Just started playing The Finals? You're going to love it — but the learning curve is steeper than it looks. This guide covers the 10 most important things every new player needs to know, so you can skip the frustrating early mistakes and start enjoying the game faster.
1. Choose One Build and Learn It Properly
The Finals has three classes — Light, Medium, and Heavy. As a beginner, the single worst thing you can do is constantly switch between them. Each class plays completely differently. Pick one and commit for at least your first 20 hours.
- New to FPS? Start with Medium — the most forgiving, with heals and a defibrillator.
- Experienced FPS player? Light is for you if you love aggressive, fast-paced play.
- Prefer support / anchor? Heavy — hold objectives, disrupt pushes, create chaos.
2. The Cashout Is the Only Thing That Matters
The Finals is objective-based. You win by securing and defending cashout vaults — not by getting the most kills. You can have a 30-kill game and still lose if your team ignored the cashout. Always ask: what's the nearest cashout, and what can I do to help right now?
3. Use the Environment — It's Your Biggest Weapon
The fully destructible environment isn't just visual — it's a core mechanic. Start with these basics:
- Shoot through thin walls to hit enemies hiding behind them
- Destroy the floor under a camper to drop them down a level
- Create new doorways to approach enemies from unexpected angles
- Collapse ceilings to block a route or damage grouped enemies
4. Reviving Teammates Is More Important Than Kills
A revived teammate is worth infinitely more than an extra kill. The Medium class has a defibrillator that lets you revive instantly from range — always prioritise using it. Even the other classes can revive by holding interact near a downed teammate.
5. Play Quick Cash First, Then Ranked
Don't jump into ranked as a brand new player. Quick Cash follows the same cashout mechanics as ranked — it's the perfect training ground. Get comfortable with your class and understand when to push and when to hold before you start caring about your rank.
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6. Always Carry Healing or Support Gadgets
Especially as a beginner, utility gadgets will save your team more often than offensive ones. Medkits, defibrillators, and jump pads create opportunities that frags simply don't. Experiment with your gadget loadout and notice which ones change outcomes.
7. Sound Is a Weapon — Use Headphones
The Finals has excellent spatial audio. Footsteps, cashout timers, reload sounds, and ability activations all give you critical information if you're listening. A good headset paired with attention to audio will tell you where enemies are before you see them.
8. Don't Chase Kills Across the Map
One of the most common beginner traps: you get a kill, chase the retreat, and end up isolated and far from your team when the next fight starts. Kill the enemy, then immediately regroup. Every second you're out of position is a second your team is fighting 2v3.
9. Learn Two or Three Maps Before Expanding
Map knowledge — knowing the best cashout positions, rotation routes, and sniper angles — is a massive advantage. Don't try to learn all maps at once. Focus on two or three until you can navigate them without thinking.
10. Watch Your Death Screen
Every time you die, you get a brief moment to see who killed you, with what weapon, and from what angle. Use it. Ask yourself: could I have avoided that? What should I do differently? This 5-second habit, done consistently, will improve your game sense faster than almost anything else.
Final Thoughts
The Finals has a steep learning curve but it rewards mastery enormously. Focus on one class, play the objective, and communicate with your team. The aim and mechanics will improve naturally — it's the decision-making that separates the ranks.