Black Swan Wiki

Getting Started

What Black Swan is

Black Swan is a survival shooter and RTS hybrid. You fight in first person, loot and extract, then step back and command your squad like an RTS, all in one persistent world. Soldiers who die stay dead.

Your first session

1. From the Start Menu, press 1 to start at your Home Base HQ, or 2 to pick a deploy destination.
2. At the HQ, walk to stations and press E to use them. Press M to open build mode and place buildings.
3. Build a Troop Center to get the COMMAND console, then press P there to switch between first person and RTS command.
4. Use the Deploy Board (E) to pick a region and its settings, then drop into the field.
5. Loot crates, bodies and clutter. Press Tab (or I) for your inventory.
6. Head for the extraction point and press X to open the Extract panel. Whatever you extract goes into your stash.
7. Back home, craft, research, build and recruit, then deploy again.

The run loop

Tutorial

A tutorial popup shows tips for your first steps. Press Esc to close it. A full base tutorial and a fixed tutorial map are in development.

Controls

All keys can be rebound in Settings. Press H in game for the on-screen key legend and Shift+H for bindings.

First-person controls

Vehicle controls

RTS command controls

Defend, Regroup and Retreat are on the command buttons.

Pause menu shortcuts

RTS and First-Person Modes

Field (first-person mode)

You play on the ground as one soldier. You aim, shoot, loot and drive yourself, with optional third person for driving and walking.

Command (RTS mode)

The top-down command view of the same live world. Select units, give orders like Defend, Regroup and Retreat, and manage production and logistics.

Switching modes

Walk to a COMMAND console and press P (or E) to enter the RTS view. Press P on a unit to possess it and drop back into first person. A Troop Center places the COMMAND console at your HQ.

Mobile Command Array

A crafted item you carry to open RTS mode out in the field. Better antenna materials extend its range. in development

Squad and Commander

Squad

The small team of soldiers you lead. Each soldier has a level and skills that grow from doing the work. Recruit more at the Recruit Desk (Barracks) or with T at the HQ.

Acting commander

Whoever you are currently playing is the acting commander. Switch bodies to put your specialist in charge.

Chain of command and morale

You set the succession. If the leader falls, the next in line takes over, and if the chain is empty the highest-level survivor steps up. Squads perform better under higher-level leaders, and the commander's death demoralizes the squad, harder the higher their level. in development

Permadeath

A dead soldier stays dead and takes their skills with them. The run ends only when everyone is gone.

Skills

Skills grow from use and from training at your base, not from perk points. Every soldier starts each skill at level 1. No skill line is ever locked; only specific abilities need unlocking, and combining skills unlocks alternative twists on top of the base abilities.

Core skills

Icon	Name	Description
	Small Arms	Pistols, SMGs and rifles.
	Large Firearms	Machine guns and launchers.
	Demolitions	Explosives, charges and grenades.
	Melee	Blades, tools and hand-to-hand.
	Medicine	Healing and medical items.
	Engineering	Building, repair and machinery.
	Hacking	Grows by claiming and powering facilities.
	Recon	Scouting and spotting.
	Stealth	Moving unseen.
	Vehicles	Driving and vehicle handling.
	Leadership	Commanding the squad.
	Logistics	Hauling, supply and storage.
	Survival	Living off the land in the field.
	Scavenging	Finding and salvaging loot.

Hybrid twists

Icon	Name	Description
	Bomb Drone	Hacking plus Demolitions. in development
	Combat Hacker: Gun Drone	Hacking plus Firearms. in development
	Med Drone	Hacking plus Medicine. in development

Deployment and the World

Deploying

Use the Deploy Board at your HQ to pick a region and its settings (such as biome mix), then drop in. Every map is generated from a seed.

Extraction

Reach an extraction point and press X to extract. If you die first, what you carry is at risk.

Fog of war

Unexplored areas are black, explored areas dark gray, and only what you can see is live. Radio towers push it back.

Rival factions

Rival groups that move, fight, defend valuable sites and react to you. They build armies from real resources and production.

The infected

Hordes roam the field, and bigger POIs draw bigger hordes. Distinct shamblers and sprinters and a horde mode are in development.

Random events

Hit squads, convoy ambushes, escort jobs, roaming bosses and trader caravans. in development

Biomes

Icon	Name	Description
	Forest	Dense woods, meadows, leaf glades and mossy hills.
	Arid	Dunes, badlands and scrubland.
	Snow	Taiga, tundra and ice rock.
	Swamp	Bogs, thickets and mudflats.
	Industrial	Yards and machinery country.

POIs

A POI (point of interest) is a site worth exploring. POIs come in Small, Medium, Large and Major sizes, and can be Abandoned, held by a Faction, Contested or held by you.

Icon	Name	Description
	Crashed Convoy	Wrecked vehicles with salvage.
	Hilltop Radio	A radio site on high ground.
	Ore Cut	A mining cut with ore deposits.
	Abandoned Farm	Barns, silos and machine sheds.
	Road Checkpoint	A guarded road stop.
	Stash Shack	A small hidden cache.
	Fuel Dump	Stored fuel.
	Watchtower Post	A lookout tower.
	Bunker Ruin	An enterable bunker with ammo.
	Logging Camp	Timber and tools.
	Cave Tunnel	An enterable cave or tunnel campus.
	Riverside Hamlet	A small waterside settlement.
	Contested Base	A fortified faction base with a command hut, barracks and sandbag ring.
	Market Town	A ruined market town with shop loot.
	Factory Yard	An industrial site.
	Military Depot	A military storage site.

Swans

Rare artifacts tied to major progression: Swan, Gold Swan, Diamond Swan and Black Swan. What they do hasn't been revealed yet.

Base and Buildings

HQ

Your private, invite-only home base that keeps everything between runs. Nobody can enter or loot it unless you invite them.

