Pyre is an action role-playing video game developed and published by Supergiant Games. Released in July 2017 for mainly the PC and PlayStation 4, the game incorporates elements from sports games into its RPG gameplay. The game also features an in-depth narrative with extensive character backstories. In this party-based game, players lead a group of exiled individuals who are looking for a way to free themselves through a competition. In this article, we’ll take a look at the game’s premise, characters involved in the journey, and cheats, tips, and tricks that Pyre allows.
Pyre Premise
Set in a high-fantasy world, Pyre unfolds its narrative through on-screen passages. These use a hyperlink-type system for players to delve deeper into the story. In addition to guiding exiles during the Rites, which are sports-like competitions, players must make crucial decisions to improve their party. These decisions come in various forms, including finding additional supplies, delving into the world’s lore, and upgrading the members’ skills.
The journey across the land introduces the party to other groups of exiles. The interactions take place in the aforementioned Rites. They are played in an arena format similar to various competitive arena games from MOBAs to sports games. The arena includes two columns of flames, or pyres, at opposite ends of each other. Each team of exiles aims to destroy the opposing pyres by sending a glowing orb at them. These orbs will gradually extinguish the pyres.
In the event, players control one character at a time, passing the orb between them. Holding the orb too long can be detrimental, as the character is more vulnerable while with an orb. Different characters in the game have distinct passive and active skills, which could include dash abilities or long-range projectiles. Players need to use the strengths of each of their team members to defeat the foes and advance in the Rites.
Pyre Characters
As Pyre is a narrative-based title focused on groups of individuals, the characters are central to the game. The game begins with the player being found drifting to the darkness by several fellow exiled. They want to know more about Rites, a way to return to their home through a set of grueling competitions. During the journey in the Downside, players meet a host of characters that come in various forms and with distinct backstories. The most important characters are the team members of the Nightwings, which are listed below.
- Reader: The Reader in Pyre is the player character and guides the Nightwings during the Rites. The Reader was sentenced to the Downside for the crime of literacy. Their background varies based on player choices, including scholar, farmer, or war orphan. While physically unable to participate in the Rites, the Reader directs the Nightwings during the Rites and determines who should be liberated at each Liberation Rite.
- Volfred Sandalwood: Volfred is a sap and the leader of the Nightwings. He found himself in Downside after publishing with a motive for insurrection. Known as The Plan Maker, he is out for not only his freedom but greater justice. He used to be a history professor.
- Bertrude: Bertrude is a renowned sorceress and bog-dweller from the Commonwealth. She joins the team of Nightwings. Her abilities, like Hex of Defeat and Greater Blast, make her a great asset in the Rites. Bertrude’s loyalty to Volfred Sandalwood is largely why she decides to participate in the Rites.
- Sir Gilman: He is known as The Honor Seeker, and is a Wyrm-Knight and an exile who joins the Nightwings triumvirate. Originally aligned with the Pyrehearts, he defects and joins the player’s group after three years of exile. This honorable fighter has connections with figures like Sir Deluge and Rukey.
- Jodariel: Jodariel is a tough demon and a key member of the Nightwings. Exiled for 16 years due to insubordination, she has a close bond with Hedwyn and Rukey. She’s one of the three who found the player.
- Pamitha Theyn: Pamitha, a Harp, joins the Nightwings with a motive for insurrection after a 4-year exile for conspiracy. She’s the sister of the leader of the Essence triumvirate. She was part of the Highwing Remnants before exile and joining the Nightwings.
- Ti’zo: Ti’zo is a Drive-Imp who becomes a Nightwings member. Known as The Little Watcher, he is very knowledgeable of the Nightwings’ blackwagon. While as an Imp he doesn’t have intellectual prowess, he is an outlier.
- The Vagabond: The Vagabond is a Savage and a member of Nightwings after banishment for vagrancy. Her true name remains a mystery. Even she doesn’t remember her real name. Instead, the player can choose her one from more than a dozen that rhyme with what she remembers about it.
There are also tons of other characters in the game, which come in the form of opposing teams, ancient Scribes who created the competitions known as the Rites, merchants, messengers, minstrels, former members of the Nightwings, and much more.
Games in the Series
Pyre is a standalone video game and not part of any larger series or franchise. An independent game studio, Supergiant Games, created the game. The studio is responsible for other games such as Transistor, Bastion, and Hades.
Pyre Cheats
Pyre doesn’t include traditional cheat codes, instead emphasizing players’ exploration and mastery of the game mechanics. A great deal of the game is about the journey itself and the storyline that explains the situation of Downside and the exiled who fight for their chance to return to normalcy. This important part is not very conducive to cheating, which is perhaps why the developers decided to forgo them altogether. Also, the game supports multiplayer, which naturally isn’t for cheaters. While the game doesn’t offer external assistance in the form of cheats, there are ways to help. We have provided comprehensive lists below for those seeking to unlock achievements and trophies.
