Early waves set up the run. Surviving them with materials banked is more important than early kills.
Why this matters
Dying before wave 5 ends the run; playing safe early funds a stronger late game.
Step-by-step
- Buy a weapon and your first damage or HP stat on wave 1.
- Stay central to break crates and collect materials.
- Do not over-fight — collect and let your weapon do work.
- Add Max HP to 50 before pushing damage.
- Use rerolls only if you lack a weapon.
What to prioritize
- A weapon first
- Central positioning
- HP to 50
- Material collection
- Safe play
Common mistakes
- Fighting instead of collecting
- No HP early
- Wasting rerolls
The first five waves fund the run, so survival beats kills. Grab a weapon, stay central, and break every crate you pass on the loop. Do not fight when you could be collecting; the materials compound into late-game power.
Get HP to 50 before the first damage-heavy wave arrives. A quiet opening with full pockets beats a aggressive one that dies at wave 3 with nothing banked.
A quiet opening with full pockets beats an aggressive one that dies at wave 3. Grab a weapon, stay central, break every crate, and get HP to 50 before the first heavy wave arrives. Materials collected early compound into tier-two weapons by wave 8. Patience here buys the whole run.
Materials collected early compound into tier-two weapons by wave 8, which pays for the whole run.