With Wildgate now in open beta, many players are jumping in without knowing just how much depth the game offers. After spending several hours winning matches solo and unlocking every character in under two hours, here’s a detailed breakdown of over 20 essential tips every beginner should know to gain an advantage early.
Watch for Match Hazards and Artifact Risks
Before each match, check the condition screen to prepare for hazards like rogue turrets or leech swarms. If missed, press M to view them on the map. Picking up the Artifact grants healing through ICE usage but also reveals your location to every player on the server. Unless your team is prepared, it’s often smarter to leave it alone.
Master Ship Maintenance and Loadout Placement
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Fires on your ship matter—each one deals damage and spreads. Extinguish them fast to avoid health loss.
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When docking, rotate your ship with shields up. It makes focused attacks harder.
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Position hardpoints logically. Minefields should go at the back, Laser Rams in front. Reverse placements often indicate an inexperienced crew.
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If you’re down a player, your ship will auto-ICE. Two players down also means faster respawns. These stack when solo.
Boarding Strategies and Combat Advantage
When boarding an enemy ship:
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Skip the reactor—it deals minor damage and is easy to counter.
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Instead, disable their shields via helm controls and crash their ship into asteroids if possible.
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Uninstall cannons and hardpoints. Use teleport to return to your ship with their equipment.
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Snipe ship components: hit cannons, engines, helm, and hardpoints. Projectiles can be shot mid-air if you’re accurate.
Probing, Resource Gathering, and Smart Piloting
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When probing, check the enemy’s fuel and ICE count from your HUD. If your numbers are higher, press the advantage.
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Drop your shields when flying to boost speed, but always re-enable them before docking.
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Use the emergency brake when stopping your ship. Avoid erratic motion that could send it into an asteroid.
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Collect ICE and fuel from red/blue asteroids when idle. Use turbines to reach far-off clusters—essential in longer matches.
Use Every Prospector’s Strength
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K can steal turrets and helm control through windows.
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Ion can reload instantly by weapon switching and fight from outside ships using melee.
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S converts junk parts into useful materials at the refiner.
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Adrian uses a jetpack to quickly collect scattered parts.
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Venture excels in long, oxygen-depleting missions due to infinite breath.
Choose based on your team’s needs and the current match layout.
Looting, Cannons, and Aftermath Tactics
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After destroying a ship, grab the core to add +10 HP to your own.
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Collect everything: ICE, ammo, fuel, turrets, and turbines (which drop from engines).
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Stack scatter cannons near each gun station for emergency use.
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Use Starlance for ship damage, not just PvP. It pierces shields, walls, and key components like helms and cannons.
If your ship explodes, survival is still possible. Escape the blast fast enough and you can continue fighting solo. You might even grab the Artifact and race to the Wildgate—just be ready for a final test of skill and oxygen supply.
Most of the early mistakes seen in Wildgate come from ignoring mechanics the tutorial doesn’t explain. Learn to teleport loot, apply pressure strategically, and optimize ship layout to gain an edge. Whether you’re queuing solo or with a crew, these fundamentals will keep your ship intact and your scoreboard strong.
