Returnal: Beginner's Guide & Best Tips

Introduction — My Honest Take on Returnal

Yeah, this game can be brutal at first. I remember booting it up, dying to the first few enemies on Atropos, and thinking, "What did I just spend $70 on?" The respawn, the procedural rooms, the fact that you lose damn near everything on death — it feels like the game is personally insulting you. But here's the truth nobody tells you in the trailer: Returnal isn't a shooter, it's a dance. It's a rhythm game where the beat is gunfire and movement. Once you stop treating it like a cover-based third-person shooter and start moving like a coked-up rabbit on a sugar rush, the whole thing clicks.

What makes it special? The atmosphere is crushing in the best way. The sound design — that metallic ping when you overload a weapon, the wet crunch of a severed biome — it hooks into your lizard brain. And the story? It's cryptic, sad, and genuinely unsettling. I've got 200+ hours in this thing. I've platinumed it. I still don't know exactly what the hell happened, but I feel it. So if you're dying all the time, can't figure out where to go, or feel like you're wasting resources, stick with me. I'll fix all of that.

Why Players Struggle (Real Pain Points)

I've spent way too much time on the Returnal subreddit and Discord. These are the complaints I see every single day. I've felt every single one. Let's tear 'em apart.

"I keep dying and losing all my progress. What's the point?"

This was me for my first 15 hours. I'd find a god-rolled Hollowseeker with Portal Beam, get confident, then get two-shot by a Severed in biome 3. Full reset. Here's the thing: you don't lose everything. You keep your permanent upgrades — the Atropian Blade, the Grapnel, the data cubes. You keep weapon traits you've unlocked. And every death teaches you a pattern. The game isn't punishing you; it's training you. Stop looking at a run as "the run" and start seeing it as practice. I died 30 times before I beat the first boss. On run 31, I barely got hit. That's the Returnal curve.

"I can't find where to go. The map is confusing."

The map is intentionally messy — it mirrors Selene's fractured mental state. But here's the cheat code: look for the blue doors. Those are side paths, usually for upgrades or items. White doors are the critical path forward. If you're stuck, check every room on the current biome map. Sometimes the exit is a "hidden" room that requires a key or a grapple point you haven't unlocked yet. I spent an entire run circling biome 2 like an idiot because I missed a grapple hook spot behind a cliff. Also, the map color tells you if you've cleared a room: blue outline means it's done, grey means you missed something (or haven't entered). Use that.

"I waste all my health consumables and then get wrecked by a boss."

Classic mistake. I did it for 40 hours. You're hoarding silphium like it's gold, then you die with a full inventory of large vials. Rule of thumb: use small healing items as soon as you're at 75% health or less. Why? Because the game scales item drops based on your current integrity. If you're at full health, green resin becomes that resin that upgrades your max integrity (the ones with a green square icon). That's huge. So stop healing at the last second. Heal early, get bigger health bars. Boss fights become 50% easier when you max out your integrity early.

"The difficulty spike in biome 3 is impossible."

Biome 3 (the derelict citadel with the laser towers) is the first real DPS check. I rage-quit for three days. The solution is abuse the Carbine with the Leaching Rounds trait. It's a no-brainer. That gun heals you on every hit. Pair it with the Adrenaline Leech artifact (heals you at Adrenaline level 3+), and you become near-immortal in mob fights. Also, never stand still in biome 3. The big robots telegraph their laser with a red line — if you slide or dash the moment the line locks on, you'll avoid the hit. I practiced that in biome 1 for a solid hour.

"I don't understand the weapon traits. They seem random."

They're not random, but the game hides the info. Every weapon has a trait that unlocks after you use it enough (check your weapon UI — there's a progress bar). Once unlocked, that trait becomes permanently available for that weapon type in future runs. That's how you build a god-roll. Focus on unlocking traits on weapons you hate early on — like the Coilspine Shredder. It's trash until you unlock Shattering Discs and Enlarged Chamber, then it becomes a boss melter. I ignored it for 100 hours. Don't be me.

Getting Started / First Steps — What I Wish I Knew

I'm going to give you the 10 things that would have saved me 20 hours of frustration. Read this before your next run.