Stash

HQ storage where everything you extract is banked.

How to build

Press M at the HQ to open build mode, pick a building, place it and pay its materials. Many functions need the building first: for example, there is no free COMMAND console or recruit desk on an undeveloped pad.

Using stations

Walk up to a station and press E. Craft with C, cycle recipes with , and ., and process at processors with F.

Attention and raids

High-tier factories put out smoke and draw attention. When the activity meter fills, raids come. in development

Buildings and stations

Icon	Name	Description
	Workbench	Crafts basic parts, simple guns, braces and crates.
	Research Lab	Researches tech nodes and blueprints.
	Analysis Desk	Study desk at the Comm Shack for learning from items and signals.
	Command Post	Command terminal for entering RTS mode.
	Troop Center	Places the COMMAND console for RTS mode.
	Barracks	Places the Recruit Desk for hiring soldiers.
	Weapons Facility	The armory and gun forge.
	Munitions Lab	Ammo press for crafting ammo.
	Mess Hall	Field kitchen for cooking rations; also heals.
	Med Tent	Healing and medical storage.
	Engineer Works	Engineer station for clearing rubble and repairing damage.
	Vehicle Bay	Vehicle facility.
	Vehicle Factory	Builds tanks and heavy vehicles.
	Field Depot	Storage building with warehouse slots.
	Fuel Depot	Fuel storage.
	Motor Pool	Vehicle bench for simple vehicles, plus fuel and vehicle capacity.
	Quartermaster	Storage with a small gun and ammo shelf.
	Ammo Bunker	Ammo storage.
	Power Generator	Power plant; mines and some facilities need power.
	Smelter	Processor that refines scrap into iron and polymer.
	Scrap Yard	Breaks scrap into mixed materials (Reclaimer).
	Sawmill	Turns timber into wood planks.
	Mill	Turns fiber and scrap into cloth and rubber.
	Kiln	Roasts and cures lead, rubber and ore.
	Material Combiner	Fuses two materials into a hybrid.
	Radio Mast	Communications building that lowers base alert.
	Comm Shack	Houses the Analysis Desk for studying signals.
	Training Yard	Raises troop capacity and gives a training XP bonus.
	Water Tower	Utility building with light healing.
	Watchtower	Overwatch defense that lowers base alert.
	Guard Post	Perimeter defense post.
	Fort Bunker	Engineer fortification: a hard bunker.
	Perimeter Wall	Walls around your base.
	MG Turret	Defense turret. in development
	Autocannon Turret	Defense turret. in development
	Anti-Armor Turret	Defense turret. in development
	Airbase	Airstrip, hangar and bomb shelf for planes. in development

Crafting and Research

How to craft

Go to the right station, press C, choose a recipe with , and ., and confirm. Each recipe has real materials and crafting times.

Crafting stations

Icon	Name	Description
	Crafting Stations	Every bench and facility that runs recipes.
	Workbench	Basic parts, simple guns, braces and crates.
	Ammo Press	Ammo packs and special rounds like FMJ and AP.
	Field Kitchen	Rations and cookouts.
	Repair Bench	Patch kits and field tape.
	Armory	Advanced weapons, parts and the gun forge.
	Vehicle Bench	Simple and light vehicles and field service.

Processing raw goods

Place a processor and press F in range to refine. Recipes include Salvage Steel Stock, Form Brass Casing, Form Projectile Core, Mill Crate Timber, Plane Rough Wood and Weave Poly Mesh.

Research and the tech tree

Study items at the Analysis Desk and research at the Research Lab. Cycle nodes with , and .. Knowledge types: manufacturing blueprints, component blueprints, material specifications, process specifications, design fragments, engineering principles and field doctrine. A tech unlocks a recipe; skill decides who crafts it best.

Blueprints

Found as loot (for example AK Fragment, HVT Intel, Ammo Press BP, Sandbag BP, Crate BP and armor BPs). Studying them unlocks recipes.

Materials and Resources

Materials are what parts are made of. They are trade-offs, not straight upgrades. Get raw goods from deposits and loot, refine them at processors, buy them at the Marketplace, or fuse them at the Material Combiner. Stainless steel, brass, lead, tungsten, ceramic composite, rubber and aramid cloth as gun materials are in development.

Forge materials

Icon	Name	Description
	Scrap	Cheap salvage for emergency frames. Weak, hot and heavy.
	Iron	Strong frames, tools and cheap stock. Heavy and rusts.
	Aluminum	Light chassis and vehicle parts. Softer than steel.
	Copper	Contacts, ammo tips and radio parts. Soft structure.
	Polymer	Light furniture and housings. Softens with heat.
	Wood	Stocks, crates, buildings and fuel. Burns easily.
	Steel	Weapons, armor and structures. Heavy; refined from iron.
	Lightweight Alloy	Aircraft and light weapon parts.
	Exotic Alloy	High-performance late-game material. Scarce and unknown until studied.
	Hardened Steel	Barrels, bolts and receivers under heat. Costly and brittle if overdone.
	Hardened Polymer	Stocks, grips and mag bodies. Softens under sustained fire.
	Carbon Fiber	Ultra-light furniture. Expensive and delaminates on impact.
	Titanium Alloy	Light, corrosion-proof structure and muzzle devices. Scarce.
	Composite	Layered furniture with balanced weight and durability.

Resources and raw goods

Harvest deposits in the field, then refine them at the Smelter, Scrap Yard, Sawmill, Mill or Kiln.

