Walkthrough
A step-by-step walkthrough of Echoes of Aincrad — character creation, the tutorial corridor, the Sentry Golem, the Floor 1 bosses and the three-phase fight with Illfang the Kobold Lord.
Combat in 30 seconds
Every fight comes down to three tools: charged heavy attacks (hold to wind up a big hit — your main damage), parries (time a block against a telegraphed swing to stun) and sword skills (per-weapon specials). Pick one of the six weapon classes and learn its skills — see the Sword Skills list and the Weapons catalog.
- 1
Character creation & the tutorial corridor
Create your character (body type, face, hair) and drop into the opening corridor. The game teaches the basics here: light attacks, dodging, and locking on. Play through to the first proper checkpoint past the tutorial before you expect a save slot.
- 2
Meet Iori at the first junction
At the first junction you meet Iori, an original character who guides you through the floor. Follow the path and clear the trash mobs (boars, wolves) to build sword-skill proficiency before the first boss.
- 3
Elite: Sentry Golem
The first resting point is guarded by the Sentry Golem. It telegraphs heavy, slow swings — stay behind it at all times and punish with charged heavy attacks. Roll through its overhead slam rather than blocking it.
- 4
Bosses along the route
Depending on your path you may also be blocked by the Snowcap Boar, Glenspore Grizzly, Dire Strife Wolf or Wrathful Shrewman. Charged heavies and well-timed parries beat all of them — see the Boss Guide for per-fight notes.
- 5
Floor boss: Illfang the Kobold Lord (3 phases)
Floor 1's climactic fight. Illfang shifts attack patterns across three phases and swaps weapons partway through. Bait his combos, parry the finisher, then answer with a sword skill. Keep healing items stocked before you enter the arena — there is no shop inside.
- 6
After the Floor 1 boss
With Illfang down, keep grinding mobs, master the six weapon types and clear the side missions to build sword-skill proficiency before you push deeper into Aincrad's upper floors.