Beginner’s Guide to Tempest Rising – Tips for New RTS Players

New to Tempest Rising and not sure where to start? This beginner-friendly guide will walk you through base-building, harvesting Tempest Vines, managing your economy, and more.


Welcome to the Warzone

If you’ve just jumped into Tempest Rising, you’re probably feeling a bit of RTS déjà vu—and that’s a good thing. Inspired by genre greats like Command & Conquer, this game delivers classic real-time strategy with a modern twist.

But don’t worry if you’re new to the battlefield. Whether you're a strategy veteran or a total rookie, this beginner's guide breaks down everything you need to build, manage, and dominate.


1. Know Your Resources: Credits & Tempest Vines

The backbone of any strong army is a steady economy.

Credits

Credits are your main resource—used to build structures, train units, and deploy special powers. You earn them by harvesting Tempest Pods from glowing vines scattered across the map.

Harvesting Tempest Vines

Each side uses specialized harvesters to collect Tempest Pods and deliver them to your Refinery. From there, the pods get converted into credits. Build Silos to store extra pods if your refinery fills up.

Pro Tip:
Protect your harvesters—they're easy targets, and losing one can stall your entire economy.


2. Base-Building Basics

Start with a Construction Yard

Your Construction Yard is your HQ. From here, you’ll start placing down power plants, refineries, and production facilities.

  • GDF Style: Structures are built on-site, meaning they’re vulnerable during construction.

  • Tempest Dynasty: Structures are built in advance and deployed instantly—a huge edge in mobility and surprise tactics.

Don’t Forget Power

Everything needs power. If your grid goes down, your base slows down or shuts off entirely. Build extra power plants early to avoid downtime.


3. Building Units Like a Pro

Beginner’s Guide to Tempest Rising
Key Production Buildings

  • Barracks – Infantry training

  • Vehicle Factory – Tanks, harvesters, and support units

  • Airfield – Aircraft (faction dependent)

You can queue units at multiple structures to ramp up production. Just make sure you’ve got the resources to support your war machine.

Pro Tip:
Set one structure as your "primary" to control where your units deploy when built. Helps keep reinforcements organized!


4. Expand Early, Expand Smart

Once your economy is stable, look for additional Tempest Vines across the map. The more fields you control, the longer you’ll outlast your opponent in a resource war.

Tips to Expand Efficiently

  • Use scouts to check for unguarded vine fields.

  • Deploy a second base or outpost to keep harvesting nearby.

  • Fortify expansion areas with turrets and units.


5. Economy Management 101

Early Game Priorities

  • One or two harvesters running ASAP

  • Power plant + refinery combo first

  • Barracks and basic defense shortly after

Mid to Late Game

  • Upgrade your income by controlling more resource nodes

  • Balance unit production and tech upgrades

  • Don’t overspend—keep a buffer in case of surprise attacks

Pro Tip:
If you’re floating too many credits, build another unit factory to spend faster and keep pressure on your enemy.


6. Play Smart – General Tips for Beginners

  • Scout Early & Often – Know what your enemy is up to

  • Build Defenses – Especially around harvesters and key buildings

  • Hotkeys Help – Learn unit group and build shortcuts for faster play

  • Experiment with Both Factions – GDF and Tempest Dynasty play differently—find your groove


Join the Community

You don’t have to play alone. The Tempest Rising community is growing fast, and there are some great spots to ask questions, share tactics, or post gameplay.


Ready to Command Your Army?

Tempest Rising brings back the magic of classic RTS games while offering enough depth to keep you coming back. With these basics under your belt, you’ll be ready to build, expand, and conquer. 

Related Articles

🎖️ Want to dive deeper into Tempest Rising? Check out our Tempest Rising vs. Command & Conquer: A Nostalgic RTS Showdown for a look at how this modern classic compares to one of the genre’s all-time greats.

🛡️ Still deciding which faction suits your style? Don’t miss our Faction Spotlight: GDF vs. Tempest Dynasty – Which Side Should You Choose? for a full breakdown of each side’s strengths, weaknesses, and playstyles.

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