GET YOUR BEARINGS
About Archons
Archons thrusts players onto an alien world plagued by an ancient evil. Summon the titular Archons to battle swarms of parasites and towering bosses while uncovering the source of the spreading plague. Harvest essence to upgrade weapons and powers, then trade health for raw strength via bloodrunes.
The game supports solo play, local co‑op, and an endless survival mode. Players can shape their playstyle with active or passive, defensive or offensive builds, earn multiple currencies, and unlock achievements for extra rewards.
01 / THE GUIDE
Dual‑Character Control
One player controls two characters simultaneously, assigning each hand to a different avatar. This setup lets you juggle distinct abilities and attacks in real time, adding a layer of strategic depth to combat.
The game also offers local co‑op, letting you share the split screen with a partner as you face the alien threat together.
- Try pairing a high‑damage character with a defensive one to balance offense and survivability.
- Practice assigning each hand to complementary abilities to streamline combo execution.
02 / THE GUIDE
Essence Harvesting & Bloodrunes
Defeating enemies yields essence, a resource used to enhance weapons and powers. As you collect more, you can unlock bloodrunes that let you sacrifice health for powerful attacks.
Bloodrunes provide a high‑risk, high‑reward option, turning your remaining vitality into devastating strength that can turn the tide against bosses.
- Balance health sacrifice with your current survivability to avoid being overwhelmed.
- Reserve bloodrunes for boss encounters where extra damage is most impactful.

03 / THE GUIDE
Build Customization
Players choose a build path that leans toward active or passive abilities, and can further specialize as defensive or offensive. This choice shapes how you approach each encounter.
The system is flexible, allowing you to switch focus as you progress and discover new environments and bosses.
- Experiment with both active and passive setups early to see which matches your playstyle.
- Consider a defensive orientation when tackling dense parasite swarms.
04 / THE GUIDE
Game Modes: Local Co‑op & Endless
Archons offers a local co‑op mode where two players share or split the screen to face the alien threat together. This mode supports full controller and keyboard options.
An Endless Mode challenges you to survive against continuously spawning enemies, testing the durability of your builds and the effectiveness of your bloodrunes.
- Coordinate character roles in co‑op to cover both damage and crowd control.
- Use Endless Mode as a sandbox to fine‑tune your build under pressure.
05 / THE GUIDE
Progression Currencies & Achievements
Defeating foes grants different currencies that assist progression through levels, assisting your progression through the levels. Achievements track milestones and reward players for specific feats.
These systems encourage exploration of new environments and bosses, providing tangible goals beyond the core combat loop.
- Prioritize earning currencies that unlock upgrades aligning with your chosen build.
- Review achievement requirements to target specific challenges for extra rewards.





COMMUNITY
Player discussion