The Finals Beginner's Guide – How to Play & Tips

Hello, new contestants, and welcome to the definitive The Finals beginner guide, where we will introduce you to the game and many of its mechanics that made the game stand out from the crowd of multiplayer shooters. Keep this guide handy as you fight your way through the ranks of multiple tournaments, as our tips will be useful on any level of play, from casual to hardcore.

 

The Finals is a unique competitive shooter that puts you into the shoes of a seemingly virtual competitor of a violent show where you and two of your teammates compete against several other teams of 3 for the win. The game features several interesting mechanics that haven’t really been seen in other similar games, and its unique 3-class system offers a lot of tactical freedom in terms of approaching traversal and combat. So, join us in this The Finals starting guide as we delve deep into everything that makes this game unique and explain how it all works.

The Finals Game Modes and Their Structure

Being a multiplayer-only game with a strong focus on the competitive side of things, the Finals offers a few game modes. Regardless of the game mode, you will be collecting money by completing various objectives - either carrying and extracting the vaults to receive the reward or killing opponents who drop the money. Once the limit of the mode is reached, the team that has reached it or has more money in their account wins the match.

So, for this part of The Finals complete guide, let’s see what modes are available to you when you click the “Play” button.

Let’s go over each mode in more detail so that you know how to start The Finals and what to do when you launch the game:

• QuickCash

It’s a single-match rush, the first team to reach 20,000 wins. 

1. Locate the Vault and take the Cash Box
2. Deposit the Cash Box at the Cashout Station
3. Wait for the Cashout Process to complete and defend it

The Cash Box in the process can be stolen, and the progress will count towards the team who stole during the Cashout process. So, your team’s goal is to set up defenses and not let the enemy teams steal your prize.

• Bank It

This game mode is a little different from the QuickCash. Four teams of 3 players each collect and deposit coins. Get the coins at the vaults. The more coins you’re carrying, the longer the trail is behind you. Your team doesn’t earn those coins until you deposit them. If you’re eliminated while you’re carrying coins, they’ll scatter for anyone else to grab. 

1. Get to the Vault
2. Retrieve the coins
3. Deposit the coins at the Cash Station

The team to reach 40,000 first or the richest team when the time is up will win.

• Tournament and Ranked Tournament.

You will be playing the CashOut game mode with an extra layer of rules. Your goal will be reaching and winning the final round.

1. Find the Vault
2. Grab the Cash Box
3. Insert it into a Cashout Station
4. Don’t let anyone steal it.

You will start in a knock-out round where your team needs to get enough cash to finish in the top 2 each round. In the final round, it’s just 2 teams in a single-match rush. The first to reach 20,000 wins. Tournaments are the pinnacle of competitive play, meaning that the respawn tokens are limited for the entire tournament. Plus, you won’t be able to change your loadout mid-round. You need to play 60 rounds to unlock the Ranked Tournament. Play the Ranked version of Tournaments to progress through the leagues. So, now you know how to play The Finals in a nutshell.

 

The Finals Character Classes and Equipment

If you want to know how to start playing The Finals as a beginner, you should learn how the classes work. In the contestant's menu, you can create up to 6 characters that are divided into 3 classes.

• Light - exceptionally fast but low survivability. Executes hit-and-run tactics. Specializes in stealth and evasion.
• Medium - excels in mid-range combat. Average health and movement speed. Specializes in healing, scanning, or providing support.
• Heavy - high survivability. Low movement speed. Specializes in demolition and fortifications.

Each of these classes has its own set of equipment that makes a loadout. Each loadout consists of:

1. 1x Specialization - a special activity that is tied to your class.
2. 1x Weapon - your main and only weapon
3. 3x Gadgets - include grenades, defense-oriented devices, etc.
4. Reserve - this provides additional slots where you can put any of the above so you can switch to whatever you put here in the middle of a match when you’re waiting for respawn. Some game modes don’t allow the use of reserve.

Apart from editing the loadout, you can also change the following:

• Style - change visual appearance and costumes
• Expressions - select emotes, sprays, and other means of expression
• Pets - add a pet to your character.
• Watches - add a wristwatch to your character.

Moving on with our The Finals guide, let’s talk about equipment. Equipment is available to all classes, which includes 3 special skills, 6 weapons, and 12 gadgets. When you start playing the game for the first time, you will only have access to a selected range of weapons and gadgets. As you progress further and level up your account, you will receive Multibacks - an in-game currency that you will be able to spend to unlock the remaining arsenal.