Icon	Name	Description
	Iron Ore	Raw ore from deposits; smelt into iron and steel.
	Copper	Mined from deposits.
	Aluminum	Mined, or reclaimed from scrap.
	Lead	Mined, or cured at the Kiln.
	Gold	Mined from rare deposits.
	Titanium	Mined from rare deposits.
	Wood	Chopped from trees; plane at the Sawmill.
	Oil / Fuel	Pumped from oil seeps; fuels vehicles.
	Polymer	From polymer seeps and crop residue.
	Saltpeter / Black Powder	Sulfur and saltpeter for propellant.
	Components	Mechanical parts salvaged from loot.
	Rubber	Made at the Mill or Kiln.
	Cloth	Woven at the Mill from fiber.
	Brass Casing	Formed at a processor for ammo.
	Projectile Core	Formed at a processor for ammo.
	Standard Propellant	Basic ammo propellant.
	Smokeless Propellant	Cleaner ammo propellant.
	High-Grade Propellant	Stronger ammo propellant.
	Magnum Propellant	Heavy-load propellant.

Material tiers

Icon	Name	Description
	Scrap tier	Lowest quality.
	Standard tier	Ordinary quality.
	Refined tier	Processed quality.
	Hardened tier	Treated for toughness.
	Advanced tier	High performance.
	Exotic tier	Top tier.

Market and loot materials

Valuables and trade goods you find and sell for Credits.

Icon	Name	Description
	Gold Bar	High-value valuable for trading.
	Silver Ingot	Valuable metal for trading.
	Platinum Flake Tin	Tiny, high-value flake tin.
	Cut Diamond	Valuable for trading.
	Gold Watch	Valuable.
	Diamond Ring	Valuable.
	Pearl Necklace	Valuable.
	Estate Brooch	Valuable.
	Oil Painting	Valuable art.
	Antique Vase	Valuable art.
	Bronze Figurine	Valuable art.
	Collector Vinyl	Collectible.
	Encrypted SSD	Data loot.
	Mil Radio Core	Electronics loot.
	Drone Nav Module	Electronics loot.
	Server Blade	Electronics loot.
	Payroll Ledger	Intel loot.
	Patrol Schedule	Intel loot.
	Blackmail Folder	Intel loot.
	Facility Schematic	Intel loot.
	Sealed Spice Crate	Trade goods.
	Pharma Sample Case	Trade goods.
	Contraband Cigarettes	Trade goods.
	Export Silk Bolt	Trade goods.
	Infected Scrap	Salvage from the infected.
	Commander's Case	Loot carried by an enemy commander.
	HVT Custody	A high-value target in custody.
	Swan Relic	A Swan artifact.
	Gold Artifact	A rare artifact.
	Diamond Artifact	A rare artifact.
	Black Artifact	A rare artifact.
	Lost Prototype	Rare tech loot.
	Ancient Relic	Rare relic loot.
	Credits	The currency for buying and selling.

Fused hybrid materials

Fuse two materials at the Material Combiner to make a hybrid. Hybrids keep their parent lineage, traits and a stability rating, and you can fuse hybrids again. These are the first-fusion hybrids:

Hybrid names come from the parents' short names (Hardened, Alloy and Fiber are dropped):

Because Steel and Hardened Steel (and Polymer and Hardened Polymer) share a short name, hybrids made from either one share the same display name; the lineage on the item tells them apart.

Combiner quality

Better pads keep more of the parents' traits and give more stable fusions.

Icon	Name	Description
	Crude	Combiner pad quality.
	Basic	Combiner pad quality.
	Standard	Combiner pad quality.
	Advanced	Combiner pad quality.
	Precision	Combiner pad quality.
	Industrial	Combiner pad quality.
	Experimental	Combiner pad quality.
	Exotic	Combiner pad quality.

Weapons and Tools

How to use weapons

Equip guns in the Primary, Secondary or Sidearm slot from your inventory (Tab). Fire with left mouse, aim with right mouse, reload with R and melee with V.

How to forge a gun

At the Armory (Weapons Facility), pick a platform, fill each component slot with a part style, choose a material for each part, and build. Each gun is saved as a recipe.

Icon	Name	Description
	Armory	The gun forge for building and modifying guns.

Weapons

Icon	Name	Description
	Service Rifle	The standard-issue AR, a military M4-style carbine.
	Service Pistol	Standard-issue sidearm.
	Civilian AR / AR SPR	The Civilian AR Carbine and the AR-15 SPR Marksman; they share the AR parts pool with the Service Rifle.
	AKM	Rugged assault rifle.
	MP5	Submachine gun.
	Rem 870	Pump shotgun.
	M249 SAW	Light machine gun.
	P90	Compact SMG.
	FN FAL	Battle rifle.
	SVD	Marksman rifle.
	Rem 700	Bolt-action rifle.
	M1 Garand	Semi-auto rifle.
	RPG-7	Rocket launcher.
	Combat Blade	Melee blade.

Tools

Icon	Name	Description
	Breach Kit	Breaching tool for locked doors and sites.
	Pickaxe	Mines ore deposits.
	Saw	Hand tool.
	Machete	Hand tool.
	Crowbar	Hand tool.
	Hacksaw	Hand tool.
	Axe	Hand tool.
	Hatchet	Hand tool.
	Field Knife	Hand tool.
	Shovel	Hand tool.
	Mining Drill	Hand tool.
	Wrench	Hand tool.
	Screwdriver Set	Hand tool.
	Pliers	Hand tool.
	Wire Cutters	Hand tool.
	Power Drill	Hand tool.
	Hammer	Hand tool.
	Sledgehammer	Hand tool.
	Cutting Torch	Hand tool.
	Repair Kit	Hand tool.
	Multi-tool	Hand tool.

Ammo

Icon	Name	Description
	FMJ	Standard full-metal-jacket rounds from the Ammo Press.
	AP	Armor-piercing rounds from the Ammo Press.

Gun Parts and Components

Every gun is built part by part. Each slot takes a part style, and each part takes a material.

