LORT Beginner Guide: Tips to Dominate Big Distraction’s Co-Op Roguelite

Steven Marrone·January 26, 2026·0 comments

After burning through dozens of runs in LORT’s chaotic co-op madness, we’ve figured out what actually separates successful raiders from goblin fodder. This guide breaks down everything beginners need to know — from class mechanics to the exact moment you should activate the boss.

Table of Contents

Quick Answer — TL;DR

  • Match your character’s color to POIs for a 25% damage buff
  • Prioritize 3-skull shrines first — harder enemies, but way more coins
  • Save your keys for later stages where loot quality matters
  • Don’t rush to the boss — farm every POI, shrine, and barrel first
  • Master movement boosters — jump, then roll mid-air for distance
  • Sprint to the bus after killing the boss — don’t risk dying to trash mobs

What Is LORT?

LORT is a 1-8 player co-op action roguelite that dropped into Early Access on January 21, 2026. Developed by Big Distraction — a team of 10 with experience from Fortnite and Rocket League — it’s basically what happens when Risk of Rain 2 meets medieval fantasy.

The game sold over 100,000 copies in its first three days. Players are drawn to its chaotic powerup stacking, the satisfying loop of evolving from “goblin tickler to god slapper” (their words), and the fact that it supports up to 8 players in co-op.

Each run consists of multiple stages, and each stage gives you three days and two nights to explore, loot, and power up before fighting the boss. Beat the boss, catch the bus, and move on. Simple concept, but LORT’s depth comes from its 100+ powerups, class synergies, and the chaos that unfolds when you stack ridiculous abilities together.

Understand the Three Classes

LORT has three playable classes, each tied to a primary attribute and color-coded throughout the game:

Warrior (Red)
Primary Attribute: Strength
Weapon Type: Melee
Playstyle: Get in close, deal heavy damage, take hits

Ranger (Green)
Primary Attribute: Agility
Weapon Type: Ranged (bows, guns)
Playstyle: Keep distance, kite enemies, high mobility

Wizard (Blue)
Primary Attribute: Intelligence
Weapon Type: Magic (wands, staves)
Playstyle: Crowd control, burst damage, spell combos

Throughout each stage, you’ll see POIs (Points of Interest) marked with colored icons. Always prioritize POIs that match your character’s color — clearing them grants an extra 25% buff to your ability and weapon damage. This stacks up fast and makes a real difference against bosses.

How Each Stage Works

Every stage follows the same time structure: three days and two nights. During this time, your job is to explore the map, hit camps, collect powerups, and prepare for the boss fight.

Day Phase: Explore freely. Most enemies spawn at POIs and camps you actively engage with. Use this time to clear shrines, visit Larry’s Store, and open chests.

Night Phase: Enemies become more aggressive and can spawn anywhere. Stick to your objectives and don’t overextend.

Final Warning: When you get the one-minute warning, it’s time to head to the Boss Camp. Activate the boss by collecting the ingredient, then fight. After killing the boss, immediately sprint to the bus — don’t hang around farming extra mobs. Dying after a boss kill because you got greedy is the most common way runs end badly.

Master Movement Early

LORT’s characters aren’t particularly fast, even when sprinting. To survive and navigate efficiently, you need to master the movement system.

Basic Controls:

  • Sprint for baseline speed
  • Jump to reach elevated areas
  • Roll (CTRL by default) for dodging and distance

Movement Boosters: Each stage has environmental objects that launch you into the air. They look different per biome:

  • Stage 1: Sunflowers
  • Stage 2: Lamp Posts
  • Stage 3: Geysers
  • Stage 4: Skull Tornados

Here’s the key technique: jump onto a booster, then press roll while mid-air to extend your distance. You can also use directional inputs during the roll to change where you land. This is essential for reaching distant POIs quickly or escaping bad situations at night.

Skull Shrines: Prioritize the Hard Ones

Scattered around each map are Skull Shrines. Activating one spawns a wave of enemies — defeat them, and you get coins. The more skulls on the shrine, the harder the fight and the bigger the reward.

