Your first demo runs: choose, upgrade and rescue
For a first learning run, choose Neave Blacktalon and look for Sabaton alongside Tempest Axes. This is our recommendation for learning one documented pairing, not a claim that Neave is the strongest character. Prefer the 40k setting? Start with Malum Caedo and learn his horizontal Chainsword attacks instead.
Why Neave is the default learning pick
- The current hands-on actually describes her Tempest Axes and Sabaton evolution, giving you a concrete path to follow.
- Sabaton also improves movement speed in that account, helping you learn repositioning as you develop the weapon.
- The Neave guide resolves the old starting-name confusion, so you can identify the base and evolved names correctly.
Switch to Malum if the 40k universe matters more to you, or if you want to learn the documented side-to-side base attack. Both are learning choices within the observed demo, not measured survival comparisons.
Use upgrades to make one coherent plan
The current hands-on describes upgrades offering weapons and companion items. Before selecting an unfamiliar companion, use the reverse lookup to see which reported weapon it belongs with. If you already know the weapon, use the evolution table.
A pairing is not a complete level checklist: the present October sources do not establish exact required levels or a universal chest trigger. Stronger green-highlighted enemies are reported to drop chests with random upgrades, with up to five in the hands-on; no fixed reward count is guaranteed.
Read danger as well as damage
Question-mark rescue objectives provide a next goal, but Catachan’s reported encounter strengthens nearby enemies. You can return after building strength rather than treating the marker as a free pickup.
For announced mechanics beyond these demo observations, Burning damages enemies but speeds them up, Poisoned slows them, and Stunned does not stop attacks. Use status effects, pick-ups and enemy warning signals for those distinct decisions.