Screenshot-assisted guide for locating all the secrets in the 1-3 episode.
Foreword
Each episode of Hands of Necromancy consists of seven maps. The first of these serves as the hub for the episode, wherein lies five portals to following five maps. Four of these maps are connected with each other progression wise, i.e. the six different keys are shared between them and the Necromancer needs to visit most of them more than once, carrying the needed keys from one another. He also gains access to four different transformations throughout the course of his adventure. These transformations come with their own combat and exploration abilities and are also required for progression within the episode.
Fully completing the requirements of the first four maps within an episode lets the Necromancer access the sixth map of the episode in question from the related hub. The sixth maps are self-contained. They mark points of no return and serve as an intermediary level between the hub and the final map of the episode. The final (or the seventh) map of each episode is also a self-contained affair, culminating in a boss battle with one of the Undead Kings. The only exception to this system is the final map of the third episode, which leaves aside the ordinary level build-up and places the Necromancer directly in an arena where he battles the last Undead King.
There are not any secret maps in the game. Even though starting from the second or the third episode grants the Necromancer the transformations he should have gained by that point, it is recommended to start from the first episode if it is your first playthrough.
This guide lists the secrets in order of the map numbers. Still, considering the hub based progression, the actual order of tackling the levels may highly differ. If a transformation is required to reach a certain secret, the guide tells it in brackets.
All the screenshots are slightly gamma tweaked outside of the game for better clarity.
Episode 1: Kingdom of the Damned
The game collects and offers hints on a key press. In case things get confusing, here is the optimal order of progression through the episode:
– Clear out the Countryside, get the lay of the land and find the first four secrets.
– Get the Iron Key from the Lost Village.
– Get the Stone Breaker transformation and the Fire Key from the Factory.
– Get the Snake Key and the Dragon Key from the Farmhouse.
– Get the Swamp Serpent transformation and the Wind Key from the Garden.
– Return to the Lost Village and get the Skull Key.
– Return to the Countryside, find the remaining two secrets and enter the Crypt.
– Fight your way through the Crypt to reach the Catacombs.
– Fight your way through the Catacombs to confront the first Undead King.
Kingdom of the Damned contains a total of 23 secrets.
M01: The Countryside (Hub)
This map contains 6 secrets.
1/6 – Just before the door that requires both the Skull Key and the Dragon Key to activate, use the wall panel between the two tombs to reveal a hidden item.
2/6 – Following on from the previous secret, use the wall next to the candles as you traverse the hall that overlooks the tomb room to reveal another hidden item.
3/6 – In the room adjacent to the crusher controls, use the button next to the fireplace to open up a hidden passage that leads to the item underneath.
4/6 – In the room adjacent to the crusher controls, use the button next to the fireplace to open up a hidden passage that leads to the item underneath.
5/6 – (Stone Breaker) Look for a cracked wall outside the Factory entrance and destroy it to reach a hidden room.
6/6 – (Swamp Serpent) Dive into the water surrounding the Garden entrance and look for an opening that you can fit through to reach a hidden alcove.
M02: The Farmhouse
This map contains 2 secrets.
1/2 – (Stone Breaker) After going through the Fire door, keep following the ledge you are on to come across a crack on the surrounding rocks. Destroy it to reach a lengthy side path that ends with a bunch of items placed around an altar overlooking the farmhouse.
2/2 – Before leaving the actual farmhouse, use the wall panel next to the front door to access a hidden room.
M03: The Garden
This map contains 3 secrets.
1/3 – As you pass the bridge that leads to the Snake pillar, simply jump into the opening to the left to reach the item that can be seen residing on the ledge above.
2/3 – (Swamp Serpent) Right after getting the Swamp Serpent transformation, dive into the nearby pool once more and look for an opening to the right that you can fit through to reach a hidden alcove.
3/3 – After getting the Wind Key, return to the previously closed gates at one end of the garden and go through the portal to reach a hidden room.
M04: The Lost Village
This map contains 2 secrets.
1/2 – Dive into the well at the center of the village to find a hidden item.
2/2 – After going through the Wind door but before pulling the switch that opens up the way, jump down to reach the item residing below on the other side.
M05: The Factory
This map contains 3 secrets.
1/3 – In the large room with the Iron door, descend the stairs and traverse the lava to reach a hidden area.
2/3 – (Stone Breaker) As soon as you get the Stone Breaker transformation, destroy the cracked wall nearby to access the room that can be seen through the bars.
3/3 – (Stone Breaker) Return to the darkened side hall from before and punch through the cracked walls at the end to reach a hidden item.
