Megabonk is a fast-paced roguelike action game that challenges players to survive waves of enemies while upgrading weapons, tomes, and relics. Among its most coveted items is the Legendary Corrupted Sword, a powerful melee weapon that slices in both directions and deals increased damage at low HP. Unlocking it, however, is no easy feat—it requires leveling the Cursed Tome to level 20 within 10 minutes of a run. This guide breaks down the process step-by-step, offering strategic insights, character picks, upgrade paths, and survival tips to help you claim the Corrupted Sword.
1. Understanding the Corrupted Sword Requirements To unlock the Corrupted Sword, players must upgrade the Cursed Tome to level 20 within the first 10 minutes of a run. This means reaching the final swarm of the first stage with the tome fully leveled. The Cursed Tome increases difficulty, so players must balance survivability with speed.
The challenge lies in acquiring the Cursed Tome early and consistently upgrading it. Higher rarity versions of the tome increase difficulty faster, so sticking to common (green) upgrades is recommended until level 18 or 19.
Checklist:
- Unlock Cursed Tome by defeating Stage Boss within 5 minutes
- Upgrade Cursed Tome to level 20 in under 10 minutes
- Use common rarity tomes early for easier progression
2. Unlocking the Cursed Tome Before you can use the Cursed Tome, you must unlock it. This requires defeating a Stage Boss within five minutes of starting a run. Bosses spawn randomly, so speed and mobility are key.
Choose fast characters like Tony McZoom or Monke. Use the Agility Tome to boost movement speed and reach the boss quickly. Once defeated, purchase the Cursed Tome from the Unlocks screen.
Tips for Unlocking:
- Pick fast characters (Tony McZoom, Monke)
- Use Agility Tome for speed boost
- Defeat Stage Boss within 5 minutes
3. Choosing the Right Character for the Run Character selection is crucial. You need someone who can survive increased difficulty while leveling up quickly. Monke and Tony McZoom are top picks due to their mobility and damage output.
Monke’s Bananarang offers strong AoE damage, while Tony’s Wireless Dagger is fast and precise. Both excel at dodging enemies and collecting XP quickly, which is essential for tome upgrades.
Recommended Characters:
- Monke: High mobility, strong AoE
- Tony McZoom: Fast attacks, hoverboard mobility
- Avoid slow or tanky characters for this challenge
4. Selecting the Right Map and Challenge Settings Start your run on the Desert Map (Tier 1) for optimal enemy density and XP gain. Choose the Hyper Challenge to double XP and gold, making it easier to level up quickly.
Avoid maps with complex terrain or low enemy spawn rates. The goal is to maximize XP intake and minimize downtime. Hyper mode also increases difficulty, so be prepared.
Map Setup:
- Desert Map (Tier 1)
- Hyper Challenge for double XP
- Avoid low-density maps
5. Weapon and Tome Loadout Strategy Before starting the run, refund all weapon and tome slots except those needed. This ensures you only receive upgrade options for the Cursed Tome and essential weapons.
Choose Aura as your primary weapon—it deals consistent AoE damage and scales well. Pair it with the XP Tome to boost XP gain and the Cursed Tome for the challenge. Avoid rare tomes early to keep difficulty manageable.
Loadout Tips:
- Aura weapon for AoE damage
- XP Tome for faster leveling
- Cursed Tome (common rarity) for easier upgrades
6. Early Game Strategy: First 5 Minutes In the first five minutes, focus on collecting XP and upgrading your primary weapon to level 5. This gives you enough damage to survive while you begin upgrading tomes.
Prioritize magnets and shrines to boost XP intake. Avoid unnecessary weapons or tomes that dilute your upgrade pool. Keep moving to avoid enemy swarms and maintain control of the battlefield.
Early Game Goals:
- Upgrade weapon to level 5
- Collect magnets and XP shards
- Avoid adding extra weapons/tomes
7. Mid-Game Strategy: Leveling the Cursed Tome Once your weapon is stable, shift focus entirely to the Cursed Tome. Always choose the green (common) version when upgrading—it’s easier to level and doesn’t spike difficulty too fast.
Use shrines and chests to find additional Cursed Tome upgrades. If you reach level 18 or 19, you can safely choose higher rarity versions to finish the challenge.
Mid-Game Tips:
- Prioritize Cursed Tome upgrades
- Use shrines and chests for extra XP
- Avoid rare tomes until level 18
8. Surviving Increased Difficulty As the Cursed Tome levels up, enemy difficulty increases. You’ll face tougher mobs and faster swarms. Use movement speed buffs and damage relics to stay ahead.
Pick relics that boost AoE damage, knockback, and healing. Avoid defensive relics that don’t contribute to XP gain. Keep moving and use terrain to your advantage.
Survival Tips:
- Use movement speed and AoE relics
- Avoid defensive-only relics
- Stay mobile and avoid crowding
9. Final Push: Reaching Level 20 With 2–3 minutes left, focus exclusively on upgrading the Cursed Tome. If you’re at level 18 or 19, any rarity will do. Use magnets to pull in XP and avoid distractions.
Defeat mini-bosses quickly and avoid adding new weapons or tomes. Your goal is to hit level 20 before the final swarm begins. Once achieved, the Corrupted Sword unlocks after the run.
Final Push Checklist:
- Cursed Tome at level 18+
- Use magnets for XP
- Avoid new upgrades or distractions
10. Post-Unlock Strategy and Sword Usage After unlocking the Corrupted Sword, equip it in future runs. It slices in both directions and deals more damage at low HP, making it ideal for aggressive playstyles.
Pair it with tomes that boost damage and survivability. The sword excels in swarm control and boss fights. Use relics that increase crit chance and attack speed for maximum effect.
Sword Strategy:
- Use with damage-boosting tomes
- Ideal for swarm control
- Pair with crit and speed relics
Conclusion Unlocking the Corrupted Sword in Megabonk is a challenging but rewarding feat. By mastering tome strategy, character selection, and XP optimization, you can reach level 20 on the Cursed Tome within 10 minutes and claim one of the game’s most powerful weapons. With the right setup and focus, this legendary blade will become a cornerstone of your builds.
