Progression, practical choices and current mode rules.
Unlock and shared rules
Finish the game once, then enter Ultimate Challenge from the title screen. It uses mode-provided progression and equipment, with no Phantom companions or Mastery gain.
Campaign gear presets are unavailable here. Inspect the supplied skills and items before assuming a campaign build still works.
Great General’s Crucible: grouped fights
Unlock five groups in sequence: Tides of Ruin, Earthshaking Roar, Unyielding Foes, Corruptors and Nightmare of Chaos. Levels, gear and resources are provided.
Defeating a boss restores health and clears ailments, but Netherworld Energy healing uses do not recharge between bosses within the group.
Buffs are removed on moving to the next area. The next encounter begins after about fifteen seconds, so use the transition to check resources.
Berserker’s Bloodshed: grow during the run
Earn rewards after bosses, then use the tome and shop to improve stats, purchase gear and consumables, and proceed. Shop inventory updates with progression.
After each boss, health returns, ailments clear, Spirit resets to 50% and Netherworld Energy recharges. This differs from Crucible healing rules.
Death or giving up ends the run without Continue; restart from the first boss. Balance future upgrades against what you need to survive the next encounter.
Shop items including Stalker, Doom, Wrath and Bloodshed accessories use challenge-specific random options rather than ordinary campaign set bonuses.
Rewards and a starting recommendation
Tokens are delivered to the Crevice mailbox and exchanged with the Blade Phantom. Weapons include Dual Wield of Reaping, Greatsword of Execution and Spear of Retribution, with Transmuted versions tied to Bloodshed.
Armor rewards include Defier, Radiant Darkness and Netherworld Abyss. Inspect their defensive and offensive triggers before choosing a reward.
Start with Crucible to practise a boss group, or Bloodshed for between-fight purchases and growth decisions. Learn the supplied equipment before comparing campaign damage numbers.
Sources and version notes
Checked on 2026-10-21. Recommendations are editorial; patch-specific rules are identified in the text.