Early Progression Pitfalls

As the official release of Etheria: Restart draws closer, the pressure is mounting for players to hit the ground running. Whether you’re new to the game or a seasoned beta tester prepping for launch, there are critical progression traps you’ll want to avoid — especially when it comes to farming efficiently, picking your starter, and navigating that mid-to-endgame grind. In this article we will share some key insights and translate that into an actionable guide to help you hit the ground sprinting.

Let’s address the hot topic right out of the gate: is Rosa a better starter than Tiamat?
The short answer? Absolutely not.

While Rosa may look flashy, she simply lacks the early utility needed for efficient progression.

Tiamat, on the other hand, brings a swiss-army knife of supportive utility: [Shield] generation, [HoT] (heal over time), [Taunt], and even a powerful AoE nuke after transforming into Dragon Mother form. She’s not just a tank — she’s a progression powerhouse, helping you stay alive even if runs are a bit slower.

Rosa, meanwhile, is crit-reliant and team-dependent. Her kit includes turn meter pushback, conditional follow-ups, and passive damage bonuses tied to crit triggers. Without crit-focused team comps — which are hard to build early — she simply underperforms unless heavily invested. That’s a red flag for new players.

Top Starter Picks?
The top two choices are clear:

• Tiamat – High utility tank/DPS hybrid
• Helkid – Offers [Shield], [Immunity], [ATK-], [Stun] — the whole survival toolkit

One of the most common mistakes players make is inefficient stamina usage, especially in gear farming. Let’s explain a key concept: each difficulty tier has specific breakpoints where it becomes worth farming.

Quick Reference Gear Farming Guide:

• Normal 3: Only Unique gear drops — better than Normal 1 or 2.
• Hard 3: Epics only — ditch Hard 1 & 2.
• Nightmare 3: Outstanding gear only — skip Nightmare 1 & 2.
• Hell 4: Only Mythic gear — the first truly efficient Hell tier.

Trying to farm Mythic gear in Hell 1–3? You’re spinning your wheels. Focus on gearing up through Nightmare 3 and Hell 4, then use that gear to break into the next tier smoothly.

This staggered approach to farming is critical. Jumping ahead too early means you waste stamina on diluted drop pools and can’t clear reliably. Build the bridge before trying to cross the river.

A huge takeaway here is how players misunderstand progression stages:

• Early Game: Up to Nightmare 3
• Mid Game: Prepping for Hell 4
• Late Mid Game: Farming Hell 4
• Endgame: Farming Inferno for 3-set Matrix bonuses and specialized gear cores like Ether Plague and Fury Edge

Trying to leap straight into Hell 4 with Hard 3 or weak Nightmare gear is setting yourself up for failure. Instead, farm smart, push gradually, and prepare for the spike in Hell difficulty.

Once you hit level 50, the real grind begins — pet shells and passive optimization. Inferno stages are the only place to find shells with three Matrix stats, a must for peak performance.

Here’s the trick: invest in Epic pets first. They’re cheaper and more efficient to level and awaken. Then, when the time is right, transition to Mythics by imprinting your investment — transferring stats and levels to better shells.

Key Takeaways on Pet Investment:

• Focus on Slot 2 passives, especially speed (+20 on Mythic, +14 on Epic)
• Don’t try to perfect all three passive slots early — that’s true endgame grind
• Prioritize function: if speed is vital for characters like Kraken or Freya, Mythic pets may be worth it. If not, Epic pets hold plenty of value.

And don’t get discouraged — perfecting mythic pets is a long-term goal, not a Day 7 achievement.

Rushing into high-end content before you’re ready is the fastest way to burn out. Let’s hammer this home: build a solid foundation, progress logically, and don’t be afraid to backtrack if needed.

Trying to brute force Hell 4 or perfect Mythic rolls in the first week? It’s a trap. Follow the smart path, stay efficient with your stamina, and keep refining your account piece by piece.