Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon Walkthrough — Start to Endgame

Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon is a dark open-world survival RPG set in a grim reimagining of Arthurian legend where the Holy Grail's power is fading and corruption spreads across the land. Based on the acclaimed board game, it translates the card-based combat and exploration into a first-person RPG with survival mechanics. The Menhir system — ancient standing stones that must be kept lit or monsters overrun the land — creates constant tension between exploration and base defense. The game entered Early Access with a strong foundation and has been steadily adding content including new areas, quests, and the settlement management system.

This walkthrough takes you from your first session to endgame content. Each phase has specific goals, priorities, and milestones. Follow this path to avoid common traps that stall most players.

Quick Progression Summary

Phase 1: Getting Started — Avalon

The central hub area containing your settlement and the first Menhir. Early quests teach core mechanics and establish the main storyline about the failing Grail. Relatively safe when Menhirs are active.

Level/Difficulty: Level 1-5 Key Rewards: Settlement unlocks, starting equipment, main quest introduction

What to Do in Avalon

1. Learn card combat. Combat uses a deck-building system where you play attack and defense cards from a hand drawn each turn. Spend your first session getting comfortable with this.
2. Pick Summoner as your starting build. It's the most forgiving option.
3. Keep at least 3 Menhir fuel items in your inventory at all times. Running out while exploring far from home can be a death sentence.
4. Acquire your first equipment upgrade — Bone Staff or whatever's available.
5. Clear all main content before moving on.

Phase 1 Checklist

• Understand card combat fundamentals
• Summoner selected and functional
• Avalon main content cleared
• Ready for Menhir Stones

Phase 2: Early Game — Menhir Stones

The network of standing stones that must be kept fueled. Each Menhir requires regular fuel crafted from herbs. Unfueled Menhirs allow corruption to spread, spawning stronger enemies in surrounding areas.

Level/Difficulty: All levels Key Rewards: Fast travel network, Guardian fights, Runic Shield drop

What to Do in Menhir Stones

1. Work on exploration. The open world is shrouded in corruption that drains your health when Menhir fires go out. This system becomes critical from here on.
2. Farm for Bone Staff if you haven't already. It's the key upgrade for this phase.
3. Thin your deck at every opportunity. Remove starter cards at rest sites — a 15-card deck is vastly more consistent than a 25-card deck.
4. Complete all objectives before pushing to Corrupted Forest.
5. Consider whether Warrior might suit your playstyle better than Summoner.

Phase 2 Checklist

• exploration integrated into gameplay
• Bone Staff acquired
• Menhir Stones fully cleared
• Ready for Corrupted Forest

Phase 3: Mid Game — Corrupted Forest

A dangerous zone where corruption is thickest. Enemies here are stronger but drop rare crafting materials. The stone circle puzzle in the center rewards the Wyrd Sword. Navigation requires anti-corruption potions.

Level/Difficulty: Level 8-12 Key Rewards: Wyrd Sword, rare herbs, Summoner cards, stone circle puzzle rewards

What to Do in Corrupted Forest

1. Master diplomacy system. Many encounters offer diplomatic solutions alongside combat. This unlocks a new layer of gameplay.
2. Start working toward Wyrd Sword. It's the best equipment and becomes accessible around now.
3. The Summoner build trivializes most encounters. If you're struggling, respec into summon cards and let minions handle combat.
4. This area is the main skill check. If you can clear it, you're ready for late game.
5. Start investing in crafting for the tactical depth you'll need going forward.

Phase 3 Checklist

• diplomacy system mastered
• Wyrd Sword acquired or in progress
• Corrupted Forest fully cleared
• Ready for Drowned City

Phase 4: Late Game — Drowned City

A flooded ruin filled with undead enemies and trapped loot. Underwater sections require breathing potions. The city contains the best equipment in the game but every chest has a chance to be trapped.

Level/Difficulty: Level 12-16 Key Rewards: Cursed Dagger, endgame armor, rare crafting recipes

What to Do in Drowned City

1. Finalize your build. You should be running Warrior or Summoner with optimized gear.
2. Wyrd Sword should be your primary. If you don't have it yet, prioritize getting it.
3. Diplomacy is not a dump stat. Many of the best rewards in the game come from diplomatic solutions that combat-focused builds miss entirely.
4. settlement management optimization starts here. Small improvements compound into massive advantages.
5. Farm this area for the resources needed to push into Red Altar.

Phase 4 Checklist

• Build fully optimized
• Wyrd Sword upgraded to max
• Drowned City fully cleared
• Ready for Red Altar

Phase 5: Endgame — Red Altar

The endgame area where the final confrontation takes place. Reaching it requires completing faction quest lines. The boss encounter here has multiple outcomes based on your choices throughout the game.

Level/Difficulty: Level 16-20 Key Rewards: Endgame boss fight, multiple endings, final equipment set

What to Do in Red Altar

1. Red Altar tests everything. Come prepared with your best build and gear.
2. Craft anti-corruption potions before entering the Corrupted Forest. Without them, the passive HP drain kills you before enemies get the chance.
3. The endgame loop: run Red Altar, optimize gear, push harder content.
4. Experiment with Pathfinder for a fresh take once you've mastered the standard builds.
5. This is where settlement management mastery separates good players from great ones.

Phase 5 Checklist

• Endgame content on farm
• Best-in-slot gear acquired
• Red Altar fully cleared
• Ready for challenge content

Common Progression Mistakes

• Letting Menhir fires go out while exploring. The corruption spread happens fast and spawns elite enemies near your settlement.
• Hoarding every card you find instead of removing weak ones. Deck bloat is the number one reason players lose fights they should win.
• Ignoring the settlement building system. The passive bonuses from buildings compound over time and make late-game significantly easier.
• Fighting every encounter instead of using Diplomacy. Some enemies are meant to be talked down — fighting them wastes resources for worse rewards.
• Exploring the Corrupted Forest without anti-corruption potions. The HP drain will kill you within minutes without protection.

Key Tips for Smooth Progression

1. Keep at least 3 Menhir fuel items in your inventory at all times. Running out while exploring far from home can be a death sentence.
2. Thin your deck at every opportunity. Remove starter cards at rest sites — a 15-card deck is vastly more consistent than a 25-card deck.
3. The Summoner build trivializes most encounters. If you're struggling, respec into summon cards and let minions handle combat.
4. Diplomacy is not a dump stat. Many of the best rewards in the game come from diplomatic solutions that combat-focused builds miss entirely.
5. Craft anti-corruption potions before entering the Corrupted Forest. Without them, the passive HP drain kills you before enemies get the chance.

For detailed build optimization, see Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon builds. For quick wins, check tips & tricks.