Component slots

Icon	Name	Description
	Receiver	The gun's core frame.
	Barrel	Sets range and accuracy.
	Bolt	The bolt or bolt carrier group.
	Stock	Steadies recoil.
	Magazine	Holds ammo.
	Optic	Sight mount.
	Muzzle	Brake, hider or suppressor.
	Grip	How the gun is held.
	Trigger	Trigger group.
	Tube	Launcher tube.
	Sighting	Launcher sights.
	Warhead	Launcher warhead.
	MES	The chip slot (modifier).

Parts

Icon	Name	Description
	AR Receiver	AR-family receiver.
	DI Bolt Carrier	Standard AR bolt.
	High-Pressure BCG	Bolt for hot loads.
	Lightweight BCG	Light bolt.
	Mil-Spec Trigger	Standard trigger.
	Match Trigger	Precision trigger.
	Binary Trigger	Faster-firing AR trigger.
	Carbine Stock	Standard stock.
	Precision Stock	Marksman stock.
	SOPMOD Stock	Adjustable stock.
	STANAG 20rd / 30rd / 40rd	AR magazines.
	Carbine Handguard	Standard handguard.
	M-LOK Free-Float	Free-float handguard.
	A2 Pistol Grip	Standard grip.
	Ergo Grip	Ergonomic grip.
	Irons	Iron sights.
	Red Dot	Red dot sight.
	Holographic Sight	Holo sight.
	Flash Hider	Cuts muzzle flash.
	Compensator	Cuts recoil.
	Field Stabilizer	A module for the MES chip slot.
	AK Stamped / Milled Receiver	AK receivers.
	Long-Stroke Piston BCG	AK bolt.
	AK Trigger Group / Enhanced Trigger	AK triggers.
	Wood Stock	Classic stock.
	AK 30rd / 75rd Drum	AK magazines.
	AK Irons / Side-Rail Optic	AK sights.
	AK Slant Brake	AK muzzle brake.
	Bakelite Grip	AK grip.
	Polymer Frame	Pistol frame.
	Slide / Striker	Pistol action.
	Duty Trigger	Pistol trigger.
	Pistol Red Dot	Pistol optic.
	Pistol Compensator	Pistol muzzle.
	Pistol Suppressor	Quiets the pistol.
	Textured Grip Panels	Pistol grip.
	MP5 Receiver	MP5 frame.
	MP5SD Integral Barrel	Built-in suppressed barrel.
	Roller-Delayed Bolt	MP5 bolt.
	Collapsible Stock / Fixed Stock	MP5 stocks.
	MP5 30rd	MP5 magazine.
	Slim Handguard	MP5 handguard.
	RPG Tube	RPG-7 tube.
	SAW Pack	M249 100-round box.
	AK Rec Blank / AK Brl Blank	Iron or steel blanks crafted into AK parts.

Attachments

Mounted on the optic, muzzle and grip mount points. Mounting attachments in the field is in development.

Icon	Name	Description
	Red Dot	Field-mounted optic.
	Holo Sight	Field-mounted optic.
	ACOG	Magnified optic.
	Thermal	Thermal optic.
	Suppressor	Quiets shots.
	V-Grip	Vertical grip.
	A-Grip	Angled grip.

Tech Chips

Chips go in a gun's MES slot to add an effect. Install them at the Armory.

Icon	Name	Description
	Armor-Piercing	Armor-Piercing Fragment: rounds punch through armor.
	Target Prediction	Target Prediction Crystal: helps lead moving targets.
	Explosive Rounds	Explosive Rounds Chip: rounds explode on hit.
	Rapid Fire	Rapid Fire Chip: raises fire rate.
	Recoil Dampening	Recoil Dampening Chip: cuts recoil.
	Heat Resistance	Heat Resistance Jacket: resists overheating.
	Ammo Conservation	Ammo Conservation Nanite: uses less ammo.

Item Quality

Every item has a rarity, a grade and a condition. They are independent of each other.

Rarity

Icon	Name	Description
	Common	Ordinary.
	Uncommon	A little better.
	Rare	Hard to find.
	Epic	Very rare.
	Godly	The rarest.

Grade

Icon	Name	Description
	Poor	Low build quality.
	Standard	Normal build quality.
	High	Better build quality.
	Exceptional	The best build quality.

Condition

Icon	Name	Description
	Rusty	Badly worn.
	Worn	Used.
	Fair	Serviceable.
	Good	Solid.
	Perfect	Like new.
	Pristine	Flawless.

Equipment and Inventory

Inventory

Your backpack, opened with Tab or I. Drag items to equip them, and press X to drop. It's limited by slots and weight; you can't pick up more once you're full or too heavy.

Carry capacity

Your base carry weight is 54 kg. Each equipped pack, rig or vest raises it.

Item categories

Weapons, armor, tools, medical, electronics, building components, vehicle components, resources, machinery, consumables, artifacts, quest items and blueprints.

Equipment slots

Icon	Name	Description
	Helmet slot	Head armor.
	Vest slot	Body armor.
	Rig slot	Chest rigs; more carry space.
	Pack slot	Backpacks; more carry space.
	Gear slot	Utility gear.
	Gloves slot	Hand gear.
	Legs slot	Leg armor.
	Boots slot	Footwear.
	Primary slot	Main long gun.
	Secondary slot	Backup long gun.
	Sidearm slot	Pistol or compact gun.

Equipment items

Wear gear by dragging it to its slot. Armor can be crafted at the Workbench once you have its blueprint.

Icon	Name	Description
	Soft Vest	Light body armor. Craftable.
	Plate Carrier	Heavier plate armor. Craftable.
	Alloy Carrier	Light alloy body armor.
	Flak Vest	Fragmentation protection.
	Helmet	Ballistic helmet. Craftable.
	Light Helm	Light helmet. Craftable.
	Mandible Helm	Helmet with jaw guard.
	Leg Armor	Protects legs. Craftable.
	Shin Guards	Light leg protection.
	Gloves	Tactical gloves.
	Work Gloves	Gloves for labor.
	Boots	Combat boots.
	Trail Boots	Light boots.
	Chest Rig	Rig with extra carry space.
	Mag Rig	Rig for magazines.
	Utility Rig	Rig for tools and gear.
	Bandolier	Scout bandolier.
	Assault Pack	Medium backpack.
	Rucksack	Large backpack.
	Daypack	Small hydration pack.
	Duffel	Hauling bag.