The strategy: Hit 3-skull shrines first. Yes, they’re harder, but you shouldn’t have much trouble early in a stage when enemies haven’t scaled yet. The coin payout is significantly higher, and those coins compound into better gear from Larry’s Store.

Save 1-skull shrines for last, or skip them entirely if you’re running low on time. The reward-to-effort ratio just isn’t there.

Larry’s Store and Spending Wisely

Larry is a gnome who runs a shop somewhere on each map. He sells a random assortment of powerups and gear. Some tips:

  • Prioritize items that match your class — no point buying Intelligence buffs as a Warrior
  • Speed and survivability first — early stages benefit more from not dying than from raw damage
  • Avoid the 30-coin chests — cheap chests give cheap loot. Save for the big impressive chests or Larry’s premium items
  • Watch the “free” items — there’s a section at the back of Larry’s Store with zero-cost items. Everything has a cost, even if it’s not coins. Read carefully.

Save Your Keys for Later Stages

You’ll find keys throughout each stage. The natural instinct is to use them immediately on the first locked chest you see. Don’t.

Keys carry over between stages (they stay in your inventory). Later stages have higher-rarity loot in their silver locked chests. The weapon you open in Stage 1 will be outclassed quickly. The weapon you open in Stage 3 or 4 might carry you to the end.

Exception: if you’re still using your starting weapon and desperately need an upgrade, spend one key. But in general, hoard them.

Understanding Rune Juice (Permanent Progression)

LORT has two currencies: Gold (spent during runs) and Rune Juice (spent between runs for permanent upgrades).

You collect Rune Juice by:

  • Killing enemies (small amounts)
  • Completing stages
  • Farming the graveyard — grab swords sticking out of the ground, defeat enemies that spawn

Back at your hub, spend Rune Juice on the Jacked Up Powerup Chests (30 Rune Juice each) and permanent unlocks. Early priorities should be unlocking new Shoes (movement speed matters) and expanding your starting loadout options.

Pro Tips

  • Smash everything — barrels, boxes, pots. The pocket change adds up.
  • Revive teammates fast — in co-op, downed players can be revived. Don’t let them bleed out.
  • Weapon swap freely — LORT lets you carry multiple weapons and swap on the fly. Use it.
  • Watch for powerup synergies — some combinations are absurdly strong. Experiment.
  • The bus doesn’t wait — after killing the boss, you have limited time before the escape window closes.
  • Co-op scales — more players means more enemies. Don’t expect 8-player runs to be easier.
  • Check the roadmap — Big Distraction plans new classes, weapons, and features. Early Access is just the beginning.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is a typical LORT run?

A full run through all four stages takes roughly 45-60 minutes, depending on how thoroughly you explore and whether you wipe.

Can I play LORT solo?

Yes. The game supports 1-8 players. Solo is viable, though the game shines brightest in co-op where you can combo abilities and revive each other.

Is LORT too hard for beginners?

The early stages are approachable. Difficulty ramps up in Stage 3 and 4. Big Distraction recently patched some early enemies that were overtuned, so they’re actively balancing based on feedback.

What’s the “God run” everyone talks about?

When you stack exactly the right powerups with perfect synergies, you become absurdly overpowered — deleting bosses in seconds. That’s a God run. It’s rare, but when it happens, it’s glorious.

How long will LORT be in Early Access?

Big Distraction estimates about one year. They’re planning new classes, more powerups, additional features, and potentially a price increase at full launch.

Summary

LORT rewards players who explore thoroughly, match their class to colored POIs for bonus damage, and resist the urge to rush. Save keys for later stages, prioritize 3-skull shrines for maximum coins, master the movement booster technique, and always — always — sprint to the bus after killing the boss.

Whether you’re going solo or rolling eight-deep with friends, the fundamentals stay the same: power up smart, fight the boss, don’t die on the way out. Now go slap some goblins.

Steven

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