Pacts are Soulframe's version of classes, and the question every new Envoy asks in their first minutes is: which Pact do I pick? The short answer is Oscelda for most players — but here's the full breakdown, because Pacts are more flexible than a typical class system.
Version note: This guide is written against the Open Preludes Alpha build that opened to all players on November 6, 2026 (Preludes 16). Soulframe's starting Pact roster has shifted between Preludes versions (older builds offered Fey, Ode Tempest, and Garren Rood as starters). The three starters below — Tethren, Oscelda, and Sirin — are the current lineup. Because the game is in early testing, ability names and effects are more stable than specific numbers, which we've kept out where they're likely to change.
What is a Pact?
A Pact is a swappable piece of equipment worn on your Envoy's Fey-touched right arm. Equipping one gives you:
- Three Arcanics — active, cooldown-based abilities tied to the Courage, Spirit, and Grace Virtues.
- Two unique passives via a Pact Arts skill tree.
- For starter Pacts: a matching weapon and totem.
The key difference from a normal RPG class: you are never locked in. You pick a starter, but you can eventually craft and collect every Pact in the game.
How Pacts work
- Arcanics are your active abilities. Each Pact has three, and each scales with one of the three Virtues — so your Virtue investment directly affects how hard your abilities hit.
- Passives come from the Pact Arts tree and reinforce the Pact's identity (life drain, thorns, stealth bonuses, etc.).
- Virtue synergy matters: a Pact whose Arcanics scale with Spirit benefits from a Spirit-heavy Virtue build. Match your Pact to your Virtues and your weapon (see our beginner's guide for how weapon Virtue requirements work).
- Pacts are craftable and swappable. Once you recruit Tuvalkane and raise her Bond, you can craft additional Pacts and switch between them in the Nightfold.
The three starter Pacts
| Pact | Virtue focus | Playstyle | Difficulty | Faction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oscelda | Spirit | Caster / healer | Beginner | Alca's Children |
| Tethren | Courage | Melee bruiser | Intermediate | Kith of Kings |
| Sirin | Grace | Stealth / ranged | Intermediate | — |
Oscelda — Pact of Spirit (caster & healer)
Best for new players and anyone who wants range plus sustain.
- Bestone — petrify enemies near the impact point; attacking a petrified enemy breaks the crowd control early and deals bonus damage.
- Elderbloom — place a plant that heals all nearby Envoys over time. A rare early-game heal.
- Phantom Flock — summon phantom songbirds that damage and stagger enemies over time.
- Passives: thorns that slow/damage attackers, and faster Arcanic recharge in water.
Why Oscelda is the best starter: ranged combat lets you learn enemy patterns from a safe distance, and the heal keeps you alive through early mistakes. That combination is hard to beat in your first hours.
Tethren — Pact of Courage (melee bruiser)
Best if you want to fight up close and never die.
- Fellust — consecutive weapon strikes build up bonus weapon damage; missing resets it.
- Call of the Ancients — taunt nearby enemies while buffing your weapon damage and damage reduction.
- Clash — a stagger/stun shockwave that also reduces how much you get staggered.
- Passives: absorb Life from fallen enemies, and a last-stand survivability tool.
Tethren is often described as the strongest front-line starter with high survivability and strong sustain — the pick for players who like to be the tank.
Sirin — Pact of Grace (stealth rogue)
Best if you want stealth, bows, and backstabs.
- Picktrix Powder — blind and weaken enemies near the impact, making them take more stagger.
- Trick of the Light — summon an explosive decoy that draws aggro, opening enemies to backstabs.
- Glamour — turn invisible (as a flight of butterflies) to escape or sneak behind enemies for bonus backstab damage.
- Passives: threats glow in the dark, and a pickpocket ability that steals loot from enemies.
Sirin rewards patience and positioning more than the other two — a higher skill floor, but strong in the right hands.
Which Pact should you pick first?
| You want… | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The easiest start / a healer | Oscelda | Range + heal = forgiving and useful all game |
| To smash things in melee | Tethren | Tanky front-line sustain, strongest bruiser kit |
| Stealth, bows, assassinations | Sirin | Invisibility and backstabs, but a steeper curve |
Bottom line: if you don't have a strong preference, take Oscelda. Nothing is permanent — you can craft the other two starters later — so don't overthink it.
All other unlockable Pacts
Beyond the three starters, Soulframe has published more Pacts as you progress. Unlock methods below reflect the current build and can shift between updates.
| Pact | Virtue | Identity | How to unlock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garren Rood | Spirit | Life drain / support | Main story quest |
| Orengall | Spirit | Wolf pack / summoner | Main story quest |
| Bromius | Courage | AOE tank | "The Waste Bear" Fable |
| Duelo | Grace | Pistol duelist | "The Wreck of Mestra Carmo" Fable |
| Ode Tempest | Courage | Lightning melee | High faction rank + crafting |
| Mora's Hand | Courage | Fire melee | Kith of Kings rank 5 |
There are also Wyld variants of the three starters (Wyld Tethren, Wyld Oscelda, Wyld Sirin). These have the same Arcanics as the base versions and come from Founder packs — they're cosmetic/founder variants, not separate ability kits.
How to unlock and switch Pacts
- Starters: you choose one during "Rise, Envoy." The other two can be bought back from their faction vendors at around rank 3 (roughly 12,500 Favour/standing) or obtained through Arcs.
- Crafting: you craft Pacts at Tuvalkane's station in the Nightfold. You need Tuvalkane Bond Level 3 to craft Pacts, so raise her Bond by crafting gear early.
- Switching: once crafted, you can swap Pacts freely in the Nightfold, the same place you manage loadouts.
FAQ
Are Pacts permanent? No. Your starting choice is not a lock-in — you can craft and collect every Pact over time.
Do I need to match my Pact to my weapon? It helps. Pacts and weapons both scale with Virtues, so align your Pact, weapon, and Virtue build around the same Virtue (Courage, Spirit, or Grace).
Is there a "best" Pact overall? For new players, Oscelda is the safest recommendation. Tethren is widely considered the strongest melee bruiser. There's no single best Pact — the right one depends on your playstyle, and swapping is free once crafted.
What are Wyld Pacts? Founder-pack variants of the three starters with the same abilities but a different look.
Last verified: November 8, 2026. Based on the Soulframe Open Preludes Alpha (open to all players since November 6, 2026). Pact roster and unlock methods may change as Preludes updates ship.