Full-Run Progression Cheatsheet
The whole run on one page. Region by region: level band, the Flame level to raise, and the boss head that unlocks it.
At a glance
| What gates you | Flame Altar level. Raise it with boss heads plus Shroud Cores and resources. |
| What each Flame level gives | Higher global stats, a longer Shroud timer, more altars, and passage into the next region. |
| Soft order | Region level bands. Enemies out-level you if you skip ahead, so back-fill. |
| Two altar tracks | ”Strengthening the Flame” raises Flame level. A separate track expands base build size with Shroud Cores, capped at 3. |
The run, region by region
Level bands and Flame gates are approximate; sources differ by a few levels on the upper bounds.
| # | Region | Level / Flame | Then raise Flame with |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Springlands | 1 to 10, Flame 1 to 2 | Rescue the core craftsmen here first |
| 2 | Revelwood | 10 to 15, Flame 3 | Scavenger Matron head to Flame 3 |
| 3 | Nomad Highlands | 15 to 20, Flame 4 | Fell Wispwyvern head (at The Pike) to Flame 4 |
| 4 | Kindlewastes | 20 to 30, Flame 5 to 6 | Fell Monstrosity to 5, Fell Sicklescythe to 6 |
| 5 | Albaneve Summits | 30 to 40, Flame 6 to 8 | Highest-tier crafting; Fell Cyclops and Fell Dragon Youngling |
| 6 | Veilwater Basin | 35 to 45, Flame 8 to 9 | Hydrak’Dal head to Flame 9 |
Flame level 8 was the practical cap through Update 7. Flame level 9 is the newest top tier and needs the Hydrak’Dal head. The exact ceiling has shifted across patches, so treat it with mild caution.
Craftsmen to rescue (mostly Springlands)
Rescue them in any order. The game nudges you toward the Blacksmith first.
| Order | Survivor | Unlocks |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blacksmith (Oswald Anders) | Melee weapons and armor, smelting |
| 2 | Hunter (Athalan Skree) | Ranged armor, arrows, survival gear |
| 3 | Alchemist (Balthazar) | Magic armor, potions, concoctions |
| 4 | Carpenter (Cade Hawthorn) | Wood building, furniture, decor |
| 5 | Farmer (Emily Fray) | Cooking, farming, animal taming |
| 6 | Collector (Alden Crowley) | Mystical and dark furniture, special-energy foods (late unlock, in a Hollow Halls dungeon) |
Do this in order
- Land in the Springlands, build a base around the Flame Altar, set your spawn.
- Rescue the core five craftsmen so nearly all crafting opens up.
- Clear Elixir Wells and Shroud Roots for Shroud materials; a Fell Thunderbrute often guards a well and drops a Shroud Core.
- Kill the region boss, take its head, and raise the Flame Altar the moment you have the head plus materials.
- Move to the next region only when your Flame level and gear match its level band.
- Keep three food buffs active and build for Comfort to hold the Rested buff.
Watch out for
- The Shroud timer. Dying in the fog sends you back to your altar. Do not push deep until Flame level and gear support it.
- Hard-skipping regions. You can wander ahead, but Flame gates tied to region quests lock you out of mid-tier crafting until you back-fill.
- Letting the Flame Altar lag. It is the gate for both power and access, so upgrade it as soon as you can.
Related
The Springlands deep guide covers the starting loop. For the later tiers see late regions and the boss and threat structure.