While major expansions added guns and floors, v2.1.7.1 focused on the technical integrity of the game. Key areas of focus included:
Because of the synergy system, "bad" guns are now incredible. The Pea Shooter on its own is trash. But in v2.1.7.1, combining it with the Cactus or Flower creates the "Botanical Warfare" synergy, turning it into a homing, poison-spewing rifle. Never drop a gun just because it fails the "looks test" again.
When developers patch a game, they often fix "unintended features" (exploits) that speedrunners use to shave seconds off their time. Consequently, a specific patch often becomes the "category standard" for runners who want to use specific glitches or avoid the changes made in newer patches.
, but for the dedicated Gungeoneer, the stability provided by version 2.1.7.1 (Hotfix 1) Enter the Gungeon v2.1.7.1
Rainbow Runs, introduced earlier, received a critical balance pass by the time of v2.1.7.1. In a Rainbow Run, Bowler the ghost appears in the breach, and every chest room offers a single rainbow chest—but you can only take one item per floor.
: The "Boss DPS Cap" was increased, meaning high-damage builds can now melt bosses faster than in earlier versions of the game. Essential Tips & Secrets
If you last played Enter the Gungeon in 2017 (v1.0.8) or 2018 (the Advanced Gungeons & Draguns update), you will barely recognize v2.1.7.1. It feels like a director’s cut of a classic film. The game is harder in some respects (thanks to the new enemy variants) but fairer in every mechanical way. While major expansions added guns and floors, v2
Would you like a version that sounds more like official patch notes, or more like in-game lore flavor?
Enter the Gungeon v2.1.7.1 runs exceptionally well, but there are differences:
If you are just starting, go to the Breach, find the elevator shaft, and unlock the shortcut to Floor 2 as fast as possible. Then, use v2.1.7.1’s new "Blessed Run" option (found in the warp zone) to be forced to use a random gun every few seconds—it’s the best way to learn the synergy system. But in v2
: Focus more on your character's position and the bullets flying toward you than the enemies themselves.
"Ammo synthesis stabilized. Resourceful Rat’s traps now extra devious."