Getting started10 min read
Pact choice · Nightfold · first steps
Quick checklist: Ten habits in under a minute — see Beginner tips. This guide covers why and when for your first week.
Soulframe is a free-to-play third-person action RPG by Digital Extremes (creators of Warframe). You play as an Envoy — an exile returning to Midrath, a dying world being reclaimed by ancient nature and forgotten gods. Combat is melee-focused and deliberate, closer to a Soulslike than a looter-shooter.
You choose a Pact — your class — which defines your Arcanic abilities and Virtue scaling. Your starting Pact is not permanent. More Pacts unlock through story, factions, and Tuvalkane crafting after you recruit the Blacksmith (Bond 3 for pact items). Wyld variants are Founders Pack cosmetics with the same gameplay as Tethren, Sirin, or Oscelda. See All Pacts overview for the full list. Compare playstyles on the Pact tier list; each pact page notes Courage / Grace / Spirit community ratings in Virtue route reference. Before you commit resources, read How to choose a Pact.
The three Virtues are:
Preludes note: Soulframe is in Pre-Alpha. Numbers and systems change every update. Always verify stats in-game before committing resources.
In Soulframe, character creation is where you pick your Envoy's look and your first Pact — the class that sets your starting weapon and which Virtue (Courage, Grace, or Spirit) your early build leans toward. Appearance options (face, hair, and palette) are chosen at creation; you can revisit cosmetics later at Verminia once she joins your Nightfold. Hotfix 14 (Jul 29, 2026) fixed starting-hairstyle customization at Verminia and unlocked creation hairstyles for all Envoys — see the official patch notes if your look resets after an update.
Your first Pact is not permanent — more unlock through story and crafting — but it shapes your first hours. If you are unsure which Virtue or playstyle fits, read How to choose a Pact before you grind resources into the wrong weapon line. The main quest order shows when Fables like The Torment Stag open additional Pacts such as Garren Rood. Browse all options on the Pacts index — there is no single "best" starter, only what matches how you want to fight.
Soulframe does not hold your hand. Here is what to do the moment you are set loose in the open world.
1. Follow your Sparrow Press G (PC) at any time to summon your Sparrow — your bird companion and navigation guide. It leads you toward your current objective. When lost, summon it.
2. Recruit Tuvalkane immediately You cannot craft weapons, armour, or Pacts without your Blacksmith. Head east from the starting area to a crater filled with enemies. Clear the area, collect the helmet at the centre, then follow your Sparrow to the nearby forge. This unlocks Tuvalkane at your Nightfold. Step-by-step: Unlock Tuvalkane.
3. Start crafting as early as possible Every craft increases your Bond with Tuvalkane. Bond Level 3 is required to craft Pacts and higher-tier recipes. The sooner you start, the sooner you unlock better gear.
4. Talk to every NPC before leaving an area Some NPCs give permanent passive bonuses. Others unlock quests that cannot be triggered later. Exhaust all dialogue options — do not skip.
5. Use Spectral Sight in new areas Hold your Soul Mode key to enter Spectral Sight. It highlights interactable items, reveals hidden chests, shows Mote locations, and makes Smiting enemies possible. Habit checklist: Beginner tips §4.
After session one, aim for these milestones before mid-game dungeons.
| Priority | Goal | Why it matters | |----------|------|----------------| | 1 | Bond 1 → Bond 3 at Tuvalkane | Unlocks Pact item crafting and higher recipes | | 2 | The Last Pensive + Orlick | Codex and long-term Nightfold upgrades — see Main quest | | 3 | Gossamer Quartz stockpile | Needed for weapons and Garren Rood; route: Farming routes | | 4 | Nightfold second weapon slot | Mandatory before The Torment Stag | | 5 | Beat Torment Stag | Unlocks Garren Rood, Glades, and Factions | | 6 | Read Pact selection + tier list | Avoid mismatched Virtue investment | | 7 | Preview a mid-game build | Courage melee example: Ode Tempest melee |
Preludes 15 loot habits this week: Pick up whole 1–2★ weapons from barrels and crates (preview Craftwork/Tempers on the ground). Refine favourites via Chordstone refining. 3★ gear still uses fragments → craft at Tuvalkane. Respec Virtues free per loadout in Arsenal — no Virtue Lith.
