Stormgate Master Guide: Your Ultimate Handbook for the Battlefield

A Storm is Coming – Are You Ready?

Welcome, Commander, to the definitive guide for Stormgate. The battle for Earth’s future has begun, and whether you are a seasoned real-time strategy (RTS) veteran or a fresh recruit, this handbook is your key to victory. Developed by Frost Giant Studios, a team forged in the halls of legendary titles like StarCraft II and Warcraft III, Stormgate is engineered to be the next generation of competitive RTS gaming.

What is Stormgate? The Next Generation of Real-Time Strategy

Stormgate is a free-to-play RTS set on a post-apocalyptic Earth, centuries after a demonic alien race, the Infernal Host, invaded through dimensional portals called Stormgates and brought humanity to the brink of extinction. Now, three asymmetric factions—the resilient Human Vanguard, the relentless Infernal Host, and the technologically divine Celestial Armada—clash for control of a shattered world.

The game’s core philosophy is to make the traditionally complex RTS genre more approachable for new players while preserving the immense strategic depth and high skill ceiling that competitive players demand. This guide is built on that same principle.

How to Use This Guide: A Roadmap from Novice to Grandmaster

This guide is structured to build your skills from the ground up.

• Part 1 covers the universal fundamentals of command, from your first five minutes in a match to mastering the economy.
• Part 2 provides a deep analysis of each of the three factions, detailing their unique mechanics, units, and core strategies.
• Part 3 elevates your play with advanced combat tactics, unit compositions, and high-level strategy.
• Parts 4, 5, and 6 explore every game mode, provide tips for solo and free-to-play commanders, and look toward the future of the Stormgate community.

The Core Gameplay Loop: Understanding Macro, Micro, and Map Control

At its heart, the gameplay loop in Stormgate is a classic RTS formula refined for modern audiences: gather resources to build your base, produce a powerful army, and strategically outmaneuver your opponent to achieve victory. Success hinges on balancing two key skill sets:

• Macro: Short for macromanagement, this is the art of managing your economy and production. It involves constantly building worker units, expanding to new resource bases, and efficiently producing an army and upgrades.
• Micro: Short for micromanagement, this is the skill of controlling your units in combat. It includes focus-firing important targets, dodging enemy attacks, and using unit abilities to turn the tide of battle.

Mastering the interplay between these two skills is the first step on your path to becoming a formidable commander in Stormgate.

Part 1: Fundamentals of Command: Mastering the Basics

Every victory begins with a single step. This section provides the foundational knowledge needed to start your journey in Stormgate, focusing on the core mechanics that apply to every faction and every match.

Your First Match: A Guided Start

The first few minutes of any Stormgate match are critical. Here is a universal opening sequence to get you started:

1. Queue Workers: Immediately begin producing worker units from your main command structure. A constant stream of workers is the bedrock of a strong economy.
2. Build a Supply Structure: Your starting units will quickly reach your initial supply limit. Build your faction’s supply-providing structure (e.g., a Vanguard Habitat) to ensure you can continue producing units.
3. Construct a Production Building: Build your first unit-producing structure (e.g., a Vanguard Barracks).
4. Scout Your Opponent: Send your initial scouting unit to your opponent’s base to gather intelligence on their strategy.
5. Continue Production: Never stop producing workers and army units. A common mistake for new players is to stop building their economy while they focus on an attack.

To ease this learning curve, Stormgate includes quality-of-life features like the “BuddyBot,” an optional AI assistant that can help manage your base-building, and automated control groups that add newly produced units to a designated hotkey group.

The Art of the Economy: A Deep Dive into Luminite and Therium

The Stormgate economy revolves around two primary resources: Luminite and Therium.

• Luminite: This is your primary resource, used for constructing basic buildings, training core units, and funding early-game upgrades. It is gathered from large, crystalline mineral nodes.
• Therium: This is the secondary “tech” resource, required for advanced units, powerful upgrades, and higher-tier structures.

Worker Saturation and Expansion Timing

To build a powerful economy, you must efficiently harvest these resources. For Luminite, the optimal number of workers per mining base is 12. While you can assign more, you will see severely diminishing returns after the first 8 workers.

