“Welcome to ‘The Darkest Tales – Orb Locations’ guide! This article will help you find all the experience and skill orbs in the game. Don’t worry, there won’t be any spoilers about the story, just the skills and abilities you can unlock. Plus, you won’t miss out on any orbs permanently. You can always go back and collect them later. If you don’t want spoilers, wait until you’ve finished the game before using this guide. And even after completing the game, you can still go back and collect orbs. However, there may be a bug in one level called The Dishonesty, where some players have reported being stuck at 96.4% completion. If you know the solution, please let me know in the comments. Let’s begin our orb-hunting adventure!”
Tips and Observations
- If playing with a controller, you can hold the left stick in any direction in order to move the camera further in that direction. This only works if you are unable to move in the direction you are trying to look (i.e. pressed up against a wall for left and right or standing on solid ground for down). Diagonal kinda works as well.
- You can pogo off of enemies and hazards (spikes, thorns, etc.). This is required to reach some orbs, but will let you reach other orbs earlier than you would otherwise (like having to come back with a movement ability you gain later).
- Once you get the double jump ability, when you attach something with a melee weapon (enemies or hazards) it will reset your jump. So you can pogo, jump once, pogo, jump again, attack some spikes to the side, jump again, and so on.
- Attacking with a light weapon while in mid-air will give you some additional hang time. This will help if you can’t quite reach a ledge with a single jump or a single jump and a dash. Something like; jump, when you start to fall swing your weapon, and then dash.
- Mirrors count towards completion percentage. Pretty sure non-orb abilities gained (like dash) count and I assume that weapons found do as well. Also pretty sure that defeating the boss in each level, or just finishing the level, counts as well. This might imply that there are other, more hidden things that count towards completion percent. Maybe there is a hidden value for parts of the map you have been to or a hidden value for cut scenes you have activated? Save spots touched do not seem to count.
- Unfortunately, everything doesn’t seem to count for the same amount toward completion percentage. Experience orbs seem to count for less than skill orbs or abilities/weapons found. This makes it hard to gauge how many orbs you are missing for 100% completion.
A Note About Completion Percentage
Completing a level, or maybe just defeating the boss, also counts towards completion percentage. If you see a place that I marked at 100%, but you don’t have 100% yet, it could be that you just need to finish the level to get what you are missing.
The Hate – Story Playthrough
Duelist: You can pogo across the spikes using your swords or you can come back later when you have the thread/grapple.
EXP Orb 2: You have to cross the spike pit and pogo off bats to reach the top of a cliff. You can pogo across the spikes first and stand on a small ledge on the start of the cliff. Then you can pogo off the bats to get up the cliff. Or you can just pogo off the bats the whole way across and up the cliff.
Berserk: Drop down and kill all the bats. When they are dead, the skill will drop down to the ground.
Dash Invulnerability: Jump across the two pillars and let the spikes drop. The jump can be tricky, but I think if you actually bodily hit the spikes it will help. Swing your swords can give you more hang time as well. You can come back after you get the dash ability if you want.
Completion Percentage: 83.8%
The Hate – With Dash Ability
Completion Percentage: 88.8%
The Hate – With Swimming Ability
EXP Orb 3: Dive into the water and you will see the orb to the left.
Completion Percentage: 100%
The Gullible – Story Playthrough
Cold Blood: You could get this one immediately if you pogo off of the thorns, but you will get the thread grapple shortly shortly after this spot. The thread grapple will make this one easy to get.
Efficient Healing: Again, you could get this one right away if you want to pogo up the wall of thorns and then over to the skill. You will get the thread grapple immediately after this spot and you will end up right above this skill orb anyway.
EXP Orb 2: It is hidden behind the leaf on the right side of the screen.
Dash Damage: You can’t miss it. You pass by it through normal progression.
EXP Orb 3: You could possibly miss this one if you don’t climb up the leaves, but it is pretty hard to miss if you explore normally.
EXP Orb 4: It is hidden behind the flower on the left side of the screen.
Completion Percentage: 85.4%
The Gullible – With Flight Ability
Completion Percentage: 91.7%
The Gullible – With Wall Climb Ability
Completion Percentage: 95.8%
The Gullible – With Swimming Ability
Completion Percentage: 100%
The Greed – Story Playthrough
EXP Orb 2: Drop down as shown and you can’t miss it.
Hunter: One screen to the right after you get the bow.
EXP Orb 3: Sorry, I picked up the orb before I grabbed the screenshot so I had to do a photo edit of questionable quality to add it back in. You have to thread grapple up to the spoon (middle grapple point) and then dash to the right to get the orb.
Completion Percentage: When I finished it said 58.9%. When I left the next level and came back, it said 46.7% and stayed that way regardless of saving, loading, and using mirrors.
The Greed – With Double Jump Ability
EXP Orb 4: Double jump and dash to the right. Then use the grapple point, swing as high as you can to the left, double jump up, and then dash to the right.
