Aliens: Dark Descent Tips and Tricks for Beginners

• When facing Onslaughts, aim to position yourself strategically in checkpoints or locate a secure corner to hold your ground. Otherwise, you risk being flanked and overwhelmed by the enemy forces.
• Whether it’s swift transportation, a speedy rescue, or tactical fire support you need, the ARC stands ready to be your steadfast ally.
• Embrace the versatility of your armored companion and use it wisely to your advantage.
• Having a diverse pool of skilled Marines is a strategic move that can help you stay one step ahead of the relentless alien threats.
• Keep a close watch on the Alien Aggressiveness meter, adapt your strategies accordingly, and you’ll have a better chance of overcoming the escalating threats

In the spine-chilling world of Aliens: Dark Descent, you’ll embark on an intergalactic adventure filled with heart-pounding moments and spine-tingling encounters. This action-packed survival horror experience, developed by the ingenious minds at Stellar Games, will put your courage and wits to the ultimate test.

In this article, we’ll delve into the gripping realm of Aliens: Dark Descent and equip you with  tips and tricks for beginners to help you survive the sinister challenges that await. Whether you’re a new player or not. We’ll guide you through the darkness and arm you with beginner’s tips and tricks you need to navigate this treacherous alien-infested landscape.

Ready your nerves, keep your flashlight close, and let’s venture forth into the unknown depths of Aliens: Dark Descent, where every shadow could hide a lurking horror, and every decision could mean the difference between life and a nightmarish demise. 

Take control of your stress levels

In Aliens: Dark Descent, managing stress levels becomes a critical aspect of gameplay. As a Marine, you’ll encounter Xenomorphs and witness horrifying scenes during deployment, which gradually increases your stress meter. When stress reaches a certain point, it triggers a Trauma level, resulting in severe combat ability penalties.

Thankfully, there are ways to keep stress in check. Building Shelters and taking moments to rest during missions can help reduce stress levels. Additionally, the Psychiatric Care Unit in the Medical Bay aboard the Otago is available to provide further treatment.

Keeping a close eye on stress levels is vital as it can have significant effects on your squad’s performance. High stress may lead to reduced obedience to commands, decreased accuracy, mobility, and overall effectiveness in the field. To counter these impacts, make sure to construct Shelters regularly, ensuring they remain free from alien infestations and hives.

Another useful option is to use medical supplies like Naproleve. This item, found in the in-game menu during a mission, can instantly reduce a soldier’s stress level by 100 percent, functioning similarly to resting in a room. However, keep in mind that it applies only to a single soldier, so use it wisely to support your team effectively.

Approach every room as a potential threat

In the perilous world of Aliens: Dark Descent, maintaining a clear line of sight is absolutely crucial for the Marines. The lurking Xenomorphs always pose a threat just beyond what can be seen. Thankfully, the trusty Flashlight comes to the rescue, helping to extend the visible area and also highlighting interactive items like Datapads, Materials, and Terminals within the room.

While not every room may be swarming with big, menacing enemies, it’s the sneaky eggs that can wreak havoc, especially when a Facehugger strikes. To avoid nasty surprises, it’s best to move cautiously with the Flashlight activated, allowing the squad to spot potential threats before they escalate into disastrous situations. Clearing rooms systematically and taking note of all available entrances and exits are key strategies that can save lives in this intense survival game. 

Use The ARC

The ARC is a formidable vehicular support unit, offering invaluable assistance to players during their missions in Aliens: Dark Descent. Its primary function is to serve as a reliable mode of transportation, swiftly and safely transporting players to different areas of the mission location, sparing them from the perils of traveling on foot. Furthermore, when the mission is complete or if players need to return to safety urgently, the ARC can also Extract them, carrying them back to the Otago for a full recovery.

One of the ARC’s strategic advantages is its ability to be repositioned throughout the map during deployment. This feature serves not only for Fire Support but also for Extraction. Should players encounter trouble near the ARC, they can count on its powerful barrage of machine gun fire, which efficiently eliminates most threats, keeping the Marines safe.

