Tears of Metal Beginner Guide: Start Strong in 0.14

Know what carries into the next campaign

The official Steam description separates the game into two connected loops. Keeping them distinct makes early decisions much easier.

First-campaign checklist

1. 1

   Confirm the version before a co-op run

   The normal Steam branch is on 0.14.58630, while Paper Cult currently directs mixed-store crossplay users to a separate Crossplay Beta branch. A branch mismatch can matter more than any build choice.
2. 2

   Build from the choices you actually receive

   Each campaign creates new Emblem combinations. Patch 0.11 changed family selection to favor families that have not appeared yet, so a rigid shopping list is less useful than a coherent trigger-and-payoff plan.
3. 3

   Check shops, fountains and treasure costs again

   Patch 0.11 adjusted prices across all acts. Grey Fountains restore 5 additional Health, Dragonstone Treasure Chests cost one Dragonstone and guarantee a high-tier Charm, and several other campaign costs changed.
4. 4

   Read special objectives

   Paper Cult says special objectives unlock artifacts, characters, cosmetics, upgrades and combos. An objective can therefore matter beyond the immediate campaign result.
5. 5

   Spend the result on permanent progress

   Upgrade soldiers and expand the settlement between attempts. Patch 0.11 also guarantees Region Currency rewards in every act and increases rewards in Acts 2 and 3.

How Emblems fit into a beginner build

Paper Cult describes Emblems as the source of powerful synergies gained during each campaign. Version 0.11 adds one important current rule: family selection now favors families that have not appeared in that campaign instead of being completely random.

That does not establish a universal best family, exact offer odds or a current family count. The official store and current patch note do not publish those values. Use the Emblems wiki page for the verified mechanics and evidence gaps.

Before choosing a branch, use the campaign map-symbol key to distinguish likely Emblem, commander, merchant, healing, quest and currency opportunities. The key labels community-reported meanings separately from current-build tests.

Solo and co-op basics

Tears of Metal supports single-player and online co-op for as many as four players total. The official Steam listing does not advertise local or split- screen co-op.

The current patch announcement says crossplay compatibility is temporarily disabled on the normal Steam version. If a Steam player needs to join a Windows Store or Game Pass group, follow the developer's Crossplay Beta instructions before troubleshooting builds, saves or invitations.

How multiplayer revives work now

The August 13 update replaced the previous Coin revive cost with an HP-based system. Reviving another player costs 50% of your current HP, and you need more than 10% of your maximum HP to start the revive. The revived player receives a maximum-health percentage equal to the percentage you sacrificed, and the available revive time shortens by five seconds after each revival.

This changes a beginner co-op decision: Coins can go toward Charms and healing, but a revive can leave the rescuer at dangerously low Health. Clear nearby pressure before committing and do not treat Ruadh's healing as unlimited.

1. 1

   Check the rescuer's HP first

   You cannot start a revive at 10% maximum HP or lower. A legal revive still removes half of the rescuer's current HP, so do not begin one inside sustained damage.
2. 2

   Create a safe window

   Pull enemies away, interrupt the dangerous group or coordinate crowd control before interacting with the downed player.
3. 3

   Treat later revives as more urgent

   The available window loses five seconds after each successful revival. Assign the next rescuer before another player goes down.

What changed for beginners in patch 0.11

The August 1 balance patch changed several early decisions:

• Region Currency is guaranteed in every act, with higher rewards in Acts 2 and 3;
• shop and Campaign Shop prices were adjusted;
• Grey Fountains restore 5 additional Health;
• Dragonstone Treasure Chests cost one Dragonstone and guarantee a high-tier Charm;
• Small Burning Statues that reduce Threat cost one Dragonstone instead of two;
• Charm rarity categories, balance and some functions changed;
• level 1 allies received a survivability improvement;
• campaign Emblem-family selection now favors families not seen yet.

These are official change-log statements. They do not prove a particular purchase order or build is optimal, so this guide does not turn them into a tier list.

Where to go after the first campaign

• Start the Act 1 walkthrough for the verified act structure and current patch notes.
• Read the Gilles the Hog guide before the first boss.
• Check the latest patch notes when an older video or guide behaves differently.
• Use the Steam and Windows page for requirements and current platform features.

Official sources

• Tears of Metal official Steam store page
• Early Access launch announcement
• Paper Cult's version 0.11.57863 announcement
• Paper Cult's August 13 networking and revive update
• Paper Cult's version 0.14.58630 announcement