Lies of P: Complete Beginner's Guide

Getting Started in Lies of P

You begin in Elysion Boulevard with Pinocchio's first memories — a brief tutorial introducing movement, attacking, and the Legion Arm. Your starting weapon choice sets your early character direction: the Greatsword is recommended for beginners (slow but high damage, great for learning enemy patterns), while the Rapier offers faster attacks for players who prefer precision. The Puppet String Legion Arm module (available from the start) is excellent and you'll use it the entire game.

Hotel Krat is your hub. Talk to Gepetto, Polendina (the shop keeper), Geppetto's portrait, and every new NPC that arrives. Sophia levels you up using Ergo. Stock up on Pulse Cell charges (your Estus equivalent) and purchase repair kits for your weapons.

Core Mechanics to Master

The Perfect Guard (parry) is your most important tool. Hold the guard button and release at the moment an enemy attack connects — a successful Perfect Guard triggers a blocking animation with a flash and builds the enemy's Stagger Gauge. Fill it completely for a chance to deal a Fatal Attack (the equivalent of a Visceral). Practice on basic puppets until the timing is instinctive.

Fable Arts are activated by filling the Fable Gauge (through charged attacks) and pressing L1. Every weapon has a unique Fable Art — the Greatsword's Flamberge Smash is a devastating overhead; the Carcass Crystal Axe launches a razor projectile. Choose weapons whose Fable Arts complement your playstyle.

Best Build for Beginners

Technique (Dexterity) build with a fast weapon: Invest in Technique for fast weapon scaling, Capacity for max weight, and Vitality for HP. The Wintry Rapier or City Longspear (found in early game) are excellent Technique weapons. Assembly system tip: Take the greatsword's blade and put it on a dagger handle for high damage in a faster package, or take a fast blade and put it on a greatsword handle for extra reach with modest speed reduction.

Essential Tips

1. Lie when given the choice. Lies unlock better questline outcomes and the most complete ending on first playthrough.
2. Repair weapons proactively. Don't let durability hit zero — a broken weapon deals drastically reduced damage at the worst moment.
3. Pulse Cells are your Estus. You start with 2 charges; find star-shaped containers in the world to increase your maximum to 9.
4. The Stalker enemy (recurring black-cloaked figure) in multiple areas drops excellent loot. Hunt them down; they respawn each run.
5. Specters (NPC co-op) can be summoned before boss arenas using Wishstones. They don't last long but can help with pattern learning.
6. Grindstones restore weapon durability temporarily — use before boss fights if your weapon is damaged.
7. Quartz upgrades from the Hermit's Cave vendor unlock permanent stat bonuses. Prioritize Pulse Cell recovery speed and Perfect Guard window.

First Major Boss: Parade Master

The Parade Master is a massive puppet with a punching ball and chain — Lies of P's first real test. Phase 1: stay close to his body, dodge to the side of his swings, and hit his legs. Perfect Guard his simpler attacks to build Stagger. Phase 2: He removes his arm and uses it as a flail — the attacks have longer range but more obvious tells. The Puppet String Legion Arm is excellent here to close distance after his attacks. Bring 3 Phase Restoration Ampoules (full heal) from Hotel Krat.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is Lies of P as hard as Elden Ring?
A: Comparable difficulty. Individual bosses can be harder than Elden Ring's main path, but Lies of P is a shorter experience with less exploration to get lost in.

Q: How long does Lies of P take to complete?
A: 30–45 hours for a thorough first playthrough. New Game+ is shorter but adds new dialogue and choices.

Q: Does lying actually matter?
A: Yes. Lying or telling the truth to specific characters changes questline outcomes and affects which of the three endings you receive.

Q: Will there be DLC?
A: Yes — DLC was announced and adds new areas and bosses beyond the main game.

Q: Is it worth full price?
A: For Soulslike fans, absolutely. It's the genre's best non-FromSoftware entry by a significant margin.