Proving Ground Tips

[Darth Maleval]

I think perhaps this topic should be in it's own thread.

I've seen several tips in various other threads, but why not put them in one place.

The only one I have not finished is The Scrap Yard (Cael Hammer). If anyone knows a sure fire way to defeat this one, I would appreciate any suggestions!

I will say this, it is important to choose the correct upgrade combination. You have 5 upgrades per weapon, but each one has two choices. Be sure to pick a good combination that will help with each particular Proving Ground challenge.

I'll start adding some tips as I proceed through my second game:

Breaker Barracks (Breaker's Bow) - Very Easy. 5 Shots for first prize. Just get a few upgrades to the bow and eliminate 1 row at a time. (Check Morris69's post for a few good tips as well)

Windbag Ranch (War Machete) - A bit of a challenge. Under 90 sec. for 2nd prize, Under 60 sec. for 1st prize. Immediately go to the center and kill as many greenish squirts as possible. Then go around eliminating the rest of the enemies, any remaining greenish squirts last.

Trapper Shingle (Fang Repeater) - Pretty Easy. 48 or more targets for 2nd prize, 64 targets for 1st prize. Just get a few upgrades and this one is straightforward, just don't miss any targets, not much more to say.

Bullhead Court (Bullhead Shield) - Will take some practice. 15 hits or fewer for 2nd prize, 2 hits or fewer for 1st prize. Learn the timing of the enemies' attacks to make it through this one. On the last enemy....either lure him over the edge or face him head on. I would recommend activating Lunkhead Liqueur which gives you 100% counter-damage when blocking.

Zulwood Grove (Scrap Musket) - Pretty Easy. 22 shots or fewer for 2nd prize, 15 shots or fewer for 1st prize. Just upgrade the musket a few times and carefully aim your shots to hit as many gourds as possible. The goal is to try to push them all over the edge. So careful shots and grouping them together is key here.

The Scrap Yard (Cael Hammer) - Challenging! Under 40 sec. for 2nd prize, under 25 sec. for 1st prize. I try a combination of rolling and smashing to try to get as much as possible, also with a maxed out hammer. I would say reference some videos on youtube to get an idea of a strategy.

Slinger Range (Dueling Pistols) - Easy. Score 500 or more for 2nd prize, score 750 or more for 1st prize. First thing to do is activate Werewhiskey (100% critical hit chance when health under 33%). After entering arena, just fall off the edge a couple of times to get your health below 33%. Then pick up the pistols and shoot as fast as possible. I only had 3 upgrades and still managed the score.

Camp Dauncy (Brusher's Pike) - Moderately Difficult. Under 90 sec. for 2nd prize, under 60 sec. for 1st prize. I had a fully upgraded pike and chose the upgrades on the left side (for maximum power). This way it was a one hit kill on the pincushions. I chose to start going left first, then middle switch, then lower right. Next, up to the upper right and then to the far left switch. Finally a dash to the last switch on the top. Timing is crucial and only kill what you need to get by.

Trigger Hill (Army Carbine) - Somewhat Easy. Under 50 sec. for 2nd prize, under 35 sec. for 1st prize. I used a maxed out carbine. Just shoot each target as quickly as possible using a power shot. Shouldn't take more than a couple tries to get this one.

Grady Incinerator (Fire Bellows) - Pretty Easy. 60 peckers or more for 2nd prize, 72 peckers for 1st prize. Only need a couple upgrades on your bellows for this one. Just shoot out a continuous stream of fire in a circle to defeat peckers quickly and move on to the next area. This one should only take a couple of tries.

Boundless Bay (Galleon Mortar) - Very Easy. 60 casualties or more for 2nd prize, 80 casualties or more for 1st prize. I did this with only a couple of upgrades on the weapon and again with full upgrades and results the same. You can easily destroy the required number of squirts with well aimed shots in the middle of the cluster.

Mancer Observatory (Calamity Cannon) - Pretty Easy. 4 or more conductors for 2nd prize, all 7 conductors for 1st prize. Just max out the cannons upgrades, the last one being that rockets seek out foes. Stand on the edge of the platform and just continually fire away. Should be able to clear this one easily. (Thanks to Captain K for the tip).

[Azn Playah]

If you're going to start a compendium thread like this, why don't you just give it a start and put guides in your post?

[Darth Maleval]

Originally Posted by Azn Playah

If you're going to start a compendium thread like this, why don't you just give it a start and put guides in your post?

