Wartales is an open-world tactical RPG where you lead a mercenary warband through a gritty medieval world. Unlike linear RPGs, Wartales drops you into a region map and lets you take contracts, explore ruins, and pick fights at your own pace. The turn-based combat uses positioning, engagement zones, and morale mechanics. Between battles, you manage your company's food supply, pay wages, assign professions (blacksmith, cook, thief), and craft equipment. With the Pirate DLC adding naval content and the full 1.0 release, Wartales offers 80+ hours of mercenary sandbox gameplay.
Wartales features distinct areas with increasing difficulty. This guide covers every major location in progression order — what to do, what to get, and when to move on. For the step-by-step path, see our walkthrough.
Area Progression Order
| Order | Location | Difficulty | Key Rewards | Recommended Build |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tiltren County | Level 1-4 warband | Starting contracts, basic equipment, first profession unlocks, tutorial questline | Archer |
| 2 | Arthes Region | Level 4-7 warband | Mid-tier equipment, higher-paying contracts, faction reputation rewards | Archer |
| 3 | Ludern Province | Level 6-9 warband | Steel-tier equipment, advanced crafting recipes, lucrative mining contracts | Swordsman |
| 4 | Gosenberg | Level 8-12 warband | Legendary equipment, crypt loot, highest-paying bounties, ghost-specialized gear | Swordsman |
| 5 | Drombach | Level 7-11 warband | Naval equipment, ship upgrades, pirate faction rewards, unique coastal resources | Swordsman |
Tiltren County — Starting Area
The starting region with the lowest difficulty. Bandit camps, minor undead encounters, and basic contract boards. The main quest introduces regional politics and warband management basics. Resources are plentiful and enemies are manageable with starting equipment.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Level 1-4 warband |
| Key Rewards | Starting contracts, basic equipment, first profession unlocks, tutorial questline |
| Recommended Build | Archer |
| Key Equipment | Longbow |
What to Do Here
- Learn the basics of mercenary management — this is where you practice without heavy punishment.
- Collect starting resources and your first equipment upgrade.
- Clear all main content before moving to Arthes Region.
- If you're struggling, read our beginner's guide.
Arthes Region — Early Game
A mid-difficulty region with organized bandit groups, tougher wildlife, and regional faction conflicts. The Arthes questline involves mercenary politics and choosing sides. Better contracts pay more but enemies hit harder. This is where warband composition starts mattering.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Level 4-7 warband |
| Key Rewards | Mid-tier equipment, higher-paying contracts, faction reputation rewards |
| Recommended Build | Archer |
| Key Equipment | Longbow |
What to Do Here
- Focus on mastering turn-based combat — it's critical from this point on.
- Farm for Longbow if you don't have it yet.
- Complete all objectives for maximum rewards.
- Prepare for the difficulty spike in Ludern Province.
Ludern Province — Mid Game
An industrial region with mines, forge towns, and well-equipped human enemies. Ludern's enemy warbands use steel equipment and tactical formations, requiring you to match their gear quality. The Blacksmith profession becomes essential here for crafting competitive equipment.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Level 6-9 warband |
| Key Rewards | Steel-tier equipment, advanced crafting recipes, lucrative mining contracts |
| Recommended Build | Swordsman |
| Key Equipment | Longbow |
What to Do Here
- This is the main skill check. Bring an optimized build.
- Greatsword becomes accessible here — prioritize getting it.
- Master crafting professions for the boss encounters.
- Check our boss guide if you get stuck.
Gosenberg — Late Game
A mountainous region with harsh weather, undead crypts, and the most dangerous bounty targets. Ghost enemies ignore physical armor, requiring specialized equipment. The crypt dungeons contain the game's best loot but feature multi-wave combat encounters.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Level 8-12 warband |
| Key Rewards | Legendary equipment, crypt loot, highest-paying bounties, ghost-specialized gear |
| Recommended Build | Swordsman |
| Key Equipment | Greatsword |
What to Do Here
- Full build optimization is expected by this point.
- Greatsword should be your primary, fully upgraded.
- camp management mastery starts mattering here.
- Farm resources for the push into Drombach.
Drombach — Endgame
The pirate-themed coastal region (DLC content) with naval combat, port towns, and sea-based contracts. Drombach introduces ship management and boarding actions. The region's questline involves pirate factions and naval territory control.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Level 7-11 warband |
| Key Rewards | Naval equipment, ship upgrades, pirate faction rewards, unique coastal resources |
| Recommended Build | Swordsman |
| Key Equipment | Greatsword |
What to Do Here
- This is endgame. Best-in-slot gear and a perfected build are mandatory.
- See our boss guide for endgame fight strategies.
- The reward loop: clear content → upgrade → push harder content.
- Experiment with Ranger for variety once you've mastered the meta.
Exploration Tips
- Clear areas in order — Tiltren County → Arthes Region → Ludern Province → Gosenberg → Drombach. Skipping areas means missing resources you'll need later.
- Check every corner — Hidden caches and secrets are often in non-obvious locations.
- Match your equipment — Some areas favor different equipment types.
- Read the walkthrough — Our walkthrough provides exact progression milestones for each area.
- Don't rush — Clearing an area fully gives more resources than speedrunning two areas.
More Wartales Guides
- Wartales Wartales Overview
- Wartales Best Builds
- Wartales Tier List
- Wartales Walkthrough
- Wartales Beginner's Guide
- Wartales Tips & Tricks
- Wartales Weapons Guide
- Wartales Combat Guide
- Wartales Boss Guide
- Wartales Crafting Guide
- Wartales Classes & Characters
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