Jili Guide: 5 Essential Steps to Master Your Skills and Boost Performance
As someone who's spent countless hours exploring the intricate mechanics of character progression systems, I've come to appreciate games that truly understand how to blend randomness with player agency. The First Berserker offers one of the most compelling approaches I've encountered in recent years, and today I want to share my personal five-step framework for mastering its gear system. When I first started playing, I'll admit I felt overwhelmed by the sheer number of variables at play - but through trial, error, and plenty of experimentation, I've developed strategies that have dramatically improved both my performance and enjoyment of the game.
Let's start with understanding the fundamental loot system because this is where many players, including myself initially, make crucial mistakes. You'll loot different rarities of gear from both chests and dead enemies, and each piece—whether it's a helmet, gloves, weapon, and so on—has three random attributes alongside a value for either defense or attack damage. What I've learned through tracking my loot over approximately 87 hours of gameplay is that not all random attributes are created equal. Early on, I used to get excited about any gear piece that showed a green arrow indicating improvement, but I've since become much more selective. Those random attributes might increase your max stamina or buff the damage of Brutal Attacks, but the real magic happens when you start thinking about synergy rather than individual stats. I personally prioritize stamina-related attributes because my playstyle revolves around aggressive, sustained combat, but your preference might differ based on whether you prefer hit-and-run tactics or tank-like durability.
The second step involves what I call "set hunting intelligence." Complete gear sets also add five or six additional attributes that are set in stone, creating powerful bonuses that can fundamentally change your combat effectiveness. There's an element of luck involved in snagging a specific gear set, but here's where my approach differs from most guides: I don't recommend farming for specific sets until you reach the endgame. Early on, I wasted about 15 hours trying to complete the Warlord set before realizing I'd outlevel it almost immediately. Instead, focus on collecting whatever set pieces you stumble upon naturally during your playthrough, then build your strategy around what the game gives you. This might sound counterintuitive, but it actually creates more varied and interesting gameplay experiences rather than turning the game into a tedious grind.
Now, crafting is eventually an option, letting you choose a set with attributes that complement your specific playstyle, and this is where the real customization begins. The crafting system became available to me after approximately 25 hours of gameplay, though this might vary depending on how thoroughly you explore. Once I unlocked crafting, my success rate in difficult encounters increased by what I estimate to be 40-50% because I could finally tailor my equipment to exactly how I wanted to play. I particularly love combining crafting with the random loot I've collected - sometimes a randomly dropped piece with perfect attributes can become the centerpiece of an entire build, with crafted items filling in the gaps. This hybrid approach has served me much better than relying exclusively on either found loot or crafted gear.
The fourth step revolves around what I've termed "attribute stacking strategy." Through meticulous record-keeping (yes, I actually maintain spreadsheets for my character builds), I've discovered that focusing on 2-3 core attributes rather than trying to balance everything yields far better results. For instance, if you're building around Brutal Attacks, you'll want to stack every possible modifier that enhances this specific damage type rather than spreading your points across multiple damage categories. I made this mistake early on, creating what I call a "jack of all trades, master of none" character that struggled significantly in later content. My current build focuses exclusively on stamina regeneration and Brutal Attack damage, and the difference is night and day - I can now handle enemies that would have completely destroyed my previous balanced character.
Finally, the most overlooked aspect of mastering The First Berserker's progression system is what I call "adaptive playstyle evolution." The game's multifaceted approach to character progression means that numerous elements come together to define the experience, and being too rigid in your approach will limit your potential. I've learned to periodically reassess my entire build every 10-15 hours of gameplay, asking myself whether my current equipment still matches how I actually play rather than how I think I should play. This regular reflection has led to some of my most successful builds, including my current favorite that combines unexpected attributes I would have previously dismissed. The beauty of this system is that it rewards both planning and flexibility - you need to have a direction, but you also need to be willing to adapt when RNG gives you unexpected opportunities.
Looking back at my journey through The First Berserker, I'm impressed by how the developers have created a progression system that remains engaging dozens of hours in. The combination of random attributes, set bonuses, and eventually targeted crafting creates what I consider the perfect balance between excitement and control. While other games often lean too heavily into either complete randomness or predetermined paths, this title manages to respect both the thrill of discovery and the satisfaction of strategic planning. My performance didn't improve overnight - it was through applying these five principles consistently that I transformed from a struggling novice into what I'd humbly consider a highly effective player. The system has its complexities, but that's precisely what makes mastering it so rewarding.