Fallen Tear: The Ascension beginner path
Use the opening milestones as a checklist. Selected early quests have guide points; Rare Hunt contracts add boss markers. The teleport item returns you to visited Hedwynn Roots, and 1.0.3 removes Korr Shard loss on death.
You are not late. 1.0 rebuilt the opening on purpose. If you are coming from Early Access, start a new file.
Opening checklist for the full release
| Step | Why it matters | How you know you did it |
|---|---|---|
| Wake up | Tutorial gate | Achievement "You're Finally Awake" |
| Beat Apex Minikin | First named hunt | "Fall of the Protector" (~80% of players) |
| Recruit one Fated Bond | Combat and story both change | "Bound by Fate" |
| Grab an Ancient Text | Progression currency, not flavor | "Whispers of the Past" |
| Reach the Alps town | First real hub | "First Step, Alps" (~20%) |
Use these as milestones, not a mandatory order inferred from achievement percentages. The full release gives the opening more freedom than Early Access, while the current map guidance points towards important progression and traversal skills.
Find your next objective on 1.0.3
Open the map after speaking to progression NPCs and follow the early-game guide points. 1.0.2 introduced indicators for selected early quests; 1.0.3 expanded that system through the opening so players can reach the Ascension skills needed for later areas. Quest guidance is available now, rather than an unreleased roadmap promise.
Keep three map tools separate:
| Tool | How it appears | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Early progression indicator | Advance the relevant NPC conversation | The next story or traversal-skill task |
| Rare Hunt location | Buy the Rare Hunt contract | Finding that contract's boss |
| Your own map pin | Place a personal reminder | A blocked door, collectible or return route |
If a hunt boss is not marked, check whether you bought its contract. If a movement gate stops you, return to the current progression marker instead of assuming every nearby wall can be crossed with the skills you already own. The map guide covers specific doors and routes.
Backtrack with the map and protect your budget
The teleport item added in 1.0.2 lets Hira travel from outside a shrine. Open the map from the main menu or Quick Access Map, select a previously visited Hedwynn's Root, then hold its icon to teleport. A location you have not visited is a different problem; the item is not a way to open every shrine on the map.
On 1.0.3, dying no longer removes Korr Shards from your current balance, and the maximum teleport cost is half its former amount. A boss retry therefore does not require the old shard-recovery detour. Teleporting is cheaper, not universally free: check the cost shown for the trip you are making.
What 1.0 changed from Early Access
The studio said this out loud in the 1.0 launch post:
- The opening is more open. EA was semi-linear.
- Quests, economy, and the leveling curve were rebuilt.
- EA saves may load, then fail later. They want you on a fresh file.
If a YouTube "full walkthrough" is dated before 23 September 2026, treat the route as stale. Use it for boss names, not for "go here next".
Controls and performance
Full game: keyboard and controller, remapping is in. 60 FPS and 4K are on the FAQ. Ultrawide is not. Steam threads already report frame stutter; that is a player report, not a patch note. Neither 1.0.1 nor 1.0.2 claims a stutter fix.
FAQ
Should I keep my EA save? The studio says start over.
How long is the first town? There is no official minute count. The achievement data says most people have the first boss and a Bond before they have the Alps town.
Is there a map marker for the next quest? Yes. The early progression indicators introduced in 1.0.2 were expanded in 1.0.3; buying a Rare Hunt contract also marks its boss. Personal pins remain separate from those quest indicators.
Update details: 1.0.2 teleport and map changes and 1.0.3 progression and shard rules.
