Of the many secret gameplay elements Spelunky 2 offers to players, Kali’s Sacrificial Altars are some of the most valuable; and the most cryptic. They can take a run from the precipice of disaster to once impossible heights, but give little to no explanation for what they are or how to use them. That’s why we’re here to walk you through how to how to use Kali’s Sacrificial Altars and what they do in Spelunky 2.
How to Use Sacrificial Altars
To use Sacrificial Altars in Spelunky 2, you’ll first need to know how to find them.
Like shops or other beneficial RNG elements, Altars won’t always show up in levels. However, they have a higher chance of appearing than other elements, and it’s highly likely you’ll find at least a few during your run. You can also find indicators that they’re present in any given level, like there being a high number of stunnable enemies wandering around or a high number of human enemies clustered together.
Should either of these signs appear, keep your eyes out for an Altar as you make your way throughout the level. If and when you find one, you can then stun and grab one of these enemies and drop them on the Altar as a sacrifice to Kali. Doing so will net you good standing with the god, and if your standing is high enough – i.e., you sacrifice enough enemies – she’ll reward you with an item.
The item you receive will be determined through RNG, so you have an equal shot at getting a common item like the Compass or a rarer item like a Shotgun. If you make several sacrifices throughout a run though, you’ll be rewarded with the Kapala, an item that rewards you with health for every kill you get. This can be immensely helpful in later levels, where it’s more difficult to get pets to the level exit or find and make Roasted Turkeys.
Can You Sacrifice Pets and Allies?
If you’re looking to get the Kapala and other items in a hurry though, you can also place friends, allies and pets on Kali’s Sacrificial Altars in Spelunky 2.
As with enemies, all you need to do is place them on the Altar while they’re stunned. They’ll then count toward any progress you’ve already made toward a reward from Kali, and will likewise net you more favor with the god thanks to their being less common sacrifices. Pets and rescued adventurers in particular will net you tons of favor, even getting you an item with their sacrifice alone.
However, there are some drawbacks to consider when using friends and allies as sacrifices. In addition to those sacrificed not being able to join you further into your run or provide you with health, you’ll need to be careful not to let any NPCs who care for them see them get sacrificed.
For example, if Yang sees you sacrifice any Turkeys, he’ll fly into a rage and hunt you down throughout the rest of the level, potentially undoing any benefits you could earn with a hasty death.
Consider these variables, and weigh whether it’s the right time to speed up your sacrificial gains by betraying your comrades.
Hopefully this cleared up how to use Kali’s Sacrificial Altars and what they do in Spelunky 2. For more on the game, check out some of our other guides on topics like how to get the Udjat Eye and how to skip levels.
