Keeping a few drops of energy in each of your meters means you won’t have to back track to complete a puzzle sequence. Chaos energy (and Void energy to an extent) is an absolute must throughout the experience both inside and outside of combat, though Lords of Shadow 2 does give you energy fountains frequently enough. If you can clear a fight with some Chaos energy left after the battle, do so. If you want to get the most out Lords of Shadow 2, play for 100% and obsessively break everything. Hunting around for stuff to break will also lead you to more map rooms, magic pedestals with pieces to gather for the combat challenge arena, and other secrets. You’ll find health and combat items, pieces of the dragon medallion to unleash Dracula’s over-powered fury attack, and pieces of concept art. With that in mind, bust open everything you see to pad the non-stealth part of the experience out as much as you can. If you lash the candelabrums and break all your own stuff, no one is going to get mad at you later.

While Belmonts have long vandalized Dracula’s castle as a sign of disrespect to the prince of darkness, in Lords of Shadow you are Dracula.