In South of Midnight, Hazel faces various spirits and she’ll have an array of abilities to use. Throughout the game, players can enhance these abilities by collecting Floofs; the key challenge is deciding which ones to upgrade first. We’re here to guide you through that process.
By exploring the game world, you should be able to obtain most, if not all, of the available upgrades, so you won’t miss out on any of Hazel’s potential. However, it’s essential to focus on upgrading the most useful abilities first. Gather those Floofs and prepare to invest in your skills!
Top Upgrades in South of Midnight
As abilities are level-gated and Floofs are relatively plentiful, there’s no need to stress about saving resources. Still, following a wise upgrade path is beneficial. Generally, we recommend focusing on the General Tree first. Below is a suggested order for upgrading abilities at the same level.
Following the General Tree, the next tree to prioritize depends on your personal playstyle. Combat in the game is straightforward, so your preferences will play a significant role. However, we recommend upgrading the Weave tree first, as it tends to be more versatile and effective against all enemies, including bosses. Next, consider investing in the Crouton tree, except at the third stage where Strand Push becomes the more advantageous choice. For much of the game, Strand Push lands in the third slot. We found that Strand Pull was less effective, but at the second stage, it outshines Strand Push since it activates Weave automatically.
Overview of General Upgrades and Recommendations
The General upgrades enhance Hazel’s basic attacks and occasionally introduce new moves. You’ll face choices between two upgrades on the same branch during specific points in the game, but you can ultimately purchase both. We will recommend which one to prioritize, alongside detailed descriptions of each upgrade.
| Name | Description |
| Rending Step | Dodge (B) and quickly tap X to attack in the chosen direction. |
| Aerial Rend | While airborne, press X to slam down, damaging nearby enemies. |
| Amplified Rend | Charge the Amplified Attack further to deal more damage over a wider area. |
| Weaver’s Blitz | Unravel triggers a Strand Blast. |
| Cleaning Rend | Hold Y to unleash Strands, damaging enemies in a broad area. |
| Bob and Weave | Dodge (B) twice quickly for a quick evade. |
| Close the Loop | Strand Blasts deal increased damage across a wider area and Weave affects enemies for a short duration. |
| Stigma Conversion | Improves Unravel’s cooldown acceleration. |
| Purifying Rend | Wider damage area for Cleansing Rend, impacting Weave-affected foes briefly. |
We suggest choosing Weaver’s Blitz over Amplified Rend, especially since you’ll often be overwhelmed, and a Strand Blast in those situations can be a significant advantage. Both upgrades are strong, though. Next, we recommend going for the Close the Loop upgrade ahead of Stigma Conversion, prioritizing damage over cooldown, since several late-game abilities offer instant cooldown benefits. Again, both options are solid choices!
Detailed Overview of Ability Upgrades in South of Midnight
In addition to the General tree, there are four individual trees corresponding to the abilities Hazel can unlock: Weave, Strand Push, Strand Pull, and Crouton. Here’s a breakdown of what each offers.
| Ability Tree | Stage | Name | Description |
| Weave | 1 | Stigma Bane | Enemies affected by Weave take increased damage from all sources. |
| Weave | 2 | Weave of Life | Damaging Weaved enemies with certain moves heals Hazel slightly. |
| Weave | 3 | Enduring Weave | Weave remains active longer during combat. |
| Strand Push | 1 | Scourged Push | Strand Push now inflicts damage. |
| Strand Push | 2 | Immobilizing Push | Cast Strand Push right before an enemy attack lands to apply Weave to them. |
| Strand Push | 3 | Refreshing Push | Strand Push resets its cooldown when directed at multiple enemies simultaneously. |
| Strand Pull | 1 | From Thread to Hook | Tethered Strand (X after Strand Pull) deals increased damage to foes. |
| Strand Pull | 2 | Fettered Rend | Tethered Strand (X after Strand Pull) applies Weave for a brief time. |
| Strand Pull | 3 | Vanquishing Rend | If Tethered Strand (X after Strand Pull) defeats an enemy, it resets its cooldown. |
| Crouton | 1 | Crouton Detonation | When Crouton’s control ends, it triggers a Strand Blast. |
| Crouton | 2 | Crouton Surge | While Crouton controls an enemy, it inflicts increased damage. |
| Crouton | 3 | Crouton Tangle | While Crouton is in control, it casts Weave on its first target. |
Explore the strengths of each tree and tailor your upgrades to enhance Hazel’s effectiveness in her supernatural quest.
