Wallace — Tears of Metal Hero Guide

Who Is Wallace?

Wallace is the default commander in Tears of Metal and the hero most players meet first in demo footage and trailers. Armed with a longsword and shield, he sits between glass cannon burst and immovable tank: his light attacks sweep wide enough to tag clustered English occupiers, heavy finishers pierce elite armor, and his block window forgives mistimed dodges in Act 1 trenches. Paper Cult positions Wallace as the balanced sword commander for new players, and that label holds in Early Access where healing items remain scarce and learning enemy telegraphs matters more than min-maxing.

Wallace's fantasy mirrors the legendary Scottish knight, but Tears of Metal leans into dark fantasy rather than history. Corrupted iron troops, Dragon Stone mutations, and musou-scale battles define his campaign more than historical accuracy. Within that fiction, Wallace represents the steady frontline leader who keeps battalion morale high by staying alive and clearing space for soldiers to advance. If you struggled in the demo as the sole playable hero, Early Access Wallace benefits from additional weapons, skins, and expanded emblem tiers that were incomplete in preview builds.

Use this guide alongside emblem families, equipment, and Act 1 walkthrough for a complete first campaign. Compare alternatives on the heroes hub once you outgrow Wallace's fundamentals.

Moveset and Combat Loop

Wallace's kit rewards rhythmic light-heavy chains. Light attacks build combo meter and apply on-hit emblem effects like Caithness Refracted debuffs or Mark stacks. Heavy attacks consume positioning but deliver the highest single-target burst, especially when you flank officers after a block parry. Dodging maintains momentum; unlike faster heroes, Wallace's dodge distance is moderate, so plan routes around environmental hazards early in Act 2.

Blocking is Wallace's safety net. Hold block against archer volleys and shield-bearing elites, then counter with a heavy opener when stagger lands. Super abilities—unlocked through emblem tiers and combo milestones—clear dense pockets when your battalion gets surrounded. Save supers for captain introductions or objective defense waves rather than spending them on single grunts.

Wallace lacks native ally healing, so pair aggressive emblem choices with survival fundamentals or bring Ruadh in co-op. Trinkets that grant life on kill or damage reduction after block stabilize runs where potions are unavailable.

Best Emblems for Wallace

Caithness is Wallace's most natural emblem family. Chain lightning beams between grouped enemies amplify his wide sweeps, and Refracted debuffs multiply damage on subsequent hits. PC Gamer preview runs described Wallace Caithness stacks turning light attacks into regiment-clearing laser sweeps—still viable after Paper Cult's emblem rebalance if you invest tier 2 before Act 1 boss Gilles the Hog.

Orbs synergize with Wallace's mobility when you pick emblems that spawn seekers on dodge or kill. Collect orbs during repositioning to maintain DPS without stopping combos. Smite emblems add radial burst on heavy finishers, ideal for Wallace players who anchor center and spam finishers after block stuns. Mark stacks from light chains set up explosive detonations when heavy attacks proc tier 3 emblems.

Avoid spreading too thin across four families in Act 1. Commit to two clans by mid-campaign and add a third only if a cross-family synergy emblem appears. Deep dives live in best emblem synergies and emblem synergies guide. Plan ahead with the emblem planner tool.

Equipment and Charms

Prioritize sword upgrades at the village forge before cosmetic skins. Early weapons add elemental procs or combo speed that outperform rare trinkets in Act 1. Trinkets slot separately—look for block stamina reduction, emblem proc chance, or soldier aura buffs. Artifacts from shrine challenges can define entire runs; Wallace favors artifacts that extend combo timers or amplify Caithness chains.

Charms reshape rules rather than stats. A Charm that triggers extra emblem picks on elite kills accelerates Wallace's scaling, while challenge Charms that restrict healing force defensive equipment choices. Browse charms guide and how to get charms for unlock paths. Stack Charms that reward consistent aggression without ignoring battalion survival.

Act-by-Act Wallace Tips

Act 1 teaches Wallace's block-heavy loop against corrupted footmen and culminates in Gilles the Hog. Learn the boss patterns in beat Gilles the Hog guide and enter with at least one tier 2 emblem. Act 2 introduces elites with armor that punishes light-only chains—mix heavies and consider Smite burst for shield breakers. Act 3 hazard zones near the Mother Dragon Stone demand disciplined dodging; swap to survival trinkets if emblem healing is absent.

Wallace remains viable through Act 3 solo when emblem tiers reach level 3 and village equipment keeps pace. If damage plateaus, experiment with Ruadh or the third hero rather than forcing emblem spreads that lack synergy.