EXP Orb 5: Drop down and dash to the left.
EXP Orb 6: Drop down and use the grapple points to the right to reach the ledge.
EXP Orb 7: Double jump to the top of the chandelier and then run to the left end of it. Double jump off the left end of the chandelier, use the grapple point, and then double jump and dash to the left to get the orb.
EXP Orb 8: If you don’t like to pogo, skip this until you can wall climb. Pogo over to and then up the thorny vine on the right side of the screen. You might need to use double jump or dash to get between the thorny vine and the stone block. You won’t get warped if you touch the vine, so proceed even if you get hurt. Jump, dash, or pogo to the right and drop down. Pogo some more until you reach the stone block shown in the second image. From there, just proceed to the right until you get to the orb.
Completion Percentage: 78.6%
The Greed – With Wall Climb Ability
EXP Orb 10: Drop down and head right until you hit the wall. Wall climb to the top and jump to the left to reach the grapple point. Double jump and dash to the left of the first grapple point to reach the second grapple point. Jump left again to reach the ledge with the orb.
Completion Percentage: 83.1%
The Greed – With Ground Stomp Ability
EXP Orb 11: Use ground stomp on the area shown. In the area below, use the grapple points to reach the orb on the left side.
Shotgun: Directly below where EXP Orb 11 is, inside the cookie tin.
Completion Percentage: 100%
The Selfishness – Story Playthrough
EXP Orb 1: Hidden in the right side of the crocodiles mouth.
EXP Orb 2: Hidden inside the hut shown.
EXP Orb 3: Hidden behind the leaves on the left side of the screen.
EXP Orb 4: Climb up to the top of the cliff on the right and then drop down to grab the orb.
Dash Range: Double jump up into the fairy dust and the fly to the left to get the orb.
EXP Orb 5: Fly up to the top right corner of the fairy dust and then double jump and dash to the right to get the orb on top of the snake statue.
EXP Orb 6: Use the grapple points and platforms to the right of the save point to get to the log the orb is on.
Exploration Speed: Head downward from where you got the axe to reach the platform shown. Jump left into the fair dust and fly up and left to get the orb.
EXP Orb 7: Drop down to the platform to the left of the third mirror and then wall climb down the wall on the right to get the orb.
Completion Percentage: 85% (I messed this one up, so this is a guess.)
The Selfishness – With Ground Stomp Ability
EXP Orb 8: Same screen as the sniper.
The Magician: Use ground stomp on the bridge. The orb is to the right.
Completion Percentage: 100%
The Madness – Story Playthrough
EXP Orb 2: In a dead-end to the right of where you get the charge attack for the heavy weapon.
EXP Orb 3: You will find it during normal exploration.
Ninja: You will find it during normal exploration.
Explosive Shot: When you reach the fork in the path shown, the bottom fork will be blocked by a red barrier that can only be broken with the heavy weapon charge attack. Take that path and you will fight a mini-boss. When you defeat it, the orb will be revealed.
EXP Orb 4: You will find it during normal exploration. Just head upward and you will get to the dead-end with the orb.
EXP Orb 5: Located in the upper tunnel at the start of the speed test area.
EXP Orb 6: Hidden to the right on the boat/ledge shortly before the boss.
Completion Percentage: 84.4%
The Madness – With Swimming Ability
EXP Orb 7: In a dead-end at the right end of the bottom speed test area tunnel. Just jump in after you have the swimming ability. Read about the next orb first as you might as well head straight for it after this one.
The One: Make sure you are at full health. You will probably need 6 health bars, but you might be able to do this with 5. Not sure if Exploration Speed helps while underwater. You can go a bit faster if you quickly alternate between the jump button and the dash button. Now dive down under where you got EXP Orb 7 and follow the tunnel to the lower left. The orb is at the end and you will die just after you get it. Not sure if there is a way to get back out alive.
Completion Percentage: 100%
The Envy – Story Playthrough
EXP Orb 2: You will find it during normal exploration.
Punching Bag: Kill all the mobs and the orb will be released.
EXP Orb 3: You will pass it during normal progression.
EXP Orb 4: This orb is in a dead-end just a little ways to the right of the normal path you will take. If you are checking each fork you will find it easily.
EXP Orb 5: Enter the pipe and the orb will be at the end of it.
EXP Orb 6: You will pass it during normal progression.
Completion Percentage: 87.5%
The Envy – With Ground Stomp Ability
Completion Percentage: 100%
The Dishonesty – Story Playthrough
EXP Orb 2: A trap like platform without spikes will swing across when you reach this area. Jump on it and then double jump and dash to the left to reach the orb.
EXP Orb 3: You have to come this way to progress. You can grab this orb before heading underground to get the ground stomp ability or you can grab it after.
EXP Orb 4: In the section where you gain a shield, there will be a spot that looks like a ground stomp area, but on the ceiling. Use your shield to direct one of the green beams into it and it will open the way to the orb.
