Some random tips: Safety First! If it looks too good to be true, it probably is. *** If you spot a tasty new gem room for the first time, let it pass once or twice unless you are sure you know how to navigate it. *** Never bank gems in survival mode. Your trophies and score will not be saved if you bank and then die. It only reduces your score. *** Stay near the top of the screen, unless you suspect enemies are swarming just out of sight. *** When you're about to grab a replacement item, blow your old item just in case. It may save your life. *** Blue bouncy guys are terrible. When you hear that trademark "boing boing" sound, get ready to blow your item as soon as you see the whites of its eyes. *** Diamonds are literally 100 times as many points as greens. Learn the path to grab a diamond and get out in each room type. *** The hourglass is probably the best item; you can even walk along the line-of-death for a second or two and jump out to safety.
Responding to Kisuke's questions:
What is speed? A weapon with X speed can attack once every X turns. Lower is best.
Is there a seraph version of every weapon? Yes, that's the +1 version.
If so, why haven't I found the seraph bow yet? Randomness.
Do all the armors require strength? No, but most do.
Why is there a +1 melee damage under strength and no +1 ranged damage under dexterity? Dex does not add to ranged damage, this is a straight translation from the d20 D&D system that the game is based off of.
Does this game favor melee builds? NO; ranged weapons are extremely powerful.
nebular: there is a purple-quality Portal scroll that will teleport you to the vendor when used. I found one roughly every 2 levels. Once you've reached the vendor, you can pay for a reusable scroll.