M06: The Crypt
This map contains only a single secret.
1/1 – (Swamp Serpent) After you pass the bridge and dive into the water, look for an opening in the stone walls that you can fit through to reach an otherwise barred alcove.
M07: The Catacombs
This map contains 6 secrets.
1/6 – Use the button found at the end of the unlit path next to the Well of Souls and jump over the gap to reach the newly revealed room on the upper floor.
2/6 – (Stone Breaker) After crossing over to the other side of the Well, follow the stones jutting from the stairs overlooking the lava pool to come across a cracked part of the wall. Destroy it and jump across to reach a hidden alcove.
3/6 – (Swamp Serpent) After crossing the bridge in the fathomless crypt, fit through the opening to find a bunch of items lying out in the open on the other side of the wall.
4/6 – Still in the fathomless crypt, just before jumping down to the lower floor, turn around at the end of the hall and hop through the opening to reach an otherwise inaccessible tomb with a bunch of items inside.
5/6 – (Stone Breaker) After pulling the switch that opens up the way to the other side of the lower floor, destroy the cracked wall in the same room to reach another side area with an item at the end.
6/6 – (Swamp Serpent) After crossing the bridge over lava, fit through the opening at the end of the circular path that surrounds the final arena to reach a hidden item.
Episode 2: The Realm of Chaos
The game collects and offers hints on a key press. In case things get confusing, here is the optimal order of progression through the episode:
– Clear out the Forest, get the lay of the land and find the secrets.
– Get the Wind Key from the City of Despair.
– Get the Skull Key and the Snake Key from the Cemetery.
– Return to City of Despair and get the Dragon Key.
– Get the Hell Burner transformation and the Fire Key from Church in Hell.
– Get the Iron Key from the Ice Cave.
– Return to the Forest, raise the bridge and enter the Earthen Depths.
– Fight your way through the Earthen Depths to reach the Frozen Fortress.
– Fight your way through the Frozen Fortress to confront the second Undead King.
The Realm of Chaos contains a total of 18 secrets.
M08: The Forest (Hub)
This map contains 2 secrets.
1/2 – On the path that leads to the Church in Hell, look for a switch hidden within a tree to reveal two out of sight items.
2/2 – (Swamp Serpent) Look for an opening that you can fit through on the path that connects the Cemetary entrance to the bridge that requires three keys to reach a hidden weapon.
M09: The Cemetery
This map contains only a single secret.
1/1 – On your way out after picking up the Skull Key, take the left path once you come across a set of identical stairs on both sides. Notice the door that returns the message ‘Walk through the mirror’ as you continue upwards. As soon as you step outside, look for an opening on the other side of the valley. Make your way across and go through the opening to find yourself back in the hall at the end of the stairs (thus, ‘the mirror’). Return to the door from before to find it open.
M10: City of Despair
This map contains only a single secret.
1/1 – Get inside the two-storied building at the other end of the city and make your way to the second floor. Jump across from one of the windows to the roof of the adjacent building to reach the items found within.
M11: Church in Hell
This map contains 2 secrets.
1/2 – After dealing with the initial attack, turn around and follow the ledge around the building that houses the portal to reach a hidden item.
2/2 – As you go through the darkened lava halls, look for a wall panel hidden in darkness and use it to reveal a side room. A torch comes in handy here.
M12: The Ice Cave
This map contains 2 secrets.
1/2 – In the room with the Fire door, use the pillar with the misaligned texture to reveal a hidden item.
2/2 – (Swamp Serpent) In the central pit of the acid caves, look for an opening that you can fit through next to the teleporter and get inside to reach another hidden item.
M13: The Earthen Depths
This map contains 7 secrets.
1/7 – (Stone Breaker) In the large cavern where you activate the moving platforms, destroy the cracked part of the wall next to the teleporter to reach an otherwise barred item.
2/7 – Still in the cavern, make your way to the other side by way of the platforms and pull the switch to stop them. Jump your way back to the eighth platform from where you are standing. A slight split can be seen in the lava, which marks the invisible wall. Jump through the lava to find a hidden area.
3/7 – (Stone Breaker) A little after you move upwards via a rather unusual elevator, look for another crack on the rocks to your left. Destroy it to find a hidden item.
4/7 – (Stone Breaker) As soon as you get out of the trap ridden corridor, turn around and drop down to the ledge below and follow it to reach another hidden item.
5/7 – (Swamp Serpent) Once you reach the topmost part of the cavern with rather elaborate pillars, look for an opening you can fit through to your left to reach the item that can be seen through the bars.
