---
title: "Ghostrunner: Complete Guide"
game: "Ghostrunner"
game_url: "https://qna.gg/games/ghostrunner"
author: "Qloud"
author_url: "https://qna.gg/players/Qloud"
topics: ["Bosses", "Achievements", "Collectibles", "Settings"]
summary: "A player's guide to Ghostrunner: movement and combat fundamentals, Sensory Boost, the four special abilities, the upgrade grid, enemy-by-enemy tactics, bosses, collectibles and the tricky achievements, plus the…"
url: "https://qna.gg/g/ghostrunner-complete-guide-9e3ded42"
published: "2026-09-27T17:48:26.538Z"
updated: "2026-09-27T17:48:26.538Z"
source: "QnA.GG"
---

# Ghostrunner: Complete Guide

A player's guide to Ghostrunner: movement and combat fundamentals, Sensory Boost, the four special abilities, the upgrade grid, enemy-by-enemy tactics, bosses, collectibles and the tricky achievements, plus the Project_Hel DLC and extra modes.

*Researched September 2026 — current as of the final PC version with the Project_Hel DLC, Wave Mode and Assist Mode. Live games change; check the linked sources if something differs.*

## Quick Start

1. **One hit kills you, and one hit kills most enemies.** Every fight is a puzzle of angles and timing. Dying is normal; checkpoints are frequent.
2. **Never stop moving.** Standing still in view of a gunner is death. Wallrun, slide and dash constantly.
3. **Dash in mid-air to trigger Sensory Boost.** Time slows and you can sidestep bullets. It's the core combat tool.
4. **Plan your route before engaging.** Pause at the edge of an arena, look at the enemy positions, and decide the order you'll kill them in.
5. **Kill the ranged enemies first.** Melee enemies can be dodged; gunners in the back shoot you while you deal with them.
6. **Block bullets once you can.** Holding block at the right time deflects projectiles, and it can send them back into enemies.
7. **Use your special ability meter.** It fills as you kill. Blink, Surge, Tempest and Overlord each solve different problems.
8. **Tune the upgrade grid often.** Your upgrades are pieces that must fit a grid, and different layouts suit different levels.
9. **Assist Mode exists.** If a section is blocking you, the added accessibility options let you keep going without giving up.

## Movement

| Move | What it does | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Run / sprint | Default speed | Always keep momentum |
| Jump | Standard jump | Follow with an air dash to trigger Sensory Boost |
| Wallrun | Run along walls | Jump off to chain wallruns |
| Slide | Slide on the ground | Great for speed and dodging |
| Dash | Short sidestep burst | On the ground it's a quick dodge |
| Grapple | Swing or pull to anchor points | Lets you cross gaps and enter arenas from above |

Movement tips:

- **Slide down slopes** to pick up speed.
- **Wallrun, jump, wallrun** to cross large gaps.
- **Grapple into an arena from above** so you land among enemies before they react.
- **Use Sensory Boost mid-air** to change direction and dodge bullets.
- **The Running Wild achievement** asks you to dash, wallrun, slide and use the gap jammer within one second, so learn to chain them fast.

## Combat

- **Attack** with the katana. Most enemies die in a single slash.
- **Block** to deflect melee attacks and, with the right timing, bullets. Blocking 5 projectiles in a row with your sword unlocks I Call It Luck.
- **Deflected projectiles** kill enemies. Thirty kills with reflected projectiles unlocks Sword To A Gunfight.
- **Sensory Boost** is the key to reaching gunners. Jump, dash in the air and sidestep incoming shots.

### Special Abilities

Special abilities cost your ability meter, which fills as you fight.

| Ability | What it does | Best use |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Blink | Dash through a line of enemies, killing them | Clearing groups of enemies in a line (Triple A achievement) |
| Surge | A ranged energy wave | Killing enemies you can't reach, including those behind Beacon shields |
| Tempest | A telekinetic push that also deflects projectiles | Crowd control and reflecting shots (Unstoppable Force, Homerunner) |
| Overlord | Takes control of enemies so they turn on each other | Big arenas with many enemies (Control Freak) |

### Upgrades

- Upgrades are **tetromino-like pieces on a grid**. Each upgrade has a shape, and the grid has limited space.
- As you progress, the grid expands with more rows.
- Filling every slot unlocks Push It To The Limit.
- **Rebuild your grid** between levels. Combat-heavy levels want different upgrades than platforming-heavy ones.

