7 Things you need to know before you start SteamWorld Quest: Hand of Gilamech

After playing through the 15 hour campaign and reviewing the game, I found a few tips and tricks that will help you in your play through of the game.

If there’s anything you’d like to add let me know over on Twitter or come and join the SIF Discord server.

1. Combat Basics

First off, yes though the game is a card game I personally think it’s more comparable to games like Pokemon or Darkest Dungeon. The cards are just used as a means to deliver the characters’ actions.

Decks are limited to 8 cards per character. There’s no shuffling, burning or drawing cards- the combat system is accessible but does have some depth.

You can play three cards per turn. However, if you play three cards from the same character it will cause a combo to occur. Combos mean that characters can play one extra card in that turn. The card is linked to the character’s weapon, so always keep an eye on which weapon you’re using.

Cards can be split up into 3 categories: Upgrade, Strike and Skills. Upgrade is a buff card and Strike is a physical attack card. Strikes and Upgrade cards are important because they supply you with Cogs that act as mana in SQ.

The Cogs can then be used on Skill cards, that typically do more damage than Strikes or Upgrades.

2. Balancing your deck

Skill cards are way more powerful than Strike or Upgrade cards however they cost cogs.



The decks I finished the game with



It’s vital that you balance your deck with all three types of the cards. You need Upgrade and Strike cards in your deck to generate Cogs. No cogs = no Skill cards, so be sure to ensure you have enough Upgrade and Strikes in your deck!

In my opinion, I think it’s helpful to have cheaper Skill Cards in your deck in the early game. This is because you don’t have access to some of the more powerful Upgrade cards that help generate Cogs.

In the early game I had Skill Cards that cost 4 Cogs each in my deck but never used them, as I couldn’t generate Cogs quick enough. Later on in the game this isn’t a problem. However, earlier it can be a hindrance if you have cards taking up space in your deck that you’re not using!

3. Who to attack

When fighting against multiple enemies it can be hard to choose which one to attack first. In my play through I would always attack the enemy healer or buffer first because they prolonged the lives of the other enemies.

I think you’ll find it easiest to gang up on those first, then the other enemies will fall like dominos.

But how can you kill them quick?

4. Status Effects and how to use them

Use status effects! I highly, highly recommend that you use status effects that do damage over time. The best I found were poison and bleed. Poison ticks away at enemies’ health after every turn and bleed causes damage every time an enemies plays a card.

Together they are epic at taking out tanks and bosses, as bosses play three or four cards a turn. With the consistent damage of bleed and poison, it gives you a chance to sit back and heal if you’re in a tricky situation.

5. The Importance of ZR

Pretty early on you learn that ZR can be held to make your character run. What I did not know until the third to last battle of the game is that ZR also fast forwards the movements in battle!

I probably would have shaved an hour off my play time if I knew this existed!

6. Spend, Spend, Spend

Early on in the game money is hard to come by. It put me in the mindset that I should be saving it for later and never really went to check out the wears of the ever present shop keeper.

However, later on in the game you gain so much money- so don’t be scared to spend it. The shopkeeper has a ton of great passive items, active items like potions and weapons.

Be sure to check in with her regularly as she always has new and improved weapons. This is important because weapons dictate what your combo move will be. My favourite was Armilly’s Lacerate as it inflicted bleed on enemies.

7. Upgrade Your Cards

The shop keeper lets you upgrade your cards, which I stumbled on without really meaning to. You collect tons of materials through your journey that can be used to upgrade your cards. The higher they’re upgraded the more effect they have. Some cards will even gain new abilities like lowering the foe’s magical abilities.

I hope these tips help you out whilst playing SteamWorld Quest. It’s a great game that’s accessible and has a lot of depth. I’m excited to see what new and old card game fans think of it.

Let me know what you think of the game and send me some screenshots of the decks you’re using! You can always find me on Twitter or come and join the SIF Discord server.

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