Track rank and weapon XP pacing in Envoy leveling.
Virtues are your stats. Each weapon is attuned to one Virtue (Courage, Grace, or Spirit). Investing points into the matching Virtue increases your damage with that weapon. Always match your Virtue investment to your weapon's attunement — mismatched investment significantly reduces damage output.
Preludes 15: Virtue Lith is removed. Reallocate Courage / Spirit / Grace for free per loadout in Arsenal → Virtues — no consumable cost. Read Virtues explained before respeccing for a new weapon.
Your personal hub. Tuvalkane crafts gear here. Other Ancestors you recruit will also take up residence and offer services. Return here between sessions to craft and upgrade.
Glowing collectibles found throughout the world. Collecting a Mote unlocks the name of that location and adds a codex entry. Only one Mote spawns per area per in-game day — revisit regularly. History route: History Motes.
Dead trees with spears embedded in them. Pull the spear to clear fog of war in the surrounding area. Prioritise these early to reveal the map and unlock Wevetseed fast-travel to that tree. Full step-by-step, Wevetseed sources, and World Tree vs Enclave comparison: World Trees & Fast Travel.
Preludes 15: World Trees are still solo progression for fog and travel — there is no party finder on the tree itself.
Preludes 15: At Enclaves and World Trees you can see other Envoys, trade crafted gear, and use Dispatches mail. Party invites still happen through chat — see Multiplayer & co-op and Trading.
Magical abilities granted by your Pact. Each Pact has three Arcanics — one per Virtue (Courage, Spirit, Grace). You can equip and use Arcanics from other Virtues regardless of your Pact, but their effectiveness scales with the corresponding Virtue investment.
Touch a Revive Shrine to activate it as a respawn point. After you die, your spirit returns to the nearest activated shrine. You can also fly as your Sparrow to your fallen body and respawn in place. Activate every shrine you pass — they are your safety net in long Fables and dungeons.
Short optional objectives while exploring (similar to world events on other MMOs). Completing a Tale grants Pact and weapon XP plus materials or fragments. Examples in Dermak Undercity include Fell the Mighty and Spoilt Plunder. Check your Journal so you do not leave an area before finishing nearby Tales.
Large creatures you befriend through Fables (for example Orengall the wolf). They can appear at your Nightfold after you free them. Bonding is story-driven, not a mount system in early Preludes — treat them as long-term progression rewards rather than combat pets. Optional Graces (boons) from Omen Beasts and Ancestors were refreshed in P15 — see Omen Beast & Graces.
Most 1–2★ weapons now drop fully built with Craftwork and Tempers (preview on the ground). 3★ weapons still use fragments → craft at Tuvalkane. Improve favourites with Chordstone refining — separate from the metal Tempering queue at the Nightfold forge.
Gossamer Quartz is the primary rare crafting material in early game. You need it to craft weapons, armour, and some Pacts including Garren Rood. Do not spend it on armour cosmetics early — prioritise weapon crafting. Full route table: Farming routes.
Best sources (community catalog-aligned):
Skipping Tuvalkane — without the Blacksmith you cannot craft anything. Recruit her in the first 10 minutes.
Ignoring NPC dialogue — some NPCs give permanent passive bonuses or unlock quests that disappear if skipped.
Mismatching Virtue and weapon — check the attunement on every weapon before investing Virtue points.
Entering The Torment Stag underprepared — the fight begins immediately after defeating Lady Deora with no rest between phases. Unlock your Pact Arcanics and bring a weapon with a short recovery animation before attempting it.
Spending Gossamer Quartz on armour cosmetics — it is rare early. Save it for weapon and Pact crafting first.
Deleting old weapons before reading migration rules — Preludes 15 converts many crafted weapons to Stock or Noble quality; both can be refined. Read Preludes 15 notes before clearing inventory.
More one-liners: Beginner tips.
Your main progression path after the opening:
New to Preludes access? Start with joining the test.
See the early game progress guide for the full priority order and checklist.
Compare walkthroughs tagged as Getting started; this page is highlighted.
From catalog relations — follow-up topics for this guide.