Backpacks

Packs add carry space and weight capacity.

Consumables

Use consumables from your inventory. Medical items heal, food keeps your squad going, and repair items fix gear.

Icon	Name	Description
	Bandage	Stops bleeding.
	Aid Kit	First aid kit for healing.
	Pills	Painkillers.
	Stim	Stim syringe for a boost.
	Antiviral	Antiviral vial against infection.
	Spray	Antiseptic spray.
	Field Med	Field medical pack.
	Poly Brace	Polymer brace.
	Patch Kit	Repairs gear (Repair Bench).
	Field Tape	Quick repairs (Repair Bench).
	Ration	Field ration (Field Kitchen).
	Trail Stew	Cooked meal (Field Kitchen).
	Iron Plate	Building plate.
	Supply Crate	Supply crate.
	Spike Trap	Placed trap.

Deployables

Gear you place in the world. Select it in your inventory, place it, and it arms after a moment. Some can be recovered after use.

Icon	Name	Description
	Field Crate	Placed storage.
	Generator	Field power.
	Field Light	Lights an area.
	Sensor	Detects movement.
	Turret	Automated gun.
	Barricade	Cover.
	Field Station	Portable station.
	Beacon	Marks a location.
	Prox Mine	Explodes when enemies come near.
	AV Mine	Anti-vehicle mine.
	Tripwire	Triggers when crossed.
	Breach Chg	Breaching charge.
	Sticky Chg	Sticky charge.
	Ballistic Shield	Carried cover.
	Bubble	Bubble shield.
	Shield Array	Area shield.
	Recon Drone	Scouts ahead.
	Jammer	Signal jammer.
	Scanner	Field scanner.
	Detonator	Sets off remote charges.

Grenades and Explosives

Throwing grenades

Hold T to charge and see the arc, then release to throw. The fuse starts at release. Hold longer to cook it; a frag fuse is 4 seconds.

Fuses

Icon	Name	Description
	Timed	Goes off after a delay.
	Impact	Goes off on hit.
	Proximity	Goes off when something comes near.
	Remote	Goes off with a detonator.
	Tripwire	Goes off when crossed.
	Pressure	Goes off under weight.
	Airburst	Bursts in the air.
	Delayed Impact	Goes off shortly after hitting.
	Anti-Tamper	Goes off if disturbed.

Incendiary grenades and smoke are in development.

Vehicles

Driving

Walk up and press F to enter or exit. Drive with W A S D. Light trucks are much faster than sprinting.

Truck bed

Open the truck bed with E while driving, or use it on foot, to load and unload loot. Esc closes it.

Building vehicles

At the Vehicle Bench, pick a chassis, fill each slot with a part, and press BUILD to spend the materials. Tanks need the Vehicle Factory.

Icon	Name	Description
	Utility Truck	Light utility truck for hauling.
	Heavy Tank	Armored heavy vehicle. Needs the Vehicle Factory.
	Field Service	Repair and service at the Vehicle Bench.
	Resupply Truck	A truck that brings supplies.

Vehicle parts

Icon	Name	Description
	Engine	Power and speed.
	Wheels	Grip and handling.
	Armor Plating	Protection.
	Turret Weapon	Mounted gun.
	Fuel Tank	Range.
	Ammo Rack	Ammo storage.

Airfield, Planes and Bombs

Airbase

An airbase with an airstrip, a hangar and a bomb shelf for planes and bombing runs. in development

Plane status

Icon	Name	Description
	Ready	Ready to fly.
	En Route	Flying a mission.
	Cooldown	Resting before the next run.
	Lost	Shot down or lost.
	Repairing	Being repaired.

Bombs

Icon	Name	Description
	HE 200	200 lb high-explosive bomb.
	HE 500	500 lb high-explosive bomb.
	HE 1000	1000 lb high-explosive bomb.

More bomb types are in development.

Trading

Marketplace

Buy what you can't craft and what never drops, and sell loot for Credits. Open it with K from the pause menu. Each part you buy brings its own material onto your gun.

Trade posts

Allied trader camps in the field. A starter trade post always sits a short walk from your HQ. Walk up and press E to trade. Allied camps can also be Recruit camps or Job Boards.

Regional markets

Markets and traders out in the world, beyond your base.

More trading posts

A buildable trade post at your base, remote posts and posts at conquered enemy POIs are in development.