EXP Orb 5: After you get the ground stomp ability, head back to the start of the level. Just to the left of where you first dropped in is an area you can ground stomp. Head down the tunnel to get the orb.
EXP Orb 6: From EXP Orb 5, head back through the level normally until you reach the underground. There will be multiple areas to ground stomp. Keep heading down each time you come across one and you will find this orb.
EXP Orb 7: Continue through the underground, mainly towards the right from EXP Orb 6, and you will pass by this orb.
Mantis Claws: Continue through the underground from EXP Orb 7 and you will find one more area to ground stomp. Head down and you will find the orb.
EXP Orb 8: Back to progressing through the level, and passing EXP Orb 3, you will move through this area. You might be able to get the orb from the left with some jumping and wall climbing, but I found it easier to pogo over the top of the thorns from the right and dropping onto the orb.
EXP Orb 9: You will see this orb from the left when you are headed to EXP Orb 8. Just make sure to turn back and grab it as you are progressing through this section. It is to the left of a water filled hole in the ground.
EXP Orb 10: You will pass this spot to ground stomp through normal progression. Drop into the water and make your way to the bottom to get the orb.
EXP Orb 11: This orb is in a dead-end that is just before the sewing machine shown. It is close to the end of the level.
Completion Percentage: 96.4%
The Dishonesty – Bugged Completion Percentage
The save files list everything about a level even before you have made it to said level. I presume the save files list everything that needs to be tracked when they are initially created. Then the game just changes value of variables in the file as you progress through the game. As such, they should list all the orbs/collectibles whether you have found them or not.
Here is the text for this level from the save file I used to create this guide:
<LevelObjectData ID=”EXPItem_5″ State=”END” />
<LevelObjectData ID=”EXPItem_10″ State=”END” />
<LevelObjectData ID=”EXPItem_9″ State=”END” />
<LevelObjectData ID=”EXPItem_1″ State=”END” />
<LevelObjectData ID=”EXPItem_7″ State=”END” />
<LevelObjectData ID=”EXPItem_8″ State=”END” />
<LevelObjectData ID=”EXPItem_0″ State=”END” />
<LevelObjectData ID=”EXPItem_3″ State=”END” />
<LevelObjectData ID=”EXPItem_2″ State=”END” />
<LevelObjectData ID=”EXPItem_4″ State=”END” />
<LevelObjectData ID=”EXPItem_6″ State=”END” />
<LevelObjectData ID=”TEQ_M004″ State=”END” />
Before you pick up an orb the “State” entry will be set to “BEGIN”, then upon picking one up it will switch to “END”. The “EXPItem” entries are the EXP Orbs and the “TEQ_M004” entry is the Mantis Claws skill.
Having documented all the orbs for this guide, I was able to verify that I had picked up the same number of orbs that are listed as available in the save file.
I am pretty sure that mirrors count toward the completion percentage as well.
<MirrorData ID=”LVL_SLEEPING_Mirror_2″ Unlocked=”true” />
<MirrorData ID=”LVL_SLEEPING_Mirror_1″ Unlocked=”true” />
<MirrorData ID=”LVL_SLEEPING_Mirror_0″ Unlocked=”true” />
“Unlocked” will be set to “false” before activating a mirror and then it turns to “true” once you touch one.
If I have the screenshots I took ordered correctly (really shouldn’t work on guides at 3 AM) then the boss counted towards completion percentage as well. I am pretty sure I was at 92.1% before beating the boss and then it changed to 96.4% after.
<TotalPercentage>96.42857</TotalPercentage>
The first time I played through the game (on the first save file) I failed the “resist” mini-game both times it showed up in the normal level (trying to say this without too many spoilers). I thought maybe that might count towards completion percentage somehow, so I made sure to pass the mini-game both times on my second playthrough (on the second save file). That made no difference. I even checked a mirror before one mini-game and then immediately after the mini-game to verify that the completion percentage had not changed.
I cleared all the achievements on the first playthrough for this level as well. So I don’t think any completion percentage is tied to that.
I ended up stuck at 96.4% completion on both save files. I spent a couple of hours going through the level over and over again on the first save file, to no avail. At this point, I think it is just bugged.
The Arrogance – Story Playthrough
EXP Orb 2: Starting at the second mirror, hit the green torch and then head up and to the left. You need to make it past the obstacles and to the end of the room before the green flame runs out or you won’t be able to get the orb.
Revenge: Hit the flame by the second mirror again and head up and to the right. Then drop down the area shown in the first image. You need to get past the spikes in the second image while you have the green flame.
Completion Percentage: 100%
And that wraps up our share on The Darkest Tales: The Darkest Tales – Orb Locations. If you have any additional insights or tips to contribute, don’t hesitate to drop a comment below. For a more in-depth read, you can refer to the original article here by Arioth, who deserves all the credit. Happy gaming!