You’re wandering through the Vast Forest, maybe feeling a little underleveled or just curious about all the weird side interactions this game throws at you, and you run into Berly. She’s loud. She’s bossy. And she’s got a move that can basically carry Aubrey through the early game if you know how to use it. Learning how to learn headbutt omori isn’t just about clicking through dialogue; it’s about a specific, missable interaction in the Headspace segment of the game that players often breeze past because they’re too busy trying to find Basil.
Honestly, OMORI is a game that rewards you for being a completionist, but it doesn't always tell you where the rewards are. Headbutt is one of those skills. It’s a high-damage, low-cost move for Aubrey that comes with a hilarious (and tactical) drawback. If you’ve ever felt like Aubrey was just "the girl who hits things with a bat," this skill changes her utility immediately. You’re going to want this before you hit the harder bosses in the Junkyard or start dealing with the more annoying enemies in Pyrefly Forest.
Finding Berly and the Lost Ball
To get started, you need to be in the Vast Forest. This is the sprawling, woods-themed area right outside Neighbor’s Room. You’ll find a playground area where all the kids hang out. Look for Berly. She’s the tough-looking NPC who usually has a bit of an attitude.
The quest is simple on paper. Berly lost her tetherball (or just a "ball," depending on how you want to categorize her chaotic energy). She won’t teach you anything until you find it. Most players get stuck because they expect the ball to be right next to her. It’s not. You have to head south and slightly east from the playground area.
Specifically, look for the area with the long bridge and the hidden paths behind the trees. The ball is tucked away in a corner that’s easy to miss if you’re just running in straight lines. Once you grab it, head back to Berly. She doesn't just give you a "thank you" and a piece of candy. She decides that the best way to show her appreciation is to teach Aubrey how to use her forehead as a weapon.
The Headbutt Mechanic: Risk vs. Reward
Aubrey learns Headbutt through a quick cutscene where Berly demonstrates the "technique." It’s a bit of a slapstick moment, but the mechanical payoff is real.
Here is how the move actually works in combat:
- It deals significant damage compared to Aubrey’s standard attack.
- It costs a very small amount of Juice.
- The Catch: Aubrey takes recoil damage.
- The Hidden Mechanic: It can make Aubrey "Angry."
Why does the "Angry" status matter? In the emotion system of OMORI, Anger increases Attack but lowers Defense. If you’re already using Headbutt, you’re trading health for damage. If Aubrey becomes Angry, she becomes a glass cannon. This is great for ending fights quickly, but if you’re up against a boss like Space Ex-Boyfriend, you have to be careful. You don't want her knocking herself out because she got too heated and took a big hit from the enemy.
Why Headbutt is a Must-Have Early Game
You might think, "Why would I want a move that hurts my own character?"
Think about the scaling. In the early parts of the game, your healing items are cheap. Life Jam and Snacks are plentiful. Aubrey’s health pool is also relatively high compared to Omori or Kel. She can afford to take a 10% or 15% hit to her own HP if it means deleting an enemy in one turn.
Also, Headbutt has a weirdly high crit rate—or at least it feels that way when you’re in the flow of combat. When Aubrey lands a "moving" attack while she’s already Angry, the damage numbers start looking like something you’d see much later in the game. It’s the fastest way to grind through the "Forest Bunny" or "Sprout Mole" mobs that clutter the Vast Forest.
Missable Content Warning
Can you miss Headbutt? Technically, yes. If you progress too far into the story without ever talking to Berly or completing her mini-task, you might find yourself in the later stages of Headspace wishing you had more offensive options for Aubrey. While it’s not "permanently" gone—you can usually double back—it’s much more useful when you’re level 5 through 12.
By the time you reach Two Days Left, Aubrey gets other skills like "Mood Wrecker" or "Power Hit" that serve different purposes. But for the first ten hours of the game? Headbutt is king.
The Step-by-Step Breakdown
- Locate the Playground: Exit Neighbor’s Room and walk into the Vast Forest.
- Talk to Berly: She’s near the top-left of the main playground area.
- Start the Quest: She’ll complain about her lost ball.
- Go South: Walk down towards the watery areas and look for the yellow ball item on the ground.
- Return and Learn: Talk to Berly again. A scene triggers.
- Equip the Skill: This is the part people forget! Go into your menu, select Aubrey, go to "Skills," and make sure Headbutt is actually in one of her active slots.
Advanced Tactics: The Angry Aubrey Build
If you really want to optimize how to learn headbutt omori and use it effectively, pair it with Kel’s "Annoy" skill.
Have Kel use Annoy on Aubrey during the first turn. This forces her into the Angry state. Then, have Aubrey use Headbutt. Because she is now Angry, her attack stat is buffed. The Headbutt will deal massive damage, and while she takes a bit of recoil, the enemy is likely already dead or close to it.
Just keep an eye on her Heart (HP). If she gets too low, the recoil from her own Headbutt can actually "Toast" her. It’s a hilarious way to lose a fight, but a frustrating one if you haven’t saved in a while.
What Most Players Get Wrong
Most people think Headbutt is just a joke skill because of the animation. It’s not. In speedruns or high-efficiency playthroughs, Headbutt is often the primary damage dealer for Aubrey until she gets her more specialized "Beatdown" skills much later.
✨ Don't miss: Why 20 questions game cards are the low-tech cure for boring parties
Also, don't confuse this with the "Headbutt" move some enemies use. This is Aubrey’s specific version. It’s also worth noting that Berly has other interactions later in the game—specifically near the Deep Well—but this Vast Forest interaction is the only one that grants this specific combat advantage.
Moving Forward in the Forest
Once Aubrey has mastered the art of hitting things with her face, your trek through the Vast Forest becomes significantly easier. You’ll be able to handle the "Big Strong Tree" (if you’re brave enough to try and break its defense) and other mini-bosses with way less stress.
Just remember that OMORI is a game about balance. Use Headbutt to end fights fast, but don't let Aubrey’s HP dwindle to nothing. It’s easy to get overconfident when you’re dealing 80+ damage in a single hit early on.
Actionable Next Steps
- Check your inventory: See if you already have the "Ball" item; if you do, you just need to find Berly to trigger the lesson.
- Update your Skill Slots: Aubrey only has a limited number of slots. If her bar is full, you’ll need to unequip something like "Pep Talk" to make room for Headbutt.
- Test the Recoil: Go into a low-stakes fight with a Forest Bunny and see exactly how much health Aubrey loses. This helps you gauge when it’s "safe" to use in a boss fight.
- Visit the Mailbox: If you’re low on snacks to heal the recoil damage, hit up the mailbox in the playground to stock up before heading deeper into the woods.
Learning this skill early sets the tone for how you handle Aubrey’s combat style—aggressive, high-risk, and incredibly effective. Go find Berly, find that ball, and start smashing some Sprout Moles.