Consult the map for important points of interest

In the vast and perilous world of Aliens: Dark Descent, players encounter a plethora of objectives, materials, corridors, and dangers that demand constant attention. To stay on top of the ever-changing environment and ensure no valuable Materials or Xenosamples are missed, there’s a simple yet effective method – checking the Map. Unlike the limited information provided by the Heartbeat Monitor during exploration, the Map presents a comprehensive view of all points of interest within the explored area.

By accessing the Map screen, players can not only keep track of their Objectives and overall mission Brief but also explore the Legend, which offers explanations for the various icons and symbols scattered across the map. It’s a handy tool to plan your strategy and make informed decisions about your next moves.

Furthermore, players can access the Squad Recap and Codex from the Map screen, providing them with additional detailed information about the game.

Feel free to extract when needed

In Aliens: Dark Descent, the game uses a persistent-world system, which means that every action you take in the environment will have lasting consequences throughout your playthrough. For example, if you weld a door shut in a certain location, it will stay sealed even if you leave the area and come back later.

Likewise, the resources and loot you find won’t endlessly respawn, so it’s crucial to be mindful of what you collect the first time around to avoid backtracking later in the game.

One significant advantage of this system is that you have the freedom to Extract, return to your base, and regroup with your squad or even send a new team to finish a mission. Since there are numerous objectives in each mission area, the game doesn’t expect you to complete everything in one go. Attempting to do so would pose a real challenge, even for experienced players. So, when the going gets tough, you can call in the ARC and use it to extract, giving you a chance to live to fight another day.

Master the tricks for using Turrets

Just like in the classic Aliens movie, Turrets are your most dependable allies in Aliens: Dark Descent. These trusty companions spray bullets, making them indispensable for your survival. Whether you need to secure a hallway or set up a deadly killing field in narrow corridors, Turrets have got your back.

To ensure maximum safety and firepower, it’s wise to always carry at least two Turrets with you. They become an extra set of guns on the field, and during extractions, you can leave them behind as reliable guard dogs to cover your retreat.

However, Turrets have a couple of limitations to keep in mind. If they get damaged, you’ll need to repair them manually, so it’s essential to watch out for their well-being. Also, once they run out of ammunition, your team will need to be extracted to obtain fresh Turrets.

Never overlook your armored car

In many missions, especially in the early stages, your team arrives on the scene aboard their trusty armored car. This sturdy and robust vehicle is more than just your personal heavily armed Uber; it can also serve as valuable backup or even a patroller in open maps.

Maneuvering the APC is relatively easy, allowing you to position it strategically wherever it fits best. This makes it incredibly useful for rolling ahead into a group of Xenos while your troops follow behind, providing support with their firepower as the APC acts as a shield.

Moreover, the APC plays a crucial role in your team’s extractions, making it essential to position it perfectly for a swift getaway when it’s time to leave the mission area.

Ensure you have a backup team

I cannot stress enough just how crucial it is to have a reliable backup team in Aliens: Dark Descent. Permadeath lurks around every corner, and losing a squad member can happen all too quickly. So, it’s wise not to rely solely on one super-powered fireteam.

Finding a balance is key here. Consider swapping in a B-Team for each mission to give a broader range of Marines a chance to level up. This approach ensures you won’t end up with a bunch of under-experienced Rookies later in the game when you’re a few chapters deep.

Don’t be too loud

When you envision Colonial Marines in the Aliens universe, you might picture a tough-talking, trigger-happy soldier. However, in Dark Descent, silence is your best ally. Making noise attracts more Xenos, and going in guns blazing only escalates their aggression much quicker.

Fortunately, as you progress through the game, you’ll have the chance to unlock silencers, which can be a game-changer. But until then, it’s highly advisable to use short bursts to take down targets and minimize the use of explosives. Creating loud bangs or engaging in prolonged firefights only draws more unwanted attention to your team. Since the Xenos seem to be endless in number, it’s vital to avoid stirring up that proverbial hornet’s nest whenever possible.

Keep an eye on the Alien Aggressiveness meter

As you explore the abandoned colony locations, be prepared for the local Xenomorphs to become increasingly aggressive. You can gauge their mood by keeping an eye on the “Alien Aggressiveness” meter displayed onscreen. The higher the meter climbs, the tougher and more intense the battles become. The aggression levels are categorized as Easy, Medium, and eventually reaching their peak at Hard. As the meter rises, you’ll face more frequent Onslaughts and encounter stronger Xenomorphs.