Here’s all the equipment available in the game to each of the classes:

Here are a few early The Finals tips for beginners; we’ll cover more of those later on in the article. As you can see, each class has its own set of special abilities that allow them to focus on specific areas such as mobility, stealth, healing, or defense. The Light class mostly uses light or melee weapons such as SMGs, pistols, knives, and swords. The Medium class uses a range of different assault rifles, shotguns, and heavy-hitting revolvers. The Heavy class prefers light machine guns, auto shotguns, and grenade launchers.

While all classes have special gadgets, most of the gadgets are shared between the classes, especially when it comes to grenades and mines. Your goal is to make a loadout for your class that is the most comfortable for you. Another good idea for an effective loadout is to think about the synergy between different classes and their skills and make a loadout that compliments each team member.

The Finals Gameplay and Maps

In this part of The Finals gaming guide, we’ll talk about the maps and gameplay. As we’ve mentioned before, the Finals sport a fast-paced first-person shooter. But what makes it stand out from similar games is a few key unique features that can only be found here. Let’s start with the fact that all objects on the maps are completely destroyable. Any house or structure can be brought down and turned into pebble, provided you have enough firepower to do that. It is incredibly important to keep in mind and it is a valuable skill to use destruction tactically to your advantage. For example, if you want to reach a CashoOut Station that is on a floor above you, why not just stick a C4 to the ceiling and blow it up? Then, the CashOut Station will fall through the floor and into your hands.

The maps are built as game show arenas where the biggest part is given to the most recognizable part of the city, which is surrounded by a giant sphere with an audience sitting around it. Therefore, as a player, you must always be mindful of your surroundings because if you’re not careful, you could easily fall off the map and die. Here’s the full list of maps currently in the game:

• Seoul: Set amidst the towering skyscrapers of South Korea's capital, the Seoul map is a bustling urban battlefield. This map is tailored for intense, close-range combat, with the city's modern architecture providing numerous opportunities for destruction and strategic play. Players must navigate through the dense high-rise buildings, making quick decisions and close-quarter engagements a common occurrence.
• Monaco: Contrasting Seoul, the Monaco map offers a more open environment set along the iconic streets of the city. With fewer buildings obstructing the view, this map caters to a variety of playstyles, from snipers taking advantage of long sightlines to agile players maneuvering through the city's luxurious avenues. The map's design, while open, still maintains the game's signature destructible elements, allowing for dynamic changes in the battlefield.
• Las Vegas: Introduced at the game's official launch, the Las Vegas map immerses players in a setting filled with expansive casinos, intricate underground sections, and a plethora of interiors ripe for destruction. The map's design emphasizes the need for tactical cover, as the environment can be rapidly altered during combat. Players navigating this map must be cautious of their surroundings, as the flashy and wide-open spaces of Las Vegas can quickly turn into treacherous battlegrounds.
• Skyway Stadium: This map blends elements of Monaco's openness with the urban density of Seoul. Featuring a mix of towering office buildings and lower residential areas, Skyway Stadium offers a varied combat experience. Players can traverse between different sections using bridges and jump pads, adding verticality and fast-paced movement to the gameplay. The map's diverse environment allows for both explosive large-scale battles and more intimate skirmishes.

On top of that, because the maps are literally game show arenas, they feature various “playful” elements in the form of map variations and game show events. Let’s go over each one and explain what they do:

Map Variations

Each map variation brings a new element or changes the layout of the map, keeping them fresh on each playthrough.

• Standard Issues - a standard arena, ready for destruction
• Under Construction - part of the arena is currently under construction
• Moving Platforms - vaults or cashout stations could be found on platforms moving around the arena
• Suspended structures - Cashout stations are suspended high above the arena
• Duck and Cover - the duck mascot crashes part of the arena
• Up Down Left Right - Cashout stations could be suspended or on the move
• High Rise - The middle part of the arena is elevated
• Sandstorm - Swirling sand could drastically reduce visibility
• Triwires & Turrets - crossing laser tripwires will trigger turrets, but tripwires can be switched off

These dynamic elements will keep the teams on their toes, forcing them to adapt to random elements of the map.

Game Show Events

These events occur in the second half of the round when not much time is left on the timer. They bring lots of chaos to the teams that are trying to catch up on the points while its not too late.

• Meteor Showers - meteors fall near cashout stations
• Low Gravity - experience longer hang time in the air
• The Dead Go Boom - when you’re eliminated, you explode
• Mega-Damage - damage to the arena is magnified
• Death Match - earn extra cash when you eliminate opponents
• Orbital Lasers - lasers take aim at contestants who aren’t moving
• Alien Invasion - UFOs hover over objectives and shoot toward the ground

These events can either seriously help you out or mess up your winning streak, so always listen to the game hosts as they announce the next event.