Therium fields are more dynamic. They do not start with all their resources available; instead, new nodes spawn over time. If left unmined, these nodes will eventually become “enriched,” doubling their harvest rate. This creates a strategic choice: do you harvest Therium early for a quick tech advantage, or wait for it to enrich for a greater long-term yield?

As the resources in your starting base deplete, you must expand by building a new command structure at another resource location. A “fast expand” is a common strategy where a player prioritizes building a second base very early to gain a powerful economic advantage.

Controlling the Battlefield: The Importance of Creep Camps and Scouting

Unlike many traditional RTS games where players can remain passive in their base, Stormgate is intentionally designed to encourage early-game aggression and map control. The primary driver of this design is the network of neutral “creep” camps scattered across the map. These camps are guarded by neutral creatures, and clearing them provides immediate injections of Luminite and Therium, as well as other powerful strategic bonuses.

This system forces players to move their armies out onto the map early to compete for these valuable resources, naturally creating opportunities for skirmishes and preventing matches from becoming slow-paced “turtling” contests. Early scouting is therefore essential not only to see what your opponent is building but also to track their movements as they contest these neutral objectives.

Camp Type	Primary Reward	Strategic Bonus	Priority Level
Resource Camp	Luminite & Therium	Provides a direct economic boost.	High (Early-Mid Game)
Vision Camp	Luminite	Grants vision over a large area, like a watchtower.	Medium (All Stages)
Speed Camp	Luminite	Grants a temporary movement speed buff to your army.	High (Before a major attack)
Health Camp	Therium	Grants a temporary health regeneration buff to your army.	High (After a major battle)

Part 2: The Factions of a Shattered Earth

Stormgate features three deeply asymmetric factions, each offering a unique playstyle. Mastering your chosen faction—and understanding your enemy’s—is crucial. The factions are designed along a spectrum of familiarity. The Human Vanguard offers a classic and intuitive RTS experience. The Infernal Host introduces unique mechanics that are a twist on familiar concepts. The Celestial Armada, however, is a radical departure from RTS tradition, designed to challenge even the most experienced veterans.

The Human Vanguard: For Humanity!

The Vanguard are the resilient defenders of Earth, combining futuristic military hardware with grit and adaptability. They offer a versatile and durable playstyle that will feel comfortable for players of classic RTS games.

Faction Overview: Strengths, Weaknesses, and Unique Mechanics

• Veterancy: Vanguard units that survive combat gain experience and level up, permanently increasing their maximum health. This mechanic heavily rewards players who can preserve their units through careful control, making a veteran army significantly more powerful than a freshly produced one.
• Automation & Versatility: Vanguard worker units, called Servos, can work together to construct a single building, drastically speeding up its creation time. Furthermore, many Vanguard units and structures can transform into alternate modes. The Sentry Post, a basic defensive tower, can be garrisoned by different infantry units to transform it into specialized defenses like a Flak Cannon (anti-air) or a Med Station (healing).

Unit Roster & Analysis: From the Humble Lancer to the Mighty Helicarrier

The Vanguard fields a well-rounded army of infantry, mechs, and aircraft. Below is a statistical overview of their key combat units.

Unit Name	Tier	Cost (Lum/The)	Sup	HP	Armor	Damage (G/A)	Range	Attributes
S.C.O.U.T.	1	50/0	1	120	0	5 (+3 vs Light) / –	0.1	Biological, Light, Mechanical
Lancer	1	100/0	2	200	15	12 (+3 vs Light) / –	1.5	Biological, Heavy
Exo	1	75/25	2	110	0	13 / 13 (+2 vs Heavy)	6	Biological, Light
MedTech	2	100/50	3	200	5	5 / 5	8.5	Biological, Heavy, Mechanical
Vulcan	2	200/100	5	450	10	3 (+3 vs Light) / –	7	Heavy, Mechanical
Atlas	2	250/125	6	300	10	80 (+40 vs Heavy) / –	16	Heavy, Mechanical
Hornet	2	150/75	4	210	5	6 / 13 (+4 vs Light)	4/6	Light, Mechanical
Sentinel	2	75/125	4	250	5	10 / 10	7	Light, Mechanical, Detector
Helicarrier	3	375/325	8	600	20	12 / 12	4	Heavy, Mechanical

Buildings & Technology Path

Vanguard technology progresses linearly through upgrades to their main Command Post.

