Hello, Tamers!

Combat is an essential part of your Downbelow journey, and the key element to the Temtem taming cycle. With a new system, approach, and combat method, the stakes are higher than ever before in the Downbelow! The combat system in OG Temtem was deep and full of factors, and at this point we feel it’s part of the series, so we’ve kept that same spirit in Temtem: Pioneers. Prepare for a very complete update!
Also, a safe reminder that we’re still developing the game, so some of the things said here may change from now until the final version. We’re eager to share, but let’s keep that in mind!

For you to turn a wild Temtem into your partner, first you must weaken them in battle so your TemCard is effective, in the usual creature-taming way. But this time around, you will take direct control of your Temtem in battle, moving, dashing, attacking and dodging as it, instead of issuing commands from the sidelines. There are no turns and little time to think, so you’ll feel each battle in a much more intense way!

Numbers matter!

Temtem in the Downbelow have stats, which is to say, different characteristics they spawn with. The stats in Downbelow are HP, ATK, DEF, STA, and SPD. Let’s break them down!

HP: Determines a Temtem’s life bar. It works very similarly to the OG Temtem game!
ATK: How much base damage a Temtem deals when attacking. Unlike in OG Temtem, we’ve fused the physical and special damage types in one to keep the range of possibilities in check.
DEF: Reduces the damage a Tem receives upon impact.
STA: A very tactical stat, it determines the cooldown that applies to that Temtem’s Techs. Each Technique has its own base cooldown, but that value is later modified by the Tem’s STA.
SPD: The speed in which a Temtem moves through the world. In the turn-based system of Temtem OG, this value determined the order during which Tems played in a turn, but in Pioneers it’s the literal velocity a Temtem can move with. It also affects the cooldown of the Dash!

But there’s more! Every Temtem species has its base stats, but each individual creature has a set of values called Single Values, or SVs for short. They can go from 1 to 30, and these values, together with the base stat, end up forming the final value for each characteristic.
Each Temtem you capture will have its SVs randomized, so looking for the best creature is vital in maximizing your chances to win in battle.
Although there are no Training Values (TVs) in Temtem: Pioneers, you’ll be able to improve a species’ stats through the Pedigree system, which will have an effect on the result of base stats + SVs.

Apart from their stats, every Temtem species sports one of two possible Traits that affect them across the board, with them being beneficial to the Tem. To those familiar with Temtem, they will work in a similar way. Discover all the unique elements of Temtem to make your battles easy to win!

Into the fray!

Temtem in the Downbelow, both your partners and the wild Temtem, have two different types of attacks: physical combos, and Techniques.

Combos are close-range, physical attacks that can be chained to completely overwhelm your opponent. They consist of three fast-paced attacks and apply type matchups, meaning that if your Temtem has a type advantage over the opponent, this advantage will also take effect when performing a combo, and vice versa. Each Temtem has its own combo animation, so make sure to try them all in combat!

Techniques is where the fireworks come in! Techniques, or Techs, are abilities that Tems can use during battle. They can deal damage, improve stats, heal or protect the Temtem, and much more. Some of them target one Temtem, some of them leave AoE fields, some open cracks in the ground, some send projectiles out, etcetera. There’s a Tech for every situation! The higher the level of your Tem, and the stronger it is, the more Techniques they unlock, keeping in mind that the maximum Techs a Tem can use are 4.

Some Tems can access Techs from other types than their own, and each Technique has a type associated with it, so they’re also affected by type matchup. Techniques also have cooldowns that depend on their power and the Tems’ STA, so plan carefully and don’t get carried away!

Since you will be moving a lot to land your Techniques, and avoid the opponents’ ones, you need to be quick on your feet: that’s where Dashes come in. Each Temtem will have at least one Dash, and they’re different for every Temtem, so explore all your options and have fun zooming away from a wild Tem’s Techniques.

Getting a 3-hit combo in, launching a Tech, and then dashing away from an incoming attack can be tricky to pull off, but once you get into that flow state, it will start to become natural!

Well equipped

Gears make a comeback in the Downbelow: like in the original Temtem, Gears are items you can equip on Tems to provide passive effects, mostly buffs. Instead of being handed Gears left and right as it’s the custom in the Airborne Archipelago, it’s your job now to craft them using the materials you gather from the Downbelow. Each Temtem can have one Gear equipped at a time, and they’re unique items, so if one Tem holds a certain Gear, you can’t equip that Gear on another Tem at the same time; you’ll have to unequip it from the holder before you can give it to another Temtem.

Synergies, a very cool mechanic from the original Temtem game, also exist in the Downbelow. A Synergy is an upgraded, improved, or different version of a base Technique, and in Temtem: Pioneers it is unlocked between Tamer and Temtem through the use of Trinkets. Trinkets are quest items with many beneficial effects that you’ll be unlocking as you progress through the game. Having the right Trinket for the right Temtem will allow you to use Synergies and blast through combat with ease! More info on Trinkets in a future update!

Beyond Gears, Trinkets, and synergies, as you journey through the Downbelow you’ll craft or encounter interesting, consumable items that can affect your Tems’ stats directly, either temporarily or permanently. Keep your eyes peeled!

New visual and sound effects have been created for all Techs and their synergies, so you’ll have a lot to experience for the first time. Prepare for the action-packed combat in Downbelow!

That was a lot, right? We didn't want to leave behind any bit of info that could help you picture the new combat system we're so excited to share. Although we love the turn-based combat system, we're really excited to see you try this one out!

Please consider becoming a Backer on our Kickstarter Campaign if you like what you see! And you can always help us by adding Temtem: Pioneers to your wishlist!

Now that you know the steps to the dance, square up and Temtem up!