End of Abyss Beginner Guide

1. Your pistol never runs out

The pulse pistol is always equipped and has infinite ammo. It drains as you fire and recharges on its own, so GameSpot compared it to a strange kind of stamina bar. You will never be left completely defenceless.

Hold the fire input to build a charged shot. It hits hard but briefly stops you from shooting, so time it rather than spamming it. Game Informer's previewer liked charging the pistol before walking into a room so they entered ready to fight.

The shotgun is the opposite: heavy close-range damage and knockback, but limited ammo and a slow rate of fire. Save it for tough enemies, crowds and emergencies. The full arsenal is on the weapons page.

2. Dodge, don't tank

End of Abyss has a dodge roll with no stamina cost, so you can roll as often as you need. MonsterVine said success depends on timing, spacing and staying calm rather than raw speed. GameSpot compared the rolls to those in Souls-likes.

There is also a sprint button, but aiming is less agile while sprinting. Sprinting will not always get you out of trouble in tight corridors, which is where most fights happen. Controls are covered on the controls page.

3. Scan everything

The Scanner is your most important tool, and MonsterVine called it the most important part of the demo. You can scan bodies, doors, elevators, terminals, desks, documents, weak walls and even enemies. Everything you scan appears on your map with its details.

Scanning a locked door tells you what opens it, such as a specific keycard. The developers designed the map so that you fill it in, and a more complete map means a more complete run. The Scanner guide explains every use.

4. Use flares

Flares light up dark areas, and some enemies are drawn to their red light. That lets you pull creatures away, then either shoot them while they are distracted or slip past entirely. GameSpot used flares exactly this way in its demo.

Flares are craftable and refillable at workbenches, so there is little reason to hoard them. The developers also confirmed a flashlight for the darkest areas, which tend to be basement levels.

5. Save points heal you, and bring enemies back

Save points sit in safe rooms, usually alongside a workbench. Resting at one saves your progress, restores your health and refills your limited healing items. GamingTrend noted that safe rooms can also act as an escape route from pursuing enemies.

The catch is that saving respawns most enemies in the world, as the developers confirmed in an official behind-the-scenes video. Plan your route between save points. Level designers place them at the start or end of loops, after shortcuts and close to bosses.

6. Death costs distance, not items

When you die you keep what you have found: items, documents, ammunition and doors you have unlocked. What you lose is the distance you travelled since your last save. Enemies you killed will be back.

Previewers stress that the game is hard and involves some trial and error. Expect to die a few times while learning an enemy's pattern, especially against bosses. See the boss guide for demo tactics.

7. Craft at the workbench

Fragments are the crafting currency, collected from enemy bodies, chests and the environment. At workbenches you spend them on ammunition, grenades, flares, new equipment and permanent upgrades. The pistol and shotgun were both upgradeable in the demos.

The developers say they prefer rewarding players with gear and upgrades over grinding for experience points. For spending priorities, read best upgrades.

8. Come back later

Many paths are sealed until you have the right tool. Previews mention ladders that need a tool to pull down, weak walls that need explosives, a flooded pool that is drained later, keycard doors and grappling hook points. Don't waste time forcing a route you can't open.

Tag these obstacles with the Scanner and move on. When you get the matching tool, your map already shows where to return. The map guide explains how the facility connects.

Common beginner mistakes

Previewers ran into the same problems in their first sessions. Knowing them in advance makes the opening hours smoother.

• Emptying the shotgun early. Shells are limited, so using them on weak enemies leaves you short for bosses.
• Forgetting that saving respawns enemies. Resting refills your healing, but the route ahead fills up again.
• Ignoring the map. The map only shows what you scan, so skipping the Scanner hides the way forward.
• Fighting in the dark. Flares and the flashlight make dark rooms much safer.
• Forcing locked routes. If a path needs a tool you don't have, tag it and move on.

Frequently asked questions

Is End of Abyss hard?

Yes, according to previewers. GameSpot called it hard and described some trial and error in combat, and enemies respawn when you save or die. The upside is that death never takes away the items or doors you have unlocked.

Does End of Abyss have experience points?

No. The developers chose to reward players with gear, upgrades and new equipment instead of grinding for experience points. Your character gets stronger through crafting at workbenches.

What should I craft first?

Early on, shotgun ammo and flares are the most useful purchases, because the pistol never runs out and flares let you avoid bad fights. Permanent upgrades to the pistol pay off in every encounter. See best upgrades.

Quick checklist before you descend

1. Charge your pistol before entering a new room.
2. Keep shotgun shells for bosses and crowds.
3. Scan every door, wall and body you pass.
4. Carry flares for dark rooms and escapes.
5. Rest at save points, but expect enemies to return.
6. Spend fragments at workbenches instead of hoarding them.

These tips come from press demos played before the October 1, 2026 launch. The final game may add systems that were not shown, and this guide will be updated once it is out.