Beginner's Guide to Ironsand

Welcome to Ironsand, the co-op titan-slaying FPS roguelite set on a desert planet under siege by a mechanical army. This guide covers everything new players need to know, from basic controls to advanced tips for surviving your first few runs.

Basic Controls

Ironsand uses standard FPS controls with some unique mechanics:

• WASD: Movement
• Mouse: Aim and look
• Left Click: Fire weapon
• Right Click: Aim down sights
• R: Reload
• Space: Jump
• Shift: Dash (not sprint)
• Tab: Open upgrade menu
• Q: Activate class ability
• E: Interact with objects and allies

Video guide

Choosing Your Class

Before each run, you select one of four classes. Each class has a unique active ability that defines its role in the squad:

• Engineer: Builds automated turrets that provide sustained DPS and area control. Great for players who like tactical positioning.
• Medic: Heals the team during combat. Essential for longer encounters and perfect for supportive players.
• Defender: Deploys energy shields that block incoming damage. Ideal for team-oriented players who like controlling the battlefield.
• Berserker: Enters a state of massive damage output. Best for aggressive players who want to shred through enemies.

For detailed class information, visit our Classes Hub.

Your First Mission

When you land on the desert planet, you will encounter waves of enemies including cyborgs, alien beetles, and mechanical drones. Here is what to expect:

1. Clear the area: Eliminate standard combat drones as you advance through the map
2. Collect weapons: Pick up new weapons from defeated enemies and supply drops
3. Choose upgrades: After each attempt, you select power-ups that strengthen your build
4. Face the Titan: At the end of each level, a massive Titan boss awaits with unique attack patterns

Weapon Basics

Ironsand features 14+ weapon types across several categories:

• Plasma weapons: Versatile mid-range options with good sustained damage
• Laser weapons: High accuracy and continuous damage output
• Rocket launchers: Devastating area damage, perfect for groups of enemies
• Sniper rifles: High single-target damage at long range

Weapons are independent of your class choice, so you can experiment with different combinations. For detailed weapon rankings, check our Weapons Tier List.

Roguelite Progression

Ironsand uses a roguelite system where each run is a fresh start, but you gain permanent knowledge:

• Map randomization: After each death, the map partially changes, so memorization alone will not work
• Power-up selection: Between attempts, you choose upgrades that persist for the rest of the run
• Build crafting: Mix elemental damage types, status effects, and combat modifiers to create unique builds

Essential Tips for Beginners

1. Stick together: Team coordination is more important than individual skill
2. Use cover wisely: The environment is destructible, so your cover can be blown apart
3. Communicate targets: Call out priority enemies and Titan weak points to your squad
4. Manage resources: Ammo and health pickups are limited, so do not waste them
5. Learn Titan patterns: Each Titan has predictable attack sequences that you can exploit

For advanced strategies, visit our Co-op Guide and Titan Boss Guide.

System Requirements

Minimum:

• OS: Windows 10
• Processor: Intel i5 or AMD equivalent
• Memory: 4 GB RAM
• Graphics: 4 GB Video RAM
• Storage: 8 GB

Recommended:

• OS: Windows 10
• Processor: Intel i5 or AMD equivalent
• Memory: 8 GB RAM
• Graphics: 8 GB Video RAM
• DirectX: Version 12
• Storage: 8 GB