Tears of Metal Guides

Your Starting Point for Tears of Metal

Tears of Metal is a medieval Scottish hack-and-slash co-op roguelike from Paper Cult, launching into Early Access on July 22, 2026. Whether you are picking up the sword for the first time or pushing deeper into Act 2 and Act 3, this guide hub collects every strategy article you need in one place. The game blends fast melee combat with permanent consequences: soldiers in your battalion can die for good, healing is scarce, and the choices you make between runs at the Village shape every future campaign.

Our guides are written for solo players and full four-player co-op squads alike. Each page focuses on a specific system — from emblem build crafting to battalion survival — so you can jump straight to the topic that is blocking your progress. If you are brand new, start with the How to Play guide and the official gameplay overview, then branch into survival and build guides once you understand the core loop.

Core Systems Covered in This Section

Tears of Metal rewards players who understand how its layered systems interact. Emblems define your combat identity during a run, Charms modify rules and unlock alternate strategies, and Village upgrades provide the permanent backbone that makes repeated attempts feel meaningful rather than punishing. Heroes like Wallace, Ruadh Stonecrusher, and the third launch hero each bring distinct kits that pair differently with Emblem families and battalion compositions.

Between Acts, the pressure ramps quickly. Act 1 introduces foundational threats culminating in Gilles the Hog, the first major boss gate. Act 2 and Act 3 escalate elite enemy density, environmental hazards, and build-check moments that punish one-dimensional strategies. Guides in this section explain how to prepare for those transitions without over-investing in temporary power that will not carry forward.

• How to Play — controls, first-run priorities, and the campaign loop
• Survival Without Healing — defense, positioning, and damage mitigation when potions run dry
• Emblem Synergies — combining Emblem families for Act-ready builds
• Battalion Management — keeping Scottish troops alive and effective
• Village Upgrades — meta progression between campaigns
• Co-op Multiplayer — coordinating roles in online play
• Beat Gilles the Hog — Act 1 boss patterns and team tactics
• Daily Challenges — rotating objectives and reward efficiency
• How to Get Charms — unlocking and purchasing run modifiers
• Launch Day Checklist — July 22 Early Access prep and first-run priorities

Recommended Reading Order by Experience Level

If this is your first session, read How to Play, skim Keyboard Controls or Controller Support for your platform, and run Act 1 with a balanced Emblem spread rather than forcing a niche build. After your first wipe — and you will wipe — pivot to Village Upgrades so your next attempt starts stronger. Permanent soldier deaths hurt most when you have not yet unlocked recruitment upgrades or training options at the settlement.

Intermediate players struggling with attrition should prioritize Survival Without Healing and Battalion Management before chasing optimal DPS Emblem combos. High damage means little if your roster bleeds out between encounters. Once survival fundamentals are stable, dive into Emblem Synergies and cross-reference the Best Emblem Synergies build page for curated combinations per Act.

Guides vs. Walkthroughs and Build References

Guides teach principles; walkthroughs provide step-by-step route knowledge. Use the Act 1 Walkthrough when you need exact pathing to reach Gilles the Hog efficiently, but rely on guides when you need to understand why a strategy works across seeds and party compositions. The same distinction applies to Charms and equipment: How to Get Charms explains acquisition and budgeting, while the Charms Guide breaks down individual effects for build planning.

For players preparing for launch week, bookmark the Release page for Early Access timing and platform availability on Steam, Microsoft Store, and Xbox Game Pass. Daily Challenge grinders should pair Daily Challenges with Village investment guides so every completed objective accelerates long-term account power rather than just padding a single run.