Project Clean Earth Early Combat and Upgrade Guide

To survive the early chapters of Project Clean Earth, run wide circular kiting loops around the stage perimeter, prioritize area-of-effect module cards during level-ups, and spend permanent shelter resources on base health and attack power. Bernard attacks the nearest enemy automatically, so positioning controls both your targeting and your incoming damage.

Movement and Kiting Basics

Use the single-thumb virtual joystick to maintain a continuous, wide loop along the arena borders. Stopping or cutting straight through enemy packs quickly depletes your health bar.

Loop wide around borders: Circular movement groups trailing melee mutants into a single cluster behind you, aligning them with forward and spread weapons.
Avoid sharp reversals: Turning 180 degrees abruptly will push Bernard directly into trailing pursuers or spawn points.
Pause selectively: Briefly halt movement only when your forward path is entirely clear, giving Bernard a split second to fire stationary volleys into low-health targets.
Watch arena edges: Keep distance from stage rubble and terrain hazards to avoid getting pinned by fast swarms.

In-Run Module Card Priority

Collecting green bio-mass from defeated mutants triggers level-up screens with three random module options. Early stages feature high enemy density, making wide-coverage weapons and automated defenses more reliable than slow, single-target options.

Module Type	Priority	Combat Role
Shotgun / Spread Module	High	Fires wide pellet bursts that pierce and stagger packed frontlines.
Attack Drone Support	High	Autonomously tracks and attacks peripheral threats without aiming adjustments.
Landmines	Medium	Drops explosive charges directly into the trailing path of chasing swarms.
Barrier / Energy Shield	Medium	Absorbs accidental collisions and stray projectile damage.
Single-Target Rifle	Low	Deals high per-shot damage but lacks the fire rate needed for swarm defense.

Commit to leveling an existing high-impact module like the Shotgun or Drone before taking additional low-level cards. Upgraded modules provide the knockback and clear speed required to gather bio-mass quickly and stay ahead of the stage difficulty curve.

Managing Mixed Waves and Boss Encounters

Stages combine fast melee crawlers with ranged spitters and high-health bosses. Because Bernard auto-targets the closest foe, managing spacing dictates which enemies take damage.

Melee Crawlers and Ranged Spitters

Spitters fire acidic projectiles from range while crawlers attempt to encircle you. Do not run straight toward spitters while a swarm is chasing you. Instead, pull the melee pack in an arc that passes alongside the spitters. Bernard will automatically damage the spitters as you pass, letting you collect their bio-mass without entering crossfire.

Boss Positioning and Telegraphs

Boss fights require shifting focus entirely to evasion and add management:

Sprint perpendicular to red indicators: Boss strikes and charges display red lines or circular ground telegraphs. Move sideways relative to the telegraph line rather than retreating in the direction of the attack.
Clear summoned minions immediately: Bernard targets the closest target. If secondary mutants spawn, eliminate them quickly so your auto-attacks refocus on the boss.
Keep medium range: Maintain a steady orbital loop around the boss to let drones and spread weapons chip its health while preserving room to dodge.

Shelter Upgrade Order

Between runs, invest earned gold and scrap into permanent stats at the shelter before launching your next chapter attempt.

Max HP and Attack Power: Allocate early funds equally between health and attack. Extra health forgives collision mistakes, while attack power prevents dense waves from overwhelming your clear rate.
Movement Speed: Purchase mobility next to increase kiting safety margins against fast crawlers.
Health Recovery: Invest in recovery once baseline survivability is stable to offset chip damage sustained across longer stages.