Quick answer
Separate within-run growth from the options unlocked between attempts. Hotfix 0.9.10 also makes module and artifact unlock counts award additional rerolls, so collection progress can affect future choices.
What develops during a run
The run loop combines consumption, module upgrades, and larger encounters. The official press kit says boss victories contribute to further castle growth. Your immediate priorities concern the fortress you are currently driving and the choices available now.
Do not assume every temporary state is permanent. A stronger attack, a larger castle, or a resource count inside a run does not by itself establish what will be present when another attempt begins.
What unlocks between attempts
Official materials identify modules and vehicles as between-run unlocks, and the Steam description also includes artifacts and captains among the options that widen future strategies. These systems expand what you can choose; they should not all be treated as a single permanent-stat increase.
| System | Confirmed progress |
|---|---|
| Modules | More equipment choices |
| Captains | More character choices |
| Artifacts | More options and unlock-based rerolls |
| Vehicles | More player platforms |
For a specific name, use the database.
Unlock-based rerolls in 0.9.10
The September 12 UTC announcement adds one New Module Reroll for each six unlocked modules and one Artifact Reroll for each six unlocked artifacts. These are the exact categories named by the update.
The practical significance is that collection breadth can provide additional choice, rather than only adding another candidate item.
Do not extend the rule to captains or vehicles; the announcement names modules and artifacts. See the 0.9.10 summary for the surrounding changes.
Difficulty is not just a different biome name
Official notes mention Grassland difficulties 1, 2, and 3, and Dark Forest difficulties 2 and 3. They identify Meadows as Grassland Difficulty 2. Those labels help distinguish the environment from a particular challenge variant.
Do not substitute an assumed order from a genre convention. Check the current game’s requirement when choosing the next objective.
If a guide says a region became easier, look at the specified difficulty. The biome records preserve that context.
Wins, overtime, and achievements
A normal win and an overtime attempt should be recorded separately. The September 10 achievement announcement discussed win checks that did not trigger when a player continued into overtime. The later 0.9.9 notes report fixes for the First Win and All Biomes Won achievements.
That chronology matters: an older report of a missing achievement is not proof that the issue is still present in the current build. If your result looks wrong, record the version and the sequence that produced it rather than assuming your progress disappeared.
The same week, cumulative distance, boss-kill, and consumption achievement requirements were reduced. Those are achievement adjustments, not unlock costs or a currency conversion formula.
Plan a useful next run
Choose the next experiment based on the problem you can identify. An additional option that fills a missing function can be useful; an option you do not understand may be harder to evaluate even if it is newly available. Keep your plan tied to current descriptions.
Before changing captain and vehicle together, understand the platform’s handling. Before pursuing an artifact combination, confirm the trigger. Before pushing overtime, distinguish that endurance goal from an ordinary clear.
The beginner guide covers immediate survival, while build principles covers comparing a setup.
Guide questions
What should I focus on between runs?
Choose a goal: unlock another option, learn a vehicle or captain, or attempt a new difficulty. Keep the next attempt focused on that goal.
Which unlocks add rerolls?
Modules and artifacts each add a reroll for every six unlocked options in their respective category.
What should I unlock first?
Choose an option that addresses a specific need in your current playstyle, and check its requirement in the game.
