Beginner's Guide to Die in the Dungeon
Everything you need to survive your first runs — dice basics, relic combos, boss patterns, and common mistakes to avoid.
What Is Die in the Dungeon?
Die in the Dungeon is a dice-based deckbuilding roguelike by ATICO, released on Steam Early Access in May 2026. Unlike traditional card-based deckbuilders like Slay the Spire, this game replaces cards with dice. You build a bag of dice, draw them each turn, place them on your board, and trigger their effects to deal damage, block attacks, heal, and apply status effects.
The core loop is simple: fight through floors → collect new dice and relics → upgrade your build → repeat. But the depth comes from dice synergies, relic stacking, and the puzzle of optimizing your board placement each turn. With 24 dice types, 56 relics, 12 bosses, and endless mode after Floor 12, there is a tremendous amount to discover.
Your First Run: What to Expect
Your first run will likely end on Floor 3 or 4 — and that is completely normal. Death is a learning tool in Die in the Dungeon, not a failure. Each run teaches you enemy patterns, dice interactions, and relic priorities. Here is what the early floors look like:
| Floor | Enemy Type | New Dice Unlock | Strategy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Slimes | Heal Dice | Learn basic combat rhythm |
| 2 | Skeletons | Ice Dice | Introduce control mechanics |
| 3 | Goblins | Vampire Dice | First sustain option; first mini-boss |
| 4 | Dark Mages | Shield Dice | Block becomes essential here |
| 5 | Knights | Poison Dice | Damage-over-time introduced |
Understanding Dice: The Core Mechanic
Dice are your cards, your attacks, your blocks, your heals — everything. Each turn you draw a hand of dice from your bag and place them on your board. Placement order matters — some dice effects trigger before others, and positioning affects which enemies are targeted.
Dice Rarity Tiers
| Tier | Color | Power Level | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Common | Gray | Baseline stats | Basic Attack Dice (1-6 damage) |
| Uncommon | Blue | +1 effect or higher base | Ice Dice (1-4 + freeze) |
| Rare | Purple | Unique mechanics | Vampire Dice (damage+lifesteal) |
| Legendary | Gold | Scaling or multi-effect | Golden Dice (scaling min-roll) |
The Best Beginner Dice Setup
For your first successful runs, use this combination:
- Vampire Dice — Your primary damage source. Lifesteal keeps you alive without needing to spend turns healing.
- Shield Dice — Prevents damage before it reaches your HP. Essential from Floor 4 onward.
- Heal Dice — Recovers health lost to attrition. Place last in your combo each turn.
- Ice Dice — Freezes enemies, delaying their next attack. Invaluable for boss fights.
This is not the highest damage setup, but it is the most forgiving. It lets you learn enemy attack patterns, experiment with relic choices, and survive long enough to reach the mid-game floors where the real build-defining relics appear.
Relic Basics: How to Build a Synergy
Relics are permanent passive bonuses you collect throughout a run. They are the equivalent of relics in Slay the Spire or items in Binding of Isaac. A focused set of relics that all buff the same strategy is dramatically stronger than a random collection of individually powerful relics.
Relic Priority for Beginners
| Priority | Relic Type | Why | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Highest | Dice Draw | More dice per turn = more options | Dice Bag+ (+1 draw) |
| 2. High | Scaling | Gets stronger as fights progress | Philosopher's Stone |
| 3. Medium | Dice Enhancing | Buffs specific dice types you use | Sharpened Edge (+2 min-roll) |
| 4. Situational | Utility | Rerolls, extra inventory, shops | Merchant's Coin |
The 5 Most Common Beginner Mistakes
1. Over-committing Dice on Turn One
Always keep at least one die in reserve for defense or repositioning. Dumping all your dice for maximum damage on turn one leaves you exposed to the enemy's full attack. Pace yourself — fights in Die in the Dungeon are marathons, not sprints.
2. Collecting Every Relic You Find
More relics are not always better. Each relic you take dilutes future relic spawns — the game weights new offerings based on what you already own. Skip relics that do not fit your current strategy. Sell off-synergy relics at shops to fund rerolls for the ones you actually need.
3. Ignoring Dice Placement Order
The order in which you place dice on your board determines the sequence of effects. Shield Dice should be placed first to block damage before your other dice resolve. Heal Dice should be placed last to recover any damage taken during the turn. A poorly ordered board wastes a turn of potential.
4. Not Adapting to What the Run Gives You
If the game drops three Fire Dice relics by Floor 3, pivot to a Fire build — even if you planned to go Golden Dice. The best players read what the RNG offers and adapt their strategy accordingly. Forcing a predetermined build when the game is clearly pushing you in a different direction is the fastest way to lose.
5. Skipping Heal and Utility Rooms
Rooms that say Heal, Shop, or Rest are not optional — they are essential. Even if your health bar looks fine, heal rooms often restore hidden resources or provide buffs that make the next floor significantly easier. A skipped heal room on Floor 6 will cost you your run on Floor 9.
After Your First Few Runs: What Next?
Once you can consistently reach Floor 6-8, it is time to start optimizing:
- Check the Dice Build Tier List to see which combinations are meta-dominant and why.
- Experiment with Golden Dice builds — they scale into Endless Mode better than any other archetype.
- Learn boss attack patterns — every boss telegraphs their moves. Knowing when to block vs. when to burst is the difference between a clean kill and a party wipe.
- Start tracking which relic combinations feel strongest for each dice type. Personal experience will teach you synergies faster than any tier list.
- Push into Endless Mode after clearing Floor 12 and see how far your optimized build can go.