6/7 – (Hell Burner) Before pulling the switch required for progression in the final arena, walk over the lava to reach the two pillars behind the teleporter to the left. Once underneath them, dive into the lava to find two more hidden items.
7/7 – Following on from the previous secret, look for a teleporter on a higher ledge overlooking the arena. Utilize the broken parts around the other teleporter nearby as stepping stones and make your way to the one in question to find yourself in a side area.
M14: The Frozen Fortress
This map contains 3 secrets.
1/3 – (Swamp Serpent) Make your way to the end of the lava river in the initial area and drop down into the cavern. Fit through the opening to reach a hidden item.
2/3 – After ascending the stairs that leads to the stronghold, turn around and make a running strafe jump to reach the item lying out in the open on the ledge.
3/3 – (Swamp Serpent) As you ascend the icy stairs that leads to the tower at the back of the stronghold, drop down to the ledge to your left where the map scroll is and fit through the opening to find yet another hidden item.
Episode 3: Facing Death
The game collects and offers hints on a key press. In case things get confusing, here is the optimal order of progression through the episode:
– Clear out the Ancient Ruins, get the lay of the land and find the sole secret.
– Get the Iron Key from the Swamp Village and find the first three secrets.
– Get the Skull Key from the Volcano.
– Get the Fire Key and the Dragon Key from the Temple of Iron.
– Get the Wyvern transformation from the Abandoned Castle.
– Return to Swamp Village, get the Wind Key and find the last secret.
– Return to the Volcano and get the Snake Key.
– Return to the Ancient Ruins, fly over the abyss and enter Mountains of Evil.
– Fight your way through Mountains of Evil to reach the Final Encounter.
– Confront the last Undead King in the Final Encounter.
Facing Death contains a total of 13 secrets.
M15: The Ancient Ruins (Hub)
This map contains only a single secret.
1/1 – Make your way to the top level where the portals to Temple of Iron and The Abandoned Castle are found and jump over the balcony railing to reach the otherwise barred area where a bunch of items are lying out in the open.
M16: Temple of Iron
This map contains 5 secrets.
1/5 – (Swamp Serpent) Right at the start, fit through the opening found nearby the switch that opens up the way into the temple to reach a bunch of barred items.
2/5 – Following on from the previous secret, take the stairs to the lower level and use the wall panel between the two candelabras to reveal a hidden item.
3/5 – Use the wall panel marked with a candle between the two crushers before the second Skull door to access a hidden compartment.
4/5 – The switch found on the second floor of the library that activates the nearby lift doubles as a way of accessing the hidden compartment on the lower floor. Pull it, quickly drop down and turn around to get into the newly-revealed area.
5/5 – Right after pulling the switch that activates the lift to the top floor, drop down to your left, turn around and follow the narrow ledge. Approach the vase on the other side to reveal a hidden compartment.
M17: The Swamp Village
This map contains 4 secrets.
1/4 – (Swamp Serpent) Once you reach the pool in the building right across the portal, dive in and look for an opening you can fit through through reach a lengthy side area that ends with an otherwise barred item.
2/4 – Following on from the previous secret, leave the building via the back door and look for a slightly discolored part on the enormous trunk next to the hut. Walk through it to find a hidden item.
3/4 – In the building behind the central one, find the cracked side of the pillar at the center of the very first room and destroy it to reveal a hidden alcove.
4/4 – (Wyvern) Fly into the opening covered by plants above the waterfall next to the central building to find a hidden item.
M18: The Volcano
This map contains only a single secret.
1/1 – Shortly after picking up the Iron Key, you need to take a stone lift to progress. After taking it, simply turn around and drop down to the nearby ledge to pick up the map scroll lying out in the open.
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Hint – Once you get the Wyvern transformation you need to return to the Volcano and find the Snake key. Since the entrance to the room it is in is rather hard to spot, the above shots are provided as hints. The opening is near the upper reaches of the secondary cavern.
M19: The Abandoned Castle
This map contains only a single secret.
1/1 – After dealing with the initial attack, look for a slightly indented part on the rocks surrounding the area and use it to reveal a side area with lots of ammo.
M20: Mountains of Evil
This map contains only a single secret.
1/1 – After dealing with the foes in the blood arena and opening the door out of it with the Fire Key, turn around and fly to the back of the tower to find a newly-revealed compartment.
M21: The Final Encounter
This level has no secrets. Here is a piece of artwork instead –
Thanks to erc for his great guide, all credit to his effort. you can also read the original guide from Steam Community. enjoy the game.
