Fungal Gamble – Dancing With the Gods of RNG in Noita

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Wands worth their slot are few and far between through the main path of the Noita campaign, that is until The Underground Jungle, but you know Mina needs one from the foot of the mountain.

Luckily before you are outnumbered and outgunned in the claustrophobic Hiisi Base you can take a detour to the Fungal Caverns to the left of the Coal Pits. This place is very volatile, a lot of exploding mushroom, dangerous enemies with a high kill potential. It’s never a sure thing, but it’s often rewarding; wands, potions and pouches with high chances of being good, and other items.

Going through the Fungal Caverns (and all it's variants) is very much a deal with the god of RNG since the chances are higher and not guaranteed that you'll find what you need there but the risks of going through this place are guaranteed.

When the gamble pays off Mina will usually have a good wand or two and some potions or pouches, its actually not too rare that an Ambrosia potion spawns here. If you are into making use of the many other items in the game like the Runestones or the Chaos Die, Mina is likely to come across one or two of those in there in every run.

For the brave (or the addicted), the gamble goes further: full hp pickups in the Holy Mountains above and below the Coal Pits, or even the one in the Dark Cave left of the Collapsed Mines, can fuel a thorough fungal exploration expedition. Taking it further, Mina can recruit Steve (or two) for some extra firepower.

This place can warrant all the afore mentioned full health pickups to an unsuspecting Mina as it embraces the randomness of the roguelike genre the most, with a cast of enemies that major in making a run more chaotic and out of Mina's control. From a selection of the Mages, to Squidward and the little one who freeze Mina in place, to the fleas and their flight patterns that I cannot describe. Oh and a lot of things explode here.

In the end Mina usually comes out with a powerful set of tools that make getting to and surviving the Underground Jungle and lower much easier. But when the gamble doesn't pay off and sometimes even when it does, Mina has to go through the Snowy Depths with low hp and no healing until the Holy Mountain below the biome, a good gambler knows when to fold.

Next article: Hiisi Harem - Infinite Early Game Healing in Noita