the game isn't difficult, you are probably just pushing too hard to win quickly. Your "reward" for winning is having to start all over again with none of your cards or upgrades, so do it once, then play to lose after getting the sex job upgrades each run, you'll enjoy the game more.
- Sep 18, 2019
- 38
- 13
- Jul 30, 2017
- 1,983
- 1,473
I'm not a fan of the auto save and are you supposed to lose at first? 40 health vs 300 health?
It's otherwise good but using cheat engine to freeze energy shouldn't be a thing. and since it's iron man...{saves automatically}
tens of restarts, havent seen a single bootleg in the shop, aside from the one we start with, its almost as if its coded to only appear once.
Anyway, the fact that every fight (if you are doing a no restart run) needs to go perfectly and/or needs perfect rng with what free cards you get kills the game for me. Suffice to say this game has been a massive waste of my time.
At least the gallery unlock button exists for those who wanna skip everything, so not that much of a lost.
- May 8, 2023
- 220
- 446
No, you are not supposed to lose at first. You are supposed take advantage of the fact that you know the enemy's moves in advance to avoid taking damage and maximize your damage output. You might need to lose a fight to learn an enemy's gimmick (300 HP guy's gimmick is that he has ire after you get him down to half health), but NG+ is playing the game on super ultra EZ mode.
There's no perfect RNG needed, you are just incredibly bad at roguelike deckbuilders. This game is way too easy.
- Nov 29, 2020
- 72
- 9
A no restart run does require near perfect rng, didnt get the right cards after a fight? gg its back to the menu to go, or how about the right cards just not appearing at the right time? gg again, back to the title. Theres no way to farm cash or cards. you just need to hope you get the right ones from your "freebies", its only easy because you can get a gameover and restart with all your cards/upgrades still intact. How about you try killing that zombie at the top of the map during a no restart run, the one that gains attack everytime you hit it, bet you cant.
- May 8, 2023
- 220
- 446
