In the world of Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden, there comes a point where the sight of creeping ivy becomes all too familiar, almost to the point of annoyance.
These persistent weeds frequently obstruct paths, hindering your exploration in this RPG that bears a striking resemblance in level structure to the acclaimed 2018 title, God of War. Given its Metroidvania nature, you always have the option to backtrack and clear away the creeping ivy later on.
However, similar to the destructible rocks, knowing precisely how to rid yourself of them is imperative if you wish to fully uncover all that New Eden has to offer. Here’s a comprehensive guide on dealing with creeping ivy in Banishers:
How to Remove Creeping Ivy
In essence, the key to eliminating creeping ivy in Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden lies in unlocking the Ensnare ability. Until you attain this crucial skill, creeping ivy merely obstructs optional routes, making it non-essential to progress. You can always circle back to deal with it at a later stage. Like all of Antea’s abilities, Ensnare is acquired as you advance through the main storyline.
However, it takes considerable gameplay time before Ensnare becomes available. In my experience, it wasn’t until approximately 18 hours into the game, following a pivotal decision regarding Fairefax Haskell’s fate during The Harrows questline, that I finally obtained it. Your objective here is straightforward: seek shelter, triggering a conversation between Red and Antea that culminates in the unlocking of Ensnare.
Upon acquiring Ensnare, you also gain access to its accompanying skill tree, which harbors some of the most potent abilities in Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden. In combat scenarios, Ensnare serves as Antea’s sole ranged ability.
Though its damage output is modest, it proves invaluable when you need to create some distance or take a moment to heal, as it momentarily immobilizes enemies. Be mindful, though, that dealing damage to ensnared foes hastens their liberation.
To rid yourself of creeping ivy using Ensnare, aim and unleash it at the blue heart of the roots. Prior to doing so, trace the trailing roots to identify glowing orange orbs, which must be targeted by Red using the rifle. Upon striking the blue core with Antea, control automatically shifts back to Red, granting you a brief window to eliminate all the orange orbs and banish the creeping ivy.
Typically, creeping ivy conceals various treasures, including cursed chests, formidable adversaries such as nests, elites, and scourges, and, occasionally, void breaches. Thoroughly clearing all creeping ivy from the map is imperative for achieving 100% completion, particularly as it becomes mandatory during certain late-game quests.