A-Z Glossary

Icon	Term	Description
	A2 Pistol Grip	Standard grip.
	Abandoned Farm	Barns, silos and machine sheds.
	ACOG	Magnified optic.
	Acting Commander	The soldier you are playing; they lead the squad.
	Advanced	Combiner pad quality.
	Advanced tier	High performance.
	A-Grip	Angled grip.
	Aid Kit	First aid kit for healing.
	Airbase	Airstrip, hangar and bomb shelf for planes. in development
	Airburst	Bursts in the air.
	AK 30rd / 75rd Drum	AK magazines.
	AK Irons / Side-Rail Optic	AK sights.
	AKM	Rugged assault rifle.
	AK Rec Blank / AK Brl Blank	Iron or steel blanks crafted into AK parts.
	AK Slant Brake	AK muzzle brake.
	AK Stamped / Milled Receiver	AK receivers.
	AK Trigger Group / Enhanced Trigger	AK triggers.
	Alloy Carrier	Light alloy body armor.
	Aluminum	Light chassis and vehicle parts. Softer than steel.
	Ammo Bunker	Ammo storage.
	Ammo Conservation	Ammo Conservation Nanite: uses less ammo.
	Ammo Press	Ammo packs and special rounds like FMJ and AP.
	Ammo Rack	Ammo storage.
	Analysis Desk	Study desk at the Comm Shack for learning from items and signals.
	Ancient Relic	Rare relic loot.
	Anti-Armor Turret	Defense turret. in development
	Antique Vase	Valuable art.
	Anti-Tamper	Goes off if disturbed.
	Antiviral	Antiviral vial against infection.
	AP	Armor-piercing rounds from the Ammo Press.
	Arid	Dunes, badlands and scrubland.
	Armor-Piercing	Armor-Piercing Fragment: rounds punch through armor.
	Armor Plating	Protection.
	Armory	Advanced weapons, parts and the gun forge.
	AR Receiver	AR-family receiver.
	Assault Pack	Medium backpack.
	Autocannon Turret	Defense turret. in development
	AV Mine	Anti-vehicle mine.
	Axe	Hand tool.
	Bakelite Grip	AK grip.
	Ballistic Shield	Carried cover.
	Bandage	Stops bleeding.
	Bandolier	Scout bandolier.
	Barracks	Places the Recruit Desk for hiring soldiers.
	Barrel	Sets range and accuracy.
	Barricade	Cover.
	Basic	Combiner pad quality.
	Beacon	Marks a location.
	Binary Trigger	Faster-firing AR trigger.
	Black Artifact	A rare artifact.
	Blackmail Folder	Intel loot.
	Blend	Hybrid of a material and its hardened form, e.g. Steel Blend.
	Bolt	The bolt or bolt carrier group.
	Bomb Drone	Hacking plus Demolitions. in development
	Boots	Combat boots.
	Boots slot	Footwear.
	Brass Casing	Formed at a processor for ammo.
	Breach Chg	Breaching charge.
	Breach Kit	Breaching tool for locked doors and sites.
	Bronze Figurine	Valuable art.
	Bubble	Bubble shield.
	Build Mode	Press M at the HQ to place buildings.
	Bunker Ruin	An enterable bunker with ammo.
	Carbine Handguard	Standard handguard.
	Carbine Stock	Standard stock.
	Carbon Fiber	Ultra-light furniture. Expensive and delaminates on impact.
	Carbon-Steel Composite	Hybrid of Carbon Fiber and Steel or Hardened Steel.
	Cave Tunnel	An enterable cave or tunnel campus.
	Chest Rig	Rig with extra carry space.
	Civilian AR / AR SPR	The Civilian AR Carbine and the AR-15 SPR Marksman; they share the AR parts pool with the Service Rifle.
	Cloth	Woven at the Mill from fiber.
	Collapsible Stock / Fixed Stock	MP5 stocks.
	Collector Vinyl	Collectible.
	Combat Blade	Melee blade.
	Combat Hacker: Gun Drone	Hacking plus Firearms. in development
	COMMAND Console	HQ station where P switches to RTS.
	Commander's Case	Loot carried by an enemy commander.
	Command Post	Command terminal for entering RTS mode.
	Common	Ordinary.
	Comm Shack	Houses the Analysis Desk for studying signals.
	Compensator	Cuts recoil.
	Components	Mechanical parts salvaged from loot.
	Composite	Layered furniture with balanced weight and durability.
	Composite (hybrid)	Hybrid of two different materials, named A-B Composite.
	Contested Base	A fortified faction base with a command hut, barracks and sandbag ring.
	Contraband Cigarettes	Trade goods.
	Cooldown	Resting before the next run.
	Copper	Contacts, ammo tips and radio parts. Soft structure.
	Crafting Stations	Every bench and facility that runs recipes.
	Crashed Convoy	Wrecked vehicles with salvage.
	Credits	The currency for buying and selling.
	Crowbar	Hand tool.
	Crude	Combiner pad quality.
	Cut Diamond	Valuable for trading.
	Cutting Torch	Hand tool.
	Daypack	Small hydration pack.
	Delayed Impact	Goes off shortly after hitting.
	Demolitions	Explosives, charges and grenades.
	Detonator	Sets off remote charges.
	Diamond Artifact	A rare artifact.
	Diamond Ring	Valuable.
	DI Bolt Carrier	Standard AR bolt.
	Drone Nav Module	Electronics loot.
	Duffel	Hauling bag.
	Duty Trigger	Pistol trigger.
	Encrypted SSD	Data loot.
	Engine	Power and speed.
	Engineering	Building, repair and machinery.
	Engineer Works	Engineer station for clearing rubble and repairing damage.
	En Route	Flying a mission.
	Epic	Very rare.
	Ergo Grip	Ergonomic grip.
	Estate Brooch	Valuable.
	Exceptional	The best build quality.
	Exotic	Combiner pad quality.
	Exotic Alloy	High-performance late-game material. Scarce and unknown until studied.
	Exotic tier	Top tier.
