Cobalt Core: Essential Starting Guide for All Players

If you still can’t figure out Cobalt Core as you’d like to, or if you simply want to make sure that you get started on the right foot, these tips and tricks for the game will come in handy.

Check out this Cobalt Core beginner’s guide, suitable for new players – but also veterans who want to make sure they do everything right.

After all, it’s not like we have a ton of space-themed roguelike deck-building games to draw experience from. So let’s get this started!

Cobalt Core Guide for beginners

Here are all the basics (and some more in-depth elements) that you should master to become an expert Cobalt Core player.

Choosing the best ship in Cobalt Core

Selecting the right ship in Cobalt Core is crucial. Your ship determines not only your starting layout but also the initial cards and artifacts at your disposal.

Artifacts, in this game, are passive upgrades that modify game rules to your advantage. And some are better than others for a specific play style.

For instance, the ‘Voyager’ ship might offer a balance between offense and defense, making it a great choice for beginners.

Also, make sure to choose the right upgrades for your ship when they are offered.

If you don’t really know what to pick (this will become easier as you gain more experience and play time), the golden rule of thumb is to always choose the rarest card available.

Crew Selection: How to build a winning team

The crew members are just as important as selecting the right ship is – and you should always consider selecting the best crew based on the stats of your ship.

Each crew member brings a unique set of cards and potential artifacts, influencing your gameplay significantly.

Also, each character will increase the chances of finding character-specific cards during your run. I’m working on a guide for the best characters to choose in Cobalt Core – so check back soon!

Until then, you can check out my previous guide on how to unlock all survivors in Risk of Rain Returns.

Understanding Combat: Strategy and Tactics

Combat in Cobalt Core follows traditional TCG rules, based on selecting the right card from the active ones and there are plenty of strategies that can be applied here.

One important thing to have in mind that it’s not all about attacking only – the position of your ship also matters.

Therefore, you should anticipate enemy moves and dodge attacks by moving out of the enemy’s line of fire. Pay attention to this often ignored mechanic and you’ll gain a massive advantage over each enemy.

Movement and Evade Mechanics in Cobalt Core

Movement in Cobalt Core is primarily achieved through playing cards or using the Evade resource.

Effective use of Evade, which allows you to dodge enemy attacks, is a game-changer.

Mastering when and how to use Evade can mean the difference between victory and defeat: don’t rush to use it as soon as you have it available, but anticipate (yes, easier said than done!) the most powerful attacks from your enemy.

And if you also play something more soothing in between difficult Cobalt Core runs, make sure to read this guide on a cheat-like way to make money in My Time at Sandrock.

Shield Mechanics: Your Defensive Arsenal

Understanding shields in the game is also essential and this is what we’re talking about next in this set of Cobalt Core gameplay tips.

Regular (blue) shields have a storage limit, whereas temporary (pink) shields offer a quick defense boost but disappear at the start of your next turn.

Balancing these two types of shields is essential for survival, so learn when it’s best to select one over another and time their usage for maximum gains.

Explore the map to maximize rewards

Your journey through Cobalt Core is decided by the choices you make on the node map.

Each node, whether it’s a basic enemy, elite enemy, repair yard, event, or artifact, offers unique challenges and rewards.

For instance, tackling elite enemies might be risky, but the artifacts they yield can significantly bolster your gameplay.

In other words, choosing the easiest route might not be the best choice. Mix and match, because you need to build up a perfect deck early on.

The lower tier rewards offered by following a simple route might not be enough for the more advanced challenges.

Defeating bosses in Cobalt Core

Boss battles in Cobalt Core are frustrating and difficult. Winning a run requires killing three bosses, which is not an easy task as you probably know already.

However, should you defeat a boss, you will restore your health, but also increase max hull and grant you very strong artifacts.

Some bosses are really difficult to beat – such as Cleo, but with the proper setup of ship, team and artifacts, it can be done.

Final Words

These would be the core mechanics and basic things you should have in mind when playing Cobalt Core.

This only scratches the surface, I know, but these are indeed the main things that you should master and have in mind when playing.

Do you have other additional tips and tricks for fellow Cobalt Core players? Let us all know by sharing your strategies and advice below.

If not, you can continue reading more guides for amazing games, such as this article sharing the top Lethal Company tips and tricks you should know.