Steam Achievements and PlayStation Trophies
| Trophy | Description | Trophy Type |
| The Reader | Begin your quest for freedom (Campaign) | Bronze |
| The Fast Talker | Using Rukey, deal 200 Pyre Damage (Campaign) | Bronze |
| The Free Spirit | Using Hedwyn, deal 200 Pyre Damage (Campaign) | Bronze |
| The Fallen Soldier | Using Jodariel, deal 200 Pyre Damage (Campaign) | Bronze |
| The Faithful Drifter | Using the Stowaway, deal 200 Pyre Damage (Campaign) | Bronze |
| The Little Watcher | Using Ti’zo, deal 200 Pyre Damage (Campaign) | Bronze |
| The Honor Seeker | Using Sir Gilman, deal 200 Pyre Damage (Campaign) | Bronze |
| The Guilty Sister | Using Pamitha, deal 200 Pyre Damage (Campaign) | Bronze |
| The Serpent Queen | Using Bertrude, deal 200 Pyre Damage (Campaign) | Bronze |
| The Plan Maker | Using Volfred, deal 200 Pyre Damage (Campaign) | Bronze |
| Gather the Band | Find an exile for each of the different masks (Campaign) | Silver |
| Home Free | Prevail in a Liberation Rite (Campaign) | Bronze |
| Mercy Shown | Suffer defeat in a Liberation Rite (Campaign) | Bronze |
| Master of the Rites | Achieve Rank 5 with any exile (Campaign) | Silver |
| Cover to Cover | Unlock every chapter in the Book of Rites (Campaign) | Bronze |
| Book Worm | Check 50 different pages in the Book of Rites (Campaign) | Silver |
| Found Your Calling | Do Vocations 10 times (Campaign) | Bronze |
| Star Duster | Upgrade a Talisman to Rank 20 (Campaign) | Bronze |
| Crowd Pleaser | Complete three Feats of Glory (Campaign) | Silver |
| Scribes’ Chosen | Prevail in a Rite with three or more Titan Stars active (Campaign, standard difficulty or greater) | Bronze |
| Scribes’ Guardian | Prevail in a Rite with six or more Titan Stars active (Campaign, standard difficulty or greater) | Silver |
| Scribes’ Champion | Prevail in a Rite with 12 Titan Stars active (Campaign, standard difficulty or greater) | Gold |
| Sandra’s Disciple | Complete two Scribe Trials in the Beyonder Crystal (Campaign) | Bronze |
| Sandra’s Favorite | Complete five Scribe Trials in the Beyonder Crystal (Campaign) | Silver |
| Mystic Training | Complete a Practice Rite in the Beyonder Crystal (Campaign) | Bronze |
| There For Them | Initiate 20 different conversations in the blackwagon (Campaign) | Bronze |
| True Freedom | Complete your quest for freedom (Campaign) | Gold |
| New Alliance | Prevail in a Rite using Jodariel and Pamitha (Campaign) | Bronze |
| Big Spender | Spend 1,000 Sol in the Slugmarket (Campaign) | Bronze |
| Returned to Glory | Liberate any three exiles from your party (Campaign) | Silver |
| First Ceremony | Complete a Rite against another mortal (Versus Mode) | Bronze |
| The Will of the Scribes | Complete a Rite against a CPU opponent (Versus Mode) | Bronze |
| Lick of Flame | Prevail in a Rite against a CPU opponent while you have less than 10 Pyre Health (Versus Mode with default Masteries, Talismans, Pyre Health) | Bronze |
| First Whiff | Use Scribe Snuff to reset an exile’s Masteries (Campaign) | Bronze |
| Sky Explorer | While flying, interact with 10 different observation points (Campaign) | Bronze |
| Scourge of the Skies | While flying, bump into five different adversaries’ wagons (Campaign) | Bronze |
| The White Lute | Use the White Lute to play a tune (Campaign) | Bronze |
| Downside Pilgrim | Prevail in a Rite at each of the Celestial Landmarks (Campaign) | Bronze |
| Favored to Prevail | Prevail in a Rite against each of the other triumvirates (Campaign) | Bronze |
| Untouched Flame | Prevail in a Rite without your Pyre taking damage (Campaign) | Silver |
| Enlightened | Prevail in a Rite against a Master-level CPU opponent (Versus Mode, default Talismans and Masteries) | Silver |
| Banished One and All | During a Rite, banish three adversaries with a single Aura Cast (Campaign) | Bronze |
| Flame Quencher | Prevail in a Rite in no more than three dousings (Campaign) | Bronze |
| Fear Not the Flame | During a Rite, douse the adversary’s Pyre by 40 health or more (Campaign) | Bronze |
| Star Struck | During a Rite, fling the Orb at an adversary, then banish them within two sec. (Campaign) | Bronze |
| Home-field Heroes | Prevail at the Isle of Khaylmer using Ti’zo and Messenger Imp (Versus Mode) | Bronze |
| Classic Nightwings | Prevail using Volfred, Ti’zo, and Oralech (Versus Mode) | Bronze |
| Sons of Jomuer | Prevail using Rukey, Barker, and Dalbert (Versus Mode) | Bronze |
| Dames of the Downside | Prevail using Sandra, Tamitha, and Udmildhe (Versus Mode) | Bronze |
| Master Conductor | Prevail against a Master CPU opponent with six or more Titan Stars active (Versus Mode with default Masteries, Talismans, Pyre Health) | Bronze |
| True Nightwing | Complete your quest for freedom (Campaign, True Nightwing difficulty) | N/A |
| Herald of the Scribes | Earn all other available trophies in Pyre. | Platinum |
FAQ
Are there cheats in Pyre?
There is no built-in cheat system in Pyre. So those who want to cheat will have to rely on third-party applications instead of much more trustworthy first-party cheats.
How do I increase my chances of winning in the Rites in Pyre?
To improve your performance in the Rites, focus on mastering the unique abilities of your team members. Players should adapt their strategy based on the opposing team’s strengths and weaknesses.
What are the Liberation Rites in Pyre?
Liberation Rites are events in the game where you choose which of your fellow exiles will be freed from the Downside. Your decisions during these rites impact the narrative and character relationships, so choose accordingly.