Echoes of Elysium airship survival RPG gameplay

Echoes of Elysium Beginner Guide: Build Your Airship and Conquer the Skies

Echoes of Elysium drops you into a hostile sky with nothing but a rickety raft and a dream of building a flying fortress. This airship survival RPG from Loric Games mixes crafting, combat, and Greek mythology across a procedurally generated world. After sailing through the Early Access launch, here's everything you need to get airborne.

Table of Contents

Quick Survival Tips

  • Build sails first — Your starting raft can't move without them; mobility is survival
  • Watch your glider timer — Early game gliding has a time limit before you fall
  • Dock at friendly ports — These safe zones have unique crafting stations you can't build
  • Play with friends — Solo is possible but the game is designed for crews of up to 6
  • Balance your ship design — Heavy armor slows you down; fast ships can outrun threats
  • Explore floating junk piles early — They're your main resource source before you can raid

Getting Started

You begin Echoes of Elysium as a stranger in the sky realm, guided by the goddess Lethe against the demigod Heron's forces. Your first priority: turn that floating wreck into something functional.

First Steps

  1. Gather basic materials — Use your glider to reach floating debris piles
  2. Craft sails — Without propulsion, you're dead in the water (sky)
  3. Build a basic deck — Expand your workspace
  4. Add steering — Control where you're going
  5. Find a friendly dock — Access advanced crafting stations

The Glider

Your glider is essential for reaching resource nodes and exploring. Early on, it has a limited flight time before you fall—manage this carefully. Upgrades eventually extend flight duration.

Friendly Docks

Look for safe ports scattered across the sky. These provide:

  • Unique crafting stations not available on your ship
  • Safe respite from enemies
  • Trading opportunities
  • Quest hubs

Airship Building Basics

Your airship is home, workshop, and weapon. Echoes of Elysium's building system lets you create everything from nimble raiders to armored fortresses.

Core Components

  • Hull: The foundation of your ship; affects durability and weight
  • Sails: Propulsion; more sails = more speed (to a point)
  • Engines: Advanced propulsion for late-game ships
  • Weapons: Cannons, turrets, and other armaments
  • Decks: Expandable floor space for rooms and stations
  • Interior rooms: Dedicated spaces for crafting, storage, and crew

Ship Design Philosophy

Every design choice affects performance:

Speed Build

  • Multiple sails
  • Light materials
  • Minimal weapons
  • Strategy: Outrun what you can't fight

Fortress Build

  • Heavy armor plating
  • Multiple weapon stations
  • Reinforced hull
  • Strategy: Stand and fight

Balanced Build

  • Moderate speed and armor
  • Flexible weapon loadout
  • Strategy: Adapt to situations

Building Tips

  • Pieces snap together easily—experiment freely
  • You can rebuild and reorganize as you get better materials
  • Consider crew access when designing interiors
  • Weapon placement affects firing arcs
  • Use the free Airship Builder tool to plan designs outside the game

Resource Gathering

The collect-build-upgrade loop drives progression. Know where to find materials and how to gather efficiently.

Resource Sources

Floating Debris (Early Game)

  • Primary early-game source
  • Reach via glider
  • Contains basic crafting materials
  • Respawns over time

Sky Islands

  • Land-based resources
  • Often guarded by enemies
  • Higher-tier materials on dangerous islands

Enemy Airships

  • Raid for components and materials
  • Riskier but more rewarding
  • Can salvage enemy ship parts

Gathering Efficiency

  • Upgrade your glider to extend gathering runs
  • Mark resource-rich areas mentally or on any notes
  • In co-op, dedicate some players to gathering while others build
  • Don't ignore "junk"—early materials are always useful

Combat Guide

The skies aren't friendly. You'll face clockwork creatures, hostile towers, rival airships, and Heron's faction forces.

Enemy Types

  • Flying clockwork creatures: Aerial threats that swarm your ship
  • Hostile towers: Stationary defenses guarding valuable areas
  • Rival airships: Ship-to-ship combat; most dangerous encounters
  • Heron faction: Main antagonist forces; mix of organic and mechanical

Ship Combat

Naval warfare principles apply, plus vertical maneuvering:

  • Broadside attacks: Position for maximum gun coverage
  • Height advantage: Attacking from above can expose weak points
  • Ramming: Sometimes the best offense is direct
  • Retreat: If outmatched, speed-focused ships can escape

Combat Roles (Co-op)

  • Pilot: Steering and positioning
  • Gunner: Manning weapons
  • Engineer: Repairs during combat
  • Boarder: Glide to enemy ships for direct assault

Repair During Combat

Ships take damage—have someone dedicated to repairs during fights. A badly damaged ship becomes sluggish and vulnerable.

Progression System

Both your character and ship progress through tiers of power.

Character Progression

  • Level up through combat and exploration
  • Unlock new abilities
  • Upgrade personal gear (weapons, armor, tools)

Ship Progression

  • Tier 1: Basic materials, simple components
  • Tier 2: Advanced weapons, better engines, reinforced armor
  • Boss encounters: Defeating major enemies unlocks new tiers

Crafting Stations

  • Basic stations can be built on your ship
  • Advanced stations only exist at friendly docks
  • Plan trips to docks when you need specialized crafting

Co-op Tips

Echoes of Elysium supports up to 6-player online co-op—and the game really shines with a crew.

Why Play Co-op

  • Division of labor (gather, build, fight simultaneously)
  • Ship combat requires multiple roles
  • Build specialized fleet ships faster
  • More fun exploring with friends

Crew Coordination

  • Designate a captain: One person making tactical calls during combat
  • Specialize roles: Not everyone needs to do everything
  • Communicate ship damage: Call out what needs repairs
  • Plan expeditions: Coordinate who's gathering vs. building

Solo Play Notes

Solo is technically possible but challenging:

  • Can't pilot and gun simultaneously in combat
  • Gathering and building take longer
  • Consider speed-focused builds to avoid fights
  • Use friendly docks frequently

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Echoes of Elysium PvP or PvE?

PvE only currently. You fight AI enemies and bosses, not other players.

Does it have controller support?

Currently keyboard and mouse only in Early Access. Controller support may come in future updates.

How long is the Early Access content?

The EA launch includes one large procedurally generated region with Tier 1-2 progression and a boss encounter. More content is planned throughout Early Access.

Can I play offline?

Yes, solo play works offline. Co-op requires online connection.

Is there a free demo?

The Airship Builder tool is free and lets you design ships that can be imported into the full game as blueprints.

Summary

Echoes of Elysium rewards preparation and teamwork. Build sails first, explore via glider, and use friendly docks for advanced crafting. Design your ship around your playstyle—speed to escape or armor to dominate. The game truly shines in co-op where crews can specialize and coordinate. Start small, upgrade steadily, and eventually you'll command a flying fortress worthy of the skies of Elysium.

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