How to play guide for Eternal Return

This is the basic **How to play guide for *Eternal Return***.

## Main menu navigation

When you start up the game, you'll be greeted by the Main Lobby screen. There are several sections that can be accessed on the left side of the screen:

* **Game Start:** This will open a screen where you can select which Game Modes you wish to play. After choosing a mode, you will be put into queue for the next match. There are also options for "vs AI" matches and for custom matches as well. You can also find the Tutorial section here.
	+ **Quick Start:** This allows you to quickly jump into queue for your preferred game mode.
* **Collectibles:** This allows you to see your collection of Characters and Cosmetic Items (such as skins and emotes).
* **Loadout:** This allows you to create custom loadouts (also known as Saved Plans) for your characters, or to browse and download other player's. This screen also allows you to see a catalog of all existing Items, Augments and Tactical Skills
* **ER Pass:** This lets you see what ER Passes are currently available, their cosmetic rewards and the tasks that can be completed to earn them.
* **Store:** This section features the in game  NP (the game's cash currency) shop, where you can find a variety of cosmetics available for purchase. Here you can also buy additional NP.
* **Forging:** This opens the Forging screen, which handles Boxes, the crafting of cosmetic item designs, and the exchange of seasonal tokens earned from ER Passes.
* **Collection:** This section contains several sets made up of cosmetic items. Once all items in a set have been unlocked, they will allow you to claim a special reward.
* **Guide:** This is a list of terms and useful information about the game. You should take the chance to read on anything you might not be entirely sure of here.
* **Profile:** This opens up your player profile, which contains your statistics. This also allows you to customize your appearance outside of matches by changing your Avatar, Loading Screen Border & Background and also your in queue Background.

## Unlocking Content

To play any character, you have to unlock them first. By default, you'll have access to a rotating set of characters that changes every week. You can unlock Yuki, Hyejin and Eva permanently by doing the basic tutorial, and unlock any other character using  A-Coins, which you earn just by playing the game. Some events will unlock certain or all characters for a limited time.

Skins and other cosmetic items let you customize the appearance of things and are mainly unlocked with  NP (the game's cash currency) through the in game store, and randomly from boxes. Cosmetics are very often also a free reward from events. There are also some events that will allow you to use (almost) any skin for a limited time.

## Basic Gameplay

### Before the match begins

Once you've been matched up, you will see the Character Selection screen, where you and your teammates will pick one of the playable test subjects, along with the loadout, augments and tactical skills that will be used for this match. Once all players have locked their picks, or the timer runs out, everyone will begin loading into the game.

When playing in Lumia Island, players who load in first will appear in the Briefing room. After every player has finished loading, or after a certain amount of time has passed, the test subjects in the Briefing Room are sent to their starting area in Lumia Island.

### After the match begins

"Let there be glory to the pawns who reached the end of despair!"

Once on the island, you should first level up one of your skills so you can use them. By default, your skills will be assigned to the Q,W,E, and R keys. Each have different effects and they often work well paired with each other.

Your R skill is known as your Ultimate . It is often the strongest skill you have, but will have a long cooldown time to compensate, so you should try to use it when the time is right.

### Statistics and masteries

Your character's strengths are defined by their Statistics (or Stats for short), which will increase upon leveling your character up. Levels are gained upon ranking up your Masteries. These masteries cover pretty much any action you can take on the island, from moving around to attacking enemies. Leveling up will also grant you a skill point you can use to unlock and empower your skills.

### Searching for components

There are many Containers around the island, and they are very important. Each will contain an assortment of items, which will often be a crafting material, but they can can also contain things like Weapons and Armor that you can equip as well which will boost your stats. You can also hunt wild animals for loot. You will need these items to craft increasingly stronger ones.

Air supplies will also be dropped at fixed times in the game in various places, and will contain items of various rarities.

Defeating neutral enemies, other players, or simply staying alive will gradually grant you  Credits you can use to pick up Common rarity items through Transfer Drones, or higher rarity components from the Kiosk consoles.

### Fight for survival

Once you are suitable geared up and with any consumables and installation items that you might need, you should group up with your teammates and take the fight to the enemy teams. The only way to win in Lumia Island is by eliminating all other enemy teams. If the situation looks too unfavorable for your team to win however, there is also the option to escape the island.

### UI icons

There are some UI icons in game that might not be clear, but each represent something involved with crafting.