Getting Started in Wildgate

Welcome to Wildgate, a high-stakes space adventure where you and your crew of four battle alien threats, scavenge for gear, and fight rival player crews for survival and glory of the Reach!

Whether you’re here to escape with ancient relics or to dominate through firepower, this guide will help walk you through the basics every new Prospector needs to know to make it out alive.

Understanding Prospectors and Choosing Your Role

Your Prospector is more than just a character model. Each one has unique abilities and passive traits that shape how you play. Some are better suited for boarding enemy ships, others excel at repairs or stealth, and a few specialize in supporting the team. But don’t worry—every Prospector can participate in any activity, so you’re never locked out of gameplay options.

For beginners, Venture is a strong choice. As a robot, he doesn’t need oxygen and heals faster outside the ship, making him great for learning the ropes during spacewalks. Other Prospectors like Adrian (speed-focused), Kae (teleportation), Ion (brute strength), and Sammo (defense and detection) each offer their own tactical advantages. Pick the one that fits your style or fills a gap in your crew.

View all Prospectors

Getting Comfortable with Your Ship

Your ship is your mobile base, lifeline, and weapon platform all in one. Managing it well is essential for survival. While one player steers from the helm, others can fire turrets, repair systems, gather resources, or repel boarders. Here’s what you should know:

  • Helm: Controls movement, shields, and boosting. Pro tip: your ship moves faster when shields are down, but you’ll be more vulnerable.
  • Processor: The core resource bank. Deposit fuel, ice, and ammo here. Fuel powers your ship’s boost, ice repairs damage, and ammo feeds your turrets.
  • Reactor: Can be used to heal your hull using stored ice. Beware: if an enemy triggers an overload, you’ll need to shut it down fast or suffer the consequences.
  • Probe Station: Use this to scan the area. It reveals points of interest, resources, and sometimes other ships. Keep probing throughout the match.
  • Reload Station: Recharges your personal weapons and tools.
  • Turret Stations: Let you equip or upgrade ship weapons. Enemy boarders can interact with these too, so stay alert.

Stick with the default ship, the Hunter, early on. It’s fast and well-rounded, perfect for getting familiar with how ships handle. As you unlock more, you can explore heavier or stealthier options.

Spacewalks, Boarding, and Close-Quarters Combat

You won’t spend the entire match inside your ship. Much of Wildgate takes place in zero-G environments where you’ll explore derelict installations, mine resources, and board enemy vessels.

  • Points of Interest (POIs): These are mini-dungeons filled with enemies, traps, and loot. Approach with caution, clear them methodically, and bring back anything useful.
  • Oxygen Management: Most Prospectors need oxygen to survive in space. Bring spare tanks and don’t overextend.
  • Looting: You’ll find gear upgrades, gadgets, weapons, and resources. Prioritize what benefits your crew strategy and keep your processor stocked.

Boarding enemy ships is one of the most thrilling aspects of the game. Use tools like the Maghook to pull yourself across space, or abilities like Kae’s teleport to get inside fast. Once onboard, sabotage systems, steal gear, or take out their crew. But beware—they can do the same to you. Always keep one eye on your ship’s airlock.

Loot, Scout, Loot, Loot!

Right out the gate you’re going to want to do one of two things, loot or scout. You and the crew will be spawned near a Point of Interest, so you can jump out and run on in and start getting a few items, or snag any close by ice. Highly recommend keeping an eye out for ice.

Another option is to jump on a drone and start pinging different Points of Interest, other player ships that are near by, fuel, ice, etc. Drones are fast and there’s pretty much no risk cause you can fire up another drone really easy. This helps you be prepared for close by teams, or just finding what you need to in the Reach.

Remember, you’ll need to find the Wildgate and or the Artifact. If another team gets the Artifact and you don’t know where the Wildgate is… well you’re at a severe disadvantage. They could just dive on to the gate when it opens.

All the knowledge in the world won’t save you if you don’t have the equipment to slug it out. There are different tiers of Cannons, Hardpoints, and Gadgets in general. The better equipped you are the more advantage when you get into the street fight that is absolutely going to happen before the end of the game.

So as you begin you’re journey an enter the field, remember to loot and scout! Its a balance, but keep on movin and groovin to stay ahead. Having a good pilot will also go along way with this efficiency.

Managing Resources for Long-Term Success

Every successful run depends on how well you manage your supplies. Fuel, ice, and ammo are the three essentials that keep your ship operational and your crew ready for anything.

  • Fuel: Needed for boosts and high-speed chases.
  • Ice: Used to repair your ship’s hull.
  • Ammo: Required for both ship and personal weapons.

Mine asteroids early and often. Assign someone to handle resource gathering while others focus on combat or navigation. Keep the processor stocked, and make trips to POIs worth your time by returning with valuable upgrades.

Use what you find wisely. If you’re not going to use an item right away, consider salvaging or hiding it in a safe spot. Some characters can even recycle unused gear into random items.

PvE vs PvP: Finding the Right Balance

Wildgate is unique because you’re fighting both the environment and other players. Learn to read the flow of a match and shift between PvE farming and PvP combat as needed.

  • PvE Hazards: Expect storms, parasites, and traps. Scan constantly and be cautious in unexplored areas.
  • PvP Encounters: Enemy crews are always out there. Avoid early fights unless you’re confident. It’s often smarter to gear up first, then engage when you have the upper hand.

Watch the map and be strategic. If you see two other crews fighting, you might want to hang back and wait. Or maybe it’s time to swoop in and third-party the survivors.

Winning the Match: The Artifact and the Wildgate

To win, your crew can either eliminate everyone else or retrieve the Artifact and escape through the Wildgate. Late-game decisions are critical.

  • If you have the Artifact: Move fast and avoid combat unless necessary. Everyone will be hunting you.
  • If someone else has it: Decide whether to ambush them or go for a full elimination strategy.

Scan for the Wildgate early so you’re not scrambling when it matters. Plan your escape route and make sure your ship is in top shape for the final chase or battle.

Quick Tips for New Prospectors

  1. Start with Venture if you’re unsure who to play.
  2. Keep your ship fueled, repaired, and loaded at all times. Moar ice baby!
  3. Scan regularly to stay ahead of other crews. Use the drones as knowledge is power.
  4. Don’t leave your ship unattended. Good boarder players will be looking to cause chaos early.
  5. Communicate with your crew constantly. This game is similar into Overwatch, you can’t solo win. Communicate and coordinate for the win!
  6. Know when to fight and when to flee. Depending on your ship, use speed to your advantage. Sometimes you can keep away with the Artifact until the Wildgate is open.
  7. Loot, loot, loot! Whether you’re gather more items and hardpoints, or getting fuel and ice. Keep gathering resources so you have the advantage in ship battles.

Final Thoughts

Wildgate is as much about preparation and coordination as it is about quick reflexes. Learn your tools, play smart, and most importantly, work together. The Reach is dangerous, but with a bit of knowledge and teamwork, you and your crew can carve out a name for yourselves among the stars.

Good luck out there, gamer!