Start Here · New Player
Don't skip Step 2. Your Pact determines which weapons you can wield — picking wrong makes the mid-game miserable.
Best if you just installed Preludes 15 and have not unlocked Tuvalkane or picked a long-term Pact yet. Finish all four steps before you grind rare weapons — the checklist is ordered so you do not lock yourself out of crafting.
Your Pact is your character identity — it determines your Virtue attribute, available weapon types, and signature skills. For beginners, Ode Tempest (high damage / melee, forgiving) or Sirin (ranged / flexible, good for players who prefer distance) are the safest picks. You can respec at Nightfold later, but early materials are scarce — choose thoughtfully.
Find Tuvalkane at the Nightfold forge and craft your starter weapon. The materials can be found in containers throughout the opening area of Midrath. Don't skip this — the default weapon has too little damage to comfortably clear Bosses.
Nightfold is your home base — crafting, Pact skills, material storage, and quests all happen here. The main story will guide you to unlock it naturally; don't skip the story dialogue. Once unlocked, talk to all three NPCs — Tuvalkane, Orlick, and Orengall — to trigger the rest of the unlock chain.
Recommended first Boss: Kabocha (Midrath overworld Boss, no prerequisites, drops Basker's Wrest Fragment). Make sure you've crafted your weapon (Step 2) before attempting — the fight drags badly with the default weapon. After killing it, start your Agari timer — Kabocha respawns in 30 minutes and is the first stop on early farm loops.