Artis Impact is the kind of RPG that looks straightforward… right up until the game quietly hands you a few build systems and expects you to figure out how they interact.
If you’re bouncing off early fights, unsure what to upgrade first, or you keep hearing about “Respect” and have no idea why it matters, this beginner’s guide is here to make the opening hours feel smooth (and way more fun).
This guide focuses on spoiler-light, practical advice: how to get stronger faster, what to prioritize in the HQ/Workshop, how to avoid common combat traps, and how to understand Respect without turning your playthrough into a checklist.
Quick Beginner FAQ
Is Artis Impact difficult?
It can feel spiky early on mostly because the combat and progression systems aren’t always explained clearly, so people end up “defaulting” to one safe pattern (like blocking forever) instead of using upgrades and build effects to stabilize fights.
Is there an easier difficulty option?
Yes. If you hit a wall and you’re not enjoying the friction, use an easier setting to keep the story moving (then bump it back up later if you want).
What is Respect?
Respect is a points total you earn from specific good-deed/quest/boss milestones across the game.
When you gain a point, you’ll see a pop-up like Honor+ or Reputation+, and you can check your current Respect total by looking at your save file in the save menu.
First Hour Priorities (Do These Early)
Don’t rush out of the HQ / Workshop loop
Early on, the game introduces key systems in the Workshop/HQ flow (augmenting your blade, bot upgrades, core slotting, etc.). If you ignore those stations and just push objectives, you’ll feel underpowered faster than you should.
Simple early routine that keeps you strong:
- After a main objective or boss: return to HQ → check build stations → upgrade/slot → then head back out.
- If a new area starts hitting too hard: treat it as a signal to upgrade, not a signal to grind.
Upgrade the Bot early (it’s more than “nice to have”)
There’s a dedicated spot in the Workshop/HQ area to upgrade your bot (you’ll see it referred to as the bot’s cubicle/station).
Doing this early matters because bot effects can dramatically change combat with healing, damage boosts, or utility that smooths out swingy fights.
Treat optional areas like “gear checks”
If you step into an optional dungeon and normal enemies suddenly chunk you, don’t brute force it.
Back out, upgrade your sword/bot/build effects, then come back.
The game is built around this loop: explore → hit a power wall → improve at HQ → return stronger.
Combat Tips That Make Fights Feel Consistent
If fights feel random, fix your survivability first
A common early frustration is damage swings that feel unpredictable (one turn you’re fine, the next you’re nearly dead). If that’s happening, your best early answer is reliability:
- Prioritize healing/sustain effects from your build stations
- Reduce the number of “close calls” before you chase faster kills
A good rule: if you’re finishing fights with <30% HP regularly, upgrade/adjust before pushing deeper.
Stop “blocking forever” by giving yourself a win condition
One easy beginner trap is turning every fight into: Block → Heal → Build meter → Big hit → Repeat. That works… but it’s slow, and it makes combat feel flat.
Instead, aim for one of these early “win conditions”:
- Reliable sustain (you heal a little often, not a lot sometimes)
- Counterattack focus (enemies punish themselves for hitting you)
- Steady bonus damage (a passive damage boost that reduces fight length)
Learn the game’s “build breakpoints”
Artis Impact has a point where combat suddenly feels easier, not because you got better at timing, but because your build effects start stacking.
Once you’ve unlocked and used the HQ stations properly (cores, bot weapon inserts, upgrades), even basic encounters can collapse fast.
The game can swing from “hard” to “wow, I’m melting enemies” when you hit those breakpoints.
Progression Tips: How to Get Strong Without Grinding
Boss cores are huge, slot them ASAP
A major progression mechanic: bosses often drop cores, and you can use them back at HQ to add effects to your blade (the guide wording you’ll see is essentially “insert your blade” and apply the core). Importantly, this is described as free to apply so there’s no reason to sit on cores “for later.”
Beginner move: every time you beat a boss, go back and slot the new core before you do anything else. You’ll feel the difference immediately.
Don’t neglect your sword upgrades
Your sword upgrades are one of the simplest, most reliable power increases in the game.
Even if your build is messy, raw weapon upgrades help you keep pace with enemy HP and reduce fight length which also reduces the chance you get clipped by unlucky damage spikes.
Use the HQ stations to build around a single plan
There’s a special room/stations at HQ where your build options “break wide open”: slotting cores from bosses and inserting weapons into the bot to create stronger effects and synergies.
A lot of early frustration comes from scattering upgrades across “a bit of everything.” Instead, pick one plan and lean into it.
Beginner-Friendly Builds That Are Actually Strong
The easiest “strong” approach: stack Counterattack chance
If you want the most beginner-proof power spike, build into counterattack.
With enough counterattack percentage stacked into your build, enemies essentially delete themselves by attacking you. This can annihilate normal encounters and even trivialize bosses once it’s online.
How to use this in your playthrough:
- If you see a core/effect that adds counterattack chance, prioritize it
- Support it with sustain (healing each turn, or reliable healing triggers)
- In fights, focus on staying alive and letting the enemy’s actions fuel your damage
This is one of those builds that makes the midgame feel dramatically smoother.
“Safe and steady” build: Bot healing + bonus damage
Another very comfortable beginner setup is combining:
- A bot effect that heals you consistently (even small heals each turn help a ton)
- A passive damage boost so fights don’t drag on
This approach is great if you dislike risky play and want reliable clears.
Don’t be afraid to reslot / change effects as soon as you get better cores
Because cores are tied to bosses and you’ll keep finding better ones, your “best build” will evolve. The correct beginner mentality is:
- Slot what’s strong now
- Replace it later when your options improve
Respect: What It Does and How to Maximize It (Spoiler-Light)
Respect is one of the most important “meta” systems in Artis Impact because it’s tied to key outcomes and completion goals.
You gain Respect from specific actions (good deeds, certain quest outcomes, and bosses—including optional ones).
How to tell when you earned Respect
When you gain a point, you’ll see Honor+ or Reputation+ on screen.
How to check your current Respect total
You can check your Respect by looking at your most current save file in the save menu.
The “natural” way to earn more Respect (without a checklist)
If you want higher Respect without turning the game into chores, do these habits:
- Talk to NPCs in hub areas after major story beats (new options pop up)
- Say yes to helping when the game presents a clear “assist” opportunity
- Do optional bosses/dungeons when you’re strong enough
Respect and endings (keep this in mind)
Respect can affect what outcome you get and having “too much” Respect can lock you into a secret ending. You can track the total in the save menu.
If you care about seeing different outcomes: keep an eye on your Respect total as you progress.
A Short, Spoiler-Light “Do This Next” Roadmap
If you want a simple path that keeps you powered up:
- Complete your next objective
- Return to HQ/Workshop
- Augment/upgrade at the stations (blade + bot)
- Slot any new boss cores immediately
- Head out again and clear one optional area when you feel comfortable
Common Beginner Mistakes (and the Fix)
Mistake: treating the HQ stations as optional
Treat HQ as your “level-up screen.” Every boss win should be followed by a build pass (cores, bot, upgrades).
Mistake: fighting through damage spikes instead of upgrading
When normal enemies start hitting too hard, back out and improve your build. This is the intended loop.
Mistake: ignoring Counterattack effects because they sound “small”
Counterattack chance stacks into a real power build and can dramatically reduce difficulty.
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Images in this post are from the Artis Impact page on Steam and used under Fair Use.