MENACE 2026 (Early Access) Beginner Guide — 10 Essential Tips to Survive Your First Missions in the Wayback System
Get ready for one of the toughest tactical RPG experiences of 2026 — where smart strategy and battlefield discipline keep your squads alive.
MENACE, the new turn-based sci-fi tactical RPG from Overhype Studios (creators of Battle Brothers), launched into Early Access on February 5, 2026 with a brutal combat system and deep strategic layers. You command a strike force against pirates, aliens, and rogue armies using tactical positioning, squad management, and resource planning.
Players soon learn MENACE is not XCOM in space — it’s harsher, more methodical, and far more punishing. Losses are meaningful, suppression matters more than raw HP, and every decision counts.
This beginner guide combines community-verified strategies, official mechanics info, and player observations to help you survive your first grind-stone missions in the Wayback System.
Quick Stats: Core Mechanics at a Glance
| Feature | Key Mechanic to Master |
|---|---|
| Movement | AP-based with Stance (Crouch/Stand) |
| Combat | Suppression > Raw Damage |
| Turn Style | Alternating Activations |
| Permadeath | High (Squad Leaders can die permanently) |
🔎 1. Understand the Combat System
-Beginner-Guide.PNG "MENACE 2026 (Early Access) Beginner Guide — 10 Essential Tips to Survive Your First Missions in the Wayback System")
MENACE’s tactical layer isn’t about random hits and RNG luck — it’s about positioning, AP economy, and suppression control:
Combat uses alternating activations: you move one squad, then each enemy squad activates in turn. This creates opportunities to plan ahead and manipulate turn order advantageously.
Action Points (AP) dictate every action — movement, shooting, crouching, reloading, and abilities. Always leave enough AP for defense or reactive moves.
Suppression isn’t just theoretical — it’s a core mechanic that can cripple enemy squads without killing them outright.
Quick Tip: Think of suppression as controlling the battlefield — pinning down enemies often prevents them from acting effectively, giving you tactical breathing room.
🔫 2. Suppression is a Primary Weapon
Suppressing enemies reduces their AP, accuracy, and mobility, often more effectively than just dealing damage.
Missed shots can still generate suppression.
Pinned squads lose significant effectiveness.
Enemies sometimes flee when heavily suppressed — you can then ignore them entirely.
Pro Strategy: Use dedicated suppression teams early in missions. Some community players suggest having a machine-gun squad to pin opponents while maneuver teams flank or secure objectives.
🕹 3. Master the Alternating Turn Order
Unlike many tactical RPGs, MENACE doesn’t have a standard “full team turn” — it’s interleaved:
Moving squads later in the cycle can let them act first in the next cycle, gaining initiative.
Plan your activations so your high-impact squads (like assault or sniper teams) act at the start of rounds.
Tip: Always finalize your squad’s position with AP remaining to react or take advantage of enemy movement.
🛡 4. Use Cover & Positioning Intelligently
Cover isn’t merely decorative — it directly impacts hit chance, suppression buildup, and damage mitigation:
Buildings, terrain, and natural features reduce incoming fire when used correctly.
Flanking enemy squads from unexpected angles improves your effectiveness.
Never rush forward without a plan — patience beats aggression in MENACE.
💥 5. Smoke Grenades + Close Quarters Tactics Work
Players have discovered advanced tactics like using smoke grenades to break enemy line of sight, then moving assault squads into close range — ideal for shotguns and SMGs.
Why this works:
Smoke blocks sight, allowing safe repositioning.
Enemies outside the smoke suffer from reduced targeting.
Early Access Tip: Always carry a few smoke grenades in your loadouts — they’re cheap and offer huge tactical options.
🚗 6. Vehicles & Crew Morale
Vehicles — like APCs — add heavy firepower and protection but can be vulnerable from the sides and rear:
Always orient vehicles facing enemies to maximize frontal armor.
Use turret weapons for heavy suppression and support.
Crew Morale Matters: Infantry inside or near vehicles can become Shaken if pinned, which reduces vehicle effectiveness. Keeping your crew calm and strategically supported is key to maintaining your vehicle’s combat potential.
Don’t treat vehicles as invincible — they still require good positioning, support from infantry, and careful attention to crew morale.
👤 7. Build Balanced, Flexible Squads
Community vets suggest balancing your force:
Riflemen for reliable damage
Grenadiers for utility
Machine gunners for suppression
Scouts/snipers for recon and precision fire
A flexible squad adapts better to mission surprises than a highly specialized one.
🔋 8. Avoid Common Beginner Traps
New players often make mistakes like:
Overextending without cover
Treating MENACE like a typical tactical shooter
Ignoring suppression and tactical pacing
Assuming grenades always do high damage (community reports say efficiency varies)
Patience and over-planning generally yield better results.
🪖 9. Rotate Squads & Manage Fatigue
Fatigue affects squad performance over successive missions. Vets recommend rotating leaders and using backup teams for low-risk missions so your best squads stay fresh.
💡 10. Fight Smart, Not Hard
MENACE rewards tactical finesse over brute force. Early Access guides and player discussions highlight that mastering suppression, turn order, and AP economics leads to fewer casualties and more sustainable campaigns.
🛡 Manpower vs. Armor: What to Prioritize Early
In the Wayback System, Manpower Bleed is a bigger early threat than armor penetration. Community discussions on Reddit and Discord highlight that having more squad members often saves campaigns more than heavily armored units.
Tip: Prioritize larger squads over heavy armor in your first two weeks of Early Access. More bodies mean more suppression turns, better flanking potential, and higher survival odds.
⚠ PSA: No Overwatch in MENACE
MENACE does not have an Overwatch button. The developers replaced it with the Suppression and Reaction system** to keep combat aggressive. If you’re looking for an “ambush” option, focus on flanking squads and alternating activations.
This addresses a common player frustration and helps new players understand the game mechanics faster.
🎮 Final Thoughts
MENACE is a brutal, unforgiving tactical RPG that rewards patience, planning, and smart resource use. Very positive Early Access reviews show it delivers rich tactical depth, where learned strategy triumphs over raw firepower.
👉 Next recommended reads:
Official MENACE Steam Page - Game details, updates, and community reviews on Steam.
r/MENACE (Reddit) – Central subreddit for tips, tutorials, gameplay discussion, and community strategy guides.
Comments
Post a Comment