	Experimental	Combiner pad quality.
	Explosive Rounds	Explosive Rounds Chip: rounds explode on hit.
	Export Silk Bolt	Trade goods.
	Extraction	Reaching an exit to keep your loot.
	Facility Schematic	Intel loot.
	Factory Yard	An industrial site.
	Fair	Serviceable.
	Field Crate	Placed storage.
	Field Depot	Storage building with warehouse slots.
	Field Kitchen	Rations and cookouts.
	Field Knife	Hand tool.
	Field Light	Lights an area.
	Field Med	Field medical pack.
	Field Service	Repair and service at the Vehicle Bench.
	Field Stabilizer	A module for the MES chip slot.
	Field Station	Portable station.
	Field Tape	Quick repairs (Repair Bench).
	Flak Vest	Fragmentation protection.
	Flash Hider	Cuts muzzle flash.
	FMJ	Standard full-metal-jacket rounds from the Ammo Press.
	FN FAL	Battle rifle.
	Fog of War	Hides unexplored and unseen areas.
	Forest	Dense woods, meadows, leaf glades and mossy hills.
	Fort Bunker	Engineer fortification: a hard bunker.
	Fuel Depot	Fuel storage.
	Fuel Dump	Stored fuel.
	Fuel Tank	Range.
	Gear slot	Utility gear.
	Generator	Field power.
	Gloves	Tactical gloves.
	Gloves slot	Hand gear.
	Godly	The rarest.
	Gold	Mined from rare deposits.
	Gold Artifact	A rare artifact.
	Gold Bar	High-value valuable for trading.
	Gold Watch	Valuable.
	Good	Solid.
	Grip	How the gun is held.
	Guard Post	Perimeter defense post.
	Hacking	Grows by claiming and powering facilities.
	Hacksaw	Hand tool.
	Hammer	Hand tool.
	Hardened Polymer	Stocks, grips and mag bodies. Softens under sustained fire.
	Hardened Steel	Barrels, bolts and receivers under heat. Costly and brittle if overdone.
	Hardened tier	Treated for toughness.
	Hatchet	Hand tool.
	HE 1000	1000 lb high-explosive bomb.
	HE 200	200 lb high-explosive bomb.
	HE 500	500 lb high-explosive bomb.
	Heat Resistance	Heat Resistance Jacket: resists overheating.
	Heavy Tank	Armored heavy vehicle. Needs the Vehicle Factory.
	Helmet	Ballistic helmet. Craftable.
	Helmet slot	Head armor.
	High	Better build quality.
	High-Grade Propellant	Stronger ammo propellant.
	High-Pressure BCG	Bolt for hot loads.
	Hilltop Radio	A radio site on high ground.
	Holographic Sight	Holo sight.
	Holo Sight	Field-mounted optic.
	HQ	Your private home base.
	HVT Custody	A high-value target in custody.
	Impact	Goes off on hit.
	Industrial	Yards and machinery country.
	Infected Scrap	Salvage from the infected.
	Iron	Strong frames, tools and cheap stock. Heavy and rusts.
	Iron Ore	Raw ore from deposits; smelt into iron and steel.
	Iron Plate	Building plate.
	Irons	Iron sights.
	Jammer	Signal jammer.
	Kiln	Roasts and cures lead, rubber and ore.
	Large Firearms	Machine guns and launchers.
	Lead	Mined, or cured at the Kiln.
	Leadership	Commanding the squad.
	Leg Armor	Protects legs. Craftable.
	Legs slot	Leg armor.
	Light Helm	Light helmet. Craftable.
	Lightweight Alloy	Aircraft and light weapon parts.
	Lightweight BCG	Light bolt.
	Logging Camp	Timber and tools.
	Logistics	Hauling, supply and storage.
	Long-Stroke Piston BCG	AK bolt.
	Lost	Shot down or lost.
	Lost Prototype	Rare tech loot.
	M1 Garand	Semi-auto rifle.
	M249 SAW	Light machine gun.
	Machete	Hand tool.
	Magazine	Holds ammo.
	Magnum Propellant	Heavy-load propellant.
	Mag Rig	Rig for magazines.
	Mandible Helm	Helmet with jaw guard.
	Market Town	A ruined market town with shop loot.
	Match Trigger	Precision trigger.
	Material Combiner	Fuses two materials into a hybrid.
	Med Drone	Hacking plus Medicine. in development
	Medicine	Healing and medical items.
	Med Tent	Healing and medical storage.
	Melee	Blades, tools and hand-to-hand.
	MES	The chip slot (modifier).
	Mess Hall	Field kitchen for cooking rations; also heals.
	MG Turret	Defense turret. in development
	Military Depot	A military storage site.
	Mill	Turns fiber and scrap into cloth and rubber.
	Mil Radio Core	Electronics loot.
	Mil-Spec Trigger	Standard trigger.
	Mining Drill	Hand tool.
	M-LOK Free-Float	Free-float handguard.
	Motor Pool	Vehicle bench for simple vehicles, plus fuel and vehicle capacity.
	MP5	Submachine gun.
	MP5 30rd	MP5 magazine.
	MP5 Receiver	MP5 frame.
	MP5SD Integral Barrel	Built-in suppressed barrel.
	Multi-tool	Hand tool.
	Munitions Lab	Ammo press for crafting ammo.
	Muzzle	Brake, hider or suppressor.
	Oil / Fuel	Pumped from oil seeps; fuels vehicles.
	Oil Painting	Valuable art.
	Optic	Sight mount.
	Ore Cut	A mining cut with ore deposits.
	P90	Compact SMG.
	Pack slot	Backpacks; more carry space.
	Patch Kit	Repairs gear (Repair Bench).
	Patrol Schedule	Intel loot.
	Payroll Ledger	Intel loot.
	Pearl Necklace	Valuable.
	Perfect	Like new.
	Perimeter Wall	Walls around your base.
	Permadeath	Dead soldiers stay dead.
	Pharma Sample Case	Trade goods.
	Pickaxe	Mines ore deposits.
	Pills	Painkillers.
	Pistol Compensator	Pistol muzzle.
	Pistol Red Dot	Pistol optic.
	Pistol Suppressor	Quiets the pistol.
	Plate Carrier	Heavier plate armor. Craftable.
	Platinum Flake Tin	Tiny, high-value flake tin.