## Enemies

| Enemy | Threat | How to deal with it |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Gunners (pistol and similar) | Basic ranged | Dodge with Sensory Boost and close in |
| Snipers | Long range, lethal | Break line of sight, then approach from cover; Surge kills them without getting close (Improvise Adapt Overrun) |
| Sluggers | Heavy melee | Dodge their swing and strike; Blink can kill them mid-air (Dead In The Air) |
| Splitters | Splits into smaller units | Kill them before they split (Preemptive Strike) |
| Beacons | Protect allies with a shield | Destroy the Beacon or use special abilities (Can't Run Can't Hide) |
| Drones | Flying support | Drop them onto groups (Strike achievement) |

Tips:

- **Kill order:** snipers and gunners first, then melee, then support.
- **Beacon shields** make nearby enemies immune to normal attacks. Target the Beacon.
- **Use enemies' friendly fire.** Overlord and reflected projectiles let them do the work.

## How to Clear an Arena, Step by Step

Most deaths come from entering a room without a plan. A repeatable approach:

1. **Stop at the entrance.** Checkpoints usually sit right before an arena, so a few seconds of scouting costs nothing.
2. **Count the enemies and find the gunners.** Snipers and gunners on high platforms are the priority.
3. **Find your route.** Look for wallrun surfaces, grapple points and cover that let you reach the first gunner without a long exposed run.
4. **Pick an opening kill.** Ideally a gunner you can reach before anyone reacts.
5. **Chain kills along your route.** Each kill should put you next to the next target. Air dash (Sensory Boost) to dodge anything shot at you between kills.
6. **Save your ability for the ugly part.** If there's a Beacon-shielded group or a line of enemies, that's where Blink, Surge or Tempest goes.
7. **After a death, change one thing.** A different first target or a different wall usually solves it.

## Settings and Comfort

- **Raise the field of view** if fast first-person movement makes you queasy, and consider reducing motion blur and camera shake.
- **Mouse sensitivity:** you'll be turning quickly mid-air. A sensitivity where you can do a fast 180 without lifting the mouse helps a lot.
- **Controller play works,** but mouse aim makes Sensory Boost redirects and quick target switching easier.
- **Assist Mode** lets you tune the challenge if a section stops being fun.

## Bosses

| Boss | Achievement | Tips |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Hel | Back To Hell | Learn her dash patterns; attack after she commits. Stay mobile. |
| Tom | Out Of Order | A big set-piece fight. Watch the environment for the damage opportunities and keep moving. |
| The Keymaster (Mara) | Artificial Selection | The finale. Multiple phases; memorise each and take it slowly. |

General boss tips:

- **Patterns are fixed.** Each attempt should teach you one more piece of the fight.
- **Checkpoints within fights** are generous. Don't rush.
- **Parry timing** (blocking at the right moment) matters more in boss fights.

## Collectibles

- **Swords:** hidden throughout levels. Completing your sword collection unlocks Fine Addition.
- **Audiologs:** collect all for About Adam.
- **Story items:** collect all for One Man's Trash.
- **Every single collectible** in the base game unlocks Junkrunner.
- **Hel levels (Project_Hel DLC):** collect all for Everyone Needs A Hobby.

Tips:

- Collectibles are often **off the main path** in side rooms, on high ledges and behind grates.
- **Level select** lets you replay levels for missing collectibles.
- Look for **unusual wallrun or grapple opportunities**; they often lead to collectibles.

