To progress through early missions efficiently in ARES: THE IRON VANGUARD, click the main quest prompt inside the top-left mission tracker to activate auto-navigation, then immediately reinvest your quest rewards into leveling up your combat suit.
Strictly following the primary storyline allows you to unlock core combat features, access higher-tier regions, and maintain a steady intake of character experience without hitting progression bottlenecks.
Navigating Objectives with the Mission Tracker
The top-left corner of the screen houses your primary quest objectives. Selecting a quest description triggers the game's automated navigation system, pathing your character directly to required non-player characters or objective locations.
- Trigger Auto-Pathing: Click the top-left objective text to move automatically toward your destination and minimize travel downtime.
- Observe surroundings: Use automated movement periods to check enemy spawn locations, notice environmental hazards, and prepare for upcoming combat encounters.
- Maintain Priority: Focus on the topmost quest objective before attempting optional side tasks, as core features and higher-tier equipment remain locked until narrative milestones are met.
Managing Active Combat and Suit Abilities
While auto-navigation handles movement between locations, manual control is necessary once combat begins. The auto-pathing system cannot dodge hazards or optimize damage output during battle.
- Take Manual Control Immediately: Resume full manual movement as soon as enemies engage or environmental hazards appear.
- Weave Skill Cooldowns: Cast suit-specific abilities between basic attacks rather than relying solely on default attacks to clear enemy waves faster.
- Use Tactical Mobility: Move laterally or jump while firing to dodge melee attacks and position yourself away from dangerous ground effects.
- Leverage Story Breaks: Use cutscenes and dialogue sequences to let skill cooldowns reset and to check your current suit loadout.
Reinvesting Mission Rewards
Scripted boss encounters at the end of story segments require consistent combat power upgrades. Upgrading your suit prevents damage output from lagging behind scaling enemy health.
- Apply Quest Resources Immediately: Use materials and experience earned from main quest completions to upgrade your current suit right away.
- Check Inventory After Missions: Inspect gear rewards immediately following narrative turn-ins to equip higher-stat items before starting the next objective.
Free ARES: THE IRON VANGUARD Codes
Current active codes and how to redeem them.
COMMUNITY
Player Comments
160 players commented on this guide.
Can you add more details about early game in a future update?
Good guide for ARES: THE IRON VANGUARD players. The early game part was useful.
I wish I had read this before upgrading the wrong thing.
This guide answered the exact question I had.