Beginner Guide
Endgame is a PvE extraction mode for up to 24 players, set on Avalon, a large open Mediterranean map. You drop in as an operator, complete objectives to build power and gear, and extract before the match timer runs out. Your Combat Rating carries over between matches, so every run builds on the last.
What Endgame is
Section titled “What Endgame is”Endgame sits in the same family as DMZ and Modern Warfare Zombies: a persistent PvE extraction loop on an open map with other players present. The core goal is to increase your operator’s Combat Rating, upgrade your weapons to exotic rarity, and eventually access the hardest content in the game, Nightmare Zones and Glitch Fractures.
The key difference from a standard multiplayer mode is that progress is permanent. Dying without a Restore Token costs 15 CR and strips your equipped weapons. A successful exfil locks in everything you earned.
Your first match
Section titled “Your first match”
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Deploy via wingsuit. At match start, you are dropped from altitude and deploy a wingsuit. Aim for Zone I on the map, the lowest-difficulty area. Zone I has no Combat Rating requirement (CR 0) and is where new players should land.
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Find an Activity. Activities appear on the Tac Map and the C-Link overhead display. Approach the marked location to start one. Most Activities involve clearing enemies, interacting with an object, or defending a point. Completing Activities earns Power.
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Spend Power on CR. Between objectives, check the upgrade screen. Power earned from Activities and enemy kills is used to advance your Combat Rating. Your first Skill Track unlocks at CR 1.
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Complete the Guild Strike when it triggers. At the 45:15 match timer, a Guild Strike boss fight activates at the Winery. This is the highest-difficulty Activity and unlocks the Exotic Fabricator, the tool that upgrades your weapon to exotic rarity. Recommend CR 30+ before attempting this.
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Use the Exotic Fabricator. After the Guild Strike boss is defeated, an Exotic Fabricator spawns at that location. Take any weapon you are carrying to the Fabricator to upgrade it to exotic rarity. This applies a 3.5x damage multiplier and adds traits. This is the most important upgrade in a run.
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Complete Operation steps to unlock Glitch Fractures. Glitch Fractures are advanced activities that reward Nightmare Skills, powerful upgrades that raise your maximum CR. To access them, you must complete Step 10 of Operation Poison Pill first.
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Exfil before the timer expires. Travel to an extraction point on the Tac Map and board the VTOL to preserve your CR and loadout. If you die without a Restore Token, you lose 15 CR and your equipped weapons.
Zone progression
Section titled “Zone progression”Avalon is divided into five zones of increasing difficulty. Higher zones give more Power per activity and drop better loot, but enemies are significantly stronger. Land in the zone that matches your current CR.
| Zone | Recommended CR | What to do here |
|---|---|---|
| Zone I | CR 0 | Learn activities, build your first Skill Track |
| Zone II | CR 10 | More activity variety, better Power payouts |
| Zone III | CR 30 | HVT Elimination for weapon XP, improved loot |
| Zone IV | CR 45 | Best non-boss loot, Gideon Falkner boss fight |
| Nightmare / Zone V | CR 55 | Guild Strike boss, Exotic Fabricator, Mega Abomination |
You can enter any zone at any time, but fighting enemies more than one zone above your current CR means dramatically reduced damage output and incoming hits that ignore armor.
Operator system
Section titled “Operator system”
Each operator is a separate character with its own Combat Rating, Skill Tracks, and weapon loadout. Operators do not share CR. Switching to a different operator means starting that operator from CR 0.
An operator wipe (full reset) clears all CR and Skill Tracks on that operator. Resetting a single Skill Track does not affect CR. Restore Tokens protect against CR loss on death, not on a wipe.
When to upgrade weapons
Section titled “When to upgrade weapons”Upgrade your weapon to exotic rarity at the Exotic Fabricator as soon as you complete the Guild Strike boss. Do not wait. The 3.5x damage multiplier from exotic rarity is the single largest damage increase available in the game.
After upgrading to exotic, the Fabricator can also reroll the weapon’s traits. A second use adds an Exotic Effect. Further uses reroll either the Effect or the Utility Bonus. If you find another Fabricator in the same match, use it to continue improving your weapon’s traits.
For named exotic weapons and affinity mechanics, see Named Exotics.
What to prioritize
Section titled “What to prioritize”New players should focus in this order:
First several matches: Complete Activities in Zone I and II to earn Power and advance CR. Reach CR 10 before moving to Zone II. Pick up any two Skill Tracks that are offered, Gunner and Surgeon are reliable starter choices.
Mid-game: Once you reach CR 30, start completing Assignments in Zone III, specifically HVT Elimination. These enemies have large health pools and reward high weapon XP per kill. Move to Zone IV when CR allows.
Once CR is stable: Work through Operation Poison Pill step by step. Completing Step 10 unlocks access to Glitch Fractures, which reward Nightmare Skills that raise your maximum CR from 60 to 66.
After your first exfil: Use Restore Tokens on operators at CR 45 or higher to protect against dying before extraction.
Key pages
Section titled “Key pages”Data sourced from community research and in-game documentation. Information may change with game updates.