Starting in Code Vein 2 can feel a bit overwhelming, but focusing on the right priorities early on makes the game much smoother. The key is to improve your healing, strengthen your character, and understand how the world’s open design allows you to progress at your own pace. This Code Vein 2 Beginner’s Guide details all the tips and tricks you need to know to make your journey a bit easier in Code Vein 2.
Beginner’s Guide – Code Vein 2
As the game has many complex systems introduced, we want you to focus on the most important mechanics you should pay attention to early on.
Weapons have Different Movesets
One of the first things to understand is that weapons in Code Vein 2 don’t share identical attack styles, even if they are the same type. Two weapons that look similar can behave very differently once you start swinging them. Some may have small changes in their combo chains, while others come with entirely different attack patterns.
Because of this, it is important not to judge a weapon purely by its damage or scaling. Whenever you pick up something new, try out its basic attacks, full combo chains, heavy attacks, and charged attacks. Some weapons may not look impressive in terms of stats, but can feel far better to use, making combat smoother and more enjoyable depending on your preferred playstyle.
Understanding Combat Formae
Combat Formae, which are special attack skills tied to weapons, cannot be freely swapped between gear. If a weapon has a Forma you enjoy but you don’t like how the weapon itself performs, you will need to either find another weapon with the same Forma or unlock that Forma separately.
While you are allowed to remove a Forma from a weapon, you won’t be able to place that removed skill onto another one. This option mainly exists for situations where you like a weapon’s overall feel or stats but want to replace its Forma with something different.
Early Haze Farming Spot
A great early-game farming location can be found at Magmell Island Pier, near the southern part of Magmell Island. There is a single enemy here that drops close to 500 Haze and respawns very quickly due to being right next to a Mistle.
Repeatedly fighting this enemy helps you get comfortable with combat mechanics while earning Haze for leveling up and shopping. A nearby merchant sells weapons, Formae, and ammo, making this an ideal place to prepare early on. Reaching around level 10 here gives you a strong starting boost. This same enemy later appears as a boss, so learning its attack patterns early is especially useful.
Ammo Use with Bayonets
Bayonets now rely on ammo for ranged attacks, instead of directly consuming IICOR. This makes them easier to use alongside other abilities, but adds the need to manage ammunition.
Any extra ammo you carry is automatically sent to storage, and it refills when you rest at a Mistle if you have reserves. While this setting can be disabled, keeping it active makes managing ammo much simpler. Bayonets use three ammo types:
- Rifle (long range)
- Shotgun (close range)
- Grenade (area damage)
So, it’s important to use the correct ammo and restock whenever possible.
Use of the Longbow
Early in the game, you unlock the Statesman’s Longbow Bequeathed Forma from the ruins in Magmell Island Pier. It uses one IICOR, has an excellent range, and can hit multiple enemies in a line. This makes it extremely effective for thinning enemy groups before engaging them directly.
The longbow also allows you to destroy distant objects like map jammers without needing to fight through enemies up close. Upgrading it with Heart Remnants further improves its usefulness and damage.
Use the Bleeding Shield
One of the most helpful early defensive items is the Bleeding Shield Light, found in the ruins on Magmell Island. Unlike your starting shield, it can block all physical damage without any damage leaking through.
Although it doesn’t allow parries, it makes early combat much easier when enemy attacks are still hard to predict. Using it early reduces how often you need to heal and helps you stay alive while learning the game.
Viewing Buffs, Debuffs, and Traits
Code Vein 2 often applies multiple buffs and debuffs at once, shown near your health bar. Since these icons can’t be hovered over, it can be confusing to know what’s affecting you.
To see full details, open your Blood Code or Stats menu and check the trait list. This screen shows all active effects, their sources, and whether any traits aren’t currently active due to unmet requirements. This becomes especially helpful when changing Blood Codes or adjusting your build.
Earning and Using Boosters
Boosters are passive bonuses that stay active while equipped, similar to accessories in other action RPGs. You can equip up to four at a time.
The most common way to get them is through Blood Code proficiency. Equip any Blood Code and defeat enemies strong enough to count toward proficiency. Once a Blood Code is fully mastered, return to Levvenia at Magmell to extract a Booster. For instance, a Dexterity +5 Booster directly improves weapons that scale with Dexterity, effectively increasing damage for free.
Other Boosters may enhance attack power after drain attacks, increase stamina efficiency, or improve damage for certain weapon types. While exploring, it’s wise to equip different Blood Codes to slowly unlock multiple Boosters. This way, you can later mix and match the strongest ones for your preferred build.
Boosters can also be obtained through Jadwiga or her minions by trading specific materials. Some of these Boosters improve Haze gain or reduce sprint stamina costs. Rare materials like Spectral Tissue, dropped by tougher enemies, can unlock some of the more powerful options.
