Battle Prep

It’s time to put your skills to the test! Clash in the Clouds challenges you to complete 60 distinct combat waves across four environments. Battle all manner of Founders and Vox in arena-style environments as you unlock a whole new set of Infusions, Vigors, Gear, and weaponry. And, there’s a corresponding Blue Ribbon Challenge for each wave. Since brute power and patience will see you through to completing each of the waves without much difficulty, this chapter’s tactics focus on completing the Blue Ribbon Challenges, which can be extremely difficult.

The Lobby

You’ll begin each play session in the lobby. Here you’ll be able to review the leaderboards, acquire Vigors and Salts free of charge, save your progress, unlock different arenas, and visit the museum.

The Armory

You’ll jump right into the fray whenever you select a map, but you return to this room between each wave. Use this time to prepare for your next wave. Pay special attention to the announcement regarding the Blue Ribbon Challenge requirements and enemy list for the next wave. Equip your weaponry carefully and use the money that you earn in the previous wave to unlock the most useful Vigor and weapon upgrades before you start.

General Tips

Clash in the Clouds allows for plenty of improvisation, experimentation, and various styles of play. There is no one clear path to victory, but this chapter can save you a lot of trial and error. Consider the following general tips when tackling this exciting addition to Bioshock Infinite.

• Play through all 60 waves at least once first, without worrying too much about Blue Ribbon Challenges. Use the Infusions you receive after every other wave to fully upgrade your Shield, then alternate spending those Infusions on Salts and Health. You won’t be able to fully upgrade all three attributes, so you may want to prioritize Shield.
• Don’t spend any of the money during your initial playthrough on items in the museum. First make sure you purchase all of the upgrades for each of the Vigors. You’ll really need those upgraded Vigors if you’re going to have any shot at completing all 60 Blue Ribbon Challenges.
• Remember to save your progress whenever you return to the lobby (interact with the book on the desk). Similarly, do not use the “Restart from Last Checkpoint” option in the middle of a wave, as that will send you back to the lobby.
• Dying or failing a Blue Ribbon Challenge is no reason to start over from the first wave on your first playthrough. Just keep playing on until you get to the fifteenth wave in an area. The cash, Gear, and Infusions you unlock are worth it.
• Understand that the maps change slightly from wave to wave. The Tears may change, the Sky-Lines may shift (or be removed), and the action may shift from solid ground to gunboats and gondolas.
• Don’t use up the Salts and Health Kits from Tears too early in a wave, because they won’t replenish during a wave. Save them for emergencies only.
• Consider buying a Continue before starting each wave (access the door in the armory) when trying to complete a wave’s Blue Ribbon Challenge, as it could prevent a lot of frustration. Continues cost $500, but a second Continue can be purchased mid-wave for $1000 from the door inside the area.
• Use the money earned from attempting Blue Ribbon Challenges during your subsequent playthroughs to unlock the items in the museum. You’ll have more than enough to unlock everything in the museum and still have plenty of money left over for upgrading your weaponry and purchasing Continues.