Every time you engage in combat, the meter will tick up, and you’ll notice little icons corresponding to the Xenos’ escalating aggression. Be vigilant about monitoring this meter while exploring, as the more it fills up, the more challenging the mission becomes.

If you find the meter reaching its peak and the fights becoming overwhelming, it’s a wise decision to consider extraction. Returning to your base for a while will reset the meter, offering you a chance to regroup and plan a better approach.

When Onslaughts hit, hunker down and hold your ground

When it comes to alerting the Xenomorphs, be cautious not to make too much noise, as this could lead to an Onslaught. During an Onslaught, the game unleashes a massive wave of Xenos upon you, typically including tougher and more evolved Stage Two aliens, posing a greater challenge.

Once the alarm is raised, you’ll have a mere 30 seconds to set up your defense, and there’s no way to avoid facing the incoming horde. Running away or hiding won’t work; you’ll have to confront and deal with the irritated alien onslaught head-on.

To avoid triggering Onslaughts, try to keep a low profile and avoid elevating the Aggressiveness Meter too much. Staying quiet and stealthy is the key to preventing these overwhelming encounters. However, if your team becomes too noisy and attracts attention, Onslaughts are more likely to be triggered.

Check Corners

In addition to equipping your Marines with gear before leaving the safety of the Hub, there are extra supplies to be found in the field. While their quantity is limited, having an additional healing item, Flare, or gadget can prove invaluable in challenging situations.

The catch is that these pickups are often well-hidden, tucked away in forgotten rooms and shadowy corners. So, when you have the opportunity or happen to pass through an area you’ve already cleared, take the time to carefully scan each corner with your flashlight. You might just discover something useful that you initially overlooked.

Exercise restraint and avoid being too greedy

When it comes to scavenging for pickups in the field, it’s essential not to be too greedy with every single item you come across. Remember that each level’s layout and the items available are permanent. If you hastily collect everything on your first run-through, you might miss out on crucial items that could become essential later on.

As a good rule of thumb, only take what you currently need and be mindful of your inventory. If you already have enough medkits and ammunition, make a mental note of where additional resources are located. While you might not require them immediately, situations can escalate rapidly, especially in later missions. Having a stash of resources in reserve, in a spot you know, can prove to be incredibly helpful when things get intense.

Get creative with the Motion Sensor

The Motion Sensor is often underestimated, but let me tell you, it’s a real game-changer. Just like those movies we love, these bulky gadgets work like a charm, pinging out a sonar signal whenever they sense hostile movement nearby.

But here’s the secret that many folks tend to overlook – they’re not just for detecting enemies! When you activate the Motion Sensor, it lets out a sharp, attention-grabbing noise that pulls every Xenomorph on the same floor to its location. Picture it – all those nasty creatures gathering up, drawn by the sound, before the sensor goes kaput.

Now, why is this nifty? Well, imagine you’re facing a whole swarm of Xenos, and you need a breather. No worries! Just set off the Motion Sensor in a far-off corner of the map. Those bugs will scamper over there, giving you some precious extra time to prepare or slip away without bumping into any of them.

Where to buy Aliens: Dark Descent

You can purchase Aliens: Dark Descent and Aliens: Fireteam Elite from various sources, including online platforms like Electronic First. Electronic First offers the convenience of buying the games digitally, allowing you to download them directly to your gaming device.

Moreover, Electronic First offers discounted PC games, as well as games for PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo consoles. So, whether you’re a PC gamer or prefer the console experience, you can find great deals on your favorite games, including the thrilling Aliens: Dark Descent and the action-packed Aliens: Fireteam Elite.

To all the brave beginners venturing into the world of Aliens: Dark Descent, I hope these tips and tricks have provided you with valuable insights to tackle the challenges that await you. Remember, stealth and silence are your allies, as noise can draw the attention of relentless Xenomorphs. Balance your aggression and exploration to navigate through the dangers smartly.

May you embark on this gripping interstellar quest with courage and determination. The path ahead is filled with danger, but with careful planning and strategic thinking, you can conquer the darkness and emerge victorious. Good luck, Marines! 

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