• Core Structures: Command Post $ \rightarrow $ Central Command $ \rightarrow $ High Command
• Production: Barracks (Infantry), Mech Bay (Ground Vehicles), Hangar Bay (Air Units)
• Upgrades: Biokinetics Lab (Infantry Upgrades), Machine Lab (Mechanical Upgrades)

Essential Build Orders & Strategies

• Beginner Build: The 3-Rax Lancer/Exo Push. This is a powerful one-base timing attack. The build involves creating three Barracks and massing a large force of Lancers (to tank damage) and Exos (for ranged damage). The goal is to attack before the opponent can establish a strong economy or higher-tier units.
• Advanced Strategy: Mech-Based Map Control. This strategy focuses on reaching Tier 2 to produce Vulcans for area denial and the long-range Atlas for siege attacks. Supported by MedTechs for healing and Evac transports for mobility and drops, this composition can control large areas of the map and methodically dismantle an opponent’s base.

The Infernal Host: Embrace the Swarm

The Infernal Host is a demonic race of alien invaders who overwhelm their foes with sheer numbers and dark magic. Their playstyle is aggressive and focuses on controlling the battlefield with a corrupting influence called Shroud.

Faction Overview: Strengths, Weaknesses, and Unique Mechanics

• Shroud: Infernal structures generate a swirling, dark fog called Shroud. When Infernal units fight within this fog, they gain a temporary, regenerating health shield (referred to as “White Health”). This makes them incredibly durable when fighting on their home turf, encouraging players to spread their influence across the map.
• Summoning: Infernal units are not built over time. Instead, their production structures accumulate charges, which can be spent to summon units onto the battlefield instantly. This allows for rapid reinforcement and the ability to quickly remobilize an army after a lost battle.
• Animus: The Infernals’ unique top-bar resource is Animus, which is harvested from the “souls” of any units that die on the battlefield—both friendly and enemy. This rewards aggressive play and unit trading, as even losses fuel their powerful abilities.

Unit Roster & Analysis: Unleashing the Demonic Horde

The Infernal army is a mix of brutish demons, nimble fiends, and powerful spellcasters.

Unit Name	Tier	Cost (Lum/The)	Sup	HP	Armor	Damage (G/A)	Range	Attributes
Gaunt	1	50/12.5	1	75	0	8 (+2 vs Light) / 8 (+2 vs Light)	5/7	Biological, Light
Brute	1	150/0	3	195	5	22 / –	1.25	Biological, Heavy
Hexen	1	75/100	2	160	0	6 / 6	7	Biological, Light
Magmadon	2	275/125	6	540	20	40 (+25 vs Heavy) / –	0.5	Biological, Heavy
Hellborne	2	275/75	6	240	10	30 (+45 vs Heavy) / –	10	Biological, Heavy
Weaver	2	125/175	5	380	0	5 / –	2	Biological, Light
Shadowflyer	2	25/37.5	1	65	0	– / –	–	Biological, Light, Detector
Spriggan	2	50/25	1	80	0	6 (+3 vs Heavy) / 6 (+3 vs Heavy)	4	Biological, Light
Flayed Dragon	3	750/750	15	700	20	90 (+50 vs Structure) / 90	6	Biological, Heavy

Buildings & Rituals

The Infernal tech tree is centered on upgrading their main Shrine and unlocking new summoning structures.

• Core Structures: Shrine $ \rightarrow $ Greater Shrine $ \rightarrow $ Elder Shrine
• Production: Iron Vault (Heavy Ground), Conclave (Light Ground/Casters), Twilight Spire (Air Units)
• Upgrades: Hellforge (Global Upgrades), Ritual Chamber (Caster Upgrades, Summons Flayed Dragon)

Essential Build Orders & Strategies

• Beginner Build: Vault/Conclave All-In. This aggressive opening involves building an early Iron Vault and Conclave, then using the instant summoning mechanic to create a large force of Brutes and Gaunts. The goal is to attack the opponent while they are attempting to expand, overwhelming them with superior numbers.
• Advanced Strategy: Shroud Creep and Attrition. A more methodical approach focused on map control. Players use Imps to build Shroudstones forward across the map, expanding their empowered combat zones. By forcing fights on the Shroud and trading units, they can generate a large amount of Animus to fuel powerful late-game abilities and win a war of attrition.

