Stonewards Beginner Guide: Classes, Mining & Waves
New to Stonewards? Learn the core loop, starting classes, how mining and forging work, and how to survive your first enemy waves in Early Access.
Last verified: August 18, 2026 — Game version: Stonewards Early Access Hotfix 0.1.5. Facts come from official Steam sources and verified player reports.
Stonewards is a 1-4 player co-op first-person roguelite defense game. Each mission sends your squad to a dwarven kingdom under attack. Your job is to mine resources between waves, forge upgrades at your base, and hold the walls until the threat is over. This guide covers the core loop, the classes you will meet, and the basics of surviving your first runs.
The Core Mission Loop
Every run follows the same rhythm. First, you defend the stronghold from a wave of monsters. Once the wave ends, the horn stops and the mine opens. You have limited time to dig for metals, rare materials, and loot before the next horn signals the next attack. Return to the forge, craft arrows, repair walls, and buy upgrades. Repeat until you win or the kingdom falls.
Starting Classes
Each dwarf has a unique ability and a preferred tool. The official developer updates have named or shown several classes:
| Class | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Warrior | Frontline melee | Strong basic attacks and good survivability |
| Miner | Resource gathering | Excels at breaking rocks and hauling ore |
| Archer | Ranged physical | Uses charged bow shots from the walls |
| Mage | Ranged magic | Casts charged spells; currently feels slower solo |
| Hunter | Pet/summon | Has a companion; companion damage was buffed in 0.1.4 |
Some classes may need to be unlocked. The “Toggler” is referenced in patch notes as an unlockable character whose requirement can sometimes fail to trigger until the game is restarted.
Mining and Inventory Basics
Mining is not optional. Walls, arrows, repairs, and upgrades all consume resources found underground. The mine is procedural, so tunnel layouts change each run. Platinum Ore had a missing icon bug that was fixed in an earlier hotfix, so expect the resource list to keep growing as Early Access evolves.
Your pickaxe and horn are treated like default tools. One community suggestion calls them class-agnostic slots, similar to how every dwarf carries a pickaxe and horn regardless of class.
Forging and Upgrades
Between waves, use the blacksmith and crafter to:
- Craft arrows and ammunition.
- Repair damaged walls and gates.
- Buy randomized roguelite upgrades such as attack, health, jump height, knockback, and wall toughness.
The Blacksmith maximum level was raised from 101 to 999 in Hotfix 0.1.5, so long-term progression has much more room than it first appeared.
Defending the Kingdom
Monsters have one goal: breach the stronghold. Your team needs to cover gates, watch walls, and fall back when defenses break. If the kingdom health hits zero, the mission ends. Communicate with your team about who repairs walls and who mines, or you will run out of resources mid-wave.
Common Beginner Mistakes
- Staying in the mine too long and missing the start of the next wave.
- Ignoring wall repairs to chase kills.
- Spending all resources on damage upgrades while neglecting ammo and repairs.
- Trying to play ranged classes solo before you understand charge timing.
For more detail on class balance, read our solo guide. For upgrade priorities, see best upgrades and builds.
Sources
- Official Steam store page: https://store.steampowered.com/app/4502710/
- Official Steam announcements hub: https://steamcommunity.com/games/4502710/announcements/
- Steam Community discussions: https://steamcommunity.com/app/4502710/discussions/
Fan-made guide. This site is not affiliated with Banana Tiger Studio, Steam, or Valve; all game content and media belong to their respective owners.