Altar Guide — All 8 Altars in Nullscape

Altars are interactive shrines found throughout Nullscape's procedurally generated floors. Each altar offers a unique effect in exchange for a cost — usually Sheckles, health, or a permanent sacrifice. Knowing when to use each altar and when to walk away is a core skill that separates successful runs from failed ones.

This guide covers all 8 altars in the game, their costs, effects, and strategic considerations.

Altar of Chance

The Altar of Chance is the gambler's altar. Pay a Sheckle cost and receive a random upgrade, weapon, or item. The outcome can range from common junk to legendary-tier loot.

When to Use

Early in a run when you need any upgrade at all, or late in a run when you have Sheckles to spare and want a chance at a legendary item. Avoid when you're low on Sheckles and need something specific.

Altar of Chaos

The Altar of Chaos applies a random modifier to your current run — it can be beneficial or harmful. The effect is permanent for the remainder of the run.

When to Use

Only when you have excess health and can afford the sacrifice. The risk of a negative modifier is significant. Strong when playing the Bruiser or other tanky classes that can absorb the health cost.

Altar of Echo

The Altar of Echo duplicates your currently equipped weapon, giving you a second copy. Both copies share the same stats and upgrades.

When to Use

When you have a strong weapon that you want to double down on. Extremely powerful with weapons that have stacking effects or high fire rates. Do not waste this on weak or common weapons.

Altar of Passage

The Altar of Passage lets you skip the current floor entirely, teleporting you to the next one. You miss all loot and Sheckles on the skipped floor.

When to Use

When you're dangerously low on health and the current floor layout is unfavorable. Also useful for speedrunning when you have strong upgrades and don't need the loot from the current floor.

Altar of Protection

The Altar of Protection grants a temporary shield that absorbs the next hit completely. The shield persists until used and does not expire.

When to Use

Before a boss room, before entering a dangerous floor, or when you're one hit from death. The value of this altar depends entirely on how much damage the absorbed hit would have dealt.

Altar of Purgatory

The Altar of Purgatory removes all current upgrades and refunds 50% of their Sheckle cost, then lets you re-purchase upgrades from a refreshed selection.

When to Use

When your current upgrades don't synergize well together. The 50% refund means you lose some value, but a coherent build is worth more than random upgrades. Best used mid-run when you have a clear idea of what build you want.

Altar of Purification

The Altar of Purification cures all negative status effects, debuffs, and curses currently applied to your character.

When to Use

Anytime you're carrying a harmful debuff or curse, especially ones that reduce damage or speed. The cost is low enough that it's almost always worth using if you have any debuffs.

Altar of Revival

The Altar of Revival grants you one extra life. Upon death, you revive with 50% health at the same location instead of returning to the start.

When to Use

On Extreme difficulty runs where every death ends the run. Also valuable before final boss encounters. The cost is steep, but an extra life on Extreme difficulty can be the difference between a completed run and a lost one.

General Altar Tips

• Always check the cost before committing. Prices scale with floor number, and later floors charge significantly more.
• Altar spawns are not guaranteed. You may not see every altar in a single run. Prioritize the ones that align with your current needs.
• Some altars can appear multiple times. The Altar of Protection and Purification can spawn on consecutive floors.
• Curses from the Altar of Chaos stack. Multiple negative modifiers can make a run nearly impossible — use with extreme caution.