• Don't overthink the first hour. You die. You respawn. That's the point. The tutorial is functionally the first 10 deaths. Stop trying to "beat" it immediately. Instead, focus on learning enemy tells — the way a turret rotates, the flash before a host missile launches. Muscle memory matters more than gear.
• You can dash through projectiles. Not all of them, but most non-laser attacks. The Dash has invincibility frames for about half a second. Practice dashing into enemy bullets, not away from them. Sounds counterintuitive, but it lets you close distance and survive. I learned this when a big tentacle monster ganked me in biome 2 — I panic-dashed forward, crossed the bullet stream, and lived. I never stopped.
• Upgrade your melee. The sword hits hard. Fully charged, it one-shots most small enemies in biomes 1-3. Hold R1 (or whatever the melee button is) for a charged swing — it does 3x damage. It also breaks those glowing red resin objects for free integrity upgrades. Always melee those.
• Use the consumable slot wisely. You get one consumable slot early on. Don't stuff it with garbage like "Reconstructant" (which is a revive item) unless you're about to enter a boss fight. I prioritize the "Energy Barricade" — it's a deployable shield that blocks all bullets for 10 seconds. It trivializes projectile-heavy fights.
• Collect Ether early and often. Ether is the currency that persists through death. Spend it on the Cthonos (the golden orb in the hub) to get permanent items like the Astronaut Figurine (auto-revive). I wasted ether on random artifacts early. Don't. Save 6 ether for that figurine, then use the rest on the Cthonos.
• Weapons scale with your proficiency. If you rush through a biome without killing enemies, your weapon drops will be weak. Kill everything you see. The proficiency system means the harder you fight, the better gear you find. It's a "git gud" mechanic in disguise.
• Check the "Risky" paths. Rooms marked with a yellow indicator (side rooms with a question mark) often have high-value items like Artifacts or Weapon Chests. But they also have stronger enemies. If you're confident, take them. If you're at 10% health, skip them. I've died more times to FOMO than to bosses.
• Your Alt-Fire is your best friend. The alt-fire (L1) has a cooldown, but it's a game-changer. Use Shieldbreaker on enemies with armor (the big robots). Use Killing Blow for stagger. Use Doombringer on groups. Don't spam it — save it for when you're surrounded or need a clutch kill.
• The ship heals you. In biome 1, your crashed ship has a bed that restores all health and removes malfunction once per visit. I went 30 hours without using it. Don't be me. If you're hurting, go back to the ship. It's a free checkpoint.
• Reset your cycles strategically. If you start a run and the first weapon is a Wetfire Cell (literally the worst gun), you can just restart the cycle. Hold options — there's a "Restart Cycle" button. I use it when the first room has garbage gear or a terrible weapon. Saves time.

Expert Tips & Tricks — The Stuff You Only Learn After Hours

These are the deep cuts. The things that separate "surviving" from "dominating." I've tested all of these personally. Some are borderline exploits.

