Tundra's debut roguelike takes FTL's paused ship combat and drops it into a techno-gothic future where the Solar Empire worships the Immortal God King Hyperion and three Ruinous Cults want the same prize you do. A run crosses exactly six sectors and the sixth is always the Imperial Coreworlds, whose final node is the Vault of Souls. Every playable hull carries 30 hull points and room for at most nine installed systems, and the only ship unlocked when you start is Imperial Cruiser A, the Triumph of Heaven. Crew come from seven human factions with more than seventy distinct types between them, so boarding parties are built rather than drafted.
Combat in Void War rewards knowledge over reflexes. Understanding how each mechanic works (and how they interact) is what turns a struggling player into a dominant one. New here? Start with our beginner's guide for the basics.
Core Combat Mechanics
1. Reactor power across nine system slots
Systems do nothing until the Reactor feeds them, and no hull accepts more than nine installed systems, so every purchase is also a decision about what you will never fit. Shields are the awkward case: power goes in and out in steps of two, and one extra shield barrier costs two upgrade levels rather than one.
Why it matters: This is the foundation of all combat. Everything else builds on this.
2. Cannons, beams, lances and missile templates
Cannons never pierce shields but each hit strips one layer, beams sweep multiple rooms in a single burst and bounce off any shielding at all, and Lances start pre charged and punch straight through shields for a limited number of shots per battle. Missile Bays hold up to three Missile Templates at once and you switch between them mid fight.
Why it matters: The most underrated mechanic. Players who master this early have a massive advantage.
3. Boarding actions with faction crew and wargear
You recruit crew from the human factions and equip them with weapons, armour and operational gear before sending them over. Crew standing in a room that houses a system also make that system run better, so a boarding party is always paid for with reduced efficiency back home.
Why it matters: Unlocks a new layer of gameplay depth once understood.
4. A six sector run to the Vault of Souls
Six sectors, chosen from types such as Protostar Wastes, Raider Clanworlds, Imperial Shrineworlds and Forge Enclaves, then the Imperial Coreworlds at the end. Neutral sectors are quiet and full of merchants and shipyards, while Exclusion Zones are unclaimed space with frequent combat and environmental hazards and almost no shops.
Why it matters: The tactical edge that separates average players from advanced ones.
5. Resonance unlocks between runs
Runs pay out Resonance whether you finish them or not, and Resonance buys the B and C variants of hulls you have already reached. The Type B Sunhammer costs 5000, and other ships unlock instead by clearing the Vault of Souls with a specific hull or by killing a High Threat Target.
Why it matters: The endgame optimization mechanic. Small improvements here compound into massive gains.
How These Mechanics Combine
Understanding how mechanics interact is where real optimization happens:
Reactor power across nine system slots + Cannons, beams, lances and missile templates
Systems do nothing until the Reactor feeds them, and no hull accepts more than nine installed systems, so every purchase is also a decision about what you will never fit. When combined with Cannons, beams, lances and missile templates, cannons never pierce shields but each hit strips one layer, beams sweep multiple rooms in a single burst and bounce off any shielding at all, and lances start pre charged and punch straight through shields for a limited number of shots per battle. This combination is the core of every effective build.
Boarding actions with faction crew and wargear + A six sector run to the Vault of Souls
You recruit crew from the human factions and equip them with weapons, armour and operational gear before sending them over. Paired with A six sector run to the Vault of Souls, six sectors, chosen from types such as protostar wastes, raider clanworlds, imperial shrineworlds and forge enclaves, then the imperial coreworlds at the end. This is why the tier list favors builds that leverage both.
Resonance unlocks between runs as a Multiplier
Runs pay out Resonance whether you finish them or not, and Resonance buys the B and C variants of hulls you have already reached. The Type B Sunhammer costs 5000, and other ships unlock instead by clearing the Vault of Souls with a specific hull or by killing a High Threat Target. This system amplifies everything else. The better your Resonance unlocks between runs optimization, the more your other mechanics pay off.
Combat by Build
Each build approaches combat differently:
The Empire (A-Tier)
Combat approach: Balanced combat style. Key equipment: Cannons Primary mechanic: Reactor power across nine system slots
The Empire offers a solid combat experience. Full setup in our builds guide.
Raider Clans (A-Tier)
Combat approach: Balanced combat style. Key equipment: Beam Armaments Primary mechanic: Cannons, beams, lances and missile templates
Raider Clans offers a solid combat experience. Full setup in our builds guide.
War Cult (A-Tier)
Combat approach: Balanced combat style. Key equipment: Lances Primary mechanic: Boarding actions with faction crew and wargear
War Cult offers a solid combat experience. Full setup in our builds guide.
Death Cult (A-Tier)
Combat approach: Balanced combat style. Key equipment: Ion Armaments Primary mechanic: A six sector run to the Vault of Souls
Death Cult offers a solid combat experience. Full setup in our builds guide.
Technocult (A-Tier)
Combat approach: Balanced combat style. Key equipment: Missile Bays Primary mechanic: Resonance unlocks between runs
Technocult offers a solid combat experience. Full setup in our builds guide.
Advanced Combat Techniques
Damage Optimization
- Match your equipment to your build's stat priorities
- Exploit Reactor power across nine system slots for maximum damage windows
- Chain Cannons, beams, lances and missile templates and Boarding actions with faction crew and wargear for combo damage
- Use A six sector run to the Vault of Souls to create openings
Survivability
- Learn enemy patterns before committing to attacks
- Shield power only moves in steps of two, and each additional barrier costs two upgrade levels. Budget for that before you buy a third weapon you then cannot power.
- Position using Reactor power across nine system slots to control spacing
- Save defensive options for guaranteed survival, not comfort
Boss Combat
Bosses test your understanding of every mechanic. See our boss guide for fight-specific strategies.
- Phase awareness: Most bosses change behavior at health thresholds
- Patience over aggression: One extra hit per opening beats dying to greed
- Build preparation: Swap gear and equipment for specific fights when needed
Common Combat Mistakes
- Button mashing: Committed attacks have recovery frames. Mashing locks you into animations.
- Ignoring Cannons, beams, lances and missile templates: This mechanic exists for a reason. Players who use it take significantly less damage.
- Wrong equipment for the situation: Check our weapons guide for situational picks.
- Not learning from deaths: Every death teaches something. If you don't know why you died, you'll die the same way again.
- Overcommitting: Trading hits works in Protostar Wastes but will get you killed in Imperial Coreworlds.
More Void War Guides
- Void War Void War Overview
- Void War Best Builds
- Void War Tier List
- Void War Walkthrough
- Void War Beginner's Guide
- Void War Tips & Tricks
- Void War Weapons Guide
- Void War Boss Guide
- Void War Maps & Locations
- Void War Crafting Guide
- Void War Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Void War, check out these related guides:
- Risk of Rain 2 Combat Guide: roguelike game with similar mechanics
- Hades Combat Guide: roguelike game with similar mechanics
- Darkest Dungeon Combat Guide: roguelike game with similar mechanics