Yes, sir. I'm going through my second playthrough and I'll add some tips as I get to each challenge.

I would hope that others give their input as I'm sure mine is not always the best way.

[neeker75]

Breaker Barracks (Breaker's Bow) - Lining up alone does not ensure a straight shot through a few of them. Instead, when lining up them in "\" and "/", use LB or RB to aim for the second item in the row. This guarantees that the arrow goes through all three targets at once.

[morris69]

Originally Posted by Darth Maleval

Yes, sir. I'm going through my second playthrough and I'll add some tips as I get to each challenge.

I would hope that others give their input as I'm sure mine is not always the best way.

http://www.xbox360achievements.org/f...d.php?t=322552

Feel free to put that for the Shield one

[Captain K]

For Calamity Cannon, simply upgrade it all the way. The final upgrade is homing rockets. Use that and any firing speed upgrades for an easy win.

I'm so mad that I didn't think of Werewhiskey with the pistols. I got 744 with no helpful spirits and 751 with Dreadrum. :P

[Ethereal235]

Said this elsewhere, hadn't seen this thread.

The Pike proving ground (Camp Dauncy) is obscenely easy if you have the abilities that allow you to continue 3 times, that return health when you kill an enemy, and that cause you to emit damage upon death. Do one slow runthrough to get a feel of where the switches are. When necessary, just let yourself die chasing a switch. Time pauses while you decide to keep going, and all the enemies inthe area are obliterated, so all obstacles are gone. Was able to do it in about 50 seconds with almost no effort.

[Darth Maleval]

I've tried The Scrap Yard about 50 times and cannot get first prize. I just don't see how it's possible. At the most I have gotten only 80 items by the time 25 seconds rolls around. This is the only proving ground I have not beaten.

How in the world is this done? What is the trick?


**Finally got it, after a billion tries. My most unfavorite proving ground by far.

[Splatoon]

Originally Posted by Darth Maleval

I've tried The Scrap Yard about 50 times and cannot get first prize. I just don't see how it's possible. At the most I have gotten only 80 items by the time 25 seconds rolls around. This is the only proving ground I have not beaten.

How in the world is this done? What is the trick?

As you said in the OP, the best strategy I could find was to try and aim your movement so that you have a pattern of rolling through the light stuff, smashing the heavy stuff, then rolling through the next patch of light stuff, smash etc. etc. So that you're never hammering more than once or twice in the same place. Still took me about 10-15 tries, but once I got an eye for the path that yielded the most destruction with the fewest hits, it got a lot easier. If I remember correctly, the Narrator actually mentions something about workers planning out a path, so I took that to be one of those subtle clues. Good luck, other than the pistols this was easily the biggest pain in the ass of the trials.

[Awesome Wells]

The Werewhiskey trick works equally well for Trapper Shingle. That and rolling everywhere should make it very easy indeed. Did it first time with Werewhiskey after three upgrades.

[Ostrinaut Noble]

The hammer proving ground is glitched for me because i've gotten 26 or 27 seconds like 5 times and it gives me second prize.

[Jay Leon Hart]

Just got the Cael Hammer 1st prize with 21 seconds - it seems hitting attack whilst still rolling helps speed things up.

[Pazuzu98224]

Originally Posted by Ostrinaut Noble

The hammer proving ground is glitched for me because i've gotten 26 or 27 seconds like 5 times and it gives me second prize.

Same for me I got 25 after about 10 tries then got 26 then got 27 on the number twice and it keeps giving me second.

[x Zot x]

Windbag Ranch (War Machete) - To make this even easier, activate the Graver Gimlet potion and upgrade the machete to Graver Bolster. I finish in 49 second the first try after that.

[Damian227]

Originally Posted by Darth Maleval

Slinger Range (Dueling Pistols) - Easy. Score 500 or more for 2nd prize, score 750 or more for 1st prize. First thing to do is activate Werewhiskey (100% critical hit chance when health under 33%). After entering arena, just fall off the edge a couple of times to get your health below 33%. Then pick up the pistols and shoot as fast as possible. I only had 3 upgrades and still managed the score.

Having a huge problem with this one... I walk off the edge and my health refuses to go down? I don't remember downloading a patch... if there is one, I guess it patches this work-around.

[the_b1ues]

Do you actully need to complete all these to get 200g?