• The Electropylon Driver is the most overpowered weapon in the game. I'm not exaggerating. It shoots pylon stakes that chain lightning between connected targets. At level 30, with the "Pylon Web" trait, you can lay down 6 stakes in a circle and kill an entire room without firing a bullet. It also deals constant damage over time. I beat biome 5 (the hardest area) using nothing but this gun. Bosses? They melt. If you see an Electropylon Driver, take it. Immediately. It has 85 base DPS, but the pylon effect effectively doubles that.
• Adrenaline is the most underrated mechanic. Every kill builds your Adrenaline level (up to 5). Level 5 gives +15% weapon damage, +15% movement speed, and reveals enemy health bars. If you get hit, you lose one level. Don't get hit. That sounds obvious, but build your playstyle around avoiding damage at all costs, even if it means slower kills. Agro is not your friend. Play like a glass cannon that never breaks.
• Use the "Retrotransmitter" consumable in biome 3. It's a device that sends you back to a safe zone if you die in the next 30 seconds. Sounds niche, but in biome 3, where one laser tower can insta-kill you from across the map, it's a lifesaver. Pop it before you jump into a room with drones and turrets. You'll thank me.
• Weapon traits are ranked. Not all traits are equal. For the Hollowseeker, Portal Beam is S-tier (summons a beam that shoots enemies). Retarget is F-tier (lets bullets bounce to another enemy once — useless). For the Carbine, Leaching Rounds and Rising Pitch are S-tier. Static Lance (increased hip-fire accuracy) is garbage. Learn the tiers. I have a mental list: S: Leaching Rounds, Portal Beam, Pylon Web, Doombringer. A: Killing Blow, Shieldbreaker, Voidbeam. Everything else is filler until you find better.
• You can skip the first boss entirely. Not recommended for first playthrough, but if you're trying to speedrun or just need to unlock biome 2, you can avoid Phrike (biome 1 boss) by not opening the boss room door. The biome 2 portal is available after you find the key item. I'm telling you this because after 20 deaths to Phrike, I needed a mental break. It's valid.
• The grapple hook is invincibility. When you use the grapple to fly between points, you are completely immune to damage during the animation. Use this to dodge massive boss attacks. In biome 3, the flying drones love to spam missiles — if you grapple from one platform to another mid-fight, you'll dodge everything. I abuse this constantly.
• Malfunctions (negative statuses) can be cleared instantly. If you get a malfunction, the game gives you a random task like "kill 10 enemies without taking damage" or "collect 50 obolites." But if you have a Shattering Resin (a special item), you can instantly cure it. Always carry one Shattering Resin for emergency. You find them in side rooms. I keep one in my consumable slot at all times after biome 2.
• The boss rush mode (if you have the DLC) is a goldmine. The "Tower of Sisyphus" DLC has a separate endless mode. You don't lose anything when you die there. Use it to unlock weapon traits super fast. I unlocked every trait for the Hollowseeker in 2 hours of tower runs. It's a grind-free zone.
• Parasites are usually traps. The ones that give "damage on hit" in exchange for "reduced protection" sound good. They're not. Protection is more valuable than damage. Never take a parasite that reduces max integrity unless it gives something godly (like "astronaut revive" or "shattering resin auto-use"). I lose 90% of my runs to parasite-induced greed.
• Use the audio cues. Returnal uses 3D audio masterfully. If you hear a low rumble, a miniboss is nearby. If you hear chattering, it's a nest of small enemies. High-pitched whine? A turret. I close my eyes sometimes and listen. It saved me from ambushes more times than I can count.

Common Mistakes to Avoid — Don't Be Me

I've made every mistake in this game. I want you to learn from my failures. These are the bonehead moves that cost me runs.

• Holding down the trigger. Returnal rewards burst firing. Most weapons (especially the Carbine and Hollowseeker) have a reticle bloom — if you hold down fire, accuracy drops drastically. Tap-fire for ranged combat. I learned this when I missed 12 shots on a stationary turret and died. Tap in 3-round bursts at mid-range. Your accuracy stat on the post-run screen will shoot up.
• Ignoring protection. Protection is the stat that reduces incoming damage. A single +10% protection artifact (like the "Anguish" artifact) reduces the damage of a Severed melee hit from 80% HP to 40% HP. Stack protection. I aim for 25%+ protection before any boss fight. It's better than max integrity in many cases.
• Opening chests at low proficiency. Weapon chests scale with your current proficiency. If you open a gold chest at proficiency 5, you get a level 5 weapon. If you wait until proficiency 10, it's a level 10 weapon. Don't open chests early in a biome. Kill enemies to raise proficiency first, then open chests. I ruined a run by opening a chest with a level 5 Spitmaw when I could have had a level 12 later.
• Forgetting to use the "Reconstructant." There are white alien reconstructors in each biome. They cost 6 Ether to activate. Once active, if you die, you respawn in that reconstructor with your current weapon and items. This is a free revive. I died with 9 ether and didn't use it. Then I died 3 times to the biome 3 boss and had to re-run the entire biome. Activate it every run.
• Rushing through biomes for the boss. The boss is balanced assuming you have at least 150% integrity, a level 10+ weapon, and some artifacts. If you sprint through rooms to get to the boss, you'll be underleveled. Clear 80% of the biome before the boss door. The map tells you if a room is unvisited. I once beat Phrike with 70% health and a level 3 pistol. I got one-shot. Clear the map first.
• Not switching weapons often. You have two weapon slots. If you find a higher-level weapon, switch immediately, even if you love your current gun. A level 20 Tachyomatic Carbine is better than a level 15 Hollowseeker. Weapon traits matter, but raw level matters more early. Swap freely.
• Over-relying on the alt-fire. The alt-fire is strong but has a long cooldown (10-15 seconds). If you spam it, you'll waste it on small enemies. Save alt-fire for armored enemies, bosses, or groups of 3+. I once alt-fired a single tree enemy. Don't be that person.
• Ignoring the "Ophion" in biome 4. There's a giant creature that you can kill for a free Artifact and 200 Obolites. It's in the pool of water after the first teleporter. Dive down and shoot it. I missed it for 10 hours. It's a free boost.
• Not using the "Permanent Weapon Trait" system. Every time you unlock a trait, it's available forever for that weapon type. Purposely use weak weapons in the early biomes to unlock their traits faster. I spent 5 hours using a shitty Coilspine just to unlock "Shattering Discs." Now it's a god-tier weapon. Grind traits early.
• Getting attached to a run. You will die. It will hurt. The game knows. The story actually rewards you for dying (you see new cutscenes). So don't rage quit. Breathe, reset, and remember: death is a mechanic, not a failure. I died to the final boss (Ophion) 14 times. On the 15th, I beat him without taking damage. The game makes you earn it.

