Early Game Floors (1–35)

Phase Overview

Early game spans Floors 1–35 where Delvers learn core loops, unlock money for starter items, and hit the Floor 20 Envy milestone. Atlas selections here emphasize introductory layouts—offices, maintenance corridors, smaller retail spaces—with commons and rising uncommon entity budgets.

Floor 20 breaks early game rhythm with guaranteed Envy’s Coliseum. Treat Floors 21–35 as early-mid transition where Black Market progression becomes a tangible goal toward Floor 30 unlock.

Key Milestones

Floor 15 onward enables natural The Mall Mannequin spawns—a major difficulty spike. Floor 20 Envy teaches line-of-sight boss survival. Floor 30 unlocks Black Market permanently. Early game success means reaching these milestones repeatedly without exhausting consumable stock.

Map-Specific Tips

Office maps: task clusters by wing—clear one wing before crossing open central halls. Maintenance maps: watch vertical connections where sound carries. Glacier-range maps (Floors 10–30 post-v0.6.8): cold themes often pair with visibility challenges—carry light-related consumables if available.

Bluerooms and Canals enter Atlas pools in modern patches—study layout videos from community runs when you first spawn them.

Economy on Early Floors

Money accrues slowly—prioritize purchases that shorten time on floor over vanity items. Early consumable investment pays back on Floor 20 even if you wipe later. Do not rush depth past learning capacity; repeated Floor 15–20 farming builds skill and bank simultaneously.