Using Combat Formae
Some Combat Formae include brief invincibility during their animations, allowing you to avoid incoming attacks while still dealing damage. Early examples include Phantom Assault and Looming Slash.
Keeping at least one of these Formae equipped gives you more room for error in tough fights and provides a reliable way to stay aggressive without taking unnecessary damage.
Enemy Stagger System
Enemies in Code Vein 2 have an invisible stagger meter that fills as you hit them. Once this meter is full, the enemy becomes staggered and briefly stops acting. This is shown by a red diamond on your lock-on indicator.
Staggering an enemy opens the door for a powerful drain attack that restores a large amount of IICOR. Learning which attacks build stagger faster can significantly improve combat efficiency, especially during longer fights and boss encounters.
Golden Nectar and Healing Upgrades
One of the first things you should do is check your map for blue squares, which mark the locations of Golden Nectar. These are essential for increasing the number of heals you can carry, letting you survive longer battles. Collecting enough Nectar allows multiple upgrades, and pairing this with towers that enhance the actual healing amount will make a huge difference.
These towers, called Towers of Regeneration, permanently improve how much HP each heal restores. Even in the first zone, at least one tower is easy to reach and gives an immediate boost.
Once you leave Magmell Island and reach the mainland, you don’t have to rush into quests. Free exploration is a great chance to upgrade your healing and collect resources. A recommended route is from the Eastern Gatehouse Ruins to the Checkpoint Ruins, then riding along the shoreline next to the left mountains. Avoid venturing too far into the water, or your character will die. Following this path brings you directly to a Regeneration Tower. Guards may be present, but you can usually bypass them and take the upgrade safely.
Upgrading your healing early like this will save you from using multiple heals in boss fights, giving you a big advantage.
Stat Burdens
Every weapon carries a stat burden, which can reduce your effectiveness if your Blood Code stats aren’t high enough. Strength and Dexterity burdens are usually manageable, but Mind Burden is the most dangerous. Exceeding your Mind limit causes constant HP loss in combat unless you have an active Forma buff.
You can reduce burdens by swapping your defensive gear. For example, a lighter shield may reduce Mind burden at the cost of lower defence. Not all burdens are harmful; some affect stamina use or mobility only under certain conditions. The key rule is to never let Mind Burden become active.
Partners and Their Quests
Your partners, like Noah, Lou, and Iris, provide Link Traits that give permanent bonuses whether they’re actively summoned or absorbed. These bonuses include lower stamina costs, increased Echo gain, and improved defence.
To unlock additional traits, complete each partner’s questline. These usually involve defeating specific bosses and returning items to the partner. Completing more of their quests strengthens the traits and unlocks special bonuses, making your companions much more effective in combat.
Jadwiga’s Minions and Gear
Scattered throughout the world, Jadwiga’s Minions are vendors who sell unique items and materials. They offer weapon upgrade items, jail upgrades, and powerful Formae that can drastically shape your build. Some low-level upgrade materials are hard to find elsewhere, so it’s worth checking every minion you encounter. Doing so can help you upgrade weapons sooner and gain a significant advantage.
Talk to Lou
If you get lost or are unsure how to progress, talk to Lou at a Mistle. This will transport you to the Confluence, where Lou gives clues on your next objectives. On your first visit, you can also acquire the Bat Jail if needed.
Open-World Exploration
Code Vein 2 is an open-world game. You’re not forced to follow the main quest immediately, and you can explore freely, collect upgrades, and farm resources at your own pace.
Roaming the world helps you find healing upgrades, Towers of Regeneration, and weapon materials. These upgrades make you stronger and ensure you can handle more difficult enemies and bosses without frustration.
Weapon Scaling
Weapons scale with specific stats from your Blood Code. Matching a weapon to your strongest stats gives the best damage output. You can also transform weapons at Jadwiga using materials like Breath of Titan, Breath of Finesse, or elemental Breaths.
Transforming a weapon can add elemental effects or change stat scaling. However, be careful, as choosing the wrong transformation can actually reduce damage if it doesn’t match your character’s stats.
Boss Fight Tips
Boss fights require patience. Dodging is usually safer than parrying, especially early in the game. Instead of constantly attacking, focus on avoiding enemy strikes and attacking after they finish theirs.
Bosses are harder to stagger than normal enemies, so timing your attacks for openings is critical. Bringing a companion can help by drawing enemy attention, giving you safer opportunities to deal damage.
That is all for this guide. Additional Code Vein 2 guides are linked below:
- Code Vein 2 Endings Guide – All Endings, How to Unlock
- Code Vein 2 Fast Travel Guide – How to Unlock, Use
This concludes our Code Vein 2 Beginner’s Guide. If you want to add anything to this guide, feel free to use the comments section below.
