PEAK came out recently, and it’s been a huge hit due to its replayability and all the silly stuff you can do with a group. Despite being more of a co-op game, it does feature a solo mode that will reward you with the Lone Wolf Badge if you can complete the climb on your own.
If you’re still new to the game and/or want to try and get this achievement, here are some general tips that might help. I got it on my second ever solo run, so it’s definitely not as hard as you might think!
Tip #1 – Keep Stacking Bonus Stamina
Right from the start, look for trees that have coconuts near the plane. Cook them and eat a few, leaving yourself just a couple to spare. By doing this, you’ll already have a bit of extra stamina to start with. You don’t have to use it up immediately, but stacking early and often is always a good idea.
Chug all those sports drinks and eat your granola bars! If you run into some yellow berries, munch on them for a bit of a boost!
Even if you manage to find a good enough path to barely use your extra stamina bar throughout most of the run, having that reserve can save your life or get you through a particularly tough spot.
On that note, don’t shy away from using it early either. If your choices are either going through a risky path or using a safer alternative that requires bonus stamina, then pick the latter. This will likely be the case in the Tropics, where the map can be a complete pain to navigate, especially if you get unlucky with the rain.
BONUS TIP – Starter Items: Bring the starting lantern with you, because it might save your life in the Alpine later. Ignore the compass and flare, as they’re largely useless. Take Bing Bong with you if you want an extra achievement at the finish line!
Tip #2 – Take. Your. Time.
While you shouldn’t take forever to get through the map, rushing too much isn’t ideal either. Take your time and analyze your surroundings. There’s almost always a way up nearby, even when you think you’re stuck.
In some cases, you’ll need to think outside of the box a bit. As I’m writing this, today’s Tropics has a metric ton of bombs along the walls, which has made climbing the cliff itself extra difficult.
My solution? Use the trees and balance on thick roots to avoid the minefield of a cliff wall. I eventually hit a bit of a dead end, but after looking around a bit, I noticed a vine way below that’ll take me to the cliff wall. I climbed to the highest point of the tree and took a leap of faith to grab the vine, use it like a zipline, and spend all my extra stamina to reach a relatively safe ledge.
When I got my Lone Wolf Badge, I found myself stuck several times in that run, but I managed to get through those “dead ends” with the help of the next tip…
Tip #3 – Don’t Be Afraid To Use Items
If you find yourself hoarding stuff for too long “just in case”, stop. Since you’re running solo, you’ll want to frequently use whatever tools you come by to maximize your chances of success.
If you need to use a chain launcher just to reach a ledge that’s only barely out of reach, go for it. Is your way forward blocked by a tall rockface? Maybe chugging an energy drink will let you clear it before you run out of stamina. These two scenarios aren’t just hypothetical, these are things I did to get my first solo clear.
Remember, you’re not sharing with a team in this attempt. There will be plenty of luggage scattered all around the map, and they’re all yours for the taking. Chances are, the item you just used to make some significant (and safe) progress will be “refunded” in no time.
Tip #4 – Learn the Hazards
This goes in line with tip #2. Not only should you take your time with your pathfinding, but also study what’s going on in your surroundings. Here’s a brief list of stuff to watch out for, which will cover some of the hazards to worry about:
- Shore – The giant sea urchins and jellyfish will poison you, so be careful of those. That’s really all you need to worry about there.
- Tropics – Watch out for any explosive and/or poisonous growths, large thorns, and beehives. Avoid climbing during the rain.
- Alpine – A blizzard will occur every now and then, just like rainfall in the previous zone, and you can avoid frost accumulation by hiding in corners, caves, or clumps of trees. Avoid the aggressively blue ice and geysers too.
- Caldera – The floor is lava! This will occasionally go away, allowing you to cross chains without burning too much. If you see a rock formation start to glow, steer clear of it as it will temporarily catch fire.
- The Kiln – Once you’re inside the volcano, you’re at the final stretch of the climb. Avoid the orange rocks and just… don’t fall, really.
And that’s a wrap! The game itself is very straightforward, but failed runs often come from taking unnecessary risks or being too afraid to “waste” items, which I’m admittedly guilty of when playing with a group lol. Now get out there and unlock those wolf ears!