Getting started8 min read
How to Choose a Pact
Virtue fit · early vs late unlocks · loadout identity
How to Choose a Pact
Your Pact is the closest thing Soulframe has to a "class." It defines three Arcanic skills (see your Pact page), shapes which Virtue investments feel best, and pairs with specific weapon families. You can swap loadouts freely, but each Pact is a long-term identity — pick one that matches how you want to fight for the next dozen hours.
Virtues map to Pact slots
Every Pact exposes three Arcanics tied to Courage, Spirit, and Grace (in that order). Your point totals should support the weapons you plan to use:
| Virtue | Typical weapons | Pact role | |--------|-----------------|----------| | Courage | Long blades, heavy, polearms, shields | First Arcanic | | Spirit | Magick staves | Second Arcanic | | Grace | Bows, short blades, rapiers | Third Arcanic |
Read Combat mechanics for attunement pips, parry timing, and Combat Arts before you lock points in.
Early Pacts (available after tutorial)
These three appear in the first hours and suit different playstyles:
Tethren — melee bruiser
- High Life from Courage; strong front-line sustain
- Good with long blades and heavy weapons
- Sample build: Tethren melee bruiser
Sirin — Grace assassin
- Bows, short blades, stealth finishers
- Third Arcanic scales with Grace — invest accordingly
- Sample build: Sirin grace stealth
Oscelda — Spirit caster
- Magick staff scaling; crowd control and support
- Spirit also reduces Arcanic cooldowns globally
- Sample build: Oscelda spirit support
Practical rule: match your starter weapon's Virtue pips (Wulder, Thistle, Gwylen) on day one, then commit to the Pact that shares that Virtue focus.
Mid-game unlock — Garren Rood
Unlocked after The Torment Stag. Spirit-heavy control, summons, and faction systems. Requires Gossamer Quartz to craft the pact item — farm before you commit.
- Sample build: Garren spirit control
- Pairs with elite hunting once Agari are on the map
Endgame Ode line — Ode Tempest
Tied to the Oden weapon tree and Tempering in Preludes 14.5. Expect Courage melee with Sinecure-themed gear and longer craft queues. See Oden & Tempering and the Duelo beat in Main quest before you respec everything for Ode.
- Sample build: Ode Tempest melee
Decision checklist
- Weapon family you enjoy — attunement beats flavor text
- Solo vs group — Garren and Oscelda bring more control/support
- Craft budget — Garren Rood and Oden lines eat rare metals
- Second weapon slot — unlock Nightfold weapon swap before Torment Stag
- Experiment in Arsenal — Virtue Lith lets you respec Virtues; Pact choice is slower to undo
Related reading
- Beginner's guide — Nightfold, Tuvalkane, Sparrow systems
- Combat mechanics — parry, finishers, Combat Arts
- Early game progress — quest order through Torment Stag
Related links
Guides in this stage
Compare walkthroughs tagged as Getting started; this page is highlighted.
| Guide | Read time | Tags |
|---|---|---|
| How to Choose a Pact | 8 min read | pact · virtue · build |
| Beginner's guide | 10 min read | basics · pact · nightfold |
| Combat Mechanics & Virtue System | 15 min read | virtue · parry · dodge |
| Soulframe Beginner Tips — 10 Best Practices | 5 min read | basics · tips |
| How Virtues Work in Soulframe | 5 min read | virtue · system |
| How Leveling Works in Soulframe | 5 min read | leveling · progression |
| How to Unlock Tuvalkane the Blacksmith | 4 min read | tuvalkane · crafting |
| How to Reveal Location Names on the Map | 4 min read | exploration · motes |
| All Pacts in Soulframe and Their Skills | 6 min read | pact · arcanic |
| Dermak Undercity Dungeon Guide | 5 min read | dungeon · dermak · early-game |
Related guides
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