The Celestial Armada: The Cosmic Order

The Celestial Armada is an ancient, angelic race with technology so advanced it is indistinguishable from magic. Their gameplay is highly unconventional, focusing on extreme mobility, map presence, and powerful global abilities.

Faction Overview: Strengths, Weaknesses, and Unique Mechanics

• Unconventional Warfare: The Celestials begin the game with a flying command structure, the Arcship. They do not use workers for construction. Instead, they warp in buildings from orbit anywhere within a “Cascade Field” projected by the Arcship or other structures. This allows them to establish a base anywhere on the map from the very start of the game.
• Power: Celestials do not use traditional supply. Instead, their structures require Power, which is generated by Power Banks. Managing your Power grid is crucial; an excess of Power provides army-wide benefits and fuels their top-bar abilities, while a deficit will cripple their capabilities.
• Centralized Production: All Celestial units are produced from a single designated “Prime” structure, which can be any of their production buildings. This simplifies production and allows a player to rally their entire army from one point, regardless of where the buildings are located.

Unit Roster & Analysis: Wielding Technology as Magic

The Celestial army is comprised of angelic Biosynths and terrifying robotic constructs of the Machine Legion.

Unit Name	Tier	Cost (Lum/The)	Power	HP	Armor	Damage (G/A)	Range	Attributes
Argent	1	125/25	3	120	0	8 / 8	6	Biological, Heavy
Kri	1	75/25	2	150	0	16 (+8 vs Light) / –	0.1	Mechanical, Light
Vector	1	100/50	3	100	0	10 / 10	6	Mechanical, Light
Saber	2	150/150	5	200	5	25 (+25 vs Heavy) / –	9	Mechanical, Heavy
Animancer	2	75/150	4	150	0	10 / –	6	Biological, Light
Scythe	2	150/100	4	200	5	15 / 15	6	Mechanical, Light
Archangel	3	400/300	8	500	10	40 / 40	8	Mechanical, Heavy

Buildings & Interventions

Celestial expansion is about spreading the Cascade Field and managing the Power grid.

• Core Structures: Arcship $ \rightarrow $ Arcstation $ \rightarrow $ Arcfortress
• Production: Creation Chamber, Starforge, Legion Hall
• Economy/Power: Collection Array (Passive Luminite Mining), Therium Purifier, Power Bank
• Astral Interventions (Top-Bar Abilities): Power Surge, Zenith Scan, Evolution Catalyst, Purify.

Essential Build Orders & Strategies

• Beginner Build: Forward Argent Pressure. This build leverages the Arcship’s mobility. Fly your Arcship towards the opponent’s side of the map and warp in a Creation Chamber and Power Banks. Use this forward position to apply immediate pressure with a constant stream of Argent units.
• Advanced Strategy: Global Harassment. A complex strategy that uses the Arcship to create multiple, disparate bases across the map. Players harass the opponent from several angles simultaneously with mobile units like Vectors and Kri, forcing them to split their forces while building up a powerful, high-tech army in a secure location.

Part 3: The Art of War: Advanced Strategy & Tactics

With a firm grasp of the factions, it is time to delve into the universal principles that separate good players from great ones. This is the art of war in Stormgate.

Unit Compositions & Counters: The Strategic Triangle of Power

Stormgate utilizes a “soft counter” system. This means that while some units are inherently better against others, superior numbers, positioning, and micro-management can often overcome a disadvantageous matchup. Success is less about a simple rock-paper-scissors formula and more about building a synergistic army composition. A well-rounded army typically includes:

• Frontline: Durable melee units to absorb damage (e.g., Vanguard Lancers, Infernal Brutes).
• DPS: Ranged units that deal consistent damage from behind the frontline (e.g., Vanguard Exos, Infernal Gaunts).
• AoE (Area of Effect): Units that can damage multiple enemies at once, crucial for breaking up large armies (e.g., Vanguard Atlas, Infernal Magmadon).
• Support: Casters or healers that buff your army or debuff the enemy (e.g., Vanguard MedTech, Infernal Weaver).
• Anti-Air: Units specifically designed to counter flying threats (e.g., Vanguard Hornets, Infernal Gaunts).

The table below provides a simplified overview of key unit counters. A green cell indicates a favorable matchup, while red indicates an unfavorable one.

