Valor Mortis Beginner’s Guide – 16 Essential Tips Before You Start

Valor Mortis launches on October 13, 2026, bringing a first-person Soulslike from One More Level, the studio behind Ghostrunner, to Xbox Series X|S and PC.

You play as William, a soldier of Napoleon's Grande Armée who has been resurrected into a plague-ravaged alternate version of 19th-century Europe.

The combat is built around parries, dashes, finishers, melee weapons, firearms and supernatural abilities.

If you are jumping in through Game Pass, these beginner tips will help you understand the mindset the game expects.

1. Treat every death as information

Valor Mortis is explicitly designed around death being part of progression.

When you die, do not only ask what killed you.

Ask:

• which attack you failed to read;
• whether you became too aggressive;
• whether you missed a safer route;
• whether your positioning was poor;
• and whether another weapon would have been more useful.

That turns each failed attempt into progress.

2. Learn the parry timing early

Parries are a core part of Valor Mortis combat.

Do not ignore them and rely entirely on dodging.

A successful parry can create openings that passive play will not.

The safest way to learn is against weaker enemies where a missed parry is unlikely to end the run.

3. Dash with a purpose

Dashing is not just a panic button.

Use it to:

• escape an incoming attack;
• move through danger;
• create distance;
• reposition around an enemy;
• or set up your own counterattack.

Repeatedly dashing without thinking can leave you out of position when you actually need it.

4. Mix melee, firearms and supernatural powers

Valor Mortis gives you several different offensive tools.

Do not reduce the game to a sword-only Soulslike.

The developer specifically highlights a system built around combining:

• swords;
• firearms;
• supernatural abilities;
• parries;
• and finishers.

The strongest approach will often involve changing tools during the same encounter.

5. Save ranged options for situations where distance matters

Firearms can give you control over encounters that would otherwise force you into dangerous close combat.

Use range when:

• an enemy is difficult to approach;
• several enemies are pressuring you;
• a target is positioned awkwardly;
• or you need to finish something without risking another melee exchange.

Do not waste ranged options automatically on enemies that are already easy to control up close.

6. Finishers are more than spectacle

Valor Mortis includes visceral finishing attacks.

When the game creates a safe finisher opportunity, use it intelligently.

Finishing a weakened threat quickly can reduce the number of active enemies in the arena and make the rest of the encounter easier to manage.

7. Do not fight every enemy at once

Soulslike difficulty often comes from numbers rather than individual enemy strength.

If possible, separate enemies.

Use:

• terrain;
• ranged attacks;
• line of sight;
• narrow spaces;
• and controlled movement

to avoid turning one manageable fight into a group attack.

8. Explore for shortcuts

The official gameplay description emphasises secrets and shortcuts.

That means exploration directly affects how painful repeat attempts become.

A shortcut can transform a long run back to a difficult area into a much faster route.

Whenever you see a suspicious side path, it may be worth checking before pushing further.

9. Sidequests are worth your attention

Valor Mortis also includes sidequests.

Do not assume they are simply optional story flavour.

In games with progression-heavy structures, side content often helps you discover:

• useful resources;
• additional upgrades;
• new areas;
• character information;
• and stronger preparation for later encounters.

10. Mobility is part of exploration

One More Level says William's movement can be used to uncover environmental secrets.

That means mobility is not only a combat system.

When exploring, look for routes that require:

• careful jumps;
• alternate approaches;
• unusual elevation;
• or a movement ability you may initially overlook.

11. Learn one enemy properly before worrying about the whole area

When entering a new zone, focus on understanding the first unfamiliar enemy type.

Learn:

• its opening attack;
• its fastest move;
• its recovery window;
• its range;
• and whether it can be interrupted.

Once that enemy becomes predictable, the rest of the area immediately becomes easier.

12. Upgrade around how you actually play

Valor Mortis allows you to develop weapons and supernatural abilities.

Do not build around what sounds strongest on paper if it does not fit your playstyle.

If you naturally rely on parries and close-range counters, invest around that.

If you use firearms and mobility to control distance, prioritise tools that support that approach.

A coherent build is usually better than spreading upgrades everywhere.

13. Do not spend resources carelessly

The temptation in a progression-heavy game is to upgrade whatever is available first.

Before committing scarce resources, ask whether the upgrade improves something you actually use.

The more expensive progression becomes, the more valuable early discipline is.

14. Bosses should be studied in phases

Do not treat a boss as one continuous fight.

Break it into sections.

Learn:

1. which attacks open the fight;
2. which attacks are safest to parry;
3. which are better dodged;
4. where your reliable damage windows are;
5. and what changes when the boss enters a later phase.

This makes difficult encounters much easier to understand.

15. Game Pass makes experimentation easier

Valor Mortis launches day one with Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass on October 13.

That gives subscribers a low-risk way to try a first-person Soulslike even if they are unsure whether the genre is for them.

The game also supports Xbox Play Anywhere, Xbox achievements and cloud saves.

The official Xbox listing for Valor Mortis confirms support for Xbox Series X|S, PC and handheld play.

16. Slow down when the game starts punishing you

The biggest beginner mistake in difficult action games is often responding to failure by playing faster.

If you keep dying in the same area, slow down.

Watch enemy animations.

Use the environment.

Check for shortcuts.

Reconsider your weapon choice.

Valor Mortis rewards controlled aggression, not blind aggression.

Valor Mortis beginner tips – quick recap

Before starting, remember:

• learn parries instead of relying only on dodges;
• dash with a clear purpose;
• combine melee, firearms and supernatural abilities;
• isolate enemies where possible;
• explore for shortcuts and sidequests;
• use mobility outside combat too;
• upgrade around your actual playstyle;
• and treat every death as useful information.

Valor Mortis launches October 13, 2026 for Xbox Series X|S and PC and is available day one with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.