## Achievements Worth Planning For

| Achievement | Requirement | Tips |
| --- | --- | --- |
| R Is For Running | Complete a level without dying | Pick a short, early level |
| A Grade | Complete "Another Awakening" without dying | Take it slow; route every fight |
| More Than Human | Kill 23 enemies in a row without dying | Choose an enemy-dense level |
| Upgrades Not Mandatory | Kill 10 enemies in a row without Sensory Boost | Early levels with melee enemies |
| Obedient Machine | Complete "No Other Choice" without killing any enemies | Pure movement run |
| Legacy Drivers | Complete "My Friend" without using any upgrades | Clear the upgrade grid first |
| Up Close And Personal | Complete "Down Below" without using Surge on enemies | Rely on the katana and other abilities |
| Just A Man | Defeat Bakunin in under three minutes | Learn the fight first, then speedrun it |
| Hit Me If You Can | Block the Warden's attack five times in a row | Practise parry timing |
| Wallrunner | Kill 74 enemies right after jumping off a wall | Make wall-jump kills your default arena opener |
| Sword Runner | Kill 5 enemies within 10 seconds using just your sword | A dense early arena, no abilities |
| Why Not Both | Use 2 different special abilities within 10 seconds | Needs two abilities unlocked; do it in any fight once the meter is full |
| Wave Of Mutilation | Kill 3 enemies with a single use of Surge | Line up a clustered group before firing |
| Longrunner | Run 42 kilometres | Comes naturally with enough play |
| Where Are My Keys | Kill 1,000 enemies | Comes naturally; Wave Mode helps |
| GR Project Complete | Unlock every other achievement | The platinum |

## Project_Hel DLC

- Released March 3, 2022 (per Wikipedia). You play as **Hel**, a different cybernetic warrior with a more aggressive, combat-focused kit.
- **Rage** is Hel's key resource: fill the bar and stay Enraged for extra power (One Of Those Days, Sticks And Stones).
- **Surge** is part of her toolkit (Strafing Run is killing three enemies with Surge in a single jump).
- The DLC has its own collectibles (Everyone Needs A Hobby).

## Extra Modes

- **Wave Mode:** a roguelike survival challenge where you survive 20 waves of increasingly tough enemies. Good for practice and for Where Are My Keys.
- **Assist Mode:** accessibility options that make the game more approachable for newcomers.

## Common Mistakes to Avoid

- **Charging straight at gunners.** Use Sensory Boost and cover.
- **Standing still.** Movement is your defence.
- **Ignoring the upgrade grid.** A tuned grid makes hard sections much easier.
- **Using abilities too early.** Save them for groups or awkward targets.
- **Rushing boss fights.** Patterns reward patience.
- **Forgetting to look up.** Many routes and collectibles are above you.

## Advanced Tips

- **Chain wallruns and dashes** to keep speed through whole arenas.
- **Use Blink on lines of enemies** to clear several at once.
- **Deflect shots back at snipers** from safety.
- **Use grapple points for fast approaches** that skip the gunners' sight lines.
- **Use Overlord in crowded arenas** to let enemies fight each other.
- **Speedrunning:** skip optional fights where you can, and memorise routes.

## FAQ

**How long is Ghostrunner?**
Around 7 to 10 hours for the story; longer with collectibles and achievements.

**Is Ghostrunner hard?**
Yes, it's a one-hit-kill game. Frequent checkpoints keep it fair, and Assist Mode is there if you need it.

**What's in Project_Hel?**
A DLC campaign as Hel, with an aggressive combat-focused kit, Rage and new levels.

**Is there a sequel?**
Yes. Ghostrunner 2 released on October 26, 2023, expanding beyond Dharma Tower with new environments and a motorcycle.

**What does Sensory Boost do?**
It slows time mid-air when you dash, letting you dodge bullets and reposition.

**Can I replay levels?**
Yes, via level select, which is how you clean up collectibles and level-specific achievements.

## Sources

- [Ghostrunner on Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1139900/Ghostrunner/)
- [Ghostrunner Steam news (Wave Mode, Assist Mode, Project_Hel)](https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1139900)
- [Ghostrunner Steam achievements](https://steamcommunity.com/stats/1139900/achievements)
- [Ghostrunner on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghostrunner)