Stonewards Best Upgrades & Early Builds Guide
Which upgrades and builds are strongest in Stonewards Early Access? We break down verified changes to forging, rings, tomes, and community-tested picks.
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 uses randomized roguelite upgrades that change each run. Some upgrades are always useful, while others depend on your class and team composition. This guide explains the verified upgrade systems in Early Access, highlights changes from recent patches, and notes which builds players are currently favoring.
How Upgrades Work
Between waves, you spend mined resources at the forge to craft arrows, repair defenses, and buy upgrades. Upgrades appear as random options, so you cannot force the same build every run. Stack bonuses that match your class: melee damage for Warriors, mining speed for Miners, charge reduction for Archers and Mages, and companion buffs for Hunters.
Verified Patch Changes That Affect Builds
| Patch | Change | Build impact |
|---|---|---|
| Hotfix 0.1.5 | Blacksmith max level raised from 101 to 999 | Late-run scaling is much higher |
| Hotfix 0.1.4 | Hunter companion attack and health increased | Hunter pet builds are stronger |
| Demo 0.1.9 | Craft Speed upgrade changed from flat to percentage reduction | Faster crafting at high levels |
| Demo 0.1.9 | Chest rarity system overhauled | Loot quality scaling changed |
| Demo 0.1.8 | Time frozen during solo runs | Solo kiting builds are safer |
Strong Early-Game Choices
Melee frontline
Warrior and Miner are reported to feel the strongest in solo play. Prioritize health, attack damage, and knockback. Knockback chains let you keep monsters away from walls while you repair.
Mining economy
Miners should stack mining speed and resource-gain upgrades. More ore means more arrows, more repairs, and more upgrades for the whole team. Gold Coin missions were rebalanced in 0.1.4, so economy builds are more viable than in the demo.
Ranged damage
Archer and Mage need charge-time reductions and damage boosts. Community feedback says ranged classes feel slow when playing solo because charge windows are long. In co-op, a teammate covering you makes these builds much more effective.
Hunter companion
The Hunter’s companion was buffed in 0.1.4. Look for companion attack and health upgrades, plus movement speed so the pet can intercept enemies before they reach walls.
Rings and Tomes
Rings and tomes are equipable loot found in chests and the shop. Hotfix 0.1.4 added clearer descriptions for their effects. Some tomes boost rare cave-resource drops, which can snowball if the whole team stacks them on one player. The exact drop rates and full list of effects are not yet confirmed by the developer.
Builds to Avoid Early
- All-damage, no-repair builds: walls will break and end the run.
- Ranged-only solo builds: current balance makes melee more forgiving.
- Ignoring ammo: even the best weapon is useless without arrows.
This is an editorial recommendation based on verified patch notes and player reports. For the basics of crafting, see our forge upgrades guide.
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.