Beginner's Guide to MENACE
New to MENACE? This guide covers everything you need to survive the Wayback System — from your first mission to commanding a full strike force. Written for players who want to understand the game, not just copy builds.
# Quick FAQ
Is MENACE hard to learn?
MENACE has depth but is not overwhelming. If you've played Battle Brothers or XCOM, you'll feel at home. New players should start on lower difficulty, focus on the basics (cover, suppression, rotation), and gradually increase complexity. The game rewards methodical play over reckless aggression.
What should I do in my first 5 hours?
1) Complete the tutorial operations. 2) Unlock 3-4 squad leaders and rotate them. 3) Prioritize Alien Wildlife missions for easy XP. 4) Invest first O.C.I. points in Electronics for mission intel. 5) Check the Black Market after every operation for gear upgrades.
Which squad leaders are best for beginners?
Jane Darby (S-Tier sniper), Edwin Pike (suppression immunity), and Kody Greifinger (versatile all-rounder) are the most forgiving choices. Avoid Marta Carda (extreme risk) and J.G. Wetteroth (situational) until you understand the combat system.
01 Getting Started
You are the commander of the TCRN Impetus, a strike cruiser stranded in the Wayback System after the Warp Gate was damaged. Your mission: lead a mixed force of marines, mercenaries, and even criminals against pirates, rogue armies, corporate forces, and an emerging alien threat known as the MENACE.
Your Ship (TCRN Impetus)
Your mobile base. Upgradable via O.C.I. components across Electronics, Weapons, and Hull systems. Upgrades persist across the entire campaign.
The Starmap
Strategic map showing available operations. Each operation contains multiple missions. Choose operations based on faction relationships and rewards.
Squad Leaders
You command squads through Squad Leaders — unique characters with stats, perks, and growth potential. Rotate leaders to avoid Fatigue penalties.
The Black Market
Your primary source of weapons, armor, vehicles, and recruits. Inventory refreshes after each operation. Barter system — match value, no currency.
02 Essential Tips for Survival
1. Use Cover — Always
Cover is not optional in MENACE. Even one tile of cover can mean the difference between a dead squad and a victorious one. Buildings, rocks, and vehicles all provide varying cover levels — check each tile before moving.
2. Suppress, Then Destroy
The core combat loop: Suppress enemies with LMGs or grenades, then finish them with assault rifles or snipers. Suppressed enemies have reduced accuracy and AP — they're sitting ducks for your cleanup crew.
3. Rotate Squad Leaders
Leaders gain 'Fatigue' debuff (reduced AP) when deployed on too many consecutive missions. Maintain 4+ active leaders and rotate them to avoid penalties. This also spreads XP for a stronger overall roster.
4. Check the Black Market Every Operation
Black Market inventory refreshes after each operation. Always check for valuable recruit files, rare weapons, and manpower replenishment items. The 'Recruitment Drive' item is especially important for maintaining your troop pool.
5. Upgrade O.C.I. Early
Ship O.C.I. upgrades provide massive returns. Prioritize Electronics for better mission intel — knowing enemy composition before deployment is invaluable. Then Hull for sustainability, Weapons for orbital strike options.
6. Don't Overextend in Combat
The biggest beginner mistake: moving too far in one turn. MENACE has no initiative system — once a squad starts acting, it must finish before enemies respond. Move incrementally and reassess after each action.
7. Manage Supply Cost
Each mission has a supply cap. Outfitting squads with expensive gear reduces how many squads you can deploy. Balance quality vs. quantity — sometimes two medium squads beat one elite squad.
8. Prioritize Zayn-Beecher Missions
ZBC pays the most credits and resources without requiring you to antagonize other factions. Use their missions as your primary income source while selectively helping other factions for specific rewards.
03 Combat Basics
Action Points (AP)
All actions cost AP: crouching (20 AP), standard shots (40 AP), special weapons (40-80 AP), and movement (varies by terrain and load). AGI determines max AP — higher AGI leaders can perform more actions per turn.
Suppression System
Suppression accumulates from incoming fire. Levels: Normal → Suppressed (reduced accuracy) → Pinned (severe AP penalty). High fire-rate weapons (LMG, SMG) apply the most suppression. Leaders with high Valor resist suppression better.
Directional Armor (Vehicles)
Vehicles have different armor ratings on front, sides, and rear. Always face front armor toward enemies. Use the X key to rotate in place. Reverse movement keeps front armor facing threats while repositioning.
Cover & Concealment
Cover reduces incoming damage and is directional — the same building can provide full cover on one side and no cover on another. Concealment (from camouflage, smoke, night) makes units harder to detect. Fully concealed units cannot be targeted.
Shaken & Routed
Repeated attacks or losing multiple soldiers in one turn causes Shaken (white flashing icon, no attacking this turn) and Routed (may flee battlefield). Routed enemies are defenseless — use these turns to reposition or eliminate other threats.
Orbital Strikes
Unlocked through Weapons O.C.I. upgrades. Takes a full turn to arrive. Use suppressive fire on the target area to prevent enemies from escaping. Orbital strikes don't cost AP and have limited uses per mission.
04 Ship O.C.I. Upgrade Priority
Electronics
Highest — intel lets you tailor squad composition per missionProvides mission intelligence — reveals enemy positions and unit types before deployment.
Weapons
Medium — powerful but limited uses per mission. Unlock after ElectronicsOrbital strike capabilities — rockets, strafing runs, ion beams for battlefield support.
Hull
High — keeps your roster healthy across multi-mission operationsShip sustainability — medical bay, vehicle repair, troop replenishment between missions.
⚖ Next Steps
Now that you understand the basics, dive deeper into specific guides: