Returnal is a thrilling but challenging roguelike exclusive to the PS5. Mastering its core mechanics early on will make your journey through Atropos far more rewarding—and a lot less frustrating. This guide covers 10 essential tips every beginner should know to survive longer and progress faster.

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1. Master Weapon Proficiency

Weapon proficiency determines the strength of the weapons you find.

• Gain proficiency by defeating enemies and collecting blue items.
• Higher proficiency = stronger weapons with better traits.
• Dying resets proficiency to zero, so you’ll need to rebuild it each run.
• In Biome 2, a special item gives a +5 proficiency boost, helping you skip the early grind.

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2. Choose Weapons Wisely

Not all weapons are equal. Focus on those with high damage and effective alt-fire.

• Prioritize traits like Bonus Damage or Armor Piercing.
• Strong alt-fires include Shockstream and Void Beam for area control.
• Avoid using the basic pistol unless it has exceptional traits.

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3. Use Ether Strategically

Ether is a rare resource that carries over between runs.

• Don’t waste Ether on cleansing malignant items early on.
• Save it to unlock artifacts at the start of new runs.
• Use Nullification Spheres later to remove multiple malfunctions at once.

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4. Prioritize Objectives Early

Exploring is fun, but it’s more effective to push main objectives early on.

• Completing key milestones unlocks permanent equipment like melee and teleporters.
• These tools drastically improve future runs.
• Use the map wisely—head through light blue doors and skip V-shaped side doors unless you’re well-equipped.

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5. Spend Obolites Wisely

Obolites (yellow currency) are easy to collect but easy to waste.

• Avoid spending them on random consumables.
• Prioritize healing items, shields, and upgrades that improve your survivability.
• Items labeled “Won’t let you go” revive you once and are incredibly valuable.

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6. Master Overload Reloading

Overload allows you to reload instantly with perfect timing.

• Hold the fire button rather than tapping to prepare for overload.
• Practice with high-rate weapons like the pistol to learn the timing.
• A successful overload means more uptime and more damage in combat.

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7. Use Melee Effectively

The melee weapon is strong, fast, and perfect for breaking through enemy defenses.

• It can kill many enemies in one or two hits.
• Use it to destroy red shields around certain foes.
• Melee strikes target where you’re facing, not where you’re moving—aim with intent.

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8. Know When to Fight

Engaging at the right moment can mean the difference between a clean fight or a reset.

• In large combat rooms, stay near the door and pick enemies off slowly.
• Yellow doors lock you in—only enter when you’re confident.
• Always sprint and stay mobile to avoid incoming attacks.

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9. Look for Breakable Walls

Some walls hide valuable loot like artifacts and data cubes.

• Watch for walls that look slightly cracked or out of place.
• Data cubes unlock new items but must be deposited at special terminals after boss fights.
• You can only carry one at a time—use it wisely.

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10. Prepare for Boss Fights

Bosses are major challenges that demand preparation.

• Stock up on healing and make sure your health bar is full.
• Equip a strong weapon with familiar traits and alt-fire.
• Consider exploring more if you’re not ready—there’s no shame in farming before the fight.

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Final Thoughts

Returnal is all about learning from failure and making steady progress. With these 10 tips, you’ll reduce your early frustrations and build the foundation for deeper runs. Prioritize upgrades, experiment with weapons, and don’t forget to play smart.

Good luck out there—escape the cycle, and conquer Atropos.

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