- The Colony is your central hub in Well Dweller, home to the merchant and key upgrades like the oil vial healing charge.
- Glass Eye trinket reveals hidden paths early; skip the Weathered Coin until later.
- Sliding grants invincibility — use it offensively through enemy attacks, especially in boss fights.
- Assist options (double damage, half damage taken) can be toggled on the fly and do not disable achievements.
- Explore every room: collectible-revealing tools only show items in rooms you have already visited.
The Colony: Your Home Base in Well Dweller
The colony serves as the safe hub between your descents into the well. Here you spend currency at the merchant, expand your trinket slots, and upgrade your healing oil vial. Managing your resources at the colony correctly early on can save hours of frustration, because the wrong purchase — like the underwhelming Weathered Coin — locks you out of better options until you farm more currency.
The companion video below covers ten beginner tips that pair directly with colony-based progression:
Video Highlights:
- Buy the Glass Eye trinket from the colony merchant to reveal hidden paths
- Save 2,000 currency for a second oil vial healing charge
- Slide through enemy attacks — you are invincible while sliding
- Assist options can be changed mid-run and do not affect achievements
- Throw your flaming vessel whenever it is charged during boss fights
Merchant Priorities: What to Buy First
Currency is finite in the early game, so colony purchases should follow a clear order of value. The table below ranks the merchant's early offerings:
| Priority | Item | Cost | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Glass Eye trinket | Cheap | ★★★★★ | Reveals hidden paths (shown darkened) — finds caches and trinkets |
| 2 | Second oil vial charge | 2,000 | ★★★★★ | Expensive but absolutely worth it for survivability |
| 3 | Trinket slots | Varies | ★★★★ | More passive bonuses; no more choosing between trinkets |
| Low | Weathered Coin | Cheap | ★★ | Barely noticeable currency boost; improve its impact later |
Glass Eye First
- Hidden path vision
- Pays for itself via secret caches
- Best early-game value
Oil Vial Charge
- Doubles healing capacity
- 2,000 currency investment
- Huge for boss attempts
Trinket Slots
- Stack passive bonuses
- Test trinkets freely
- Scale with exploration
Skip the Weathered Coin early. Its currency bonus is so slight you likely will not notice the difference — redirect that money toward the Glass Eye and the 2,000-cost healing charge.
Combat Fundamentals: Terrain, Sliding, and Bossing
Combat in Well Dweller rewards pattern recognition and smart use of the environment. These fundamentals carry you from the first enemies to the final bosses.
| Technique | How It Works | Best Use |
|---|---|---|
| Terrain height | Melee enemies often cannot attack across height levels | Free kills on melee foes; learn ranged patterns safely |
| Slide i-frames | You are invincible while sliding; enemies rarely redirect attacks mid-cast | Slide behind enemies, then punish |
| Jump vs. dash | Some attacks are safer to jump, others to dash through | Test both; avoid lingering vulnerable in the air |
| Flaming vessel | Free charged damage, recharges via melee hits | Throw it the moment it is charged in boss fights |
Do not fear failure. Some bosses will take multiple attempts — the goal of each run is learning the telegraphs. If an attack keeps catching you mid-jump, try dashing through it instead, and vice versa.
Exploration Checklist: Find Every Secret
Exploration discipline determines how much you get out of each area. Because the collectible-revealing unlock only shows items in rooms you have already visited, thoroughness on your first pass matters.
Enable the Mini Map
The mini map is off by default. Turn it on in settings to track explored directions and spot skipped paths instantly.
Equip the Glass Eye
With hidden paths visible (darkened), you can spot secret passages that otherwise look like solid walls.
Use the Matchstick Slingshot Often
Fire it from range, especially before descending stairs or dropping a level. It is unlimited and reveals secret paths leading to trinkets.
Peek With the Right Stick
On controller, glance in any direction with the right thumbstick whenever you feel stuck — often you can spot just enough to find the route.
Backtrack Thoroughly
When hunting missed collectibles, re-clear every room on the mini map rather than rushing to story objectives.
Exploration Essentials:
- Mini map enabled in settings
- Glass Eye trinket equipped
- Matchstick slingshot tested before every descent
- Every room in current area visited
- Backtrack pass completed before advancing the story
Thorough exploration stocks you with trinkets and caches, which compounds with extra trinket slots purchased at the colony — more passive bonuses active at once means smoother combat everywhere.
Assist Options & Later-Game Movement
For players short on time or stuck on a hard section, the in-game assist options are a legitimate tool — and they do not disable achievements. Access them from the options menu while in game (not the title screen), under the gameplay tab.
| Assist Option | Range | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Attack strength | Up to 200% | Double damage output |
| Damage received | Down to 50% | Half damage taken |
| Healing mode | Toggle | Hold-button healing, skips timing mini-game |
| Time trial bonus | Up to +30s | Extra time in time trial events |
Once you unlock wind-stream flight (roughly 2.5–4 hours in), hold the jump button instead of spamming it — this also works while climbing. If you keep falling, angle the left stick toward the wall you are climbing.
Assist settings change on the fly. Turn them on to clear a wall, then switch them back off — ideal for players who want the challenge without a permanent handicap.
FAQ
Q: What is the colony in Well Dweller?
The colony is your hub area between descents. It houses the merchant where you buy trinkets like the Glass Eye, extra trinket slots, and oil vial healing charges.
Q: What should I buy first from the colony merchant?
Buy the Glass Eye trinket first to reveal hidden paths, then save 2,000 currency for a second oil vial healing charge. Avoid the Weathered Coin early — its currency bonus is barely noticeable.
Q: Do assist options disable achievements in Well Dweller?
No. Assist options such as increased attack strength, reduced damage taken, and simplified healing can be toggled at any time and do not affect your in-game achievements.
Q: How do I deal with tough boss fights?
Learn the patterns. Test whether each telegraphed attack is safer to jump or dash through, and throw your flaming vessel as soon as it charges — it is free damage that recharges from your melee hits.