Attacking Unit	vs. Lancer (Heavy Bio)	vs. Exo (Light Bio)	vs. Gaunt (Light Bio)	vs. Brute (Heavy Bio)	vs. Argent (Heavy Bio)	vs. Kri (Light Mech)
Lancer (Van)	Even	Favorable	Favorable	Even	Even	Unfavorable
Exo (Van)	Unfavorable	Even	Even	Unfavorable	Unfavorable	Favorable
Vulcan (Van)	Favorable	Favorable	Favorable	Unfavorable	Favorable	Favorable
Gaunt (Inf)	Unfavorable	Favorable	Even	Unfavorable	Unfavorable	Favorable
Brute (Inf)	Even	Favorable	Favorable	Even	Even	Unfavorable
Hellborne (Inf)	Favorable	Unfavorable	Unfavorable	Favorable	Favorable	Unfavorable
Argent (Cel)	Favorable	Favorable	Favorable	Favorable	Even	Unfavorable
Kri (Cel)	Favorable	Unfavorable	Unfavorable	Favorable	Favorable	Even

Micro-Management Masterclass: Maximizing Your Army’s Potential

Micro is how you make your army perform beyond its base stats. Key techniques include:

• Focus Firing: Commanding your entire army to attack a single high-value enemy unit (like a powerful caster or siege unit) to eliminate it quickly.
• Kiting: A technique used by ranged units. You attack an enemy, move back while your weapon cools down, then stop to attack again. This allows you to deal damage while taking none in return from slower melee units.
• Splitting: When you see an enemy AoE attack incoming (like an Atlas shot), quickly select a portion of your units and move them away from the main group to minimize the damage.

Macro-Management for a Thriving Empire

Excellent macro is the engine that drives your war machine. A strong player follows a constant “macro cycle”:

1. Check worker production. Are your command centers always building them?
2. Check supply. Are you close to your limit? If so, build a supply structure.
3. Spend your resources. An unspent bank of Luminite and Therium is a wasted advantage. Build more units, structures, or upgrades.
4. Expand. Are your current resource nodes running low? It is time to secure a new base.

Unorthodox Tactics: Harassment, Timing Attacks, and Exploiting Terrain

Beyond direct confrontation, high-level play involves outsmarting your opponent.

• Harassment: Use small, mobile forces to attack your opponent’s undefended worker lines. An Evac transport filled with Vulcans or a pack of speedy Infernal Spriggans can cripple an enemy’s economy.
• Timing Attacks: This is the art of attacking at a precise moment of strength. For example, launching an assault the moment your +1 attack upgrade finishes, giving you a crucial advantage over an opponent who has not yet completed theirs.
• Proxying: A high-risk, high-reward strategy where you build a production structure hidden near your opponent’s base to attack them with a flood of units much earlier than they expect.

The current state of play in Stormgate‘s early access phase is heavily defined by fast-paced, aggressive strategies. Games are frequently decided in the opening minutes by rushes and all-in attacks with Tier 1 units. This environment means that a passive, economy-focused opening is often a recipe for defeat. To succeed, players must learn to build early defensive structures, scout diligently to identify incoming aggression, and be prepared to produce military units from the very start of the match.

Part 4: Arenas of Conflict: A Guide to Every Game Mode

Stormgate offers a variety of ways to play, from intense one-on-one duels to cooperative battles against the AI.

The 1v1 Ladder: The Path to Competitive Glory

This is the ultimate test of skill. In 1v1, there are no teammates to rely on—only your strategy, mechanics, and decision-making. Success on the ladder requires a deep understanding of the meta-game (the most effective strategies currently in use), solid execution of build orders, and the ability to adapt to your opponent’s actions on the fly. Reviewing your own replays is one of the best ways to identify mistakes and improve.

3v3 Team Mayhem: Strategy and Coordination for Victory

Designed from the ground up to be a unique experience, 3v3 is more than just a larger 1v1. This mode is objective-based, with potential win conditions like capturing and holding key points on the map. Key features include shared rewards for clearing creep camps and a “no-elimination” policy, meaning a defeated player can continue to support their team, ensuring everyone stays in the action until the end.

