The lanes
Before any fight you can open the Squad Strategy screen from the Wasteland Bar recruit card or the Mercenary Roster. It shows a board with four zones: the front lane, you, the back lane and the reserve. Each ally you have recruited sits in one of them, and the setup you choose carries into the next fight.
- Front lane: your tanks. Enemies pick targets from here most of the time.
- Back lane: your ranged damage dealers and healers. Enemies rarely target them directly.
- Reserve: allies who stay at camp. Useful when you want a smaller squad or are protecting a wounded merc.
The three roles
On top of the lane, each ally can be given a role that changes how they start the fight:
| Role | Effect | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | No change | Allies you have not specialised |
| Vanguard | +15% Max HP, taunts enemies in round one, deals 3 less damage | The tank. Put him in the front lane so the first volley hits armor, not you. |
| Striker | +20% damage (at least +3), −10% Max HP | A glass cannon with a strong weapon. Keep him in the back lane. |
| Guardian | You start the fight in cover, he deals 2 less damage | A bodyguard for you. Great against ranged enemies and bosses with big telegraphed attacks. |
Who gets shot first
Enemy target selection follows three rules, in order:
- If any ally is taunting, enemies must attack a taunter first. This is what makes a Vanguard so powerful on round one.
- Otherwise, enemies attack the front lane about 85% of the time.
- The back lane is picked only about 10% of the time.
That is why a Field Medic stays in the back: she heals, but she is not a target unless the front falls. The classic opening is a Syndicate Defector in the front lane as a Vanguard, a Field Medic behind and you in the middle with a rifle.
Presets and quick tools
The screen includes three preset slots so you can save, say, a boss setup, a raid setup and a wolf-hunt setup and swap between them with one click. There are also quick tools to auto-arrange the squad (tanks in front, ranged in back) and to reset everything to default. Name your presets by the enemy they answer to.
Recommended setups
- Against melee packs (wolves, hounds, raiders): Vanguard in front, Striker and ranged behind. The pack dies as it approaches.
- Against ranged enemies and turrets: Guardian beside you, a second tank in front. Charge them and keep your squad close.
- Against bosses with big attacks (Lady Midday, the Unknown Threat): Guardian for cover, a medic in the back and a Striker to use the opening when the boss lowers her guard.
More guides
Beginner's Guide
Your first week decides the rest of the run. Here is what to do, in order.
OPEN →Combat Guide
Fights are turn-based and every Action Point counts. This guide explains the rules underneath.
OPEN →Talent Build Guide
Fifty-nine points over a whole run is not much. These five builds spend them well.
OPEN →