Bullet Hell - Demon Slayer | Starter & Progression Guide - Hero Siege Season 9

Storyline / Mode Context

• This video is a build guide for Hero Siege (Season 9 starting April 3) focused on Bullet Hell Demon Slayer.
• No specific narrative events are covered; the emphasis is on progressing through campaign zones and difficulty tiers:
  • Normal / Nightmare → Hell → Inferno

Gameplay Progression (What to Do as You Level)

• Levels 1–7: Use Fast Slices (Bullet Hell isn’t available yet).
• Level 8+ through campaign: Switch to Bullet Hell as your primary leveling damage skill.
• Early bossing approach: Use Shredder Trap on tankier/boss targets.
• Late-game optimization: As your gear improves (better weapons, attack speed, accuracy), you may shift more single-target focus toward Trigger Finger, while still optionally using Shredder Trap during it.
• After level 100: Refine your incarnation tree for survivability and damage/crit/mobility, plus new season systems like the Ether tree (unlocked from Hell quests).

Key Changes in Season 9 (Demon Slayer-Specific)

• Shredder Trap nerfed:
  • Big “zooming” shredder traps were replaced with small key-shot projectiles.
  • Result: it’s much less effective for leveling through the campaign.
  • Guide implication: don’t plan to rely on Shredder Trap to carry leveling—use Bullet Hell the whole way instead.
• Steady Hold Gun passive fixed/buffed:
  • The percent attack rating passive is now working (described as previously not functioning).

Core Build Concept (Bullet Hell + Support Skill Damage)

Main Idea

• Level primarily by pumping Bullet Hell, while also investing in Eagle Eye for efficiency.

Eagle Eye Strategy (Important)

• Bullet Hell is accessed at level 8.
• Eagle Eye adds flat physical damage and helps keep Bullet Hell mana cost low, while still scaling strongly.
• Priority suggestion:
  • Rank Eagle Eye alongside Bullet Hell, since Eagle Eye investment can be more efficient than raising Bullet Hell alone early.

Weapon Dependency (Scaling Rule)

• Your damage depends heavily on your weapon’s attack damage.
• As you level, keep upgrading and using stronger drops.

Suggested Skill Point Allocation Timeline

• Early/mid leveling (roughly early-mid):
  • Keep Bullet Hell + Eagle Eye balanced.
• One-point wonders mentioned:
  • Execute (1 point): more damage vs monsters below 30% life.
  • Shredder Trap (1 point): reserved for tankier targets.
  • Absolute Mayhem (1 point): supports Bullet Hell damage synergy.
  • Optional Demon Shield (1 point): small all-resists + movement speed; typically only worthwhile with +skill gear.
• At level 30: Continue the same general balance.
• At level 40:
  • Get access to your first augment.
  • Start shifting to more Bullet Hell points (as better weapons arrive).
  • Then move points back toward Eagle Eye for maximum damage.
• At level 70:
  • Max Bullet Hell
  • Max Eagle Eye
  • Max Absolute Mayhem
  • Then add more into Execute
• At level 100:
  • Max Bullet Hell
  • Max Eagle Eye
  • Max Execute
  • Max Absolute Mayhem
  • 1 point into Demon’s Calling
    • Blink every few seconds; useful for awkward positioning, not “amazing” overall.

Bossing / Single-Target Loadouts (Two-Loadout Strategy)

• Primary leveling loadout: Bullet Hell focus.
• Second loadout for bosses:
  • Use a Shredder Trap build
  • Put points into Shredder Trap + its synergies for quick boss kills (stated as strong through bosses up to ~40).
• Alternative: Trigger Finger single-target option
  • Uses Trigger Finger + its synergies.
  • Suggested to improve later with more attack speed and a better weapon.
  • Tip: you can cast Shredder Trap while firing Trigger Finger.

Sub Skill Trees (How They’re Used)

• Each “sub skill tree” uses sub points:
  • You gain 1 point per 5 character levels, up to level 100 = 20 points total.
• The guide emphasizes switching sub setups around level 40:
  • One setup is used early, then switched to the “actual skill” tree used for leveling.
  • Key described effect: the selected option fires many projectiles that can shotgun, helping both bosses and small/tanky targets.
• Later swap logic:
  • Early/mid: prioritize attack rating / hit chance
  • Once hit chance is solved: switch sub setup toward crit damage scaling

Attribute Allocation (Stats Leveling)

• During leveling:
  • +1 Strength
  • +1 Dexterity
  • +2 Vitality
• If you need energy/mana:
  • Put points into energy as needed (even “~15 energy” can help sustain).
• Dexterity purpose:
  • Provides attack rating (accuracy).
  • If you “can’t hit” later acts (e.g., act two), it’s often insufficient attack rating.
• Endgame attribute goal:
  • Shift points heavily into Strength.

Loot Filter Setup (Process)

• Import a pre-made loot filter from the creator’s website:
  • Filter target: “Physical attacker”
  • In-game: open the loot filter import page
  • Paste the long string (not the URL)
  • If it doesn’t say “invalid loot filter code,” it should be active
  • Verify by clicking items—highlights/missing entries confirm it worked

Gearing Highlights (What to Look For)

Gear Types That Matter While Leveling

• Focus on Magic / Rares / Mythics for:
  • Damage
  • Attack speed
  • Build requirements
• Satanics note: useful if you find them, but don’t grind specific Satanics for hours—just progress through zones.

