Ultimate Beginner Guide Part 5

If you’ve been grinding through Etheria: Restart, chances are you’ve hit a wall—and you’re not alone. The main story’s last chapter, especially stage 10-4, is no joke. It’s where most players get smacked in the face by reality, especially if you’re going full free-to-play (F2P). But guess what? That’s exactly what makes this guide so special.

In this walkthrough, we’re diving deep into what it takes to hit endgame without spending a single dime. From managing resources and prioritizing characters to understanding gear and shells, we’ll break it all down so you can crush Etheria: Restart’s toughest content—F2P style.

Let’s get this out of the way: 10-4 in the main quest is a beast. For many, it marks the end of smooth sailing and the beginning of serious resource planning. The boss fights here aren’t just about brute force—they’re about sustain, synergy, and smart progression.

We made it to the final battle without pre-reg rewards, without pay-to-win units, and with zero monetary help. That’s a serious flex and a huge confidence boost for any new or returning player wondering if Etheria: Restart is fair to F2P. Spoiler: it is—if you play smart.

By the time you’re approaching level 34, you’ll realize spreading your resources too thin is a death sentence. Upgrading modules, shells, and prowess levels eats through silver fast. The reality? Most F2P players can only afford to build 5 to 7 characters effectively.

Here’s the setup that carried our particular run:

• Tiamat (DPS) – scales hard into her dragon form and snowballs fights.
• Dorothy (Support Sustain) – glue holding the team together.
• Kraken (Control) – “sets the table” so the DPS can do there thing.
• Lian (DPS) – consistent, clean damage.
• Gray & Dinah – support characters in progress.

This comp strikes a balance between sustain, control, and raw damage—crucial for long fights like Helkid, the penultimate boss. But if you dont have all of the above characters, that is fine just apply the same principles. Dorothy could be swapped with Lingluo, Kraken is unique with his freeze but any control will help. Victor is incredible single target DPS, you get the idea.

One of the most common F2P concerns? Dupes. Let’s clear this up: yes, dupes help. But no, they’re not required.

Each dupe tier gives you:

• +5% stats (attack, defense, HP)
• Crit Damage
• Crit Rate
• 10% damage dealt increase and 10% damage taken reduction

While a maxed-out five-star with all dupes is powerful, the difference is about a 20–25% edge—helpful, but not game-breaking. You’re totally viable without them. And since purple units are easier to max out early, they can actually outperform SSR units in the short term thanks to quicker stat bonuses and access to crit or accuracy effects.

Once you hit the later stages of the beta, gear becomes king.

This is where Matrix Effects from gold shells start to shine. For example, Kraken benefitted from switching into a Bramble set, which grants him extra defense without losing speed. Mixing and matching gear bonuses while maintaining the 12-set point threshold is key to surviving the brutal later fights.

You’ll start seeing purple and gold shells with strong effects like:

• White Gale – bonus attack under control effects
• Mermaid Princess – purifies debuffs pre-turn, amazing for PvP or speedy DPS setups

Use recycled gear to keep up your silver income and be selective about which Matrix sets you aim for—Brambles for tanks, Swiftrush for speed, etc.

Upgrading characters to six-star is the next milestone—and yes, it’s doable F2P.

You’ll need a combination of:

• Gold and purple prints (earned from events, shops, Hyperlink Charter, and Ember stages)
• Silver (farm and recycle gear for it)
• Animus materials (you’ll need five reds per character)

By farming smartly and using the available shops (like Arena, Union, and the general store), you can craft your first 6-star within 5 days, which the devs seemingly expect players to do. Bonus: hitting that milestone also nets you a red animus for your next character.

Once your first six-star is done, your job isn’t over. The final boss fight requires more than just stats—it demands synergy, strategy, and optimized gear. This is where you:

• Focus on upgrading key modules
• Push for higher Shell synergy
• Farm nightmare stages for gear and currency
• Max out your level 50 unit and start prepping the next

And yes, even at this point, it’s still 100% F2P viable.

This guide isn’t just a walkthrough—it’s proof. Proof that you can go toe-to-toe with Etheria: Restart’s most challenging beta content with zero real-world investment. It’s all about focus, smart farming, and team synergy.

So, if you’ve been worried about hitting that paywall? Don’t be. Whether you’re using SRs or a couple lucky SSR pulls, the game absolutely rewards tactical play.

Now it’s your turn—get those shells, push that level cap, and knock out Terramaton. And hey, if you need more help, check out our other Etheria: Restart guides on gear optimization, Matrix sets, and best characters for early progression!