Presenting several challenges and little in-game help, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game can be difficult to get a hang of for new players. Factor in fast-paced combat and enemies around every corner, and it can be easy to pass up the shops located around the world, one of the most important factors in character progression.

But it’s important to know where these shops are, and what the vendors are selling, as each purchasable item gives specific boosts to a character that can’t be attained otherwise. Without this progression, later foes in the League of Evil Exes will be nigh impossible to defeat.

Understanding Skills

A majority of the available items in Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game serve as regens for Health and Gut Points as well as offering experience points. Small food items can be taken “To-Go,” though a character can only hold one to-go item at a time. These can be used to restore health at the moment it hits “0,” which saves valuable Gut Points, which can be used to call in special attacks. Bigger items that can’t be taken to go often provide much larger boosts, with some refilling 100+ HP.

In addition to food, there are certain trinkets that can be bought that will increase the four core skills: Strength, Speed, Will Power and Defense. Strength increases the amount of damage a player can deal, Speed increases movement, attack and recovery speeds, Will Power increases the amount of Gut Points a character can have, and Defense decreases the amount of damage enemies inflict, as well as increasing player HP.

All of the shops are in the background, and some are hidden. Here’s how to find each one, and what it offers.

Level 1 - Shopping District

The Shopping District can be accessed by passing through the first section in the game, the “Frozen Suburbs.” Once a player has fought their way to the Shopping District, it is unlocked on the world map. It will be a frequent destination during any run, as it offers a large selection of skill-boosting items.

In total, there are seven shops.

No Account Video

The first shop may not seem useful upon first glance, with the only offering coming in the form of Scott’s late fee that will put a character out 504.25 coins. But by choosing to be a Good Samaritan, players can access some of the best stat-boosts available after clearing the hefty sum.

No Account Video also offers the easiest way to get extra lives. Here are all of the available items:

  • Scott’s late fee ($504.25)- Pay this off for further access The Mystical Head ($4.95)- Extra life Seven Shaolin Masters ($4.95)- 100 XP, 10 STR, 10 DEF, 10 WP, 10 SPD Aliens vs. T-Rex ($4.95)-  20 STR Alone and Disturbed ($4.95)- 1,500 XP I Love Your Boyfriend ($4.95)- 320 XP, 15 DEF, 15 WP

Delicious Cup

All of Delicious Cup’s offerings can be taken to-go.

  • Tea ($1.40)- 10 HP, 1 XP Coffee ($1.60)- 15 HP. 10 Guts, 1 XP, Hyper buff (provides a momentary speed boost) Espresso ($1.60)- 25 HP, 20 XP, Hyper Hot Chocolate ($2.50)- 40 HP, 20 Guts, 10 XP Iced Latte ($3.75)- 56 HP, 16 Guts, 2 XP, 1 DEF

Dee’s Tex Mex

  • Nachos ($7.75)- 80 HP, 80 Guts, 10 XP, 1 STR Tacos ($9.85)- 100 HP, 100 Guts, 5 XP, 3 SPD Burrito Grande ($11.25)- 120 HP, 105 Guts, 20 XP, 3 DEF Quesadilla ($13.50)- 135 HP, 135 Guts, 25 XP, 4 STR Fajitas ($17.95)- 180 HP, 180 Guts, 30 XP, 5 WP

Mini-Mart

  • Chewing Gum ($0.95)- 30 HP, 5 XP Chocolate Bar ($1.25)- 25 HP, 5 Guts Cola ($1.80)- 55 HP, 5 Guts, 5 XP Grape Juice ($2.25)- 55 HP, 10 Guts, 5 XP Energy Drink ($2.95)- 64 HP, 16 Guts, Hyper

Sushi Bar

  • Miso Soup ($2.50)- 15 HP, 10 Guts, 15 XP, 1 DEF Avocado Hasamaki ($2.50)- 5 HP, 20 Guts, 15 XP, 1 SPD Salmon Nigiri ($3.85)- 35 HP, 20 XP, 1 STR Ikura Don ($4.60)- 50 HP, 25 XP, 2 DEF Rainbow Maki ($8.75)- 60 HP, 30 Guts, 39 XP, 1 STR, 1 DEF, 1 WP, 1 SPD

Shock Wave Record

  • The Clash at Demonhead ($14.95)- 64 Guts, 64 XP, 8 WP Smashing Turnips ($16.95)- 64 Guts, 64 XP, 8 STR Crash and the Boys ($14.95)- 64 Guts, 64 XP, 8 SPD Winifred Hailey ($15.95)- 64 Guts, 64 XP, 8 SPD Kupek ($14.95)- 40 Guts, 40 XP, 2 STR, 2 DEF, 2 WP, 2 SPD

Flatiron Books

  • Lost at Sea ($11.95)- 350 XP Vegan Cookbook ($22.95)- 230 XP, 10 DEF Get Rich Now! ($19.95)- 230 XP, 10 SPD How to Study Hard ($20.95)- 230 XP, 10 WP 101 Push-Ups ($24.95)- 230 XP, 10 STR

Wallace’s Mystery Shop

Players can find Wallace’s Mystery Shop down in the tunnel just past the Shopping District. After fighting off the enemies in the area, approach the wall along the lower part of the tunnel, next to the street, marked with a black star. Walk into it and a hole will open in the wall.