Gems (Free Damage Tip)

• Use physical gems in any gear with sockets.
  • Chipped/Flawed gems are fine early (free incremental damage).
• Emphasis: many players forget to do this while leveling.

Budget vs Progression Gearing

• Budget gearing: mix/match based on affixes you already have.
• Scaling paths mentioned:
  • Crit chance / crit damage
  • Or enhanced damage + strength stacking (with early skills like Deadly Blow)
• Crit-focused recommendation:
  • Gabriel’s Devotion set: wear 4 pieces for strong crit/attack speed/crit damage (plus flexible piece choices).

Recommended Core Items (Examples Called Out)

• Weapon: F4 Tac Rifle
  • Strong crit + leech + attack rating + Deadly Blow + ignore target defense
• Helmets (examples):
  • Pit Lord’s Vanquisher (crit + crit damage + strength)
  • Nikita’s (ignore target defense + deadly blow + physical damage)
  • Legionnaire mentioned as harder to obtain (drops nerfed)
• Chest: Sharpshooter’s Cloak
  • Season 9 ranged chest: projectile speed + range skill/damage focus
• Gloves: Death Knight’s Gauntlets
  • Double crit, ignore target defense, enhanced damage
• Belts (examples):
  • King Glider’s (needs King Raccul; bleeding monster damage)
  • Belt of Skulls (buffed: strong movement speed burst + extra stats, Deadly Blow %)
• Rings (examples):
  • Elven Grace (expensive early; crit chance + crit damage)
  • Arm of Soul Forging (fallback)
  • Ring of the Cow Raven (budget crit alternative)
• Amulets (examples):
  • Raven’s Claw (crit chance + crit damage; expensive early)
  • Claw of the Bloodthirsty (cheaper alternative)
• Charms:
  • Prioritize crit chance, crit damage, enhanced damage
  • Consider res/life/MS/mana leech depending on needs

Progression Mechanics for Later Difficulties

Star Leveling / Rerolling Tags

• Star leveling increases item stat values so you can “upgrade” without replacing everything.
• Mentioned mainly for high-value items (e.g., S-tier, Satanics, Raven’s Claw).

Molten Claw Note

• Molten Claw nerfed: it now must have the correct tags (e.g., “extra damage to burning monsters”).
• Items may use similar wording (like “extra fire damage to burning monsters”), so check tags carefully.

Hell & Inferno Gearing Entries

• Inferno item examples mentioned:
  • Destroyer’s Zen (Guragok Inferno)
  • Gurnal of Eternal War (Sung Lee in Inferno)
• The guide points to progression sections for slot-by-slot options.

Relics, Potions, Augments, Mercenaries

• Relics:
  • Prioritize proc relics early for attack speed/movement speed/attack damage.
  • Later, replace proc relics when those procs come from items—then add crit damage or other needs.
• Potions:
  • Choose based on your needs (movement speed, crit damage, attack damage, enhanced damage, etc.).
• Chest augments:
  • Lethal Tempo: strong attack speed early; crit damage scaling after augment level
  • Overloader: projectile speed + crit damage alternative
• Mercenaries:
  • Not a damage centerpiece; mainly for Magic Find.
  • Suggested as an aura-bot style magic find support.
  • Preferred merc types: Night Merc or Archer Merc
    • Archer merc can provide an attack speed buff
    • Night merc commonly used for max magic find
  • The creator lists specific merc equipment options (weapons/helmets/chests/etc.) in the guide.

Incarnation Tree (Level 100+ Decision Paths)

• Goal: choose paths based on whether you need resistances, mobility, crit, life, or damage.
• Example path options discussed:
  • Resistance path (first ~10 levels):
    • ~72% all res, capped at 50% total res
    • Useful if res-capping is hard (especially with two-handed setups)
  • Movement speed path: “zoom zoom” playstyle if damage is already fine
  • Crit chance / crit damage path:
    • Rush crit chance (~8% crit chance noted), then prioritize crit damage
  • Life + physical damage + resist/move combinations:
    • “All-rounder” style: life, physical damage %, resist, and speed
• Ether tree:
  • Unlocks once you reach Hell via quests
  • Points used to “juice” mechanics for loot/Magic Find
  • Creator notes they’ll track the evolving meta but avoids early “OP” disclosure because it’s new.

Key Tips Emphasized

• Use Bullet Hell from level 8 onward; don’t rely on Shredder Trap for leveling anymore (due to the nerf).
• Weapon attack damage scaling is critical.
• Invest early to solve accuracy (attack rating / hit chance), especially if struggling in later acts.
• Put gems into sockets during leveling for free damage.
• Have a second loadout for boss kills (Shredder Trap or Trigger Finger).

Gamers / Sources Featured

• Krxy (the channel/creator providing the guide)
• Mentions of the broader community/meta exist, but no specific other gamer names appear in subtitles.