	Pliers	Hand tool.
	POI	A point of interest on the map.
	Poly Brace	Polymer brace.
	Polymer	Light furniture and housings. Softens with heat.
	Polymer Frame	Pistol frame.
	Poor	Low build quality.
	Power Drill	Hand tool.
	Power Generator	Power plant; mines and some facilities need power.
	Precision	Combiner pad quality.
	Precision Stock	Marksman stock.
	Pressure	Goes off under weight.
	Primary slot	Main long gun.
	Pristine	Flawless.
	Projectile Core	Formed at a processor for ammo.
	Proximity	Goes off when something comes near.
	Prox Mine	Explodes when enemies come near.
	Quartermaster	Storage with a small gun and ammo shelf.
	Radio Mast	Communications building that lowers base alert.
	Rapid Fire	Rapid Fire Chip: raises fire rate.
	Rare	Hard to find.
	Ration	Field ration (Field Kitchen).
	Ready	Ready to fly.
	Receiver	The gun's core frame.
	Recoil Dampening	Recoil Dampening Chip: cuts recoil.
	Recon	Scouting and spotting.
	Recon Drone	Scouts ahead.
	Red Dot	Red dot sight.
	Refined tier	Processed quality.
	Rem 700	Bolt-action rifle.
	Rem 870	Pump shotgun.
	Remote	Goes off with a detonator.
	Repair Bench	Patch kits and field tape.
	Repairing	Being repaired.
	Repair Kit	Hand tool.
	Research Lab	Researches tech nodes and blueprints.
	Resupply Truck	A truck that brings supplies.
	Rig slot	Chest rigs; more carry space.
	Riverside Hamlet	A small waterside settlement.
	Road Checkpoint	A guarded road stop.
	Roller-Delayed Bolt	MP5 bolt.
	RPG-7	Rocket launcher.
	RPG Tube	RPG-7 tube.
	Rubber	Made at the Mill or Kiln.
	Rucksack	Large backpack.
	Run	One trip: deploy, loot, extract.
	Rusty	Badly worn.
	Saltpeter / Black Powder	Sulfur and saltpeter for propellant.
	Saw	Hand tool.
	Sawmill	Turns timber into wood planks.
	SAW Pack	M249 100-round box.
	Scanner	Field scanner.
	Scavenging	Finding and salvaging loot.
	Scrap	Cheap salvage for emergency frames. Weak, hot and heavy.
	Scrap tier	Lowest quality.
	Scrap Yard	Breaks scrap into mixed materials (Reclaimer).
	Screwdriver Set	Hand tool.
	Sealed Spice Crate	Trade goods.
	Secondary slot	Backup long gun.
	Sensor	Detects movement.
	Server Blade	Electronics loot.
	Service Pistol	Standard-issue sidearm.
	Service Rifle	The standard-issue AR, a military M4-style carbine.
	Shield Array	Area shield.
	Shin Guards	Light leg protection.
	Shovel	Hand tool.
	Sidearm slot	Pistol or compact gun.
	Sighting	Launcher sights.
	Silver Ingot	Valuable metal for trading.
	Sledgehammer	Hand tool.
	Slide / Striker	Pistol action.
	Slim Handguard	MP5 handguard.
	Small Arms	Pistols, SMGs and rifles.
	Smelter	Processor that refines scrap into iron and polymer.
	Smokeless Propellant	Cleaner ammo propellant.
	Snow	Taiga, tundra and ice rock.
	Soft Vest	Light body armor. Craftable.
	SOPMOD Stock	Adjustable stock.
	Spike Trap	Placed trap.
	Spray	Antiseptic spray.
	STANAG 20rd / 30rd / 40rd	AR magazines.
	Standard	Combiner pad quality.
	Standard Propellant	Basic ammo propellant.
	Standard tier	Ordinary quality.
	Stash	HQ storage for extracted loot.
	Stash Shack	A small hidden cache.
	Stealth	Moving unseen.
	Steel	Weapons, armor and structures. Heavy; refined from iron.
	Sticky Chg	Sticky charge.
	Stim	Stim syringe for a boost.
	Stock	Steadies recoil.
	Supply Crate	Supply crate.
	Suppressor	Quiets shots.
	Survival	Living off the land in the field.
	SVD	Marksman rifle.
	Swamp	Bogs, thickets and mudflats.
	Swan Relic	A Swan artifact.
	Target Prediction	Target Prediction Crystal: helps lead moving targets.
	Textured Grip Panels	Pistol grip.
	The Infected	Hordes of hostile infected.
	Thermal	Thermal optic.
	Timed	Goes off after a delay.
	Titanium	Mined from rare deposits.
	Titanium Alloy	Light, corrosion-proof structure and muzzle devices. Scarce.
	Titanium Carbon Composite	Hybrid of Carbon Fiber and Titanium Alloy.
	Trail Boots	Light boots.
	Trail Stew	Cooked meal (Field Kitchen).
	Training Yard	Raises troop capacity and gives a training XP bonus.
	Trigger	Trigger group.
	Tripwire	Triggers when crossed.
	Troop Center	Places the COMMAND console for RTS mode.
	Tube	Launcher tube.
	Turret	Automated gun.
	Turret Weapon	Mounted gun.
	Uncommon	A little better.
	Utility Rig	Rig for tools and gear.
	Utility Truck	Light utility truck for hauling.
	Vehicle Bay	Vehicle facility.
	Vehicle Bench	Simple and light vehicles and field service.
	Vehicle Factory	Builds tanks and heavy vehicles.
	Vehicles	Driving and vehicle handling.
	Vest slot	Body armor.
	V-Grip	Vertical grip.
	Warhead	Launcher warhead.
	Watchtower	Overwatch defense that lowers base alert.
	Watchtower Post	A lookout tower.
	Water Tower	Utility building with light healing.
	Weapons Facility	The armory and gun forge.
	Wheels	Grip and handling.
	Wire Cutters	Hand tool.
	Wood	Stocks, crates, buildings and fuel. Burns easily.
	Wood Stock	Classic stock.
	Workbench	Crafts basic parts, simple guns, braces and crates.
	Work Gloves	Gloves for labor.
	Worn	Used.
	Wrench	Hand tool.