Here are the items that can be purchased inside.

  • Tialoc’s Feast ($49.95)- Extra life Ambrosia ($59.95)- 200 HP, 200 Guts, 1,200 XP Bionic Arm ($129.95)- 50 STR Never-ending Fantasy ($119.95)- 30 Guts, 30 DEF, 30 WP Speedy the Porcupine ($109.95)- 50 SPD

Level 2- Fancy Chip Wagon

The Fancy Chip Wagon is located at the very beginning of Casa Loma, with two women standing out front.

  • French Fries ($1.80)- 35 HP, 15 XP Poutine ($3.50)- 40 HP, 5 Guts, 25 XP, 1 DEF European Hot Dog ($3.80)- 45 HP, 5 Guts, 30 XP, 1 WP Buffalo Burger ($5.80)- 55 HP, 20 Guts, 55 XP, 1 STR Croque Monseur ($6.50)- 55 HP, 20 Guts, 55 XP, 2 SPD

Level 3- Leo’s Place

As players make their way through the concert venue, this shop will be marked by an opening in the wall and a large neon sign advertising merchandise.

  • Carbonated Water ($0.60)- 25 HP Potato Chips ($0.95)- 30 HP Wristband ($6.95)- 2 DF, 3 WP Hipster Cap ($15.95)- 6 DEF, 7 WP Concert T-Shirt ($19.95)- 8 DEF, 8 WP

Level 4- The Frying Tengu

This shop is in the second part of the mission, after the bus ride. It has a pig’s head above it with arrows pointing towards the entrance.

  • Ramen ($5.95)- 40 HP, 40 Guts, 32 XP, 2 SPD Udon ($5.95)- 40 HP, 40 Guts, 32 XP, 2 WP Tempura Vegetables ($5.95)- 40 HP, 40 Guts, 32 XP, 2 DEF Tempura Shrimp ($5.95)- 40 HP, 40 Guts, 32 XP, 2 STR Kushiyaki Moriawase ($14.95)- 100 HP, 100 Guts, 64 XP, 3 STR, 3 DEF

Level 5- Scott’s Dad’s BBQ

This one can be tricky to find, as there’s clear no markers espousing its location. It’s located on the Fire Escape just after the Halloween Party.

Approach a glass door with a welcome mat in front of it to enter.

  • Iced Tea ($0.95)- 30 HP, 5 Guts Tropical Punch ($2.25)- 45 HP, 15 Guts, 10 XP Kebab ($4.95)- 50 HP, 10 XP, 2 STR Hamburger ($4.95)- 55 HP, 10 XP, 1 STR, 1 DEF Filet Mignon ($18.95)- 200 HP, 200 Guts, 15 XP, 2 STR, 3 WP

Level 6- Mobile’s Secret House

The second secret shop in the game, Mobile’s Secret House, can be found just past the park in the clearing with the key-adorned anvil. In the clearing, four background characters will be standing in front of some bushes. Walk through the middle of these figures and into the clearing.

Inside players will find Mobile, the vendor for this particular location.

  • Herbal Tea ($1.60)- 20 HP, 1 XP, 1 WP wild Blueberries ($2.95)- 40 HP, 90 Guts, 1 DEF Ginko Biloba ($9.95)- 90 HP, 90 Guts, 4 DEF, 4 WP Sauteed Shiitake ($9.95)- 30 HP, 20 Guts, 4 DEF, 4 WP Special Training ($57.50)- Receive Tech Attack 2

Level 7- Techno Shack

The last shop in the game serves as a useful outpost just before the final battle with Gideon.

  • Food Pill ($2.50)- 30 HP, 30 Guts Beef Jerky ($2.95)- 40 HP, 30 Guts Energy Tank ($3.95)- 100 HP Microwave Chicken ($3.95)- 30 HP, 30 Guts, 1 STR Fighting Software ($24.95)- 4 STR, 4 DEF, 4 WP, 4 SPD

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game is available for PC, PS4, Stadia, Switch, and Xbox One.