Strategies and Tips for Beginners

To help you navigate the chaos and emerge victorious, we've compiled a comprehensive list of beginner-level The Finals tips that will be useful for both new and, somewhat familiar with the game, players. These insights will equip you with the knowledge to master the basics, understand the game's mechanics, and develop strategies that will set you apart from the competition. Whether you're maneuvering through the neon-lit streets of Las Vegas or strategizing in the high-rise battlegrounds of Seoul, these tips will be your guide to success in 'The Finals.' Let's dive in and start your journey to becoming a formidable contender in this dynamic gaming experience.

• Play Safe when you’re the Last Survivor: If you're the last surviving team member, avoid engaging the enemy alone. Wait for teammates to respawn to avoid a team wipe, which resets the respawn counter for everyone.
• Pick up Your Fallen teammate’s trophies:  You can pick up and move the figurines/trophies of fallen teammates to a safer location for revival, avoiding reviving them in the open, under enemy fire.
• Carriable + C4 = Deadly Combination: stick C4 to a carryable object like an explosive barrels and throw them for insane damage.
• Use destruction to your advantage: use the game's fully destructible environment to your advantage. Create shortcuts, confuse enemies, and use destruction for offensive and defensive strategies, especially around Cashout Stations.
• Goo is extremely valuable: use the goo to create instant barriers for protection or escape, make temporary walls for cover, and even for platforming by creating sticky platforms on walls and trees for vantage points.
• Use the Ping system: use the Ping mechanic to communicate with teammates about enemy locations or strategic moves, especially if you're not using a microphone.
• Reserve Loadout: If your current loadout isn't working, you can switch to a reserve loadout during the game.
• Elevator and Bridge Buttons: Shoot elevator and drawbridge buttons from a distance to speed up movement and create escape opportunities.
• Barrels and Canisters: Utilize barrels and canisters with different effects for area denial and to cause destruction. Be mindful of their delayed explosion.
• Choose Medium Build: For beginners, the medium build is recommended as it offers a balanced playstyle with moderate damage and support equipment. This build helps new players get familiar with the game's mechanics.
• Build Your Loadout: Start with the base equipment and unlock new gear by earning VP through leveling up and winning matches. The medium class's defibrillator is particularly useful for reviving teammates quickly.
• Must-Have Equipment: Carry one area denial tool (like Pyro Grenades or Gas Mines) and tools for either environmental destruction (C4, Breaching Charge, RPG-7) or movement (Jump Pads, Ziplines, Grappling Hook).
• Deny The Enemy's Movement: Defend objectives by making them hard to reach. Use Goo to block pathways, lay down jump pads behind windows, or place barricades on chokepoints. Destroy zip lines and ladders with gunfire to slow down enemies.
• The Rules Of Respawning:
  
  • Unlimited respawns in casual modes, but with a timer that resets if the whole team is wiped.
  • Tournament modes have limited respawn credits.
  • Consider regrouping or waiting for backup if you're the last team member alive.
• Spend Wisely:
  
  • Invest winnings in upgrades like Specializations for different playstyles.
  • Automatic guns are recommended for beginners over precision-required weapons.
  • Upgrade to more advanced weapons as you get familiar with the game.

These are the best The Finals tips for new players that you can use, and they will make you more knowledgeable than most people. At the end of the day, try to make your team more balanced, even if you play with randoms. If they pick the Light and Heavy classes, you should probably get the Medium even if you had other plans. Only the most diverse team will win!

Conclusion

Here we’ve reached the finish line section of the The Finals beginners guide 2023. The Finals is a massively enjoyable game that keeps you hooked from the moment you appear in the match to the last seconds. Its gameplay is supported by a system of complete level destruction and an amazing variety of weapons and gadgets available to you. In this competitive game, you can really push the boundaries of your own class and play the game how you really want to. Do you want to be a light and fast assassin with invisibility and throwing knives? You can be. Do you want to surround your teammates with multiple shields and turn yourself into an impenetrable fortress? You can do that.

The variety is crazy, and it is achieved by a lot of pre-determined random elements that happen on the maps. Even though there are only 4 maps, which might seem like it’s not enough for a multiplayer shooter, they feel different each time you play because the matches occur during different times of day or night, and there are all these random events and elements. 

This concludes our The Finals new player guide, where we’ve covered everything there’s to know about the game, its classes, equipment, game modes, etc. We’ve given you a solid amount of tips that will make you understand the game more and teach you how to turn different scenarios and circumstances to your advantage. We hope you found this guide useful, and we’ll see you in the next one!

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