FAQ

Q: Is there a save feature? I always lose progress.

A: Yes, but it's limited. The game has a Suspend Cycle feature in the settings. You can suspend the cycle once per run — it pauses and saves the state. Then you can close the game and come back later. It's not a manual save, but it stops the "I lost 3 hours of progress" pain. Use it before boss fights.

Q: Does the game have a secret ending? How do I get it?

A: Oh, absolutely. There are three main endings: Act 1 (beat biomes 1-3), Act 2 (beat biomes 4-6), and a "true" ending. For the true ending, you need to collect all 6 sunface fragments — one in each biome (including the two in biome 5 and 6). They're in specific rooms. Then go back to the house in biome 4. It's cryptic, but the true ending changes everything. I cried. No spoilers.

Q: What's the best weapon for each biome?

A: Biome 1 (Overgrown Ruins): Carbine with Leaching Rounds. It's reliable. Biome 2 (Crimson Wastes): Hollowseeker with Portal Beam. The open spaces need range. Biome 3 (Derelict Citadel): Electropylon Driver — it locks down the flying drones. Biome 4 (Echoing Ruins): Dreadbound (returns to you after hitting enemies) — but only if you have the "Explosive Shots" trait, otherwise it's trash. Biome 5 (Fractured Wastes): Rotgland Lobber — the DoT is king against the teleporting zombies. Biome 6 (Abyssal Scar): Coilspine Shredder with Enlarged Chamber — those long corridors need a sniper.

Q: How do I beat the three flying drones in biome 3?

A: Those are the worst enemy in the game. I hate them. Strategy: use the grappling hook constantly. Grapple between platforms to make them miss their tracking shots. Then focus one down at a time — they don't share health. The Electropylon Driver's pylon webs insta-kill them if you connect two. If you have the Doombringer alt-fire, use it on a group. And never dash backward — dash forward through their projectiles. You'll close the gap and survive.

Q: Is the DLC (Tower of Sisyphus) worth it?

A: Hell yes. It's $20, and it adds an endless mode that's pure, focused combat. No story interruptions. No map navigating. Just room after room of enemies, with leaderboards. It also has unique weapon traits (like "Doombringer Plus") and a new boss. If you love the combat but hate the roguelike grind, the DLC is a godsend. I've put 60 hours into the tower alone.

Q: I can't beat Phrike (first boss). Tips?

A: Phrike is a skill check, not a gear check. His moves are telegraphed. Phase 1: Melee charge (dodge forward), blue projectile bursts (dash through them), a red laser sweep (jump over it). Phase 2: He adds a green ring that expands from him — jump over it or dash through the gap. Phase 3: He spams the ring attack and a triple laser. Stay close to him — the lasers are easier to dodge up close. Use the Carbine or Rotgland Lobber. Bring an "Energy Barricade" for phase 3. And practice the dash timing in biome 1 before the fight. I beat him with 0 deaths after 20 practice runs. You can too.

Q: My game crashes sometimes. Normal?

A: Yes, unfortunately. Returnal is known for occasional crashes on PC and even PS5. The Suspend Cycle feature is your insurance. If you crash, you resume from the suspend point. I've had 3 crashes in 200 hours. Annoying, but not run-ending if you use the feature. Also, turn off "Ray Tracing" on PC if you have performance issues. The game is a beauty hog.

Q: What's the most important thing you wish you knew from day one?

A: That the game isn't about winning. It's about the loop. Every death feels like a loss, but it's actually a data point. You learn one enemy pattern, one weapon trait, one room layout. Then suddenly, you're not dying anymore. You're flowing. And when you finally beat the last boss, you'll feel like you've actually earned something. That doesn't happen in many games. So stick with it. And for the love of God, use the Electropylon Driver.