Hell Maiden Wiki
Your independent guide to AstralShift's horde survival deck-builder inspired by Dante's Divine Comedy. Master Spirit Cards, rescue the Poets of Limbo, and climb through the Circles of Hell toward Paradiso.
Quick Start for New Players
New to Hell Maiden? Start with controls and a full beginner walkthrough before your first run through Limbo.
Movement, dash, spell tokens, and level-up screen mechanics explained.
How to Play Hell Maiden — Complete Beginner GuideFrom your first Forum visit to surviving the 12-minute Limbo timer.
Hell Maiden Early Access Release InformationLaunch date, demo vs EA differences, supported languages, and roadmap.
Core Deck-Building Mechanics
Hell Maiden combines Vampire Survivors-style horde combat with a deep card system. Weapon Cards define your attacks; Mod Cards enhance them with Boost, Effect, Spread, Miracle, and Curse types.
How Weapon and Mod Cards work, merge rules, and deck limits.
Charms from Beatrice — Full List and PrioritiesBronze, Silver, and Gold charms with reroll strategy.
Poets of Limbo Deck OverviewDante, Virgil, Horace, Homer, and Ovid card pools compared.
Items, Spells, and Pickups in Hell MaidenHealth potions, magnets, spell tokens, and temple buffs.
Circle of Hell Walkthroughs
Each Circle of Hell is a timed survival stage ending in a unique boss fight. Early Access includes Limbo and Lust with distinct enemy waves and questlines.
Full 12-minute wave timeline, elite spawns, and boss transition.
Lust Circle Walkthrough for Early AccessSecond Circle mechanics, new enemies, and Scarmiglione prep.
Limbo Map Layout and Temple LocationsOpen map zones, vase drops, and mini-map event icons.
Lust Map Guide and Navigation TipsStage layout differences from Limbo and quest markers.
Bosses and Poets of Limbo
Rescue legendary poets to expand your card pool. Each boss defeat grants permanent perks for future runs through the Circles of Hell.
Limbo finale boss with multi-run dialogue and attack patterns.
Libicocco Boss Guide for Lust CircleEarly Access second boss with wind-based mechanics.
Virgil — Unlock Requirements and Star DeckAvailable after two Limbo runs with moon-themed weapons.
Horace Rescue Quest and Spear DeckThird-run timed quest at 3:30 with critical damage focus.
Homer Poet Guide for Early AccessEpic-themed card pool unlocked in Lust Circle.
Ovid Poet Guide and Transformation CardsFourth Poet with unique Miracle and Curse synergies.
Builds, Tier Lists, and Tools
Optimize your runs with community-tested builds and our interactive Deck Builder for planning Weapon and Mod Card layouts before entering Hell.
Weapon and Mod Cards ranked for Limbo and Lust progression.
Best Dante Fire Build for LimboDragon's Breath and Blistering Wake synergies.
Virgil Star Build for AOE ClearsSelenic Bloom and Cradle of Stars combinations.
Horace Critical Damage Build GuideMaximize crit chance and lifesteal with spear weapons.
Hell Maiden Deck Builder ToolPlan four weapon slots and twelve mod slots with Spread preview.
Latest Hell Maiden Guides
In-depth tutorials covering the most searched questions from demo players and Early Access newcomers.
Mod merging, Spread placement, and poet deck selection.
How to Beat Minos — Limbo Boss StrategyRecommended charms, spell timing, and dodge patterns.
How to Rescue Horace on Your Third RunQuest trigger at 3:30 and pathing before 5:45 deadline.
How to Choose Charms from BeatricePriority list for Attack Speed, Elite Slayer, and Growth.
How to Survive Limbo Fire TrapsTrap spawn times at 5:35 and 10:05 with dash escape tech.
Hell Maiden Early Access Complete GuideEverything new and returning players need for launch week.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Hell Maiden release on Steam?
Hell Maiden enters Steam Early Access on July 16, 2026. The initial version includes the Limbo and Lust Circles of Hell, four Poets of Limbo, 40+ abilities, and the full narrative introduction. AstralShift plans roughly one year or more in Early Access before the full 1.0 release with all nine Circles.
Does Hell Maiden demo progress transfer to Early Access?
No. Demo progress does not carry over to the Early Access or full release versions. The demo covers only Limbo with one Poet rescue quest. Early Access adds Lust, additional Poets, more cards, and expanded story content.
What languages does Hell Maiden support?
Hell Maiden supports English, Spanish, Portuguese, Brazilian Portuguese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, and Japanese. Interface and subtitles are available for all listed languages.
How does the deck-building system work?
You equip up to four Weapon Cards including your Signature Card, with three Mod Card slots per weapon. Mod Cards come in Boost, Effect, Spread, Miracle, and Curse types. Duplicate Mods merge to level 3. Spread Cards buff adjacent weapons based on hand position.
How do I unlock Virgil's deck?
Complete two runs in Limbo — success or failure both count. After the second run, Virgil's star-themed Weapon and Mod Cards appear in your level-up pool alongside Dante's fire deck.
How do I rescue Horace in Limbo?
On your third Limbo run, a rescue quest triggers when the timer reaches 3:30. Reach Horace and defend her from enemy waves before 5:45. If she dies or you fail the run, the quest retries on subsequent attempts until completed.
Is there a Hell Maiden tier list for cards?
Yes. Our Hell Maiden tier list ranks Weapon and Mod Cards by effectiveness in Limbo and Lust. Top picks include Dragon's Breath for consistent DPS, Selenic Bloom for AOE, and Spread-type Mods that amplify multiple weapons.
What is the difference between Charms and Mod Cards?
Mod Cards attach to specific Weapon Cards and modify individual attacks. Charms are stat buffs offered by Beatrice at odd levels starting at level 7. Charms stack up to level 10 per type and do not carry between runs.