Void Survivors Beginner's Guide
Essential tips to help you survive longer and score higher
First Things First
VOID SURVIVORS is a simple game mechanically but offers surprising depth in strategy. If you are reading this because you keep dying in the first few waves, do not worry — everyone does at first. The tips below will help you understand the fundamentals and push deeper into the game.
The Best Starting Upgrades
Your first few upgrade choices determine the trajectory of your run. Here is what to prioritize as a beginner:
🛡 Nanite Repair Siphon
This is the single most important upgrade for new players. Health regeneration keeps you alive during extended fights and reduces the pressure to avoid every hit. Even one stack makes a noticeable difference. Two stacks make you essentially unkillable during early waves.
👁 Optic Array Expansion
Range is survival. More range means you engage enemies sooner, giving you more time to react and position. It also means enemies die before they get close enough to swarm you. This is your second priority as a beginner.
⚡ Hypercharge Ammunition
Damage is the best defense. Enemies that die faster cannot hurt you. Prioritize this after you have at least one regen and one range upgrade.
Positioning and Movement
Positioning is the most important skill in VOID SURVIVORS. Here are the core principles:
- Stay near center. The center of the grid gives you the most escape options. Corners and edges limit your movement and make you vulnerable to being surrounded.
- Move in circles. A wide circular path is more effective than back-and-forth strafing. It distributes enemy aggro and prevents clustering.
- Never stop moving. Even slow, small movements disrupt enemy targeting and prevent you from being an easy target.
- Watch your flanks. Enemies spawn from all directions. Do not focus entirely on one side — glance at the mini-map (your peripheral vision of the full field) frequently.
Understanding Enemy Waves
New waves begin every 45 seconds. When a wave transitions, you will see "WAVE X" on your HUD. At this moment:
- Existing enemies do not disappear — the difficulty compounds
- New enemies spawn at the edges of the grid
- Elites (purple) join starting at Wave 3
- Bosses (crimson) join starting at Wave 6
- Enemy HP and speed increase with each wave
See our Enemy Guide for detailed stats on each enemy type and how wave scaling works.
When to Prioritize Damage vs. Survival
A common question is whether to build for damage or defense. The answer depends on the wave:
- Waves 1-3 (Early): Prioritize survival. One Nanite Repair + one Optic Array makes these waves trivial.
- Waves 4-6 (Mid): Shift toward damage. Enemies start to have meaningful HP, and you need to kill them before they overwhelm you.
- Waves 7+ (Late): Balance both. You need enough regen to sustain through constant damage and enough DPS to clear enemies before they stack up.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Standing still. Even for a second, standing still allows enemies to close the gap. Keep your fingers on WASD at all times.
- Ignoring XP orbs. Every missed orb is delayed level progress. Circle back to collect orbs when it is safe.
- Over-prioritizing damage. Pure damage builds die when enemies get close. Always take at least one survival upgrade.
- Getting cornered. The edges of the grid are death zones. If you find yourself near an edge, immediately move toward center.
- Not preparing for Bosses. At Wave 6, a Boss appears. If you have zero damage upgrades by this point, you will struggle to kill it before it reaches you.