First expedition: a low-regret setup
The first run is about learning the loop—load out, deploy, secure a small amount of loot, and extract—without risking every resource at once.
Correct as of Update #6 · 2026-08-03
These are creator-reported observations from launch-window gameplay. They complement, but do not replace, the official mode, progression and recovery pages.
Drawn from attributed player reports or authorized community footage. This is experience-level evidence, not a confirmed fact about every build.
Before deployment
- Select a Trampler blueprint; the deploy button stays unavailable until one is selected.
- Pack a primary weapon with its matching ammunition, a backup weapon, armor and a small amount of food.
- Load cannon ammunition from a crate before installing the cannon when possible.
- Leave spare armor, a backup gun and ammunition in the captain’s quarters for a possible respawn.
Choose the right first mode
Voyage is the lower-pressure learning environment according to the official mode description. The creator also reports that solo play is viable, but one player must steer, repair and operate cannons.
On the ground
- Use the Trampler’s map and binoculars to check routes and the horizon.
- Assume cannons may need loading when you spawn.
- Use portable crates for loot rather than trying to carry every item in your personal inventory.
- Prioritise a safe extraction over one more container.
When the run goes wrong
Food in the captain’s-quarters fridge is reported to speed up respawns. A corpse can be looted while its body remains visible. These are player reports, so verify them after major updates.
For the official recovery route after a total loss, see Lost everything?
First-run stop rule
End the run when your crate is safely racked, your route home is clear and you have learned one new system. The objective of run one is repeatability, not maximum value.