Tears of Metal Beginner Guide

Block and parry over dodge spam

Dodge has a long cooldown and is meant for unavoidable area attacks — not routine footsies. Blocking and parrying are near-instant and highly effective against captains and elites. When stamina breaks (yours or theirs), punish the stagger window with a heavy combo.

The on-screen combo guide stays visible during campaigns — use it until muscle memory kicks in. Full bind reference: controls guide.

Focus elites, ignore fodder when possible

Campaign objectives usually target elite enemies, captains, or defense points — clearing every grunt is optional and wastes time while Threat Level climbs. Scan the minimap (top-right) for objective markers before diving into the horde.

Your Scottish Battalion fights alongside you. Spend one special gauge bar to issue infantry, spearman, or archer commands — focus fire on the elite you are struggling to reach through the mob.

Special gauge: troops vs ultimate

Each bar can trigger a battalion order (tactical flexibility mid-fight) or you can burn all three bars for a wide clearing attack — a panic button when fodder surrounds you. In co-op, call out who spends bars so one player always keeps a bar for objectives.

Ruadh Stonecrusher — frontline anchor

Ruadh Stonecrusher emphasizes raw power: smash shields, shatter armor, knock enemies back, and provide ally healing — strong for players who want to face-tank while battalion units flank. Pair with defensive charms if you tend to overcommit.

Full skill breakdowns and emblem pairings live on the heroes hub and builds guide.

Match hero to emblem clan early

Each hero benefits from different emblem families — a clan that buffs heavy attacks suits Ruadh; a ranged hero may prefer projectile or battalion-buff clans. Commit to one clan on the overhead map before your first campaign node when icons are visible.

Four emblem clans at EA launch

Emblems belong to four clans in Early Access, each with distinct themes and finishers. Most emblems slot onto a specific action — light attack, heavy attack, dodge, or block — and many trigger a finisher effect on the last hit of that combo chain.

The overhead map shows which emblem types each node rewards. Route toward icons matching your chosen clan instead of crossing families every fight.

Artifact stacking without dilution

With 100+ artifacts available, temptation is to grab everything. Early runs win by 2–3 synergistic passives — burn damage, battalion buffs, or parry rewards — not five unrelated bonuses. Check the artifacts tier list before rerolling a good core piece.

Equipment and village shops

Between runs, the Village sells equipment — helmets, armor, gloves, and trinkets that stack with emblem finishers. You do not need perfect gear in Act 1, but unlocking shop tiers via village upgrades prevents Act 2 damage checks from feeling unfair.

Weapons can change your ultimate attack pattern — experiment after you stabilize one emblem clan, not before.

Charms at event nodes

Non-combat nodes offer NPC dialogue, merchants, and unique rewards like Charms — passive buffs similar to boons in other roguelikes. Prioritize extra stamina, bonus health, or healing power when your hero feels squishy after Act 1 elites. Charms persist for the whole run once picked up.

Hub workflow before each run

From the Village hub, strengthen your hero, promote commanders, add battalion ranks, and review challenge modifiers (unlocked after your first boss). Then launch onto the overhead map — see the walkthrough for node types.

First-time players should spend initial village currency on essentials listed in village upgrades — permanent battalion buffs compound faster than chasing one-off artifact luck.

Recruit before you push threat

Entering campaigns understaffed makes elite objectives drag while Threat Level rises. Recruit at the hub when you have slots and currency; in co-op, one player focusing on battalion commands while others burn elites speeds every node.

Threat Level on your first run

Each map node advances Threat Level — a bar tracking enemy strength. At set thresholds, hazards activate (extra spawns, arrow towers, elite ambushes). Failed objectives also spike threat. Choose longer paths for more rewards only when your build can handle the escalation.

Beginners should take the shorter route to the act boss on run one, learn combat, then extend paths on run two once emblem synergies click.

Node types to recognize

Campaign nodes are hack-and-slash battles with emblem icons on the map. Event nodes offer merchants, charms, or story beats without a full horde fight. Lateral movement on the same map row lets you shop for the emblem clan you need before committing upward.

When to bank and return to village

Clearing an act or wiping sends you back to the Village with currency and unlock progress. Do not skip village spending — even a failed run that reached the boss often funds a building that makes the next attempt smoother.

Common beginner mistakes

Spreading emblems across all four clans by Act 2 · Dodging every attack instead of blocking · Ignoring battalion recruitment until the boss · Taking long map paths before a synergized build · Skipping village spending after a wipe. Each mistake is fixable on the next run — roguelikes reward repetition with knowledge.

Solo is supported — co-op is faster, not required

Solo play is fully viable for learning combat. Co-op shines when one player reads boss patterns while others handle adds. PC Game Pass players can matchmake — platform notes on game pass guide.