Soulframe is Digital Extremes' free-to-play fantasy action RPG — the studio behind Warframe. As of November 6, 2026, the game's "Open Preludes" Alpha is free and open to everyone on Windows PC (no invite needed), so a wave of new Envoys is landing in the world of Midrath with no idea what to do first. This guide fixes that.
Version note: This guide is written against the Open Preludes Alpha build that opened to all players on November 6, 2026 (Preludes 16 content). Preludes 17 — titled "Verse of the Veilands" — is expected later in November and adds rideable Omen Wolf mounts and a new world-progression system. Because Soulframe is in early testing, numbers change between updates; this guide focuses on stable systems and the order you should do things, not specific stat values.
TL;DR — Your first 2 hours, in order
- Pick a starter Pact (your class). For most new players, pick Oscelda.
- Follow your Sparrow and finish the tutorial quest "Rise, Envoy."
- Recruit Tuvalkane the Blacksmith as early as possible — she unlocks crafting.
- Learn the Virtue system (Courage / Spirit / Grace) before spending points.
- Spam Spectral Sight to find hidden chests, Motes, and smite-able enemies.
- Break every barrel and crate for Dracs (currency) and materials.
- Build out your Nightfold — it's your hub for everything that matters.
1. Pick the right starting Pact
Pacts are Soulframe's version of classes, and your first meaningful choice. You pick one during character creation, but it is not permanent — you can craft and switch Pacts later. The three starters are:
| Pact | Virtue | Playstyle | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oscelda | Spirit | Caster / healer | New players (recommended) |
| Tethren | Courage | Melee bruiser | Melee fans |
| Sirin | Grace | Stealth / ranged | Rogues & bow users |
Recommendation: If you don't have a strong preference, take Oscelda. She gives you ranged combat to ease into the game plus a healing ability (Elderbloom), which is rare and extremely useful in your first hours. Tethren is the tankiest front-line option; Sirin rewards patient stealth play. Full breakdown in our Soulframe Pacts guide.
2. Follow your Sparrow and finish "Rise, Envoy"
You play as the Envoy, an exile returning to Midrath. Early on you'll be given a Sparrow — a spectral guide that points you toward your current objective.
- Summon it anytime: press G on keyboard, or Right on the D-pad on controller.
- Your Sparrow points toward objectives and nearby points of interest, so check it whenever you're lost.
- The tutorial quest, "Rise, Envoy," walks you through movement, combat, and reaching your Nightfold. Finish it before exploring freely — it unlocks core systems.
3. Recruit Tuvalkane the Blacksmith (unlocks crafting)
This is the single most important early task. Without Tuvalkane, you cannot craft weapons, armor, or Pacts.
- From the starting area, head east toward a crater, clear the enemies there, and collect the Moonsteel helm.
- Carry the helm along the path (follow your Sparrow) to the forge.
- Delivering the helm triggers a cutscene, and Tuvalkane relocates to your Nightfold, where her crafting station unlocks.
The quest that wraps this up is "The Steelsinger." Do it before you spend any time farming — most of the game's gear loop is gated behind her.
4. Understand Virtues before spending points
Virtues are Soulframe's core stats, and they work differently than a normal RPG's attributes, so get this right early.
| Virtue | Governs | Typical weapon types |
|---|---|---|
| Courage | Melee power | Longblades, heavy weapons, polearms, shields |
| Spirit | Magick & cooldowns | Magick staves |
| Grace | Precision & stealth | Bows, shortblades, rapiers, flyblades |
The critical rule most new players miss:
- Every weapon has a Virtue requirement, shown as a fraction in its tooltip (e.g. 17/16 = you have 17 points vs. 16 required).
- If your Virtue is below the requirement, you get no bonus at all — there is no partial benefit. Meet the threshold or your points are wasted.
- You gain one Virtue point per Envoy rank and can respec for free per loadout in the Arsenal (added in Preludes 15), so experiment without fear.
Beginner tip: match your weapon to the Virtue you've invested in, not the other way around. If you're building Courage, use a longblade — don't try to force a bow.
5. Use Spectral Sight constantly
Soulframe hides a lot of its loot in the spirit realm. Your Spectral Sight / Soul Mode reveals it.
- Activate with Q or E (the exact key is shown in-game; it's your "spirit vision").
- It highlights hidden chests, Motes, spirits, and enemies you can smite.
- Make a habit of toggling it after every fight and in every new room — the hidden rewards add up fast and are your main source of early crafting materials.
6. Break everything for Dracs
- Dracs are Soulframe's currency; Gossamer Quartz is a key early crafting material (and it's rare, so spend it on weapons before cosmetics).
- Smash barrels, crates, and containers everywhere — they drop Dracs and materials.
- Gossamer Quartz sources: chests in the Dermak Undercity, certain enemies, and the merchant Avakot. Prioritize using it on weapon crafting, not armor or looks.
7. Build out your Nightfold
The Nightfold is your personal hub — a safe zone you can enter outside combat, and the only place you develop your character. Return often to:
- Swap weapons and manage loadouts
- Reallocate Virtue points (free per loadout)
- Unlock and upgrade Combat Arts (weapon skills)
- Change Pacts (after you've crafted more)
- Use Tuvalkane's crafting station
- Meet Orengall, a sleeping white wolf (relevant to later quests)
8. World Trees, fast travel, and the map
- World Trees are large decayed trees with a spear stuck in them. Pull the spear to reveal that region on your map.
- Fast travel unlocks later: recruit the Ancestor Verminia via the "Brewer of Hues" quest, then complete "The Waste Bear" to gain Wevetseeds, which let you fast-travel.
9. A sensible early progression path
- Finish "Rise, Envoy" and reach the Nightfold.
- Recruit Tuvalkane ("The Steelsinger") and start crafting to raise her Bond (Bond Level 3 unlocks Pact crafting).
- Complete "The Last Pensive" to recruit Ancestor Orlick at the Pensive Tower.
- Gather Gossamer Quartz for your first weapon crafts.
- Unlock a second weapon slot in the Nightfold.
- Take on "The Torment Stag" boss — then check "An Invitation..." in the Nightfold for the next story step.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Skipping Tuvalkane — you can't craft anything without her. Do "The Steelsinger" first.
- Ignoring NPC dialogue — many NPCs grant permanent passives or start quests. Exhaust every dialogue option.
- Wasting Gossamer Quartz on cosmetics early — spend it on weapons.
- Mismatching Virtue and weapon — a weapon below its Virtue requirement gives you zero scaling.
- Entering The Torment Stag underprepared — the fight starts immediately after Lady Deora with no rest. Unlock your Pact Arcanics and bring a weapon with a short recovery animation.
FAQ
Is Soulframe free? Yes. The Open Preludes Alpha is free to play and no longer invite-only as of November 6, 2026.
Can I change my Pact later? Yes. Your starting Pact is not permanent — you can craft and equip other Pacts once you've recruited Tuvalkane and raised her Bond.
What if I put my Virtue points in the wrong place? Don't worry. You can respec Virtues for free per loadout in the Arsenal.
Do I need to min-max my first build? No. The early game is forgiving, and free respecs mean you can't ruin your character.
Last verified: November 8, 2026. Based on the Soulframe Open Preludes Alpha (open to all players since November 6, 2026). Systems may change as Preludes updates ship.