How Do Storms Work in Stormforge?
Storms in Stormforge work like dungeons out in the open world: you fight your way in, bring down the shield, defeat the guardians and break the storm crystal – then the storm is gone for good.
Here's how a storm plays out:
- Find a storm. Storms are spread across Sorana, including on distant islands you reach by boat.
- Survive the tornadoes. Hunting tornadoes chase you and hurl trees, boulders and enemies.
- Dodge the hazards. Lightning strikes, toxic clouds and fire spurts keep you moving.
- Break the shield. Destroy the generators – or find another way to bring down the shield around the crystal.
- Defeat the guardians. Storm-powered enemies protect the crystal.
- Break the crystal. The storm is cleared for good, and you collect your reward.
Reward: Storm-infused resources for better gear and skill points for your classes. That makes storms the main driver of progression.
In co-op: Storm intensity scales with the number of players in your world, so bigger groups face tougher storms.
Storm Hazards at a Glance
Every storm keeps you on your toes. These are the dangers you'll face:
- Hunting tornadoes: They chase you and hurl trees, boulders and even enemies. Tip: Outrun them, glide around them or ride their winds.
- Lightning, toxic clouds and fire spurts: These hazards keep you on your toes inside a storm. Tip: Keep moving and stick together as a group.
- Chaos storms: Large storms sweep across the entire map and can hit your base. Tip: Seek shelter and shield your base with a crystal pillar.
How to Protect Yourself From Storms
Your most important tool against storms is the crystal pillar.
- Crystal pillar at your base: Place it at the heart of your base. Its magic shield protects your base from chaos storms.
- Gliding: Use your glider to get around tornadoes or ride their winds.
- Mages at range: Mages can crack storm crystals from a distance.
- Use your group: In co-op, one player draws the tornadoes away while the others take out the generators.
The Class System Explained
Stormforge has five classes, and you're never locked into one. You unlock classes and mix their skills into your own build.
- Warrior: Tank and front line. Two-handed weapons, tower shields and strong damage reduction.
- Mage: Elemental damage dealer. Lightning and frost across wide areas, and storm crystals cracked from range.
- Ranger: Marksman and scout. Bows, the highest movement speed and the longest glide distance.
- Forager: Harvester and crafter. All about gathering resources and survival alchemy.
- Villager: Architect and support. Base engineering and settlement defenses.
How unlocking works:
- Crests: Every boss you defeat grants crests. Spend them to unlock new classes.
- Skill points: You earn them by clearing storms.
- 100+ skills: They come from all classes, including more than 20 active abilities, and you can mix them freely.
Build Ideas for Your Co-op Group
The strongest groups combine roles that complement each other. Here are four builds that work well together:
- Stormbreaker (Warrior + Mage): Holds the front line and clears groups of enemies with lightning and frost.
- Hunter (Ranger + Forager): Fights from range, scouts ahead and gathers resources on the go.
- Architect (Villager + Warrior): Builds and defends the base while the others clear storms.
- Support (Mage + Forager): Cracks storm crystals from range and keeps the group supplied.
Playing solo? The Stormbreaker works well on its own too: you can take hits up front and still deal damage across wide areas.
Tip for groups: Cover different roles from the start, then use your crests to add the classes your group is still missing.
Biomes and Bosses at a Glance
Stormforge launches with three biomes and three bosses. The world of Sorana is generated fresh for every new world.
- Biomes: Whispering Vale, Howling Woods and Ember Canyons
- Bosses: Squallreaver, Earthbreaker and The Guardian
- Points of interest: Dungeons, Titan ruins and over 100 points of interest to explore
Every boss you defeat grants crests for new classes. In co-op, boss encounters scale with the size of your group.
What's Coming Before Version 1.0?
Roboto Games plans about a year of Early Access with regular updates. These are planned for version 1.0:
- a new mountain biome with its own boss
- new storm types
- new classes
- expanded endgame content
Frequently Asked Questions About Storms and Classes
How many classes does Stormforge have?
Five: Warrior, Ranger, Mage, Forager and Villager. More classes are planned for version 1.0.
How do I unlock new classes?
With crests, which you earn by defeating bosses.
Can I combine skills from different classes?
Yes. You mix over 100 skills from all unlocked classes, including more than 20 active abilities.
What do storms give you in Stormforge?
Storm-infused resources for better gear and skill points. A cleared storm is gone for good.
How do I clear a storm?
Bring down the shield, defeat the guardians and break the storm crystal.
What is a chaos storm?
A large storm that sweeps across the entire map. The magic shield of your crystal pillar protects your base.
What bosses are in Stormforge?
Three at Early Access launch: Squallreaver, Earthbreaker and The Guardian. A mountain biome with its own boss is planned for version 1.0.
Images: Screenshots © Roboto Games, from the Stormforge Steam page.