Co-Op Missions: Hero Guides, Builds, and Synergies

In this 3-player co-op mode, you and two allies team up against a powerful AI opponent in objective-based missions. Each player chooses a unique “Commander” or “Hero,” which is a powerful sub-faction with unique units, upgrades, and devastating top-bar abilities. As you play, your chosen hero gains experience and levels up, unlocking even more power. Success requires coordinating with your teammates to cover different parts of the map and combining your unique hero abilities to overcome challenges.

The “Ashes of Earth” Campaign: A Spoiler-Free Walkthrough

The “Ashes of Earth” campaign chronicles the story of the Human Vanguard and their desperate struggle for survival against the Infernal Host. While playing through the story, always be sure to explore the map thoroughly. Much like the campaigns of

Warcraft III, many missions contain hidden caches of resources, optional objectives, and powerful items that can give you a significant advantage. The first three missions of the campaign are free to play, with subsequent chapters available as optional purchases.

Part 5: The Solo and Free-to-Play Player’s Handbook

Stormgate is a free-to-play game, designed to be fully enjoyable without spending any money. This section provides tips for getting the most out of the game as a solo or F2P player.

Maximizing the F2P Experience: What to Prioritize

As a free-to-play user, you have access to the core competitive experience of Stormgate.

• Full PvP Access: The 1v1 and 3v3 ranked ladders are completely free. You can play unlimited matches with all three factions.
• Co-Op Access: You can play the 3-player co-op mode for free. All heroes can be leveled up to level 5, and the Vanguard hero Blockade is free to level all the way to max.
• Campaign Prologue: The first three missions of the “Ashes of Earth” campaign are available for free.

For F2P players, the best path to mastery is to focus on the 1v1 ladder. This mode offers infinite replayability and is the purest test of skill, all at no cost.

A Guide to Progression: Leveling Heroes and Unlocking Content

The primary progression system for F2P players is in the co-op mode. After each mission, your chosen hero gains experience points (EXP), unlocking new abilities and unit upgrades as they level up. Optional purchases include unlocking the full level progression for co-op heroes, buying additional campaign chapters, and acquiring cosmetic items.

Sharpening Your Skills Solo: Effective Practice Against AI

The vs. AI skirmish mode is an invaluable tool for solo practice. Use it to drill your build orders without the pressure of a live opponent. Set clear goals for each practice session, such as executing your opening strategy flawlessly for the first five minutes or practicing a specific micro-intensive unit composition. This deliberate practice is the fastest way to build the muscle memory required for competitive play.

Part 6: The Stormgate Community and Its Future

Stormgate is more than just a game; it is a platform for a new generation of RTS competition and creativity.

The Social RTS: Clans, Custom Games, and the Esports Scene

Frost Giant has stated a goal of making Stormgate the “first truly social RTS”. While core social features like in-game clans are still in development for the early access period, the game fosters community through its team-based modes like 3v3 and co-op. The competitive scene is already thriving, with regular tournaments featuring top professional players and significant prize pools, providing a thrilling spectacle for fans to watch.

The Editor: Forging Your Own Worlds and Game Modes

One of the most powerful tools in Stormgate is its integrated Map Editor. This user-friendly yet incredibly deep toolset allows players to create their own maps, mods, and even entirely new game modes. The creativity of the community will ensure a constant stream of new content, from balanced competitive maps to fun mini-games like tower defense, guaranteeing that

Stormgate will have a long and vibrant future.

The Ever-Evolving Meta: How to Adapt and Thrive

As a live-service game, Stormgate is in a constant state of evolution. The developers regularly release balance patches that can shake up the meta, making certain units stronger, others weaker, and opening the door for new strategies to emerge. To stay competitive, you must be a lifelong learner. Follow the official patch notes, watch professional players to see how they adapt, and use replay analysis tools to refine your own strategies.

Conclusion: Your Watch Begins

You now possess the foundational knowledge to begin your command in Stormgate. You understand the core principles of RTS gameplay, the unique strengths of each faction, and the path to mastering advanced strategy. But this guide is only the beginning. True mastery comes from practice, adaptation, and a relentless desire to improve. The battle for Earth awaits. Go forth, Commander, and forge your legacy. Your watch begins now.

Disclaimer: This is an unofficial fan work, all trademarks and copyrights for Stormgate belong to the developer Frost Giant Studio.

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