How To Get Hooks of Heresy in Risk of Rain 2

Among the many powerful items in Risk of Rain 2, the Lunar items stand out for their game-changing, high-risk, high-reward effects. The Hooks of Heresy is a prime example—a unique blue-rarity Lunar equipment that can dramatically alter your survivor’s playstyle. This comprehensive guide will walk you through exactly how to obtain the Hooks of Heresy, how its powerful Slicing Maelstrom skill works, and the strategic pros and cons of adding it to your loadout.

What Are the Hooks of Heresy?

The Hooks of Heresy belongs to the special "Heresy" set of Lunar items. When acquired, it permanently replaces your character’s default Secondary Skill with a new active ability called Slicing Maelstrom. This makes it one of the most consequential pickups in the game. The transformation can turn a strong run into a dominant one or cripple a build that relies on a specific secondary skill, so choosing to take it requires careful consideration.

How to Get Hooks of Heresy in Risk of Rain 2

As a Lunar item, the Hooks of Heresy has a specific acquisition method. You cannot find it in standard chests. Here’s how to find it:

Locate a Lunar Pod: These distinctive blue orbs spawn randomly in various stages throughout a run. They require Lunar Coins to open.

Purchase from the Bazaar Between Time: You can also use Lunar Coins at the Bazaar Between Time to directly purchase Lunar items from the shopkeeper, potentially including the Hooks of Heresy.

Lunar Seer Vending Machines: Occasionally, you may find these machines which also exchange Lunar Coins for random Lunar items.

⚠️ Critical Warning Before Picking It Up:
The moment you pick up the Hooks of Heresy, your secondary skill is overwritten for the remainder of that run. This can be extremely detrimental for certain survivors. For example, the Railgunner heavily depends on her secondary skill for damage and mobility, and losing it can severely weaken her. Always evaluate your current build and survivor before taking this Lunar item.

Using the Hooks of Heresy: Slicing Maelstrom Explained

The Slicing Maelstrom skill reads:*"Charge up a projectile that deals 875% damage per second to nearby enemies, exploding after 3 seconds to deal 700% damage and root enemies for 3 (+3 per stack) seconds. Recharges after 5 (+5 per stack) seconds."*To use this skill effectively, you must understand its unique mechanics:

• Damage & Charging: Unlike similar skills, charging does not increase the damage. Instead, charging only increases the speed of the projectile you fire. For maximum close-range damage, you can fire it instantly without any charge.
• The Root Effect: After 3 seconds, the projectile explodes, applying Lunar Root to nearby enemies. This stops their movement completely, providing crucial crowd control—especially useful against large groups or dangerous elites.
• Stacking: With multiple Hooks of Heresy, the root duration and skill cooldown increase significantly (as noted in the description). This makes stacking them a viable strategy for a control-focused build.

Strategic Advice: Should You Take the Hooks of Heresy?

Consider taking Hooks of Heresy if:

• Your survivor’s default secondary skill is weak or non-essential to your build.
• You need strong area-of-effect (AoE) damage and crowd control.
• You are actively collecting Heresy items to unlock the secret survivor, The Heretic (which requires all four Heresy items).

Avoid Hooks of Heresy if:

• You are playing a survivor like Railgunner or Huntress who relies on their secondary skill for core gameplay.
• Your build is centered around a specific secondary skill synergy.
• You are in a late-game loop and cannot afford to lose a reliable skill.

The Heresy Set & The Heretic Unlock

The Hooks of Heresy is one of four Heresy items. Collecting all four in a single run transforms your character into The Heretic, a powerful secret survivor with vastly increased stats but constanthealth drain. This pursuit is a major reason players seek out the Hooksof Heresy.

Final Verdict

The Hooks of Heresy in Risk of Rain 2 is a quintessential Lunar item: powerful, transformative, and risky. By understanding how to find it in Lunar Pods or the Bazaar, mastering the quick-fire and root mechanics of Slicing Maelstrom, and knowing whichsurvivors benefit most, you can make an informed decision that turnsthis item into a run-winning asset. Use this guide to integrate theHooks of Heresy into your strategy and edge closer to unlocking theformidable Heretic.

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